Winter Is Coming for Your Fleet

The first hard freeze always seems to show up on a busy Monday. One truck will not crank. Another flashes a tire light. Meanwhile, a diesel van sputters halfway to the job site. Most of these problems start weeks earlier. However, a little prep in October can stop them before they cost you a service call.

Cold weather hits the same few systems every year. So if you check them now, you can avoid most winter breakdowns. Here is where to start.

Test Every Battery Now

When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Gas and diesel engines need more of that power to start in the cold. In addition, heaters, defrosters, and lights pull extra current all day. NHTSA advises owners to have a mechanic check the battery, charging system, and belts before winter weather arrives.

For a fleet, that means testing every battery, not just the old ones. Clean any corrosion off the terminals. Also, tighten loose cable clamps. If a battery tests weak, replace it now. A new battery costs far less than a tow and a lost day of work. Battery dealers, such as Interstate Batteries, can test them for you.

Check Tire Pressure Weekly

Tires lose pressure as the air gets colder. According to Firestone Complete Auto Care, tires lose or gain 1 to 2 PSI for every 10°F change in temperature. As a result, a 40-degree drop overnight can leave a loaded truck badly underinflated.

Low pressure wears tires faster and hurts fuel economy. It also makes stopping on wet roads harder. For that reason, ask drivers to check pressure weekly once cold weather hits. They should check it in the morning before the truck moves. Then they can fill each tire to the number on the door placard, not the number on the sidewall.

Protect Your Diesel Fuel

Diesel fuel contains wax. When the fuel gets cold, that wax forms crystals. Eventually, those crystals clog the fuel filter and stall the engine.

Timing matters here. Gold Eagle, a diesel additive maker, says anti-gel only works if you add it before fuel hits its cloud point. That point can be as high as 20°F in some fuels. Similarly, the fuel supplier CHS recommends switching bulk tanks to a winter blend when temperatures fall to about 32°F. So if you run your own fuel tank, plan that switch now. Also, carry a spare fuel filter on diesel units that travel to colder areas.

Stock Each Truck for Bad Days

Even a well-prepped truck can get stuck. Therefore, every cab should carry a basic winter kit. NHTSA suggests a snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, a flashlight, and blankets. In addition, fill each reservoir with winter washer fluid that contains de-icer. Swap worn wiper blades before the first storm, too.

Make It a Fleet Habit

Finally, put all of this into your preventive maintenance schedule. Add a “winter check” to every service from October through December. Your telematics system can also help. For example, many systems can flag low battery voltage and low tire pressure before a driver notices. Fixing those alerts early keeps trucks on the road and crews on the job.

A few hours of prep now can save weeks of headaches later. Start this week, before the forecast makes the choice for you.

Also read: Simple Driver Habits That Cut Fleet Fuel Costs and Downtime