Preparing Your Fleet to Tackle Winter Weather

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

There are several things fleet managers can do throughout the year to ensure their fleet is ready in time for winter.

Read about ways to prep your fleet during the year, plus why extended warranties on certain vehicle parts may be a good idea.

Educate Your Fleet Operators

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.

Here are ways to educate your drivers on handling icy roads, limited visibility, and other dangerous driving conditions.

Don't Forget About Your Larger Vehicles 

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

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

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

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.

See how city leaders in Austin, Texas, ensured the fleet would be ready for future winters after the unprecedented snowstorm of February 2021.

Further north, a blizzard battered Buffalo, New York, in late 2022.

See how the city's evaluation of its fleet's overall health after the storm led to operational changes.

Enhancing Biodiesel Performance in Cold Weather

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

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

Winter weather equipment can cause damage to parking structures if you're not careful.

Here are some tips to help you minimize unnecessary damage.