Winter is a rough time of year for vehicles and, therefore, for commercial fleets. Intense cold is not kind to engines, tires, or drivers, for that matter. Ice on the roads poses an additional danger, while freezing temperatures inside the vehicle systems can gum up the works in all sorts of unwanted ways.
If your fleet is located or passes through anywhere with intense cold during the winter seasons, it's a good idea to carefully prepare your fleet for the cold months ahead. The right preparations will help your drivers avoid accidents, ensure optimal performance for fleet vehicles, and protect your drivers if they get stranded in the winter.
Conduct Pre-Winter Maintenance Checks
Because winter can be hard on vehicles, it's important that your fleet go into winter in the best possible condition. During the autumn, before the first big cold snap, schedule a pre-winter maintenance check for every vehicle. Refresh the fluids, change out fraying belts, and make sure every vehicle is ready to achieve both top safety and top performance in the months ahead.
Swap to Ice-Ready Tires
Depending on your region, you will want to make sure all vehicles have all-season tires or winter tires ready to go. All-season tires are appropriate for temperate climates where the temperature rarely drops below freezing and winter weather is mild. Winter tires, however, are for places where the road is often covered in snow during the winter, and driving on ice is a daily risk. Winter tires offer the largest, most reliable tread designed to handle the ice.
Purge the Fuel System of Water
Winter is a bad time for water to have built up in your fleet fuel systems. Water turns to ice in below-freezing temperatures, which damages fuel efficiency while it is iced up.
Increase Tire Pressure
Tire pressure responds to the temperature. This is because air expands when hot and contracts when cold. Therefore, tires are more likely to be over-full in the summer and under-full in the winter. When the weather starts to change, slightly increase your tire pressure standards to allow for morning contraction in the cold and expansion only as the vehicle hits
Replace the Wiper Fluid with Winter Formula
One of the most dangerous occurrences when driving in the winter is frozen wiper fluid. Either it doesn't come out of the dispenser, or it freezes in a ripply, almost opaque layer over your windshield. Winter formula, however, is made with alcohol as a base. Therefore, it will not freeze in the reservoir, and it will leave your fleet windshields with a safely streak-free shine.
Switch to Winter Weight Engine Oil
You will have a similar problem regarding engine oil. Oil becomes more sludgy in cold weather, but you still need a smooth glide to keep your engine in good condition. This requires a thinner winter-weight engine oil that should be chosen based on the engine needs of each vehicle in your fleet.
Maintain the Heaters in Every Vehicle
Of course, vehicle maintenance isn't your only concern when preparing your fleet for winter. It's also important to prepare each vehicle to keep your drivers comfortable and safe. Start by ensuring that the vents, air filters, and heating systems in each vehicle are all working correctly. This will keep your drivers warm on cold winter routes.
Pack Emergency Winter Roadside Kits
Next, make sure to pack an emergency winter-season roadside kit for every vehicle. Include insulated blankets, flares, emergency food and water, chemical heat packs, and a well-stocked first aid kit. If you send your team on long-haul or between-town routes, consider including dry socks or a large sweat suit in each pack, tools to free a car from a snowbank, and more.
Unpack the Morning Engine Blocks
Lastly, if your fleet sometimes needs to start cold on a frozen morning, it's time to unpack the engine blocks. The right routine can have your engines warmed and ready to go by the time your drivers finish their morning coffee.
Wintertime Fleet Management
Fleet managers play an important role, and keeping the fleet safe in winter is a big part of that. Your winter fleet preparations can help to prevent disaster and protect your drivers when the weather turns cold and icy. Wilmar can help with expert fleet management insights and services. Contact us today to learn more.
