Bendix Offers Comprehensive Brake Safety Week Upkeep Tips

In support of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's annual Brake Safety Week, Bendix is offering upkeep tips for drivers and fleets.

Part of CVSA's Operation Airbrake, Brake Safety Week is an annual outreach and enforcement campaign aimed at improving commercial vehicle brake safety. This year's event takes place from Sept. 11-17 and will include thousands of inspection on large trucks and buses conducted by local, state, provincial, territorial and federal safety officials in the U.S. and Canada.

“The road to safer vehicles may begin with new technologies and improved braking components, but it also requires supporting them through proper maintenance and ongoing, proactive training and technical knowledge,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director of government and industry affairs. “The best-equipped vehicle out there is not running at its safest without the right upkeep and know-how both in the garage and on the road.”

Friction selection, air system care, and upkeep of components affecting brake stroke all contribute to brake performance– which means they have a role to play in preparation for Brake Safety Week.

Whether a vehicle uses foundation drum or air disc brakes, it's important to know when new friction is needed. Check friction regularly for cracks or missing pieces, ensure adequate thickness, and examine drums and rotors for signs of dragging brakes or overheating linings. For reference, the American Trucking Associations' Technology and Maintenance Council's Recommended Practice 627A aligns directly with CVSA inspection guidelines and provides visual illustrations for acceptable and out-of-service conditions.

When relining brakes on vehicles affected by federal Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) regulations, ask suppliers for evidence of compliance. Not all replacement friction marketed as acceptable under RSD will actually perform to the standard.

Because an effective and safe air braking system is dependent on maintaining clean air, Bendix recommends monthly checks for moisture in the system, supported with the use ...Read the rest of this story

VW, Navistar: What's the Deal?

What's “professional”?

GM Recalls Multiple Models for Air Bags

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is among the recalled models. Photo courtesy of GM.

General Motors is recalling approximately 3.64 million 2014- to 2017-model-year vehicles in the U.S. because a software defect in their sensing and diagnostic modules may result in air bag malfunction, the automaker said.

The recall includes certain:

The sensing and diagnostic module controls air bag and pretensioners deployment. The software defect may prevent the deployment of frontal air bags and pretensioners in “certain rare circumstances when a crash is preceded by a specific event impacting vehicle dynamics,” GM said in a released statement.

Dealers will update the software, free of charge, to resolve the problem. To learn whether any of your vehicles are involved, fleet managers can click here to search by VIN.

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ArcBest Corporation to Appear at the Morgan Stanley 4th Annual Laguna Conference

Doonan Offers Specialized Option for Heavy-Haul Coil Transport

Doonan Specialized Trailer has designed and manufactured a new Series 2 V-channel trough flatbed coil haul trailer for special loading applications where coils cannot be transferred into and from a recessed trailer well, but still require safe securement on the flatbed.

The 44-foot x 96-inch, 110,000-pound GVWR, all-steel, tri-axle trailer with bulkhead, cradles 3- to 7-foot diameter steel coils shotgun style inside a V-shaped, rubber-lined steel trough on the center surface of the flatbed. The channel cribbing cushions the coils and allows for efficient loading and removal from the trailer.

“The new ‘Series 2' V-channel coil haul trailer is a niche' market trailer that we designed to address a need in the marketplace,” said Kelly Zecha, national dealer manager and application specialist at Doonan.

A walkway on both sides of the channel allows for easy inspection of the load. Tie-downs can be applied by a driver from alongside the trailer to further support the securement of the coils through a sliding winch track on both sides.

Designed for strength and reliability in heavy-haul coil transport, the trailer features components like the two custom main beams, ABS system, and Hendrickson HT. A sliding tarp system is also added to eliminate the driver having to tarp the load

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Swift Founder/CEO Jerry Moyes to Retire by Year’s End

Swift Transportation Company announced the retirement of founder and CEO Jerry Moyes, effective Dec. 31, 2016.

He'll be replaced by Richard Stocking, who has been president and chief operating officer of the Phoenix-based company since 2010. During the transition period, Moyes and Stocking will serve as co-CEOs, but daily responsibilities will be transitioned to Stocking immediately.

Moyes, who started the business in 1966 with a single truck, was one of the last of a group of trucking leaders who led the rise of the truckload industry after trucking was deregulated in 1980.

However, as the Wall Street Journal reports, in the past year, the 72-year-old executive has come under fire for pledging Swift shares as collateral for personal loans.

“I want to thank everyone at Swift for helping me build this great company over the last 50 years,” said Moyes. “I am proud of all of Swift's employees who drive the performance of this company, and I am confident that Swift will continue on its successful path.”

As of Jan. 1, Moyes will serve as founder and chairman emeritus and a member of the board of directors.

Stocking has been with Swift since 1992 with experience managing all facets of the business including operations, sales, marketing, safety and recruiting. He served in other leadership capacities including executive vice president of sales and regional vice president of operations.

“Beginning 50 years ago, hauling steel with a single truck, Jerry Moyes created a strong, enduring company and built Swift into one of the largest truckload providers in the U.S.,” said Richard Dozer, chairman of the board of directors. “We are deeply grateful to Jerry for his innumerable contributions to Swift's growth and success. We wish Jerry all the best in his well-deserved retirement and look forward to his continued guidance and experience on the Board.”

Swift is ...Read the rest of this story