Road transport in winter - how to prepare?

Road transport in winter in European Union countries: Road traffic regulations and road safety

The winter period is approaching due to difficult weather conditions, which poses a challenge for the logistics industry. Many countries are struggling with low temperatures and heavy snowfall at this time. Therefore, to ensure safety, some countries introduce appropriate road traffic regulations at this time. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to prepare for winter in road transport.

Vehicle preparation and winter regulations

In European Union countries, there are regulations that specify the appropriate preparation of vehicles for winter conditions. The guidelines cover, among others: changing tires to winter ones, the possibility of installing chains or spikes on wheels to improve the vehicle's grip on icy surfaces. There is no regulation in Poland that requires changing tires to winter ones, but it is recommended for safety reasons. However, putting spikes on tires is prohibited, and chains can only be used in designated areas. In addition, driving with chains is only allowed on icy and snow-covered surfaces. It is also worth purchasing brushes, scrapers and chemicals to help remove frost from the car to improve visibility while driving. Also remember to remove snow from the roof of the vehicle. Currently, in the Polish Highway Code, driving a car without snow removal can result in a fine of up to PLN 3,000. zlotys. While driving, snow from an unremoved roof will fall on other cars behind and pose a serious hazard on the road. It is worth remembering that road regulations in winter vary depending on the country. In Scandinavian countries, for example, there is an obligation to change tires to winter tires within a certain time. Moreover, in Norway, vehicles over 3.5 t must be equipped with winter tires and chains. This is usually from November to March in the south or from October to April in the north. Drivers regardless of the country, in winter, are obliged to exercise particular caution at intersections, bends and other places where weather conditions may affect road safety. During this time, weather information and weather warnings are regularly made available to drivers to enable them to prepare for their journey. Before continuing your route, always check what regulations apply in a given country. Selected countries and their road traffic regulations in winter are described below.

Preparing cargo before road transport in winter

If possible, choose appropriate packaging for your load that will protect the product against moisture, snow and ice. Waterproof and insulating materials will be particularly useful during this period. Some goods must be transported at a certain temperature, therefore they are transported under special conditions. Moreover, in winter, in most cases, thermal insulation must be used to prevent the goods from freezing. Some containers and vehicles have special temperature monitoring systems for such cases. Therefore, when organizing transport, you should keep this in mind and arrange appropriate conditions for the transport of goods well in advance. Regardless of the weather conditions, it is worth taking care of anti-slip mats, but they may be especially useful in winter. Moreover, an invariably important aspect is the optimal arrangement of goods on the trailer. Thanks to this, we gain more space and can transport more goods. Additionally, appropriate loading planning increases the safety of cargo transport. Some non-standard shipments pose a logistical challenge when placed on a trailer. However, there are tools that can help with this. Smartload allows you to create a visualization that facilitates loading planning. Try it for 14 days for free, with no obligations or hidden fees!

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