Winter driving can be dangerous if your drivers are not properly prepared and mindful. When bad weather hits your region, snow, ice, and slush can cause severe road conditions, resulting in driving hazards. Winter weather can increase their risk of collisions.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, 24% of the 6,301,000 car crashes each year are related to bad weather, conditions such as snow, sleet, rain, crosswinds, slushy pavements, or icy roads. When we take the proper steps in preparing for the winter season, we can avoid vehicle accidents, break downs, excessive downtime, and personal injuries.
Preventive maintenance guidelines to protect your fleet from Winter Hazards :
Choosing the Right Tires
Check Brake Pads
Replace Weak Batteries
Prepare Emergency Kits
Get support from a GPS tracking system
Check Front, Back, and Sidelights
1. Choosing the Right Tires
Your tires can make or break a safe and productive haul. Equip your rigs with winter tires that deliver exceptional grip. Also, always ensure your tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can fail and wear out your tread faster
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2. Check Brake Pads
It’s a no-brainer that you need fresh brake pads for the colder months. Make sure the brakes on your vehicles are working and replace them with new versions if they are squeaking or experiencing other issues.
3. Replace Weak Batteries
Dead or weak batteries in tractor-trailers can lead to being stranded on the highway. Check for clean and secure connections and mounting brackets on your fleet’s batteries. To know more about -What is the Role of IoT in Fleet Management?
4. Prepare Emergency Kits
It never bad to be prepared, especially during the colder months when the weather outside can be hazardous to your health and your fleet also. Equip each vehicle with an emergency kit that includes things like:
First aid kits
Flares
Blankets
Fire extinguishers
Jumper cables
Hand warmers
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5. Get support from a GPS tracking system
A GPS tracking system can give you an extra pair of eyes, monitoring your fleet while out on the road. You can also make changes to protect drivers from more treacherous conditions, redirecting them around closed-off areas or finding alternative routes around roads that are not fit for driving on due to weather conditions. With a GPS tracking system, you can see exactly where the traffic has built up.
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6. Check Front, Back, and Sidelights
Examine your headlights as well as your taillights and any other sections that help you see and be seen on the road. You should also encourage drivers to make decisions when out on the road that if the weather turns and they don’t feel like they can navigate the roads safely then they should stop until it is clear.
A proper fleet management software with a robust fleet maintenance system can help your drivers winterize their fleet vehicles, so you don’t have to worry about the effectiveness of your winter maintenance plan. Contact us to know more about Traxroot's fleet maintenance capabilities and contact us for a 14 days trial period of Traxroot Connect Platform today.
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