How Truck Wheel Alignment Could Make the Difference between Profit and Loss
If you are new to heavy vehicle ownership, you may still be learning best practices and figuring out how to operate your truck as efficiently as possible. You should know that in this game, the tiniest of tolerances can make a huge difference, and you need to ensure that your vehicle is correctly optimised on a fairly regular basis. What do you need to know about wheel alignment as a regular and scheduled activity?
Efficiency at Stake
If a heavy truck is improperly aligned, you will certainly notice the difference in your bottom line. You will probably use more tyres in a given year than you should and will also spend more money at the pump. As these two areas are probably the most critical for operational efficiency, you can see how important it is to check wheel alignment according to your overall use. The more miles you put on your rig, the more often you should check those small adjustments and make any necessary alterations.
Specialty Tools
Yet, this is not the same as trying to align a car or ute. You will need a special set of gauging equipment to find out exactly where you are before any alterations can be made.
Checking Offset
Bear in mind that heavy trucks have what is known as a "lateral offset." This refers to the position of the vehicle in relation to the centreline of the road and is often particularly difficult to assess. The axles must be in the correct position compared to the vehicle's frame, and this can sometimes involve the use of lasers or sensors.
Best Practice
In addition, the towing rig should be checked when connected to a trailer. Ideally, this should be done with the same trailer in place at each service visit to ensure conformity. Sensors can then be recalibrated to return more accurate alignment readings for the rig in question.
Replacing Parts
Sometimes, an alignment check will uncover mechanical issues with the vehicle. Of course, these will need to be rectified before any alignment can continue and so that accurate and efficient adjustments can be made.
Cost-Effective
It is worth outsourcing this work to an experienced truck technician and somebody who has the right specialist tools for the job. It could make the difference between efficient operation on the one hand and heavy financial losses at the end of the year on the other.
For more information about truck wheel alignment, contact a local professional.
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