During the winter months, you can take a more proactive role in dealing with your fleet. That’s because the weather makes it more dangerous to be on the roads. There are plenty of risks during this time of the year, but there are a few ways you can deal with them using various technological innovations.
Use Technology to Ensure Safety
There are always hazardous areas during the winter, but you can use today’s software to map out these areas so your drivers can avoid them. Highlighting them on the software is a good idea so employees know to avoid them. You can also use dash cams, which can help both you and drivers understand where the vehicle is headed and what is around the truck. You can review a guide on the different types of semi truck cameras so you can choose the best one.
Keep Track of Maintenance
It’s a good idea to do maintenance once the weather starts to get colder. That can include inspecting your vehicles from top to bottom to make sure that nothing is putting your employees at risk. For example, tires that are worn down could cause the vehicle to spin out. And cold weather often places more stress on the battery, making an old one more likely to die. You can keep track of everything you need to do in a fleet management software. Have your workers give each of the vehicles an inspection. Make sure the wiper fluid and oil are appropriate for the cold temperatures in your area. And create an emergency kit for each vehicle. This can be used if the driver needs to wait a few hours for a tow or gets stuck in icy weather.
Tools to Offer Safety Training
Consider innovations for keeping track of and offering safety training to your drivers. Even the best drivers might find they are slipping over black ice since it is often not visible while on the road. And there might not be that much traction over black ice, which could result in an accident. Have a program for reviewing tips for dealing with these kinds of conditions. Drivers who have not experienced certain types of winter weather can practice in good conditions in an empty parking lot. The techniques used can save lives by preventing an accident from occurring. Plus, it can save you a lot of money and time to not have to deal with the after effects of an accident
Using Technology to Offer Longer Route Estimations
There are always going to be tech shifts to consider, and it’s a good idea to find ways to let customers know that things will slow down a bit. Your drivers should drive a little slower than normal, particularly when the visibility is poor. They should also watch out for more people out and about. Give your customers a longer estimated delivery time for each of your routes. You do not want your drivers to feel like they have to try to rush to meet a deadline and end up getting in an accident as a result.
