PM Service

Does it start with a S, a R, or a P?

 

Seriously, a PM is more than just lube, oil and filters. (fuel and oil, 2 each on my Freightliner) The mechanics are supposed to check a list of items, a long list. Belts and hoses. Brakes and air lines. Suspension, air system, lighting, and more. Much more. A good shop actually will go thru this list, actually inspect these items - they're going to try and sell you stuff, so watch for that, make them show you. But if they show you stuff you need fixed, they're doing a good job for you. I think those guys who said they don't like working on your company's equipment gave you a hint. It might mean they're not getting paid to do a professional PM, that the company is only after lube, oil, and filters. In my little world, a good shop is right up there near the top of the list of what I call important.

 

You can't blame the mechanics, if your company is not willing to pay for what is needed. Sounds like it might be time to start looking for another job.

 

That depends. You would think they would be, however a lawyer would have to prove that they knew the truck had safety issues. I believe they could get around that, a couple of different ways.
The first way is them not documenting anything, and lying their butts off about it if anything happens. The second way is just the opposite, by documenting the hell out of everything including documenting that they notified whoever picked up the truck, in writing, that the truck was not safe to drive.
No way can the shop "hold the truck hostage," because the company won't authorize work on it. The only way they could do that, would be if the company did authorize the work, then did not pay for it.
This does not go back on the mechanics or the shop, it goes back on the management of the company. AND it goes back on the driver! If YOU, as the driver, know that the truck is unsafe, but you chose to drive it anyway, guess what. . .YOU are gonna be the goat if there is a problem.
Is your job worth your life, or the life of someone else? I guess only you can decide. It does sound like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, but we all have tough decisions that we have to make.

 

RussMuss, Big Don is right on this. It is time to start looking, if you haven't already. One other thing, and I think this is critical. Your CDL, your CSA file, and your work history are your own responsibility, not the mechanics, not the company's. So, never drive a rig that you know has violations aboard. That is crazy. And, don't let anybody tell you to drive an unsafe or non-compliant truck. It's not only irresponsible, unsafe, and risky, it also makes us all look bad, and you don't even know us! My $.02.

 

Well this opens an interesting topic. We call them P.M. s. So what is it? In many fleets it is a "PLANNED Maintenance" in other words change the oil and filters and grease it. Close your eyes and get it out the door. Or is it "Preventive Maintenance" ? We take a pro active approach and actually LOOK for things that might be waiting to fall off. I will tell you that in my experience most places run the former not the latter because of cost. They think they are saving money by putting off fixing things until they actually break. Like that u-joint that let go and now we can replace all the air lines, air tanks, drive shaft and the u-joint. But we saved money. Didn't we?