In the moving and storage industry, your worries span beyond the cargo you carry. In order to keep you, your employees and your cargo safe and secure, you also need to worry about the condition of your trucks. One of the best ways to keep on top of that is with routine maintenance checks. On the top of your list, we recommend you put tire maintenance.

It makes sense, doesn’t it? The tires of your trucks and vans are some of the most important pieces of the puzzle. Without their safe maintenance, you could find yourself stranded, or worse, involved in an accident!

We’re going to talk about tire maintenance in two parts. This week, we’ll talk about the regulations and requirements as they are set forth by the U.S. Department Of Transportation – in this industry, you always want to be sure you are obeying the rules. And next week, we’ll talk about how to monitor and maintain your tires for safety.

As of April 2013, § 393.75 as it relates to tires lists all of the regulations for tires on commercial vehicles as well as restrictions, tire inflation rules and any other information you could want. At Wolpert Insurance, we want safety to be the top priority for your business, so allow us to break down some of the basics when it comes to tire safety regulations.

If your tires have:
• Ply or belt material exposed
• Tread
• Sidewalk separation
• Any cut
• Leaks

Then you cannot operate the vehicle and should repair or replace your tires.

Tread should be something you check on and maintain frequently. Any fire on the front wheels of a truck should have a tread groove depth of at least 4/32 of an inch. The front wheels are imperative to safety and no truck should be operated with retreaded tires on the front wheels.

Additionally, no commercial truck should be considered safe and operable if the tire inflation pressure is not at regulation. Checking on the tire inflation pressure is quick and simple and should be done regularly for safety. Depending on the size of the load, the tire inflation pressure requirements differ. The DOT recommends that if the average speed of the vehicle is between 41 and 55 mph, the minimum inflation pressure buildup should be 5 psi.

Just as not all trucks are created equal, neither are all tires. As part of our experience when it comes to movers insurance, Wolpert Insurance is committed to safety and regulatory facets of the moving and storage industry. If you need assistance with any regulation, you can always give the agency a call and someone will be more than happy to help!