News
Retread, and realize returns
MONTREAL, Que. -- Tires are a fleet’s third-highest operating expense, just after wages and fuel. But while many fleet managers can tell you precisely how many drops of diesel they burn, tire life is often described in vague terms, says Lorenzo Borella, general manager of Montreal’s Système de rechapage RTS. A closer look at the life of rolling rubber will identify just how quickly the rolling rubber is heading to the scrap heap, and stress the need to maximize the underlying investments. Having a healthy casing retreaded, for example, can save as much as 50% compared to buying a new tire of the same brand and model. According to the Tire Retread Information Bureau, those savings add up to billions each year in the North American trucking industry, says Robert Palmer, director of market sales for Bridgestone Americas tire operations.
Lab Report: What story will your oil tell?
Human beings aren't much different from the trucks they drive. Like humans, trucks can have stuff going on inside that could prove detrimental to longevity. Since we can't open a door and peer inside for a look, we rely on blood tests, blood pressure checks, cholesterol, and blood sugar tests, to name a few. Oil sampling and analysis provides a similar level of insight into the internal condition of engines.
Tiny Trucker making a splash for WIT
SKANEATELES, NY – The Women in Trucking Association has a new friend. The group has a new 13-inch plush doll – Clare – manufactured by HABA in the United States. Clare features an official Women in Trucking cap and an “I heart trucking” t-shirt. The package she is delivered in shares the story of how she made it into the driver’s seat of her big rig.
CTEA commits to growing voice
WINDSOR, Ont. – Complying with all the rules that apply to producing a vehicle is no small task, and this even holds true for the businesses which build on the work of Original Equipment Manufacturers. Attach something like a dump body or snow plow, and you’re expected to identify and certify the final product with a Canada Safety Mark. Each change has to meet applicable standards, and those who do the work must be able to issue recalls and respond to compliance audits, and familiarize themselves with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Put another way, reaching for a welder or torque wrench is just part of the job. The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA) has long been a resource to help comply with the underlying rules. But it’s also been quietly building on that mandate – establishing a stronger voice for businesses which perform the tasks.
