If you own and operate a fleet of large trucks, such as diesel trucks, 18-wheelers, and other heavy-duty vehicles, you understand that a breakdown can cost big bucks. Trucks transport approximately 70% of consumable goods throughout the United States. With a current shortage in available truck drivers, delays are already at an all-time high. Add into the equation a broken-down truck and you may have some extremely unhappy customers on your hands.

If you own a car, you know that you need to take care of the major repairs as quickly as possible. After all, you know it's not safe to drive around town with faulty brakes. However, if you're like most drivers, you might not pay as much attention to the seemingly minor problems that can affect your car. Here are just four of the seemingly minor problems that should be taken care of right away.

All motorists need to have a spare tire in their cars. If you have a flat tire, it is not safe to drive on it and you might damage your car. Instead, you'll need to take out your spare tire and use that temporarily until you are able to head to a tire dealer. However, you might wonder how long you can drive on the spare tire. It's important to know how to drive safely with a spare and how long it is safe to drive.

The ability to switch between gears is an important aspect of the functionality of a vehicle, and struggling to do so means that something is wrong. Even if you don't struggle to switch between gears but hear a popping sound during the process of doing so is a good sign that your vehicle is in need of an inspection. The first area of your vehicle that a mechanic is likely to focus on to resolve such a problem is the transmission since it plays a big role in gear functionality.

Auto transmission services are needed in a number of instances to avoid further damage to your transmission. The transmission in your vehicle can last up to 200,000 miles, but you have to take care of it when there are signs of trouble. While a fluid leak can be an easy repair, ignoring the fluid leak can cause the transmission to fail completely. Whether you have trouble changing gears, or your transmission warning light has turned on, any sign of problems with your transmission means it's time to bring your vehicle in for services.

Diesel engines, particularly those in semi-trucks, have their own unique set of problems. While their engines are similar to those in passenger vehicles that have diesel engines, the engines inside these commercial trucks are much larger, require more power, and eat up more fuel and lubricants. On top of that, they can have any number of other issues. Some of those common issues and how they are fixed are as follows.

If you have a diesel truck, then you should know that you will need to invest in different types of maintenance tasks and services than if you owned a gas vehicle. One of the more important services involves the replacement of the fuel filter. Find out more about the filter, why it is needed, and how to determine if you need a new one.  What Is A Diesel Fuel Filter? ​Diesel trucks are obviously different from other vehicles in the fact that they use diesel fuel instead of gasoline.

When it comes to taking care of your vehicle, you need to make sure that you keep your vehicle properly aligned. Alignment refers to the position your wheels are in when your steering wheel is perfectly straight. Reason #1: Poor Alignment Impacts the Lifespan of Your Tires When your vehicle is properly aligned, your tires will be in the most optimal position, which means that your tires should wear down in an even manner.

A fifth wheel is a camper you tow behind your own truck or car. The name fifth wheel refers to the fact that your vehicle has four wheels and you are towing something else behind with wheels, thus making the camper the fifth wheel attached to your vehicle. There are certainly plenty of benefits to having a fifth wheel camper, including the fact that they do not cost as much as an RV and they will never require engine repair or engine maintenance.

Although it is certainly possible for brakes to give out without warning, there are usually red flags along the way leading up to the final breakdown. You may notice that it takes longer to stop when you're traveling at certain speeds, the brakes don't feel as tight when you press down on them, or a screeching sound erupts the moment you try to come to a complete stop. All of these are signs that your brakes aren't as sound as they need to be.