4 Questions to Ask Before Your Team Makes Winter Deliveries

Whether you’re a white glove furniture delivery service or a final mile appliance delivery team, winter storms can significantly affect your operation. Snow, wind, cold, and ice need to be considered before a delivery is initiated. 

Convertible Hand Truck

So, before your next delivery during a storm, grab one of your sturdiest hand trucks and ask yourself these four questions.

Does the Weather Impact the Team’s Safety?

Safety should always be a top priority. You should be aware of anything that might impact your team’s safety.

Winter storms can make delivery routes difficult for drivers and make the actual delivery hazardous with ice-covered pathways.

So, take note of the actual hazards of the current storm. If your delivery routes are on the edge of the storm and are only experiencing a few flurries and a light breeze, your team can still get the job done safely with the right equipment. However, it might be time to reschedule if you can’t go more than a few steps without encountering sheets of ice or the wind is pushing 20 miles per hour.

Does My Team Have the Equipment They Need?

The right equipment can make all the difference when delivering in inclement weather. A high-quality hand truck can promote safety and efficiency, even on the brink of a winter storm. Due to their rust-resistant properties, be sure to select an aluminum hand truck that can withstand harsh winter weather.

Your hand trucks should boost safety with heavy load capacities, rugged wheel designs, stable ratchet straps, and wide nose plates. If your dollies can withstand some cold wind and a light dusting of snow, your team can still make deliveries before the storm gets out of hand.

Other equipment, like a convertible hand truck with a 1,000-pound capacity in four-wheel mode, can cut down on the trips necessary to complete a delivery and speed up the process, so your team isn’t out in the storm longer than necessary. With the right tools, your team can do more with less while being safer and more efficient.

Will the Weather Cause Product Damage?

Winter weather doesn’t just affect your team but the products they’re delivering as well. If the product won’t make it to its destination in perfect condition, the delivery should be rescheduled for another time.

First, you’ll want to consider how the weather will affect your product. If it’s a furniture or appliance delivery, the wet conditions might cause damage. If your team delivers beverages or water, freezing temperatures can have an impact. A late delivery is better than delivering a product not up to your standard.

Can I Adjust the Schedule Around the Storm?

Thankfully, because of weather reports, you can often adjust your schedule based on the storm. You have a rough idea of when it’ll start and end. When you see reports that a storm is coming, ask yourself how you can adjust your team’s schedule to maximize safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Maybe you can extend your delivery hours before the storm hits to get ahead of schedule. Or maybe you can reschedule deliveries after it’s supposed to die down. Either way, scheduling around the storm can help you ensure your deliveries are done safely and efficiently.

About Magline

Material handling professionals face challenging jobs daily, and they rely on Magliner tools to make those tasks easier and faster. The Magliner brand is well-known in the material handling industry thanks to the renowned quality of its customizable material handling tools. From a electric dolly selection to heavy duty hand trucks, if you move or deliver items, there’s a Magliner tool for you. Magliner hand trucks are made with lightweight, durable aluminum and can be customized in millions of ways, so you can build the perfect hand truck for your team’s needs. Discover the Magliner difference and check out their entire selection today.

Find the best material handling solutions for winter deliveries at https://www.magliner.com/