Dump Truck Preventive Maintenance Schedule
Published March 17, 2026·Last reviewed March 17, 2026·8 min read
Short answer
Reserve $0.15–$0.22 per operating mile for maintenance. Full PM every 250 engine hours or 10,000 miles. Deferred maintenance is the #1 cause of one-truck operator failure.
The transmission you rebuild is always cheaper than the one that dies on a Tuesday morning with three loads booked.
PM interval sheet
| Interval | Service |
|---|---|
| Daily | Pre-trip: lights, tires, air pressure, bed pins, tailgate latch |
| Weekly | Grease all fittings, check hydraulic fluid, inspect hoist cylinder |
| Every 250 hours / 10k mi | Full oil + filter, fuel filter, coolant test, brake adjustment |
| Every 500 hours / 20k mi | Transmission service, diff fluid, air dryer cartridge |
| Annually | DOT inspection, alignment, hydraulic system full-flush |
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