The trucking industry is instrumental in maintaining the supply chain of materials and goods all over the world. Thanks to the trucking industry, global economies receive over 10 billion tons of various goods. Other industries rely on trucks to deliver the raw materials to produce those goods. The trucking industry delivers more cargo than ships, planes or trains and cargo theft will disrupt the greater supply chain.
Natural gas, 100% electric, and autonomous trucks are the vehicles of the future, but one might find it interesting that those are actually closer to the present thanks to the many innovations of manufacturers and equipment manufacturers.
Tire chains – automatic or conventional – do they have an expiration date? No, there is no fixed end date because there is no way to calculate the wear and tear on tire chains. Wear and tear is not determined with a simple mathematical formula. It has many variables such as how often they are used, terrain, weather, maintenance and drivers.
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.
At Onspot, nothing is left to chance! Each piece that makes up the complete system has been the subject of a comprehensive study. The same is true for our chains. Have you already noticed that we use different types of chains? Each of them has been designed to meet a specific need, and we will reveal our secrets about wheels and chains!
It’s February and the groundhog saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter or so they say. Here at Onspot, show season is starting to ramp up. Soon you will find us at a variety of trade shows throughout the US and Canada ranging from Fire/EMS to Municipal and School shows. These are just a few types of trade show events we will be attending this year. Additionally, we will also be traveling to promote Onspot maintenance and driver training throughout our territories.
Yes, Onspots work in reverse. The important question of engaging chains in reverse is asked time and time again. Moving in reverse is always challenging due to obstructions (your field of vision is blocked by the vehicle itself), depth perception, and the difficulty of controlling your speed and direction; now add snow and ice!
In a tire-surface system, the coefficient of friction is called ‘traction coefficient’. It’s as simple as that. But, what’s more important is to know why the traction coefficient is fundamental to road safety, and peace of mind.
The following tips and tricks have been learned from the many Model 016 installs done on a variety of vehicles worldwide. However, it must be noted that Onspot is not a one-size-fits-all product. For instance, as was detailed in an earlier blog post, the ideal chainwheel position can vary due to the difference in vehicle measurements.
At the flip of the switch, the chainwheel swings out. Then, strands of chain are slung under the tire, increasing traction. It’s as simple as that – for the driver. But, if we take a closer look at the ingeniously simple principle behind it, we realize that Onspot requires a good dose of engineering to become such a reliable tool for safety and convenience. Here is why!