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There are several specialized skills that you must be able to perform when you are driving for a car transport company. Remember that the rigs you will be driving will undoubtedly be quite large, which means that there is a lot of maintenance that must go into them each month and even every day. Also, you will be driving long distances, which means that you and your truck will be away from the general office for quite some time on each of your routes. Most car transport companies do not want you to seek out third party repairs unless it is absolutely necessary. Therefore, you must be sure to understand the basic truck maintenance skills that you can use to keep your truck in good shape. The more truck maintenance that you can do on your own, the better condition your truck will remain.

First of all, taking care of the outside of your truck might seem like it is purely cosmetic. And who wants to have a dirty truck all of the time, anyway? However, there are more reasons to keep your truck washed and clean than simply how it will look. If you keep your truck clean at all times, you will be able to see if there are any dents or scratches. Keeping your truck clean also helps to keep the paint in good condition, which will cut down on the chances of your truck developing rust. Therefore, cleaning your truck regularly and using the proper techniques and materials is an important step to take. Your truck will look better, and it will be in better condition as well.

What you put into your truck on a daily basis has a lot to do with what kind of shape your truck is going to be in. Using the right fuel, oil, and even windshield washer fluid can contribute to a truck that is in good condition. Along the same lines, using the incorrect fluids - especially fuel and oil - can make a mess out of your truck, and damage the way that it works. Before you take your truck on the first long trip, be sure that you understand what should go in it, and when.

Be sure that you know what your gauges mean, and how to read them, so that you're immediately alerted if there is a problem.

It is also important for you to maintain your truck by using it in the right way, at all times. There are driving laws for a reason! Be sure that you are driving correctly, not only so that you can follow the rules of the road, but also so that you can keep your truck in good working condition. You should know what speed limit is safe for the road, and also for your truck when you are hauling cars and when it is empty. You also want to be sure you are never overdriving the road conditions, as this can create situations where your truck is damaged.

The best way to take care of your own truck maintenance is to make sure that you don't need much of it. You should be able to fix small things when they break on your truck, and you should also know what to do so that you can prevent anything else from breaking or needing to be fixed. You may also want to take some classes on basic truck maintenance in order to get back on the road faster if something breaks. In fact, some companies in the car shipping world require these classes. Focus on doing what you can to keep your truck in good condition, and your daily maintenance should be easier.

Maintaining a semi-truck involves a number of procedures. Unlike a regular car--which must be inspected once a year --trucks suffer from constant wear and tear and maintenance checks are an ongoing necessity. Necessary truck maintenance includes:

- Frequent checks of all fluid levels--a vehicle as large as an 18-wheelers require much larger volumes of fluids and these fluids must remain clean in order for the vehicle to function properly.
- Brakes checks--the weight of these large vehicles makes the brakes particularly vulnerable to giving out. The amount of damage that can be inflicted on the highway by a truck without functioning brakes is massive.
- Tires--the weight carried by all 18 tires can cause frequent blow outs.
- The engine
- Lights--trucks have many lights on the vehicle to alert other drivers to their presence and their movements. Each of these lights should be properly working.
- Turn signals--because trucks are so large it can be very difficult for a truck driver to know if his or her turn signals are out. Therefore they should be checked before leaving for a job.
- Mirrors--the mirrors on 18-wheelers are the only things allowing the driver to see what is going on to the side or in the rear of him or her.