Ashley Deiana
In the waste and recycling industry, the equipment is only as effective as its uptime. Refuse fleets operate in high-pressure environments – daily routes, heavy loads, frequent stops, and tight schedules mean there鈥檚 little margin for avoidable maintenance issues. One area that continues to challenge even the best-run fleets? Lubrication.
Manually greasing trucks – especially high-cycle, side-loader refuse vehicles – is time-consuming, inconsistent, and often difficult to perform correctly. That鈥檚 why more fleet managers are turning to automated lubrication systems to improve equipment life and reduce unplanned downtime. A recent install by Lubrication Technologies, Inc. on a Mack LR chassis with a Labrie Automizer Right-Hand鈩� side-loader body is a strong example of how this upgrade works in practice.
High-Cycle Equipment Needs High-Performance Lubrication
In this project, the side-arm on the Labrie body was cycling up to 1,600 times per day, a pace that places enormous wear and tear on the moving joints. The truck featured a total of 72 lubrication points: 42 on the chassis and 30 on the arm. Traditionally, these grease points are serviced by hand, but that method has inherent risks. Missed fittings, inconsistent intervals, or hard-to-reach spots can lead to bearing failures, component damage, and costly repairs.
To address this, Lubrication Technologies outfitted the truck with its ReliaMAX鈩� Automatic Lubrication System, which delivers precisely metered grease at set intervals while the vehicle is in use.
How the System Works
The ReliaMAX system is centered around a 4 kg electric grease pump that distributes lubricant to a series of custom-fitted divider valves and tubing runs. Each grease point – on the chassis, arm, and tailgate – is connected to ensure even and repeatable coverage.
For this installation, the team specified Almagard庐 Vari-Purpose Grease (NLGI 1), known for its resistance to water washout, mechanical stability under pressure, and protection against shock loading. It鈥檚 ideal for refuse trucks exposed to the elements and high-duty cycles.
The system includes:
- Programmable lubrication intervals
- Reliable precision machined valves
- Secondary lines routed to each point of friction
- Hands-free operation during normal truck use
This type of automatic system replaces hours of manual greasing over the vehicle鈥檚 service life and ensures that every moving joint is consistently protected – no missed fittings, no guesswork.
Real-World ROI
- For fleet managers, the most compelling reason to install automated lubrication is the return on investment. Industry studies show that automatic greasing can:
- Extend bearing and bushing life by tenfold, dependent on the application
- Decrease unplanned service calls
- Reduce technician labor for preventive maintenance
- Improve safety by eliminating the need for technicians to climb under trucks
In this application, the system is projected to pay for itself in less than 12 months, factoring in labor savings and reduced part replacement. Over the life of the truck, the reduction in repair costs and downtime can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in value.
Scalable and Fleet-Ready
Whether retrofitting a single truck or planning a fleet-wide implementation, ReliaMAX鈩� automated lubrication systems can be tailored to the exact specs of a truck body and chassis configuration. They鈥檙e compatible with most refuse truck platforms and can be installed by in-house maintenance teams or through professional service providers.
Fleet maintenance strategies are evolving quickly to match the demands of modern waste hauling. Investing in proactive solutions like automatic greasing isn鈥檛 just smart – it鈥檚 becoming essential.