Back

Registration Open for 2025 Idealease Safety Seminars

Jan. 17 2025 Safety By McCandless Idealease

Share

As the winter months approach, extreme weather conditions can pose significant challenges for both drivers and their trucks. Recent storms have blanketed parts of the southern United States with over 10 inches of snow, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the season. It's crucial for trucking professionals to prioritize safety and preparedness during this time to protect not just their vehicles but also their well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore essential tips and precautions to ensure your drivers stay warm and safe while on the road, and your trucks operate efficiently in cold weather. From preventing hypothermia and frostbite to maintaining your equipment, you'll find valuable insights to navigate the harsh winter conditions ahead. Let's dive in and help you stay safe this season!

In this issue:

  • Protecting your Driver and Truck During these days of Extreme Weather.
  • Preventing Driver Injuries in Fall and Winter
  • NPTC Encourages FMCSA to Adopt Beyond Compliance Program

Read, share, and/or print this week's Safety Bulletin.
Check out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.

Idealease and the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) will once again host safety seminars in the spring and fall of 2025. This year’s one-day seminar will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulatory changes, and CSA. The seminars will be offered at no charge to all Idealease customers, potential customers, and NPTC members. These seminars provide valuable information applicable to both novice and experienced transportation professionals.

Spring seminars:

4/16/2025 Dallas, TX

4/21/2025 Hudsonville, MI

4/23/2025 Brookfield, WI

4/29/2025 San Leandro, CA

5/1/2025 Portland, OR

TBD Harrisburg, PA

TBD Columbia, SC

5/15/2025 Tampa, FL

To register for an upcoming spring seminar in 2025 click on the following link:

http://www.idealease.com/safety-seminar-registration

Fall seminars will be posted in a later bulletin.

Protecting Your Driver and Truck During These Days of Extreme Weather

Over the past two weeks, storms have brought more than 10 inches of snow to the southern United States. Below are recommendations to help protect your drivers and trucks during these extreme weather conditions this fall.

Protecting the Driver

Hypothermia happens when the body temperature falls below the normal range. Early signs include shivering, slurred speech, sluggishness, muscle stiffness, and lack of coordination. If it progresses to severe hypothermia, symptoms may involve confusion, disorientation, stupor or coma, absence of shivering, rigid muscles, extremely slow breathing, weak pulse, and low blood pressure. If you notice any of these symptoms, especially in older individuals, seek medical help immediately.

Precautions to Prevent Hypothermia:

  • Wear several layers of warm, loose-fitting clothing. Items that wick moisture away from the skin are ideal.
  • Use gloves and knit caps to retain body heat.
  • Change clothing if it becomes wet.
  • Keep an emergency kit that includes a change of clothes, a blanket, hand warmers, and snacks if you become stranded.
  • Consume hot, nutritious meals and drink water regularly; hydration is just as important in winter.
  • Avoid alcohol consumption, as it can increase the risk of hypothermia.
  • Ensure drivers have reliable communication methods in case of a vehicle breakdown in rural areas.

Certain prescription medications can increase sensitivity to cold temperatures. It’s essential to speak with your physician or pharmacist to determine if your medication is one of those that could have this effect.

Frostbite poses a significant risk, especially in extremely low wind chill conditions. Symptoms to watch for include:

  • Alterations in skin appearance, such as swelling or changes in color to reddish, bluish, or whitish hues
  • Numbness
  • Stiffness or rigidity

If left untreated, frostbite can result in the loss of fingers, toes, or other affected areas of skin.

Measures to Avoid Frostbite: 

  • Shield your skin from direct exposure to frigid air.
  • Limit time spent in frigid temperatures. Adhering to these guidelines can minimize the chances of cold-related health issues and help keep drivers and trucks safe in harsh weather conditions.

Protecting the Truck

  • When temperatures drop below 32°F, adding a diesel supplement to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is essential to prevent gelling. If your truck has an engine block heater, plug it in when temperatures are below 32°F. For trucks not used regularly, it’s advisable to start them daily and allow them to run until they reach normal operating temperature.
  • For the initial startup, perform a pre-trip inspection, unplug the block heater, turn the ignition switch to “on,” wait for the dash lights to stop cycling, and start the engine. Let the engine idle until it’s at its normal operating temperature.
  • If your truck has air brakes, purge the air tanks daily. For units with an air dryer, bringing the PSI to 120 will automatically purge the system.
  • After driving in snowy or wet conditions, lightly apply the brakes while the vehicle moves before you park. This action helps dry the brake shoes, drums, rotors, and pads, reducing the risk of freezing while parked.
  • Keep an eye on the windshield washer fluid, ensure it’s complete, and clean all windows for optimal visibility.
  • Also, remove any snow or ice from steps and grab handles to prevent slips and falls. When parking in heavy snow, avoid outdoor docks or areas beneath building overhangs, as snow drifting off buildings can accumulate on your truck or trailer roof and pose a risk of collapse.

Preventing Driver Injuries in Fall and Winter

Slip, trip, and fall injuries are the most prevalent type of injury among drivers, particularly during winter. Each year, numerous professional drivers suffer serious injuries as a result of not being fully attentive to winter conditions. It is crucial to remain focused and aware while working in icy and snowy environments.

  • Remember, it is our primary goal that you go home to your family and friends the way you came to work today: safe and healthy.
  • Always wear proper footwear. A full-support leather shoe with a rugged, non-slip sole is recommended. Use non-slip covers on shoes (e.g., Yak Trax).
  • SLOW DOWN; never be in a hurry.
  • Always watch where you walk. Snow can accumulate on top of ice in and around truck parking areas.
  • Take small steps and check your footing with each step.
  • Look for ice on all handrails and hand grabs before using them.
  • Always use gloves for a better grip.
  • Always use three points of contact when exiting or entering your tractor or trailer or getting on the catwalk behind the cab. Always.
  • Always wear your seat belt.

Important Steps to Handling Diesel Exhaust Fluid in the Cold Winter Months

Winter can pose unique challenges for machines using Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water, DEF freezes at 11°F (-11°C) and needs to be appropriately maintained and dispensed to preserve its quality, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Like water, DEF expands up to 7% when frozen, and this expansion can damage the storage tank if it is full or nearly complete when freezing occurs. Keeping your DEF tank less than complete in cold temperatures is a good preventive measure.

Got Chains?

If you’re in a state that mandates carrying chains, ensure they are the right size, securely fastened, clean, and free from damage so you can apply them easily when needed. Unsure about the chain regulations in your state? Check out:

http://www.tirechainsrequired.com/laws.html

NPTC Encourages FMCSA to Adopt Beyond Compliance Program

The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) has reached out to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with a letter advocating for the implementation of a Beyond Compliance program, as mandated by Congress in the 2015 FAST Act infrastructure legislation. This act instructed the FMCSA Administrator to "allow recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile, for a motor carrier that—

  • Installs advanced safety equipment;
  • Utilizes enhanced driver fitness measures;
  • Implements fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs; or
  • Meets other standards deemed appropriate by the Administrator..."

The deadline for this requirement was 18 months following the enactment of the FAST Act on December 4, 2015, which meant it should have been addressed by June 4, 2017.

In the letter, NPTC highlighted that its member companies typically lead the way in adopting safety technology, management practices, and training programs, making them among the safest operators in the trucking sector. Therefore, they would greatly benefit from the SMS recognition that a Beyond Compliance program would provide. NPTC stressed the importance of the FMCSA fulfilling the Congressional mandate and acknowledging motor carriers that are investing in advancements aimed at enhancing highway safety.

FMCSA Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Rates Remain Unchanged for 2025

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates will stay the same for 2025. This means that motor carriers must continue to test 50% of their commercial driver's license (CDL) drivers as part of a random drug testing program and 10% for alcohol. The last revision to these testing rates occurred in 2020.

*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.