Smart fleet managers practice preventive maintenance (PM), scheduling regular service for their vehicles before they need it. The alternative, waiting for a vehicle to break down and become out-of-service, causes unnecessary downtime. Regularly servicing vehicles takes the guesswork out of managing the fleet, ultimately saving time, money, and frustration.
Increase uptime and safety while avoiding unplanned costs
Breakdowns and other undesired events can put a vehicle out of service at the most inopportune time. Shippers are already tightening their delivery schedules, and fleets can’t afford to miss deadlines because of avoidable downtime. Being proactive about maintenance helps ensure all the vehicle’s critical systems are in good working condition. This, in turn, increases uptime and gets freight where it needs to be on time.
Breakdowns come with countless costs. Common truck breakdown costs include:
- Loss of revenue from unplanned downtime
- Spoiled perishable items
- Property damage
- Towing costs
- Repositioning a replacement truck
- Potential DOT fines
Add it all up, and these unplanned costs more than justify the cost of preventive maintenance. The price of a breakdown is far more than the price of the repair.
Labor costs for truck repairs are an additional consideration. The technician shortage in the commercial vehicle industry makes it critical to optimize productivity and work-life balance. Preventative maintenance allows shops to schedule and stagger work, avoiding service bottlenecks and overworked technicians.
Techs and shop managers prefer maintenance procedures over emergency repairs because they tend to be simpler and less urgent. One example of a PM that can prevent costly breakdowns is wheel end service.
The wheel end is one of the most essential systems on a commercial vehicle. Multiple wheel end components are critical to the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle. When left unserviced, a wheel end failure can lead to catastrophic events such as wheel-offs.
Streamline preventive maintenance with preassembled wheel hubs
Wheel end service often requires rebuilding hubs by manually replacing and adjusting hub components. Using ready-made aftermarket units, like PreSet® and PreSet Plus® hub assemblies from ConMet, saves time, money, and hassle.
PreSet hub assemblies reduce the service complexity associated with rebuilding the hub. Technicians just have to slide the self-piloting hub onto the spindle and torque the spindle nut to the specified value.
ConMet’s precision bearings are pre-adjusted at the factory and designed to maintain clamp load. This means there’s little opportunity for error in the replacement process. Plus, a tech can replace four hubs in about the same amount of time it takes to rebuild a single hub. That’s how preassembled hubs place vehicles back in service quicker.
ConMet aftermarket PreSet hub assemblies are available nationally through local stocking dealers and distributors throughout North America. They carry an industry-leading five-year limited warranty when using ConMet’s PreSet Plus spindle nut. Fleets using PreSet hubs can feel confident knowing this warranty covers them down to the smallest component.
Enjoy peace of mind
The benefits of a preventative maintenance program will always justify the investment. Staying on top of vehicle health does more than save time and money. It also ensures the satisfaction of drivers, technicians, and customers.
Additional resources
Use our Replace Calculator to see how replacing hubs with preassembled units can save your fleet money and downtime.
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