Keeping a clean truck is essential for safety and efficiency. A dirty truck can harbor bacteria, mold, and mildew, posing health risks to the driver. A dirty, cluttered truck can also lead to decreased fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs, and reduced productivity. Here are some reasons why you should always keep your truck clean and organized.
- Shows Professionalism – Keeping your truck clean, neat, and tidy shows that you take pride in your work and yourself and that you
care about how Marvin Keller Trucking is represented. - Better Preparation for DOT Inspections – Anecdotal evidence suggests DOT officers are less likely to perform lengthy inspections on
trucks that appear clean and well-maintained. If you’re more likely to keep your truck clean, you’re also more likely to make the
effort to ensure everything is in good working order. - Better Maintenance Means Fewer Expensive Repairs – Dirt, grease, and grime can cover up small problems that can turn into big
problems later on. Ensuring your mechanical devices are clean and working can prevent expensive repairs down the line. Road salt is
a big contributor to rust and corrosion and should be cleaned early to avoid premature metal wear. Well-maintained trucks will
naturally have a better resale value as well. - Cluttered Cabs are Dangerous and Distracting – Cluttered space, cluttered mind. Studies show that better organized trucks lead to
better driving performance. Clutter can also roll around on your floors and interfere with pedals or cause distractions, so it’s best to
keep everything organized and out of the way. If your mirrors or windows are dirty or blocked that also hampers your ability to drive
safely. - Personal Hygiene and Safety – Falls are all too common in this industry. Keeping your steps, handrails, and thresholds free of dirt and
grease will help prevent slips and falls. It’s understandable that it’s not as easy to perform the same personal hygiene routines in a
truck than it is at home, but doing a 30-minute cleaning once a week can prevent downtime from sickness. Wipe down all your
surfaces, wash bedding, and remove any food or packaging waste. Do a more thorough cleaning once a month, cleaning upholstery
and floors.
With so many people sharing a truck now, it’s important that you take your truck partner into consideration. Would you want to be left with a mess when you start your rotation? Take shop workers into consideration when you need to have your truck worked on. Making sure your trailer is reasonably clean and in good condition before you go to a shipper is also important. When you go into a shipper and your trailer is
full of debris, or even rejected product, and you didn’t notice because you neglected to check the trailer before heading in, that reflects badly on us. Take a few minutes to make sure the trailer is in good condition for your next load, so we’re not scrambling later when the trailer is rejected.