Vehicle, Driver Safety Issues Now Part of Maintenance World

June 21, 2000 10:08 AM, EDT

TUCSON, Ariz. — A changing focus of government regulations toward safety issues rather than productivity and operations will require a new approach by maintenance professionals as well as new technology, The Maintenance Council members were told during their summer meeting, June 12-14.

Larry W. Strawhorn, vice president of engineering for American Trucking Associations, was joined by Guy Rini of Mack Trucks and Arlan Stehney of the IDB Forum in a special session on the second of three days that TMC conferred at the Westin La Paloma.

“Once, we thought in terms of vehicle improvements,” Strawhorn said. “We wanted the trucks to run better, last longer and be easier to repair.”

However, Strawhorn said the new regulatory direction is “help drivers avoid accidents,” adding that equipment such as antilock brakes, reflective stripes and underride guards are intended to improve safety, not operations. He also cited other safety measures such as advanced electronic systems as forward-looking radar and electronic braking systems.

For the full story, see the June 19 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.