As trucks get more complex, so does fleet maintenance

Technicians are turning to new tools and technologies to overcome these challenges and reaping dividends through predictive maintenance and less vehicle downtime. 

The growing complexity of modern trucks is driving changes at maintenance shops and for the workers who have to navigate this increasingly digital world.

“Electronics allow vehicles to have a better conversation with technicians than ever before,” said Kristy LaPage, business manager of the commercial vehicle group at Mitchell 1. “In the transition from mechanical to electronic control systems, there has also been a shift from technicians to diagnosticians. Vehicle electronics are the source of information that can become actionable, so shop solutions are evolving with this change.”

“The digital shop is not only changing inspection and maintenance practices,” said Jeff Sweet, solutions engineer at Decisiv, a provider of a service relationship management (SRM) platform. “Advancements in sensors and monitoring continue to improve fault condition filtering and help prioritize work based on fault severity.”

Photo: Noregon

A solution that simultaneously diagnoses all components is now essential as an intake tool for technicians.

Also constantly under development are the tools technicians need to service advanced electronic systems.

“A solution that simultaneously diagnoses all components is now essential as an intake tool,” stated Tim Bigwood, CEO at Noregon Systems, a provider of JPRO commercial vehicle diagnostic and monitoring solutions. “And those tools have evolved because while previously there were limited fault trees to consider based on symptoms, today’s vehicles are more complex, so the aid of a diagnostic and repair solution is a necessity.”

The increase in electronics on vehicles is allowing for real-time access to the equipment’s operating conditions and fault data, noted Renaldo Adler, industrial principal, asset maintenance, at Trimble Transportation Enterprise.

“Fleets now have access to a vast amount of diagnostic data needed to repair assets faster,” he said. “Inspections can also be improved with the use of electronic diagnostic tools, which analyze the equipment’s condition and any active faults, so maintenance departments are able to be proactive.”
Remote diagnostics

All of the original equipment manufacturers offer systems on their new trucks that provide diagnostic data. These sensor-based and telematics-driven solutions can improve maintenance efficiency and vehicle uptime.

Kenworth dealers, for example, use diagnostic data from TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics.

“We have found it can cut the time a unit is in our shop by 30%,” said Josh Hayes, branch manager at NorCal Kenworth – San Leandro. “We’ve also found that among trucks with TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics, we’re seeing about a 15% reduction in the number of trucks that must be towed because remote diagnostics allow us to monitor fault codes and diagnose issues to determine if a truck can be driven into the shop.”

Photo: Mack Trucks

For OEMs, part of the value of remote diagnostics systems is that the vehicle is effectively reporting its own status.

Sanjiv Khurana, general manager of digital vehicle solutions at Daimler Trucks North America, said with the Detroit “virtual technician” system, maintenance managers get real-time alerts and a plan for critical faults. When the truck arrives at the service location, the diagnostic information and fault history allow the technician to get a jump-start on the repair process.

At Peterbilt, SmartLinq remote diagnostics have been integrated with reasoning engine technology to enable more precise diagnostic information, fault code collection, and enhanced analysis by linking cascading faults.

Volvo, Mack, and Navistar also offer their own systems, aimed at reducing downtime and allowing for over-the-air software updates.

“With the increase in electronics on commercial vehicles, fleets have a better understanding of vehicle health,” said Brian Mulshine, director of customer experience for Navistar’s OnCommand Connection.

In short, the value in all of these remote diagnostics systems is that the vehicle is effectively reporting its own status to a maintenance operation.

“The key for truck fleets is to apply electronics to enable a proactive system that adds value and not cost,” said Wally Stegall, technical fellow, director at Morey Corp.

Robert Braswell, executive director of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), noted that greater vehicle complexity makes preventive maintenance more of a challenge. “Until enough fleet data in the field is gathered, it makes it more difficult to optimize service and inspection schedules for new electronic systems,” he explained. “But increasing complexity can bring with it sensor-based maintenance strategies that can help with self-diagnostics.”

Source: https://www.fleetowner.com/maintenance/trucks-get-more-complex-so-does-fleet-maintenance?NL=FO-02&Issue=FO-02_20190321_FO-02_446&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPENT000004488230&utm_campaign=23847&utm_medium=email&elq2=5bd8750c9eba4791abe0019c109758f6

Let's talk video telematics

Many fleets are making use of cameras that can be installed throughout the truck. The typical video telematics system is made up of a series of cameras and sensors that monitor driver and truck behavior and set alerts to the fleet manager if certain parameters are exceeded or violated.

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How to back up an RV / Trailer "tail swing"

The most common piece of advice that is given to new RV owners is to go out to a parking lot and practice backing up around cones. That is good and all but HOW should you setup the cones??? The maneuvers in this video are setup to teach control of the trailer, and build confidence in the driver. The best drivers are confident and relaxed. This link shows diagrams of how to setup each maneuver. Yes these are the same backing maneuvers used to test CDL drivers. If new truck drivers can parallel park a semi truck, YOU can parallel park an RV. http://bigrigcareer.com/cdl-skills-te...

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NBTC Repairs Liftgates- 3 Widely Used Liftgate Parts

North Bay Truck Center repairs truck mounted liftgates. We repair all types of liftgates with all types of malfunction or failures.

Here are 3 common parts described in this ezine article:

There are many parts available today that can be used on liftgates to make it more durable, function more efficiently or to protect it from any mechanical faults or damage.

Today's article will focus on 3 such common Liftgate parts that can be used on trucks. Truck and trailer owners or people interested in adding a liftgate to their existing heavy duty vehicles will find this information quite useful.

1. Master Disconnect Switch

The master disconnect switch is very important liftgate part. It essentially acts as a fail-safe to prevent the liftgate from getting damaged or causing more damage. Liftgates have to carry a lot of weight. They are primarily designed for heavy duty work load provided certain weight restrictions as observed. The master disconnect switch is a secondary switch that acts as over ride and releases the pressure of the liftgate and brings it down to its original starting position. This comes in handy should the liftgate gets jammed and stops moving up or down.

2. Liftgate Motor

Arguably this is a vital part of the liftgate. Every liftgate has it and it is needed to ensure that it works flawlessly. The liftgate motor is responsible for horizontal and vertical movement of the lift gate. It is essentially its brain and can be compared to the engine of the car. It controls all maneuverability functions. It is commonly located underneath the chassis near the liftgate.

3. Cables and Plugs

Another very crucial liftgate, the cables and the plugs complete the connection between the motor and the actual liftgate itself. Proper cabling ensures that the horizontal and vertical motions of the liftgate remains flawless and without interruption. Plug in are needed throughout the installation to ensure that the motor, cabling and the liftgate are tightly secured and that there are no immediate obstacles in their way that might come in the way of their functionality.

These are just three common examples of liftgate parts currently available. There are many more different types of parts on the market each offering versatility and diversity. However the above three are standard liftgate parts in addition to the liftgate itself. Other modifications are available and depend mainly on the requirements and total cost. To determine what would be best for your trailer or truck, look up your local trailer dealer or Liftgate parts dealer. They will be able to determine what modifications should be added to the ATV.

By Reena White  |

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reena_White

Is There a recall on Your Vehicle?

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Every vehicle has a unique VIN. Enter a VIN to learn if a specific vehicle needs to be repaired as part of a recall.

Enter here 

What this VIN search tool will show

• An unrepaired vehicle affected by a vehicle safety recall in the past 15 calendar years
• Vehicle safety recalls from major light auto automakers, motorcycle manufacturers and some medium/heavy truck manufacturers

Follow this link to find recall on your vehicle: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

How to perform a Class A CDL Pre-Trip inspection.

Jeff from Apex CDL Institute demonstrates how to perform a proper pre-trip inspection on a Class A tractor trailer. Remember, your states examiners might require a slightly different procedure. The process we use is good for both Kansas and Missouri and will pass easily in most states.

An Overview of North Bay Truck Center Services - Jim Buell , General Manager

Operating To Fit Your Needs

North Bay Truck Center is Solano County's largest parts and service truck center.

We understand that when your truck is down for any reason, it costs you company money, and that is why we focus our energies on getting your truck fixed right the first time and with maximum speed.

We also understand that your vehicle is unique to your needs and the services that you provide. This is why we make extended efforts to minimize down time by performing overall inspections each time your vehicle enters our shop

Experience & Training

Our journeymen technicians have over 70 years of combined experience in the service industry.

Their knowledge and trouble-shooting skills has proven invaluable in helping us give superior service.

Our technicians are devoted to improving their skills and attend training classes on a wide variety of subjects each year.

How To: Prevent the Most Common RV Breakdowns

 

RVs are fun, no doubt about it. But if things go wrong, that fun can be very short-lived and very expensive. Industry stats say that 3 out of every 10 RVs will need some type of major repair by only their second year, and nearly every RV will by their 8th. We’ve compiled a list of the most common RV mishaps and misfortunes, and the best ways to avoid and/or repair them.


Engine Troubles
Engine concerns are the most common RV repair calls. However, most inoperable engines aren’t due to some catastrophic failure. It’s the minor issues that often lead to major ones. An incompatible coolant, a filter that needs to be changed, and improper fuel are the roots of most chassis problems. Be sure to know your vehicle, and give it what it needs.

Dead Batteries
Batteries need to be well-maintained, even new ones. If you’re parked in storage or at an RV park, you’ve got to charge the engine battery every 7-10 days (running the engine for an hour should do the trick). The house battery should charge automatically when the RV is plugged into shore power, so if you’re having power problems at a campground, question the reliability of the shore power connection.

Overloading the Electrical AC 110-Volt
RVs are made to operate harmoniously with the appliances they house. You should be careful about adding items that draw a lot of amp like hair dryers, blenders and coffee makers. The roof air conditioner probably is the largest power consumer, so before cranking the AC, turn off other appliances, or risk tripping a circuit breaker.

Tire Blowouts
It’s understandable that tires would give out after all the wear and tear from the road, especially if they haven’t been properly cared for.  To repair or replace blown tires, it can cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000, and unfortunately, RV insurance usually only covers the resulting damage, not the cost of tires. To prevent a tire blowout, give your tires some extra TLC—after all, they are the only parts of your vehicle that actually hit the road.  Inspect your tires every time you get gas and before any long trip.  Look for even wear, proper tire pressure, and any punctures that may be the catalyst for a blowout.

Exterior Damage
Tree branches, bridges, signage, and any number of protruding objects can cause damage to the roof and exterior of your RV. The best way to avoid exterior damage is to be conscious of your size and slow down when you come upon any possibly damaging obstacles. Your RV roof is constantly taking wear from the hot sun, low hanging branches, and even the odd hailstorm, so it’s important to clean and maintain it regularly to avoid preventable water leaks. Remember that RV insurance nearly never covers damage due to owner neglect, so be a proactive owner.

Cure-All Fix
The best way to avoid and prevent RV issues is to know your vehicle inside and out. You should make inspections regularly, be aware of your surroundings, and pay attention to warning signs. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be a happy camper!

 Source: https://www.roverpass.com/blog/how-to-prevent-the-most-common-rv-breakdowns/