on your trailers and have visibility on the mileage, then simply following the mileage standard would be the easiest and most eff ective thing to do. Th is is because mileage, in the case of power units or trailers, is what wears components. As an example, brakes and tires will wear faster on a trailer that is putting miles on daily versus one that is parked for periods of time. Th is can be diffi cult in many operations due to the usage of trailers not being tracked as closely as the usage of power units. One solution that some carriers have arrived at is using an “average mileage” to calculate out the date a service should be due. For example, if you have decided that you want to conduct scheduled maintenance every 20,000 miles on your trailers, you would need to calculate how long it takes an average trailer in your fl eet to accumulate 20,000 miles. If the average is three months, then the trailer service schedule would need to be set at three months. A variation on this is calculating the soonest a trailer would be able to arrive at the target mileage, and then use this as the interval. An example would be that you have determined that the average time it takes to make the target miles is three months, but a signifi - cant number of the trailers are doing the miles in only two months. In this case, it might be wise to use two months, rather than three. Finally, at specifi c points, more in-depth service activities should be scheduled as well. An example would be deciding to verify trailer alignment annually or during every fourth inspection – if you are doing them every 90 days, or at an inspection that is tied to a specifi c mileage. REQUIRED When determining the maintenance schedule, be sure to factor in any inspections that are required by outside entities and regulatory bodies. Th ese include the annual inspection required under the state or federal regulations, the 90-day inspection required for any trailer based in California, tank trailer inspections required under the state or federal hazardous materials regulations and any customer-required inspections. Th e key here is to try to coordinate the maintenance schedule to avoid duplication of eff ort, say doing a scheduled service just a few weeks aft er doing a required inspection. Heavy Duty | MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURES One practice that is used on power unit components should be carried over to trailers as well, and that is using data to try to predict when a Come visit us at AAPEX, booth# 2661! Mention this ad to receive a limited edition promotional item AND to be entered into a daily drawing for a $250 Visa® gift card! DRIVING PERFORMANCE FROM CHANNEL PARTNERS TO TECHNICIANS SMART PARTNER www.mahle-aftermarket.com MAHLE Original® gaskets feature OE form, fififififit and function across 99% of part numbers. Add in 1,200 exclusive SKUs and MAHLE Original gaskets cover 93% of vehicles in operation. MAHLE Original® gaskets use only quality materials, such as multi-layered steel, to provide an optimal seal that can withstand the harshest of environments. Innovative MAHLE Original® gasket packaging enables the customer to see the gaskets, without opening the package, and requires 20% less shelf space. THE ORIGINAL CHOICE IN OE SEALING SOLUTIONS!™ VehicleServicePros.com/10122659 Continued Page 25
FleetMaintenance_October_2016
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