Podcast: Why tracking the right metrics is key for your truck maintenance operation
What makes tracking the right metrics in a fleet maintenance shop so important? According to Jacob Findlay, founder and CEO of Fullbay, a provider of shop management software, it’s important to evolve from a gut feeling, shoot-from-the-hip style of business to a more precise one where the right metrics are tracked, or your shop risks
Why you need to use VMRS during truck service
VMRS was ahead of its time. The Vehicle Maintenance Report Standards (VMRS) was established by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations (ATA) back in 1970. Think about that for a minute: VMRS sought to establish a standard for maintenance data back when “telematics” was a piece of paper, a pencil, your
Keeping up with the truck maintenance process: Inside the new VMRS Code Key 24
The ATA Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC)’s Vehicle Maintenance Report Standards (VMRS) program was started in 1970 with the goal of developing a standard method of communication for everyone involved in the truck maintenance process, from fleets to repair shops to OEMs. Recently, the VMRS Codes Committee determined that VMRS needed more flexibility to describe
Fuels and oil: Finding truth in the noise
We live in a confusing age. Considerable information is available thanks to the internet, but there is no easy way of assessing its validity. Anyone can make a statement on the internet—and it is up to us to decide the truth of the statement. Let’s take a look at some recent claims that impact your
Special considerations for steer axle tires
Retreading commercial tires is standard operating procedure for successful fleets. Depending on the specific retread design and tread depth, retreads cost approximately one-third to one-half the price of a new tire. Fleets are always looking for ways to protect that tire casing since it is a valuable asset. Retreads can be used on any wheel
The 48-volt revolution
Fleet managers have long struggled to find ways to increase fuel efficiency. Today’s trucks are the most sophisticated trucks to date; there are still efficiency gains to be found, but fleet managers might have to adjust how they think about where to find those gains, including rethinking some old truck traditions. Take electrical systems, for
Have cameras, will travel
The sun splashes a glare across my laptop screen as the 600-MPH soaring cattle cannon crosses the country. The Kinks’ This Time Tomorrow drowns out the drumming of the engines and fuels dreams of the Fleet Equipment staff’s next adventure. The trucking industry is a market in motion. It’s true, the FE crew travels a
Some thoughts on fuel economy
In this column, I want to discuss fuel economy (FE), in the hopes that I might give you a few ideas to experiment within your operation. Note that I said “experiment.” My experience has been that no matter what you hear or read, you need to check new ideas out in your operation. You need
Report Card: FMVSS 121 reduced stopping distance regulation
We are coming up on the third anniversary of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 reduced stopping distance regulation (RSD) start date. Fleet Equipment decided to ask brake friction manufacturers to report in on brake performance—and/or changes—since those regulations went into effect. “Actually, the friction materials were changing long before August 2011,” says
Designing programs to avoid CSA violations
A 2013 CSA Violation Study by Vigillo, which provides a widely used CSA reporting system that aggregates, organizes and delivers fleet safety information in a suite of CSA Scorecards, reveals that maintenance related issues make up over 80% of all violations among all seven BASICs, or Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories. Furthermore, notes Steve Bryan,
Phillips Industries announces new partnership
During a press conference held at the Technology and Maintenance Council 2014 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, Phillips Industries announced a partnership with Innotec. The new partnership will offer Innotec’s unique Boardfree LED lights packaged with Phillips’ Sta-Dry trailer harnesses. This partnership signifies Phillips’ entrance into the exterior trailer LED lighting market. In September