Bendix safety technologies being displayed on PACCAR trucks

Various Bendix safety technologies are being shown on PACCAR trucks at demonstrations across the U.S.

A range of Bendix safety technologies, including active safety systems and air disc brakes, are being showcased on PACCAR Leasing Company (PacLease) trucks at demonstrations across the United States and Canada.

PacLease – a part of global truck technology leader PACCAR Inc., with more than 500 leasing locations in North America – equipped a Kenworth T680 and a Peterbilt Model 579 with the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system; Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology; AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System from Bendix CVS; Bendix BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System; and SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) from Bendix CVS.

The trucks are also outfitted with Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes, manufactured by Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC (BSFB), a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products LLC.

PacLease began using these “Technology Trucks” in fleet operations in December, and they were most recently displayed at the March 2014 Truck Rental and Leasing Association’s (TRALA) annual meeting in Arizona. The trucks are currently used for weeklong demonstrations at customer sites.

Bendix is the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies.

“PacLease and Bendix share a very strong commitment to highway safety, and we are proud to partner with them in developing these vehicles. The Technology Trucks are helping introduce fleets and owner-operators to the performance and possibilities offered by today’s advanced safety technologies,” says TJ Thomas, Bendix Director of Marketing and Customer Solutions, Controls group.

“There’s a growing fleet interest in leasing trucks that are equipped with advanced safety systems and air disc brakes, and in how those technologies protect return on investment,” says Michelle Harry, PacLease Director of Marketing. “With the comprehensive package of Bendix innovations installed, our Technology Trucks not only provide a firsthand experience, they also illustrate the potential for PacLease franchises to custom spec vehicles for any fleet’s specific needs.”

Bendix was the first North American brake system manufacturer to make full-stability widely available to the commercial vehicle market. Bendix ESP, introduced in 2005, helped form the foundation of Bendix’s active safety systems, and recently surpassed the 300,000-unit sales mark.

Full-stability technology tends to be more effective than roll-only systems, since it uses additional sensors to measure driver intent and vehicle direction, allowing for quicker assessment of situations. Full-stability systems also deliver automatic brake interventions involving the steer, drive, and trailer axles. Slowing the vehicle quickly helps mitigate rollovers faster, while slowing and redirecting can help the driver maneuver in loss-of-control situations.

Bendix Wingman Advanced is built on Bendix ESP technology and provides active cruise control with braking features, along with collision mitigation technology. A radar sensor mounted to the front of the vehicle enables Bendix Wingman Advanced to deliver both warnings and active interventions, helping drivers potentially avoid rear-end collisions or at least help reduce their severity. Bendix has developed a new, next-generation radar sensor, which is now available through all commercial vehicle manufacturers, including PACCAR.

AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System from Bendix CVS is a vision-based system that detects when a commercial vehicle begins to drift toward an unintended lane change and alerts the driver. Bendix BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System is a side-radar system designed to alert drivers to vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes.

The SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) by Bendix CVS allows fleets and drivers to improve fuel economy, extend tire life, and enhance vehicle safety by providing real-time tire alerts, pressure, and temperature data. Bendix’s exclusive tire temperature compensation feature means the SmarTire system can display actual tire pressure and temperature for each wheel location, along with a deviation value that shows the amount of over- or underinflation from each tire’s cold inflation pressure. As a result, drivers and fleets can accurately maintain tire pressures anytime – whether a truck has been sitting idle or has been driving for hundreds of miles.

The Bendix ADB22X air disc brake exceeds the recent federal mandate for reduced stopping distance, while virtually eliminating brake fade with no degradation of stopping power. Air disc brakes also offer passenger car-like feel with consistently straight, stable stops.

The Bendix suite of safety technologies is part of the company’s ever-growing portfolio of technology developments that delivers on safety, plus other areas critical to fleets’ success. By improving vehicle performance and efficiency and providing unparalleled post-sales support, Bendix aims to help fleets and drivers lower total cost of vehicle ownership and strengthen return on investment in equipment and technology.

“No technology can replace the need for good drivers practicing safe driving habits, along with continuous, comprehensive driver training,” Thomas said. “But today’s advanced safety systems hold the potential for making trucks even safer for drivers, vehicle operators, and everyone on the roadways.”

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