Important Winter Season Fuel Delivery Information
Here’s How You Can Help Our Drivers Stay Safe
We all know how treacherous an icy patch on a front walkway or driveway can be. Now imagine navigating a snowy or icy path while maneuvering a heavy hose to deliver fuel.
Despite the mild start and some record highs in December, winter has arrived here in the Green Mountains—and that means extra challenges for our drivers. Wrangling a delivery hose and driving large transport trucks is hard work that our guys make look easy, but slippery surfaces and hard-to-navigate pathways can pose a big risk.
There are ways you can make deliveries safer for our drivers—both before and after big storms—so they can get their work done efficiently and get to everyone quickly.
No matter what winter brings, these tips can help our drivers—and you—stay safe!
Winter Storm Preparedness Tips
- When clearing your driveway after snow, keep in mind that our trucks need a 9- to 10-foot-wide path to maneuver safely—and we CANNOT deliver fuel if your driveway isn’t plowed. Marking the edges makes it easier to navigate, especially on steep driveways. And remember, just because you can get your car down your driveway doesn’t mean our 15-ton fuel truck can make it too.
- Be sure the path to your fill pipe is free of debris or branches and clear a path about a foot wide after a snowfall.
- After a storm, check for downed trees, branches, and power lines that may obstruct access to your equipment.
- Is your tank underground? Marking its location with a pole topped with a bright-colored flag or wide ribbon makes it visible over snowbanks and drifts.
Winter Safety for Your Home and Family
Maintaining a wide space around vents makes clearing snow and ice easier after storms. Wind, snow and ice can take damage lines and block vents, resulting in potentially dangerous situations for your home and family.
- Be aware of propane leaks. You’ll know it by the rotten-egg smell of propane gas. Small propane leaks can be created or made worse by storms. If you use propane in your home, you and your family should brush up on propane safety and know what to do if you suspect a leak.
- Be sure vents are not blocked by snow, ice, or fallen leaves. Your heating system won’t work effectively. It also increases the risk of carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors. Winter is the most dangerous time when it comes to carbon monoxide poisoning because windows are shut tight and the heat on. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations and change batteries if needed.
- Charge your devices. When bad weather is in the forecast, make sure your phones, laptops, and tablets are fully charged—especially if you live in an area prone to outages. If you have portable chargers, charge those as well.
Here’s one more tip for winter peace of mind: When you sign up for our convenient, FREE automatic delivery service, you never have to worry about running out of heating oil or propane. That’s because our proven method tracks your usage and the weather to make sure you have the fuel you need, when you need it, no matter what Mother Nature throws our way.
Conditions on our mountain roads can go from nice to icy… fast. That’s why our delivery drivers are the best on the road! They’re out there in all kinds of weather to ensure you stay comfortable. They get help on the road from VTrans, and our guys will thank you for keeping your driveways clear, too.
Need more information? Need help clearing your driveway? Contact us today. We’ll be happy to help in any way we can.
