Every dollar you skip on preventive maintenance shows up later with interest — usually as a tow bill, a roadside repair, and a week you can't run. The question isn't whether to do PM. It's what to do, and when.

Here's a practical semi truck preventive maintenance schedule built around miles and the calendar, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Why PM protects your income, not just your truck

Your truck only earns when the wheels turn. A $250 coolant service done on time is cheap. The same neglected system that overheats on I-80 becomes a tow, a shop bill, a hotel, and days of downtime.

PM is the highest-ROI money you spend as an owner-operator. Treat the schedule below as a floor, not a ceiling — always follow your engine and component maker's specs.

The mileage-based intervals

These are the workhorse intervals. Track them by odometer and log every service.

Every 15,000–25,000 miles

  • Engine oil and filter — the single most important interval. Long-haul trucks running synthetic and oil analysis may stretch it; verify with a sample, don't guess.
  • Fuel filters — swap primary and secondary on schedule to protect injectors.
  • Chassis greasing — kingpins, tie rods, slack adjusters, U-joints, fifth wheel. Skipping this quietly destroys expensive parts.

Every 25,000–50,000 miles

  • Air dryer cartridge — cheap insurance against water in the air system.
  • Transmission and differential fluid check — inspect for level and metal.
  • Brake inspection — measure lining, check drums/rotors, adjust and verify air.

Every 100,000+ miles

  • Coolant service — test additive levels; full flush per your engine spec.
  • Valve adjustment / overhead — follow the manufacturer interval to protect fuel economy and injectors.
  • DPF cleaning — a clogged aftertreatment system triggers derates and costly regens.

The calendar-based checks

Some things wear by time, not just miles — especially if you're parked between loads.

  • Daily: your pre-trip. Tires, lights, air leaks, fluid levels, coupling. This is where you catch the $20 problem before it strands you.
  • Weekly: tire pressure with a real gauge (not a boot), belt condition, battery terminals, wiper and washer.
  • Monthly: tire tread depth and wear pattern, cab air filter, DEF quality, hoses and clamps.
  • Annually: your DOT annual inspection, plus a deeper look at suspension, steering, and the exhaust system.

Build a paper trail — it pays you back

Keep a simple log of every service, date, and mileage. It protects your warranty, sharpens your resale value, and turns "I think it's due" into "I know exactly when."

We keep more maintenance and cost-planning tools in the ARI resource center so you can budget PM as a fixed cost of doing business, not a surprise.

Keep the miles paying while you maintain

PM only pays off if the truck is actually loaded and rolling between services. That's where running with the right carrier matters.

ARI is a motor carrier — you lease on and run under ARI's authority, so you're not chasing your own load board between shop visits. A dedicated dispatcher who caps at seven trucks keeps your lanes steady, and same-day pay with zero escrow means your cash is on hand when a repair bill lands.

Fuel discounts up to $0.45/gallon and a true 82% revenue share leave more room in your budget for the maintenance that keeps you out of the shop.

Do the PM. Keep the truck earning. If you want steady freight under an established authority while you run a tight maintenance program, see how leasing on with ARI works, or call (888) 600-9098.