Common findings on PM service audits
These are the shortcuts we most often catch when we follow behind a scheduled preventive maintenance service.
This truck had a PM done in Jan 2026. Here is a picture of the oil filter that was on the unit.
Oil filter billed on a PM but never changed
What we found: The filter on the unit was dated 2021 and carried the name of Dickinson Fleet Services — a vendor that is no longer in business. The current vendor's invoice billed a new filter and 20 quarts of oil.
Why it matters: You paid for a service the unit did not receive, and the engine ran on oil that was past its service life. Not changing the filter is one of the most common shortcuts we see.
Two annual inspection stickers on the same trailer — the old decal was never removed when the new one was installed.
Old annual inspection sticker left on when a new one was applied
What we found: The trailer was carrying two annual inspection stickers stacked on top of each other. This trailer did not pass its annual inspection, and the DOT decal was not updated.
Why it matters: It is a simple detail that gets overlooked, but the decal is the only proof on the unit of a valid inspection. Layered stickers hide whether the inspection was actually done — and here it was not.
These are a sample. What we find on your units depends on your vendors, your equipment, and how closely the work was checked the last time it was billed.
Think your units might be in here?
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