RSI’s Transportation Insights

Wintery Weather is Cause for Safety Step Up

  

  

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It’s been a chilly winter. Record breaking cold in the upper Midwest, snow in the Los Angeles area. Icy conditions mean warmer coats, hotter cocoa, and a greater sense of caution on the road. Even the most weather conditioned drivers must elevate their sensors in awareness of the, well, not so aware driver. Truck drivers especially must rely on experience, skill, and well-timed reaction in stormy conditions. As a fleet owner, how do you ensure your drivers and vehicles can endure the blustery road ahead?

Depending on the haul, a big rig can encounter a bevy of weather conditions. One portion of the country may contain sunny skies and mild winds while a winter wonderland could lie a few hundred miles to the North. As with any trip, preparation is essential.

A weather-worthy preparation kit should include at the minimum, the following items:

1. A comprehensive first aid kit

2. New ice scraper

3. Tools

4. Windshield washer fluid

5. Jumper cables

6. A bag of salt

7. Chains

Drivers should be well equipped with the skills required to drive in difficult conditions. This includes fog, sleet, snow, ice, rain, and heavy winds to name a few. A driver should also know traffic and weather conditions prior to leaving, along with alternate routes in the event roads are closed.

Any shrewd driver requires a well-maintained vessel to safely navigate through treacherous weather. To start, a truck should have its fluids checked, brakes examined, tires properly filled, while making sure antifreeze levels are sufficient.

Maintaining a fleet requires adherence to stringent safety standards. And there’s no better time than these frigid winter months to ensure trucks and drivers are properly prepared for Mother Nature’s bad days.