Summer driving and physical loading work need a plan for hot conditions. This checklist is for moving drivers and crews preparing for the day. It complements workplace procedures and driver training; it does not replace them.
Before leaving
- Check the forecast and heat alerts for the route and both loading locations.
- Complete the required vehicle checks and report faults before departure. Follow the vehicle and tyre manufacturers' maintenance instructions.
- Plan safe places to stop, access to drinking water and breaks in a cool or shaded location.
- Confirm loading access so the crew is not searching for an entrance or waiting unnecessarily outdoors.
During loading and unloading
Keep drinking water accessible and take cooling breaks appropriate to the conditions and workload. Tell the supervisor if the work or heat becomes difficult to manage. Watch for colleagues becoming unwell, especially where someone may not recognise their own symptoms.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety describes heat controls such as water, rest arrangements and monitoring workers. There is no single daily fluid quantity that replaces a proper workplace heat plan.
If someone becomes unwell
Stop the activity and seek help. Heat stroke is an emergency: confusion, collapse or other serious symptoms require an urgent response and a call to 911. Follow emergency instructions and the workplace first-aid plan. See CCOHS guidance on heat illness and first aid.
Driving and breaks
Do not continue driving when fatigue or illness makes it unsafe. Stop in a safe place and contact the dispatcher if the schedule needs changing. Set navigation before moving and use the vehicle's controls according to its instructions. An arrival deadline is not a reason to skip a necessary break.
If there is a vehicle fire
Pull over as soon as it is safe, stop the engine, get everyone out and keep well away from the vehicle and traffic. Call 911. Do not continue driving with a burning tyre, return for belongings or try to fight the fire yourself. The U.S. Fire Administration's vehicle fire guidance advises moving at least 100 feet away and not opening a hood or trunk where a fire is suspected.
Coordinate with the customer
Agree access and contact details before arrival, and communicate any change to the plan. Customers can help by keeping the agreed route clear and the inventory ready. Our moving checklist explains those preparation tasks.