preparing for trucking during hurricane season

Posted & filed under England Carrier Services.

Hurricane season officially began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting above normal activity for 2021. However, the activity is expected to be less than last season. NOAA’s projection includes six to ten hurricanes, with three to five of them classified as major. While this information may appear somewhat daunting, there are easy ways you can be ready when weather looks like it may get rough while trucking during hurricane season.

 

Prepare in Advance

To avoid an emergency, ensure your supplies are stocked well in advance of a storm. Your list should include rain gear, batteries, flashlights, extra phone chargers, non-perishable food items, and plenty of water.

Make every effort possible to create flexibility in your route. There are times when delays and reroutes are unavoidable. Planning for flexibility will create peace of mind and give you options should weather turn into a safety hazard.

 

Know Your Resources

Identify resources available to you in advance to ensure you are informed every mile of the way. Resources such as NOAA, National Weather Service, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide valuable information you will need for safe travel and trip planning.

Take some time to understand the different kinds of alerts they issue and information they provide. This will eliminate a last-minute scramble when weather approaches.

 

Get Connected

Many organizations turn to social media for rapid fire communications during an emergency. Twitter is the most popular outlet for this purpose. Following your favorite resources can ensure you receive current updates when you need them most.

In addition to the resources listed in the section above, consider following providers of truck stop services, such as Love’s and TA which often use social media to provide areas of outage. Also, consider following companies that provide carrier and brokerage services. These outlets often offer comprehensive updates and are invested in assisting you along the way.

 

Ensuring your safety, the safety of your fleet, and the safety of your freight is dependent on proper preparation prior to a weather event. Taking initiative to get ahead of the storm can greatly minimize its impact on your operations when trucking during hurricane season. For more great tips visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane.

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The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers a variety of services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members who are committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.