According to Kenworth Truck Co. engineers, battery woes are common in winter, but what the people in the battery business know is that summer weakens a battery.

Heat is what really damages batteries, with the increased demand of cold-weather cranking finishing the job. Here are some quick tips to help keep batteries and electrical systems in good working condition:

1. Inspect batteries: Look for leaks and make sure there are no cracks in the case.

2. Check for and remove corrosion on terminals: Ensure that all cable connections are tight, including interconnecting battery cables, battery and mag switch cables to the starter, alternator cables, and beyond.

3. Inspect the drive belt on the alternator: Make sure belts are tight and in good condition.

4. Check batteries: Use a load tester to check batteries. Test the cranking, solenoid control and charging circuits for excessive voltage drop. Fleets should use TMC RP129 to determine the maximum allowable voltage drop when testing charge/start circuits.

In addition, if fleet vehicles are drawing on the battery to power sleeper-cab creature comforts, consider buying an inverter. Look for inverters that are specifically made for sleeper/truck applications with low voltage protection to ensure that your truck will start when you’re ready to go again.