Winter weather is quickly approaching for some parts of the country. As they say, the early bird gets the worm. Public sector fleet managers are preparing their vehicles to take on winter weather.
Government Fleet has a roundup of some news stories and articles to help you prep your fleet for the cold weather season.
Keep Your Fleet Healthy Ahead of the Winter
Parts room personnel should adjust inventory to meet the pre-season winter parts availability for technicians.
Photo: City of Midland
There are several things fleet managers can do throughout the year to ensure their fleet is ready in time for winter.
Educate Your Fleet Operators
Winter driving concerns primarily boil down to two factors: traction and visibility.
Photo: Canva
Winter weather can bring communities to a screeching halt, with treacherous road conditions closing down schools and the workplace. But as you well know, fleet operators don't typically get a day off when conditions are bad. While prepping your vehicles is important, it's also crucial to ensure your drivers are ready to take on this weather.
Don't Forget About Your Larger Vehicles
There are ways you can prep your large fleet vehicles to enhance their performance and minimize downtime.
Photo: Canva
Does your fleet have Class 7 or 8 trucks? Some of the preparations for winter weather may look different than they do for the rest of your fleet.
Here are 12 tips for bumper-to-bumper preps for larger fleet vehicles.
Consider Why Telematics May Help Your Winter Weather Response
Telematics devices assist with route planning and vehicle tracking in the winter.
Photo: Canva
In this day and age, many fleets have ditched pen and paper for telematics devices. If you're still tracking vehicle mileage, preventive maintenance, and more using manual recordkeeping, it may be a good idea to consider whether it's time for telematics.
Read 6 reasons why telematics is essential for snow operations.
Salt or Brine: Weighing the Options
Using brine can lead to cost savings for some operations. One Arkansas city was able to make its own.
Photo: Canva
There are several options fleets can choose from to treat roadways. Sometimes, choosing one over the other can lead to cost savings.
See why one Arkansas city determined brine was worth its salt.
Learn From Previous Seasons
The city of Austin, Texas, found several ways it could improve its winter response after an unprecedented storm in 2021. Among those was a lack of snow plows needed for such a storm.
Photo: City of Austin
It's not a bad idea to look at previous winters and evaluate whether there are ways you could have handled things more efficiently. Learning from the past can help move fleets forward to help them better prepare.
Further north, a blizzard battered Buffalo, New York, in late 2022.
Enhancing Biodiesel Performance in Cold Weather
All diesel fuels require maintenance steps in the winter, biodiesel included.
Photo: Canva
Biodiesel is a great alternative for diesel, but cold temperatures can affect the fuel's performance.
Read five tips to help you improve biodiesel performance in your vehicles.
Prepping Electric Vehicles for Cold Temps
EVs should be plugged in when parked. In colder temperatures, EVs use power from the charger to heat the battery.
Photo: Canva
Whether you're new to EVs or have had them in your fleet for several years, there are basic things you need to know when driving EVs in the winter.
You may know to expect reduced mileage, but did you also know there are features on most EVs that can optimize battery life?
Read why proper planning is important for battery health in cold weather.
Protecting Parking Structures
When plow trucks are entering and exiting parking structures, it's important to ensure expansion joints, speed bumps, and other hazards remain visible.
Photo: Western Specialty Contractors
Winter weather equipment can cause damage to parking structures if you're not careful.
