A balancing act with tires
More years ago than I might care to admit – 44 years to tell the truth – I became aware of the independent repair shop near my home. As a sophomore in high school, the need for a future career lurked in my subconscious but being a mechanic was not in the embryonic plan. Nevertheless,
Mitchell 1 highlights support for heavy-duty EV service
Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly being adopted in the commercial vehicle market. The numbers in use will only accelerate as charging networks become more common and fleets embrace the technology to reduce maintenance times and otherwise improve efficiencies and reduce overall costs. One of the challenges that will face fleets adopting EVs in their business
When lubricating truck hub bearings think like a Dippy Bird
Not long ago, someone asked how I come up with ideas for these articles. How exciting it would be if I could claim the topics rolled from my mind because of vast personal technical knowledge and experience. Granted, to a degree the article ideas are the result of some 40 years in the industry. Nevertheless,
Mitchell 1 awards TMCSuperTech 2022 Grand Champion a TruckSeries subscription
Mitchell 1 has awarded the TMCSuperTech 2022 Grand Champion, Phillip Pinter, a Michigan-based FedEx technician, a one-year subscription to TruckSeries software. Pinter claimed the title during the American Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Council’s National Technicians Skills Competitions, held last week in Cleveland, Ohio. As the top finisher, he will have access to all of
Removing security locks can be frustrating. For example: Lunch time!
I grab the bread and begin to unwind the bag twist tie only to discover it grows tighter. Maybe the wire in the tie got knotted together? Or maybe someone thought twisting the tie 50 times would be funny. Am I tightening the tie instead of loosening it? Turning the tie counter-clockwise to the left
The unintended ADAS consequences of seemingly unrelated truck repairs
A truck rolls into a service shop and needs a radiator replaced. The technician dutifully does the job, moving components out of the way, replacing the radiator and putting everything back into place. The truck rolls out, but when the truck rolls under certain overpasses, a shuddering of the active brake assist systems runs through
A hospitable approach to truck maintenance
As summer draws towards a close, many of us are anticipating those final, enjoyable outside gatherings before the weather changes. Preparing for these events will include a list of those who we hope invite. Getting ignored or left out from a party can leave some a bit miffed, which does not help for lasting relationships.
Keeping truck tires cool in the heat of summer
As a kid, you’ve probably experienced the adventure of crossing over the hot pavement during the summer months. Walking on one’s heals in a rapid penguin shuffle is a common approach to surviving the journey. In those desperate times, sitting on the ground with your feet temporarily lifted off the scorching ground provides a brief
Preventing unintended consequences from routine service on ADAS-equipped commercial vehicles
Technology can be a wonderful thing–when it works. When it doesn’t, that same wondrous technology can lead to unintended consequences, including complete mechanical failure. Having a deeper level of understanding how the pieces work together can help us navigate more effectively around all those devices to deliver the benefits we had hoped to achieve. The
A Common sense approach to prevent tool loss
Looking through engine service information recently, a caution statement to “remove all tools after work is completed” brought about a reflection of loss, namely the loss of hand-tools. No technician wants to lose any tools. Not only are tools expensive, the tech depends on them to get the job done. Nevertheless, when working on vehicles,
Mitchell 1 assesses top technicians at the Arkansas Trucking Association’s Return of Champions event
Mitchell 1 joined the Arkansas Trucking Association in their return to an in-person trucking championship that brought together 108 of the best drivers and 50 of the top technicians in the state. Mitchell 1 operated the Service Information Skills station at ATA Return of Champions event, held June 23-25 in Rodgers, AR, which tests competitors
Truck service to smooth out a harsh truck ride
Those yellow rubber bumps on the curbside of a grocery store can be annoying, but they’re there to let the visually impaired know where the sidewalk ends and the roadway begins. These bumps can also serve as shoe scrapers, decorative talking points, or shopping cart speed bumps for shoppers in a rush. The bumps can
