{"id":2572,"date":"2020-12-14T20:28:11","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T20:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2572"},"modified":"2020-12-14T20:28:12","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T20:28:12","slug":"keep-weather-in-mind-when-you-outfit-your-fleet-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/keep-weather-in-mind-when-you-outfit-your-fleet-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Weather in Mind When You Outfit Your Fleet \u2013 Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interstate truck drivers especially have to deal with\neverything from fog and mist to heavy rainfall and flooding, snow and ice, hailstorms,\nsmoke from wildfires, exceptionally strong winds, extremely hot weather (such\nas heatwaves), and extremely cold weather. The list simply goes on and on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And guess what? The proof is in that adverse weather\nconditions are becoming more frequent. According to an extensive\nreport<\/a>, the number and strength of extreme weather events has increased in\nthe United States by leaps and bounds over previous years. We can all see this\nin the weather around us. It is obviously changing; this is just a matter of\nscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Weather Impacts Trucking <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving a big rig for a living is risky business, especially\nnow during the time of a global pandemic. Obviously, this is something we can\nall agree on. Even more, driving a tractor trailer contributes to far more\nwork-related accidental deaths and serious injuries than all other work\nactivities combined. Truck drivers may not be thought of as hazard workers, but\nthey are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Department of Transportation Statistics, more\nthan a quarter of all road traffic incidents may have involved somebody who was\ndriving as part of their work at the time. These accidents are all due to\nvarious factors, including speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and\nmuch more. It isn\u2019t always about what the truck driver is doing behind the\nwheel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet too few pay enough consideration to adverse weather\nconditions. Studies have shown that over a fifth of all motor vehicle crashes\nin the U.S. can be attributed to weather. Another fifteen percent of these\nweather-related crashes occur while it is snowing or sleeting. Another fifth of\nthese weather-related crashes occur when there are simply snowy, slushy, or icy\nroads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does this mean for truck drivers? Well, it shows how\ntruck drivers tend to be more cautious when snow or rainfall or other adverse\nconditions are happening but then let their guard down when it stops. This is\nproblematic. Truck drivers should never let their guard down, even if they feel\nthe weather isn\u2019t that<\/em> bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Specifics of Adverse Weather<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor weather conditions can cause truck drivers to lose\ncontrol of their vehicle more easily. And even if they do not lose control, bad\nweather can impede their vehicles\u2019 ability to maneuver properly. These\nconditions also increase unpredictability with regards to pedestrians,\ncyclists, and other drivers, all of whom fleets share the roads with daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what are some of the specific ways that bad weather can\nhave unfortunate consequences? How does weather impact everyday functions of a\ntrucking company? First, consider route conditions. Unusual weather conditions\ncan lead to the road being more dangerous to navigate and lead to road\nclosures. Therefore, route planning and route management systems are so\nimportant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also need to consider adverse weather in your dispatch\ndepartment. Keeping track of weather conditions and seeing it change can affect\nthe routes your truck drivers need to take and even lead to a delay in the\ndelivery of products or services. This is something that both your truck\ndrivers and your customers will appreciate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, consider maintenance and truck driver safety.\nVehicles that are routinely subjected to roads that are in poor condition due\nto adverse weather may require an increase in maintenance. And then, the most\nimportant thing: Safety. Poor weather conditions make roads unsafe and affect\ntruck drivers\u2019 ability to control their vehicles if they are not properly\nprepared to deal with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparation is Key<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before any one of your vehicles sets out with a load, fleet\noperators and truck drivers alike need to make sure they ask themselves if it\nis safe to drive. Where adverse weather conditions are present, it\u2019s important\nto ensure that the risk being taken is worth it for the end result of the\njourney. And when it comes to truck driving, almost no risk is worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Secondly, having a process in place where a truck driver can\ncarry out a risk assessment should weather conditions deteriorate while on route\nis critical. It is also important that the truck driver be given allowance to\nstop or turn back without any repercussions. They must feel like they can make\nthese kinds of decisions when the weather turns bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truckers often feel pressure to drive regardless of the\nweather conditions, but their safety should always come first. This must be\nemphasized to them every day. It is important that they are given reassurance\nthat they will always have a choice and that you are doing everything in your\nability to make sure the conditions are safe should you still need to send them\nout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When You Have to Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, even after determining that weather conditions\nare poor, a manager or fleet operator may determine that the haul is just too\nimportant. If this is the case, there are some things that need to be\nconsidered first before the truck driver begins running the load. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entirety of your fleet\u2019s vehicles needs to be fit to run\nin adverse weather should you be sending them to do so. Should a truck driver have\nto run a load in adverse weather conditions, their vehicle\u2019s specifications\nshould reflect this. For example, if a truck driver is expected to head out\nafter a heavy snowfall or on untreated roads, their vehicle needs four-wheel\ndrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where there are extreme heatwaves present, air conditioning\nin a vehicle is a must. In some places, stability control, technology that\nhelps prevent skidding or losing control due to over-steering, is mandatory. You\nmust make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions. The truckers you\nsend out need to be outfitted safely for the job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider, however, that even when commercial motor vehicles\nare suitably equipped, it does not completely eliminate weather-related risk.\nAlso, truck drivers are likely sharing the roads with drivers who do not have\nthese types of technologies in their vehicles. This can influence your fleet\u2019s\nproductivity should those vehicles get stranded and cause traffic backup on the\nroutes they\u2019re taking. Many a fleet manager knows that this happens all the\ntime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare Yourself for the Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event you do have to hit the road in adverse\nconditions, it is critically important to be prepared. You definitely need to\ntake safety equipment into consideration to reduce the risk for your drivers\neven further should a haul during bad weather be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the following items should you find yourself on the\nroad during bad weather:<\/p>\n\n\n\n