Top Three Ways Technology Can Help You Safely Navigate Winter Weather Driving
As the popular song goes, it’s a “beautiful sight” walking in a winter wonderland. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case when it comes to driving in the wintertime.
For many parts of the U.S. and Canada, January means winter weather is on full blast. For fleets (and their drivers) who spend a large part of their time on the roads, this translates to dangerous driving conditions and gridlock from snow and ice storms, directly impacting fleet safety. This also can mean vehicle and asset maintenance trouble related to harsh drops in the temperature.
Increasingly, fleets are turning to transportation technology solutions to alleviate some of the hassles that come with the colder temperatures and winter weather driving. By relying on the right solutions, you, too, can stay ahead of the weather and enable driver safety and efficiency, regardless of what Mother Nature throws your way.
Some of these solutions include:
1. Weather conditions and forecasting apps can inform winter driving practices:
Snow and freezing rain can make for slippery and treacherous roadways. One of the most important ways fleets can prepare for winter weather driving is by knowing the real-time conditions of the roads they are operating on–both currently and further along down a driver’s route.
According to the most recent U.S. Department of Transportation study between 2005 and 2014, 22 percent of all vehicle crashes were weather-related. Of these crashes, 73 percent are caused by wet roadways. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration projects that weather-related delays add $3.4 million a year to freight costs.
2. Fault monitoring and fleet maintenance alerts:
As anyone who has tried to start a car in brutally cold weather can attest to, extremely low temperatures can make it hard for the engine to turn over immediately. Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are no different, making truck maintenance critical for winter driving.
Many fleets take precautionary measures like adding fuel additives to prevent common winter problems like diesel fuel gelling (when the paraffin typically present in the fuel begins to solidify). Unfortunately, the effects of winter weather go well beyond just impacting a truck’s fuel tank.
According to a study by the United States Department of Transportation, prolonged episodes of cold weather can “degrade both the safety and performance characteristics of CMVs” including the “engines, tires and mechanical and hydraulic systems.” This directly impacts fleet safety and vehicle uptime.
With Trimble’s wide range of remote diagnostics solutions, fleets can get better visibility into when a specific vehicle has a fault event, whether it is related specifically to cold weather or not. This knowledge helps inform better decision-making, allowing managers to proactively respond and schedule fleet maintenance or repairs, reducing vehicle downtime. Not only does this help to increase efficiencies but it also helps their drivers avoid roadside breakdowns, a potentially dangerous situation should a driver be stranded in extreme temperatures while waiting for assistance. By leveraging these diagnostics, fleet managers can optimize their operations, improve vehicle longevity, and ensure compliance with driver safety standards, enhancing the reliability of their fleets.
3. Advanced route planning and commercial navigation tools:
Route planning and commercial navigation are crucial for safe and efficient winter weather driving. By incorporating real-time weather data and road conditions, these systems help drivers avoid hazardous areas and optimize travel routes. Advanced navigation tools provide dynamic rerouting options, ensuring that drivers can adapt to sudden changes in weather or road closures.
This proactive approach minimizes delays and enhances safety, reducing the risk of accidents in challenging winter conditions. Ultimately, effective route planning and navigation empower drivers to maintain productivity and safety, even in the harshest winter environments.
Trimble CoPilot enhances winter driving safety by providing real-time commercial navigation that takes into account current road conditions and weather updates. It offers dynamic routing that can adjust paths based on weather-related road closures or hazards, ensuring drivers are guided along the safest and most efficient routes. CoPilot's turn-by-turn navigation is designed to help drivers maintain focus and make informed decisions, even in challenging winter conditions.
Trimble Appian supports winter driving by offering advanced route planning that considers seasonal road restrictions and potential weather impacts. It provides carriers with the ability to pre-plan routes that avoid areas prone to severe winter weather, reducing the risk of delays and accidents. Appian's robust data analytics can also help fleet managers monitor and respond to changing conditions, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring timely deliveries despite adverse weather.
Both solutions work together to enhance fleet safety and efficiency during winter, helping drivers and fleet managers navigate the challenges posed by harsh weather conditions.
Use transportation technology for fleet safety and efficiency
The hassles of winter driving and hazardous weather conditions deeply impact fleet routing, commercial navigation, and maintenance management. While you can’t make time go by any faster, you can begin to look at using transportation technology to lessen winter’s impact on your fleet.
Contact us today and get a demo to learn about any of the solutions detailed above. Find out how Trimble can help you to operate safer, greener and more efficiently in all seasons.