Category: Heavy Duty Trucks

truck problem

Common Truck Problems And How To Fix/Prevent Them

Posted on by Ryan Clay

Heavy-duty trucks look huge and extremely powerful. They are but they are not invincible nor are they perfect, which is why we still face truck problems. Although maintenance and checks greatly help reduce the risk of the problems there is still a chance that they can occur. 

As a trucking business owner, you’ve gone through many things just to get your business started. It is in your best interest to know which problems could arise so that you can be ready for them and find possible remedies when they occur. By knowing them, you can also better prevent them from happening. Here are some of the most common problems you can face with heavy-duty trucks:

Brake Issues

Problems with the brakes can be from the brake pedal itself or the braking system. A heavy-duty truck already weighs a lot and when it is fully loaded with cargo, the pressure on the brakes is even higher. Although the truck’s brakes are meant to handle it, it can eventually lead to wear and tear. There can be fluid leaks and the worst-case scenario is brake failure. 

With proper maintenance and checks, it can be avoided. If one brae completely loses performance then there other brakes that can stop the heavy-duty vehicle. This is why a brake maintenance strategy should be well thought off in every heavy-duty truck.

Wheels And Tires Issues

Wheel bearings make the wheels move and if it is already degraded, a noticeable sound coming from the wheel can be heard as it moves. Sometimes, it will also produce a jerking movement. These are clear signs that the wheel bearings should be checked for problems.

Tire problems are common in all types of vehicles. Even if they are properly inflated, they can still be blown out or defective due to various factors. Preventing tire issues can be done by simply inspecting the tires before the trip. Make sure to change them once worn out and always keep spare tires. Also, make sure that they are properly aligned. 

Engine Problems

One of the worst things that can happen to your truck is when you have problems with the engine. The most common engine problem is overheating. This can be caused by a variety of issues like a blown gasket, a fuel leak, or as simple as neglecting oil changes or coolant levels. The problems may not be immediately obvious but engine problems can occur over time when proper maintenance is skipped or neglected. 

The best thing to do is to work with a maintenance professional and follow the maintenance schedules. The cost of maintenance is less than having to repair or replace the engine because of damage and failure. 

Starter Failure

When the winter season comes, many drivers find that their trucks are more likely to fail to start. Even before the winter days arrive, make sure to check the starter mechanism. Any problem with the ignition will probably worsen due to the colder temperature. That is why it should be immediately remedied before it gets worse. 

Clutch Problems

For manual transmission trucks, the clutch plays a very important role. It is prone to wear and tear and should be regularly checked. There are different causes of clutch problems and it can include carelessly driving, overloading the clutch, or oil leaks. Dumping the clutch is a habit that should be avoided because it can overheat the clutch and increase the stress and pressure into the clutch disk and driveshaft. 

Aside from improving driver habits, the clutch problems can also be prevented by checking for leaks that can contaminate the clutch disc. Besides, the leaks won’t only affect the clutch, it can also affect other parts of the truck. Getting rid of any leaks will benefit different parts of your truck.  

Is Truck Driving Only For Males? Find out!

Posted on by Ryan Clay

With rising demand, the trucking industry needs to get smarter in order to address the shortage of workers it’s facing. According to American Trucking Association, there is an urgent need of 48,000 drivers nationwide. They also project that this shortfall is only going to rise in the coming years. Do you know that out of all the workforce in the United States, 47% consists of women workers? But when you see the stats in the trucking sector, women drivers are only 4 – 5%. This has been the case for more than 2 decades now. If we can get more women drivers, this shortfall will quickly come down.

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CT660 in Motion

Why I love my CT660 Caterpillar Truck

Posted on by Ryan Clay

As someone that makes a living behind the wheel of a working dump truck. Time is money as they say. My truck and I depend on each other to make a living. That’s why I chose the CAT CT660.

 Built for Drivers

CT660 Caterpillar Dumptruck
CT660 Caterpillar Dumptruck

The CT660 was built with the driver in mind. What we need to get the job done! Tough enough to take a beating and still want more. The fine folks at CAT got it right. New cutting edge designs with drivers who feel like they were part of the new design process. When you get behind the wheel of a new Caterpillar CT660 you just know.

One of the key features we took into consideration was the modular design. If our truck does need service, our down time is reduced dramatically with easier access to key components.

Also with the sloped hood, I can actually see when I am in tight spots trying to move the truck into place. This feature has also reached our fuel pocketbook with a more aerodynamic design we get better fuel MPG.

Turning Radius

With maneuverability, our CAT gets us around the job site with ease. Better turning radius than its competitors helped us decide what to buy. I can get into much tighter fits with greater ease on the job site. Less time maneuvering means more time delivering material that equals money. In our line of work, our trucks need to be moving material not jockeying around trying to fit the truck on site.

When CAT designed the interior they had my back in mind. The truck is much more comfortable with easier to reach controls. I am less fatigued at the end of a hard day. It’s much safer as the controls are easier to access and see. This gives me a much greater sense of control for a safe work environment for co-workers that are working around my truck. On the road, I get that same sense that I am in complete control of my rig. Gets me home safe to my family!

Compared to Mack Granite

Our team considered several trucks before choosing the CAT. The Mack Granite series was in the running. The problems we had were from a service perspective. Our jobs can crop up anywhere. With the Mack, you have service centers that work only for this series engine in the Mack. I don’t have time to drive longer distances for service work.

Mack is a legendary brand and a heck of a truck. We just felt the CAT offered a stronger truck with more service and maintenance availability.

Conclusion

The CAT seemed to be the obvious choice for us because of all the new design features. It was new to the marketplace at the time we purchased. However, we trusted the CAT brand and after seeing the truck in action we were sold.

Taking the Diesel Offroad

Posted on by Ryan Clay

HD Diesels don’t just haul stuff, apparently they can eat up some of the most difficult terrain on the planet.  Check out this article from one of our favorite blogs, Diesel Power Products on the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah…

By far, one of our favorite events of the year surprisingly isn’t even a diesel specific event, its actually originally intended as a “Jeep only” event: Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. Fortunately for us, not only do we have a passion for Jeeps, but there are also several expeditions during EJS specifically tailored for full size pickups. Because of this, and our love of offroading, EJS is a perfect time for us to get out, have some fun, and test many of the products we sell.

DPP-AEV-Nomad-in-Moab

EJS 2016 is now well under way, and the hills of Moab are packed with offroaders of all kinds, including a few of the Diesel Power Products crew and several of our vehicles. One of the vehicles we have equipped to handle the rigors of the trails is a 2016 Ram 2500 sporting the 6.7L Cummins engine that we loaded with a host of products from our new found partner, American Expedition Vehicles, or AEV. Specifically, this Ram is running AEV’s 3″ DualSport SC Suspension System, 17″ Katla Wheels, Premium Front Bumper, and their soon-to-be-released fender flare kit to allow clearance for the massive 40″ Nitto tires we are running under this beast. Not only did this Ram easily and safely haul an enclosed trailer loaded with a Jeep and tons of gear all the way from Spokane, Washington to Moab, Utah, but has been tearing up the rocks and sand with only adjustments to the tire pressure.

DPP-AEV-Nomad-in-Moab-close

As EJS16 comes to a close at the end of this week, we will be sure to update with more action shots so you can really get a feel for what Easter Jeep Safari is about, and how a well equipped Ram can truly keep up with the best Jeeps out there on the trails, yet still be able to work like a truck is intended to.

To see the full range of AEV products for your Ram, click HERE.

And to see the full lineup of products for your diesel powered truck, check us out at www.dieselpowerproducts.com.

Top 5 Most Important Uses of Heavy Duty Trucks

Posted on by Ryan Clay

car1Heavy-duty trucks are large like the heavy dump trucks and concrete pump trucks and capable of transporting huge weights of cargo. These trucks are a very important leg in the transportation industry as they are movers of large quantities or products or materials no small vehicle can do on land. There are many uses of these trucks including towing and moving houses, delivery and transport and recovery of disabled and stranded vehicles.

Towing: Business owners, companies and government agencies that use a large number of vehicles to operate more often have their own towing services to move vehicles when they get disabled on the road. They are the school bus companies, package couriers, police and fire departments, garbage collectors, taxi companies, bus companies, the automotive industry and the farm industry.

Moving: A heavy duty truck come in-demand when you change your home location and you need to bring everything with you. Large appliances, all pieces of furniture, and all! It can stand all the weight because one is able to transport more than the combined weight of all your home belongings. Moving a tiny house is also easy using a truck.

Hauling: Do you need to pull or transport something heavy over a long distance? You need a heavy duty hauling truck. It is vector-truck-volkswagen-worker-screenshots-1equipped with a heavy-duty hook & chain made for hauling heavy objects. Starting building contractors without owned hauling trucks could find these trucks from Chemomemtum for many of their necessities in construction. You can rely on the truck’s reputation of its ability to lift, pull and load heavy materials.

Delivery/Transport:  Soft drinks & beverages, and liquors & beers are transported by heavy duty trucks contained in long delivery trailers with roll-up doors. They travel long distances and arriving in destinations with products in good condition. Groceries and other products from the manufacturers’ plants are delivered using these trucks also. Animals in cages are loaded in trucks to transport them. In what size of a truck can an elephant fit in or what kind of truck can tow a trailer with this huge animal? It must be a heavy duty truck!

Garbage Collection & Recycling: Garbage trucks or trash trucks are specially built to collect garbage and haul it to a landfill or to a solid waste incineration facility. There are a few types of this truck. The front loader, rear loader and the side loader; well it tells where each would load the waste collected. The catch is – they are heavy duty to be able to do such heavy work continuously.


Heavy Duty Trucks Are Tough

If you use a standard hand truck to move heavy objects, there is possibility that it would break; it would further delay work. Most heavy-duty trucks are built with large engines and strong transmissions because they are meant to do heavy work particularly on job sites. They can load large pieces and pull heavy load of materials. A heavy duty can give assurance that even the toughest job can be carried out without an issue

semi-truck
They Are Time and Cost Effective

Reliability of the truck equates with lesser time and cost to transport. You don’t need many trips because the truck can accommodate that much load without breaking down on the road. Less likely if you use smaller trucks. Work can be accomplished in time or earlier than programmed. Labor cost is minimized. Saving in time, fuel and labor cost is an advantage to a business owner these days that all prices keep skyrocketing.