Refuse trucks face more demanding operating conditions than just about any other vehicle on the road. Refuse trucks spend their days running in heavy stop-and-go traffic while heaving under heavy loads, constantly powering hydraulics, and getting splashed with moisture, chemicals, dirt, and debris. It’s easy to think that a shorter service life is inevitable with that type of punishment. However, proper maintenance and operation can keep a refuse truck running three to five years longer than you might expect.
For municipalities, waste haulers, and private fleets, those additional years of service can equal big money. Postponing replacement expenses, minimizing repair emergencies, reducing downtime, and boosting resale value all add up to a healthier profit margin. Your refuse truck is a big investment. Making sure you get the maximum lifespan from that investment means committing to regular upkeep and smart fleet management.
Atlantic Heavy Duty specializes in refuse truck sales and service, OEM parts, preventative maintenance, major refuse truck repairs, refuse truck refurbishments, and overall fleet support for waste management operators across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Our extensive service network means your fleet is supported year-round for whatever stage your refuse vehicles are in, from preventative maintenance to complete rebuilds.
Preventative Maintenance is Key to a Long Truck Life
If you want to drastically increase your fleet’s refuse truck lifespan, start with preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is the best thing any fleet can do to reduce long-term repair costs and increase equipment lifespan. Period.
Taking care of your vehicles before they break keeps small issues from becoming huge money pits down the road. Ignoring problems allows them to get worse. A hydraulic hose that’s leaking now might spring a damaged pump next month. A small issue with your cooling system could cause your engine to overheat and fail down the road if left unaddressed.
Routine preventative maintenance includes:
- Fluids checks/replacements
- Hydraulic inspections
- Greasing/lubrication
- Brake inspections
- Tire inspections/rotations
- Electrical system inspections
- Chassis inspections
- Suspension inspections/maintenance
- Wash truck thoroughly
Preventative maintenance is even more critical for refuse trucks. Your engines, transmissions, suspensions, brakes, and hydraulics take a beating with every stop you make. Fleet experts agree that refuse trucks require more specialized maintenance schedules due to their heavy-duty use. Hydraulic systems, compaction systems, and lift mechanisms all require extra care and attention.
Pay Extra Attention to Hydraulic Systems
Your hydraulic system does a lot for your truck. Hydraulics power your lifter, compactor, packer blade, you name it. If your hydraulics stop working, your truck is essentially useless.
It’s common for fleets to focus on engine care but forget about the hydraulic system. Experts note that many operators don’t worry about hydraulic maintenance because you don’t change your hydraulic fluid as often as engine oil. However, hydraulic fluid cleanliness and system integrity are crucial.
Inspections should include:
- Hydraulic hose wear
- Fluid contamination
- Leaks
- Pressure testing
- Damaged hydraulic cylinders
- Hydraulic seal wear
- Hydraulic pump wear
Hydraulic fluid should always be clean and changed at recommended intervals. Dirty hydraulic fluid can wear out valves, pumps, and seals.
Another thing drivers can do is pay attention to how their hydraulic systems sound. Whining sounds, slow operation, jerking motions, or overheating are all symptoms of possible problems.
Train Drivers to Care for the Equipment
The way your drivers operate has a huge impact on the lifespan of your fleet. Harsh driving techniques, excessive idling, heavy braking, and careless route management can reduce the lifespan of your equipment by years.
Fleet managers often zero in on their maintenance departments and forget about driver training. Drivers should be trained how to properly operate the vehicle from start to finish.
- Proper warm-up procedures
- Acceleration and braking techniques
- Proper PTO engagement
- Safe lifting procedures
- How to avoid overloads
- Monitoring engine warning lights
- Shutdown procedures
- Reporting problems early
Stop-and-go traffic already puts extreme stress on your brakes and driveline. Poor driver techniques only compound that stress.
Drivers should also be trained to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections. Catching problems while they’re small is far easier (and cheaper) than waiting for your driver to report the truck won’t start.
Regular Washing is More Important than Most Realize
Early failures on many refuse trucks are due to corrosion, not mechanical failure. Trash, road chemicals, salt, acidic garbage, and other liquids leave your trucks vulnerable to corrosion. Water spots and chemicals destroy your truck body over time. Rust and deterioration can quickly eat away at your chassis, mounting points, and other structural components.
Washing your truck regularly is one of the easiest ways to keep your truck free of harmful debris.
Wash your trucks frequently. Pay special attention to:
- Winter months
- After salt exposure
- After wet waste
- Hydraulic components
- Underneath the chassis
- Packer blades
Corrosion prevention also includes regular inspection for rust build up and damaged paint.
Fleet managers who keep on top of washing and preventative maintenance report significantly longer equipment life cycles.
Follow OEM Maintenance Schedules Religiously
Maintenance schedules aren’t there to make your job harder. Refuse truck OEMs provide maintenance schedules for a reason. They know how these vehicles are used and what kinds of wear you should expect.
Atlantic Heavy Duty offers refuse fleets OEM parts, preventative maintenance, and service expertise built around refuse trucks. From routine maintenance to major overhauls, Atlantic Heavy Duty has you covered.
OEM maintenance schedules help prevent:
- Engine wear
- Transmission problems
- PTO failures
- Hydraulic failures
- Suspension failures
- Lift arm problems
- Electrical failures
- Cooling system failures
Cutting corners on maintenance THINKS saves you money in the short term. However, it costs you more money in the long run.
Don’t forget about OEM parts, either. Aftermarket parts are usually cheaper but don’t always meet the quality standards of OEM parts. Cheap parts can fail sooner, cause compatibility issues, or put extra stress on related components.
Monitor Tires and Suspension Like a Hawk
Tires and suspension take a beating on the average refuse route. Between constant stopping, curbs, potholes, heavy weights, and tight turning radii, tires and suspension wear significantly faster than some other components.
Tire problems can also cause your steering, suspension, and driveline to suffer.
Fleet managers should keep a close eye on:
- Tire pressure
- Tire tread
- Alignment
- Suspension bushings
- Shock absorbers
- Springs
- Axles
- Steering components
Misalignment or worn suspension doesn’t just cause your tires to wear down faster. Your truck suffers as a whole.
Drivers should also try not to bash curbs too aggressively. Continually bouncing your truck off curbs wears down wheels, suspension, and steering components.
Don’t Put Off Small Repairs
Letting small problems go is one of the worst money drains for any fleet. Oil leaks, check engine lights, or strange noises should be addressed ASAP. Refuse trucks don’t magically repair themselves.
Small problems left to fester become bigger problems. Here are a few examples:
- Minor hydraulic leaks turn into pump failures
- Cooling system problem turns into engine failure
- Brake wear leads to rotor/drums damage
- Electrical issue spreads throughout wiring harness
- Small crack turns into structural failure
Fixing things before they break will always cost you less than pulling your truck off the road for emergency repairs.
Broken trucks also mean unhappy customers. Don’t forget about the downtime, missed routes, overtime pay, truck rentals, and other expenses that come with sudden vehicle failure.
Use Fleet Data to Your Advantage
Tracking your maintenance and repair data can help you identify trends to improve vehicle lifespan. Data can show you:
- Repeat failures
- High-cost vehicles
- Wear patterns
- Driver issues
- Fuel efficiency
- Idle times
- PM compliance
- Predicted replacement dates
Fleet data takes your maintenance strategy from reactive to proactive. If you pay attention to the data, you can predict when something is going to fail before it happens.
Fleet management experts agree that tracking lifecycle costs, maintenance history, and component wear can drastically improve your fleet’s long-term performance. (FleetRabbit)
Refurbishment Adds Years to Service Life
Many waste management companies throw their trucks away when they could still have years of service left with some good refurbishment work.
Some trucks are better off refurbished than buying new. Refurbishment can include:
- Frame repairs
- Hydraulic system rebuilds
- Body-off restoration
- Suspension refurbishment
- Paint job/corrosion repair
- Update electrical system
- Replace worn components
- Body swaps
Atlantic Heavy Duty provides waste management companies with full repair and refurbishment services to restore your trucks to like-new condition.
Refurbishing your trucks allows you to squeeze more life out of your current fleet while spending less on capital expenses.
Keep an Eye On Cooling Systems
Your trucks operate under a lot of heat. Idling engines, heavy loads, and constant starting/stopping creates excess heat.
Neglecting your truck’s cooling system is a leading cause of failed engines in the waste industry.
Maintenance technicians should inspect:
- Radiator
- Coolant level
- Cooling fans
- Water pump
- Hoses
- Belts
- Thermostat
Due to constant debris and dust, refuse trucks often have filthy radiators. Make sure you keep yours clean.
Allowing your engine to overheat once or twice doesn’t seem too bad…until it drastically reduces your engine’s lifespan.
Lubrication is Important
Your truck has tons of moving parts that require lubrication. Hydraulics, lift arms, and compaction systems are just a few examples.
If you neglect your lubrication schedule, wear and tear will increase.
Don’t Neglect Your:
- Lift arms
- Pivot points
- Compaction systems
- Suspension components
- Driveline
- Hydraulic mechanisms
Some fleets even create separate lubrication schedules to ensure they never miss another PM.
Pay Attention to Load Weight
Overloading your truck is another great way to decrease its lifespan. More weight means more stress on your:
- Frame
- Suspension
- Axles
- Brake system
- Hydraulics
- Tires
- Engine
- Transmission
Continuously overloading your truck can cause major structural problems down the line.
Drivers and route managers should work together to avoid overloading your trucks.
Electrical Systems Require Maintenance Too
Don’t overlook your vehicle’s electrical system. Electrical problems can turn into major operational issues if not handled quickly.
Some electrical components to check:
- Wiring harness
- Battery terminals
- Lighting
- Sensors
- PTO controls
- Cameras
- Connectors
- Corrosion around terminals
Electrical corrosion and wear is a huge issue for waste fleets. Vehicles are constantly exposed to vibration and water/humidity. Make sure you inspect and protect electrical components exposed to these elements.
Partner with the Right Refuse Truck Service Company
Your best chance at increasing your vehicle’s lifespan is by teaming up with a company that specializes in refuse truck service. Most truck shops don’t understand the inner workings of your hydraulic systems, compaction system, PTO operation, or body system.
Atlantic Heavy Duty specializes in everything refuse. Our network of service providers understand how to maintain your McNeilus refuse trucks properly, and we’re proud to offer OEM parts directly from McNeilus.
Partnering with the right service providers can reduce your downtime and help you protect your vehicles in the long run.
Long-Term Benefits of Maintaining Your Refuse Trucks
Increasing the lifespan of your fleet’s refuse trucks can benefit your operation in many ways:
- Postpone replacement expenditures
- Increase ROI
- Less pressure to purchase new equipment
- Reduce emergency repairs Improve uptime
- Limit disruptions
- Increase resale value
- Reduce budget restrictions
Now more than ever, it’s critical to get the longest life possible out of your current fleet. New trucks have long lead times and come with a hefty price tag.
The fleets that do best aren’t the ones who constantly purchase new equipment. They’re the fleets that maintain their equipment year-round, train their drivers to care for their equipment, watch for wear trends, and fix problems before they happen.
Learning how to extend the life of your refuse truck by three to five years should start with a commitment to your vehicles and partnership with a company that understands the importance of maintaining your refuse trucks.
Atlantic Heavy Duty provides preventative maintenance, OEM parts, mobile service, fleet refurbishments, and major repair services specifically tailored to your refuse equipment. Learn how we can help your fleet at Atlantic Heavy Duty. Contact us today.