When winter strikes, the conscious driver prepares for increasing traction in case of icy and slippery roads. Some bring a sandbag and a shovel while others gear up with a set of snow chains. Still, others have automatic snow chains mounted on their vehicle, so there is no need at all for special preparation. All these drivers rely on mechanical principles for increasing traction. But, are there no other options? Let’s dive into the world of chemical de-icing of roads.
The Driver is in control
We live in the era of automation. Have you ever thought of all the things that used to need a lot of human involvement, but today are seemingly automatic? Buying things for example. We have access to a global supply of products and services that are just a few clicks away, and we get our deliveries with very little human involvement. It’s different systems that communicate and automate that provide this convenience.
One of the measures of effectiveness in rescue operations is ‘response time’. Naturally, in emergency situations, achieving the shortest response time possible is crucial for saving lives or property in danger. Therefore, a lot of time and effort are put into reducing response times. But what is actual response time?
When I attend trade shows, I am often asked if it is necessary to fill out our VSI or Vehicle Suspension Information form. Although the form typically takes 10 minutes to fill out, most people miss the importance of what they consider an “extra” step. Some believe that the VIN number or a description of the suspension should be enough. My favorite, however, is when people tell me the vehicle is a “sister” to one already fitted with Onspots so there should be no need to measure the chassis. This statement could not be more further from the truth.
Spring is here! The days are getting longer and the streets have been swept clean as motorcycles and classic cars take to the roads once again. During this time of the year it is quite easy to leave the cares of winter behind, especially if the season was a long and harsh one. Although we would like to forget about winter, it is important not to lose sight of vehicle maintenance.
Over the years at Onspot, we have fit thousands of chassis with our automatic snow chain system. Vehicle applications ranging from fire and rescue, school and transit bus, plow and tow truck, and various forms of local and long-haul delivery trucks are just some of the chassis where the Onspot system is currently in use. Our Onspot factory located in North Vernon, IN is also more than just a place where our product is made, it is also an R&D facility that allows us to stay on top of the latest chassis changes and adapt our product to these changes. Occasionally, we also have customers contact us with some pretty interesting and challenging vehicles that they would like outfitted with Onspots. One recent vehicle that comes to mind is that of Bro. John Pinnix with the Remote Alaska Missions or R.A.M.
In today’s commercial trucking industry, keeping the wheels turning is still a daunting task. Even with all the latest advances in technology, simple factors like traffic, weather, downtime, and health still hamper the transportation of freight by truck drivers around the world. What follows are the most common issues that plague drivers and ways to combat them.
Which is the perfect road surface treatment to increase traction?
To keep transportation – and society – running, authorities have different strategies for keeping roads open and driveable in harsh winter conditions. Snowplows keep the snow masses away from the road, and often some kind of surface treatment is used to increase traction when roads are icy and unsafe. But, which is the perfect road surface treatment? The simple answer is... None! Every method of surface treatment is a compromise between effectiveness, cost, handling and side effects. Let's have a look at some methods.
Through major advances in technology, the trucks of today have surpassed the trucks of yesterday in terms of efficiency and safety. Today, not only can fleet owners and mechanics track the location of their trucks, they are also able to get real time diagnostic data while the truck is on the road. The drivers of these trucks also benefit from new advances in technology accomplishing the majority of their work from the safety and security of the cab.
Ever wonder what would happen if we did not have accurate records for certain things in our lives. Say for example you go to see the doctor or the dentist and they did not have any record of your medical history or any record of what took place during your last visit. The same could be said for your home or car. Service work was done but there were no records kept. Imagine driving with no license, registration, or proof of insurance. Although not as critical as these scenarios, the same does hold true when talking about keeping accurate records of your Onspot chain system.