Preparing Your Truck and Fleet for Winter Weather

Winter is upon us, and with the drop in temperatures, highways and road conditions can become slippery and dangerous. It is more important than ever to make sure that your semi-truck and fleet is prepared before venturing out on the road.
 
Preventative Maintenance 
By getting your truck regularly inspected and serviced, it will be ready for winter weather and cold temperatures. Performing preventative, routine maintenance, can save you from expensive repairs down the road.  
 
Here are some of the top things to consider when you go in for your pre-winter check-in:
 
Brakes, Transmission, Oil, and Gasoline
Brakes are vital to safe semi truck driving. This is even more true in the winter. An inspection of your air brake chamber housing, wheel-end protective boots, your brake air dryers and filters to prevent the freezing of water in your brake line, check and top off engine fluids, such as power steering, brake, windshield washer, and power steering fluids. If you use a heavier engine oil, it might make it hard to properly lubricate the engine, as the low temperatures can make the oil too viscous. It might be beneficial to make the swap to an oil with a lower temperature viscosity in the winter months. Another thing to note is that you should also have at least a quarter tank of gas at all times to prevent freezing.
 
Wipers and Blades
If they don’t clear rain, sleet, and snow efficiently, it could negatively affect your visibility, which can lead to accidents. It’s a good idea to  replace your wiper blades at the beginning of the winter season to be on the safe side. Also, make sure that your windshield wiper fluid is topped off. Wet conditions can make your windshield get dirty quickly, which can lead to low visibility, so you need the ability to quickly and efficiently clean your windshield while driving. 
 
Tires and Wheels
Tires tend to deflate faster in colder weather, so check the air pressure regularly. Also be sure to check the traction, as winter driving conditions require good traction in order to be able to drive safely through snow and ice. Due to the amount of miles you put on your truck each year, you might think about replacing your tires annually before winter.
 
Battery
Cold weather can cause your battery to drain, so it’s important to get it checked regularly. An impaired battery can be devastating to a semi truck driver. Check that your terminals are clean and all battery connections are tight and make sure that your battery is always fully charged.
 
Snow Chains
If you regularly go through states where chains are needed for safety during snow and ice, you may need to get them. Individual states have laws on whether or not they are required. 
 
SE Smith and Sons offers fleet inspection and maintenance service to ensure that your trucks are ready all year round, no matter the season. Be sure your semis, trucks, and fleet are operational and safe to avoid any breakdowns or costly repairs and contact us. With over 60 years in the business, we’re the name you can trust.