Business doesn’t stop during the winter months. However, it can stop your fleet in its tracks or slow it down significantly if you aren’t prepared for the coldest season of the year. If you’re looking to make sure that your fleet stays in solid condition even in rain or snow, here are some essential maintenance tips for cold weather that will help you winterize your fleet with greater ease and precision.
Check Your Tires
Your tires will ultimately determine whether drivers are safe on the road or they’re at risk of experiencing an accident. Before winter hits, make sure to check your fleet’s tires and air pressure levels. Check to make sure that your fleet is equipped with the right tires for the weather that your vehicles will be facing and that all drivers have snow chains in case they encounter snow and ice. You can never be too careful when it comes to cold weather.
Pay Attention to Gas Levels
It’s important to keep all gas tanks at least halfway full. If gas levels are allowed to fall too much, water could make its way into your engine line and potentially freeze as a result. Develop a policy where everyone needs to have at least half a tank at all times so that you don’t run the risk of doing damage to your fleet.
Use the Proper Oil and Keep Other Fluids at Optimum Levels
Oil used during the winter needs to have higher viscosity levels to prevent freezing. Additionally, all vehicle fluids should be topped up before winter hits to make sure that they can get around without issue. If you’re not quite sure what you need to be looking for here or you’re working with a new business and fleet, don’t be afraid to reach out to fleet maintenance companies in Allentown, PA, to get the guidance and insights you need.
Replace Old Parts
The cold weather can wreak havoc on plastic parts and rubber parts that your vehicle relies on to run optimally. This can encompass everything from the battery in your vehicle (snow also wreaks havoc on batteries in general), vehicle belts, and fluid hoses and lines. Anything that needs maintenance should get it now so that the cold weather can’t exacerbate current issues and lead to major disasters down the road. The sooner you tackle this, the better.
Have a Plan of Action in Place
Finally, and most importantly, proper maintenance and preventative measures might not completely shield you against potential issues or accidents. Having the right systems and plans and place can have a major impact on employee safety. Make sure that your drivers are equipped with all the tools they need to navigate any type of weather development, that they know what to do in the event of an accident during the winter, and that they have the right communication tools and numbers that they need to use to get emergency assistance when they need it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Make Sure Your Fleet Is Up for the Winter Weather With PJG Services
With the above in mind, you want to make sure you’re going to someone who can ensure you’re getting the best possible winterization maintenance before hitting the road in the winter months. Who can you turn to? If you’ve been looking for fleet maintenance in Lancaster County, PA, or surrounding areas, you can start here with PJG Services. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive fleet maintenance and repair services.
