Commercial trucks are everywhere. From the east coast to the west, and everywhere in between, trucks are hauling and delivering products. As a result, trucks may encounter different climates and conditions during the same trip.

Extreme conditions take their toll on truck parts which are already being put to the test. Even in the best circumstances, parts like batteries can take quite a beating when a truck is on the road day after day. Every stop and start demands a lot of power. Additionally, severe climate conditions, long routes, and frequent stops can push batteries to their limit. Using hot batteries in a hot climate forces a part that’s already working hard to work even harder. Batteries that can’t take the heat certainly won’t handle the extra starting efforts required in the cold.

Today’s truck drivers need to be ready for anything, and so do the batteries they rely on. Using commercial truck batteries that can’t stand up to these challenges will lead to unexpected failures, which always seem to happen at the worst possible times. That’s why fleets need parts with the right technology to power them through every extreme condition they encounter.

When a tough work out leaves you feeling dehydrated, would you rather have a full glass of water, or only a few sips? You’d want a full glass to help rehydrate and replenish what was lost when you were sweating it out.

Did you know your truck’s batteries get thirsty, too? Commercial truck batteries work hard to deliver continued cycle service and power many auxiliary and hotel loads. All of that hard work can lead to batteries experiencing “power dehydration,” which means they need to be properly recharged.

Keeping batteries charged at optimal levels is like drinking a full glass of water post workout. A full glass for a battery is like having it fully charged at 12.6 volts for flooded or 12.8 volts for AGM. Batteries that are only half charged or have less than 12.2 volts may not have enough power to keep trucks up and running on the road.

To keep batteries from being thirsty for power, it is best to keep commercial truck batteries above 12.2 volts. That keeps them running longer and equipped to power stronger.