Maintenance
Rent a Wrench: deciding what to outsource
Maintenance is a fact of life whether it involves a preventive oil change or roadside repair. But the question of whether the work should be completed in a fleet shop or by a subcontractor will be a matter of careful number crunching and personal preference.
Roadcheck Begins: Don’t be sidelined by your tires
Roadcheck 2016 begins at 12:01 am Eastern time on Tuesday, June 7. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced in April that inspectors will be paying close attention to tires. They will be measuring tire tread depth, checking tire pressure, checking to make sure that no items are lodged between dual tires, and examining the overall condition of the tire to make sure that no deep cuts or bulges exist in the sidewalls of the tire.
Automatic Decisions — what are you waiting for?
There's one question all fleets need to ask before spec'ing their first Automated Manual Transmission (AMT): Why did we wait so long? If you're considering a new truck today, the debate shouldn't be about whether or not the drivers will accept them; it's about how much you're giving up by limiting yourself to a manual.
Clean data, clear goals are secrets to success: Altrichter
Kirk Altrichter, vice president - maintenance for Nebraska-based Crete Carrier, says the ability to gather maintenance data in real time is nothing short of amazing. The secret, he said during a keynote address at the inaugural Canadian Fleet Maintenance Summit, is to decide where to focus your attention.
Equipment testing models meet different needs: Provencher
Yves Provencher, manager of PIT Group by FP Innovations, is a clear believer in testing new vehicle technologies. "Testing technology on your truck is not an option," he told delegates during the inaugural Canadian Fleet Maintenance Summit. "You need to invest with confidence ... instead of trying it for months and months."
Big data can guide big maintenance decisions: Panel
The electronic revolution is a reality in the trucking industry. Electronic Control Modules now feed data from engines and transmissions alike. Maintenance software can spit out reams of reports, measuring just about every imaginable operating parameter. As important as all the underlying data can be, however, the secret is to turn it into actionable information.
