{"id":10729,"date":"2021-04-15T14:00:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T12:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=10729"},"modified":"2021-04-15T14:00:33","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T12:00:33","slug":"trailer-technologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/04\/15\/trailer-technologies\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips to get more mileage out of trailer technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diligent maintenance practices help fleets reap the benefits of cutting-edge sensors and lighting systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A lot of emphasis has been placed on making trailers smarter, safer, and more resilient in recent years. From telematics sensors and advanced lighting systems to innovative designs and construction materials, the trailer is becoming a high-value asset for a fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintaining that value is also taking on a new level of importance. It\u2019s important for fleets to have the proper inspection and preventive maintenance systems in place to make sure these new \u201cbells and whistles\u201d continue to function as the manufacturers intended.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advanced lighting and wiring harnesses<\/span><\/h3>\n

When it comes to trailer lighting systems, water and corrosive materials are common culprits of system failure. Technicians must take proper care to guard against intrusions into the system. The proper use of dielectric grease in plugs and pins is an important step.<\/span><\/p>\n

Products like Peterson Mfg.\u2019s Defender Harness and Lighting System are designed to protect electrical systems from corrosive materials like road salt. This modular system consists of four components: The Defender distribution module, the nose box, a variety of modular harness components that connect to the Defender module, and Peterson LumenX LED lights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe special characteristics of these components make servicing trailers equipped with Defender unlike any other harness system,\u201d says Jeff Geoffroy, director of marketing at Peterson Mfg., which provides a broad line of vehicle safety lighting, reflectors, antennas, mirrors, and related products.<\/span><\/p>\n

While there is no requirement to perform scheduled preventive maintenance on the Defender system, different circumstances may warrant that certain maintenance steps be taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNever disassemble the modular harness plugs from the distribution module unless diagnosis or repair is needed,\u201d Geoffroy says. \u201cIf it becomes necessary to remove the clamp on the module, the technician must perform complete maintenance on all three connections on that side of the module.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

First, prior to disassembly, use compressed air to remove as much debris as possible from around the plug heads. Once cleaned, remove the plugs by pulling straight out, and then remove the silicone seals. Thoroughly clean all open module ports. Thoroughly inspect each plug and port, looking for signs of damage or corrosion. \u201cIf corrosion is found, it will be necessary to remove and replace the distribution module and all affected harness components,\u201d Geoffroy says. \u201cRemove any debris or contaminants from the face of the remaining Defender plugs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the inspection and any necessary repairs have been completed, it is vital to install new silicone seals. Add dielectric grease to the pin terminals. \u201cKeep in mind that there are two types of clamps,\u201d Geoffroy points out. \u201cIf the old-style clamp was removed, reassemble using the new-style splash reflecting clamp cover. Use only stainless steel bolts with thread-locking nylon patches.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When replacing the distribution module, bolts and seals will be provided with a new module. It is imperative that the clamp bolts be torqued to 60 inch-pounds. \u201cOver-torquing the clamp bolts will damage the distribution module and require its replacement,\u201d Geoffroy warns.<\/span><\/p>\n

One other issue a technician could run into is a poor connection at the SAE J560 receptacle, which transfers electrical power from the tractor to the trailer. That is typically due to the plug deforming and not fully locking into place, which promotes wear and deterioration. \u201cThe Defender receptacle is now 3\/8-inches deeper, which helps cut down on rocking and helps lock it into place more positively,\u201d Geoffroy points out. Thus, there is no reason to open the nose box unless system diagnostics require it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the event that disassembly is needed, carefully remove the mounting bolts’ nuts,\u201d Geoffroy says. \u201cDo not attempt to force frozen fasteners loose. This could strip the carriage mounting threads. If a nut seizes, use a nut splitter to remove it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Whenever opening the nose box, Geoffroy says it\u2019s a wise idea to add dielectric grease to the ring terminals and the enclosed female terminals for the J560 receptacle. Also, recognize that the nose box may be equipped with a gasket made of felt or rubber. \u201cIf the old-style felt gasket is present, replace it with a new reusable rubber gasket,\u201d Geoffroy says. \u201cIf the J560 receptacle itself is damaged and requires replacement, it can be replaced without further disassembly. Just be sure to use a Peterson replacement receptacle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When closing the nose box back up, the connector retaining nuts and nuts around the perimeter must be torqued to 80 inch-pounds. \u201cApplying excess torque may result in irreparable damage to the nose box components,\u201d Geoffroy says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Much like the Defender modular wiring harness, Geoffroy says the LumenX lights themselves require no scheduled preventive maintenance. On that note, connections should never be disconnected unless repair or replacement is needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen working with LumenX lights, do not grease the silicone sealed connectors,\u201d Geoffroy says. \u201cGreasing the terminals will prevent the silicone seal from seating properly, which will lead to undo corrosion. On the other hand, you should apply dielectric grease to the .180 bullet connectors anytime they are disconnected and replaced.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sensors and telematics<\/span><\/h3>\n

Interior trailer maintenance, which includes lighting systems, can be aided by the use of a trailer telematics system. Various sensors strategically positioned throughout a trailer can help fleets gain real-time access to information that helps them adopt a more proactive approach.<\/span><\/p>\n

One example is the Road Ready advanced trailer telematics system from Clarience Technologies. Road Ready is an agnostic solution that communicates with other sensors that are already onboard a trailer, such as ABS and TPMS, regardless of brand. Additionally, Road Ready offers its own suite of sensory devices to monitor things like interior cargo volumetrics, trailer temperature, door open\/close events, and lighting outages.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLighting is one of the top CSA issues for tractor-trailers,\u201d says Paul Sniegocki, chief technology officer at Clarience Technologies. \u201cOur trailer telematics system can detect electrical issues throughout the trailer\u2019s circuit. Fleets can even check the overall health of a lighting system remotely if they desire. If the sensor reports back that everything is okay, the fleet knows the electrical system is healthy. If everything isn\u2019t okay, the fleet knows it has a maintenance issue to address \u2014 and now they can address it in a more proactive way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Road Ready sensors can be hardwired into a trailer\u2019s electrical system. Fleets can also opt for a replaceable battery option. In either case, Sniegocki says installation is easy. The sensors are installed using a proven, industrial-strength VHB tape \u2014 the same kind of tape used to secure automotive bumpers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The communication between the sensors and the Road Ready MCU (master control unit) is executed using wireless technology, which can provide advantages from a maintenance standpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think about the many systems on a commercial vehicle, a lot of maintenance issues tie back to connections,\u201d Sniegocki points out. \u201cWith wireless sensors, you don\u2019t have to worry about those potentially troublesome connections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Road Ready wireless sensors operate on replaceable batteries. Depending on how often a given sensor is asked to gather and report information, a given battery often lasts up to three years. Regardless, a fleet gets a notification when a battery is beginning to fail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from the sensors, the other key components of the Road Ready system are the MCU (aka the \u201cbrains\u201d of the Road Ready system) and a SmartBridge Integrator (SBI). The SBI allows the Road Ready system to take information from partner sensory devices regardless of communication protocol, i.e. CAN bus, and transmit it to the MCU.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Sniegocki, both the Road Ready MCU and SBI are maintenance-free and built to withstand rigorous conditions. Installation is also straightforward.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUsing that same high-strength tape used to install the sensors, an MCU only takes about 15 minutes to mount on top of or at the front of a trailer,\u201d Sniegocki says. \u201cThe SBI is easily installed in the rear of the trailer. It is completely sealed and uses automotive-grade sealed connections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

PetersonPULSE is another trailer telematics solution that has come about over the past few years. This hardwired system is engineered to CAN bus specifications using cabling that is lighter, more flexible, and more installation-friendly than traditional harness cabling. Additionally, a backup battery provides power when the trailer is untethered.<\/span><\/p>\n

In tandem with technologies from its partners, PULSE detects real-time status of numerous vital trailer systems such as ABS and TPMS. With respect to trailer interiors, PULSE monitors cargo temperature, cargo door status, and interior lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPetersonPULSE can be retrofitted onto existing trailers or installed at the factory by an OEM,\u201d says Cory Adams, vice president of engineering at Peterson Mfg. Aside from normal electrical system maintenance, PULSE is relatively maintenance-free. When a technician does want to interface with the system, they can do so via a Bluetooth-capable handheld device. \u201cAn app allows interfacing and interaction with the trailer to diagnose issues or update software, for instance,\u201d Adams points out.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Gregg Wartgow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Source: https:\/\/www.fleetmaintenance.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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CUT COTS OF THE FLEET WITH OUR AUDIT PROGRAM<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

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The audit is a key tool to know the overall status and provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet. We propose the following fleet management audit.<\/p>\n

FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diligent maintenance practices help fleets reap the benefits of cutting-edge sensors and lighting systems. A lot of emphasis has been placed on making trailers smarter, safer, and more resilient in recent years. From telematics sensors and advanced lighting systems to innovative designs and construction materials, the trailer is becoming a high-value asset for a fleet….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[53],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10729"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10729"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10731,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10729\/revisions\/10731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}