Page 18 - ATR 5 2013

Braking Well

More rules for truck stopping distances expected

By todd traub in an effort to prevent serious and fatal
Contributing Writer accidents.
The rules had been in the works
When it comes to slowing down, close to a decade when they were intro-
the trucking industry couldn’t get there duced in July 2010. The phasing in pro- “it took Very little
fast enough. cess began in 2011, and many trucking eNgiNeeriNg to
Usually wary of new rules and companies indicated they were ready to actually adapt
regulations, the industry has long been comply even before the second phase
prepared to embrace commercial vehicle went into effect in August. these Vehicles to
stopping-distance rules introduced by “This is a great example of how the reduce the stoppiNg
the National Highway Traffic Safety government did it right,” said Dennis distaNce.”
Administration (NHTSA) more than “D.C.” Collins, west regional manager
three years ago. for Haldex Brake Products Corp.
NHTSA added a provision to Because the rules were a perfor- —deNNis colliNs,
Federal Motor Safety Vehicle Safety mance and manufacturing mandate regioNal maNager,
Standards (FMSVSS) 121, geared to and not a component mandate that haldex brake products
trucks of different sizes and weights, would have forced fleets to adapt exist-
that basically reduces a typical tractor-
trailer’s stopping distance by 30 percent 

18 arKansas trucKing report | issue 5 2013