Running an international haulage firm that operates in countries with very different weather conditions can be fraught with a number of concerns. Here are eight such issues that you may need to address in order to ensure the business is successful.
1. Extremely cold weather can turn fuel into waxy crystals, which means your drivers in countries such as Russia and Canada may have difficulty filling up their vehicles. The fuel can be affected in storage tanks as well as in the pumps, meaning it won’t flow properly. This can cause delays, which can affect productivity and output.
2. If fuel that’s already in their vehicle solidifies, it could clog engine filters and stop the fuel from getting to where it needs to be. The vehicle is likely to break down, which means the vehicle cannot reach the destinations that have been scheduled that day.
3. If the vehicles do not make it to where they need to be, it can result in you losing substantial contracts with clients/customers that require a reliable haulage firm.
4. Depending on the extent of the damage, the cost of getting the vehicle back on the road can be very high. This could eat away at any profit margin you have on the job, impacting on the company’s bottom line.
5. Now imagine the impact on your clients, business and bottom line if more than one of the vehicles in your fleet suffers a breakdown due to the fuel solidifying into waxy crystals.
6. As an employer, you also have a responsibility to protect your employees from being in danger. If their vehicle’s break down, they could be left roadside in extremely cold temperatures, which could be very hazardous.
7. Another concern for international haulage firms is if vehicles overheat in extremely hot temperatures. Organising regular maintenance can be the most effective solution to avoiding costly breakdowns.
8. If you’re running your international haulage firm from one central base, you may be concerned about the reliability of the drivers you’re employing. Opening up bases in other countries or forging partnerships with other overseas businesses could be an effective way of ensuring your strong reputation is being maintained.
With regards to the risks for international haulage firms in extremely cold temperatures, one way they can be overcome is by using diesel additives such as cold flow improvers. Cold flow improvers work by reducing the size of any waxy build ups, thus ensuring the fuel flows freely and can do its job successfully.
