The Impact Of Canada’s Weather On Vehicle Transportation: A Seasonal Breakdown

As one of the largest and northernmost countries in the world, Canada is home to an extremely seasonal climate—in some places, the temperature can swing from -40°C in the winter to +30°C in the summer. 

With such extreme differences in seasonal temperatures, regions also experience drastic changes in weather. You can find all sorts of extreme weather in Canada, from blizzards in the winter to flash flooding in the summertime.

All of this has an important impact on car transport in Canada. In this article, we’ll break down how the weather affects vehicle transportation in each season—sometimes directly and other times indirectly.

Winter: Challenges & Adaptations

Canada is notorious for its long, harsh winters. There is no end to the challenges a driver may face by this season—some of the most notable include:

• Snowstorms and blizzards

• Ice and slippery conditions

• Reduced traction due to the cold’s impact on rubber tires

• Battery failure in extremely cold conditions

These conditions are one of the reasons that our snowbirds transportation service is so popular—driving in the winter can be a real challenge. 

For these reasons, reliable vehicle transport services will equip their carriers with winter tires. Drivers will also carry a variety of equipment with them, from specialized jump starters (standard jumper cables won’t do the trick) to shovels. Some carriers may even be equipped with studded tires or tire chains to better handle ice and snow.

Dispatchers are in constant communication with drivers—this ensures the safety of the driver and the vehicles being transported. Dispatchers will reroute vehicles when there are road closures and can advise drivers of severe weather conditions. When a severe winter storm or other inclement weather approaches, drivers may stop at the nearest truck stop until the storm has passed.

Drivers are also trained on maneuvers like skid control to prevent damage when driving in snow or icy conditions. These maneuvers are particularly challenging in large trucks—our vehicle transportation company ensures that our drivers are ready to meet the challenge should it arise. 

Accidents happen much more frequently during the winter. Our crew has the driving experience necessary to dramatically reduce the risk of accidents. 

Spring: Transitioning From Winter to Milder Conditions

Winter’s thaw brings about many changes—and while most of them are welcome, there are some changes that have negative effects on our roads and highways. A rapid thaw can lead to flash flooding. Roads and highways can get caked with mud—and plagued with potholes.

This isn’t the greatest environment for car carriers—the large trucks we use to transport vehicles are just as susceptible to potholes as your car or truck. These large carriers will sometimes have a gross vehicle weight in excess of 30,000 kg—the consequences of hitting a large pothole can be devastating.

Our car carriers are equipped with air brakes and other features to help our drivers navigate the treacherous conditions on Canadian roads year round—including the potholes that riddle our highways each spring. 

Summer: Warm Weather & Its Impact on Transportation

You might think that summer is the perfect time for vehicle transportation—there are fewer dangerous weather conditions, there’s no risk of ice on the road, and many of the potholes caused by the spring thaw have been fixed.

That’s all true, but the summer months present their own unique challenges to our drivers. These challenges include:

• The need to navigate through construction zones

• Denser traffic

• Summer storms

• The impact of heat on tire efficiency

While road conditions tend to be near their best in the summer months, traffic conditions aren’t always ideal. Our drivers travel along highways to transport vehicles from place to place—highways tend to get clogged in the summer as Canadians leave the city to vacation. 

Summer is one of the more forgiving seasons, but denser traffic, coupled with construction, and more frequent accidents due to traffic congestion, has its hurdles. Our carriers are equipped with summer tires to mitigate the effects of hot asphalt on rubber. 

Fall: Preparing for Winter & Other Seasonal Hazards

Fall is one of the best seasons for transporting vehicles—there’s less traffic than in summer, fewer potholes than in spring, and less severe weather than in winter.

There are, however, a number of challenges—snowfall can occur in the fall, leaves and debris can clog roads, and fog can reduce visibility. Our carriers are equipped with powerful high beams to cut through any fog—and to get our drivers through the earlier nightfall. Don’t worry, though—our drivers are well-versed in dimming off their high beams when approaching other vehicles. 

Extreme Weather Events: Their Impact on Vehicle Transportation

When we transport your car or truck, our goal is to keep it safe, first and foremost. To ensure the safety of your vehicle and our drivers, we always advise our drivers to stop in a safe space, like a truck stop, any time extreme weather events are in the forecast. This includes blizzards, flash flooding, and other severe weather.

Extreme weather will almost always lead to delays when transporting vehicles—but with air brakes, electronic blind-spot monitoring, electronic stability control, and highly trained drivers, it rarely leads to damage. 

Safety Measures & Tips for Weather-Affected Driving

To keep your car or truck safe during transportation, our drivers follow a number of guidelines. These tips can help you, too:

• Don’t drive in severe weather.

• Stay up to date on road closures, and avoid closed roads.

• Keep in communication with someone when driving in severe weather—have them reroute you to a safe place if necessary.

• Keep an emergency kit in your car or truck.

Our car carriers are also equipped with a number of safety features, including the aforementioned air brakes, blind-spot monitoring, stability control, and radios for communicating with dispatchers. 

Conclusion

To prepare for transportation, our drivers and dispatch team:

• Plans a main route and alternate routes

• Inspects the carrier for damage, wear and tear, and potential problems

• Checks the forecast continuously

• Ensures that the car carrier is well-equipped with emergency supplies and tools

• Understands the conditions that are prevalent on Canadian roads during each season

You can do the same. Be prepared for Canada’s weather before your next trip!