Preparing your semi-truck for the winter can be a huge undertaking. Let us help you break the ice with a semi-truck maintenance winter checklist.
By checking off each item below, you can prevent accidents, brave the storm, and never be left out in the cold on a lane.
Semi-truck Maintenance Winter Checklist
The cold has far-reaching effects on most of your truck. To be prepared for winter, the following checks will help ensure your vehicle performs in all respects.
☐ Battery Check
Your battery is more susceptible to the cold than most parts of your truck. In the cold, your battery drains much faster than usual.
Use these tips when inspecting or maintaining your battery.
☐ Batteries that are three years old or showing signs of deterioration should be replaced.
☐ Clean the battery terminal of rust or pollutants to promote better starting.
☐ Fuel Prep
Fuel prep is an essential element of semi-truck maintenance. Around 10 -15° F, diesel fuel begins to gel, threatening to clog fuel filters.
To prevent fuel issues, take these actions before it gets too cold.
☐ Begin using special winterized diesels to prevent gelling.
☐ Replace your fuel filters. If these become congested, the clogging will prevent your truck from starting.
☐ If possible, try to fill up your tank before it’s empty to prevent your fuel lines from freezing throughout the season.
If you want to invest in winter diesel but need help covering the costs, our fuel cards grant you discounts at the pump with the nation’s largest fuel network.
Even the largest fleets, including C.R. England, depend on fuel cards to keep their expenses low.
To get a fuel card for your fleet, click the form below.
☐ Tire Maintenance
Tire performance is directly affected by decreases in temperature. If you’re not mindful, your tires could be severely damaged.
Here how’s to prevent tire issues.
☐ Cold temperatures cause tire pressures to fluctuate. Check your tire pressure throughout the season and refill when needed.
☐ Carry tire chains for severe conditions. For a guide on semi-truck tire chain use, click here.
☐ Replace your tires with winter or all-season tires. For outstanding drive tires, try the Michelin X® Line Energy™ D+ at a special price by clicking the form below.
If you’re wise, you can take another page out of C.R. England’s book and retread your tires once the winter season ends to maximize longevity.
☐ Engine Care
Engine hygiene should be performed regularly, but evaluating your engine’s performance right before winter is critical for safety.
Here’s how to promote good engine health for the winter.
☐ Top off essential fluids, including transmission, brake, coolant, etc.
☐ Use winter engine oils made for winter driving. These winter oils have a lower viscosity to flow easier at colder temperatures.
☐ Check antifreeze levels to ensure you are topped off for the winter.
☐ Other Checks for Semi-truck Maintenance for Winter
Other, often overlooked, features of your semi-truck should be checked before hitting the road for the winter.
☐ Inspect the air dryer to prevent brake freezes. Make sure that airlines are undamaged, including damage from chafing.
☐ Replace your windshield wipers. The change in temperatures can make the blades brittle, causing skipping.
☐ Test your brakes. Stopping distances increase drastically in the cold and ice. Faulty brakes make a wintertime collision more than likely.
☐ Emergency Prep
In addition to priming your truck for winter, you should also have an emergency preparedness kit on hand should a dire situation arise.
Here are a few items to include.
☐ Additional clothing, including a coat, hat, gloves, etc.
☐ Blankets
☐ Flashlight, including a back-up set of batteries
☐ First-aid kit
☐ Snow shovel
☐ Salt
☐ Nonperishable food and water
☐ Tool kit
☐ Extra essential vehicle fluids
Hauling through the wintertime can be a costly and dangerous time of the year. Despite the risks, proper preparation and semi-truck maintenance can reduce your accident risk, save you time and money on maintenance, and keep you off thin ice.
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The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers various 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 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.