A better road maintenance plan keeps the wheels turning.
It’s that time of year again. All that pressure. All that red eyed tiredness. And then there’s all the financial strain. But that’s enough about the heavy pollen, and the hay fever, in this new allergy season. This is an article about delivery driving. Or more specifically, standard road maintenance. There is more to maintenance than routine refills, and checks. There is a long area of road preparation, that also compliments standard maintenance.
With this in mind, it might be easier to think of the things needed, to keep a vehicle on the road. For example, a spare tire. Having a spare tire is one of the easiest ways to recover in the event of a tire failure. In other words, the spare replaces the flat, and gets the courier off the side of the road. There’s only one problem with the previous statement. The spare doesn’t actually do anything but lay there waiting. Furthermore, a spare tire needs a jack and the wheel on the vehicle needs a lug wrench for removal.
These are the basic elements for replacing a flat tire. Comprehensive road maintenance means checking for these tools, and confirming that they are actually there in the vehicle. The next step is making sure they are in working order. A general check is enough to assure that the emergency road maintenance tools will work, if needed.
A Road Maintenance Plan
There is an old saying. Likewise, couriers appreciate old sayings. This one says that when someone fails, they probably didn’t plan to fail. They just failed to plan. This is the essence of preventative road maintenance. Planning for every contingency may not be possible. But it is possible to plan for as many as is foreseeable. Another positive example of this is a tire plug kit. For the cost of a few bucks, the courier can potentially save a hundred dollars or more.
Tire plug kits are a valuable asset to any healthy road maintenance tool kit. Furthermore, it is possible to use them in road side repair moments. Every courier has been there at least once. If a courier reading this has not been stranded on the side of the road while on delivery, that’s great, and it’s only a matter of time. Especially the longer the courier drives delivery. However, a good system of road maintenance, may delay that first time side of the road snafu. For the energetic and industrious courier, that could be an indefinite delay.
Similarly, a spare can of fix a flat tire repair, is a great addition to the toolkit. It has an emergency/longer term fix potential, depending on the cause of the flat tire. However, most slow leak tire situations are fixable with a can of fix a flat tire repair. Remember to read the label and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Some of the companies who manufacture this repair spray, are specific in their best use scenario. For best results, read the instructions for use.
Keeping the Wheels Turning
It’s about keeping the wheels turning. Every time the courier can bring the vehicle back with minimal wear, it is a bonus. Road maintenance is cheaper than vehicle repair. Or replacement. Checking the fluids and belts on a schedule, is a preventative action. It’s much easier to replace a belt on the vehicle, in a garage, than on the side of the road. Same way with a tire pressure gauge. It’s real time information that doesn’t rely on a computer, or Bluetooth system. Also affectionately called an old school solution.
Preventative road maintenance is a hands-on way to save real money. Furthermore, it’s a real world way to be well versed in the vehicle’s weak spots. Even new vehicles have weak spots. It might be as simple as a windshield that gets dirtier than other windshields. If that’s the case checking the tires is paramount. That’s a slight play on words, with the point being that regardless of the vehicle age, there is always a benefit from the upkeep of general road maintenance.
There is also a way to carry some of that maintenance along for the ride. Furthermore, this is especially useful when the courier is using a slightly older vehicle. Or a much older vehicle. Keeping an extra quart of oil and a spare jug of coolant onboard is a road maintenance pro tip. Being able to quickly manage issues like an overheating vehicle, or an oil light that pops up on the dashboard is road maintenance 101.
A Better Road Maintenance Plan
A better road maintenance plan is one that helps adapt to the various road situations, and emergency repair instances, that many couriers face. It is because a courier’s vehicle gets so much use, that couriers need real time repair help. Especially if there are no open repair shops, or service centers. Of course there are road assistance options and many of those are worthwhile alternatives. However, many couriers cannot afford a costly, paid, road maintenance plan. Therefore, a little diy maintenance, can help avoid more costly repairs.
Some additional items to further help with those on the road maintenance issues might help. Such as a quart of power steering fluid, or a pint of brake fluid. Additionally, some glass cleaner and a small squigy. However, it’s up to the courier which things might help with on the road emergencies. Every courier’s circumstances are different. Furthermore, some couriers may prefer to stay away from all maintenance and let the shop handle it when needed.
A healthy mix of courier attention, and shop attention, give the best overall care options for the courier’s ride. Taking care of the ride is a top priority for couriers. Furthermore, it is most effective when the maintenance of a vehicle can happen in real time. For example, when the whining noise under the hood, is a power steering pump with low fluid. Having a spare pint of power steering fluid onboard is a win win for the courier. Stay safe out there.
Like, share and follow the anonymous courier on X at @Theanonymousc1. Like and follow here for the Facebook page The Anonymous Courier on FB. Also find The anonymous courier on Pinterest.
Click on the Subscribe link to receive updates on new posts, updated posts and new features. Join today.
Comment here