Although it might still be hot outside, winter weather will be here faster than you may realize. No matter your location, being prepared for a snow or ice event is imperative to the safe operations of your fleet. Even locations with rare snow and ice events aren’t immune. To ensure the safety of your snow and ice control fleet as well as the safety of your service fleet, read winter preparedness tips from Doug Clark, snow control product manager at Winter Equipment.
MWS: WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WINTER EQUIPMENT AND WINTER PREPAREDNESS THIS MONTH. HOW ESSENTIAL IS IT THAT FLEETS PREPARE FOR THE COLD MONTHS AHEAD?
CLARK: When it comes to winter preparedness for snow and ice control fleets, it’s important to adequately prepare. First, make sure the oil, coolant, and antifreeze in the vehicles are at the right levels. Make sure your fluids are all topped off and fresh. Make sure you have equipped your fleet with winter accessories, like safety equipment (emergency road flares), tire chains, etc.
Further, it’s important to note you are adding 600 to 1,000 lbs to the front of the truck with the plow and a few tons on the rear of the truck with a fully loaded hopper. You want to ensure your suspension is tuned and your brakes can handle the added load.
MWS: WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY STEPS A SNOW AND ICE CONTROL BUSINESS SHOULD TAKE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF THEIR FLEET BEFORE THE FIRST snowfall?
CLARK: Keeping your employees safe should always be a top priority. I suggest the following three important steps:
- Safety is a matter of briefing your staff and reviewing the signs of cold injuries—like trench foot and hypothermia.
- Do a warm weather walkthrough on your properties, document where the snow will be placed, and point out any areas that need extra care.
- Ensure that your team is outfitted with warm weather gear, gloves, and leather boots.
MWS: WHAT KINDS OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU SUGGEST A FLEET OWNER INVEST IN WHEN IT COMES TO ICE AND SNOW CONTROL OF SMALL AREAS? WHAT ABOUT LARGE COMMERCIAL AREAS OR ROADS?
CLARK: For small areas, make sure you have equipment for both sidewalks and driveways. You will want to make sure your trucks are maneuverable, as you will be doing a lot of maneuvering. In a large area, you will want to move as much snow as possible in a single pass. The focus here is winged plows. Our company offers the WESTERN® WIDE-OUT™ or WIDE-OUT™ XL.
MWS: YOU MENTIONED THE WESTERN WIDE-OUT AND WIDE-OUT XL. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS EQUIPMENT THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM COMPETITORS?
CLARK: The WESTERN WIDE-OUT and WIDE-OUT XL provide complete control of the wings, in and out as well as forward and back. This is the only plow in the market that allows this amount of wing control.
MWS: FOR THOSE THAT AREN’T IN ICE AND SNOW REMOVAL YET TRAVEL IN SNOWY AND ICY CONDITIONS, SUCH AS SERVICE FLEETS, HOW SHOULD MANAGERS ENSURE THEIR FLEET VEHICLES ARE PREPARED?
CLARK: It’s highly important to prepare any truck in your fleet that will be traveling in winter conditions. Make sure the fluids are set up for cold weather (which might mean you need to change the weight of the oil). Further, ensure all fluids are full and not contaminated with water. Additionally, tires need to be inspected for proper tread necessary to maintain traction. Chains or studs might be required in certain areas.
MWS: WHAT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU SUGGEST FLEET MANAGERS USE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR SERVICE FLEET DURING SNOWY AND ICY CONDITIONS?
CLARK: All of the trucks in your fleet should have an emergency kit that contains flares, blankets, camping equipment, water, and food (high density). Although rare, winter travel can be dangerous and people can get stuck for hours or days.
MWS: ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS?
CLARK: Even those in states with typically warm winters, you can no longer make the assumption that your fleet will be fine skipping out on winter preparedness. After all, even the southern states aren’t always free from cold weather, snow, or ice. Dallas and Atlanta over the last several years have reminded us of this.
All it takes it a little bit of preparation that can make all the difference in protecting your equipment and your workforce.
For More Information
Doug Clark is the snow control product manager at Douglas Dynamics, where he focuses on the commercial snow removal industry. With more than 20 years of experience in product management, he has spent the last 11 years working with contractors and dealers to introduce industry-leading plow attachments for work trucks, wheel loaders, skid steers, and tractors. Prior to working in product management, Clark was an artillery officer in the military. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Find out more, visit www.winterequipment.com.
