Commercial drivers bring thousands of needed goods to businesses and individual customers across the globe daily. With all of this activity, it is easy to see how important the overall performance of the vehicle is when it comes to getting the job done. If your truck has been damaged by an accident or other problems, there are a few parts you need to replace as soon as you can.
Parking Brake
Commercial trucks sometimes need to stop going up or down steep inclines. In these cases, a functioning parking brake offers both convenience and life-saving stability to the vehicle. For maximum safety and compliance with regulations, you should test the parking brake’s functionality after any damage to the truck occurs. If anything seems off, it is a good idea to get a new piece installed as soon as possible. A faulty parking brake could be dangerous for you, bystanders, and any loads you are carrying.
Headlamps
Anything that gives drivers proper illumination at night or in poor conditions is generally something you’ll have to replace once it is damaged. One of the main pieces here is something like the Scania left-hand headlamp. However, you should also do a check for stop lamps, backup lamps, and extension lights. The outer casing for these items is relatively delicate, and a strong impact could shatter the housing and internal components.
Horn
Many commercial trucks are large vehicles that require some skill and training to handle well. Even a seasoned driver might come up against a situation where blaring the horn is necessary to avoid an accident or fatality. It is vital that your vehicle’s horn is capable of emitting sound as its design intends. Do a quick check of your truck’s horn periodically to ensure that it isn’t damaged before your next haul.
Tires
There are federal regulations that govern commercial truck tires, and you may need to replace yours after damage to the vehicle. If the sidewall or tread of the tire features exposed belt material, you should replace it. In addition to this, any tread separation or deep gashes that expose the ply material mean that you shouldn’t drive on the tires. It is possible that you won’t need to replace a whole set, but you should examine each tire for any of these telltale signs if your truck sustained damage recently.
If any of the above parts aren’t functioning properly, there are steps you can take to install replacements before you go out on the road next time. Depending on the circumstances of the issue, you may have insurance that can cover the costs of replacement parts and repairs to the vehicle. A state truck inspection checklist is a good starting point that can tell you some of the most common components to replace when necessary. Knowing some of the parts to replace could help you avoid citations.