There are many ways to keep your buses well-maintained throughout the year, but each season offers unique challenges. As the weather begins to warm up, it’s important to give your fleet a proper cleaning and inspection to ensure no damage was done during the harsh winter months.
Here are a few spring maintenance tips to keep your buses in tip-top shape for the warmer seasons ahead!
Clean the Exterior
After a snowy winter, you must wash all the ice melt and salt off your vehicles, helping to prolong the life of the exterior and protect them from corrosion and rust. This will also improve your vehicle’s aerodynamics, improving gas mileage and lowering fuel costs.
Washing your truck’s underbody, including the exhaust system and wheel wells, is also vital to the cleaning process.
Check for Critters
If your fleet has been in storage or outside all winter, it’s crucial to look for unwanted guests like mice, rats, or squirrels that like to build nests in vehicles during the cold months. Be sure to check engine compartments, cabin filters, and the inside of the dashboard, as these are perfect shelters for unwanted creatures to protect themselves against the wind, snow, and sub-zero temperatures.
Rodents can cause serious damage to your vehicles by nibbling on wires or making nests in the engine block, so you must check these spaces once the weather warms up.
Inspect Your Windshield Wipers
April and May typically bring a lot of rain, so you must ensure all your windshield wipers are in good condition. Dull or defective wiper blades can dramatically reduce visibility, which poses a real danger to your drivers and others on the road. Fleet managers or drivers should double-check all windshield wipers at the start of spring to ensure they can clear the windshield in the event of a downpour.
Pro Tip: Consider stowing spare sets of blades in your fleet vehicles for your drivers to install if they notice any issues with visibility on the job.
If you are looking to add some new buses to your fleet this season, Northwest Bus Sales has a large selection of new and used buses in great condition for you to choose from. Whether you need an extra charter bus for your traveling sports team or a shuttle bus for your college campus, we have a bus for any occasion!
Contact us at (800)231-7099 or browse our inventory online for more information on our bus selection.
