Keeping an eye on brake wear
A vehicle cuts in front of your truck and stops abruptly. The truck driver slams on the brakes only to find that the truck’s stopping distance isn’t what it once was—these brakes haven’t been inspected recently. Without the proper stopping distance, an accident becomes inevitable. It’s an extreme example to be sure, but it’s just
Preventative maintenance to avoid brake wear
It’s important that your technicians are trained on how to spot brake wear, and that your shops have systems and schedules in place aimed at avoiding wear issues on brakes. “The only real way to keep an eye out for irregular brake wear is visual inspection on both drum and disc systems. Spotting irregular wear provides
NRS Brakes highlights benefits of galvanized steel brake pads
NRS Brakes highlights the benefits of truck brake pads made with galvanized steel. Galvanized brake-pad sets have mechanically attached premium friction on a galvanized-steel backing plate. This galvanized-steel plate helps fight against rust and corrosion and allows the friction to wear out instead of fall apart, NRS Brakes says. This construction prolongs the life of
What makes Level 2 autonomy the ultimate driver’s assistant
Level 2 automation has been a game-changer in terms of safety for about a decade now, and manufacturers continue to churn out better versions of this technology every year. Active steering, automatic emergency braking—you’ve heard the terms and you have a good sense of what they do, but how do the companies behind this technology
Advanced safety features are keeping drivers and roads safer
From brakes and tires to stability control and lane departure systems, safety technology today has made our truck drivers and roads safer.
Watch: Compression release brakes aren’t just for heavy-duty diesel trucks
When you think of compression release brakes, or “Jake Brakes,” heavy-duty diesels probably come to mind. But today, this same technology and all of its safety, fuel economy and maintenance benefits is also starting to become available in medium-duty engines. Watch the video above to learn more, and click here for more episodes of On
How suppliers are shifting support capabilities
Adaptation continues to be a key ability in navigating the Coronavirus pandemic. If your fleet operation spans several states, you’re having to juggle shifting regulations and practices as some states begin to reopen, but social distancing is here to stay for everyone. For suppliers that are used to working hand-in-hand with customers to solve equipment
Watch: Truck brake fade and what you can do about it
Many truck drivers have experienced brake fade. Technically, brake fade happens when “the condition in which the thermal capacity of the braking system has been exceeded and the system operates at reduced effectiveness.” More simply, it’s pushing the brake pedal and not having things go the way you expect. So, why does this happen, and
Brake pad development heading into the copper-reduced era
Five years ago, an agreement between the EPA, states and automotive industry players was signed to reduce the use of copper in brake pads. Next year, brake pads will need to reduce copper to less than 5% by weight, and then less than 0.5% by 2025. There’s no magic button that will make this happen;
Consider heavy-duty aftermarket brake options carefully
When Montu Khokhar, chief executive officer of NRS Brakes, visited the Fleet Equipment office last year, he rattled off brake friction material that his company had found in analyzing discarded pads from shops across the country. A number of materials raised editorial eyebrows, but none so much as: kitty litter. Yeah; kitty litter, in aftermarket
TMC releases reports on aerodynamic fuel savings, electromechanical brakes
The American Trucking Associations Technology & Maintenance Council, in conjunction with FPInnovations’ PIT Group, released a pair of reports detailing the effectiveness of the council’s aerodynamic fuel savings calculator and investigating electromechanical brakes for tractor trailers. In its evaluation of TMC’s Interactive Aerodynamic Fuel Savings Calculator, PIT Group assessed a proposed update to the calculator,
Watch: Don’t ignore the small things when spec’ing your advanced safety system
Even the most incredible technology can be undermined by ignoring the little things.
