Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/573961
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 27 Mack requests NHTSA exemption for 2,000 noncompliant trucks M ack Trucks last month filed a petition for exemption with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis- tration after the company discovered noncompliance with some of its trucks. Affected by the noncompliance are about 1,977 model- year 2014-16 LEU incomplete vehicles manufactured between July 22, 2013 and April 20, 2015. Mack said the brake actuation and release times on the trucks exceed the requirements slightly – by milliseconds. Mack's petition for exemption is from the notifica- tion and remedy requirements from NHTSA because the company says the noncompliance is inconsequential to the safety of the vehicles. After extensive testing, Mack found that, on average, brake actuation times exceed the requirements by .04 seconds, and brake release times exceed the requirements by .09 seconds. According to the petition request, Mack says a change in brake chamber size from type 24 to type 30, which occurred in 2013 production, may have caused the noncompliance. Mack says that after testing by an independent evaluation company, the company was able to determine the affected trucks remain compliant with brake stopping distance requirements. Mack LEUs are used almost exclusively for residential garbage collection service. The company says in its request that it's correcting the noncompliance on all future trucks to comply fully with the regulations. The petition request was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 18, after which NHTSA initiated a 30-day comment period. To make a comment, go to regulations.gov and search Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0054. – Matt Cole Mack LEUs are used almost exclusively for residential garbage collec- tion service. A s part of their ongoing efforts to reduce customers' operating costs, Volvo Trucks of North America and Mack Trucks both introduced pre-paid preventive maintenance plans. The Volvo maintenance plans cover all model-year 2011 and newer models powered by D11, D13 or D16 engines and align with the new service intervals announced earlier this year. Mack plans also are based on the revised service intervals announced earlier this year and are available for all model-year 2011 and newer models powered by MP7, MP8 or MP10 engines. Volvo and Mack Premium Maintenance Plans are prepaid contracts that offer numerous levels of coverage, locking in current parts and labor rates and increasing customer control of maintenance expenses. In addition to three specified plans ranging from basic oil changes and 74-point inspections to more in-depth maintenance, customers can create custom plans of vary- ing scope and duration to fit their specific needs. The plans also offer the op- tion to include service of the aftertreatment system, transmission and chassis. Customers can purchase a Volvo or Mack Premium Maintenance Plan through their dealers and schedule maintenance at any of the OEMs' dealerships in the United States and Canada. Volvo customers can contact Volvo Action Service, the company's 24/7 service and support network; likewise, Mack customers can contact the company's OneCall 24/7 service and support network. – Jack Roberts Volvo, Mack roll out prepaid maintenance plans Volvo and Mack Premium Maintenance Plans are prepaid contracts that oer numerous levels of cov- erage, locking in current parts and labor rates.