Hurricane season: shield your fleet from the storm

It’s mid-September. One of your drivers is hauling freight along the East Coast or somewhere near the Gulf. It started as just another rainy day—nothing to worry about. But then conditions spiral fast. Roads begin to flood. Visibility drops to near zero in sheets of heavy rain. Winds howl, snapping branches and sending debris flying into your driver’s path. Welcome to Hurricane Season. Is your fleet ready for it?

Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 through November 30. During this time, tropical and subtropical cyclones will likely form in the Atlantic basin. If your fleet operates along the U.S. Gulf Coast or East Coast, you’re in the high-risk zone. That means your drivers, assets and delivery schedules could all be in the storm’s path.

Hurricane Season risks for fleets and drivers.

1. Flooded roads

It doesn’t take much—just a few inches of water can stall a vehicle’s engine, leaving your drivers stranded in hazardous conditions. Fast-moving floodwaters can sweep vehicles off the road entirely, making this one of the top hurricane driving hazards.

2 High winds

Strong winds are a nightmare for drivers, especially when handling large trucks or high-profile vehicles. Gusts can push vehicles off course, cause sudden lane shifts, or even tip trailers. That’s why driver safety during hurricanes has to be a priority.

3. Reduced visibility

Torrential rain can reduce visibility to just a few feet. In these conditions, drivers can easily miss road signs, obstacles, or other vehicles, significantly increasing the risk of collisions.

4. Vehicle damage

Floodwaters and storm debris can wreak havoc on your fleet. Water intrusion can trigger battery fires, stall engines and fry electrical systems. Even after the storm passes, driving a compromised vehicle is asking for trouble.

5. Roadway hazards

Post-hurricane roads are a mess—damaged, uneven, or blocked by fallen trees and debris. Traffic lights might be out and so might local traffic patterns. Total chaos. Forget staying on schedule.

Hurricanes carry a heavy price tag for fleets. Downtime alone can cost $448–$760 per vehicle per day and in extreme cases, over $1,000 daily. Add in fuel shortages, detours and storm damage, and the costs multiply fast. During major hurricanes, delivery times have spiked by 30% and industry-wide disruptions have topped billions of dollars.

There you have it. With so many risks stacked against drivers, it’s clear that hurricane season can throw fleets into chaos fast. That’s why fleet emergency preparedness matters—your team should avoid driving during hurricanes, steer clear of flooded roads, stay on top of weather updates and have solid safety and evacuation plans in place.

How to build a Hurricane Season preparedness plan.

Every fleet needs a clear, step-by-step hurricane fleet safety plan that keeps drivers safe, assets secure and operations moving when the skies turn.

Before the storm, it’s all about prep work.

Get vehicles inspected, fueled up and—if you can—moved out of harm’s way to higher ground. Stock up on emergency supplies and make sure your contact list is up to date. Set up reliable ways to push weather alerts and instructions to your drivers. And don’t forget training—when everyone knows evacuation routes and safety protocols, your team feels ready instead of rattled.

To keep prep organized, assign clear roles:

• Driver Coordinator – keeps drivers updated on routes and safe zones.
• Vehicle Prep Lead – inspects vehicles, tops off fuel and relocates assets.
• Facilities Coordinator – secures lots, buildings and charging stations.
• Supply & Logistics Lead – manages emergency kits, food, water and fuel.
• Communications Officer – shares real-time weather alerts and updates.
• Safety Officer – enforces safety protocols and manages emergencies.

Clear roles cut confusion when the storm hits and build a stronger fleet hurricane preparedness overall.

During the storm, safety comes first, no exceptions.

Don’t send drivers out unless it’s absolutely critical. Flooded or debris-covered roads are a no-go. Keep communication lines wide open so you always know where your drivers are and how they’re doing.

Here’s how to put driver safety during hurricanes into action:

• Pull over at safe locations like rest areas or truck stops instead of roadside stops.
• Use hands-free communication to stay connected without distraction.
• Set short, frequent check-in times with dispatch for real-time updates.
• Keep headlights and hazard lights to boost visibility in heavy rain.

By taking these kinds of steps, fleet management during hurricanes becomes less about reacting to chaos and more about guiding drivers through it safely.

After the storm, it’s time to assess and recover.

Check vehicles and equipment as soon as it’s safe, document damage for insurance and get repairs moving quickly to cut down downtime. This is the start of fleet disaster recovery and it’s where preparation pays off.

Keep your drivers in the loop about when operations will resume and use lessons learned to sharpen your fleet hurricane preparedness plan for next time. A strong recovery phase is just as important as staying safe during the storm—it’s what keeps your operations resilient in the long run.

The bottom line: solid prep, clear communication and quick recovery keep your people safe and your fleet moving—even when hurricanes hit hard.

Hurricane Season essential contacts and emergency kits.

When hurricane season rolls in, every fleet driver needs more than just a route plan. A solid emergency contact list makes sure help is only a call away and communication never breaks down. a cornerstone of fleet emergency preparedness.

Must-have contacts:

• Fleet manager or dispatcher (first point of contact)
• Local emergency service (police, fire EMS)
• Roadside assistance or towing partners
• Nearest hospitals or medical providers
• Personal emergency contacts (family, next of kin)
• Fuel suppliers or service vendors

Contacts alone aren’t enough. Drivers also need to be self-sufficient if they are stranded. That’s where emergency kits come in.

Emergency kit essentials:

• Water and non-perishable snacks.
• First aid supplies
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Basic tools
• Phone chargers of backup power banks

How fleet tech keeps you ahead of Hurricane Season.

Preparedness doesn’t stop with checklists and emergency supplies. Indeed, the smartest fleets are also turning to technology to predict, prevent and respond in real time.

1. Real-time GPS and telematics

You can’t manage what you can’t see. With GPS tracking and telematics, you always know where every vehicle is and how it’s operating. This visibility is critical for fleet management during hurricanes—it lets you reroute drivers away from flood zones, monitor driver safety under extreme conditions and quickly locate assets it they’re deployed for emergency response.

When roads close without warning, a strong hurricane fleet safety plan backed by real-time telematics means you already have a plan B ready.

2. Weather-integrated routing

Storms don’t follow schedules—but weather telematics help you stay ahead of them. Live and forecasted conditions are overlaid directly on route maps, so dispatchers and drivers see threats before they hit. Whether it’s adjusting routes to avoid high winds or directing drivers to safe shelter, predictive weather data keeps your fleet out of harm’s way.

3. Smarter fuel management

Fuel shortages and disrupted supply chains are common during hurricanes. That’s why fleet emergency preparedness must include fuel planning. With remote monitoring, you can track tank levels and consumption live, making sure vehicles—and even backup generators—stay operational. By and large, this level of visibility supports stronger fleet disaster recovery, helping you prioritize critical routes and cut downtime when fuel is scarce.

4. Always-on communication

Silence is dangerous in a hurricane. This is why integrated communication platforms keep every stakeholder—drivers, dispatchers, suppliers, even emergency responders—connected through instant alerts and two-way messaging. That means no missed updates, no guessing where your drivers are and no confusion about next steps. Everyone stays on top, on time.

5. Asset protection with virtual boundaries

When storms hit, equipment is vulnerable—not just to damage, but to theft and unauthorized use. Virtual boundaries create invisible perimeters around your vehicles and assets, sending instant alerts if they move outside its safe zone. This layer of security strengthens fleet hurricane preparedness, keeping assets protected and ensuring critical equipment doesn’t disappear when conditions are at their worst.

When you combine strong planning with the right technology, hurricanes become manageable instead of mission-ending.

Don’t let Hurricane Season bench your fleet.

Mother Nature throws curveballs—make sure your fleet doesn’t strike out. All in all, with smart prep, the right contacts and Zonar’s real-time tech, you can keep drivers safe and bounce back faster after the storm. Don’t wait for the next hurricane season to dampen your operations—connect with us today and see how Zonar keeps fleets moving.