TMC Resource Center

The purpose of this Recommended Practice (RP) is to provide information for judging the performance of aftermarket brake linings on air-actuated foundation brakes, including testing in accordance with the dynamometer test procedure in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 and lining supplierqualification information. Such information will assist fleet operators in choosing aftermarket brake liningsthat will perform adequately on typical combination (tractor/trailer) vehicles and single trucks.

Issued: June 2009

Technological advancements in truck technology have increased driver distraction. This information report offers a process by which fleets may assess the potential for driver distractionassociated with the acquisition of new technologies.

Issued: May 2009

TMC’s Future Tire and Wheel Task Force has defined future performance requirements of tires and wheels according to fleet and end user needs and concerns. This includes all aspects of new tires, retread tires, tire repairs, new wheels, refurbished wheels, attaching hardware, and all associated maintenance issues. This TMC position paper defines future features and expectations for wheels and wheel systems in terms of product performance, maintainability, reliability, durability, and serviceability, environmental and educational issues.

Issued: July 2008

Section 609 of the Clean Air Act of 1990 (as amended) requires that motor vehicle air conditioning refrigerant be recycled, that only recover/recycle or recover-only equipment approved for a specific refrigerant be used in the repairing or servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners, and that technicians who repair or service motor vehicle air conditioners be trained and certified by an EPA-approved organization. In addition, service shops must be able to certify that they comply with these provisions of the Act.

State maintenance councils can offer a reasonable, local alternative for fleet personnel wishing to network with peers and gain exposure to industry information. However, many areas of North America do not have a state, regional or local maintenance council. The purpose of this information report is to review the benefits joining or developing a state, regional or local maintenance council.

Issued: March 2007

The occupational outlook for employment of truck service and repair technicians remains strong and is expected to increase at an average pace for the next 10 years. There is a strong need for technicians because of industry growth as well as openings associated with turnover and retirement. This, coupled with the pace of changing truck technology, provides a challenge to managers in finding interested and qualified technicians to fill these positions. The trucking industry needs to establish a method to develop technicians with appropriate skills.

Recruiting and retaining qualified commercial vehicle technicians has become a very challenging task. Aside from purely economic factors, the reasons for this are fourfold:

The mandate for reduced tailpipe emissions from heavy-duty diesel powered vehicles has already left its mark on the trucking industry with the implementation of EPA’s 2004 standards. Technologies developed to meet the 2004 standards have been reasonably successful and, for the most part, have not required the use of expensive aftertreatment devices. While in- cylinder control of the combustion process should ultimately prove to be the most effective way to control emissions, there are those within the industry that believe that the cost-benefit peak has been reached.

One of the most promising new technologies emerging to meet fuel efficiency and environmental challenges for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is the hybrid drive system. Hybrid drive systems offer the potential both to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and at the same time to reduce actual vehicle emissions below the level of the engine certification.

Commercial vehicle users should not need to replace a component over the vehicle’s useful life, or the useful life of that component, due to corrosion. (This includes surface corrosion.) Additionally, commercial vehicle users should not need to perform any maintenance (other than normal, periodic washing) to prevent corrosion. This position paper defines commercial vehicle users’ expected level of corrosion protection by vehicle type.

Issued: May 2005