Heavy construction equipment faces regular exposure to harsh weather and other rough conditions, which can lead to wear and tear. A preventative maintenance program for your heavy equipment is non-negotiable if you want to maximize uptime and make the most of your investment in your fleet.
In this guide, we provide maintenance tips to help you standardize your processes, as well as a ready-to-use construction equipment maintenance checklist.
Key takeaways
- A construction equipment maintenance checklist ensures that all machines, from excavators to generators, stay safe, efficient, reliable, and compliant.
- A comprehensive heavy equipment maintenance checklist covers visual inspections, fluid levels, hydraulics, and other areas.
- A CMMS is the best way to track checklist action items, integrate tasks with the rest of your maintenance workflow, and streamline routine maintenance management.
How to use this checklist
Our routine maintenance checklist template includes generic maintenance tasks for various types of construction equipment. You’ll need to tailor it to the specific needs of your fleet. Here are some tips for making the most of it.
Customize your checklist
After you download our construction equipment maintenance checklist, the first step is to customize it. Remove tasks that aren’t relevant to your equipment portfolio, add missing ones, and tweak the rest.
Implement and monitor tasks
Once you’ve customized your checklist, it’s time to put the wheels in motion. Assign each maintenance task to a technician based on their skills and availability. Monitor the progress of the checklist to prevent backlogs and keep your heavy construction equipment in good shape.
Use a CMMS
A computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is the Swiss army knife of modern maintenance operations. Using this checklist with a CMMS will save you time tracking action items and creating a manual audit trail; you can also use it to assign technicians, alert technicians about tasks as they become due, and track real-time progress on routine maintenance items.
What’s included in a construction equipment maintenance checklist?
Let’s look at some maintenance tasks and equipment you need to cover in your checklist.
Visual inspections
Inspect your construction equipment for signs of damage, including cracks, leaks, loose bolts, worn tires, damaged hoses, or missing guards.
Fluid levels and lubrication
Check and top off engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and hydraulic oil. In most cases, following the manufacturer’s recommended grades and lubrication intervals can help manage repair costs. Both over- and under-lubrication can spell trouble.
Electrical and safety systems
Check your electrical and safety systems and make sure they’re functional. Inspect wiring for wear and corrosion, test warning lights, alarms, and backup cameras, and confirm that fire extinguishers and first-aid kits are accessible.
Engine and drivetrain
Check belts, spark plugs, and air intakes for wear or blockage, and ensure that the engine runs smoothly without excessive smoke or vibration.
For the drivetrain, inspect gearboxes, axles, and transmission for leaks or abnormal noise.
Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
Check hoses, fittings, seals, and cylinders for leaks, cracks, or pressure drops. Make sure the hydraulic filters are clean and fluid pressure is within spec.
Operator controls and cab
Verify that all control levers, pedals, and gauges work properly. Inspect seats, mirrors, HVAC systems, and seatbelts to ensure the operator’s work environment is safe and comfortable.
Heavy equipment maintenance checklist
Here’s what you need to do to keep your heavy machinery in good health and ensure operator safety:
Earthmoving equipment (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, graders)
Material handling equipment (cranes, forklifts, telehandlers)
Hauling equipment (dump trucks, articulated trucks)
Support equipment (generators, compressors, mixers, pumps)
Common daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance tasks
Here’s a typical daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal cadence for maintaining your heavy construction equipment.
Daily maintenance steps
Weekly maintenance steps
Monthly maintenance steps
Seasonal maintenance steps
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
How to track and document maintenance activities
Accurate documentation helps you gauge your maintenance program’s efficiency and comply with regulations. There are two ways to track and document your maintenance work. Let’s look at both of them.
Using a CMMS
Once you’ve imported your maintenance checklist into a CMMS, the next step is to add instructions as per your standard operating procedures (SOPs) so technicians don’t have to guess what they need to do. After adding instructions, assign each task to a technician based on skill and availability.
The CMMS notifies technicians when a maintenance task is due. Technicians can then log their progress via a mobile app so you can track things in real time.
Your CMMS also collects data that helps analyze maintenance performance and serves as an audit trail. All maintenance tasks are tied to a work order, which means you can review every task performed from the moment the work order was created through to completion. This includes parts used, team members involved in the work order, and any communication between team members.
Using a spreadsheet or printed checklist
This is the less efficient, less auditable option.
If you go this route, you’ll need to confirm with a technician that tasks were completed, manually check off tasks on the spreadsheet or paper, and use macros on the spreadsheet to build an audit trail. This approach is time-consuming and creates room for human error.
Heavy equipment maintenance best practices
There are a few steps you can take to create a comprehensive checklist, minimize mistakes, and achieve the best possible outcomes from your maintenance program. Here are six best practices to keep in mind:
- Understand your regulatory obligations: Familiarize yourself with your specific regulatory requirements. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.431 requires employers to ensure equipment is maintained so that wiring, switches, and other components are in safe condition. Different industries, regions or applications may have different regulatory requirements.
- Follow manufacturer guidelines: Manufacturers share service schedules, parts specs, and routine maintenance schedules for a reason. Use them as a baseline for keeping your equipment in the best condition.
- Plan for seasonal or environmental conditions: Cold, heat, dust, moisture, and corrosive environments can put your equipment’s health at risk. We’ve covered many of these in our seasonal maintenance checklist, but be sure to adjust based on your operating conditions and equipment.
- Keep detailed maintenance records: Make sure you log inspections, repairs, parts replaced, fault codes, downtime, and operator notes.
- Train operators properly: Preventive maintenance shouldn’t be a box-checking exercise. Train your operators on each task and conduct reviews after implementing the checklist to make sure they’re following your SOPs.
- Monitor performance metrics: Define KPIs and use a CMMS to track them. Use this data to identify trends and issues before they cause major failures.
Why use a CMMS for construction equipment preventive maintenance tracking?
A CMMS saves time by automating the implementation and management of your checklist. You can schedule construction equipment maintenance tasks at a specific frequency; when the task is due, the CMMS will automatically alert the technician so you don’t have to.
Your technicians can update work orders or ask questions through the mobile app, and when they mark the task done, you see the updated status in real time.
If you want to learn more about how a CMMS can help with fleet maintenance, book a demo of MaintainX.
FAQs
What is preventive maintenance for construction equipment?
Preventive maintenance involves proactively maintaining equipment before a failure occurs. It includes checking fluid levels, replacing filters, lubricating components, and inspecting critical parts. The goal is to increase equipment life, improve safety, and reduce downtime through effective maintenance practices, which can also help avoid costly repairs.
How often should construction equipment undergo preventive maintenance?
The frequency depends on multiple factors, including the type of equipment, usage hours, manufacturer recommendations, and operating conditions. In general, inspections should be conducted daily, with more thorough servicing performed on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis. Equipment in high use or operated in harsh environments may need shorter intervals. The best policy is to use the OEM’s recommended maintenance schedule.
What are the key components to inspect during preventive maintenance?
Key components to inspect include engine and drivetrain, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, brakes and steering, tires or tracks, and safety controls. You should also check fluids and filters, and replace as needed.
How can I track and document maintenance activities?
The best way to track and document construction equipment maintenance activities is to use a CMMS. A CMMS records inspections, repairs, parts used, and upcoming service dates. This makes it easier to monitor preventive maintenance work, maintain compliance and generate insightful reporting.
What are the benefits of a preventive maintenance checklist?
A preventive maintenance checklist ensures consistency and minimizes human error. It standardizes your heavy equipment maintenance process, helps track maintenance tasks, and maintains accurate records, resulting in increased uptime and improved safety.
Can preventive maintenance prevent unexpected breakdowns?
Yes. While there’s no guaranteed method to eliminate all failures, preventive maintenance significantly reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns. Regular inspections and servicing catch small issues like leaks, cracks, or worn parts before they lead to equipment failures and cause major damage. Consistent maintenance is the most efficient way to ensure uptime and reliability on construction sites while also reducing safety risks.
The MaintainX team is made up of maintenance and manufacturing experts. They’re here to share industry knowledge, explain product features, and help workers get more done with MaintainX!
