Preventive maintenance, often shortened to PM, is the practice of inspecting and servicing vehicles at planned intervals instead of waiting for something to break. For a business that relies on trucks and vans, a PM schedule is the single most effective way to control repair costs and avoid unplanned downtime. Under the Bus Auto runs preventive maintenance programs on site for fleets in Canon City and across Fremont County.
How a Preventive Maintenance Schedule Works
Each vehicle is assigned service intervals based on its manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and how it is actually used. A pickup that tows equipment on gravel roads needs shorter intervals than a car that drives across town. Common interval triggers include mileage, engine hours for vehicles that idle on job sites, and calendar time for vehicles that sit between uses.
At each visit we perform the scheduled service, inspect the systems most likely to cause trouble, and note anything that should be addressed at the next visit. That gives you time to budget for upcoming work instead of reacting to a breakdown.
What a PM Inspection Covers
- Engine oil and filter, plus air and cabin filters.
- Brake pads, rotors, lines, hoses and brake fluid condition.
- Tires: tread depth, pressure, uneven wear and damage.
- Steering and suspension: ball joints, tie rods, shocks, struts and bushings.
- Battery condition, terminals, starter and charging output.
- Belts, hoses, coolant strength and leaks.
- Transmission, differential and transfer case fluids as scheduled.
- Lights, wipers, washer fluid, horn and mirrors.
- Check engine and other warning lights, with code scans when needed.
Why Preventive Maintenance Pays Off
Lower Repair Costs
Replacing brake pads on schedule costs a fraction of replacing pads, rotors and calipers after metal-on-metal damage. A ten-dollar hose replaced during an inspection prevents an overheated engine on the highway. Most expensive repairs begin as small, inexpensive ones.
Fewer Breakdowns
Vehicles that are inspected regularly fail far less often on the job. That protects your schedule, your customers’ schedules and your drivers.
Longer Vehicle Life and Better Resale
Consistently maintained vehicles stay in service longer and are worth more when it is time to replace them.
Safer Vehicles
Brakes, tires, steering and lights are safety systems. Regular inspection is part of operating responsibly.
Preventive Maintenance at Your Location
Because we come to you, PM visits do not pull drivers off the road for a shop trip. We can service vehicles at your yard before crews leave, on a set day each month, or on a rotating schedule so only one or two vehicles are out of service at a time.
Return to fleet maintenance services or see our other fleet services: preventive maintenance, fleet oil changes, fleet brake service, fleet winterization, diesel and work truck maintenance and trailer repair.
Schedule Fleet Preventive Maintenance in Canon City
Call (719) 964-0522 or send us a message to book service. We work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Tell us the year, make and model, what the vehicle is doing, and where it is parked, and we will confirm what we can handle on site.