10 Tips to Summer-ize Your Fleet

10 Tips to Summer-ize Your Fleet

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Preparing your fleet for the summer season may not be an easy feat, but it is necessary to keep your trucks or commercial vehicles on the road during the hottest days of the year. Summer is the busiest season for roadways, and if you are not adequately prepared, heat extremes may imperil your fleet's productivity and overall operation. Below are some tips on keeping your fleet ready for summer and for the new set of challenges the sweltering temperatures may bring:    

  1.   Rid your trucks of winter remnants.

If you haven't taken down all the components and accessories you've installed to winterize your fleet, now's the time to do so. Start by freeing your tires from snow chains and swap out from winter tires to summer or all-season tires. It is also necessary to do a full interior and exterior cleaning to get rid of salt and snow that may have been lodged in your truck's undercarriage.

  1.   Check your tires for proper pressure and tread depth.

Never be too tired for your tires. A shift in temperature always affects tire pressure. This makes tire care necessary all year round. Check your truck's tire pressure once a month. Inspect them for proper tread depth as a shallow tread increases the possibility of a blowout. Also, check the tires for balding, tire cupping, and uneven wear. Your truck's spare tires must also be in good shape all the time.      

  1.   Keep tabs on your fleet’s fluid levels.

Neglected fluid can spell downtime—or worse, doom—for your big rigs. An oil change, for one, is done to provide adequate lubrication to some vital moving parts and internal components of your truck. Driving it past the regular oil change schedule may cause mechanical wear on the engine. Check the manual of every truck or vehicle in your fleet to know how often you should check and top-up your ride's necessary fluids. Make sure to use only the type of fluid specified in your manual. 

  1.   Give your brakes a thorough check.

Perform routine brake checks for your fleet before heading into the busy summer months. Your truck's brakes may have undergone a certain amount of stress from frequent use in the cold winter days. Ask your mechanic to thoroughly check your truck or vehicle's brakes, especially the pads, the lining, and the rotors, making sure none of them has been worn down to dangerous levels. 

  1.   Make your truck’s a/c system and weatherstripping up to snuff.

Your truck's air conditioning system must be in proper working order before hot summer days set in. It keeps the cabin cool, so the driver and passenger stay comfortable even on long-distance drives. A properly working a/c system should be matched with well-installed, high-grade weatherstripping. These strips, which run around windows and doors, help keep the cold cabin air inside. 

  1.   Clean and examine the battery.

A weak battery can fail completely in excessive heat, so you should pay attention to it before the hot weather settles in. It pays to let a pro do the job since the only accurate way to spot a weak battery is with professional equipment. Make sure also to check this component for signs of corrosion since the battery fluid evaporates faster in the heat. Scrape away corrosive deposits and battery acid, if there are any, and re-tighten connections. It also pays to make sure that the battery is securely mounted in place. 

  1.   Inspect and flush the cooling system.

Overheating is the most common culprit for summer breakdowns. This can be prevented by inspecting the cooling system and flushing the coolant, if necessary. A pro should check the level, condition, and concentration of the coolant as well as the condition and tightness of drive belts, hoses, and clamps.

  1.   Pack a summer breakdown kit for each of your vehicles.

No matter the season, it will never hurt to be prepared. If a breakdown happens in extreme heat, the driver's life could be in danger. It pays to be ready for the worst with a roadside emergency kit that includes a first-aid kit, a fully charged cell phone, flashlights, snacks, drinking water, sunscreen, blanket, jumper cable, and fire extinguisher. Fill the kit with things a driver may need while waiting on the roadside when the inevitable happens. Keep the kit in your fleet vehicle all the time. 

  1.   Complete other vital maintenance procedures before summer kicks in.

Summer is now in full swing, but it's never too late to give your truck a once over. Pay attention to the other parts and systems comprising your big rig, especially those that you would need the most this season. Among them is your truck's air filter, which may have been clogged with salt and debris during winter and spring. Make sure to have it replaced before you take your truck out for a long-distance drive. If there are other maintenance regimens you haven't done yet, it's high time to get them done.    

  1.   Give your team proper summer workflow training.

The best all-season safety tool you can provide your fleet with is an attentive, alert, responsible, and law-abiding driver. Keep in mind that in the US, summer is the busiest time for roadways. It's also called the 100 deadliest days on the road. Hence, it is wise to have your drivers trained on defensive driving and on avoiding the use of mobile phones while on the go.

Let your driver know what you expect from them. Do you allow them to use their truck's air conditioning system and keep it on while you are on break? You may create a formal policy, have a signed agreement with your drivers, or discuss it in a meeting; it's your call as the fleet manager. What's important is, you make your point clear to your drivers. 

Excellent fleet management starts with awareness of your truck or heavy equipment's condition. By staying ahead of the game, you can get your fleet ready, thus avoiding downtime and many other issues that can be caused by weather extremes.