A key component of preseason winter services preparation is getting your snow & ice management fleet ready to roll when the first storm hits. Check out these tips to ease the transition from fall to winter operations:
If you don’t already have a preseason fleet readiness schedule, make one. Identify your company’s snow season kickoff date and calculate the amount of time you need to get your equipment ready. Leave plenty of time so you don’t have to rush to finish, knowing that current season maintenance and breakdowns may temporarily derail the schedule.
Companies who perform other services may not be able to do a complete switchover to winter operations. If so, consider a phased approach, starting with one or two trucks with plows and spreaders being prepared early in the event of an early storm and adding more to the rotation as winter nears.
Keep an open line of communication between all relevant parties in the company so they are aware of the maintenance program timeline.
The closer you get to the start of the season, the better the chance that parts will be on back order. ELM keeps a cabinet stocked with the parts that tend to break more often, as well as major parts, such as plow pumps, spreader motors, etc., that may be hard to come by in the middle of a storm.
Keep an equipment “first aid” kit handy. Even basic hand tools and a hydraulic hose repair kit can be a first line of defense in the event of a breakdown.
Work with clients to stage equipment and materials on-site early. This cuts down on deployment time when the first event starts.
Establish breakdown procedures for your drivers and site managers to follow, including how to report problems and any documentation that is required.