Carol Birkland, Author at Fleet Equipment Magazine - Page 7 of 25
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Lights, camera, action: Avoiding CSA violations with proper lighting

Onboard safety systems continue to evolve, and while new lighting, onboard cameras and other systems add safety for drivers, cargo, and highway traffic, they also can be vulnerable to damage and failure—actions that may find vehicles pulled over for CSA violations. Vehicle light compliance “CSA compliance doesn’t begin with the driver, or even the maintenance

Peterson Defender
Aftermarket brake friction: Know what you need and what you are getting

When replacing brake friction material, Dan Dunkleberger, Haldex Friction’s product manager, says that fleets “need to understand the application, duty-cycle and environment in which the vehicle in is performing. These three key things will give the end-user the necessary information needed to spec the correct friction material for the job. Application and duty-cycle are also

TMD
Load, inflation regulation and underinflation overview

As of April 1, 2015, a new regulatory update was posted that says an inspector must have a load/inflation chart for the given tire size and load range, and the jury is still out on how has this impacted the CSA violations. According to Al Cohn, director of new product development and engineering support at

Tire-Maintenance-Michelin-Tire-Care-visual-inspection
Avoiding tire-related CSA violations

Tires have always been one of the top three costs for fleet operations. Good maintenance practices are being tested as fleets work to avoid CSA citations.

Strapping in to advanced safety offerings

In the past year, safety systems that orchestrate radar, camera systems and adaptive cruise control features have grown in popularity as fleets aim to mitigate collisions, reduce costs and better protect not only the driver and truck, but those who share the road with these heavy trucks. Let’s do a walk around of the latest

Bendix Fusion
To protect and serve: The value of air ride suspensions

When it comes to specifying the right system, fleets need to rely on the expertise of suppliers. For example, Jim Rushe, program manager of on-highway trailer products at Hendrickson International, says that “Hendrickson has a sales and service network that works directly with the fleet to understand its anticipated cargo and the equipment operating conditions.

How monitoring reefers saves money

According to the Food Policy Research Center at the University of Minnesota, about 40% of America’s food supply is either lost or wasted. This rate of waste is not only one of the highest in the world, but also it is responsible for increases in our grocery bills at the checkout counter. Improper temperature control

Trailer Reefer Kenworth ThermoKing
Truck technology and total cost of ownership

For medium-duty fleets, considering all the factors in technology maintenance and repair is a proven path to lowering costs. In many ways, medium-duty trucks are becoming technology platforms. While their main purpose remains to carry goods for pick-up and delivery operations, and parts and supplies for a wide range of field service businesses, they are

TCO: Knowing your numbers is smart business

You hear a lot these days about the total cost of ownership (TCO). We wanted to know how fleets are doing the math to make sure they are keeping costs in check and getting the best value out of their equipment. Determining TCO According to Darry Stuart, president and chief executive officer of DWS Fleet

The used truck conundrum

How long are you keeping your trucks? Are you looking for used trucks and having a hard time finding them? If so, you’re not alone. Fleet Advantage recently conducted a survey designed to take the pulse of truck fleet managers on topics that included equipment acquisition and disposition. The survey produced puzzling outcomes. While 70%

Used Heavy Duty Truck Generic
Southeastern Freightlines leverages the latest technologies to stay competitive

Southeastern Freightlines (SEFL) has been successfully delivering freight for more than 60 years and has always been a competitive fleet. Fleet Equipment talked with the fleet to learn how incorporating new technologies has figured into the company’s success. Choosing equipment According to Kerry Stritt, vice president of fleet services for SEFL (pictured left), “Having the

SEFL Fleet and drivers
Matchmaking and downspeeding

Choosing an engine, transmission and axles that are specifically matched to work together for optimum performance is a fast emerging trend. When I say “optimum performance,” I mean maximum fuel efficiency with the right horsepower engines, coupled with an automated manual transmission that shifts at exactly the right RPM, and an axle with the best

Cowan