Living in a country with a very cold climate often results in an extreme winter – and this can be a problematic situation for any goods being delivered through a courier service. Whether it’s snow and ice or torrential rain, delivering packages in difficult even dangerous weather is undeniably a challenge, yet innovative postal services and trucking companies have developed sophisticated ways around harsh climates to continue to produce ordered goods to the doorsteps of those isolated by storms.

Vehicle safety checks

Before delivering any goods in extreme weather conditions, couriers must check the reliability and strength of their vehicle to ensure a safe trip for both themselves and the safety of others. A flat tyre in a snowstorm or break down in a remote area surrounded by thick snow can be catastrophic for a number of reasons. Couriers must review specific parts of their vehicles – for example, the battery of the vehicle must be checked, as if it is not fully charged or is compromised because of exposure to freezing temperatures, then of course this can affect the overall performance of the vehicle. Windscreen wipers must also be tested to ensure that they function properly, as this is a potential health and safety hazard when driving in snow and rain, the amount of fuel in the vehicle must be monitored and maintained and tyres should be reviewed or replaced before long journeys.

Package protection

When shipping in extremely cold weather, it is important to check the sensitivity of any goods you may be sending as certain items are particularly sensitive to harsh weather conditions. Electronic goods and food items can be especially susceptible to extreme weather, so to ensure that your package is delivered without the product contained inside spoiling, the use of a climate controlled shipping container is a smart way to send goods in extreme weather conditions. Liquids can be a challenge to send during extreme weather as depending on their composition and nature there is a high chance that they could freeze. In this case the use of temperature controlled packaging is often utilised to prevent freezing. During extreme weather, rain is always a large possibility and with some packages moisture can seep through and cause damage to your goods. To prevent this, vacuum sealed packaging is an efficient way to avert any moisture leakage into your goods.

Remote corners of the world

When shipping in extreme and harsh weather to countries that have particularly cold winters, you should be sure to give goods plenty of time to be delivered so there are no major delays in shipping. Be sure to also check the weather for your shipping route, as this could save a lot of time in case of shipping delays. This practice should also apply to some areas of America, Canada, China and Russia, as whilst in the summer they are easily reached by air, sea and land transport, harsh weather conditions can cut them off from main hubs which in turn causes a delay and extends time periods for shipping.

For more information on winter services or overseas shipping, please contact us.