Wheel bearings are an important part of the braking mechanism. The wheel bearings are, quite simply, what keep your wheels turning, and with minimal friction. They’re one of those unsung components – they don’t stand out the way something like an engine does, but they still have a role to play in uptime, vehicle performance and even fuel efficiency. Things like bearings, seals, hubs, hubcaps, and adjusting nuts all come together to form a unit that works to keep your trucks rolling. So while they may not seem like the most important component on the truck, they’re a vitally important one, meaning that you should do your best to minimize any maintenance issues.

For this episode of On the Road, I sat down with Michael Hartman, senior director of the heavy duty sales vehicle aftermarket for North America at SKF. We talked about the role of the wheel bearing, what to look for in an inspection, and what equipment fleets can use to spot wheel bearing issues before they happen.

Fleet Equipment’s On The Road is sponsored by Rockland Flooring. Subscribe to our newsletter to catch every episode as we dive into the best practices and servicing information to keep your trucks On The Road.