Winter is officially here, and as the entire northeast hunkers down and braces for an especially cold season, hardworking professionals all over the region are warming up for the months of tough work and busy schedules that lie ahead! In Pennsylvania, no one is a stranger to snow, and if you work in snow removal, you know how much your clients and the people of your community rely on the dedicated work of you and your team to allow them to keep safe and continue with their daily lives! To perform up to these high standards all season long, everything and everyone needs to be on point, and this includes your snow removal fleet.
Your trucks and vehicles may have been hard at work on snowless jobs from spring until fall, or you might just be shaking the dust off them for the winter. Whatever the case, if you want your fleet to deliver the kind of results you need to get through this year’s blizzards and Nor’Easters, each vehicle will have to be in peak condition. These tips can help you to make sure that’s the case for the months ahead!
Get a Full Service
Whether your vehicles have been sitting idle or working hard for the past few months, it’s absolutely crucial to get a start of the season check on each of them. A complete servicing or inspection, whether you do it yourself or visit a shop like Levan Machine and Truck Equipment, can identify and address any issues that might rear their heads and cause major problems for you during the first snowfalls, like low fluid levels, worn-out belts, and much more.Â
Check the Battery
You’ll want to pay special attention to the batteries in your trucks, even if they were given a once-over during a service or other inspection. Cold temperatures can mess with truck batteries quite a bit, forcing them to work harder and potentially shortening their lifespan. If any of the batteries in your fleet aren’t holding a charge well or performing as they should, getting them replaced will prevent more serious issues from arising down the line.
Pay Attention to the Tires
Tire condition and tire pressure are always important, but never more so than during the freezing months of the year! While you don’t want your tires to be underinflated, it’s important to take the cold temperatures into account when you’re adding air to them. Cold tires can seem underinflated but rise to a normal PSI when their temperature increases after some time on the road or a warm stretch of days, so consider filling them to just below the target pressure during the winter months. It’s also vital to the safety of you and your team that your tires be able to handle snow and ice, so check those treads to maximize your traction and control!
Keep Up on Plow Maintenance
Taking care of your fleet vehicles is vital for a good season of snow removal, but don’t neglect your plows in your efforts to focus on what’s behind them! You’ll need to be taking care of these pieces of equipment as well. Once they come out of storage for the year, give them the same careful inspection that you give to your trucks, checking fluid levels, tightening bolts, looking for signs of damage or corrosion, and other service tasks. Then, make sure that everyone on your team is up to date on plowing best practices to protect the integrity of your plows during the busy months ahead! While cutting corners might be faster, extending the life of your snow plows can be worth the extra effort.Â
Even for experienced professionals, maintaining fleet vehicles and snow plows isn’t a walk in the park. Our team here at Levan Machine and Truck Equipment can help to make things easier on you this year! Make sure to contact us today for more information.