Steps to Prepare Your Fleet for the Winter

From snow or freezing rain to intense winds and cold temperatures, winter conditions pose serious challenges to fleets. To protect your drivers when they’re sidelined by a storm, start winterizing your fleet for the season with these four tips.

1. Inspect and Clean the Exterior

Thoroughly clean the vehicles and apply a coat of wax to protect their exterior form ice, salt and snow. Wash the body, cab and undercarriage of each vehicle regularly to remove deicers and corrosive salts and prevent body damage.

2. Prepare Emergency Packs

You should equip all your vehicles with emergency packs in case a driver becomes stranded. Ensure you include things like:

• A flashlight
• A small shovel
• Snow brushes and ice scrapers
• Torch
• A blanket and gloves
• Foot wear
• Traction mats
• First aid supplies
• A few non-perishable foods and water bottles

In the event you do have a driver breakdown, you want to be sure they’re prepared.

3. Use Winterized Fuel

A couple of common winter weather complaints are a decrease in fuel economy and a vehicle refusing to start once temperatures go below zero. There are seasonally enhanced fuels available that can operate in as low as -30 degree F temperatures.

4. Use GPS Tracking and Vehicle Maintenance

Ensure all your vehicles receive the proper maintenance before the winter season begins. You can have an unexpected storm strike at any time and if your vehicles aren’t properly maintained and prepared, they could break down and put your drivers at risk as well as cause costly delays.

Using GPS fleet management software can help you stay proactive with the maintenance of your fleet vehicles by creating a regular schedule for service based on odometer readings and engine hours to help better predict when a vehicle requires attention.

Based on fleet maintenance history in the system-of-record and engine diagnostics, you can recognize the signs of equipment failure in advance and have the vehicle serviced to prevent malfunctions and broken equipment during severe weather.

GPS fleet tracking can also help avoid poor weather conditions. While you can’t avoid poor weather, you can use GPS technology to help reduce some of the challenges. Using GPS technology, you can reduce the risk that comes with winter driving. You can locate drivers and reroute them so they can avoid dangerous conditions, hazards or road closures and guiding them to a safe location or their destination.

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