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  Savvy Pro News    
  August 4, 2008    
  Welcome  
 

Welcome to TruckSavvy.com and Savvy Pro News.

TruckSavvy.com is your portal to truck maintenance on the internet…designed by truck pros, for truck pros.

Trucksavvy.com is a "virtual truck show" ... every link takes you directly to the information you need to learn about truck specifications, regional fuel prices, parts and service locations, product information and sources...in short, everything you ever wanted to know about vehicle maintenance.

Savvy Pro News brings you helpful hints to help you make the most of TruckSavvy.com and highlights areas of particular interest for Maintenance Professionals.

 

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Savvy Pro Feature

 
 

There 'Ya Go - CVSA’s Roadcheck 2008 Shows Lowest Vehicle Out-of-Service Rate in Decades 

Despite concerns that increasing fuel prices would push safety to the bottom of the list for commercial motor vehicle fleets, a recent check on the industry shows the lowest rate of out-of-service vehicles in two decades. 

“This rate (23.9 percent vehicle out-of-service rate for Level I Inspections) is the principal barometer used to measure compliance and it is the lowest we’ve seen in the 21-year history of Roadcheck,” said Stephen F. Campbell, CVSA’s Executive Director.

From June 3-5, 9,148 CVSA and FMCSA certified inspectors at 1,683 locations across North America performed 67,931 truck and bus inspections. 52,345 of the total were North American Standard Level I inspections, the most comprehensive roadside inspection.

CVSA sponsors Roadcheck each year with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).  

Brakes continue to be the dominating vehicle out of service defect, comprising 52.6 percent of the total vehicle defects.

In another CVSA sponsored event, forty-five states and provinces across the U.S. and Canada blitzed the continent during a 12-hour surprise inspection on May 7, 2008 focusing on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) braking systems.

  • 11,908 vehicles inspected and 93,751 brakes were inspected

  • 15.8 percent of vehicles placed out of service for brake related defects

  • 9.4 percent of brakes with manual brake adjusters placed out of service

  • 3.8 percent of brakes with self-adjusting brake adjusters placed out of service 

"A significant problem we are noticing in recent years is the practice of manually adjusting self-adjusting brake adjusters," said Campbell. "If you have a brake that is over-stroking and it has a self-adjusting (automatic) brake adjuster, you more than likely have a problem with the brake or the adjuster. If you readjust it, you aren't fixing the underlying problem."

To learn more about RoadCheck 2008 and other CVSA programs, go to TruckSavvy.com Quick Clicks and click on CVSA.  Then click on their "News" tab.

 
  Buy It...Sell It - Check out Savvy Pro Auction

Do you have equipment you no longer use, overstocks of parts collecting dust or tools that are surplus to your needs?

Or do you need equipment, tools or parts that are hard to find locally at a reasonable cost.

TruckSavvy.com can be the solution to both of these problems..

The Savvy Pro Auction is an on-line auction service that will advertise your surplus parts, tools, equipment and what have you to the thousands of Truck Professionals who look to TruckSavvy.com each month for the information they need.

Recent listings on Savvy Pro Auction include:

  • Caterpillar 12 G Motor Grader

  • Set of Blue Point Torque Sticks

  • A Selection of Monroe Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers

  • Air Shields for International Tractors

  • And more...

Using the Savvy Pro Auction is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Go to TruckSavvy.com Hom Page and click on Auction in the menu on the left side of the page. 

  2. To list or bid on an item, you need to register and log in (using your selected User Name and Password).

  3. To list an item for sale, fill out the online listing form (click on sell, at the top of the auction page), then review and upload your listing.

To bid on an item listed, simply follow the directions on the item screen.

For a limited time, you can list your items for no charge and only pay a small auction fee when your auction is completed.

Turn your unwanted parts, tools and equipment to cash with the Savvy Pro Auction.  Go to www.TruckSavvy.com and click on Auction.

Buy It!

Sell It!

Check Out the

Savvy Pro Auction

 

Fraud Alert - Bendix Issues Second Round of Consumer Fraud Alerts

Bendix has had it's name used in an elaborate sweepstakes and employment scam.  Read the warning in the scrolling News box on TruckSavvy.com Home page.

 

 
  Savvy Pro Viewpoint  
 

What's That Noise? - Emergency Preparedness Planning

In the last few weeks we have heard about flooding in the midwest, hurricanes in the south and of course the earth quake in California.

Seems like a good time to remind ourselves to develop comprehensive emergency plans to ensure the safety of our people and the continuation of our business if and when the unspeakable happens.

Last year, one of contributors offered some excellent tips for Emergency Preparedness Planning and it's well worth reviewing.  You can read his comments at TruckSavvy.com Viewpoint Archive.

 

 
 

Savvy Pro Shop Tip - Work Smarter, Not Harder

 
 

No, It's Not a Weight Lifting Plan - Body Builders' Guides Provide Valuable Information

Maintenance people are often challenged to service or repair vehicles they have not worked on before.  This can be particularly challenging when making electrical repairs or installing additional electrical components.

Ideally, vehicle schematics can be used to help identify where to start trouble shooting or wire in a new component.  But if the manufacturers schematics are not available, you can still get valuable information by referring to the Body Builders resource materials that many OEMs make available on the internet.  Learn more about how a Truck Dealer Service Manager uses these  easy to obtain materials to speed diagnosis and ensure quality work.

To learn more, go to TruckSavvy.com Quick Clicks page and click on Shop Tips in the menu on the left side of the page.

 

 

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful... - Creative Tire Chain Rack

One of our contributors spotted a novel solution to the problem of where to hang tire chains...easily fabricated hangers bolted to the back of the tractor.  Check out the picture at Savvy Pro Shop Tips.  Go to TruckSavvy.com Quick Clicks and click on Shop Tips in the menu on the left side of the page.

 

 
 

Savvy Pro Cool Stuff - New Products Techniques and Ideas

 
 

Efficiency, Versatility and Safety - SKYLIFT from Stertil Koni

Stertil-Koni has created a new technology, the half-scissor vehicle lift.

Skylift uses two independent, modular lifting platforms to provide complete under-chassis operator access, while its vertical lifting orientation saves valuable working space. The independent lift units can be easily repositioned to accommodate virtually any axle width. SKYLIFT's ease of mobility makes it convenient and portable.

The SKYLIFT is designed as a modular unit. Four legs (two under each runway) can handle a maximum length runway of up to 45 feet. And unlike most other hydraulic lifts, SKYLIFT is built for multiple loading configurations. Customers can load the lift with up to 77,000 pounds symmetrically and up to 55,000 pounds asymmetrically.

SKYLIFT's innovative design does not require base frames or cross beams for stability.  The resulting open design offers freedom of movement for mechanics and virtually unlimited access under the chassis.

Go to Savvy Pro Cool Stuff (go to TruckSavvy.com Home page and click on Cool Stuff! in the menu on the left side of the page) and click on Stertil Koni to learn more and to see a demonstration video about SKYLIFT.

TruckSavvy.com

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  • QuiKleen™ Spill Kits

  • Chase 'Em Back Tools Reverse Thread Chaser

  • TESlite Volt Meter Leads

  • TruckSavvy.com Reverse Stop Decals

  • Etc.

 

Got Spills? QuiKleen Absorbents Video

QuiKleen Dry Absorbents has a new video that demonstrates how QuiKleen can be used to clean up fluid spills large and small.

QuiKleen™ is a lightweight, odorless absorbent composed of Amorphous Aluminum Silicate.

QuiKleen™ acts as a sponge and will absorb any liquid or semi liquid almost instantly.  It's absorption far exceeds clay based (kitty litter) products by 20 to 1 by weight or 5 to 1 by volume.

QuiKleen™ is conveniently packaged in kits for a variety of applications including trucks, fuel islands and shops.

To learn more and to view the QuiKleen Demonstration Video, go to Savvy Pro Cool Stuff! and click on the QuiKleen graphic.

 

 
  Savvy Pro Training - Everybody Talks About It...  
 

Training is a lot like the weather, everyone talks about it, but...

Well we're doing something about it.  TruckSavvy.com Online Training provides links to training resources on the internet.  From manufacturer supplied material to Training Services, we will keep you informed of new developments in training help.

We've changed the layout of our Online Training page to make it easier to use.  Let us know what you think of the new format and if you come across a training resource you would like to pass on to others, let us know.

 
 

MGM e-Stroke I - Training Schedule

A short time ago, we told you about MGM Brakes' e-Stroke I Training Van,  that will be used by MGM representatives around the country to conduct training on e-Stroke and other MGM products.  MGM has published a schedule and contact information for the appearances of the van.

To learn more go to TruckSavvy.com Online Training and click on MGM Brakes under the Brakes heading.

 

 
  Savvy Pro Blog - Savvy Pros Share Their Thoughts  
 

How Much Can You Save?  - The REAL KEY to Fuel Economy

A TruckSavvy.com user told us the other day about an interesting experience hiring drivers...a prospective team wanted to show how valuable their driving skills could be...the result was a 25% savings in fuel cost vs. a veteran company team.

Learn more and share your own experiences at the TruckSavvy In focus Blog (go to TruckSavvy.com home page and click on Blog in the menu on the left side of the page).

 

 
 

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