Cold weather preventative maintenance

As the weather gets colder, preventative maintenance becomes more important. The change in seasonal temperatures has a big effect on the working parts of a truck and temperature control unit (TCU). 
Please review the following cold weather preventative maintenance steps:

• To prevent temperature control problems during the winter months, it is recommended to run the TCU every other day to keep the battery well-charged. Extreme cold weather drains battery cells quickly.
• Cold weather affects fuel in the TCU. Replenishing engine fuel additives and TCU fuel additives at the same time can reduce the risk of fuel gelling. If the TCU malfunctions due to fuel gelling, it could force future shipments to be declined or result in a temperature deviation and the customer eventually filing a cargo claim.
• It is imperative to precondition the cargo box early. When the set point is more than 30 degrees warmer than the ambient weather conditions, add up to three extra hours to precondition for shipments. 

These steps will help to ensure cargo hold temperatures are held and maintained during the winter months.