How movers flip from “keep it running” to “hold my coffee” – and what to fix before spring slams your schedule

Winter is survivor-mode: salt on the roads, slow bookings, trucks that cough but soldier on. Spring? That’s when the calendar wakes up, customers remember they’re moving, and your phones start ringing like a slot machine. If you don’t prep, spring chaos will hand you fines, late nights, and stories nobody wants to tell their boss.

Here’s the short, punchy playbook to go from limp winter convoy to spring-ready crew – with a few cold, hard facts to wake you up.

1) Trucks survived winter – now check everything

You got through the worst. Good job. Now don’t trust luck.

Brake issues were the #1 reason trucks got pulled in the last Roadcheck – brake-system problems alone were about 24% of vehicle out-of-service (OOS) violations, and brake-related issues made up 40%+ of OOS flags. Fix the brakes. Fix the brakes. Fix the brakes.

Tires and lights follow close behind: tires were ~21% of vehicle OOS failures and lighting issues about 12–13% – meaning worn tires or a dead marker light can bench you faster than a burst pipe. Check tread, pressure, bulbs, and wiring.

2) Paperwork naps in winter become audit nightmares in spring

You let driver files, inspections, and med cards hibernate. FMCSA doesn’t care about your seasonal mood.

FY2023 saw 53,317 OOS orders for “Operating a CMV without a CDL” – that’s trucks stopped for drivers not having the right license. Don’t be that statistic. Verify CDLs, endorsements, medical cards, and Clearinghouse status now. 

3) Spring means scale – and scaling breaks everything lazy

Booking suddenly triples? Great. Your sloppy estimate habits won’t.

If your estimates, accessorials, and tariffs aren’t buttoned up, spring chaos turns those “we’ll fix it later” promises into unpaid invoices and angry customers. Lock in written estimates, list accessorials, and make the BOL clean. Get your Digital BOL with CSI ready today!

4) Crew skills go rusty like neglected straps

New hires from winter temp pushes need a refresher. Stair carries, narrow turns, and elevator protocols aren’t “self-explanatory.”

Run quick spring training: two-person stair drills, liftgate practice, safe straps 101. If you don’t rehearse, someone will invent a new way to twist an ankle – and you’ll invent a new way to pay for it.

5) The little stuff trips you up faster in spring

Parking permits, condo rules, HOA gate codes – spring season brings more urban moves and more rules. Prep a checklist: permit? load zone? dog on site? elevator reservation? Missing one item ruins half a day.

Also: expect Roadcheck-style inspections to spike activity; recent CVSA Roadchecks placed thousands of vehicles out of service during inspection windows. Being inspection-ready is not optional. 

6) Preventative maintenance beats emergency patchwork every time

Swap winter tires if needed, retorque wheel nuts, test heaters then test A/C, grease hinges, and replace worn straps. Schedule inspections now – not when the phone explodes with bookings.

P.S. if your brake pads look like a pancake, the Roadcheck numbers above are about to be your reality.

7) Use tech like a boss – and teach crews to use it too

Digital BOLs, ELD checks, and an organized driver qualification file will save you dozens of “where’s that paper?” hours. Make required fields mandatory in your workflow so nobody can “forget” the valuation election or the accessorials.

Final: Keep it human, keep it sharp, keep it legal

Spring is loud and messy – but it’s also paycheck season. Prep your trucks, paperwork, and people now and you’ll turn chaos into cash. Miss it, and you’ll be writing checks, answering angry emails, and explaining yourself to inspectors.

Your short checklist before the first big spring week:

Spring’s coming – don’t show up hoping for luck. Show up with grease, checklists, and a playlist that keeps everyone awake.