How Often Should You Service Your HGV?

When you oversee an HGV, servicing is critical for safety, legal compliance, efficiency, breakdown, prevention, and protecting the value of your important asset.

HGVs endure more stress than standard vehicles due to the long-distance travel that they undertake as well as the heavy loads, variable roads and seasonal conditions that they are subjected to.

In this article, leading providers of used HGVs and trucks, Walker Movements explains how often your HGV should be serviced and what servicing involves.

What is HGV servicing?

Servicing an HGV ensures that it is roadworthy and compliant with all DVSA regulations. It can help to identify any faults before they cause breakdowns or MOT failures, as well as extending the engine life and improving the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. In the long term, this can help to minimise any downtime and reduce your long-term maintenance costs.

There are several HGV services available. A safety inspection is required every 4-13 weeks, depending on the usage of the vehicle, whilst an interim service can offer basic maintenance between major services.

A full or major service is a comprehensive inspection and replacement schedule. Tachograph calibration is also part of a servicing routine and is required every two years, whilst servicing can also be used as MOT preparation.

What is completed during an HGV service?

Any HGV service can be incredibly comprehensive. Even an interim service will include an engine oil and filter change and a top up of all fluids like coolant, brake fluid, power steering and AdBlue. There will be brake condition checks, tyre tread, pressure and wear checks, and checks of the steering and suspension.

During a service, it is also necessary to look at the lights, indicators and electrical systems and run a basic diagnostic scan for fault codes.

A full or major service will cover all of this, as well as a full brake system inspection and component measurement. There will also need to be an air and fuel filter replacement, as well as checks on the gearbox and differential oil.

Full services also include an examination of the belts, hoses and hydraulics, as well as checks for the exhaust system emissions, wheel alignment and torque. The vehicle will also need to undergo a battery health test and a chassis lubrication with a full underbody inspection. There also needs to be a full diagnostic review of any onboard systems.

Safety inspection tasks include looking at the mirrors, camera systems and visibility aids as well as the ABS or EBS functionality and load security points.

There should be a fifth wheel or kingpin inspection for articulated lorries, and bodywork, doors and shutter mechanisms also need to be checked. The windscreen and wipers will need inspecting and if there is a trailer this should be checked as well.

How often should you service an HGV?

Based on industry standards and DVSA expectations, safety inspections need to take place every 4-13 weeks, depending on the vehicle’s age, mileage and operating conditions. Any newer long-haul trucks may manage 10-13 week intervals whilst older or urban operation vehicles need 4-6 week intervals.

An interim service should take place every six months or roughly 20,000-25,000 miles. This is often aligned with brake checks and oil changes.

Full services should be conducted every 12 months or approximately 40,000-50,000 miles, depending on the guidance from the manufacturer.

You will also need to conduct an annual MOT, so many operators align their full servicing with MOT preparation for efficiency.

The age of your vehicle will have a big impact on how often your truck needs servicing. Mileage and usage intensity also needs to be taken into consideration as long-haul, or daily-use will accelerate any wear.

The operating environment of an HGV is a significant factor in servicing. Any urban stop-start driving increases wear on the brakes and tyres, whilst off-road or construction routes will introduce dust and vibration issues. The lower motorway runs are generally lower wear, but heavy loads will always strain the brakes, suspension and engine, so this needs to be thought about.

The importance of seasonal servicing

HGVs experience different seasonal stresses, with temperature changes, road conditions, and increased moisture or salt exposure all having an effect on the vehicle.

During winter you will need a battery and charging system inspection, and the coolant strength and antifreeze concentration will need to be checked. Heater and demister systems will have to undergo tests and you need to conduct tyre checks for winter suitability.

The brakes and ABS or EBS systems will need moisture checks, and your exhaust and emissions will need to be looked at to prevent any cold-start issues. It is also important to conduct an inspection for salt corrosion and any underbody protection that is needed.

During the summer, it is the cooling system health that needs your attention, so look at radiators, hoses and coolant levels. The air conditioning system will need testing for driver comfort and safety, and tyre pressures should be monitored as hot roads increase the risk of blowouts. Brake fade checks should be conducted for long downhill runs, and dust and filter cleaning will be necessary in any dry weather conditions.

By adjusting your servicing with the seasons, you can help to prevent breakdowns at peak times, as well as keeping drivers safe in changing weather conditions. It can also help to ensure fuel efficiency is not impacted by any extremes of temperature and you can plan your fleet maintenance around your busiest periods.

Why regular HGV servicing protects your business

Regular servicing of your HGV is essential for legal compliance, as the DVSA can issue fines, prohibitions or revoke operator licences for poor maintenance. Regular inspections will also demonstrate a strong maintenance regime and good record keeping will support operators during audits or roadside checks.

It is also important for operational reliability, as servicing can dramatically reduce the risk of unexpected breakdowns that cause costly delays. This helps the fleet to meet all its delivery deadlines and contractual obligations without complications.

Servicing can also be a more cost-efficient route as it is often cheaper than the major repairs that are needed after neglect. It can help to protect the life of the engine and preserve the vehicle resale value.

HGV servicing should not be thought of as optional as it is essential for safety, compliance, reliability and cost control. By conducting regular services and seasonal checks, you can keep your vehicles in peak condition all year round.