Top 5 Causes of Truck Breakdowns And How to Prevent Them

Truck breakdowns can be a real headache, especially if you’re driving in a remote part of the country. Regardless of how careful you are with your truck, breakdowns are inevitable. However, the following causes are the most common reason for truck breakdowns.

1. Tires

Flat, underinflated, or malfunctioning tires are the leading cause of truck breakdowns. When you’ve got 18 tires, it’s easy to see why the number one risk to your truck’s ability to drive is a tire issue.

Underinflated tires can cause heat buildup in the tire sidewall, misaligned axles can speed up tire wear and tear, and punctures can bring the truck to a halt. Take extra care with your tires to prevent a breakdown.

2. Electrical System

The electrical system is made up of the starter motor, battery, and the alternator. If the truck isn’t starting, the cause could be failure of one of these components. Though most batteries are designed to last between three to five years, driving in cold regions could place excessive wear and tear on the battery and lead to early failure.

To identify an electrical failure, look for rusty battery connections, strange odors, dead batteries, flickering lights, or unusual sounds when starting the engine.

3. Brakes

Brake failure is a serious problem, since it could lead to an accident with other vehicles and even pedestrians. Problems with the brakes could be caused by air leaks, corrosion of the external surface, and airline freezing as a result of internal water contamination.

4. Malfunctioning Refrigeration Trailer or Reefer

Truckers need to keep an eye out on in-cab signals that could indicate a malfunctioning refrigeration trailer or reefer. A failed refeer will ruin freight and lead to serious issues for the trucker’s employer and client.

5. Age

An old truck is simply more likely to break down and have more frequent issues. Older trucks are a disaster waiting to happen, even if you take good care of it.

Truckers should keep an eye out for all of these causes to reduce their risk of an unexpected breakdown. Though breakdowns will always remain a possibility, there are steps every trucker can take to keep their truck in optimal condition.