JANUARY . 2014
busridemaintenance.com
Spec’ing saves
the exclusive maintenance resource for the transit and motorcoach industry
money p4
Reduce mirror strikes p6
From The EDITOR
See the unseen, hear the unheard
Vol. 04 • No. 1 Publisher / Editor in Chief Steve Kane steve@busride.com
I recently finished reading “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success” by former NBA head coach Phil Jackson. Jackson, nicknamed the Zen Master for his out-of-the-box coaching techniques, is best known for leading the Jordan-era Chicago Bulls and later the Los Angeles Lakers to the eponymous eleven NBA championship rings. A key aspect of Jackson’s successful team-building strategy is “hearing the unheard.” “That’s a skill everyone in the group needs, not just the leader,” Jackson writes. “In basketball, statisticians count when players make assists, or passes that lead to scores. But I’ve always been interested on having players focus on the pass that leads to the pass that leads to the score. That kind of awareness takes time to develop, but once you’ve mastered it, the invisible becomes visible and the game unfolds like a story before your eyes.” Jackson’s message about preparation and situational awareness applies to any successful business, and especially to bus and coach maintenance technicians. Keeping the bus rolling is what keeps passengers – the most precious cargo – safe and comfortable. A smart maintenance team must be hypersensitive of every risk involved in passenger transport, because their ability to work together is what gives the transit and motorcoach industries the sterling safety records they strive for.
Group Publisher Sali T. Williams swilliams@busride.com Executive Editor David Hubbard david@busride.com Editor Richard Tackett rtackett@busride.com Art Director Stephen Gamble sgamble@theproducersinc.com Production Coordinator Kevin Dixon kdixon@busride.com Accountant Fred Valdez fvaldez@powertrademedia.com
Richard Tackett Editor BUSRide Magazine
JANUARY 2014
CONTENTS
BUS industry SAFETY council
Spec’ing saves money By Aaron C. Murphy
One easy step can reduce mirror strikes
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Vibrant striping improves visibility and serves as a visual warning By Christopher W. Ferrone
No-pest zone
A publication of:
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Best practices go beyond collisions and physical injuries By Gary Catapano
Departments From the Editor 2
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Making the right tire choice will reduce costs over time
BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | JANUARY.2014
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Spec’ing saves money By Aaron C. Murphy
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BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | JANUARY.2014
busridemaintenance.com
Making the right tire choice will reduce costs over time Challenges in spec’ing We’ve heard from our customers about the challenges or complications they face when spec’ing the right tire for the right application. There are many factors involved in the decision and many things to consider. Tires are considered assets in fleets; the longer the asset can be used before discarding, the more value it brings to the fleet. Steer, drive and trailer position tires all have unique tread designs, siping and de-coupler grooves and other irregular wear fighting features that help the specific tires perform at their optimum during their initial life, prior to retreading. One of the many challenges faced by maintenance managers is equipment that’s used in varied functions. We’ve seen situations where a vehicle is used for a long-haul route and then switches over to a short-haul route, or vice versa. This can lead to premature removal or lower performance of tires, as some are very application-specific. While some tires do well in varied functions and fit in certain wheel positions with different applications, progressive fleet managers want to optimize a tire’s performance and usage during its original tread life. This also applies to the retread cycle when retreads are utilized. Matching the proper type of tire with the proper vehicle application goes a long way in overcoming performance limitations. Another challenge is the legal requirements that states place on motorcoach tires. With safety a primary concern, many states utilize field inspections by DOT or highway patrol to ensure that the tires meet the requirements of the vehicle. This includes air pressure, tread depths and other data. Understanding the performance of each type and pattern of tire, as well as the legal requirements, allows a manager to make the best decision when spec’ing tires on new equipment.
Making the Right Tire Choice We encourage everyone to consult with a servicing tire dealer. Their experience with products in similar types of operations is a valuable tool for spec’ing the right products. Tire manufacturers also are a primary resource of brandspecific information for bus managers to tap into. They employ engineers and representatives that have a high level of technical expertise on their brand as well as many others. They will know what tread patterns match which road conditions, and the best tire for the type of vehicle. Manufacturers also understand the effects of free-rolling axles and high torque on tires. Using tire manufacturers and servicing dealers as a resource can assist in making the right choice. Overall, the bottom line benefits should all point to operational cost reduction and safety.
Save money with smart spec’ing Paying a premium at the OE level (not settling on the standard tire available) might mean a bit more initial investment when purchasing equipment, but the overall cost-per-mile will be driven down by having the correct tire in the correct application. Depending on the needs of an operator, retreading may be prevalent. If so, make sure the spec’d tires have a solid and durable casing. Additionally, take the time to understand the equipment’s primary role and get the optimum original mileage. Some tires, when placed in applications where they are not primarily intended, can see a reduction of up to 50 percent of the original tread mileage. busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE
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One easy step can reduce mirror
strikes Vibrant striping improves visibility and serves as a visual warning By Christopher W. Ferrone
American Sightseeing put a six-inch-wide piece of striping material on the leading surface of every mirror on every bus in the fleet.
Visibility tape keeps side mirrors from blending into the surroundings. 6
BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | JANUARY.2014
Large bus and motorcoach mirrors that protrude from the body structure always present the potential to strike down a pedestrian and cause serious injury or death. Operators must make every attempt to limit this hazard. Drivers maneuvering in busy city streets always need to keep their eye out for pedestrians on the curbside. Still, an operator can only do so much. The pedestrian has a responsibility as well. While pedestrians are not apt to step directly in front of a bus, they are often inadvertently in the way of the sideview mirror as the bus passes. With that said, we at American Sightseeing felt we had to take a proactive step to keep someone from accidently stepping into the path of a side-view mirror. We felt we needed to try something that would serve as a warning to pedestrians. One way to help both parties is to increase the visibility of the mirrors. Most mirrors are not always so noticeable. They are typically painted flat black and tend to blend visually into the city background, and hard to distinguish from the busy surroundings. Marking them with vibrant colored tape works well. This product comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. We came up with high-visibility striping using black-and-yellow striped vinyl tape that catches the eye of a nearby pedestrian. This laminated power-washable tape is strong and made for outdoor use. We purchased a couple of rolls of this inexpensive tape through Granger. We put a six-inch-wide piece of this striping material on the leading surface of every mirror on every bus in our fleet to make mirrors stand out more from the cityscape and surroundings. One $9 roll provided enough tape for 30 buses. On a recent trip to NYC, I noticed that the MTA New York buses have striping tape on the mirrors, as do the new Greyhound buses — I assume that these carriers use it for the same reason that we do, to make the mirror more visible to on coming pedestrians. By focusing awareness on the potential hazard, this will give the pedestrian the ability to see the mirror as it is coming their way, allowing the pedestrian to react in a safe manner. This is a simple, inexpensive and functional way to reduce the hazard of a mirror strike. Christopher W. Ferrone operates American Sightseeing and is president of Americoach Systems, Inc., both located in Chicago, IL, specializing in transport technology, safety, management and logistics. busridemaintenance.com
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Best practices go beyond collisions and physical injuries The safety and security of the passengers we transport is essential to the long-term success of the bus and motorcoach industry. However, safety goes beyond protecting passengers and employees from collisions and injuries. Operators must also take appropriate steps to protect their passengers and employees against the unseen dangers of germs and viruses that are transferred aboard buses. It is just as necessary to have sanitation procedures in place to rid the vehicles from these invisible intruders. The human element is a factor when protecting passengers from viruses and pests. Transit buses and motorcoaches may begin the day completely clean, but as passengers board and transfer throughout the day, the exposure to germs grows. The key to minimizing illness is to establish a thorough cleansing process and to train employees on sanitation protocols. Use a simple disinfectant in regular cleanings — When an operator suspects a virus is present, extra sanitation procedures may be necessary. A simple mixture of water and chlorine bleach, or a disinfectant cleaner, can be an effective solution for sanitizing hard surfaces such as handrails, armrests, vinyl seats and luggage compartments. This multi-purpose solution is used to protect passengers against strains of influenza and MRSA, particularly in buses with vinyl or hard seats. A supply of sanitizing wipes can also come in handy to wipe down handrails and steering wheels.
Provide personal protective equipment — Some passengers may need assistance if they board the bus ill or become ill while riding. The properly equipped bus or coach will include such items as personal protective equipment for use in such instances, which may include disposable gloves, hand sanitizer and a N95 respirator. In severe cases, it is probably safer to secure the bus at the destination and then assist the passenger. Onboard clean-up kits — Bodily fluid clean-up kits store onboard ensure that issues can be addressed as soon as possible to protect drivers and passengers from exposure. In the rare instance that blood-borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials are present, employees must cordon off the area until it can be properly cleaned. These more intensive procedures require additional training of staff members in the use of clean-up kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure during cleaning and the required disposing of waste. Encourage healthy habits — Employee involvement is essential in protecting passengers from unwanted germs. Having a regular sanitation program is crucial, but will have a limited effect if employees are not trained properly. Reminding employees regularly of healthy habits such as proper cough etiquette and the benefits of thorough hand washing – especially during cold and flu season – is key to keeping staff healthy. If a driver or staff member is sick, he or she should stay home and recuperate, reducing the chance of infecting other employees and passengers. Inspect for pests — Develop a plan to continually combat bugs, germs and viruses. The news is inundated with reports of the sudden influx of bedbugs in hotels, offices and stores, which naturally leads to questions about their presence on transit vehicles. While buses do not typically provide the most suitable environments in which bedbugs live and thrive, it is best to have a plan against any infestation that might occur and implement it immediately to keep the bigger problems at bay. Any bus suspected of a pest infestation should be pulled from its route and cloth seats should be steam cleaned, or in some cases, professionally exterminated. Gary Catapano serves as senior vice president of safety at First Student and a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Department of Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC). busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE
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