Posts Tagged ‘RSC’

Hearing Ignites Support/Concerns Over Stability Control Systems

Friday, July 27th, 2012

Last May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would require electronic stability control (ESC) systems on heavy-duty trucks (GVW greater than 26,000 lbs) with a manufacturing year of 2016 (when the requirement would go into affect) and onward.

Although stability control systems are not a requirement as of yet, over the years more and more truck manufacturers and carriers, such as Road Scholar Transport, utilize the systems to prevent rollovers due to unpreventable icy and wet weather conditions and to increase safety on the road, and with stricter regulations, are being utilized to help improve a company’s CSA scores

At a hearing conducted by the NHTSA last Tuesday, attendees both expressed their support as well as concerns towards ESC systems.

Bendix, who has been commercially manufacturing ESC systems since 2005, supports the proposal.  “It is the one stability technology that, in our expert opinion, delivers the performance needed to help commercial vehicle drivers mitigate both rollover and loss-of-control situations,” Bendix’s Fred Andersky states.1

In fact, according to the NHTSA, stability control systems “would help prevent 40-56 percent of untripped rollovers and 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes.” 2

There are two types of available stability control systems: Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).  Whereas the two systems contain sensors that will reduce the throttle and apply the brakes when necessary to prevent a rollover situation, RSC only detects roll instability while ESC detects both roll and yaw instability.

Bendix directed their support towards the ESC system over the RSC due to “Extensive research and development – along with over seven years of solid customer experience.”1 In addition, ESC’s provide an additional two sensors over RSC’s (which lead to sooner detection), provides greater braking power, and, according to NHTSA, has a 6-7% greater effectiveness overall.1

But with all regulations comes concerns.

The Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) explained that the cost of installing the devices could prevent companies from adding newer trucks, costing around $1160 per truck and the industry nearly $1 billion within 5 years.2

In addition, attendees at Tuesday’s hearing stressed concern over the certification process noting that the proposal would “put trucks through high-speed maneuvers that can only be done at one facility in the country” and can damage the truck.3

And although Bendix encourages ESC systems over RSC, the American Trucking Associations explains that although ESC has proven its effectiveness over RSC, there needs to be flexibility since “one size does not fit all.”3

The comment period will end on August 21.

For a better understanding of how ESC systems work, check out the video below.

Bendix

Should stability control systems be required on heavy-duty trucks?  If so, do you prefer the Roll Stability Control (RSC) or Electronic Stability Control (ESC)?  List your comments below.

1http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/7/24/BendixsupportsESCasbeststabilitycontrolsystem.aspx

2http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23928

3http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77599

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Government Seeks Mandatory Electronic Stability Control Systems on Trucks by 2016

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

How many times have you sat in traffic on the interstate, anxious to get to where you were going only to find out that there has been an accident that is going to detain you and cause you to be late?  The accident, you later find out, was the outcome of a tractor trailer taking a turn too fast, resulting in a rollover that closed both lanes of traffic and involved several cars.

Unfortunately, situations like this occur every day, resulting in delays, injuries, and even fatalities.  But the federal government is hoping to crack down on rollovers through a proposal announced last week.

stability control system

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking a regulation that would require electronic stability control (ESC) systems on heavy-duty trucks with a manufacturing year of 2016 and onward.

The agency plans to have the rule active within the next four years and will hold a comment period this summer.

Bendix, who “sold the first commercially available ESC for heavy vehicles in 2005,” along with their competitor, Meritor Wabco, support the agency’s crash prevention proposal. 1

Over the years, more and more stability control systems have been utilized by truck manufacturers and carriers such as Road Scholar Transport to prevent rollovers due to unpreventable icy and wet weather conditions and increase safety on the road, and with stricter regulations, are being utilized to help improve a company’s CSA scores.

There are two types of available stability control systems: Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).  Whereas the two systems contain sensors that will reduce the throttle and apply the brakes when necessary to prevent a rollover situation, RSC only detects roll instability while ESC detects both roll and yaw instability.

ESC systems are also more expensive to install than RSC, costing an additional average of $1,160 per new truck. 2 However, due to greater safety benefits, the NHTSA chose to support the mandatory use of ESCs.

Is the higher cost worth it?  You decide.  Let’s look at an example.

On September 8, 2008, a fatal accident occurred on the Donner Pass.  According to reports, a trainee was driving as the trainer slept in the back.  The trainer was driving too fast, causing a horrific rollover that killed them both.

video

According to the NHTSA, this technology “would help prevent 40-56 percent of untripped rollovers (generally attributed to vehicle top-heaviness, roadway slope, curves, and other factors) and 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes caused by severe oversteer or understeer conditions.” 2 This breaks down to the prevention of “up to 2,329 crashes, elimination of an estimated 649 to 858 injuries, and avoidance of between 49 and 60 fatalities a year.” 3

For a better understanding of how ESC systems work, check out the video below.

video 2

Should electronic stability control systems be required on heavy-duty trucks?  Post your answers at http://gsfn.us/t/2vcnv.

1http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=29391&page=1

2http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23652

3http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9UPVUA80.htm

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Should Stability Control Systems be Mandatory? Some Argue No

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Awaiting a proposal that would make stability control systems mandatory on tractors, but not trailers, is stirring a range of opinions among those in the trucking industry.

stability control system

Stability control systems, which became available in 2002, are becoming more and more utilized by truck manufacturers and carriers such as Road Scholar Transport to prevent rollovers and increase safety on the road.

Bendix and WABCO, two main contenders manufacturing this technology, have noticed a growth in companies purchasing these products.  Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems’ Fred Andersky states that there are nearly 130,000 stability control systems currently being utilized with 14% of new trucks containing the technology as of last year, an article in truckinginfo.com notes.  Although Andersky explains that market penetration is reaching 23%, Meritor Wabco Vehicle Control Systems’ believes that it could reach 25%, the article explains.

Why the growth?  One reason has to do with CSA 2010’s Safety Measurement System.  Instead of carriers being rated under the SafeStat system, which rates trucking companies based on four categories (driver, vehicle, safety management, and accident), both carriers AND drivers are now evaluated under seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICS) including: unsafe driving, fatigued driving, driver fitness, controlled substance/alcohol, vehicle maintenance, cargo-related, and crash indicator, placing those who pose as a risk on “alert” status.

With some saying that CSA 2010 is “abusing” truck drivers, believing that some drivers are cited for instances they have no control over, others are worried that the initiative to remove unsafe drivers from the road will lead to even greater driver shortages, and therefore, carriers are utilizing stability control systems in order to raise their scores.

But although the number of carriers using these systems is growing, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) would like to see more trucking companies using them and suggest an incentive for those who do so, such as a tax break, which has already been considered by Congress in the past.

The National Transportation Safety Board noted an incident that occurred two years ago in which a tank truck carrying petroleum gas rolled over and exploded, recommending “that all tank trailers be retrofitted with a rollover stability control system, and that NHTSA require stability control systems on all new heavy commercial vehicles” (http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=74468).  However, the agency can only give their suggestions, which are very influential, yet they cannot make a ruling.

When looking at the available stability control systems, there are two types: Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

Whereas the two systems contain sensors that will reduce the throttle and apply the brakes when necessary to prevent a rollover situation, the two systems contain differences.

As truckinginfo.com notes, whereas ESC “reacts to both roll instability and yaw instability,” RSC only detects roll instability.  Retail cost of an RSC system is $1,600 and is said to prevent 3,489 crashes and 106 (of the 304 death caused by rollovers) each year if it becomes mandatory, whereas the ESC system costs more (between $2,000 and $2,300) and is expected to reduce 4,659 crashes and 126 deaths, the article states.

Road Scholar Transport has incorporated the ESC system on our trucks, preventing rollovers due to unpreventable icy and wet weather conditions, and thus, making roads safer.

Knowing the advanced technology and steps that Road Scholar has taken for its fleet, it’s no surprise that companies rely on Road Scholar for the safe, efficient transport of their freight.

The mandatory use of stability control systems has already won the approval of Bendex and although the ATA supports the systems, they are still hesitant on whether it should become mandatory.

On the other hand, there are those who flat out oppose the mandate.  The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association is one of these.  According to the group, making the system mandatory would force those with a good safety record to invest large amounts of money on these systems, with the prices of trucks increasing to accommodate the additional feature.

Although the technology is said to cost the trucking industry nearly $107 million a year, the industry will be saving close to $372 million, otherwise added up by damages and delays (http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=74468).

The proposal is expected to be published later this year.

Do you feel that stability control systems should be mandatory?  List your comments below!

want a safe carrier

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