According to AAA, in 2021, potholes cost drivers $26.5 billion in repair for damages. This amounts to an average cost of $600 per repair. Damages can include blown tires, pothole rim damage, alignment and balancing problems, and vehicle crashes. Even big wheels and robust suspension systems don’t make semi trucks immune to the damage potholes can do.
How Do Potholes Cause Damage in Semi Trucks?
#1. Tires
Potholes often have a hard edge that pushes the tire against the wheel when vehicles travel over them, cutting into the rubber of the tire or damaging belts that hold the tire together. Pothole tire damage can also include damage to tire treads. Keeping your truck’s tires correctly inflated will help them better handle traveling over potholes.
#2. Seats
Excessive bumps in the road can put increased wear and tear on your truck seats and the assembly connecting them to the floor of the vehicle. Over time, bolts connecting the seat to the floorboard can loosen, causing the seat to shift, which can cause ergonomic problems and may even become a safety hazard. Drivers should replace seats that are worn out or loose with new, ergonomically designed truck seats.
#3. Suspensions
Your truck’s suspension is designed to absorb bumps and shocks on the road, but over time it will degrade. Frequent trips over bumpy terrain will accelerate this process, causing problems such as misalignment, damaged shocks and struts, and broken ball joints. Regular inspection of your truck’s suspension will help you catch and fix problems before they become extensive.
#4. Mechanical Issues
Frequent jolts and bumps can have an impact on your vehicle’s mechanical components, such as the steering assembly jarring loose or damaging important parts of the vehicle. Engines and other key components face potential damage from excessive shocks on the road.
How to Avoid Pothole Damage to Your Semi
Potholes can be a frustrating and costly nuisance for truck drivers. With some careful driving techniques and preventive measures, you can avoid or minimize the damage caused by these road hazards, such as:
- Go slow: Pothole damage is more likely to occur at higher speeds, so make sure to reduce your speed when driving over rough roads.
- Make sure items in your vehicle are secured: Loose items in your car can shift and bounce around as you hit potholes, potentially causing damage to both the item itself and other parts of your vehicle. Secure all loose items before hitting the road.
- Keep safety items like seatbelts up to date: If you do hit a pothole and experience a jolt or impact, having properly functioning seat belts can help prevent injury by keeping you securely in place.
- Leave space between you and the vehicle ahead: Maintaining a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you allows for better visibility of potential hazards like potholes, giving you more time to react and avoid them if necessary. It also decreases the likelihood of rear-ending another car or truck if they need to suddenly swerve or brake to avoid a pothole themselves.
What to Do After Hitting Potholes
After hitting potholes, there are several steps you should take to assess and address any damage that may have occurred:
- Drive carefully: After hitting a pothole, proceed cautiously to see if there are any changes in how your vehicle handles or sounds.
- Listen for unusual noises: Pay attention to any new or unusual noises coming from your truck after hitting the pothole. These could indicate underlying damage that needs immediate attention.
- Pull over in a safe location: If you notice unusual sounds, find a safe location, like a rest stop or truck stop, to inspect your semi for damage.
- Check for visible signs of damage: If you don’t hear unusual noises, make sure to check for damages at your next stop. Look at your tires, wheels, suspension components, and undercarriage for any visible signs of pothole tire damage, such as flat or leaking tires and bent rims, as well as leaking fluids or loose parts.
- Verify seat bolts are tight and securely in place: Take the time to make sure your truck seats have not come loose and, if they have, tighten down bolts. Loose seats shake more and increase the risks of getting into an accident.
- Get your truck repaired: If you notice any issues or damages from hitting a pothole, it’s important to get your vehicle repaired by a mechanic as soon as possible to resolve any problems before they escalate.
