CCJ

April 2012

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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How important is it to regularly grease my truck? By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants clutch release system, universal joints, and the fifth wheel. Very important. One of the best ways to maintain your truck is to make sure it has been greased properly. Components that require greasing can include: wheel bearings, kingpins, tie rods, slack adjusters, brake cams, suspension bushings, Many different types of greases are suitable and can vary by application, however, some of the important properties that grease should include: Excellent resistance to water washout Protection against rust and corrosion Protection against wear under heavy loads The grease must also be usable at the operating and ambient temperatures at which the truck will operate. While we recommend following the guidelines of your truck's manufacturer for applying grease, there are some general tips you should follow: When applying grease through a grease fitting (zerk), be sure it's clean. Also clean the end of the grease gun or dispensing hose nozzle before starting. Apply the new grease until the old grease is forced out. But be careful not to use too much or apply under excessive pressure. Both of these can cause ruptures. If the new grease fails to flush out the old grease, check the part for damage. If a fitting does not accept lubrication due to some kind of stoppage, replace it with a new fitting. Excess grease should always be removed from fittings and other surfaces. There is a Shell Gadus® centralized chassis lubrication systems, wheel bearings, and fifth wheels, as well as multi-purpose chassis greases. The greases provide excellent heavy load carrying ability, oxidation stability, and rust protection. They perform well under the hard working conditions and stress of high temperatures, water wash-out, dirt, and contamination. grease for Be sure to grease your truck regularly, and you'll help keep it on the road for a long time. This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Got a question? Visit ROTELLA.com, call 1-800-231-6950 or write to The ANSWER COLUMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002. The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. 112 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2012 Excellent resistance to oil separation and softening due to mechanical action n the morning of the accident, refrigerated straight-truck driver John Doe was rolling along Friendly Road toward Greensboro, N.C., en route to the Fiesta Fresh restaurant with several boxes of Mrs. Hotstuff's Chili Con Carne. At the moment, Doe was listening to a dramatic account on Channel 19 of a heroic Quebec-based trucker who'd taken a trailer load of broccoli hostage – as a protest against unsafe working conditions – before his capture in Iowa. Holy hollandaise! Ah hah … there was the "Trucks Only" delivery entrance to Fiesta Fresh dead ahead. Doe slowed to a crawl, cau- tiously entered the tiny dock area behind the restaurant and began a wide swing toward the right, at 5 mph, in anticipation of parking by the loading area. His right-turn signal was fl ashing. Without warning, tragedy struck. Betty Brashly, a sleep-dazed late-for-work O PREVENTABLE OR NOT? Doe dinged at the dock Fiesta Fresh Trucks Only Friendly Road waitress, accelerated wildly into the gravel- covered dock area behind the wheel of her pink Mustang, seeking a shortcut to the employee parking area. Suddenly aware that Doe was turning across her bow, Brashly leaned on her horn, hit the brakes and started to slide. Simultane- ously, Doe saw a fl ash of pink enter the yard and panic-stopped within a few feet but … WHUMPO! Egad! Brashly's pony car had skidded right into, and slightly dented, Doe's right-side saddle tank! Since Doe contested the preventable-accident warning letter from his safety director, the National Safety Council's Accident Review Committee was asked for a fi nal verdict. NSC immediately ruled in Doe's favor, noting that he'd proceeded with caution and was stationary when struck by the speed-crazed Brashly. John Doe drove his straight reefer into the restaurant dock area with caution but was struck by a car driven by an employee who was late for work. Was this a preventable accident? Write 251 on Reader Service Card or visit ccjdigital.com/info

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