Last year, 37,301 truckers were involved in road accidents, 370 of whom lost their lives. For a heavy truck owner in Montreal, regular truck mechanical maintenance should therefore be a priority!
The importance of heavy truck mechanical maintenance
The heavy-duty truck mechanical check must be performed every six or 12 months – depending on the type and weight of the vehicle.
If it has a gross vehicle weight rating of 7,258 kg or more, the owner must record the brake measurement so that it can be entered in the
Quebec Brake and Tire Measurement Registry.
From the first frost, a thorough check and tune-up will ensure that the truck is available and safe at all times.
Icy road conditions and rain can make driving hazardous and damage some of the
vehicle’s mechanical parts.
The windshield should be kept clear and unobstructed, especially when the cold weather sets in.
Buying quality windshield wipers is always a good investment.
Among the essential checks, it is important to inspect the connection of the connections, the signs of corrosion and the charge of the battery.
Since the temperature affects the pressure of the tires, it is important to remember to inflate them with nitrogen (0.2 bars of pressure) to maintain their stability.
Heavy trucks are called upon to travel long distances and are sometimes subject to downtime.
An equipment kit containing a set of jumper cables, a snow shovel, spare tires, extra windshield washer fluid and a mini mechanical repair toolbox is also required.
The maintenance sheet for your truck
This Regulatory Sheet must include certain information.
There is a “Vehicle Identification” section and another part, the “Verification/Maintenance” which includes 15 detailed item groups.
Identification
- Name and contact information of owner
- License plate number
- Model, make, year of vehicle
- Kilometer reading (by odometer)
Checking/Maintenance
- Date of maintenance
- List of items that were checked (with “compliant” or “non-compliant” notation)
- Work performed if applicable
- The signature of the mechanic who performed the mechanical maintenance (with his or her registration number)
- Mention of the name of the heavy truck garage
Heavy truck maintenance costs in Quebec
Heavy-duty truck preventive maintenance (HDM) – certified by the SAAQ – costs $85 for the file review fee, plus $5.55 for the sticker.
The cost of maintenance work can vary greatly depending on the repairs to be made and the heavy truck garage’s rates.
As a reference, we can foresee an annual budget of between $6,000 and $13,000 for heavy truck maintenance (including component changes, repairs and others) for a heavy truck over 4 years old.
Maintaining your truck regularly is first and foremost a matter of safety for the driver, but it is also the best option to avoid mechanical troubles and extend the useful life of the vehicle.
Since the mechanics of a heavy truck are quite complex, it is always best to entrust maintenance and repair to
heavy truck garage mechanics.
Ressorts Industriels Inc / C.T. Truck Center CAM Inc, a family business in Laval in operation since 1915, is the reference for
heavy truck mechanics in Montreal, Laval and region.
Discover all its services by visiting its website. To ask a question to the team of experts, or to make an appointment, do not hesitate to leave a message with your contact information on the online contact form.