Many across the Midwest have recently felt the change in weather drop from the blistering heat experienced most of the summer to the lower temperatures of the fall. It may seem early to begin planning for the winter months and the hazards they bring but its good to always be prepared.

Here are a few things that you can do to make the transition to winter easier:

• Try to track when the batteries on your rig were last changed. You can expect most batteries to start having issues after three years of use but always test their charge before heading into wintry months.
• Review your emergency supplies to see what needs to be refilled. Check things that require batteries like flashlights, power tools, or emergency radios to insure you have all the right batteries to run them for multiple hours/days.
• Refill the windshield washer fluid even if you think it is still full. We have all been in a position where we need windshield washer fluid to help clear dirt, ice, or snow to avoid obstructions to our driver view.
• Make sure the air dryer is functioning correctly. The air dryer is going to keep all the water out of your brake lines which can cause major issues in colder weather with freezing.
• Utilize your CB radio to talk to other drivers about unfamiliar routes where colder conditions could be an issue. It never hurts to ask other drivers their opinions about areas you haven’t driven to try and be as prepared as possible. They can give you pointers and tips around certain areas to avoid or stopping to rest in certain spots.

There are a lot of other engine and rig equipment winterizing elements that you should review. Do not get stuck out in the elements this winter to avoid putting yourself into unnecessary danger.