Drivers can play a significant role in a fleet’s tire program. Simply giving new drivers a one-time ‘Tires 101’ crash course is just not enough. With the proper training, drivers can be your best resource by becoming the fleet’s early warning system for potential tire issues.
The morning driver walk-around needs to include a serious look at the tires. So what should the driver be looking for during this walk-around?
• Tires should wear smooth and even. If the driver sees evidence of shoulder cupping, depressed rib wear, alternate lug wear, diagonal wear, one sided wear, fast centerline wear, or erratic wear, he/she needs to write this up and get the mechanics involved. It may be a simple misalignment (toe-in or toe-out) or it may be an issue with the suspension system. It could also be due to underinflation or mismatched dual tires.
Sometimes it could be related to tire manufacturing itself such as a missed nail hole during the retreading process.
Measuring tread depths is another task that a driver can easily be trained to perform. Every fleet has a target removal tread depth based on wheel position.
It’s important to try to hit this target in order to maximize tire mileage while protecting the casing prior to retreading.
As an example, if the target tread depth removal point is 4/32-inch for trailer tires and the tires come out of service with 2/32-inch because nobody was checking, the result may negatively affect the casing because of stone drilling.
Low tread depth also make the casing more susceptible to puncture damage.
Checking the tire sidewalls for any signs of distortion is another easy check that drivers can perform. Curb damage may lead to tire sidewall issues that show up as cuts and/or rubber chunking. Sometimes you can even see a sidewall bubble develop.
One of the most important things a driver can do is to check tire pressures with a calibrated air pressure gauge. These gauges need to be regularly inspected and checked for accuracy because they are notorious for going bad very quickly.
Most drivers check their steer tire air pressures but drives and trailers are typically neglected – especially the inside duals. Heat is a tires worst enemy, so keeping all tires properly inflated will go a long way in maximizing tire mileage, reducing uneven wear, and increasing your fuel economy.
Drivers are not experts in tires, but being able to identify potential tire issues early on and can prove to be a dealer’s best ally in reducing a fleet’s annual tire budget. Keeping drivers involved with your efforts will significantly reduce your customer’s tire costs.
