10 Winter Fleet Preparation Tips
Winter has arrived, which means now is the time to ensure your fleet is road-ready and reliable throughout the months ahead — months that are known for unpredictable and often unforgiving weather.
Weathering Winter Conditions
Playing weather roulette with your drivers, vehicles, operations, and customers is never a smart move. It puts safety, productivity, and service reliability at risk. Instead of trying to predict Mother Nature’s next move, take proactive steps now to prepare your fleet for whatever winter brings — whether it’s sleet, snow, ice, blizzards, whiteouts, or extreme cold.
By winterizing your vehicles, you’ll navigate the season with confidence. Read on to learn how to do it.
Preparing Your Fleet for the Winter Months
1. Fuel
Keep fuel tanks as full as possible and, at the very least, half full. More fuel in the tank reduces condensation and lowers the risk of moisture freezing in the fuel line. Use anti-gel fuel additives to prevent diesel from thickening. Inspect fuel filters and replace them if clogged.
Vehicle performance is directly tied to fuel quality. Avoid off-brand fuel sources to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and strategic fuel management.
2. Oil
Cold weather puts extra strain on engines. Choosing the right oil viscosity is critical to improving start-ups, fuel efficiency, and engine life. Always use the manufacturer-recommended winter viscosity and change the oil before sustained cold weather sets in.
3. Fluids
Checking critical fluids is essential to preventing cold-weather failures. Flush and replace coolant and make sure it has the correct 50/50 antifreeze-to-water ratio, or in extreme cold, a 70/30 mix. Also, check and top off power steering, brake, and windshield washer fluids.
4. Battery
Cold temperatures significantly reduce battery performance. Ensure reliability by regularly testing battery charge and performing load tests. Clean the terminals to prevent corrosion and maintain strong electrical connections.
While batteries typically last 3-5 years, cold weather sharply reduces cranking power. Replace batteries that are 3 years old or older before winter to reduce the risk of cold-weather no-starts. If your fleet vehicles operate in sub-zero conditions, consider a battery heater to maintain efficiency.
5. Spark Plugs
Worn spark plugs can cause hard starts or no-starts on gasoline vehicles. Prevent breakdowns and roadside service calls by inspecting spark plugs for wear, including excessive gaps, oil deposits, cracked porcelain, corrosion, or electrode wear/rounding. If spark plugs show signs of wear, replace them rather than cleaning them to ensure reliable starts in cold conditions.
6. Belts and Hoses
Cold temperatures are tough on belts and hoses and can lead to breakdowns, overheating, and loss of cab heat. Inspect accessory drive belts for signs of fraying or cracking and replace belts that show any signs of damage— no matter how small the damage appears.
Check cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks, or loose clamps. Squeeze the hoses to test flexibility and replace any that feel brittle or excessively spongy.
7. Brake System
Brake systems take a beating in winter from cold temperatures, moisture, and road salt, so careful inspection is critical to safety and reliability. Low temperatures can thicken brake fluid, moisture can freeze in air lines, and road salt can accelerate corrosion on rotors, calipers, and brake lines.
To maintain safe stopping power in winter conditions, inspect brake pads and rotors for wear, check fluid levels and condition, drain air tanks regularly on air-brake systems, and ensure the anti-lock braking system (ABS) components are functioning properly.
8. Tires
Cold temperatures reduce tire pressure, while snow, ice, and slush demand deeper tread and better traction. Inspect tires regularly, maintain proper inflation, and replace worn tread.
In severe conditions, winter or all-weather tires can significantly improve braking, handling, and driver confidence. These solutions help keep vehicles safer, more reliable, and on the road in snow and ice. Also, make sure to check spare tires for proper air and have tire-changing equipment on board.
9. Wipers
Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and road spray can quickly reduce visibility, making wiper performance critical to safe winter operation. Inspect wiper blades for cracks, torn rubber, or poor windshield contact and replace them at the first sign of wear. Ensure washer systems are filled with winter-rated fluid to prevent freezing.
For added protection, consider heavy-duty blades, which are designed to resist ice buildup and can significantly improve visibility in snow, ice, and freezing rain.
10. Lights and Reflectors
Make sure your vehicles are as visible as possible. Walk around the vehicle and make sure all lights are properly functioning. Check reflectors for cracks and wipe off any dirt.
In addition to these 10 steps, consider contacting your fuel provider to discuss a fleet telematics solution for your fleet. Fuel efficiency is typically poorer during winter operation, and increased idling to warm up engines can result in higher fuel costs.
Telematics technology helps identify fuel-wasting behaviors by monitoring fuel consumption and idling time, while also supporting automated maintenance scheduling. This visibility allows fleets to address issues before they lead to costly breakdowns or unplanned downtime.