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Equipment February
15-28, 2019 • 23
Courtesy: BENDIX SPICER FOUNDATIION BRAKES
The BA235 aftermarket kit — best suited for a second or third vehicle owner — is available
through authorized Bendix dealerships and aftermarket distributors.
Don Ake
VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Bendix Spicer adds BA235 air disc
brake pad kit to aftermarket portfolio
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES
ELYRIA, Ohio — The Bendix Spicer
Foundation Brake (BSFB) is adding the new
Bendix BA235 air disc brake pad kit to its
aftermarket portfolio.
It’s the right selection for both truck/tractor
and trailer ADB applications, said Keith
McComsey, BSFB director of marketing and
customer solutions-wheel-end, who noted
that the BA235 pad provides a lower-cost
option for pad replacement while retaining
the performance, warranty and post-sales
support.
The BA235 aftermarket kit — best suited
Analyst: Acceptance of driverless cars must precede self-driving CMVs
FTR TRANSPORTATION INTELLIGENCE
The question I get asked the most by
people inside, and outside, the industry is:
When will there be driverless trucks on the
highways?
This, of course, is a difficult question
because it not only involves adaptation to
technology, but a host of other complicated
factors, as well.
But my answer is this: You will see driverless
trucks as soon as the general population
accepts driverless cars. When people are
comfortable riding in a driverless car, then
they will not object to a fully-loaded, driverless
tractor-trailer behind them on the highway.
I realize this is not a specific answer, but
providing an exact year at this point amounts
to a guess. It is difficult to calculate an adoption
rate curve because, in addition to economics,
there are cultural, political and other
issues to resolve, as well.
I believe most people are currently fearful
of self-driving cars. This fear will, of course,
be reduced by all the “self-adjusting/correcting”
options (braking, parking, lane-assist,
speed-adjust, etc.) available on newer vehicles.
In addition, there will be public service
campaigns trumpeting the increase in safety
provided by self-driving cars. Reduction in
accidents, deaths, and drunk driving will be
the main benefits. Improved traffic flow is
also an expected plus.
And traffic safety is of growing importance
as millions of baby boomers with diminishing
skills share the road with the texting millennials.
Throw in increased marijuana legalization
Courtesy: ROCKETAIL
The Rocketail system is a rear fairing technology for heavy-duty truck trailers that has exhibited
fuel-efficiency improvement of more than 3.58 gallons per 1,000 miles.
and we all may end up demanding self-driving
cars.
Personally, I know I will be extremely distressed
the first time I am in a driverless car. I
have never even used cruise control, because I
must always be in total control of my vehicle.
However, I do look forward to the day when
I summon a car to take me to my doctor’s office.
A robot will load me in the vehicle and
another robot will lift me out. If I can adapt to
this, I think others in my generation will, too.
But the final push for self-driving cars
may come from insurance companies. If you
drive your car, your rates are $10,000 a year,
but they fall to $1,000 if the car drives itself.
“This is America, so it is your choice. We are
not telling you what to do, but … .”
Why is public opinion so important? Because
Congress is not going to approve the
See Driverless on p26 m
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES
SAN DIEGO — Rocketail, makers of
aerodynamic tail systems for tractor-trailers,
has launched its Rocketail Wing, what the
company calls the next-generation rear drag
reduction technology for trailers.
The Rocketail system is an EPA Smart-
Way trailer rear fairing technology for
heavy-duty truck trailers that has exhibited
fuel-efficiency improvement of more than
3.58 gallons per 1,000 miles.
“Rocketail solves the ‘three D’s’ essential
to performance for any aerodynamic tail
system: drag, deployment and damage,” said
Michael Militello, Rocketail CEO.
“Our Rocketail Wing is integrated with
the trailer door, so it’s always deployed, it
for a second or third vehicle owner — is available
through authorized Bendix dealerships
and aftermarket distributors.
As part of its expanded air disc brake pad
portfolio, Bendix also offers the BX276 genuine
OEM replacement pad. The long-life
BX276 pad is suitable for all applications and
provides more wearable volume and an improved
wear rate. For severe duty brake applications
such as refuse trucks and school buses,
Bendix offers the BX283 pad.
All of these Bendix ADB pads meet FM-
VSS-121 requirements and the current EPA
See Bendix on p25 m
DON AKE
Courtesy: FTR
Rocketail deploys its ‘next generation’ of
rear fairing technology for HD truck trailers
extends a mere 14 inches from the rear of the
trailer, eliminating a main cause of rear collision
damage in current tail systems, and it
delivers proven drag-reducing performance.”
Featuring a “breakthrough” jet wing design,
the one-piece airfoil was certified by
MVT Solutions to provide a fuel economy
improvement of 3.36 percent and by PIT
Group to improve fuel efficiency by 3.30
percent in testing.
Constructed of lightweight, high-impact,
gas-infused polymers that are internally
cross-braced, the wing-shaped airfoil has a
compact footprint with no additional external
or internal moving parts. It extends only 14
inches from the rear of the trailer compared
See Rocketail on p26 m