For heavy equipment teams, keeping your equipment in top shape is a constant battle against the elements. The daily grind of pressure, dust, heat, and constant use wears down parts faster than you can say "construction." That's why understanding the ins and outs of heavy equipment maintenance is crucial — it can be the difference between preventing a breakdown before it happens, and an unexpected repair that breaks the bank.
In this post we'll share our essential checklist for heavy equipment maintenance, from standard engine upkeep to technical maintenance for specialty equipment like concrete pumping and hydrovac trucks. Read on to learn more!
Inside this article:
Heavy equipment job sites are harsh environments — things like dust, heat, extreme pressure, and constant use can cause parts to wear down extremely quickly. Heavy equipment maintenance includes anything you do to keep your trucks performing properly on the road and on the job site (one of the most important parts of maxing out your fleet utilization).
Traditional maintenance is usually geared toward things like repairs and part replacements that get equipment back up and running after a breakdown.
But don't forget about preventative maintenance. Regularly inspecting and caring for equipment before it breaks down is just as important — it can help you avoid repairs and downtime, and even extend the life of your equipment.
There are several types of heavy equipment maintenance, such as engine maintenance, standard maintenance, and daily preventative maintenance. Each type focuses on a specific aspect of the equipment and should be part of your maintenance program. According to the 1926.431 standard by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), employers in industries that use heavy equipment must regularly maintain the machines, especially in hazardous locations. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in fines per Section 17 of the OSHA Act. This checklist should help keep you on track.
Engine maintenance means inspecting and maintaining all the components that keep the engine running smoothly, such as filters, belts, and fluids.
A standard vehicle maintenance routine involves inspecting all the major systems, including the engine, transmission, hydraulics, and electrical systems.
As the name suggests, daily preventative maintenance means performing basic routine checks and maintenance tasks every day before starting the equipment. The operator can do it without much technical knowledge.
Some maintenance needs are common across all types of equipment, while others may be specific to certain machines.
For instance, an excavator may require different maintenance steps than a bulldozer. Here are the maintenance checklists for specific types of heavy equipment.
A concrete pump transfers liquid concrete from a mixer truck to a designated location, such as a building site.
It is prone to particle contamination since contaminants like gravel and sand can get inside the machine's pipes and pumps. Here are some maintenance tasks specific to concrete pumps:
The hydrovac is a combination of a water nozzle and a vacuum. It uses high-pressure water to excavate soil and rocks. The following are some maintenance tasks specific to hydrovacs:
Even with a heavy equipment maintenance checklist, it can be hard to stay on top of all the maintenance tasks for your machinery. If you're managing a large fleet of heavy equipment vehicles, it becomes even tougher. That's where fleet management software like RapidWorks comes in.
RapidWorks automatically tracks equipment usage and mileage while your team works, helping you schedule upcoming maintenance and giving you alerts when each truck is due. Schedule a demo to see RapidWorks in action today.