Top brake questions, answered
The No. 1 job of truck brakes is safety; within that application, there’s more than one way to stop a truck. Drums have been the brake of choice for many trucks, but air disc brakes (ADBs) continue to gain popularity in nearly all heavy-duty on-road applications. “Current [ADB] market penetration is in the 12% to
Utility makes roll stability standard on 3000R refrigerated trailer
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. announced that it has added trailer roll stability protection from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC on the 3000R base model refrigerated trailers as standard. According to the manufacturer, Utility is the first trailer manufacturer to include roll stability as standard on refrigerated trailers. “Trailer roll stability systems can dramatically improve a
Building a safer heavy-duty truck
In a national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in late September on attitudes about the trucking industry, 80% of survey recipients said they believe truck drivers are safer than passenger vehicle drivers. Additionally, 90% of respondents said passenger vehicle drivers are more likely to speed than truck drivers, and 74% think that when an
The importance of tire pressure monitoring
Keeping a close eye on tire pressure can also impact your bottom line. Under-inflated tires flex excessively under load, producing heat and increasing rolling resistance, which wastes fuel. Tires inflated 10 PSI below recommended levels can reduce truck fuel economy up to 1%. In addition, stress from flexing causes fast and uneven wear, shortening the
Trucking Moves America Forward fundraising effort underway
A fundraising effort for an industry-wide movement, centered on creating a positive image with policymakers and the general public, has been launched by the Allied Committee for Transportation (ACT 1). The campaign, called Trucking Moves America, initially includes creative materials, messaging, and social media links focused on how trucking technology has a positive impact on
Truck component makers add training for fleets
Hendrickson, Bendix and Timken recently announced training updates that offer helpful information to fleet equipment asset managers.
Maintain proper tire pressure for added benefits
Tire pressure monitoring and automatic inflation systems work in combination to improve fuel economy, enhance safety and lower overall fleet costs.
Foundation Brakes
Issued in July 2009 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), new tractor braking standards are set to take effect in August of this year. To meet and exceed the rule’s more stringent stopping distance requirements, braking system suppliers have been working in close cooperation with vehicle manufacturers to develop and refine effective solutions
Stability control: rules, technology and benefits
The potential for regulation for commercial vehicle stability control moves into the Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in mid-2011.
Not your daddy’s brakes
Technology advances allow for shorter stopping distances and the
development of stability and collision avoidance systems, but there is
a need for good maintenance.