Now that winter is on its way, it’s time to think about what you need to do to prepare your business for the upcoming season. Of course, this will mean making sure you adjust your products and services to meet the needs of your clients this time of year. And, if you own or operate commercial vehicles, you will need to make sure you protect them with commercial auto insurance and use them optimally this winter.
Driving in winter, particularly in bad weather, is not the same as driving in fairer times of year. You must be more careful and there are more hazards present both on the roadway and in your parking lot. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways to safeguard your commercial vehicles this winter.
Winter Vehicle Risks and What to Do About Them
Consider some of the hazards that might threaten drivers and vehicle owners in winter:
- Bad weather could make driving hazardous.
- Holiday travelers could congest roadways and increase accident risks.
- Cold or wet winter weather could cause damage to cars or put extra strain on them..
- More hours of darkness mean more hours of nighttime driving, which is risk.
Commercial vehicles are not exceptions to these risks. You probably have commercial auto insurance for this very reason. Physical damage coverage, liability insurance and hired/non-owned auto benefits are among the countless benefits that you might use if a hazard happens this year.
However, there are still other ways that you can protect your vehicles. With a few precautions, you’ll reduce the risk of having to file a claim on your policy. Safety precautions to consider taking include:
- Suspending the use of company vehicles during severe weather unless those vehicles are used for critical services.
- Making sure that all company vehicles have had oil changes, battery checks and fluid tests on their regular maintenance schedule. This helps these systems withstand cold snaps.
- Testing the headlights of all vehicles.
- Making sure your vehicles’ tires are inflated appropriately and still have strong treads. Tires with issues will diminish your control surfaces. In wet or icy weather, this is a major accident risk.
- Keeping your parking area salted with ice melt, when necessary.
- Ensuring that all employees who will drive on behalf of the company understand the business’s commercial driving guidelines. You should monitor employees regularly to make sure that they are not being unsafe behind the wheel.
- Parking your vehicles in covered garages or parking decks, if possible.
Overall, steps like these will help you keep all your company vehicles and their users safe this season. Plus, if you need to update your commercial auto insurance, or just want to make sure you have the right coverage for potential damage, our agents at Horne Insurance are happy to help you get the answers.