Page 40 - ATR 4 2015 web

go into effect two years from the rule’s
publication.
To check compliance, a “J-turn”
test that recreates conditions of a
curved off-ramp will be used. The ESC
accordiNg To NhTsa esTimaTes, The elecTroNic systems should keep all the wheels on
sTaBiliTy maNdaTe will aNNually save 49 lives, the ground.
preveNT up To 1,759 crashes aNd lead To a NeT MOre ManDaTes?

$300 millioN iN ecoNomic BeNefiTs. While not mandated until now,
the ESC technology has been available
for commercial vehicles for around 10
years.
Originally the NHTSA was consid-
ering a mandate for only rollover con-
the number of rollover crashes by 30 to did push for flexibility and establishing trol systems but decided to include both
50 percent.” a minimum standard of RSC. He said swerve control and rollover technology.
there is nothing for the transportation Full stability systems use more sensors
DO we reaLLy neeD a industry to really prepare for, as compli- which make a system more capable of
ManDaTe? ance will come through original equip- controlling roll and directional stability.
However Scott and others, like the ment manufacturers (OEM) when the There is no “sine with dwell” test
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers tractors are built. included in the NHTSA rule. A “sine
Association, don’t necessarily think a with dwell” test involves bringing the
mandate was needed. whO neeDs esc anD fOr hOw vehicle to a speed slightly above 50 mph
Scott pointed out that between 85 Much? with no steering or braking, letting it
to 90 percent of new trucks are already The new rule estimates the added coast in the highest gear to 50 mph,
being built with stability control sys- cost of the technology to a new tractor and then using a robot to apply a steer-
tems, most of them the ESC variety. at close to $600 while Scott’s estimate ing control in a sharp wave shape. The
OOIDA executive vice president was less specific at less than $1,000. maneuvering test is hard to stage and
Todd Spencer, quoted in Fleet Owner, “Durability will be the key,” Scott sometimes dangerous, and Andersky
questioned whether members of the said. “Keeping the system operational noted its absence in the mandate might
trucking industry were becoming caught may be a challenge but I have not heard have made the mandate more palatable
up in the “promise, allure or maybe that it is currently an issue.” to original equipment manufacturers.
even the fascination of technology” and Fred Andersky, Bendix Commercial Looking ahead, there are openings
indicated he felt it wasn’t evident stabil- Vehicle Systems director of government in the NHTSA mandate that leaves the
ity control technology really improves and industry affairs, told industry mag- possibility of making it stronger if cur-
safety. azine Fleet Owner that the cost could rent standards fall short. The schedule
But, though questioning the need go lower with wider adoption of the for the phasing in of ESC systems on
for a mandate, ATA's Scott said the technology and noted that four truck motor coaches makes it possible that
technology itself will definitely save makers already include ESC technology the NHTSA will mandate ESC for Class
lives and reduce crashes. as standard. 3-6 vehicles using hydraulic brakes,
And while the transportation Bendix is one of the two major which are not covered by the new rule.
industry is frequently wary of new manufacturers — along with Meritor Looking much further down the
regulations, Scott said ESC technology Wabco — of ESC systems, which are line, Andersky said we could next see
as well as speed limiters and Electronic based on anti-lock brakes. collision mitigation systems mandated,
Logging Devices, are being embraced Though not mandated, the then vehicle-to-vehicle communication
as useful tools in the effort to improve National Transportation Safety Board standards and, ultimately, automated
safety. has been recommending ESC require- vehicles.
“Improving safety of the road and ments for heavy-duty vehicles since But none of that is expected over-
for our drivers is vitally important to 2011. A rule for light-duty vehicles went night, and Andersky pointed out the
us,” he said. into effect in 2012. driver is still the most vital component
Scott said the ATA did not push for The newest mandate is geared for in transportation.
the mandate, but once the ESC stan- trucks and buses that are more than “It’s there to help the drivers out, it
dards were proposed the associations 26,000 pounds in gross weight and will doesn’t replace them,” he said. ATR

40 arkansas Trucking repOrT | issue 4 2015