No matter where in the country your fleet operates in, your truck drivers will have to navigate adverse or unusual weather conditions at some point or another in their career. Adverse weather conditions happen everywhere. Just consider the incredible hurricane season we are emerging from. Whether it be crazy wildfires or destructive hurricanes, adverse weather is everywhere.
Interstate truck drivers especially have to deal with everything from fog and mist to heavy rainfall and flooding, snow and ice, hailstorms, smoke from wildfires, exceptionally strong winds, extremely hot weather (such as heatwaves), and extremely cold weather. The list simply goes on and on.
And guess what? The proof is in that adverse weather conditions are becoming more frequent. According to an extensive report, the number and strength of extreme weather events has increased in the United States by leaps and bounds over previous years. We can all see this in the weather around us. It is obviously changing; this is just a matter of science.
How Weather Impacts Trucking
Driving a big rig for a living is risky business, especially now during the time of a global pandemic. Obviously, this is something we can all agree on. Even more, driving a tractor trailer contributes to far more work-related accidental deaths and serious injuries than all other work activities combined. Truck drivers may not be thought of as hazard workers, but they are.
According to Department of Transportation Statistics, more than a quarter of all road traffic incidents may have involved somebody who was driving as part of their work at the time. These accidents are all due to various factors, including speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and much more. It isn’t always about what the truck driver is doing behind the wheel.
Yet too few pay enough consideration to adverse weather conditions. Studies have shown that over a fifth of all motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. can be attributed to weather. Another fifteen percent of these weather-related crashes occur while it is snowing or sleeting. Another fifth of these weather-related crashes occur when there are simply snowy, slushy, or icy roads.
What does this mean for truck drivers? Well, it shows how truck drivers tend to be more cautious when snow or rainfall or other adverse conditions are happening but then let their guard down when it stops. This is problematic. Truck drivers should never let their guard down, even if they feel the weather isn’t that bad.
The Specifics of Adverse Weather
Poor weather conditions can cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicle more easily. And even if they do not lose control, bad weather can impede their vehicles’ ability to maneuver properly. These conditions also increase unpredictability with regards to pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers, all of whom fleets share the roads with daily.
But what are some of the specific ways that bad weather can have unfortunate consequences? How does weather impact everyday functions of a trucking company? First, consider route conditions. Unusual weather conditions can lead to the road being more dangerous to navigate and lead to road closures. Therefore, route planning and route management systems are so important.
You also need to consider adverse weather in your dispatch department. Keeping track of weather conditions and seeing it change can affect the routes your truck drivers need to take and even lead to a delay in the delivery of products or services. This is something that both your truck drivers and your customers will appreciate.
Finally, consider maintenance and truck driver safety. Vehicles that are routinely subjected to roads that are in poor condition due to adverse weather may require an increase in maintenance. And then, the most important thing: Safety. Poor weather conditions make roads unsafe and affect truck drivers’ ability to control their vehicles if they are not properly prepared to deal with it.
Preparation is Key
Before any one of your vehicles sets out with a load, fleet operators and truck drivers alike need to make sure they ask themselves if it is safe to drive. Where adverse weather conditions are present, it’s important to ensure that the risk being taken is worth it for the end result of the journey. And when it comes to truck driving, almost no risk is worth it.
There are two elements to route planning when the weather looks grim. First, look at the weather forecast and actual weather conditions before you head out. This can be done days in advance but keep in mind that weather can always change on the drop of a dime.
Secondly, having a process in place where a truck driver can carry out a risk assessment should weather conditions deteriorate while on route is critical. It is also important that the truck driver be given allowance to stop or turn back without any repercussions. They must feel like they can make these kinds of decisions when the weather turns bad.
Truckers often feel pressure to drive regardless of the weather conditions, but their safety should always come first. This must be emphasized to them every day. It is important that they are given reassurance that they will always have a choice and that you are doing everything in your ability to make sure the conditions are safe should you still need to send them out.
When You Have to Drive
Sometimes, even after determining that weather conditions are poor, a manager or fleet operator may determine that the haul is just too important. If this is the case, there are some things that need to be considered first before the truck driver begins running the load.
The entirety of your fleet’s vehicles needs to be fit to run in adverse weather should you be sending them to do so. Should a truck driver have to run a load in adverse weather conditions, their vehicle’s specifications should reflect this. For example, if a truck driver is expected to head out after a heavy snowfall or on untreated roads, their vehicle needs four-wheel drive.
Where there are extreme heatwaves present, air conditioning in a vehicle is a must. In some places, stability control, technology that helps prevent skidding or losing control due to over-steering, is mandatory. You must make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions. The truckers you send out need to be outfitted safely for the job.
Consider, however, that even when commercial motor vehicles are suitably equipped, it does not completely eliminate weather-related risk. Also, truck drivers are likely sharing the roads with drivers who do not have these types of technologies in their vehicles. This can influence your fleet’s productivity should those vehicles get stranded and cause traffic backup on the routes they’re taking. Many a fleet manager knows that this happens all the time.
Prepare Yourself for the Road
In the event you do have to hit the road in adverse conditions, it is critically important to be prepared. You definitely need to take safety equipment into consideration to reduce the risk for your drivers even further should a haul during bad weather be necessary.
Consider the following items should you find yourself on the road during bad weather:
- Mobile phone charger
- Small shovel
- Batteries
- Flashlight or solar torch
- Extra food and water
- Appropriately warm clothing
- De-icer
- Ice scraper
- Reflective vest
- Warning cones
- Reflective triangle
Consider that even though an emergency can easily be solved by having access to a charged mobile phone to call for assistance, a particular truck driver may still find themselves stuck in an area with no signal. That is why it is so important to have all the other items mentioned above.
The safety equipment we recommend obviously depends on the type of adverse weather conditions you usually encounter in the area your fleet operates in. So, do your own research on what would be most suitable for your situation.
Here is one of the most important points. You don’t want to have to rely on that equipment. As long as you are properly servicing your vehicles and paying close attention to their care, your trucks should withstand adverse conditions with ease. But what should you pay most attention to?
Join us in Part II of our series covering how to prepare your fleet and keep weather in mind as you haul loads in inclement weather. Our first topic? Tires!