Fleet Tire Inspection: Fill & Download for Free

My dad once opened up a truck parts business.At the time, he got a state contract to maintain a fleet of buses that daily were taking workers to a “brownfields clean up site” - about 50 miles away - for more than a year.The buses started getting an unusual number of flat tires - not really a big deal because the bus could keep going, then fix it while waiting for the next trip.After a while, something smelled fishy. The flat tires were saved and inspected. They went flat because of wear, not road hazard damage. Shop records showed that new tires had been put on those buses recently.Mysteriously, since the whole shop was in on the tire inspections, the problem went away for about three months.Then the shop manager came to my dad and showed him some worn-out bus tires. Shop records showed that new tires had been placed on those buses.Somebody was stealing bus tires. The state gov't could not have cared less, by the way. They weren't spending their own money, right?They called the insurance company. The insurance company hired a private investigator.He solved the case in two weeks.A tire mechanic was going through the motions of changing the tires but was, in fact, merely rotating them, then every Friday, taking ten fresh bus tires to a truck stop and selling them for cash to truck drivers.Interestingly, the bad guy seemed to have smelled something in the wind and stopped showing up for work.

I will appoligize in advance for my writing ability. I always seem to have someone wanting to correct me on Quora.I spent my entire career maintaining and managing fleet vehicles so I never had to sell people on work not needed to make my living. My vehicles I've always maintained myself and all are over 15 years old and approaching 200,000 miles. So work I don't do that is often sold by dealerships or other shops is:Wheel Alignments: If your tires treads are wearing evenly and your vehicle doesn't pull or shimmy there is no value to a wheel alignment. I do recommend routine safety inspections but if all above is ok don't waste your money on the alignment (Even after new tires have been installed).Brake fluid flushes: A waste of money, my vehicles above are still using their original fluid.Air Conditioning service: If your A/C is cold leave it alone.Cooling system flushes: Most vehicles have lifetime or long life Antifreeze. Follow the owner's manual on this one. Anything sooner than recommended is a waste of money.Shocks/Struts: If it ain't broke don't fix it. Generally an item often unnecessarily replaced.It is my 39 years of experience that repair shops (especially dealerships) want your money, the fact that your car gets service, well that's just the necessary evil!Yes, there are good mechanics and good shops, so If your an honest mechanic, than your should be proud of that and don't send me hates messages.

I drive a Mazda MX5 PRHT (pic is not mine, just found via Google Images)I was driving home from work one hot sunny day in Texas (we never have those) on a very crowded Highway (US75) in the left lane and I was about half way home when suddenly...Thump Thump Thump...I noticed that drivers were all passing me pointing at me and saying...something (I couldn't hear because the radio was so loud) but I figured it out. Flat Tire, DAMN!I slowly made my way through the already snarled traffic to the right side of the road. Luckily I was right near an entrance ramp so there was a painted triangle in the pavement that gave me considerable room as to not further snarl the traffic and piss off someone off with a gun in a hurry to get home to do their child's homework and watch Dancing With The Stars.Just as I pulled over a Plano Police SUV pulled up behind me. He angled his car into the right lane (so much for not snarling traffic) and came up to the window. He asked me to get out and get the spare out and he would help me fix it.Oh Boy!I showed him what Mazda considered a spare in these tiny cars.In lieu of a spare the car comes with an Instant Mobility System:Supposedly you are to fill the tire with the liquid provided and the use the compressor provided to refill the tire to provide temporary relief.He sighed heavier than me.He read the instructions (or lack thereof) and decided he would do the work and told me to stand behind him and make sure he didn't get killed (his words.)I did as he asked. He put the dispenser nozzle on the bottle, removed the tire valve and proceeded to fill the tire. What happened next was almost comical. I noticed the ground turning white and pointed this out (I had to shout over the roar of the traffic) Upon closer inspection of the tire, the inside wall of tire was completely shredded and the sealant was leaking all over the ground.In Dallas the DOT (Department of Traffic) has fleet of vehicles that drive the highways and help stranded motorists with all sorts of issues like providing a gallon of gas for those that ignore the little yellow light, or cars that quit in 110 degree heat or motorists with flat tires. The Police have a direct line to them. The Officer radioed for help and within just a few minutes the guys showed up.They jacked up the car and removed the tire. and placed it in the SUV. Glancing just over the east side of the highway there was a Discount Tire shop (DT). They are a National Tire retailer in the US, it also happens to be where I purchase my tires.He told me to get in the SUV, we exited the highway and drove over to DT. He went inside and got one of the service technicians to help. This place is always crowded so getting help is never quick, you need an appointment just to buy tires so having a PO go in was very helpful!When you buy tires at DT, for an extra few dollars per tire you can get road hazard insurance, if the tire fails or you hit something in the road that shreds the tire, they replace the tire for the price of re-buying the insurance on the new one (about $30) regardless of the price of the tire. Tires for my car are typically about $125 each so $30 for a new tire was a bargain. They got me a new tire and mounted it on the rim and we were back off to my car in less than 30 minutes.The DOT guys were still there waiting. They put my tire back on the car and sent me on my way. The whole ordeal was about 90 minutes and the officer orchestrated the entire thing like a symphony. He gave me his card and told me if I ever see any traffic or a vehicle that needed help, or if I ever needed help, to please call him.I thanked him and got in my car and drove home. I still carry his card.