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It's Finally Summer - Idealease Safety Bulletin 6/25/21

Jun. 25 2021 Miscellaneous By McCandless Idealease

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The latest and final Idealease Safety Bulletin for June 2021, "IT'S FINALLY SUMMER" is now available to read and share!

Read the entire bulletin online here on idealease.com, and be sure to sign up to have the weekly bulletin delivered straight to your inbox so you can view at your convenience! 

Remember to view past bulletins on the archive. 

SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY HERE!

Although for many, the heat has been here for quite some time... 

Beat the heat on the road - consider the following precautions during the hot summer months:

  • STAY HYDRATED - It is vital to stay properly hydrated, especially during the hottest months of the year.  Keeping a few extra bottles of water next to you while you're driving can help serve as a reminder!
  • KEEP TIRES INFLATED - The chances of tire blowouts increase during high temperatures. Ensure you check that your tires are properly inflated every time you drive. 
  • CHECK YOUR BRAKES REGULARLY - Higher temperatures can result in a loss of friction when brake parts can't absorb any more heat. 
  • PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN - Remember sunscreen and sunglasses! 
  • BE AWARE OF CROWDED ROADS - Summer road trips and vacations can cause heavy traffic volume and increased dangers to drivers. Be alert and aware of other vehicles on the roads. 
  • KNOW THE SIGNS OF SERIOUS HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS- Be aware of two heat-related conditions if you are loading/unloading freight, or working outside of the truck in hot conditions. 
    • HEAT EXAUSTION: Serious and may or may not require medical attention
      1. Symptoms:
        1. Sweating profusely
        2. Skin that’s cold and clammy
        3. Pulse that’s faint and rapid
        4. Cramps in stomach and/or muscles
        5. Exhaustion
        6. Dizziness and headache
        7. Fainting
        8. Sick to the stomach
      2.  What to do:
        1. Move affected person to a cool spot,
        2. Loosen garments, 
        3. Apply cold compresses
        4. Take small sips of water
      3. Seek medical attention:
        1. If person is vomiting
        2. If symptoms continue past 1 hour
    • HEAT STROKE - Requires IMMEDIATE medical care
      1. Symptoms:
        1. Body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit
        2. Skin that’s hot to the touch
        3. Skin that’s red; skin that’s dry or damp
        4. Dizziness and nausea
        5. Disorientation
        6. Loss of consciousness
      2. What to do:
        1. Move person to cool location while another contacts 911
        2. Use cold, wet cloths to help lower body temperature or assist with cool bath
        3. NEVER give a person with heatstroke a sip of water

Pay Attention to these A/C System Failure Warning Signs

Listen to your truck and warning signs, and invest the time now to avoid spending more time in the shop later on.

Have your A/C system inspected by a professional technician if you experience any of the following:

  • Lack of air flow coming from the vents
  • Warm air instead of cool
  • A noisy compressor
  • A lack of water dripping from the cab drain tube when A/C is running (when the humidity increase, so should the amount of moisture dripping)

Follow these best practices when it comes to year-round maintenance to increase the reliability of your truck's A/C system:

  • Have your cabin filters replaced as needed or according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Keep the condenser on the front of the cab clean.
  • Keep the compressor belt tight and in good condition.
  • Don’t wait until the hottest day of summer to service your truck’s A/C system needs to be serviced.

     

Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Reefer Unit In Hot Climates

Proper pre-trips on ThermoKing and Carrier units is the start to Loading Best Practices:

  • Initiate an automatic pre-trip to identify any operational concerns while the reefer cycles through all its modes. Do not load truck/trailer if alarm codes indicate service is needed.
  • Inspect the condition of the truck/trailer, noting any damage to the insulation, door seals, and defrost drains.
  • Clean inside of truck/trailer. To prevent contamination hazards and blockage of airflow, the floor channels and refrigeration unit air stream must be free of debris.
  • Pre-cool truck/trailer:
    • Always pre-cool truck/trailer to the temperature of the product to be loaded. Doing so will remove unwanted heat from the truck/trailer walls, floor, and ceiling. Remember refrigeration units are not designed to lower product temperature.
  • Load product with the proper loading pattern:
    • Product should be loaded quickly and efficiently using the proper loading patterns that maximize air circulation around and through the product load. Product should never be loaded tightly against the evaporator housing, doors, walls, ceiling, or tightly against other pallets of product. All six sides of all pallets should be exposed to airflow.

Delivery Best Practices:

  • Inspect strip curtains (if used), report any damage to your supervisor.
  • Be certain reefer unit is off when opening doors, reefers will pull in warm, humid air if the door is left open while the unit is running.
  • Minimize door opening duration to further reduce this intake of warm outside air. Remember, the longer the doors are open, the longer it will take to regain the proper temperature.
  • Move product quickly when delivering to cross dock locations.

CVSA - Operation Safe Driver Week - July 11-17

Learn More: https://www.cvsa.org/programs/operation-safe-driver/operation-safe-driver-week/

Focus - control excessive speeding by CMV drivers

Law enforcement will be on the lookout for CMV drivers engaging in risky behaviors. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning. 

CVSA - Brake Safety Week - August 22-28

Learn More: https://www.cvsa.org/news/2021-brake-safety-week/

Focus - brake hoses/tubing

Roadside inspectors will conduct North American Standard Inspection and will compile data on brake hoses/tubing.

*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.