A carpet of fresh snow can be heartwarming when viewed from
indoors in front of a roaring fireplace. But for a trucker, that beautiful
landscape can mean treacherous roadways.
To prepare for brutal winter weather, here are a few tips
from Bill Kampf, Progressive Commercial Auto general manager, to help protect
against harm to you or your truck this season:
1. Pull together a winter survival kit for
yourself… – Make sure your truck is fully stocked with everything you might
need so a stall-out or breakdown doesn’t leave you stranded. Key items to include: a shovel, battery
booster cables, ice scraper/snow brush, flashlight with extra batteries, and a
space blanket to help prevent heat loss from a person’s body. Additional items might include extra pairs of
dry socks and gloves, energy bars or other non-perishable food, bottled water and
spare fully-charged cell phone batteries.
2. …AND your truck – Before the cold weather
hits, equip your truck with new winter windshield wiper blades as well as
winterized washer fluid and fuel. Also make sure that your tires, headlights,
cooling system and battery are all in good shape. With all of these
precautions, both you and your vehicle will be ready for any snow, hail, black
ice or below freezing temperature that you might face out on the open road.
3. Slow down –
Give yourself more time to react if something occurs in the road ahead.
Compensate for poor traction by driving slower and making all changes slowly
and gently.
4. Give yourself extra space in front and behind - To stay out of
harm's way in a sudden emergency, increase the distance between you and other
vehicles and avoid driving in packs. Normal following distances should be
increased to 8-10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces.
Look further ahead in traffic than normal to get a
split-second extra to react safely. Awareness of other drivers can go a long
way this time of year.
5.
Keep an eye on the temperature – Be alert to potentially
dangerous road conditions. Touch the front of your outside mirror to see if ice
is forming. If it’s forming on your mirrors, it’s forming on the road too. Be
especially cautious when crossing bridges and overpasses where ice often forms
first.
6. Check your favorite station - Listen
to the weather forecast before you leave town. If travel seems hazardous,
postpone your run.
7. Be ready for the unexpected – No matter
how cautious you are, you still need a safety net on the road. Specialized
insurance coverages and services designed specifically for truck owners and
operators are offered by commercial insurers like Progressive.
Check with your insurance company to see what they
offer. Make sure your policy has tailored
solutions that meet the unique needs of you and your business, including:
o Cargo Coverage to protect against damage or loss due to theft, fire,
collision and hitting or running over cargo. Progressive’s Cargo Coverage
includes no co-insurance penalty, no exclusion of coverage if a vehicle is left
unattended, and no reduction in coverage limits for items such as electronic
equipment.
o Roadside Assistance that provides 24/7
towing, battery jump-starts, tire changes, emergency fuel delivery, locksmith
service and on-scene labor.
o Rental Reimbursement to pay for a
replacement vehicle following a covered claim.
Bottom line: make sure
you and your vehicle are safe and covered, even during the coldest and most
treacherous winter months.
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