Every year, millions of people travel for the Labor Day holiday, and the majority of them drive to their destination. If you plan on taking a road trip this weekend, make it a little safer with these precautions from our fleet fuel card experts:
Check Your Tires
Keeping your tires at the right pressure is important – not only for your car but for your safety. Tires that are under-inflated or over-inflated can be dangerous and can also reduce your gas efficiency. Check your tires and/or your vehicle guide to see what the recommended PSI is. Be sure to check your tires before you head back home as well.
Stay Awake
If you’re headed for a long drive this Labor Day, it’s important to stay awake during the journey. Stay hydrated and eat foods that will keep your body full and alert. Stay away from junk foods and try not to depend on caffeine. If you do get tired, don’t power through it. Instead, switch to another driver or pull over and take a short nap.
Plan Your Route
The roads are going to be busy this Labor Day, so your best bet is to thoroughly plan your route. It’s also a good idea to include alternative routes for your destination, just in case you run into traffic or are delayed because of an accident.
Fill Your Fluids
Before setting off, make sure your car is ready to go. Check your oil, brakes, headlights, and taillights, then top-off your fluids including power steering, anti-freeze/coolant, windshield washer, brake, and transmission. You’ll want your car to be running optimally during your trip.
Find Low Gas Prices
While gas prices fluctuate throughout the country, they can also fluctuate from fuel vendor to fuel vendor, meaning you may be able to find cheaper gas right down the road. To stay on budget, find the vendor with the lowest gas prices. You can use websites like gasbuddy.com or motortrend.com or download an app like Gas Guru or SmartFuel.
Avoid the Rush
Friday will be the busiest travel day during Labor Day, with the busiest times being between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. To avoid sitting in traffic, our fleet fuel card experts suggest leaving before 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Otherwise, wait until early Saturday morning to hit the road.
