5 Tips for Inspecting Your Fleet After Flooding
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and other weather-related disasters can wreak havoc on commercial fleets. Heavy rainfall can cause roadways to flood, making it difficult for work trucks and vans to pass. After inclement weather, heavy-duty trucks and delivery vehicles are used to provide aid to those in need, while service trucks are essential for repairing electrical lines, so these vehicles will need to be ready for work. If your commercial vehicles have been exposed to flood waters, follow Commercial Truck Trader’s five tips for inspecting your fleet after flooding.
1. Identify if the Flood Water is Fresh or Salt Water
You may look at all flood water as bad, but salt water is much worse. If you live in a coastal area, salt water flooding can occur after a hurricane or tropical storm. Salt water is much more corrosive, which can quickly remove lubrication and damage your vehicles’ parts.
If you think your commercial vehicles have been exposed to salt water, you should immediately have a mechanic check all the components for damage and corrosion. You should be prepared to replace all the parts that were affected by the salt water.
Fresh water, on the other hand, is more manageable. You will need to do a deep clean of any work trucks or vans that passed through fresh flood water. If you suspect that a vehicle’s mechanical systems have water damage, take the vehicle to a mechanic for further evaluation.
2. Stay Safe When Inspecting a Flooded Vehicle
Water damage can be tricky to deal with, starting with identifying the parts of a vehicle that have been exposed. It’s important to take every precaution when inspecting a flooded vehicle, including:
- Don’t try to start a vehicle, as this can damage your vehicle’s engine, causing even more expensive problems.
- Disconnect the batteries before inspecting the vehicle to reduce the risk of an electrical malfunction.
- Clean a flooded engine before working on it to avoid exposure to harmful toxins and bacteria.
Taking these precautions can keep your mechanic safe and prevent any costly mistakes.
3. Inspect the Mechanical Components
After a flood, you should inspect all the lines, valves and connections of a vehicle’s mechanical system for water and contaminant damage, such as rust and corrosion.
Electrical Connections
The electrical connections should be cleaned and dried if there is moisture. You can also use grease to lubricate the terminals.
Air Brake System
To inspect the air brake system, drain any pressure in the control valve then remove all pneumatic and electrical connectors at each valve. It can be helpful to mark them so you can put the valves back when you finish. Look for any signs of moisture inside the components, including the connectors and air hoses. Any component with water damage will need to be replaced.
Air Dryer
The air dryer removes water vapor and other contaminants before they can reach the air tanks and valves. Whether your air dryer has signs of water damage or not, it can be more effective to replace the entire system after a flood.
Wheel End Sensing Systems
When inspecting the wheel end sensing systems, pay close attention to the sensors, sensor spring clip, and tooth wheels for water and contaminant damage. You might be able to clean the spring clip mounting blocks, lubricating sensors, and spring clips, if not, those components will need to be replaced.
4. Use Compressed Air to Remove Water
As you’re inspecting the different components of your commercial vehicles, it might be hard to remove water from tight, enclosed spaces. You can use compressed air to carefully blow through the tubes, valves, and service tank to remove water or other contaminants. If you can’t remove all of the moisture, you will likely need to replace that component.
5. Check the Interior of a Vehicle
It’s not just a vehicle’s mechanical structure that should be inspected after a flood. The interior fabrics should also be checked for water damage that could lead to mold and mildew. Inspect the vehicle’s rugs, upholstery, ceiling fabric, and seat belts for dampness. If moisture is present, you should dry these fabrics quickly instead of letting them air dry on their own, which could take long enough for mildew and foul odors to develop.
Take a close look at the seat brackets and other metal components inside the work truck or van that could rust from water contact. You should also test any electrical components, such as the windows, turn signals, hazard lights, and air conditioning, to make sure they’re still working.
If you’ve performed a full inspection and found no evidence of water or other contaminants, then you’re in the clear and your commercial vehicles can get back to work. For more tips on managing your fleet in inclement weather, check out our hurricane preparedness tips for fleet managers. And, if you’re shopping for new trucks to add to your fleet, browse the nationwide inventory on CommercialTruckTrader.com.
Arielle Patterson
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