Winter is Coming: 7 Cold Weather Tips for Keeping Your Fleet Road-Ready

Alberta winters are no joke. Between bitter cold, snow-packed highways, black ice, and unpredictable weather, the winter season pushes every commercial fleet to its limits. For business owners and fleet managers, the question isn’t if winter will affect operations, it’s how well you’ve prepared for it.

At Fleetgo, we know what harsh conditions can do to trucks. Our Edmonton-based repair shop features three fully-equipped, drive-through bays and a mobile truck repair service that extends up to 100 kilometers. We’ve seen firsthand how cold weather can turn a minor issue into a major breakdown. The good news? Most of those disasters are preventable.

Here are seven essential cold-weather tips to keep your fleet running strong, your drivers safe, and your bottom line protected.

1. Winterize Your Fleet Early, Not When It’s Too Late

If your first freeze-prep is the day after the snow falls, you’re already behind. The key to winter readiness is starting early. This means scheduling pre-season inspections, updating preventive maintenance plans, and double-checking systems vulnerable to freezing.

Our team at Fleetgo recommends booking winter inspections in early fall. We assess your:

• Battery condition and charge capacity
• Cooling and heating systems
• Air brake systems for condensation
• Tire tread depth and pressure
• Fluid levels and cold-weather formulations

We also look at cold-crank amperage (CCA) on batteries, coolant strength, and the general health of your electrical system. Winter doesn’t wait. Neither should your maintenance plan.

2. Use the Right Engine Oil and Fluids for Cold Starts

Cold weather thickens fluids. If your fleet is running summer-grade oil or old transmission and hydraulic fluids, cold starts will be rough, and rough starts lead to engine strain, wear, and eventual failure.

Switch to engine oil with a lower cold-weather viscosity, such as 5W-40 synthetic, which provides better flow and lubrication during start-up. Don’t forget the importance of:

• Winter-grade diesel fuel to avoid gelling
• Anti-gel additives for extreme cold snaps
• Coolant that meets proper freeze protection levels
• Washer fluid rated for sub-zero temperatures

Fleetgo technicians can flush, refill, and inspect these systems to ensure your vehicles are fully winter-optimized.

3. Inspect and Replace Worn Tires Before the Storms

Tires are your fleet’s first line of defense on snow and ice. Worn tread, improper inflation, and mismatched tires lead to traction loss, brake failure, and off-road incidents that can sideline a truck for days.

Make sure your fleet:

• Has tires with legal and functional tread depth (at least 6/32” for steer tires)
• Uses winter-rated tires where required or beneficial
• Keeps all tires properly inflated (cold air drops PSI)
• Rotates tires regularly for even wear

Our Fleetgo bays are fully equipped to inspect, replace, or rotate tires for optimal winter performance. Don’t wait for the first slippery hill to discover your tread is gone.

4. Don’t Ignore Your Batteries and Electrical Systems

Batteries are one of the most common failure points during winter. Cold weather can reduce battery performance by up to 50 percent, especially if the battery is older or undercharged. If your starter turns slowly in fall, it might not crank at all come December.

We recommend testing and replacing any battery that:

• Is more than three years old
• Has low cold-cranking amps
• Shows signs of corrosion or leakage
• Has difficulty holding a charge

At Fleetgo, we load-test batteries, clean terminals, and inspect your entire charging system, including alternators and starters. We also check auxiliary heaters and lighting systems, two critical components for safe, winter-ready fleets.

5. Treat Air Brakes Like the Lifesavers They Are

Frozen air brake lines can be a silent killer on the road. Moisture builds up inside air tanks and lines, and when temperatures plunge, that moisture can freeze, disabling your brakes entirely.

To avoid this:

• Drain air tanks daily in winter
• Use air dryer systems and inspect them for proper operation
• Ensure heater elements are working in dryers
• Check for cracked hoses or deteriorating seals

Fleetgo’s cold-weather inspections include a detailed review of your air brake system to ensure you’re not gambling with safety when the temperature drops.

6. Keep Emergency Kits in Every Truck

Preparation is about more than the vehicle, it’s about the driver too. Winter storms, breakdowns, and highway closures can strand a truck for hours. That’s why each truck should have an emergency kit with:

• Thermal blankets and gloves
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• High-energy snacks and bottled water
• Jumper cables or battery booster
• Tow strap or chain
• Windshield scraper and de-icer

At Fleetgo, we help clients build fleet-wide winter readiness kits, so no driver is left unprepared on the side of the highway.

7. Schedule Preventive Maintenance with a Trusted Partner

Winter magnifies every existing issue. That small oil leak? Now a frozen engine. That worn serpentine belt? Now snapped from cold tension. Preventive maintenance is your shield against costly cold-weather failures.

Fleetgo offers:

• Full-service winter fleet inspections
• On-site mobile repairs within a 100km radius
• Battery and alternator testing
• DPF and emissions system cleaning
• Coolant flushes and filter replacements
• Pre-season safety and compliance checks

Our experienced diesel technicians don’t just fix what’s broken, we help prevent failures before they start.

Why Edmonton Fleets Choose Fleetgo in Winter

Running a commercial fleet in Alberta is tough, especially when winter hits hard. Fleetgo stands out because:

✅ We have 3 indoor, drive-through bays to keep repairs fast and weather-proof
✅ We offer mobile repair service when trucks can’t make it in
✅ Our highly experienced diesel techs know how to diagnose cold-weather problems fast
✅ We use only trusted parts and OEM-spec fluids
✅ We believe in honest advice, transparent quotes, and top-notch service

Whether you manage 3 trucks or 300, Fleetgo is here to help you prepare for winter, and push through it without missing a load or losing a dime.

Final Thought: Don’t Let Winter Catch You Off Guard

A winter breakdown costs more than money. It costs time, reputation, safety, and sometimes even contracts. Alberta’s cold season can start early and hit hard, so the time to act is now.

📞 Call Fleetgo today at 780-455-8131
📬 Request service, quotes, or fleet inspections at https://www.fleetgo.ca/contact

Fleetgo. Built for diesel. Ready for winter. Always on your side.

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