BUSRide Maintenance May 2015

MAY.2015

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THE EXCLUSIVE MAINTENANCE RESOURCE FOR THE TRANSIT AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY

TIRE-PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS: What operators need to know p4

Shoot for true safety p7

FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

BUSRide Maintenance analyzes TPMS

VOL. 05 • NO. 5 CEO Judi Victor jvfly@busridemaintenance.com

This issue, BUSRide Maintenance presents a special focus on tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) — a close-up examination presenting critical aspects of tire-pressure management, and the systems that are some of the most important investments that operators and agencies make for their drivers and maintenance facilities.

In this issue, leading TPMS manufacturers spotlight best practices, purchasing advice, critical areas and more in an educational Q&A. TPMS OEMs, like Doran Manufacturing and Valor, examine why tire-pressure management technology is so important and present the different types of TPMS available in today’s market. They offer advice that many operators might not have previously considered and run through TPMS operational and cost concerns, maintenance requirements, and pitfalls to avoid.

All tire-pressure monitoring systems are not created equal – and BUSRide Maintenance wants to peel the layers back on this in-depth and engrossing topic.

Publisher Steve Kane skane@busridemaintenance.com Associate Publisher David Hubbard dhubbard@busridemaintenance.com Editor in Chief Richard Tackett rtackett@busridemaintenance.com Art Director Stephen Gamble sgamble@busridemaintenance.com Account Executive Jeanette Long jlong@busridemaintenance.com Accountant Fred Valdez fvaldez@busridemaintenance.com

MAY 2015

CONTENTS

Richard Tackett Editor in Chief BUSRide Maintenance Magazine

On the cover: Tire-Pressure Monitoring Systems: what operators need to know

BUS INDUSTRY SAFETY COUNCIL

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Insights, best practices and pitfalls to avoid for more efficiency A publication of:

Shoot for true safety

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By Christopher W. Ferrone POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to:

Departments

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From the Editor in Chief

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Products and Services

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BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY.2015

BUSRide Maintenance Magazine 4742 North 24th Street, STE 340 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 Phone: (602) 265-7600 Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Lista improves usable storage capacity

Antaira expands switch line

Lista International Corporation offers its modular drawer storage cabinets that have 50 percent more storage capacity than conventional industrial shelving and feature more usable storage space than any other competitive cabinet.

The cabinet drawers feature a 440-pound load capacity each and are available in six different full sidewall heights for maximum cubic storage capacity. And, by extending 100 percent from the housing, the drawers allow complete use of the furthest corner and easy access to all the contents. Lista’s drawer dividers have angled tops that can accommodate labels and most bar codes for the accurate identification of compartment contents.

Antaira Technologies announced its expansion in the industrial gigabit networking infrastructure family with the LNX-0802C-SFP series. Antaira Technologies’ LNX-0802CSFP series is an eight-port industrial gigabit unmanaged Ethernet switch, with 6*RJ45 10/100Tx and 2*Gigabit combo ports (2*10/100/1000Tx RJ45 and 2*100/1000 SFP slots for fiber). This product series has a power consumption requiring just 10W and has a 12~48VDC power input range that can support MDI/MDI-X functions. This makes it ideal for applications that demand high bandwidth and long distance communication.

Lista International Corp.

Holliston, MA

Antaira Technologies Anaheim, CA

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TIRE-PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS: What operators need to know

BUSRide called on leading tire-pressure monitoring system OEMs for benefits, features, potential ROI and critical points to fit the most effective system to a given fleet.

Most TPMS transmit a radio frequency signal from each tire to a dashboard display, giving drivers real-time information.

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BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY.2015

Why should I consider retrofitting my bus fleet with a tirepressure monitoring system (TPMS)?

A tire pressure monitoring system delivers numerous benefits and comes with a relatively swift return on investment. Consider that anything related to the expected performance of a tire— mileage, braking, cornering, etc.—is predicated on proper tire inflation. A loss of as little as 10 percent of a tire’s proper inflation level will cause about a 1 percent drop in fuel economy.

Will it help extend tire life?

Yes it will. If you are not running a tire management system, and we know many operators do not, you will not be able to measure the precise extent of the improvement, but the difference will be significant. Underinflated tires are one of the leading causes of breakdowns, service disruptions and downtime. A TPMS will greatly reduce this maintenance burden. Another key advantage for fleets is the fact that if a fleet actively manages their tires including tire pressure, they save money by not having to scrap a tire carcass for retread. Underinflated tires render the tire unable to be retread. When a tire cost $400 and the first retread is $150 versus a new tire, this is a huge savings when you consider a properly maintained tire carcass can be successfully retread two to three times instead of a new tire. That is a $250 savings per tire per retread cycle lost. Over a single tire life with successful retread, the potential savings is $750 per tire.

How much of a safety factor is a TPMS? Since underinflation is the major cause of tire failure, and tire failure is the cause of tens of thousands of accidents annually, then obviously a TPMS is going to have a major impact on safety.

Remember also that a properly inflated tire is also going to brake and handle better. Some tire pressure monitoring systems also detect when a tire is experiencing rapid pressure loss. Having a fast leak warning, like when the pressure drops three pounds in 12 seconds, mitigates the threat of catastrophic tire damage. If you’re in the business of hauling people, you would certainly want that level of protection.

How does it work?

There are two basic types of TPMS. One is wheel mounted where sensors are placed around the rim, using a strap to hold the sensor in place. The other type has a valve stem mounted sensor, which screws onto the end of the valve stem, replacing the valve cap. There are also tire valve mounted sensors inside the tire instead of outside via the cap replacement.

What’s the difference between the two?

They both have advantages. Internal sensors may require more installation time, but may give a more precise reading on tire pressure and temperature and be less susceptible to theft or damage.

What do the sensors measure?

Tire pressure, and some also measure tire temperature. They are programmed to give an alert when, for example, the pressure in the tire drops a certain percentage below its baseline.

Who receives this data?

Typically a radio frequency signal is transmitted from each tire to a dashboard display. This gives the driver real time information. Today’s systems can go well beyond this,

DORAN MANUFACTURING Doran 360™ Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems The Doran 360™ tire pressure monitoring systems help fleets to extend tire life and reduce tire related repair and maintenance costs Valve stem mounted sensors transmit tire pressures and temperatures to a monitor in the bus to provide at-a-glance digital tire pressures and provide real-time low pressure alerts to the driver. Simple and fast installation with limited ongoing maintenance make the Doran 360™ TPMS a very cost-effective way to continually monitor all the tires in your fleet.

The Doran 360™ TPMS have also been integrated with various telematics providers to provide remote tire pressure visibility and reporting capabilities.

Doran Manufacturing, LLC 2851 Massachusetts Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45225 866-816-7233 www.doranmfg.com

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however, with telematics capability that sends information to a laptop or back office. It is possible for a manager to see the status of his entire fleet at any given time. This aids in planning, maintenance scheduling and even budgeting.

Are there other types of TPMS? Yes, at both ends of the spectrum. On the basic end, there are systems where the driver as part of his pre-check walks around the vehicle with a handheld device that guides a visual inspection. But while the tires are very likely to be part of that pre-trip checklist, the device itself doesn’t provide a way to check tire pressures or temperatures. At the other extreme, there are stationary pads or arches built into a yard that every vehicle drives through or over when it returns from a trip. Sensor data is recorded for each tire and uploaded instantly into a fleet-wide program. This is a more expensive system and probably only makes sense for a very large fleet.

Could I achieve the same benefits with an automatic tire inflation system (ATIS)?

Not really. An ATIS is primarily designed to control the level of inflation in off-road situations where, for example, it may be necessary to reduce the pressure in a tire to accommodate certain terrain. There are on-road applications, and an ATIS may deliver some of the same benefits of a TPMS, but it also could disguise a problem. Compensating for a leak, for instance, could cause the source of the leak to go undetected.

What kind of ROI can I expect with a TPMS? That will vary according to how you employ your fleet, but nine to 12 months is a reasonable expectation. You may never know if a TPMS helped you avert a really serious problem.

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BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | MAY.2015

Some TPMS are wheel mounted, where sensors like these are placed around the rim using a strap to hold them in place.

Valor TPMS

Valor TPMS, a research, design and development company, prides itself on being a progressive vertically integrated manufacturer of advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS).

Their patented TPMS products are engineered with the latest technologies in the industry, and their sensors have built-in temperature and tire pressure monitoring functions which sets Valor apart from their competition.

Located in Burlington, ON, Valor TPMS distributes Valor TPMS globally with their products interfacing in a wide 4320 Harvester Road range of applications that include Transit, Commercial Burlington, Ontario trucking, recreational vehicle (RV), OEM, as well as L7L 5S4 within the mining and construction sector through Canada their Off-the-road (OTR) product.

1-800-568-9188 Sales@valortpms.com www.valortpms.com

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Shoot for true safety

By Christopher W. Ferrone Knowledge comes from both direct and indirect observation.

Indirect observation teaches by showing what others have failed to do. BP’s failings at numerous levels to maintain safety on its drilling rig a few years ago are a perfect example. The company did not have a clear plan or even a secondary plan. In fact it appears that the company even failed to heed the warnings signs in the drilling process.

Every operation has someone in charge of safety. While the safety department has the responsibility of handling compliance, training, testing and discipline as necessary, the begging question is if these activities actually ensure authentic, practical and tangible safety measures.

I believe they do. But I also am always looking for better ways that improve my safety program.

Safety that works involves building a collection of small viable actions in a process that is ongoing and always changing. Each action by itself may not appear safety related, but as one part of the total collection, each step such as vehicle inspections, preventative maintenance, regulatory compliance, driver control measures, training and common sense all add up to what I call true safety.

The operative term here is add up. I start every Saturday morning at the garage at 3 a.m. This gives me extra time to fine-tune my safety program without interruption. I start with over-pit inspections to ensure the reliability of the buses going out on the highway that day. While some may view reliability as being sure the vehicle is useful for the day, utility is very low on my list of items to worry about directly. Certainly reliability is important.

An unreliable vehicle always compromises safety when it fails in some way. Reliability is a safety function in my system.

Unusual noises coming from the vehicle usually indicate a problem. A sense of smell also serves as a useful tool. Walking by a bus that has the odor of gear oil usually indicates a hub seal is leaking. Hearing an odd noise or detecting an odor and not checking it out represent poor safety behavior. Caring is the most basic element of true safety.

Don’t be a robot or merely a box checker.

Take the safety department to a level of care where everyone knows to stop and look for problems at their least provocation.

Once the buses move to the ready line for drivers to pick up, I speak with each one

individually to check their fitness for the day. I want drivers to be wakeful and alert, arriving on time and not rushing to make a diving clock-in. Drivers rushing for the clock are most likely late for their report time, and subsequently late for their order — not the mindset of true safety. The drivers’ behavior and best practices are paramount. Personal appearance and mental attitude figure strongly in a truly safe operation.

We discuss the weather and the effect it will have on driving that day and have a solid plan to deal with the conditions. A safe carrier gives its drivers the option and even encourages them to stop driving as the situation may require.

We review the destination or event for the group and assess the passengers. Are they children, adults or teens? In the event of time-sensitive events with a starting time, the drivers receive instructions to not let the passengers influence their operation of the bus, or where to position the bus for unloading and parking. Passengers often try to control the driver for their personal benefit. The driver is in control and must be the only person making the decisions.

Instruct the driver to not allow a person at the venue provide assistance or direction with backing up or close quarter maneuvering of the bus. Assume ground personnel are not qualified to assist the driver with these tasks. The driver has command of the bus and should not take any type of direction from anyone else.

If the situation requires assistance, the driver should get out of the vehicle and have a look for himself.

We recently had a driver back into a tree causing damage to the bus. When he returned to the garage I interviewed him to discuss what had happened.

In classic fashion I determined three minutes of unrelated detail. Once I made it clear that this was a problem for me, he admitted he allowed someone back him up around a car that was in the way. I informed him that this accident was chargeable and preventable due to the fact that he let someone control him as opposed to being the person in full control of the bus.

Do not let the current level of safety lull the company into a false sense of security. This is not to suggest the safety department is not doing its job, but checking boxes and filing paperwork is hardly what we are talking about here. True safety is a process of constant attention, evaluation and re-evaluation.

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