The Monday morning walk round
- Tyres. Check the pressures against the figures for a loaded van, which are usually on a sticker inside the driver's door. Look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear. Heavy loads find weak tyres quickly.
- Lights. All of them, including brake lights and the number plate light. A blown bulb is an easy stop for the police and an easy MOT fail.
- Fluids. Engine oil, coolant, screen wash and, on newer diesels, AdBlue. Running out of AdBlue will stop the van from restarting.
- Brakes. If the pedal feels soft, the van pulls to one side or you hear grinding, get it looked at before the next job.
- Glass and mirrors. Clean, secure and not cracked.
- Load. Secured, and within the weight on the van's plate. An overloaded van wears out brakes, tyres and suspension, and you can be fined for it.
- Warning lights. Don't put tape over them. A DPF light on a diesel that only does short runs between jobs needs dealing with before it becomes an expensive repair.
Listen to the van
You drive it every day, so you'll notice a new knock, whine or vibration before anyone else. Mention it when you book, even if it seems minor. It usually saves time and money.
Service it for the work it does
A van that's loaded up, towing, or doing lots of short stop-start trips works harder than the mileage suggests. A full service once a year is the minimum, and an interim service in between is worth it for vans that earn their keep.
Keep a simple record
Whatever you drive, you're legally responsible for it being roadworthy. If you have staff driving your vans, a note of who checked what and when shows you take that seriously, and it helps you spot the van that keeps having the same problem.
Plan the downtime
Book the service and MOT together, a few weeks ahead, for a day when the van can be spared. If you run several vehicles, a trade account keeps the dates in one place.
Want us to take a look?
Book online in about a minute, or call 01323 315609.