Preparing Your Commercial Vehicles for the Winter

With snow building up, it takes more than just revving the engines before your vehicles get out on the road this winter. Before you let a vehicle off the lot, reduce your overall transportation costs with low-temp transportation industry best practices.

Winter’s predictable issues for fleet owners are preventable. Look out for lower MPG efficiency, tire pressures dropping, diesel fuel gelling, and water freezing in storage tanks. Preventive maintenance during the winter season helps you prevent costly repairs and extend the lifetime of vehicles in your fleet.

We’re here to show you how to use preventive maintenance this winter to avoid unnecessary downtime for your commercial trucks, tractors, and trailers.

Your Vehicle’s Winter Safety, Preventive Maintenance Tips

Preparedness is key. To have the safest possible experience for the Driver and ensure your vehicle stays in good condition, follow these steps:

• Inspect your vehicle. Early detection is essential to prevent major problems. Check the tire pressure, engine oil, and antifreeze. Hire a mechanic if need be to conduct a full inspection of vehicles that have been idle for some time.
• Expecting moderate temperatures? Check anyways. Especially for vehicles that go out long-term, be sure they leave the lot ready for anything.
• Check for fluid leaks. If your vehicle has been idle for a while you should use ‘white snow’ to ensure that the tank is leak safe.
• Clear the headlights and brake lights. Knocking the ice off is essential for visibility. Potential low-visibility weather conditions make it a critical time to ensure they’re in working condition.
• Maintain tire health. Check them for uneven patterns, low tire pressure, and overheated wheel bearings. It’s cheaper to replace the tire than to let the vehicle go out unprepared.
• Clear water from storage and vehicle tanks. Drain the water out of all fuel storage areas to prevent freezing issues that could cause damage to the
• Treat fuel with anti-gel. Always follow the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommendations. Look for fuel additives that lower the Cloud Point and do not have kerosene.

Get your vehicles moving so that they don’t sit idle too long in the cold temperatures. If you need help offsetting the costs of the season or finding a use for your tractors, trucks and trailers try listing them on COOP. We wish you well this winter, stay warm!