In some of our previous posts, we’ve discussed the dangers of driving in wintertime—such as how low winter temperatures can ice up roads and cause numerous other hazards. However, winter isn’t the only time of year that drivers and fleet managers need to be careful of extreme weather conditions. Some summer weather patterns can be just as dangerous for drivers as any blizzard.
Your vehicle fleets can follow these summer safety tips for the safest experience this summer - and always!
Quick Links:
- Common Summer Fleet Management Challenges
- Summer Safety Tips for Vehicle Fleets on the Road
- Protect Your Vehicle Fleets Year-Round with Rastrac!
Common Summer Fleet Management Challenges
These fleet management challenges are especially unique to the hot summer months.
Blown Tires
Summer’s heatwaves can have a serious impact on your vehicle's tire pressure. When the temperature rises, the air inside the tire expands, which increases tire pressure before temperatures fall in the evening and cause tires to deflate. Both over- and under-inflated tires are at risk of going flat or blowing out on the road, so be sure to check tire pressure before getting on the road and over the course of the day.
Unpleasant Smells
Any spills that happen in the car are going to come back to haunt the noses of your drivers in the summertime. Hot vehicles, especially those that must be parked in the sun while service is provided, will reveal anything that is less than clean inside a vehicle - from fast food wrappers under the seat to spilled drinks that were somewhat cleaned up. These fumes can become overwhelmingly noticeable and can quickly make driving an unpleasant experience. If any strong or unusual smells come wafting out of warm vehicles, it's time for a vehicle-wide cleaning and a talk with your teams about why vehicle cleanliness is important.
Driver Health Risks
Another challenge for managing fleets during the summer is concerns over driver health risks. Unfortunately, a lot of people underestimate the dangers of hot summer weather - there are an estimated 1,300 deaths per year in America due to extreme heat and the stress of a hot day can increase the chance of dying from a heart attack, other heart conditions, or respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia. Your fleet vehicle drivers are your most precious cargo, so their health and safety should always be your top priority.
Summer Safety Tips for Vehicle Fleets on the Road
Follow these tips to ensure fleet vehicle safety this summer!
Make Sure Your Drivers Are Following HOS Restrictions
No matter the time of year or weather conditions, exhausted drivers are a danger to themselves and others on the road. Hours of Service (HOS) restrictions are designed to make sure that drivers get enough rest to be alert and effective behind the wheel.
Monitoring when drivers start and stop their vehicles allows fleet managers to keep an eye on HOS compliance. Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and GPS tracking devices are easy ways to keep track of when your fleet vehicles are active.
Encourage Drivers to Make Pit Stops for Food and Bathroom Breaks
Sometimes, drivers really don’t want to stop for anything, even to get food or use the restroom. They’re so worried about keeping to a tight schedule that they’ll try to eat and drink while driving or go to great lengths to avoid stopping to use the bathroom. Skipping regular food, water, and bathroom breaks is not only potentially unhealthy for drivers, but this can also cause a distraction for the driver at an inopportune time—potentially contributing to a crash.
Water or soda bottles might get dropped and roll under the brake pedal, a sandwich might occupy a driver’s attention just as another vehicle cuts in front of the truck, or the strain of holding it in might detract from the driver’s focus on the road. Frequent pit stops to take care of basic needs such as food, water, and bodily functions are key for keeping drivers alert and aware behind the wheel.
Let Drivers Maintain a Comfortable Cabin Temperature
For much of the U.S., things can get pretty hot in summer. Whether your drivers are traveling through the dry heat of the desert, the hot pavement of a city, or the humid climes often found in the southeastern part of North America, their vehicle’s cabin is bound to get a bit uncomfortable.
Climate control systems in vehicles can counteract some of the worst of the summer heat, keeping the temperature down to comfortable levels at the cost of some fuel efficiency. While keeping the A/C off might save a bit of gas, it might be well worth it to burn a couple of extra gallons per trip to let your drivers stay cool.
Plus, the sweat and discomfort of being locked in a hot vehicle cab contribute to making drivers thirsty—increasing the amount of fluid they have to drink and the number of other stops they have to make.
Keep an Eye On Driver Behaviors
Even on perfectly dry roads with well-maintained wheels and brakes, a semi-truck with a fully-loaded trailer needs a sizable stretch of road to come to a stop. Sharp acceleration, speeding, and hard braking are all behaviors that can lead to an accident. By tracking driver behaviors with a GPS tracking device, fleet professionals can monitor drivers and correct bad driving habits that increase the risk of an accident.
Monitor Weather Forecasts for Your Area of Operation
Summer weather isn’t always sunshine and rainbows; in some parts of the country, summer can bring severe storms. For example, hurricane season in the eastern part of the U.S. begins in June and can continue until November. Thus, monitoring weather reports in your area of operation, particularly for extreme weather warnings, is essential for making sure your drivers are prepared to handle rough weather.
If winds exceed a certain level of force, it may be advisable to reroute a truck to a sheltered parking area to wait out the winds so it doesn’t get overturned on the road. If rain is expected, then have drivers check their tire wear and drive a bit slower than normal. If it’s going to be exceptionally hot and sunny, make sure drivers have sunscreen, sunglasses, and easy access to water.
Pay Close Attention to Equipment Maintenance
It’s important to examine key vehicle parts on a regular basis to guarantee your fleet vehicle drivers’ safety and equipment maintenance. Drivers should regularly examine tire pressure and tread, inspect windshield wiper operation, and check brakes early in the summer to ensure proper function throughout the season. It’s also critical to check cooling systems for a proper balance of coolant, water, and inhibitors since intense heat during the summer season can add stress to these systems.
Share the Road
There are more people than ever on the highways in the summer months as tourists travel, construction crews are out, and students are on summer break. Remind your drivers to be on the lookout for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, and approach them responsibly. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping a safe following distance of 3 to 4 seconds behind motorcyclists.
Minimize Distracted Driving
In 2018, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in America. Drivers must remain focused on the task at hand, ignore external factors such as cell phones, and be vigilant of their surroundings. In addition to limiting distractions inside the vehicle, make sure your drivers pay attention to other potential distracted drivers surrounding them — if they notice a driver texting, focusing on changing a radio station, etc. advise them to keep their distance if possible.
Protect Your Vehicle Fleets Year-Round with Rastrac!
Find out more about how you can improve safety and efficiency for your vehicle fleet year-round by using GPS tracking solutions today! Rastrac is a leading provider of GPS tracking devices and remote asset tracking systems. Our solutions empower companies of all sizes to conduct more effective fleet management. Since 1993, our goal has been to help organizations all over the world experience more efficient fleet operations and reduce their operating expenses.
Our platform and various fleet management solutions are some of the most versatile and flexible on the market. It's often what you see is what you get with other fleet management companies, but we do things differently. Our fleet tracking tools are customizable, so they can be tailored to fit into your daily fleet operations and meet your specific business goals. Our in-house development team can build up nearly anything a customer needs - simply tell us what your dream fleet tracking software looks like and we'll do our best to make it a reality for you.
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