Life doesn’t stop simply because the winter season starts. Even through harsh storms and freezing temperatures, pedestrians rely on your fleet of buses to get them where they need to go. It’s because of this that fleet owners need to begin their preparations early to ensure they’re ready for whatever winter throws at them. If you’re a fleet owner, you must know how to prepare your bus fleet for the winter.
Perform Regular Inspections
Inspecting your fleet regularly is key to preventing potentially dangerous problems later. Low temperatures can agitate pre-existing conditions, and this is especially true in the winter. As you go about these checks, test all batteries, lights, and windshield wipers for functionality, and fix any problems you come across. If you need more information on what to look for during your inspections, reach out to your trusted bus dealer for advice.
Equip All Models with Winter Tires
Traction is essential when driving over icy roads. As such, you need to create the most possible traction for your vehicles to run. So, in addition to your inspections, you must take the time to switch out your standard tires for specialized winter tires. These tires have larger treads than other models and can grip the road more effectively in slick conditions.
Apply Rain Repellent to Exterior Surfaces
While it’s often best to plan your outings around heavy storms, you can’t always avoid driving through hazardous weather. To protect your windshield and make it easier to clear your view, it’s typically beneficial to apply a thin layer of rain repellent. It’s also good practice to keep a bottle of rain repellant available for future use along with road salt and other winter provisions.
Train Your Fleet Drivers
Just like you need to prepare your buses for the hazardous conditions, it’s also important you train your drivers to handle them. In doing so, you can ensure that they’ll be able to respond appropriately in an emergency and generate the best possible outcome. Proper training in speed control, distance management, and gentle steering will also help reduce the risk of an incident by giving your drivers alternate driving techniques.
For more information on protecting your fleet from the hazardous northwest temperatures, reach out to Schetky Bus and Van Sales. As a leading national bus and van dealers, our professionals are the best in the business and can answer all your questions.