Recent forecasts by Environment Canada are predicting that, once again, most of Canada and the Northern United States will experience a winter with below normal temperatures, including many days with temperatures remaining below the freezing mark. This is not welcome news for the thousands of people that make their living in the transportation industry. Sub zero temperatures can wreak havoc on transportation industry liquid carriers during the cold winter months. Along with the high cost of fuel, cold temperatures can drastically affect profitability for those in the transportation business. As well as protecting pumping, water and fuel systems, finding an effective and cost-efficient method to protect liquid cargo systems is critical.
Freezing temperatures can directly affect much more than the bottom line. The freezing of equipment can be extremely dangerous and it has been an all too common problem in transportation over the years. By example, fire departments who are involved on a daily basis with life and death situations rely on their equipment to be in good working order. When temperatures drop below -20 degrees, fighting fires can be hampered by frozen equipment, if the equipment is left unprotected. Frozen hydrants can be one source of the problem but the mobile equipment on the fire trucks and pumper trucks can also flash freeze if there are any delays in the flow of high pressure water. Valves on tankers and pumpers are especially susceptible to freezing and, once the equipment is frozen out in the field, it is extremely difficult to get things flowing again in a timely manner.
Over the years, bulky and costly solutions have been used to prevent freezing, such as steam generators and chemical anti freeze solutions. However, today, new technologies exist that are easy to implement at a relatively low cost and provide a long term freeze-protection solution. Some select manufacturers of freeze protection products have developed new products for transportation freeze-protection applications. These systems are low voltage, self-regulating, heating cables that are custom made to fit. They are designed for a variety of applications such as off-grid, mining industries and especially for the transportation industry due to their compatibility with various electrical systems. Insulation and an optional thermostat can be added to the systems to optimize energy efficiency. The systems can be used in concrete trucks to protect metering systems and in commercial coaches to protect washroom systems from freezing. The system is also suitable for use in small diameter hoses, appliances, heating units, condensate freeze protection systems, oil lines, hydraulic hoses, pumps and compressed air systems. When used in the transportation industry, these systems are capable of maintaining hydraulic oil viscosities in cold temperatures, minimizing stress on equipment while maximizing winter performance.
Freeze protection system manufacturers realized some time ago that there was a growing market for dependable heat line products for the North American transportation industry. For reasons of safety and efficiency, it is important to have some type of reliable freeze protection system on trucks and buses that operate in areas where temperatures drop below freezing. The newest lines of freeze protection systems utilize low voltage self-regulating heating cables that are designed to adapt to a wide variety of application requirements, making it especially effective for all transportation applications. Additionally, they are capable of maintaining hydraulic oil viscosities in cold temperatures, minimizing stress while maximizing winter performance. Since these products can be customized to protect fire engines, water tankers, pumping trucks, cement trucks, as well as the water systems for buses and coaches, many individuals and businesses have reaped the benefits of these innovative energy saving cold weather solutions.
By effectively protecting valuable equipment from freezing temperatures and the worst that winter weather can offer, companies and individuals in the trucking and transportation industries can protect their profits and their future.
When the weather gets cold, it can seem like a chore to go outside for a workout. However, before you lock yourself inside all season, take a cue from the kids. Remember how much fun it was to play in the snow when you were young? Well, there is no reason to stop now. Just walking around on snowy ground requires extra energy and burns calories. Here are a few other ideas to get you fit while enjoying the white stuff this winter.
Anyone who has ever gone sledding knows how exciting it can be to fly down a hill and slip and slide to the bottom. What you may not realize, though, is that this youthful activity is actually quite the workout. The average adult can burn more than 350 calories in an hour of sledding. How? Well, every time you reach the bottom you need to lug that sled back up. The steeper the hill, the more you burn and the more fun you'll have on the ride back down.
Building a snowman is one of the quintessential winter activities. It's a great way to spend time with family and friends, and also a great accomplishment when you display your finished masterpiece. In addition to all the joy a snowman brings, this wintery figure also helps get you in shape. All that rolling and packing burns roughly 285 calories in an hour. When you've finished your snowy friend, continue the fun by picking a snowball fight with your fellow builders. Running and tossing soft snow around can burn another 320 calories an hour. When you finally tire out, why not make some snow angels? Just rolling around in the snow like this can still burn 200 calories an hour. Add all these together and you've had quite the winter workout!
Shoveling snow may seem like a chore, but next time you are getting ready to go out and uncover your driveway, put a positive spin on the situation. Skip the snow blower and use this task to earn yourself that extra slice of pie or cup of cocoa later. Shoveling snow by hand can burn more than 400 calories an hour for the average 150 pound person. This is just as much as a casual jog or bike ride! Just make sure you don't injure yourself. Use proper form and always life the heavy weight of the shovel with your legs, not your back.
Another great winter working gets you out of the neighborhood and in touch with nature. Hiking through the snow burns about as many calories as shoveling, and is a great way to get out on a chilly afternoon. Feeling buff? Go snowshoeing instead. It burns more than 450 calories an hour! For those who prefer more thrilling sports, skiing and snowboarding are also great weekend choices. Each burns around 350 calories an hour and can easily take up a whole day. Just make sure you know what you are doing. If you're new at these sports, get some basic instruction before you hit the slopes, and stick with the easy trails to start.
Just because there is snow on the ground doesn't mean you have to lock yourself indoors. Going out in the snow is tons of fun for people of all ages, and is an excellent way to schedule fitness into your holiday season. Besides, you'll feel a lot better about all those great holiday foods if you burn some extra calories off first.
Both Lorne R. Heise & Robert Harden are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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