At Crete Carrier Corp., supplier relationships start with the spec’ing process and encompass many different facets of the operation. "We share knowledge with each other," says Karel Znamenacek, executive vice president of equipment purchasing and maintenance. "We work together to create the most effective equipment from reliability, ease of maintenance, driver comfort and safety standpoints."
Founded in 1966, Lincoln, Neb.-based Crete Carrier Corp., along with operating division Shaffer Trucking and wholly-owned subsidiary Hunt Transportation Inc., ranks as one of the largest privately-owned trucking companies in the country. With a full range of transportation offerings, Crete Carrier provides truckload dry van service; Shaffer Trucking offers temperature-sensitive service, and Hunt Transportation covers flatbed and specialized hauling needs for customers.
Crete, along with its sister companies, operates about 5,500 tractors and 13,200 trailers. “It’s especially important to make the right equipment choices when it comes to safety,” says Tim Aschoff, vice president of risk management and general counsel. “Safety is first and foremost in our minds so we strive to spec systems that keep us at least on par, and in some cases ahead of the industry.”
The opportunity to add new safety enhancing technologies to its vehicles comes up regularly at Crete. The carrier, Znamenacek notes, trades tractors after four years and 525,000 miles of service, making the average age of its power units about two years. Now in the fleet are 3,050 Freightliner Cascadia and Century models and 2,450 International ProStars. The company’s trailers include over 9,000 dry vans, the latest being Wabash DuraPlate units, and reefers are supplied by Utility. Dry vans are replaced every nine to 11 years and refrigerated trailers are kept in service for about eight years.
Active safety
“We have 3,200 tractors equipped with some of the newest safety solutions from Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems,” Znamenacek says. “We’re using the manufacturer’s SmartTrac family of stability control systems to put active safety technologies on our vehicles. Included are anti-lock braking systems with Automatic Traction Control (ATC) to improve stability and traction, and Roll Stability Control (RSC).
The RSC solution assists drivers in maintaining control of the vehicle by continually monitoring conditions that can lead to a rollover, and by automatically intervening if a high rollover risk is detected. The system checks and updates the lateral acceleration of the tractor and compares it to a critical threshold at which rollover may occur. When that threshold is met, RSC intervenes by reducing engine torque, engaging the engine retarder and automatically applying drive axle and trailer brakes.
Crete is also using the Meritor WABCO OnGuard Collision Safety System with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Active Braking. The system uses forward-looking radar sensor technology to monitor the distance, speed and deceleration of a vehicle ahead. When it detects that a potential collision is developing, it sends audible and visual warnings through an in-cab dash display so the driver is alerted to take the appropriate action.
OnGuard’s Collision Mitigation System also automatically de-throttles the engine and applies the engine and foundation brakes. Active Braking can also energize brakes prior to driver demand, reducing the time needed to achieve proper pressure. In Adaptive Cruise Control mode, OnGuard automatically attempts to maintain a safe distance behind the vehicle ahead, accelerating or decelerating as conditions dictate.
“This multifaceted system covers a lot of safety concerns,” Tim Aschoff says. “We’re phasing them in on all of our new trucks, and now have over 60% of the tractor fleet equipped with the Meritor WABCO solutions. To date, we have over 400 million miles on these systems, which makes them an excellent test bed for comparing what they have done for us from an accident prevention standpoint, and to justify their cost.”
Validating effectiveness
“Comparing vehicles with the Meritor WABCO technologies,” Aschoff continues, “we’ve seen over 19% less accident frequency versus vehicles without the systems. Broken down, we’ve realized an 18% drop in non-reportable accidents and 25% fewer preventable events. At the same time the severity of the accidents, measured in the cost of repairs and property damage, is also much less. When we started spec’ing these systems, we didn’t know how effective they would be. This represents a very significant investment on our part and now we have validated its effectiveness.”
Crete Carrier Tractor Specifications |
Models: International ProStar; Freightliner Cascadia; Freightliner Century Wheelbase: 230 in. Engines: Detroit Diesel DD15; Detroit Diesel Series 60; Cummins ISX Clutch: Eaton Fuller Solo Transmission: Eaton Fuller FRO-16310C Driveshafts: Meritor RPL; Dana Spicer MFS Front Axles: Meritor; Hendrickson Power Steering: TRW; Sheppard Rear Axle: Meritor Wheel Seals: Chicago Rawhide Brakes: Meritor ABS: Meritor WABCO Automatic Slack Adjusters: Meritor Parking Brakes: Haldex Goldseal Wheels: Alcoa; Accuride Tires: Michelin XZA-3, XDA-3; Bridgestone R295, M720 5th Wheel: Fontaine 6000 Air Compressor: Bendix Air Dryer: Bendix Air Cleaner: Donaldson Fan Clutch: Borg Warner; Horton Batteries: Alliance; Deka Starters: Delco; Mitsubishi Alternator: Leece Neville Block Heater: Phillips Mirrors: Lang Mekra Lighting: Truck-Lite Seats: National |
Crete also has worked with Meritor WABCO to keep its 290 technicians up to date on the manufacturer’s safety technologies. “We have trained our technicians on how to adjust and test the OnGuard sensors,” Znamenacek says. “We were one of the first fleets to use this system, so we had an opportunity to work with Meritor WABCO to test and perfect the product. For example, we helped develop a bracket that would hold the sensor steadily enough so it would not let it easily get out of adjustment.
Crete Carrier Trailer Specifications |
Models: Wabash DuraPlate dry vans; Utility refrigerated Refrigeration Unit: Carrier Landing Gear: Jost Axles: Meritor, Hendrickson Suspension: SAF Holland Ultralite 2 Oil Seals: Federal-Mogul Brakes: Meritor ABS: Meritor WABCO Slack Adjusters: Haldex Tires: Bridgestone R195 Wheels: Accuride Lighting & Electrical: Truck-Lite |
“Training can be a challenge with any new product, and we’ve found that some of the dealer locations we use when we need service on the road don’t have the same training on OnGuard systems,” Znamenacek also notes.
Key role
Suppliers play a key role in helping Crete achieve its maintenance objectives, Znamenacek points out. In the carrier’s 16 maintenance facilities across the U.S., the company employs a total of 405 technicians, parts personnel, administrative and supervisory staff.
“We utilize vendor and OEM training along with our in-house trainers,” Znamenacek relates. “Our in-house trainers have OEM certification and in a few locations suppliers have technicians based in our facilities. Other ways they work with us are to standardize inventories and to certify our staff to make warranty repairs. It’s all part of having a good relationship with suppliers.”
“In everything we do,” says Aschoff, “we stress long-term performance over short-term gains. Coupled with providing prompt, on-time service, we do not compromise, especially when it comes to safety for our drivers and for the people that share the highways with our vehicles.”