maintenance
IN PRINT — Clear the Air: Know how to care for your DPF
It's not quite the "blue screen of death" that appear on troubled Windows computers, but an engine fault indicator still means a bad day is about to get worse - especially if it means a parked regen. Few drivers or fleets can afford more than an hour to solve a problem that should have been addressed earlier. Aftertreatment systems are one of the most expensive maintenance items on today's trucks. Parts are costly, the associated downtime can be crippling, and many people are still confused about how to care for the systems, even though the equipment has been in the field for eight years.
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.
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."
The Productive Shop
Downtime costs money. Nobody wants to keep a truck in the shop any longer than necessary. So here's a question to consider: is your shop as productive and efficient as it could be? Some things you just can't change; for example, you can't suck oil out of an engine any faster than it wants to flow, but could you be doing something else to the truck while it's in the oil change bay, like topping up its tire inflation pressure or checking its alignment? So much of what used to require manual hands-on labour can now be automated, and many tasks that once had designated areas in a shop or even needed dedicated personnel can now be done simultaneously, thus reducing the time the truck is unavailable. Here's a look at a few technologies that can help refine the service process and save some real time on basic maintenance procedures.
Preventive Maintenance Key to Better Truck Fuel Economy
NEW YORK, NY -- Fleets need to maintain their vehicles to ensure safe and reliable performance, avoid costly breakdowns, and allow the vehicles to reach their maximum useful life. However, even a vehicle that is running safely and reliably can achieve fuel economy savings thanks to additional or better-optimized maintenance.
Fleet Maintenance Summit Returns to Truck World 2016
TORONTO, ON -- Newcom Business Media Inc., publisher of Today's Trucking, Truck News and Motortruck Fleet Maintenance magazines, has announced the relaunch of the Canadian Fleet Maintenance Summit (CFMS) at Truck World next year. In conjunction with the trucking technology testing organization, PIT Group, Newcom will bring together the Automotive Transportation Service Superintendents' Association (ATSSA), Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA), Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and the Transportation Maintenance & Technology Association (TMTA) for the first industry-wide supported CFMS to be held at Truck World, on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the International Centre, Mississauga, ON. Merging with the previous PIT Conference, this partnership will bring together the best expertise to ensure a successful CFMS, according to Newcom.
