Get Them Before The Next Big Blowout — the Key to a Cleaner Environment
If you own a truck, then you need a truck spill kit.
There’s no doubt about it – trucking is a messy business. The sheer size and weight of a truck means that it can destroy bridges and roads, damage nearby property, and cause the occasional spill. The driver may not even be aware that anything has happened until they reach their destination to make matters worse. This could be hours later, during which time an oil leak could have caused significant damage to the environment. Truck spills can also be costly for companies to clean up, mainly if they occur in environmentally sensitive areas such as near rivers.
Do your trucks transport oil, chemicals, or other hazardous materials? What are your environmental policies? Here’s how truck spill kits can prevent big problems at a meager cost.
11 tips for preventing spills and expensive clean-ups from a truck spill kit
Are you looking for a way to prevent your company from having an environmental disaster? Truck spill kits can help. Truck spills can be a costly and potentially hazardous affair. It is essential to take care of truck spills immediately because the consequences can be pretty expensive if left untreated. This article will provide a few examples of how doing certain things will make a difference in what happens.
A few different things can cause truck spills, and no two truck spills are alike. The only thing that all truck spills have in common is that they are all something that you do not want to have happen to your business. Here are best practices and recommendations for how to prevent, prepare for, and clean up after a spill:
- Oil cap – All vehicles leak a small amount of oil; it is unavoidable. An oil cap will help you keep track of the amount of oil that is lost from your vehicles. This is especially true on a truck that is carrying a full load because, with a full load, the oil has less room to move around in and will leak out more quickly. If you notice that there is an excessive amount of oil leaking, you should have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. This will help you from getting a big-ticket fine.
- Use the correct amount of oil – When you are filling up your oil, make sure that you are using the right amount. The owner’s manual that came with your vehicle should indicate how much oil your truck requires when it is full. Most trucks require several quarts of oil when they are complete, and if too little is used it can cause a big mess.
- Check your oil level frequently – The only time that you should ever let your oil get below the “full” mark is when you are taking it in for service. If you go over a certain level your engine may not be getting enough lubrication, which can cause damage.
- Use the correct type of oil – Make sure that you are using the proper type of oil for your vehicle. The owner’s manual should tell you what kind of oil you should use, and if you are not sure, ask your mechanic. You can damage your engine if the wrong oil is used.
- Tighten your lug nuts – It is essential to make sure that all of your lug nuts are on as tight as possible because this will help prevent them from coming loose when you are driving your truck around daily. If they are not tight enough on your vehicle, you will have to deal with a big spill.
- Take care of your tires – Make sure that you take care of your tires; tire pressure is the number one cause for truck spills. If the tire pressure gets low, it will cause your tire to lose its shape and cause the wheels to spin in the air. This can then cause a big mess when you are driving around.
- Properly store and load – Keep your truck loaded to the correct weight limits. If you do not do this then you will have a big mess on your hands. A big mess is going to cost you more money in the long run, so make sure that you do not have something that does not need to be transported fall through the cracks.
- Make sure everything is tied down – Make sure that all of your cargo is tied down securely. This can prevent a big spill and can quickly dispose of any problems as well. If your cargo is not tied down properly, it can shift and move around, which will cause a big mess.
- Prevent spillage – Whether you are using a roll-off or a dump truck, make sure you fill-up the hopper. Instead of having it sit on top of the hopper when you are transporting something, this can help prevent spillage. You should also make sure that the items you are carrying are packed in as tightly as possible to help prevent spillage.
- If possible, set up a secondary containment system outside the primary containment – to keep someone from accidentally stepping into the spill while trying to clean it up.
- Have a spill cleanup kit on hand – Having a truck spill cleanup kit that you can use in case you have a truck spill will help ensure that things are taken care of promptly. If you do not have this, it will cost you way more money to clean up the mess. This is the best way to prevent big truck spills from occurring.
These are just a few examples of things you can do to prevent big truck spills in your operation. These should be enough to help you get started on avoiding big truck spills from occurring in your business. As time goes on, you will expand your ideas and add many more precautions to help protect your trucks from getting into accidents. This will save you money in the long run and protect the trucks that you have invested so much money in.
Things that you might need for your truck spill kit
When it comes to the environment, one event can change everything. A simple accident can become a major environmental problem when your company isn’t prepared. That’s why any business that transports liquid products should have a truck spill kit on hand. Specialized truck spill kits are designed to handle minor spills and significant accidents. They contain everything your business needs to clean up a trucking accident and restore the area to its original condition. Whether you’re responsible for transporting chemicals, waste, or oil, these kits are essential for protecting the environment. You need supplies for several eventualities: big spills and small leaks or spills.
So how can you be prepared?
For Small leaks and spills, you can handle them by having suitable truck spill kits handy.
They’re available as oil only, hazmat, or universal Absorbent powder like SPILL KING. Just be sure to get one or several for the substances you usually transport.
Additionally, you should be prepared for large spills. If that is the case, you need more than just absorbents to mop up the mess. You’ll have to contain the spill first to ensure it won’t spread any further and cause more damage to the environment.
Spill berms and spill booms are ideal for containing such spills, especially if your route regularly takes you close to the water. You may also want to keep some of each with you.
If you have a spill on land, just make berms around it so that the oil, hazmat chemicals, or any other chemical will stay within the berms.
Now you can go ahead and deploy your truck spill kits and clean things up. Of course, this means that you should also have plenty of Spill King absorbent handy. But in a pinch, those can be brought in later, just as long as you have your spill well contained.
Still, be sure to keep at least some truck spill kits handy. They can make quick work of minor leaks or small spills.
Conclusion
Trucks may look big, but they’re vulnerable when they transport hazardous materials. Their heavy loads have the potential of causing big problems.
First of all, their sheer size makes them harder to maneuver. And their weight and the fact that they tend to be top-heavy can mean that a curve that turns out tighter than expected can easily cause a roll-over accident. Then what?
Sometimes you may just find that your big rig’s tank has sprung a leak. Either way, its best to be prepared. Calling for assistance when the leak or spill has already happened will mean that you lose valuable time during which the chemicals will be able to spread and cause big damage.