How Our Drivers Prepare for Winter – and How We Support Them

November 21, 2025 News

How Our Drivers Prepare for Winter – and How We Support Them

Winter Vehicle Checks at Invicta Couriers

As temperatures drop and conditions across the UK become more challenging, our drivers step up their routine checks to make sure every vehicle is safe, compliant, and ready for the road. At Invicta Couriers, winter preparation isn’t an optional extra – it’s part of the discipline that keeps our fleet reliable and our customers’ goods protected.

We operate to FORS Silver standards, and our winter procedures follow the same structured, professional approach we use all year round, backed by training, internal audits, and proper oversight.

What Our Drivers Check Every Day in Winter

Our drivers carry out thorough pre-journey inspections before every shift. In winter, these checks become even more important.

1. Tyres: Grip, Tread and Pressure

Drivers confirm tyre tread exceeds requirements, pressures are correct, and sidewalls are free from damage. Wet, icy, or untreated roads leave no room for mistakes.

2. Lights and Indicators

With darker mornings and early evenings, full lighting checks are essential. Drivers test:

Headlights
Fog lights
Brake lights
Indicators
Side and marker lamps

3. Windscreen, Wipers and Screenwash

Drivers check for:

Cracks or chips that may worsen in the cold
Wipers need to clear the windscreen. Damaged wiper blades need to be replaced and should be reported immediately.
Sufficient winter-grade screenwash to prevent freezing. We have ample supply all year and always available to the drivers.

Visibility is non-negotiable.

4. Fluid Levels and Coolant Protection

Drivers verify oil, coolant and AdBlue levels. In winter, the coolant check is especially important to avoid freeze-related issues.

5. Battery & Electrical Systems

Drivers watch for slow cranking, dim lights, or electrical warnings – all early signs a battery may be struggling in the cold. We have our own workshop and further tests can be carried out immediately if there are any doubts.

6. Heaters & Demisters

Before leaving the yard, drivers ensure heaters, cabin blowers, and windscreen demisters are operating properly. A misted screen is unsafe and unacceptable.

7. Doors, Locks & Seals

Drivers check that doors shut and seal properly and that locks aren’t sticking. Frozen doors are a real nuisance if ignored.

8. Refrigeration Systems (Fridge Vans)

For temperature-controlled vehicles, we run a full refrigeration check on a regular basis, we also have regular servicing and calibration of the refrigeration system. The drivers will monitor and report any problems.

Food safety doesn’t take the winter off.

What Invicta Couriers Does to Support Drivers in Winter

We don’t leave winter preparation entirely on the shoulders of the drivers. We back them up with proper systems, equipment, and training.

1. FORS-Aligned Driver Training

All drivers receive training aligned with FORS Silver requirements, covering:

Safe winter driving
Hazard awareness
Poor-weather braking distances
Defensive driving in adverse conditions

This ensures our winter operations meet national best practice.

2. Regular Fleet Inspections

Our fleet is maintained to a strict schedule. As winter approaches, we carry out:

Battery testing
Coolant strength checks
Tyre inspections and replacements where needed
Lighting system checks
Refrigeration unit servicing

Anything doubtful is rectified before it becomes a problem.

3. Winter Consumables Provided

We supply every driver with:

De-icer
Ice scrapers
Winter-rated screenwash
Gloves
High-visibility clothing

4. Continuous Temperature Monitoring for Fridge Vans

Our onboard systems continuously send temperature information back to our control office. This allows our controllers and the driver to track temperatures throughout every winter journey, giving peace of mind for temperature-sensitive goods.

5. Assistance and Support When Needed

If a driver has any concern during checks or mid-route, our office supports them:

Rapid maintenance response (We have our own workshop and can provide fast support on the road)
Replacement vehicles where required
Route adjustments due to road conditions
24/7 communication with controllers

We look after our drivers so they can look after our customers’ deliveries.

A Professional, Winter-Ready Operation

Winter driving requires patience, preparation and discipline. At Invicta Couriers, we combine driver diligence, proper training, and strong fleet management to ensure every job is completed safely and on time. The safety of our drivers and other road users is our top priority.

Our customers can rely on us because we take winter seriously – and because our team follows the steady, time-tested routines that make transport work smoothly, whatever the weather brings.

What Our Customers Say

Kerry you are as always amazing! Thank you and your team so much!

If reversed you want testimonials please come to me as you have always been fantastic to work with and so reliable, so thank you.

Anna Taylor

Bakkavor Group is a leading international food manufacturing company specialising in freshly prepared foods and produce. The group operates 55 factories and employs around 20,000 people in eight countries with pro-forma turnover in 2006 of over £1 billion.

The company have five core values that underpin the way we do business, one of which is, customer care: We are committed to supplying outstanding service, quality and value, never forgetting that our relationship with our customers is pivotal to our success.

Invicta Couriers have helped us to achieve this in conjunction with our team at Tilmanstone. They provide transport solutions for the effective distribution of samples to our customers and internal buying teams. On many occasions that has been at short notice and often outside traditional working hours.

We have been working with Invicta’s for a number of years now and would consider their flexible approach and professional manner a credit to their management team.

It is on this basis that I would not hesitate to recommend their services to any business.

Alan Tingey

I confirm that I have dealt with Invicta Couriers since 2004, during which time they have provided our company with excellent support in transporting our water samples from our offices in Folkstone to our laboratories in Watford and Staines.

One of the reasons we initially approached Invicta was due to the fact that they could offer temperature controlled vehicles with constant monitoring, to ensure that our strict guidelines are adhered to.

One of the reasons we have remained with Invicta is based in the good working relationship and trust that has developed. The nature of our business means that we can require sample transportation during unsociable hours and very often, at very short notice. I’m delighted to say that Invicta Couriers have always been able to accommodate our needs.

I can confidently recommend Invicta Couriers as providers of a flexible and reliable service.

Stephanie Collins

This is to conform that we at Invicta Produce Ltd have been using Invicta Couriers for a number of years and have always found them able to meet our requirements, together with being professional in their approach to business, reliable, competitively priced and always putting their customer first, therefore we have no problem in recommending them.

I personally have also known and used the company over a period of some ten years while being employed in a previous company, again as with the same recommendation applies.

Ian CJ Maughan

We are a special bakery with a production site in Whitstable. Invicta Couriers have been crucial in the success of our company.We have been working with Invicta for 8 years now – for 2 years Invicta Couriers ran an overnight import service from Germany before we set up our own production in Whitstable. Invicta not only handled the import side, they also handled the second leg of the journey which was to deliver it to our customers in London. Invicta had to customise their vans for the import service.

Invicta deliver our bread on two nights a week to around 25 shops in London. Invicta Couriers hold the keys to a large number of shops for this purpose. They also handle local courier work for us.

In all these years I have never been let down by this company, their controllers and drivers are always friendly, courteous and flexible. Whenever I needed to call their 24-hour telephone line it has always been manned and even if something has gone wrong, they put it right immediately.

We did try a number of courier services before we settled with Invicta. it gives me great pleasure to recommend Invicta Couriers to any business. It is quite rare to get such excellent service from any company.

Ingrid Greenfield, Artisan Bread Original

We have utilised the services of Invicta Couriers for many years, to support our logistics requirements both locally, nationally and on occasion to other European destinations.

We have found Invicta Couriers to be a reliable and flexible Company who deliver the level of service we require, often at very short notice.

Simon Trimmer