Maintenance of trucks: differences between preventive and corrective maintenance

For truck drivers, their vehicles are their main allies in their daily life. A simple mechanical failure or deficiency owing to lack of maintenance can cause the vehicle to be put out of action for hours or even days. This may entail a reasonable loss as well as delays in the routes to be covered.

The twosome between the driver and the truck has to be as robust as possible, so preventing potential maintenance failures that might jeopardise both of them is essential. But do you know the difference between preventive and corrective maintenance? We will explain it below:

• Preventive maintenance is that performed when aiming to keep the vehicle in good condition and to prevent, as its name suggests, potential mechanical failure. Its main aim is to eliminate risks and prevent trucks from being put out of action. It is the type of maintenance that is least taken into account; however, it is crucial since it acts as a perfect prevention tool.

• Corrective maintenance is the best known type. It is that performed when aiming to make the vehicle work correctly again. It involves repairing the vehicle; otherwise it would not be able to work adequately as a whole. In corrective maintenance, it is important to know the reasons of the breakdown to find out what failed and prevent similar situations in the future.

Both preventive and corrective maintenance play an essential role in all vehicles, more so in the case of trucks that spend long hours on the road. Good preventive maintenance will considerably reduce the probability of going to the garage for corrective maintenance. Indeed, when it comes to providing drivers with safety in their daily life, every measure must be taken.