Following one of the wettest winters on record in parts of the UK, SNAP is urging haulage operators and professional drivers to prepare early for tougher winter conditions, with vehicle maintenance, journey planning, safe parking and driver welfare all playing a vital role in keeping freight moving.
As temperatures begin to fall, SNAP is encouraging fleet managers and HGV drivers to prepare now for the increased risks posed by heavy rain, flooding, ice, snow, high winds and reduced visibility.
The warning follows an exceptionally wet 2025/26 winter. Met Office figures show that England experienced its eighth-wettest winter since records began in 1836, while southern England recorded its fourth wettest winter. The West Midlands, Cornwall and Leicestershire all experienced their wettest winters on record.
The Met Office also reported that winter rainfall was 42% above the long-term average in England, 27% above average in Northern Ireland and 20% above average in Wales.
For the haulage industry, difficult weather and disruption to the road network can have consequences far beyond an individual journey.
Latest Department for Transport figures show that, in the 12 months to March 2026, GB-registered HGVs travelled 19 billion kilometres on UK roads and carried 1.56 billion tonnes of goods.
With such a significant volume of freight relying on the road network, SNAP says fleets should prepare vehicles, routes and drivers before severe weather arrives rather than waiting for conditions to deteriorate.
Prepare the vehicle
Winter conditions can expose problems that may be less noticeable during warmer months.
Fleet managers should ensure maintenance schedules account for winter demands, paying particular attention to tyres, brakes, batteries, lights, windscreen wipers, screenwash, coolant and heating systems.
Drivers should also continue to complete thorough daily walkaround checks and report defects before setting off.
Rain alone can significantly affect road safety. The Highway Code states that stopping distances in wet weather will be at least double those required on dry roads because tyres have less grip.
Drivers are also advised to leave gaps of up to 10 times greater on icy roads, demonstrating how dramatically winter conditions can affect the space needed to drive safely.
Plan for disruption
Winter preparation should extend beyond the condition of the vehicle.
Fleet managers and drivers should monitor weather forecasts and warnings, allow additional journey time and consider alternative routes where flooding, snow, ice or severe weather could affect key roads.
Schedules should also give drivers the flexibility to stop if conditions become unsafe rather than putting them under pressure to continue.
Planning where drivers can stop safely should form part of that process.
Heavy rain, snow, road closures and unexpected delays can all mean a driver needs to stop earlier than planned. Identifying suitable truck parking locations – as well as alternatives along the route – can help drivers respond safely when plans change.
Prepare the driver, not just the truck
Drivers should also consider carrying essential winter supplies, including warm clothing and blankets, food and drinking water, a torch, phone charger or power bank, ice scraper and de-icer, high-visibility clothing and suitable footwear.
Winter can also place additional pressure on the person behind the wheel. Darker days, poor visibility, difficult road conditions and unexpected delays can make an already demanding job more challenging.
Fleet managers should maintain regular communication with drivers, ensure schedules provide sufficient time for breaks and encourage drivers to stop if fatigue or weather conditions make continuing unsafe.
Nick Long, Head of UK Commercial said:
“Winter preparation shouldn’t begin when the first snow falls. Heavy rain, flooding, high winds, ice and reduced visibility can all create challenges for drivers and fleets long before then.
“Haulage businesses can’t control the weather, but they can control how prepared they are for it. Checking vehicles, monitoring forecasts, planning alternative routes and knowing where drivers can stop safely can make a significant difference when conditions deteriorate.
“Safe and secure truck parking is an important part of that preparation. If conditions become difficult or a journey is disrupted, drivers need the confidence that they have somewhere suitable to stop, rest and wait for conditions to improve rather than feeling pressure to continue.
“Professional drivers keep goods moving throughout winter, often in incredibly challenging conditions. Winter readiness isn’t just about preparing the vehicle. It’s about planning the entire journey and making sure the person behind the wheel has somewhere safe to stop when they need it.”
With billions of kilometres travelled by HGVs every year, SNAP is encouraging fleets to use the weeks before winter to review vehicles, routes, parking plans and driver support rather than waiting for severe weather to arrive.
