Many corporate vehicle hire companies start preparing for winter early. Ensuring that your fleet is in optimum condition can reduce the number of call-outs or accidents that occur throughout the colder months.

But just how can you fully prepare your fleet for winter? This month we at Fourways Vehicle Solutions have compiled our top tips on preparing your fleet for winter.

Emergency kits – Make sure each vehicle has an emergency kit. Like Fourways, most corporate vehicle hire providers do include breakdown cover in their services, but it is always worth including an emergency breakdown kit during the colder months. This should include:

• A high visibility jacket
• A blanket
• Torch with extra batteries
• Extra screen wash
• Ice scraper and de-icer
• Clear emergency contact information

Winter tyres – Leading on from our Fleet Management Tyre Safety post, consider utilising winter tyres throughout your fleet. Extreme weather usually seen abroad is rare in the UK, but if one of your vehicles is being used to visit remote areas, then consider changing to winter tyres.

The rubber compound that winter tyres are made from doesn’t harden as much in cold weather compared to their summer counterparts. They also have increased tread, ideal for driving in icy or snowy conditions.

Engine checks – Minimise downtime by ensuring that all engines are checked before journeys. Anti freeze should be topped up to provide adequate cold weather engine protection.

Batteries that are more than 5 year old struggle to keep their charge throughout the colder winter months, so consider replacing them for newer batteries if necessary. Check the levels of screen wash, and use a high-quality wash to reduce the chance of freezing.

Plan for Emergencies – During the winter months, it’s important that the main driver of the vehicle is forewarned of any adverse weather that may happen.   Where relevant ensure you advise drivers on how to adjust their driving in different weather conditions.

Main roads are usually the first to be prepared by local authorities, so make sure your drivers aren’t putting themselves at risk by driving on lesser-used roads.

At the same time as this, ensure that they are aware of any emergency contact information you may have, and reinforce any safety measures you normally have in place.

So there we have it, our top tips on preparing your fleet for winter. What advice do you have for drivers? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and you can get in touch with us by Liking our Facebook page here.

For more information on any of the services that Fourways Vehicle Solutions provide, you can get in touch with one of our dedicated team here. We look forward to hearing from you.