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I
t's been nearly fi ve years since the
National Highway Traffi c Safety
Administration (NHTSA) pub-
lished its fi nal ruling updating Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 –
Air Brake Systems, and re-introduced
commercial trucking to reduced stop-
ping distance (RSD).
Written with compliance dates in
2011 and 2013, the 2009 ruling forced
OEMs and brake manufacturers to
reduce emergency stopping distances
for their new tractors by an astonishing
30 percent.
Though it wasn't easy, OEMs even-
tually succeeded in meeting the regula-
tions, and RSD technology is standard
on all new heavy-duty trucks.
But now, as the fi rst RSD compliant
trucks begin to enter the aftermarket,
the technology faces its next challenge
— adoption.
Because FMVSS 121 only requires
new tractors to meet RSD regulations,
vehicle owners don't have to accept the
technology in the aftermarket.
But with clear safety and perfor-
mance benefi ts, brake suppliers say
the lack of an aftermarket regulation
W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M A u g u s t 2 0 1 4 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E
By Lucas Deal, Editor
lucasdeal@randallreilly.com
Service Bay
A new stop
option
How NHTSA's
reduced
stopping
distance
mandate has
impacted the
aftermarket