Heavy Duty Trucking, May 2018

HDT MAY 2018 84 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM leets revolve around tires Get them right and you can turn a healthy profit Get them wrong and your truck isnt going anywhere Get them really wrong and you could find yourself a defendant in court So having a jam up tire management program in place should be a priority for every trucking fleet But tires are notoriously difficult to manage Just checking air pressure or adding a few PSI to a low tire is such a hassle that many fleets are lucky just to get a pair of eyeballs on them and maybe a hearty whack with an old axe handle to start the day off And that just doesnt cut it Commercial vehicle tires today demand an attention to detail and a level of expertise that many fleet managers simply dont have the manpower or talent to maintain And thats just the maintenance side of the equation checking for regular and irregular wear repairing punctures and maintaining pressure That doesnt factor in the multiple lives tires lead as they are retreaded and moved onto difference positions on a tractor trailer All in all its often simply more than the average fleet maintenance shop can keep a handle on in an efficient and effective manner Which is why top tier tire suppliers have been increasingly stepping up to offer outsourcing options for fleets struggling to keep their rubber on the road and keep costs down Remote repair programs have been an integral fleet management for decades of course But given new technology and the importance proper tire management can have for fleet operations those product offerings have mushroomed in recent years Commercial tires require expert management to help ensure optimal performance and minimize expensive truck downtime says Johnny McIntosh general manager of services and solutions Goodyear Tire and Rubber The problem many fleets face today he says is that an expert tire management program requires dedicated personnel as well as specific allocations of time and resources which can sometimes detract from fleets core business of moving freight He says fleets that choose to entrust tire maintenance responsibilities to tire professionals are able to refocus on the maintenance operations they excel in while allowing tire experts with the necessary experience and expertise to establish tire management programs that Help for tire management headaches Bringing in an outside expert can help you quickly get a handle on daily tire issues such as pressure checks irregular wear and punctures Constantly evolving outsourced maintenance programs are helping fleets bring an unprecedented level of detail and expertise to total tire management are tailored to meet each fleets unique needs That was the initial advantage for Jeff Harris vice president of maintenance at USA Truck who stresses that in order for a tire maintenance program to be successful fleet managers must think carefully about what features are offered and how they best fit their overall operation If you can manage your own tire program internally to include purchasing mounting and dismounting you can possibly reap the benefits of better purchasing and cheaper labor rates he notes On the other hand if you cannot afford the manpower sometimes it makes sense to outsource versus losing a technician for four hours when it comes to changing a drive set when he or she By Jack Roberts Senior Editor jroberts@ truckinginfo com TIRES WHEELS F PHOTO MICHELIN