The winter season is approaching, so you must prepare things around the house and your trucking business. Suppose your trucking business is running in a warmer region, such as California. In that case, you must have an IRP Registration California, so your fleet can operate interstate.
But – you will want to keep in mind that the climate differs from one state to another, and if you are well-prepared, then you can ensure that your trucks keep running strong in the winter as your house as no one likes to deal with the extremeness of Mother Nature.
Here are some things that you can do to ensure that your trucks keep running smoothly during the colder season:
Watch The Fuel
You will want to keep your eyes on the fuel you use, especially when heading towards the Northern part of the country where the weather will be extremely harsh.
When heading towards the colder parts, you will select winter-weight fuels that contain additives, such as the cloud paint additive that prevents filter waxing. Double-check whether the fuel is blended correctly.
Regularly Inspect The Fleet
As the owner of a trucking business, you will want to encourage your truckers to frequently stop and inspect the running mechanism of their trucks every day. Ideally, truckers should check their trucks for frozen elements – especially – the truck doors, fuel chords, and defroster.
Of course, they will need to pay extra attention to the truck tires since the roads will be slippery in the cold season, which makes driving dangerous in winter. The truckers need to ensure that their tires are inflated at all times.
Prepare For Overnight
You will need to prepare your diesel trucks that will be staying outside for the night. And the best way to do this is by plugging in an engine block heater on all those trucks. Doing so will ensure that the truck engines are warm, which is essential for starting the trucks the next morning when you are about to hit the road.
You will want to ensure that the trucking engines are operating at normal temperatures, which is essentially possible with the help of block heaters. If you have to sit your truck outside overnight, you will want to keep a few extra wiper blades with you.
Maintain The Cooling System
While the cooling system of the trucks is essential all year long, it requires extra attention during the colder months. The trucking hoses tend to shrink in the winter season, which makes them more prone to leaks.
To prevent leaks, you will want to continuously inspect and test the cooling system for temperature protection and assess whether additives are required. You will also want to regularly check the functioning of all hoses and belts. Keep checking the cooling system for potential leaks.
You will want to ensure that the coolant is filled to appropriate levels. If needed, you will want to replace the cooling filter. Also, regularly perform preventive maintenance on all auxiliary power units before the colder season hits.
