708-467-7181     16425 Van Dam Rd., South Holland, IL 60473

 

 

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    Service
    Trucks
    Leasing and Rental

Heavy Duty Truck Inspection: The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) unannounced Brake Safety Day that took place on April 25 of this year put nearly 1,600 vehicles with brake violations out of service.. CVSA holds brake-focused enforcement events throughout the year to identify and remove commercial motor vehicles with dangerous brake issues from our roads to reduce the number of crashes caused by or made more severe by faulty braking system performance.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks involved in a crash where the braking capacity of the truck was critical were 50 percent more likely to have a brake violation than trucks involved in crashes where the truck’s braking capacity was not critical.

The following observations were made during this year’s inspection:

    The U.S. conducted 10,074 commercial motor vehicle inspections
    14 percent of commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for brake violations
    8,128 air-braked trucks and tractors were identified as requiring anti-lock braking systems (ABS)
    10.2 percent of air-braked trucks and tractors had ABS violations
We fully inspect our trucks that are going for sale. Stop by at United Truck Sales or visit our website listings on truck paper.

 

Why Should You Have Your DPF/DOC Cleaned?

When left uncleaned, soot and ash will collect and could damage or destroy you filter. While soot and ash burn off as quickly as it accumulates when driving under load, it tends to accumulate and stay when idling or driving through slow-moving traffic.
A few key indicators that it is time for a professional cleaning are a loss in engine performance or an increase in frequency in regeneration cycles. With regular DPF cleanings you could see:

    Increased fuel efficiency
    Extended filter life
    Higher resale value if you decide to sell your truck at some point

A dirty filter may not sound like it could cause a lot of damage if left unattended, you’d be surprised by how costly it could be. This makes cleaning a necessary part of maintenance. When you factor in that replacements cost about $3,000, if not more, plus the cost of unexpected downtime, neglecting this relatively simple process could greatly affect your bottom line.
If you think your diesel is in need of DPF maintenance, visit our service department now. Our body shop and mobile truck service technicians are available to help you in Illinois.

 

Flooring
Flooring in the trailer is another important consideration. Aluminum flooring tends to result in a trailer that’s lighter, but wood flooring lets you secure loads to the planks and eventually replace the boards when they become worn. Aluminum flooring is also adequate for hauling sand, soft dirt, and gravel, but concrete blocks and debris will require steel flooring, which can increase the cost and weight of the trailer considerably.
Reefer Unit
If you’re looking for a used reefer trailer, pay particular attention to the age of the refrigeration components. Typically, sellers will be able to tell you the number of hours the refrigeration unit has been active. An average trailer of this type can rack up between 1,200 and 1,500 hours per year.