The Fleet AdvantEDGE

Have you reviewed your Tire Program, lately? In this two part Blog Series we will provide tips on how to properly maintain your tires to ensure your drivers are safe!

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) will be promoting its yearly consumer awareness campaign, National Tire Safety Week, on June 27 – July 3, 2022. This annual initiative aims to spread awareness of the importance of proper tire care and maintenance.

Did you know that tire cost is the second-highest expense within a fleet’s maintenance program?

During the summer months, drivers of heavy duty trucks should be reminded of additional driving challenges that present themselves. Increased outdoor activities resulting from more daylight hours make it especially important to get plenty of rest before buckling-up in an 18-wheeler, as driver mental and visual acuity must be at peak performance. Children are out of school, increasing the number of motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians on the roadways.  Additionally, summertime is when most roadway construction programs are initiated.  This increase in roadway activity means that a driver’s focus on fleet safety must be on-point 100% of the time to avoid accidents.  

International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event when the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement and educational initiatives targeted at various motor carrier, vehicle, and driver safety elements. This event is known to be the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles globally. In 2021, more than 40,000 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted and in total, inspectors had to remove 6,710 commercial motor vehicles and 2,080 drivers from roadways. Each year International Road check places a special emphasis on a category of violations. This yearthe focus will be on wheels ends. Historically, violations involving wheel end components account for about one-quarter of all violations discovered.

Winter weather brings so many challenges, especially to those in the transportation industry.
The winter months demand increased safety measures and supplemental equipment to keep rigs (and drivers) from expensive damage. Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty suspects that adverse weather can cost the transportation industry north of $3.5 billion each year.  Your drivers are the first line of defense in winter maintenance for your fleet’s tractors, and keeping your equipment safe is also important – as we outlined in a previous blog.

What do you think the most important operating component of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is? Although there are many, the most important one is the part that makes the equipment stop - the brakes!!!!! It is critical that brakes operate properly at all times to ensure maximum safety. The braking system on CMV’s is designed for tough conditions, but like anything, it must be inspected and maintained carefully and consistently. By doing this, the brake system will operate properly throughout the life of the truck.

Proper placement of Warning Devices such as triangles when stopped or out of service on the side of the road is imperative to keeping you and other motorists safe. When placed correctly, Warning Devices can help save you and others from danger and or life-threatening injuries.

On February 2, 2021, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced the date for this year’s International Road check. It is set to take place May 4^th - May 6^th Over the 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct inspections on commercial vehicles and drivers.

We are all familiar with drivers that swear by their method of checking tire pressures, such as the wooden club or a small baseball bat and the penny for checking tread depths. But there is no better substitute for a tire pressure and tire depth gauge.

Insufficient tire inflation pressure during the wintertime will cause many headaches for drivers and dispatchers come springtime and as temperatures begin to rise.