SOUTH BEND, Ind. (June 30, 2005) — Roll warning and stability technology is becoming a more popular spec in heavy-duty trucks these days, the Freightliner Group says.

The giant truckmaker says its has experienced significant demand for its Roll Advisor & Control safety technology in heavy-duty vehicles, installing almost 11,000 systems since beginning production approximately two years ago.

Developed in cooperation with Meritor-WABCO, the system alerts the driver to a potential rollover and automatically slows the truck to reduce the risk of an accident. The company recently provided perspective on customer acceptance of the Roll Advisor & Control technology at an event to announce new capabilities at the company’s newest test engineering operation in South Bend, Ind.

“The Freightliner Group is committed to exploring and developing technologies that have the potential to enhance heavy-duty truck safety,” said Michael von Mayenburg, Freightliner Group Senior vice-president of Engineering & Technology. “We are pleased that so many customers have adopted Roll Advisor & Control, which is a highly useful and cost-effective system, and we expect acceptance to continue to grow.”

Integrated with the truck’s anti-lock braking system, Roll Advisor & Control alerts the driver to a potential rollover and-or automatically slows the truck to reduce the risk of an accident.

The system has two integrated components: Roll Stability Advisor and Roll Stability Control. Both utilize sensors integrated into the truck’s anti-lock brake system. By tracking the truck’s lateral acceleration and wheel speed, the system detects the potential for rollover.

When sensor data indicate that a rollover is imminent, the device sends a signal to reduce engine power, apply the engine brake and/or apply the tractor rear service brake. This slows the truck and reduces the forces pushing the vehicle toward rollover. The trailer brakes will also be momentarily applied to assure that the combination remains stable and is slowed as rapidly as physically possible while remaining stable. When the vehicle becomes stable, power is restored and the engine brake is turned off.

The system may also be installed with just the Roll Stability Control function.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, rollover crashes can account for about one-half of the annual heavy-duty truck driver fatalities.