Time and money are two critical components of any successful business plan. When a business can cut time and save money, all in one step, that is a plan worth exploring. If there is a customer service improvement as well, then that is a plan worth doing. And that's what Michigan-based Hagopian Cleaning Services did by installing routing software from Paragon Software Systems.
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From light duty to heavy duty, there is excitement—and fear—for the development of autonomous vehicle technology. Vehicle-making giants and tech start-ups are racing to achieve greater efficiency, fuel economy, cost reduction, and increased safety by developing advanced automation systems. On the other hand, the 1.7 million truckers in America are beginning to worry that advances in automated technology will soon replace their steady stream of income.
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" >Photo: ATA
" width="225" height="220">The American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council has donated copies of its newly updated PMI Guidelines Manual for Class 7 & 8 Diesel-Powered Tractors to student technicians.
Courtesy of Truck Centers of America, the manuals will be given to more than 50 technical institutes in 28 states for use in diesel technician training curriculum.
“With the need for skilled technicians growing exponentially, it is important for our industry to cultivate the next generation of truck and diesel engine specialists,” said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of maintenance, information technology and logistics and TMC executive director. “That's why we're pleased to donate these updated resources to these deserving schools.”
The updated PMI Guidelines provide the procedures and guidance for maintaining compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance Safety Accountability Vehicle Maintenance Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category.
The guidelines assign over 120 checkpoints and reference the latest TMC-recommended practices. They are designed to train technicians to conduct timely, thorough, and efficient preventive maintenance inspections.
The updated suite of PMI Manuals follow the testing protocols established by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence as well as PMI station objectives for TMC's National Technician Skills Competition, TMCSuperTech, and the National Student Technician Skills Competition, TMCFutureTech.
The council encourages technical institutions that have a diesel technician training program to consider incorporating the manuals into their training curriculum.
For more information on the PMI Guidelines manual, click here.
Related: TMC Releases Updated Manuals for Technicians
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be holding a public meeting on Nov. 10 to gain input on the Department of Transportation's Federal Automated Vehicles Policy.
The policy was released on Sept. 20 and aims to promote the safe and efficient development and deployment of highly automated vehicles.
The public meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the General Services Administration's Regional Office Building. All comments at the meeting will be given orally and any presentation materail should be submitted to the docket (NHTSA-2016-0090) for inclusion. All attendees must register by Nov. 8. NHTSA also said the meting will be webcast.
If it is too late to register for the Nov. 10 meeting, written statements can be submitted during the comment period. NHTSA said these will be considered with the same weight as oral comments at the public meeting. All written comments must be submitted no later than Nov. 22, 2016.
For more information, click here.
Related: Trucking Must Take Seat at the Table for Making Autonomous-Driving Policy
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Clore Automotive's Jump-N-Carry booster cables are designed to work with commercial vehicles and equipment and work in extreme temperatures.
The booster cables are offered in five commercial grade models and cover a wide range of boosting applications, according to Clore. Models range from a 12-foot, 10-gauge cable set to a 25-foot set.
All models are designed for all-weather use with TPR cable jackets that are designed to remain flexible in extreme temperatures and feature an operating temperature range from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each cable set is mated with its corresponding clamp pair for better power transfer to the disabled vehicle with clamp amp ratings increasing with the cable gauge. All clamps also provide strong biting force to penetrate corrosion on battery terminals.
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Carrier Transicold's DataLink 2 recorder uses up to three independent temperature sensors, providing an added layer of verification beyond the refrigeration system's built-in recording ability in a refrigerated trailer.
The DataLink 2 is designed for single- or multi-temperature applications, from refrigerated trailers to refrigerated straight trucks. A thermal printer lets drivers produce numerical and graphical trip reports for receivers and the data can also be downloaded into a computer for electronic logging.
The device helps fleets monitor trailer temperatures for temperature-critical goods like pharmaceuticals, perishable and frozen foods. The DataLink 2 recorder helps food distribution fleets track and manage information for compliance.
The DataLink 2 recorder can also be used as an analytical tool when connected to a Carrier Transicold refrigeration unit's control system. Temperature data captured from its own sensors can be correlated with activities recorded by the control system, helping to identify potential sources of temperature problems.
The DataLink 2 recorder auto-detects which Carrier Transicold controller it is connected to, whether an APX or Advance controller or the standard microprocessor. Setup is done through a “soft menu” system keyed to four buttons located just below the device's backlit display screen. Two recorder styles are offered: body-mount models that attach to either a truck or trailer cargo area, and an in-dash DIN-mount version for straight truck applications.
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