Top 5 Work Truck Safety & Security Trends

With a pulse on the customer needs and innovation in the work truck sector, James Muiter, Product Line Manager at Reading Truck Group, shares his top five industry trends on safety and security.

1. Operator safety. Employers are carefully considering how to keep their operators injury-free, so avoiding accidents around the truck is just as important as on the road.  Proactive measures on a work truck can include installing safety steps and grips so that the operator can maintain “three points of contact” at all times when entering and exiting the vehicle.  At Reading, we’ve begun to see these concerns migrate from the very largest fleet operators and governments, into corporations and vocational fleet buyers.
2. Visibility. Keeping the truck and its surroundings well-lit and visible helps protect workers from accidents on the side of the road and keeps crews productive when they’re working after sundown, especially in the winter months.
3. 360° coverage. Chassis OEMs are bringing safety innovations like 360° cameras, and accident-avoidance technologies like collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitoring, which used to be only on luxury cars, into the commercial truck segment.  For example, every Ford Transit is now shipping with lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning camera systems.
4. Securing tools and gear. A typical work truck now provides at least two layers of ‘locking’ protection.  Compartment doors will use power locks or three-point locking for additional points of contact and pry-proofing.  And these measures can be augmented with a “bar lock” or master locking feature, where a single padlock can secure all of the compartment doors to keep tools and equipment safe.  Additionally, Reading’s remote keyless entry locking system, called Latch-Matic, can now be integrated with the power locks on the chassis.  A driver can now lock and unlock both the body and chassis with a single key-fob.  Using just the chassis fob, for example on a Ford Super Duty or Ford Transit, gives our customers the convenience they have been asking for.  
5. Ergonomics. For better ergonomics, handles and steps are no longer considered a special add-in, they’re becoming a standard offering across the board.  As an example, fixed steps that don’t have to be manually unfolded by the operator will help meet evolving safety requirements and might even lower insurance costs.

By James Muiter, Product Line Manager, Reading Truck Group as published in Fordpros magazine

Eliminating the driver shortage

Now is the time to take action to get more young people into the industry at a time when people in the country are feeling good about trucking.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want to talk about the driver shortage again. Recent events have once again shown us that the trucking industry is woefully short of drivers and that it is a situation that is not expected to get better any time soon. The American Trucking Associations predicts that over the next decade we will need about 1.1 million drivers—110,000 or so a year.

I am, however, a bit hopeful with the reintroduction of the DRIVE-Safe Act which would allow truck drivers under the age of 21 to drive across state lines once they have completed both safety training and an apprenticeship program. To be clear, these are people who already have their commercial driver' license (CDL) and are already likely driving intrastate.

Click here for the rest of the story. 

Source: https://www.fleetowner.com/industry-perspectives/ideaxchange/article/21164809/eliminating-the-driver-shortage

Jimmy Tells Higgins About the Ford F-150 & its Mega Power Frunk | In Partnership with Ford

Ford flipped it and reversed it with their new Mega Power Frunk! With a trunk in the front, our partners at Ford are bringing the electricity to the new all-electric F-150!

10 ways to improve diesel efficiency24-hours | 7-days a week

Ten lessons learned during NACFE’s Run on Less event 

prove what fleets can do to improve its miles per gallon.

In all of the excitement about developments in electric trucks, I want to make sure we don’t lose sight of the necessary work of improving the efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles. They will make up the majority of the new truck production for a while.

As many of you may recall, in 2017 during NACFE’s first Run on Less, seven drivers achieved an average 10 MPG over a three-week period. Remember that was the average of all seven trucks over the 17 days (99 truck-days) with four truck-days reaching between 12.5 and 13.0 MPG.

Since that event, we are hearing more fleets and drivers talk about striving to reach 10 MPG consistently. As we analyzed the data from the Run we came up with what we called 10 Actions to Achieve 10+ MPG.

Whenever I am asked about what one thing can make a difference in improving MPG, I always refer to our 10 Actions graphic. The truth is there is no one thing that will get a fleet to 10 MPG. Each fleet has different operating conditions, duty cycles and challenges. And each fleet is at a different point on its path to better MPG.

It’s been awhile since I talked about the 10 Actions, so I hope you won't mind if I do so now. I figure a little refresher is always a good thing.

In no particular order, here are the 10 lessons we learned about improving MPG from Run on Less 2017.

• Use downsped powertrains and AMTs: AMTs enable downspeeding but be aware that the most aggressive downspeeding is best suited for applications with high average speeds and a low amount of starts and stops. 
• Educate and incent drivers: The driver is one of the key elements to success in achieving high MPG. Hire drivers that are already committed to driving in a fuel-efficient manner or train existing drivers about how to save fuel. Enlist the aid of drivers who are getting excellent MPG to share their tips and secrets with other drivers and to talk about why good MPG matters. 
• Buy all available tractor aerodynamics: Manufacturers have worked hard to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of their base models but adding all available sleeper tractor aerodynamic devices has proven to have a high ROI in line-haul applications. 
• Adopt appropriate trailer aerodynamics: Look at trailer aerodynamics in three key areas — side, rear and front. Invest in those that are most appropriate depending on the characteristics of your duty cycles. 
• Optimize cruise control and vehicle speed: Engine parameter settings are your friends. Use them wisely to optimize for fuel efficiency. And remember to review them periodically or as your operation changes. Tweak as needed. 
• Keep equipment well maintained: Solid maintenance practices ensure vehicles run as intended and play a role in improving fuel efficiency. 
• Implement the right axle configuration: Use the correct axle specification for the job depending on payload, speed, maneuverability and fleet practices related to tire management. 
• Embrace low rolling resistance tires: Low rolling resistance tires are one key element to achieving high MPG but be sure to make tire selection based on application and region. 
• Provide tools to reduce idle time: The truck should be shut off whenever possible, but drivers need to be comfortable and have access to creature comforts as well. Technology and engine parameters can help you achieve both goals. 
• Build a culture of methodically choosing technologies: Make sure you have a process in place to vet technologies that can increase fuel economy. It is imperative that you understand the performance they can achieve and their payback or ROI. 

These 10 actions taken together or separately can help you boost the MPG of your existing diesel-powered vehicles — and all of these, except for number 1, will be just as important on electric trucks. Together, they will help increase the range of electric trucks by 30% or 40%.

Michael Roeth

SEP 02, 2020

SOURCE: https://www.fleetowner.com/industry-perspectives/ideaxchange/article/21140753/10-ways-to-improve-diesel-efficiency

4 Questions About Brake Violations

Some brake violations are easy to understand. Brake adjustment can be confirmed by marking and measuring a push rod. Others can be baffling.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week last fall saw 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected placed out of service for brake-related violations.

With more than one out of every 10 trucks operating with brake-related violations serious enough to take it off the road, we talked to Kerri Wirachowsky, the director of CVSA’s roadside inspection program, about some of the recurring questions she faces regarding brake violations.

1. How can I be put out of service for one service brake violation? The last time it happened, I was allowed to continue my trip.

The out-of-service criteria for service brakes is broken into two parts. You have service brakes over the entire combination, but there’s a separate section just for the steering axle brakes.

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Steering axle brake violations are more critical than those on the rest of the combination. If you have a brake on the left and you don’t have a brake on the right, it’s going to pull to the left. So if you have an inoperative brake on the steer axle, that truck is automatically put out of service.

If that same inoperative brake is on the second or third axle of a tractor, that one inoperative brake will not exceed the 20% calculation for the out-of-service criteria. [No more than 20% of the vehicle’s brakes can be defective.] Therefore, that truck will leave with an inoperative brake violation on the tractor, but it is allowed to continue to its destination.

If I also have a brake out of adjustment or a contaminated lining somewhere else in that combination, the inspector is going to use that inoperative brake as one defective brake towards the 20%. Now I have two service brakes that are in violation, and that, too, will place the vehicle out of service.

2. How can I receive multiple violations for the same brake?

Let’s say you’ve got a contaminated lining, and it’s inoperative, and the brake is out of adjustment – it’s bottoming out, and the linings are not contacting the drum.

That will only account for one defective brake. I have three violations, and they’re all going to be documented on the inspection report. But it’s only counted as one defect towards that 20% out-of-service calculation. The driver can go and repair that at his final destination.

If I find another brake that has a violation, now he’s out of service for two defective brakes.

All of those violations get documented, and all of those have to be repaired.

Source; Read more here: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10142523/4-questions-about-brake-violations

RV Maintenance and Repair - North Bay Truck Center

At North Bay Truck Center, we understand that experience and expertise is important when it comes to RV service and repair, which is why all of our repairs are performed by factory trained mechanics.

We service and repair diesel and gas engines, transmission problems, and heating issues, just to name a few. We also sell brand name tires for fair prices and have an extensive HD truck parts department, stocking a huge selection of parts for Series 5-8 Class trucks in addition to truck accessories. 

If we don’t carry the part, we are generally able to get them right away, and when something is not available, we may be able to fabricate what is needed to get the job done for our customers.

Learn more at: 

https://www.northbaytruckcenter.com/motorhomes/

Direct: +1 (707) 427-1386

In NTSB top transport issues, technology's pace quickening, human error in sharp relief

Technology is the unifying theme running through NTSB's updated Most Wanted List this year as well as the related recommendations the agency has.

All indications in the National Transportation Safety Board's latest "Most Wanted List" of problems to fix in transportation point to one thing: in many ways, technology across that broad industry isn't just advancing, it's accelerating. It is both problem and solution.

Learn more at: https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21703470/in-ntsb-top-transport-issues-technologys-pace-quickening-human-error-in-sharp-relief

Ford Service Advice: Do I Need New Tires? | Service Advice | Ford

This video will explain the importance of having proper tread on your tires to ensure safety, performance, and handling, how to check tread depth, as well as key signs that you may need to replace your tires. Learn more about Ford Service Advice here: http://ford.to/FordOwner

Amazing Restored 1966 Footage of Big Red Turbine Truck from Ford Archives

After The Drive located Ford's original "Big Red" experimental turbine-powered truck, which had been lost for decades, Ford Motor Company digitized and restored a documentary film about the futuristic semi (circa 1966). Thanks to Ford for releasing this cool piece of history from the archives!

How 4WD (4x4 - Four Wheel Drive) Works - 2H, 4H, 4L, LSD, Centre Diff, Diff Locks, Traction Control.

A complete and thorough video on how four wheel drive (4WD) 4x4 systems work. This video will look into depth on how part time and full time four wheel drive systems work, operate, what to expect and when to use it. It will cover in depth the following: - Drivetrain Fundamentals - Part Time 4x4 - Full Time 4x4 - Open Differentials - Locked Differentials - Torque Distribution - Torque Multiplication - High Range - Low Range - Transfer Case - Crawl Ratio - Limited Slip Differentials - Brake Traction Control - Wind-Up Phenomenon - Diagonal Wheels Phenomenon - Free Wheeling Hubs