(Salzburg, March 10, 2023) – Snow, ice, wetness and storms: With changing weather in winter and sometimes extreme temperature changes, trucks can be damaged during the cold season. To avoid unpleasant surprises in spring, it is important to take precautions to avoid breakdowns, safety risks and sometimes expensive repairs. “Now is the right time to get your truck ready for spring,” emphasizes Jarno Bor, managing director at 24/7 ASSISTANCE. The largest independent mobility service provider for the commercial vehicle sector in Europe has summarized in a checklist all the things that need to be considered.

Whether trucks or trailers, the biggest enemy of both is road salt. In combination with cold, wet or stone chipping, it quickly leads to rust or damaged seals. If you don’t thoroughly remove salt and rust from the underbody and paint, in cavities or edges, or if you don’t repair damaged areas, you risk expensive and lengthy repairs and unnecessary downtime for the truck.

Tires and brakes, headlights, seals, the windshield and the underbody must also be carefully inspected. At the same time, you should check whether the curtainsiders are still watertight and all seals and welds are intact.

Comprehensive check for the tires

The tires should be checked very thoroughly. Here, it is important to look for track deviations and damage such as cuts or pressure marks. Possible defects can also be found in the wheel bearing. When is the right time to change from winter to summer tires depends on the intended use and weather forecast. It is important to retighten the wheel nuts after 100 kilometers, otherwise there is a risk of a worn axle stub due to the ever-increasing abrasion.

Don’t forget to replace the wiper blades and refill with new wiper water. It is also advisable to inspect the windshield for cracks and stone impacts. Anyone who does not have small damages repaired immediately can expect to pay up to 1000 euros for a new windshield.

Porous seals on doors, shock absorbers or headlights can also cause high follow-up costs. If they are no longer intact, moisture gets in and the lenses fog up or the reflectors go blind. This results in significantly reduced light output. It becomes dangerous when the moisture triggers a short circuit. This can result in a complete failure of the lighting.

Spring is also the best time of year to replace the cabin air filter. A fresh filter increases the wellbeing of the driver and is not too expensive at 20 to 100 euros depending on the manufacturer. Air conditioning disinfection is also recommended. It costs around 60 euros.

In addition, do not forget: Switching on the air conditioning every two months keeps the seals smooth. The same principle applies to the parking heater in summer. Running it occasionally for one to two hours cleans the combustion chambers and nozzles.

Should a breakdown occur despite all the good preparation, 24/7 ASSISTANCE will provide the necessary help. The emergency number +43 505 024 7 365 can be reached free of charge seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

The 24/7 ASSISTANCE eight-point spring checklist

1. Brakes: visually inspect or check on the brake tester.
2. Tires: Check pressure and inspect for damage and wear.
3. Cleaning: Clean vehicle of salt and check for rust spots. Seal paint damage with a touch-up stick.
4. Preservation and seals: Check vehicle preservation, especially on underbody, edges, doors and cavities.
5. Headlights: Check bulbs for water ingress. Check gaskets on headlights, dry, replace if necessary.
6. Windows: Inspect windshield for cracks and stone chips. Replace wiper blades and top up wiper water. Have small impacts repaired immediately.
7. Driver’s cab: Check the air-conditioning system for proper functioning and replace the cabin filter.
8. Make a note of the breakdown hotline: If a breakdown occurs despite preventive measures, the 24/7 ASSISTANCE hotline can be reached free of charge seven days a week, 24 hours a day at +43 505 024 7 365.