Test your truck triage skills
Fleet service managers, start your diesel diagnosis engines!
LEDs: Lighting the way in today’s fleets
LED lights are more expensive up front, but according to lighting experts, buyers get their money’s worth. The good news is that LED lighting products typically last many times longer than their incandescent counterparts, but they are also about twice the cost. Luckily, the ROI is easy to see. “LED lighting technology has become standard
Electrical system checks: Find failures before they happen
Ensuring that your electrical system preventative maintenance practices are up to date with today’s technology could mean the difference between your trucks rolling productively to their destination or being sidelined on the road due to a CSA inspection. Lighting, in particular, is often cited as one of the most common reasons that CSA inspections take
Shining a light on used trailer electrical systems
Lighting is often cited as one of the biggest CSA violations—and it’s easy to see why. Or not see, in the case of lighting that is inoperable. You’ll want to closely inspect the electrical system integrity of a used trailer. It starts with the cables, wiring and lighting components that are exposed to the elements.
Avoiding lighting problems and CSA citations
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) lighting violations or safety concerns often result from intermittent flickering of lights, diodes being out on LED lights, voltage drop on double or triple trailer configurations and non-functioning lights on the trailer. “Just one inoperable lamp can make a law enforcement official suspect that the vehicle, the driver and the fleet
Preventing costly trailer electrical system failures
“Corrosion-causing moisture is always present and any breach in integrity enables it to invade an electrical system,” says Brett Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Optronics International. “When connections aren’t maintained, not only can it mean an early death for that particular component, it can mean that the entire system may be in jeopardy.”
How to maintain good electrical connections in your trucks
When it comes to tractor-trailer electrical connections, there is no such thing as “plug and play.” In other words, all electrical connections need to be secure and properly maintained. “Testing in the proper sequence is critically important to not only perform the correct test, but also in the correct sequence and repair as you go,”
Saving power with LED lighting
With the wide variety of electrical objects drawing power from the truck, saving that electrical energy in other areas can be extremely valuable. One way to do this is to spec LED lights. The cost may be higher for LED lamps, but buyers get their money’s worth: LED lamps sell for about twice the price
Winterization warrior: Battle the elements with these equipment solutions
The blistering dog days of summer burn off into crisp, cool nights. A chill creeps down your spine when you leave for work without a jacket. The air smolders with the smell of burning leaves and the trees reflect a kaleidoscope of color as your productive rigs roll down the road. You know what’s coming.
Inoperable truck lighting attracts the wrong kind of attention
Having an inoperable vehicle lamp is like waving a red flag and just asking to be pulled over. Lamp failures are easy to spot, even from afar, and while a vehicle is stopped for the lighting infraction, a more thorough CSA roadside inspection will likely happen. Hours may lapse before a vehicle gets back on