Storm Alert – October 9, 2024 – Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has adjusted its path slightly and is now projected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm just south of Tampa, moving across the state of Florida as a Category 1 storm. Milton is expected to hit Florida’s west coast late Wednesday or early Thursday as a major hurricane, bringing sustained winds of up to 160 mph.

Please be advised that fuel deliveries in Tampa, Orlando, and many other markets will be suspended today and tomorrow. For safety reasons, fuel carriers cannot operate on the roads when sustained winds reach 35 mph or higher. High winds pose significant risks to the stability and safety of fuel trucks, making it dangerous for drivers and other motorists. With Hurricane Milton bringing strong winds and hazardous conditions, carriers will remain off the roads until it is safe to resume operations. The safety of our carriers, partners, employees, and the public remains our top priority. Mansfield and its partners have positioned trucking assets in nearby markets, ready to resume deliveries and resupply the area as soon as conditions are safe.

Mansfield is prioritizing safety as we work around the clock to support customer fueling operations during the storm. We urge all customers in the affected areas to be cautious ahead of placing orders to ensure that there is sufficient space for delivery in the tank, and that the tank is not full of water. With limited refueling capacity ahead of the storm, delays from retained deliveries could cause further challenges. For more information on how to prepare safely, please refer to Mansfield’s What To Do Before the Storm guidelines.

Effective today, Mansfield is moving the state of Florida to Code Blue in response to worsening conditions that will make roads impassable. This means no deliveries can safely take place and delivery ETAs cannot be given until the storm has passed and road conditions are navigable. Other markets around Florida remain on Code Red, requesting 72-hour notice for new deliveries. Mansfield is also keeping southern Georgia, including Macon, Bainbridge, and Albany, in Code Orange, requesting 48-hour notices.

Mansfield extends a heartfelt thank you to its freight partners, supply partners, and employees who are working tirelessly to ensure deliveries can continue as long as possible in and around Florida. For those executing fuel deliveries, supply logistics, and tank drops – your efforts to prepare the Florida market ahead of the storm and your readiness to deploy when the storm has passed are deeply appreciated.