Beyond the snow and festivities, winter brings icy and slippery roads and other treacherous conditions for trucks. However, long-haul trucks, delivery vehicles, and vocational vehicles are responsible for their deliveries even when the weather is not optimal. So, fleets need to make sure their trucks are ready for the cold, or else risk increasing their accident and maintenance costs.
In accidents involving large trucks, 13% were caused by bad weather in 2024, including snow and rain, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that in 2021, 16.8% of large truck crashes that resulted in injury or death took place in snow, sleet, and rain.
As such, getting fleets ready for the cold season is vital for the safety of both drivers and others on the road. It allows for better visibility of the truck’s health, especially during winter, and keeps you updated about repairs and maintenance. Cold temperatures can damage the truck’s parts faster, so a comprehensive winterization schedule improves the vehicle's life span.
Despite this, many fleet owners and truckers err in getting their fleets winterized. Here are some common mistakes and what can be done to avoid them.
1. Waiting until winter for maintenance
Many fleet owners make the common mistake of waiting until winter to conduct seasonal maintenance. Your fleets must be inspected and serviced all year long. Doing maintenance only during winter could exacerbate service costs because some parts of the vehicle may already be damaged and require extensive repairs.
Additionally, professionals may charge rush fees if you wait until the colder months. A bottleneck could also happen if the parts requested are not in stock, and you may need to wait longer for the repair, causing increased downtime. Schedule regular inspections and prepare winterization checklists to ensure your fleet’s optimal operation and increase your vehicle lifespans.
2. Not inspecting the batteries
During winter, a truck’s engine is colder than usual before ignition, and the battery isn’t as efficient in cold temperatures. Chemicals used to deice roads can also harm the wiring. That means it is essential that a vehicle’s battery condition is optimized for safer and smoother journeys during winter.
To winterize your fleets, clean the battery cables and verify they are in good condition, test battery voltage and charge, and check for corrosion build-ups.
3. Neglecting coolant maintenance
Cooling system maintenance gets your truck’s engine prepared for harsh weather. The right balance of antifreeze and water, typically 50/50, is vital so the engine does not freeze in the cold. Failing to achieve this balance could expose the engine to overheating or freezing.
Read more: Avoid winter breakdowns with these PM best practices
Also, check relevant fluids and make sure they are at the correct levels. Extreme temperatures can damage the engine, so schedule regular coolant flush appointments to optimize the engine’s condition. Check the hoses and radiator parts during the flush for optimized performance.
4. Not pre-heating the engine
Extreme cold weather can affect your engine performance, regardless of quality and regular maintenance. Block heaters combat this by heating certain engine parts, including the oil, when the truck is idle, which is especially critical because oil becomes viscous in the cold, which reduces its performance or can prevent the truck from operating at all.
Using a block heater to pre-heat the engine cuts the time drivers need to start the vehicle and reduces stress on the engine. A truck’s engine should be heated to a minimum of 87 degrees F before its journey, so when temperatures dip overnight, just remember to turn a block heater on a few hours before the drive. You can find heaters with timers for maximum efficiency.
5. Failing to check tires
Every year, 24% of vehicular accidents related to the weather happen on pavements with snow or ice. To minimize slipping and skidding, tire maintenance is critical, and shops must make sure a fleet’s tires are in top condition before the season's first snow.
As always, technicians should handle the basic tire checks: Look at tread depth, for signs of wear and tear, holes or punctures, and abnormal surfaces like bubbles and bulges. Any of these issues can cause the tire to lose its effectiveness on the road and cause a blowout, which can be dangerous when the truck is in operation.
You also want to assess the pressure, alignment, and suspension for optimal performance. Cold weather can affect pressure, and uneven tire surfaces can indicate issues with the suspension or alignment.
6. Disregarding brakes, lights, and windshield wipers
Other components of the trucks, like brakes, lights, and wipers, also need to be inspected to make sure they’re ready to handle winter storms.
Cold weather can cause moisture to enter the brake system and freeze water in the lines, leading to potential failure. To avoid this, include regular air dryer checkups in the fleet’s maintenance schedule. That way, you can remove the moisture before it enters and keep the brake system operating correctly.
Also, the days are shorter in winter, affecting visibility on the road. Keeping all lights in good condition is essential for safety. Windshield wiper use is also more frequent during the winter, so make sure they are working as they should and aren’t ripped or worn. Using washer fluid with an anti-freeze feature helps reduce icing issues as well.
Winter’s unpredictable weather can cause issues for trucks without notice. Plan ahead so your fleet gets a full winterization inspection and maintenance before the cold months.
