Just as you prepare your business for the colder months, the same should be done for your business’s vehicles. In this article you can find information regarding some of the recommended steps to take to prepare your business vehicle for the winter.

Inspect Fluid Levels

Inspect all fluids in your vehicle, such as coolant, power steering, transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid, to make sure they are at the recommended levels.

Inspect Belts and Hoses

Check your vehicle’s belts and hoses for any dry cracking, splits, or fraying.

Put on Winter Tires

With winter comes ice, slush, and other non-ideal driving conditions. Having your business’s vehicle(s) swapped over to tires with more traction can potentially help reduce your risk of having an accident or getting stuck in the snow.

Check Your Brakes

The winter weather can be harsh, and the elements used to help sand and salt roads can be tough on vehicle components, especially some brake parts. It is important to regularly check your brakes to make sure they are functioning properly. You should also regularly check your brake fluid levels and top off as needed.

Test Your Battery

Test your battery to make sure it is producing the recommended voltage; batteries are especially temperamental when it comes to cold temperatures. Keeping a battery pack or jumper cables in your vehicle is also recommended.

Get an Oil Change

Getting an oil change is part of the regular vehicle maintenance that can help your vehicle last longer. It is important to not only get oil changes at the recommended intervals, but to regularly check your oil level too. Doing so will give you an indication of how your vehicle is performing and also reduce your risk of operating your vehicle with an insufficient amount of oil, which can potentially damage your vehicle.

Install New Wipers

A simple but highly recommended way to combat winter weather is a new set of windshield wipers. You may need new wipers if they look cracked or if they squeak and leave streaks during use.

Assemble a Winter Emergency Kit

Assembling a winter emergency kit for inside your commercial vehicle is vital in the event that there is a breakdown. If you or an employee has an accident, or you become stranded, having an emergency kit is important. A winter emergency kit should include items such as a blanket, gloves, hat, first aid kit, window washer fluid, a flashlight with extra batteries, bottled water, and various food in the event you have to wait for help.

Review Your Commercial Insurance Policies

Not only is it good to prepare your commercial vehicles for harsh conditions before the snow starts falling, but it is also a great time to review your commercial insurance needs. We offer a broad spectrum of insurance solutions for business, including:

• General Liability Insurance
• Property Insurance
• Business Income Insurance
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Directors & Officers Liability Insurance
• Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) Insurance
• Cyber Liability/Data Breach Insurance
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)

Request a quote on our website to begin exploring insurance options for your business.

___________________________________________________________________

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.