MAY.2017
BUSRIDE.COM THE EXCLUSIVE MAINTENANCE RESOURCE FOR THE TRANSIT AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY
The role of maintenance in overall success p5
Rough roads ≠Rough rides p6 | Zero-emission HVAC p7
FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Maintenance must stay involved
busride.com VOL. 07 • NO. 4
Richard Tackett Editor in Chief rtackett@busride.com David Hubbard Associate Publisher dhubbard@busride.com
This month, BUSRide Maintenance focuses on how operators should involve their maintenance department in more company-wide decisions, as they have critical insight to offer in purchasing, operations and other areas. Robert A. Crescenzo, president of safety and loss control at Lancer Insurance Company, speaks to the immense value of involving maintenance professionals in claims reviews, company growth, purchasing and leasing.
Stephen Gamble Art Director sgamble@busride.com Joyce Guzowski Assistant Editor jguzowski@busride.com
Also in this issue: • Joel Badskey of MORryde details how suspensions manufacturers are improving the comfort level of their products, ensuring that a rough road doesn’t necessarily translate to a rough ride.
Judi Victor CEO & Publisher Director of Sales jvfly@busride.com
• Steve D. Johnson, Sr., product marketing manager at Thermo King, talks about how zero-emission vehicles are affecting HVAC efficiency, and offers strategies to improve efficiency on electric vehicles.
Scott Bracken Senior Account Executive sbracken@busride.com Mitch Larson Business Manager mlarson@busride.com
Thank you once again for reading BUSRide Maintenance!
Blair McCarty Sr. Sales and Marketing Coordinator bmccarty@busride.com
Richard Tackett Editor in Chief BUSRide Maintenance Magazine
Hollie Broadbent Marketing & Sales Associate hbroadbent@busride.com
BUS INDUSTRY SAFETY COUNCIL
CONTENTS MAY 2017
ON THE COVER: The critical role maintenance plays in your overall success
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A publication of:
By Robert A. Crescenzo
DEPARTMENTS From the Editor in Chief Products and Services
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COLUMNS Focus On: Bus Suspensions 6 By Joel Badskey
Focus On: HVAC
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By Steve D. Johnson, Sr. 2
BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY . 2017
BUSRide Maintenance Magazine 4742 North 24th Street, STE 340 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 Phone: (602) 265-7600 Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com BUSRide Maintenance™ Magazine is published eight times annually by Power Trade Media, a division of The Producers, Inc., 4742 N. 24th Street, Ste. 340, Phoenix, AZ 85016. Subscription rates for non-qualified subscribers, single issue prices and pricing for reprints of 100 or more are available from: info@busride. com. All articles in BUSRide Maintenance™ Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Copyright 2017 by Power Trade Media. No advertisement, sponsorship or description or reference to a product or service will be deemed an endorsement by Power Trade Media, and no warranty is made or implied. Information is obtained from sources the editors believe reliable, accurate and timely, but is not guaranteed, and Power Trade Media is not responsible for errors or omissions. Opinions expressed in BUSRide Maintenance™ Magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or sponsors or advertisers. Content addressing legal, tax and other technical issues is not intended as professional advice and cannot be relied on as such; readers should consult with their own professional advisors.
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PRODUCTS & SERVICES
New dismantling tool for Leak detection reduces removable plug connectors costs, downtime With the new dismantling tool from PE and HAZET, connectors can be removed easily and quickly. To use, insert the removable connector into the dismantling tool, tighten using one of the hexagonal socket wrenches (13 millimeters) usually on hand at the workshop, and the connector can be removed from the line with little effort. The tool has been developed and produced in Germany and is suitable for all common pipe diameters between 6 and 12 millimeters. PE Automotive Wuppertal, Germany
Tracerline’s EZ-Ject™ A/C and Fluid Kit (TP-8657HD) can find all system leaks fast. Other bulky, expensive leak detection systems require a time consuming, drawn-out process. And after their smoke has cleared, they end up relying on UV lights and inferior fluorescent dyes to do what the EZ-Ject Kit does the first time – pinpoint the exact source of even tiny leaks quickly, and at one-eighth the cost. That means those little leaks won’t have the chance to become big, expensive problems. Just add the dye and shine the UV light. All Tracerline dyes can stay indefinitely without affecting system components or performance. A simple turn of the Multi-Dose dye injector handle adds an exact amount of dye into the A/C system. There’s no mess to clean up. Everything comes packed in a handy and durable carrying case for easy storage and use. Tracerline Westbury, NY
Fowler's Auto Wrecking Inc. Belltown Recycling Center Get all your coach parts on Old Coach Road! MCI & Prevost & Van Hool DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES Good Running Take Outs Recent Remans Core Units Low Mileage Units Engine Accessories We Offer 1 Year Warranty CALL for price - 860-267-7140
COMPLETE BUSES FOR PARTS Body Panels & Glass Exterior & Interior Lights Wheels & Tires Interior Parts & Seats Tag Axles & Drive Axles Steering & Suspension Parts Cooling, HVAC, and Brake Parts
ALLISON B500 TRANSMISSIONS Good Running Take Outs Recent Remans Core Units Low Mileage Units Modules & Auto Shift Pads We Offer 6 Month Warranty CALL for price - 860-267-7140
CALL 860-267-7140 - 24 Old Coach Rd, East Hampton, CT, 06424 - BelltownRecycling@Yahoo.com busride.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE
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PRODUCTS & SERVICES
MCC revolutionizes Antaira switches compressor mount systems perform in all environments
Mobile Climate Control (MCC) has developed a unique and proprietary compressor mount system which is a patent-pending product in the U.S., Canada and the EU. This compressor mount system allows for simple belt tensioning, compressor alignment, and reduced vibration and can be customized for various engine bay layouts and compressors. The major benefits are drastically reduced installation time, reduced belt wear, ease of belt maintenance, and reduced noise and vibration. This innovative compressor mount system can be used in any bus with any compressor and results in improved performance and reduced lifecycle cost for the bus manufacturer as well as for the bus operator. Mobile Climate Control Stockholm, Sweden
Antaira’s new LNX-2012GN-SFP industrial gigabit managed Ethernet switch series has been designed to fulfill applications in harsh or outdoor environments. This unit has one of the highest density SFP fiber port counts in the market for a DINRail unit. The extensive SFP fiber connectivity of this unit is ideal for centralized connection of multiple devices, especially in environments with a lot of electrical noise where SFP fiber is immune to such issues. Some applications where the LNX-2012GN-SFP switch works well includes: power/utility, factory/process control automation, windmills, mining infrastructures and ITS roadway traffic control/monitoring applications. This product series is pre-loaded with “Layer 2” network management software that supports an ease of use Web Console or Telnet through the serial console by CLI configuration. Antaira Anaheim, CA
Serving Universities, Public Transit Agencies and Private Coach Companies Since 1980
Serving Your Future Needs Now AMERICAN OWNED
ONE OF THE LARGEST TRANSIT BUS REMANUFACTURERS IN AMERICA! • BUS REFURBISHING & REMANUFACTURING • REPLACEMENT PARTS • USED BUS SALES & LEASING • FIELD SERVICE • ALL SIZES • ALL MODELS
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BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY . 2017
TOLL-FREE (800) 627-6627 midwestbus.com busride.com
The critical role maintenance plays in your overall success Many types of bus and motorcoach claims, including - but not limited to - bus fires, are often preventable. And while company management reflexively looks to the vehicle’s driver as the major responsible party in most accidents, the scope of any comprehensive internal investigation regarding claim causation needs to include the maintenance department. With its inclusion in the By Robert A. Crescenzo review, management can identify other contributing factors and, proactively take the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. Whether it’s called Enterprise Risk Management or just plain common sense, involving maintenance managers in the ‘big picture’ of a wide variety of management and operational decisions is critical to reducing claims and saving money on your operational costs…and insurance premiums. Is your company’s maintenance management team regularly involved in a serious claim’s review process? Does your maintenance department have a seat at the table during company management meetings so they can contribute to key decisions about your company’s growth and sales? If you just said to yourself: “Why would I do that?” then you might want to reconsider how your maintenance staff can contribute to your company’s success and reputation by: regularly reviewing all company policies and procedures; auditing all parts inventory and vendor contracts; providing monthly reports of same to all department managers; and meeting regularly with managers from all departments to identify how vehicle preventive maintenance and ready-for-the-road availability reduces breakdowns, claims and the resulting customer fallout. Is your maintenance manager involved when considering purchasing or leasing new vehicles? Do you include your maintenance manager in your decision-making process by asking if the new equipment being considered will require additional tools, diagnostic software, technician training and parts inventory? Do you rely on your maintenance manager to evaluate the reliability, stability and operating history of the vehicle model being considered? Do you rely on them for simple issues such as maintenance schedules, parking, suitability for the wash bay or even your garage? The danger of not involving your maintenance manager in these vehicle acquisition decisions could easily create additional risk exposure, costs and accident potential that will negatively impact your passengers, staff and company. Is anybody in senior management listening when maintenance managers identify troubling DVIRs, preventative maintenance, vehicle/parts recalls and other defect issues?
Unquestionably, proactive maintenance managers who are valued and listened to by company management can contribute to reducing risk exposure and potential claim-triggering issues. And, by tracking their contributions, they will clearly demonstrate their input to your company’s overall success by enhancing customer service through fewer costly breakdowns and crashes. As business management gurus have been preaching for years, the most successful companies in any industry are strong proponents of open and frequent communication between all contributors to the efficient delivery of that company’s product or service. The bus and motorcoach industry is no exception to that time-tested rule. It’s no accident that strategic and tactical decisions are most effective when critical information is eagerly shared, allowing your dispatch team to match the most appropriate vehicle, most qualified driver and the safest route when making a sales decision. Simply “selling” a trip based on a list of available vehicles may not take into consideration the overall usage and maintenance schedule for those vehicles. While there is generally sufficient time to assign the appropriate vehicle to the trip, you might want to consider using the opposite approach. Maintenance data might be very useful to your sales staff to better link a customer to a trip, and can help identify the proper price point for that trip. As you know, operations and dispatch are often caught in the middle of what is booked and what is available. How many times has your operations staff been ‘under the gun’ when a vehicle ‘sold’ for a trip is unavailable because of preventive maintenance or emergency repair? The pressure is then on maintenance to provide a vehicle that might not be fully prepared for use, thus increasing the accident or mechanical breakdown exposure on that trip. A bus fire or a serious mechanical issue can occur at any time on any trip… even during a short haul. Providing regularly updated maintenance schedules to operations and dispatch staff can create better team communication, and lead to a higher trip completion rate. If you haven’t done so recently, take a long, hard look at your business model and ask yourself if you are maximizing the skills, experience and expertise of all contributors to your company’s success. When maintenance managers’ input is valued at the same level as operations, dispatch and drivers, you greatly enhance a more well-rounded approach to greater company success in the future.
“Strategic and tactical decisions are most effective when critical information is eagerly shared.”
Robert A. Crescenzo is vice president of safety and loss control at the Lancer Insurance Group headquartered in Long Beach, NY. Since 1985, Lancer has been one of the nation’s leading insurers of the passenger transportation industry. Visit www.lancerinsurance.com for more information.
busride.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE
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FOCUS ON:
BUS SUSPENSIONS
Rough roads = Rough rides By Joel Badskey
As part of my job, I have had the opportunity to travel all over the United States and Canada. With that travel I have been afforded the opportunity to experience a variety of foods, a myriad of festivals, the incredible diversity of cultures, and more twists and turns of the English language than I would have thought possible. But no matter where I find myself, there is one thing I can never seem to avoid: Rough roads.
Rough roads appear to us in a number of different ways. Maybe in your neck of the woods you have more potholes than people. In some rural areas you may drive on a lot of dirt roads, or roads with loose gravel. Perhaps you live in a part of the country where railroad tracks are common place, so crossing them several times throughout your travels is unavoidable. It could even be that you are lucky enough to do most of your driving on the highway, but the occasional introduction of a few expansion joints is enough to rattle the teeth right out of your head. Regardless of where you live or what the conditions are, we all have to live with the fact that our roads are not as smooth as we would like them to be. Even when the construction crew finally addresses the road issues that you have been concerned about, it seems like three more sections of road suddenly appear that are just as bad. In spite of this, your ride quality does not have to suffer. Rough roads do not have to equal rough rides. The solution to your ride quality issues is very simple and possibly more obvious than you think: rubber! Our vehicles 6
BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY . 2017
already have rubber tires to soften the ride and improve traction beyond what the original wood or steel wheels would have provided. Rubber motor mounts are used on most vehicles to decrease the vibration that the engine transfers to chassis. It only makes sense that we would use rubber to soften the blows that our rough roads are dishing out, as well. MORryde International has been using rubber’s natural tendency to isolate and absorb for decades. The rubber is incorporated into the design of the suspension system, so that it works in conjunction with the OEM leaf springs. This design allows for another two inches of suspension travel up and down. Greater suspension travel is another one of the keys to improved ride quality. Improved suspension travel, coupled with the rubber’s ability to soften the ride, really takes the harshness out of traveling on rough roads in a way that you will feel in the seat of your pants. Potholes will feel less like craters. Railroad tracks will no longer jolt you from your seat. Bouncy dirt roads will not shake your joints unbearably, and expansion joints will suddenly go unnoticed. You will wonder how you ever went without it. MORryde suspension products run the gamut of the cutaway bus market, from the smaller Sprinters and Ford Transits, all the way up to larger F650s, Freightliner SC2s, and International, equipped with leaf springs. MORryde’s most popular suspension products are for the Ford E350, E450, and GM3500 and GM4500s. Each system is customized for different makes, models, and weight ratings, to ensure that they get the best fit and performance possible. A large percentage of bus operators order the MORryde Suspension System as a factory-installed option so that they can enjoy better ride quality from the start. However, if you have a bus or fleet of buses already in service that would benefit from upgrading the standard suspension, there are several options available for you to add the system aftermarket. You can contact your bus dealer, or MORryde International directly, for more information. At MORryde, we have a passion for solving problems. Whether we’re fabricating custom solutions, installing a bus suspension system, or engineering innovative products, we answer to a wide range of markets and provide solutions for variety of needs. At MORryde, it’s simply about doing MORE for our customers, and it doesn’t stop at the sale. We stand behind our products, believing in quality first, service always. No matter the issue, we’ll be the first to respond and the last to be satisfied. Visit www.morryde.com.
busride.com
FOCUS ON:
HvAC
Zero-emission buses and HVAC efficiency By Steve D. Johnson, Sr. It wasn’t that long ago when the conversation was about low-emission buses and alternative fuels. We saw an explosion in hybrid bus production followed by the rapid expansion of CNG- (Compressed Natural Gas) powered buses. These were good initiatives, but they can’t meet the goals in place to reduce GHG (Green House Gas) emissions. Zero-emission buses can have a significant impact on reducing Transit’s carbon footprint. California is currently developing a proposal to reduce emissions from transit bus fleets by phasing-in zero emission bus purchases, with the goal of transforming all fleets to zero-emission by 2040. This will be a lengthy transformation, and costly, considering that the zero-emission bus can cost up to two times more than a conventional bus. At the end of 2016, we had just over 300 zero emission buses operating in the United States.
It’s clear that the drive to zero-emission in transit vehicles has started. So, what does this have to do with the HVAC? A lot, actually. The zero emission bus is powered by batteries, and all of the electrical loads, like the all-electric HVAC, use power from the battery. As on conventional buses, the HVAC is the largest single load on the engine. Now, the load is on the battery and affects how far the bus can go on a single charge. It is easy to understand that reducing the load allows the bus range to improve. But, do we dare turn off the air conditioner? This isn’t likely, but the industry can demand more efficient systems from HVAC suppliers. You might be surprised to learn that HVAC suppliers have been driving for more efficient systems for 20 years. On diesel-driven systems, improved HVAC efficiency always meant better fuel economy and a reduction in a number of known pollutants like: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM). The concept is not new, but the approach to improved HVAC efficiency has changed with allelectric systems. DEFINING EFFICIENCY: In layman’s terms, the amount of power input in kilowatts (Kw) versus the amount of power being
The drive toward zero-emission transit vehicles is underway.
used to achieve a defined output (Kw) determines efficiency. If the output of the HVAC system needs to be 18 Kw, how many Kw is required to achieve that output? The method that requires the least input to get the desired output is the most efficient. STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE HVAC EFFICIENCY: The bus battery will only have so many kilowatt hours to use before recharging is necessary, so applying the loads in the most efficient manner possible can have great affect. Here are some of the approaches being implemented. 1. Variable frequency control for the electric compressors, up to 75Hz for pull down and variable down to 45Hz, or three (3) stage unloading of electric compressors and variable frequency to control fan and blower speeds. This power control strategy allows the system to use power only when it’s needed. Liken it to the power saver mode on your home appliances. 2. A programmable and configurable microprocessor capable of reading pressure and temperature transducers, controlling frequency and making decisions to adjust the loads based on the demand for cooling. Also, it should have the ability to communicate with the other on-board systems, so intelligent decisions like adjusting the thermostat set point can be made. 3. Build a better bus. Does the amount of insulation in your house have an effect on how large your air conditioning bill is? You bet it does. Improvements in insulation and glass transmittance can reduce the demand for cooling by as much as 20 percent. It also means that systems can be smaller and weigh less. Weight matters. We can’t end this discussion without talking about heat. When we used engines, we had enough free heat to satisfy all but the coldest climates. With the zero-emission bus the heat must come from an electric power source with a huge kilowatt draw off the battery. In colder climates, this can be as much as twice the power needed for the HVAC in a hot climate. One option is to turn the HVAC into a heat pump, but it will only operate down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is good for seasonal use and milder climates. Electric heat is still needed for some applications. Other strategies are being tried, and there is no doubt that the industry will come up with viable solutions. After all, I live in Minneapolis –and we must have our heat. Steve D. Johnson, Sr. serves as product marketing manager, Bus HVAC, at Thermo King, Minneapolis, MN. Thermo King is a world leader in transport temperature control systems for buses. Thermo King also manufactures auxiliary power units, which dramatically reduce engine idling. All Thermo King products are backed by a nationwide dealer network. Visit www.thermoking.com for more information.
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