Buying a safer truck

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Buying a safer Buying a safer Buying a safer trucktrucktruck

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Buyingasafertruck

The driver is the most valuable asset of companies that operate trucks. Companies that provide safer trucks are investing in the long term safety of their drivers and other road users.

What’smore,youcan’tearnalivingorincreaseproductivityifyourtruckisintherepairshoporworsestill,damagedbeyondrepairbecauseitdidn’thavethebestavailablesafetyfeatures.Withcompetitionforbusinessandcustomersbecomingmoreaggressiveeachdayyoucan’taffordtohaveadriverinjuredoryourtruckofftheroad.

Thisbookletprovidesyouwithimportantadviceonsafetythatwillhelpyoumakeaninformeddecisionthenexttimeyoubuyatruck.Itexplainsthemainsafetyfeaturestobeawareofandhighlightstheimportantbenefitsgainedfrommakingabuyingdecisionthatconsiderssafetyasthenumberonepriority.

For your convenience, a check list is located at the back of the booklet containing a list ofimportantsafety features fornewandusedtrucks,alongwithaQ/Asectiononusedtrucks.Pleaseusethisinformationthenexttimeyouvisitatruckdealershiptodiscussthepurchaseofyourtruckwithasalesperson.

Yourtruckisyourworkplace–makeitsafer!

Existing Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) laws demand that all working environments must be safe, including vehicles.

Thismeansemployersandfleetmanagershavelegalobligationstochoosetrucksthatprovideasafeworkingenvironment.

Bymakingyourtruckassafeaspracticable,thebenefitsaresignificant:

• Reduction of deaths and injuries

Intheeventofacrash,asafertruckwillreducethelikelihoodofdeathandinjurytothedriverandotherroadusers.

• Lowering of WorkCover premium

AreductioninOH&SriskandclaimscanresultinlowerWorkCoverpremiums.

• Lower vehicle repair and replacement costs

Withlesslikelihoodofacrash,asafertruckcanmeanlessdowntimespentonvehiclerepairs,lowerreplacementcostsandinsurancepremiums.

trucktruck

• Higher re-sale value of fl eet vehicles

There-salevalueofyourtruckwillincreaseifithasn’tbeeninvolvedinacrash.

• Responsible profi le to customers and community

Whenyoubuyasafertruckyousendoutamessagetoyourdrivers,customersandthecommunitythatyou’reseriousaboutsafetyandyourbusinesshasacommitmenttoroadsafety.Thistypeofcommitmentcanleadyourbusinesstobeseenasan‘employerofchoice’.

• Everyone benefi ts

Havingasafertruckontheroadbenefitsallroadusersincludingcaroccupants,motorcyclists,cyclistsandpedestriansbyreducingthepotentialforacrashortheimpactofacrash.

Choosing the right truck is determined by a number of important factors. The lifecyclecostofa truck includesbothdirectand indirectcostsofoperation.Directcostssuchasthepurchaseprice,fuel,maintenance,andtyresneedtobeconsideredintandemwithindirectcostssuchasimage,maximumloadandsafety.

Itisessentialthatthetruckyouwanttobuyisproperlyspecifiedtosuittheintendedtask.Notprovidingtheproperequipmentreducesthepotentialcommercialandsafetybenefits.

1. Operating Environment and Vehicle Layout –knowingwhatthetruckwillbeusedforandanyotheroperationalorlegalrequirements.

2. Vehicle Performance –choosingtheappropriateenginepower,torque,gearing,axleratios,brakingsystem,wheelsandtyres,enginecooling,exhaustsystem,andfuelefficiency.

3. Handling–selecttheappropriatetruckand/ortrailerfortheintendedloads;takeintoaccount‘feedback/feel’fromthetrucksoyouknowwhatthetruckisdoingandwhereitispositionedontheroad.

4. Maintenance–asignificantoperatingcostespeciallyasthetruckgetsolder.

5. Appearance and Functionality–yourchoicecanhaveasignificanteffectonattractingcustomersandretainingdrivers.

6. Health and Safety–incorporatingActiveandPassivesafetyfeatures.

On Australian roads each year:

• Road crashes account for about half of all work-related deaths

• Crashes involving heavy vehicles are estimated to cost businesses and the community around $2 billion a year

• Over 300 people are killed in crashes involving trucks

In Victoria alone there are approximately 1000 crashes involving heavy vehicles where someone is killed or injured.

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Active SafetyActive SafetyActive SafetyActive Safety

European safety experts estimate that approximately half of all single vehicle crashes could be avoided if vehicleshad ESC installed.

Preventingcrashesbeforetheyhappen–Active Safety

The optimum design and construction of a safe truck should incorporate features that prevent crashes before they happen. Crash prevention features are known as ‘active safety’.

Therearetwokeyareasofactivesafety featurestobeawareofwhenyou’rebuyingatruck,whichwillhelpprovideasaferandcomfortableenvironmentforthedriver.However,itisimportantto recognise that these features only offer benefits for drivers who drive within the vehicle’soperationalandenvironmentallimitationsandnotthosewhoexceedsafetylimits.

1. Braking and Stability Features

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

• Electronic Braking System (EBS)

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

• Disc versus Drum Brakes

• Trailer Braking

2. Driving Assistance Features• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

• Lane Assist

• Good Visibility

• Comfortable Climate

• Comfortable Driving

• Low Noise Level

1. Braking and Stability Features

Having an efficient braking system in your truck is the best protection you can have to reduce the risk of a crash.

Brake technology has advanced greatly in recent years. Three systems – ABS, EBS, and ESC – have evolved to provide improved safety for trucks.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

An Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) eliminates brake lock bycontrollingthebrakingpressureappliedtoindividualtyresthusallowing the driver to continue steering, making it easier toavoidacrash.

ABSisengagedwhenbrakingissohardthatoneofthewheelsis about to lock. A control unit controls each wheel’s brakecylinderviaamodulatorbyreleasingandapplyingthebrakesveryquickly.

In heavy vehicle combinations in which the trailer is alsofittedwithABS,theriskofjackknifingduringheavybrakingisreduced.

ABScanbeintegratedwithskidcontroltechnologyandarollback locktocontrolthebrakingandtractionfunctionsoftheentiretruckandtrailerunit.

Electronic Braking System (EBS)

The Electronic Braking System (EBS) was developed toelectronicallysignalthebrakesystemandspeedupthereactiontimeofthebrakes.

Electronic sensors fitted to the driver’s footbrake registerwhenthedriverappliesthebrake.Asignal is instantaneouslygeneratedandsenttotheEBScontrolunitwhichdeterminesthebrakingpressureforeachaxleandwheel.Airorhydraulicpressureisthenusedtoapplythebrakesatthatwheel.

Most EBS systems include ABS; an electronically controlledbrakingsystemisdesignedtoensurethatthebrakingpowerisdistributedefficientlybetweenthewheelsdependingontheloadontheaxle.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) has many different namesincluding Electronic Stability Program. It builds on ABS andEBStoprovideadvancedbrakingandstabilitycontrol.

Europeansafetyexpertsestimatethatapproximatelyhalfofallsingle vehicle crashes couldbe avoided if vehicles hadESCinstalled.

Widely used in Europe, this technology is also available fortrucksinAustralia.ESChelpspreventjackknifes,rolloversandotherlossofcontrolcrashes.

ESChelpsyouremainincontrolofyourvehicleby:

• Correctingimpendingoversteeringorundersteering• Stabilisingthevehicleduringsuddenevasivemaneuvers

e.g.swerving• Improvinghandlingongravelroadse.g.roadshoulders• Improvingtractiononslipperyoricyroads.• Providingbalancedbrakingdependingontheload

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How?

ESC actively monitors and brakes the wheels individually. Using a number of sensors thatmeasuresteeringangleand lateral acceleration, thesystemdetectswhen the truck isabouttoskid,isindangerofturningoveronabend,orwhenthetrailertiltsastheresultofasuddenevasivemaneuver.

Assoonastheimpendingskidortiltisregistered,ESCselectivelybrakesindividualwheelsandreducesenginetorquetobringthevehiclebackonthecoursethedriverissteering.

UnlikeABSandTractionControlthatonlyoperateinthedrivingdirection(longitudinal),ESCalsohelpsthedrivercontrolsideways(lateral)movementsthatcreateaskidortilt.

Insimpleterms,ESCisanin-built,activesafetysystemthatassiststhedrivertomaintaincontroloftheirvehiclebyslowingoneormorewheels.

ESC slows the inner rear wheel and turns the prime mover into the bend and the front wheels regain their grip.

ESC brakes the outer front wheel to turn the prime mover back and give the back wheels grip. The trailer brakes to avoid jackknifi ng.

Active SafetyActive SafetyActive SafetyActive SafetyActive Safety

Disc Brakes versus Drum Brakes

Discbrakesprovidebetter“hot”performanceanddonotfadeunderheavy,prolongedbrakingaswellasreducingbrakingdistance.Discbrakesarenowavailablewithmanyof themoreadvancedbrakingsystems.

Mixing Different Brake Systems

When purchasing a truck and/or trailer it is critical to be aware of mixing brake systems onvehiclesandtrailers.Someaspectsofthemixproblemare:

• mixingdiscanddrumbrakesondifferentvehicles

• EBSonthetruckwithouthavingloadproportioningbrakesonthetrailer

• smalldiametertyresbeingusedontrailerswithouttakingaccountofthebrakeperformanceimplications(brakeretardationforceisincreasedasthewheeldiameterisdecreased,otherfactorsbeingequal)

• ABSontrailersnotworkingbecauseABStrailerconnectionsarenotfittedonmotorvehicles

• excessivebrakepoweronsomevehiclesinacombination.

Checkwithyourmanufacturerifunsureaboutthecompatibilityofthetruck/trailerbrakingsystems.

European Vs American Vs Japanese

Therecanbeamismatchofdifferentbrakingsystems inAustralia that cancausesignificantbrakingcompatibilityissues.

Forexample,inEuropeitismorecommontofindfeaturessuchasEBS,ABS,LoadSensingandDiscBrakeswhileAmericanbasedprimemoversoftenhavenoEBS,ABS(optional),noLoadSensingandDrumBrakes(DiscBrakesoptional).

CheckwithyourvehiclesuppliertoseewhatmoderntechnologyisnowavailableinAustralia.

Trailers

AustralianmanufacturedtrailersoftenhaveconventionalpneumaticbrakeswithfewfittedwithABSandEBS,andDiscBrakeshavestartedtobecomemorecommonontrailers inthe lastcoupleofyears.

Thepotentialincompatibilityofthebrakesystemsbetweenthetruckandtrailercancauseseriousbrakingissues.

Trailersaresometimespoorlymaintained. Ifbuyingasecondhandheavy trailermakesure itcomeswithacurrentRoadworthinessCertificate.

Brake technology has advanced greatly in recent years. Three systems – ABS, EBS, and ESC – have evolved to provide improved safety for trucks.

Active SafetyActive SafetyActive Safety

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2. Driving Assistance FeaturesDriverfatigueanddistractionsposeaseriousrisktodrivers.ActiveSafetyfeaturesthatincreasethecomfortandawarenesslevelsfordriverswillreducethepotentialofacrash.

Adaptive Cruise Control – selecting a safe distance between vehicles

Standardcruisecontrolslockthespeedofthevehicle,buttheAdaptiveCruiseControl(ACC)systemalsohastheoptionoflockingthedistancefromthevehicleyouarefollowing.

ACCusesaformofradartodeterminethespeedanddistanceofthevehicleahead.

ACCenablesyoutoselectthetimeanddistancegaptothevehicleinfront.Thesystemmaintainsthisgapbyautomaticallycontrollingthethrottleandbrakes.

ACCcanbedeactivatedbysimplypressingabuttonontheACCcontrolorbydepressingthebrakepedalorclutch.

Lane Assist

Some manufacturers incorporate ‘lane-assist’ technology into their trucks. This is an image-processingsystemthatinvolvesadigitalcamerabehindthewindscreendetectingthevehicle’spositionwithrespecttotheleft-handandright-handroadorlanemarkings.Ifthevehicletouchesormovesoverthelanemarkings,awarningsignalsounds.Thissystemhelpsthedrivertokeeptotheirlaneandwarnsthedriveringoodtimeifthevehicleleavesthelane.

ACC sends out a beam that detects the speed and distance of the vehicle ahead.

Good Visibility

Making thedriver’sviewof thesurrounding trafficasgoodaspossible lowers the riskof theunexpected.Ensurethecabindesignhasadequatevisibility.

Comfortable Climate

Excellentventilationandhighstandardsofairconditioningandclimatecontrolmakedrivingsafer.

Comfortable Driving

To minimise the risk of misjudgment, instruments that areclearlylegible,easytounderstandandwithinreachwillenablethedrivertodrivemoreeffectively.

Fatigue is a truck driver’s greatest enemy. A third of all fataltruck crashes are due to fatigue. A comfortable seat in thecorrectdrivingpositionwill help avoid theonsetof tirednessandsleepinessonlongdistancehauls.Agoodqualityseatwillalsoeasebackproblems.

Low Noise Level

Noise and vibration affect both the driver’s endurance andconcentration, so appropriate soundproofing and a well-balancedcabsuspensionreducetheriskofcrashes.However,thedrivermustbeabletoretainasenseoftheirsurroundingroadconditions. It’scritically important that thedesignof thecab issensitivetonoise levels,butat thesametimepermitsthedrivertohearandmonitorconditionsinsideandoutsideoftheirtruck.

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Passive SafetyPassive SafetyPassive Safety

It’s an unfortunate fact but crashes do happen. When they do, the truck’s ‘passive safety’ features help protect the driver, passengers and other road users from the consequences.

Whenacrashhappens–Passive Safety

It’s an unfortunate fact but crashes do happen. When they do, the truck’s ‘passive safety’ features help protect the driver, passengers and other road users from the consequences of a crash.

Thereisarangeofsafetyfeaturesthatwillprotectthedriverandotherroaduserswhenacrashhappens.

• Integrated seat belt/suspension seat

• Airbags

• Cab strength

• FUP (Front Underrun Protection)

• Side and Rear Underrun Protection

Seat belts save livesSeatbeltssavelivesinbothcarsandtrucks.Crashstatisticsshowthat:

• Anestimated40unbeltedheavyvehicledriverslosetheirlifeinAustraliaeveryyear.

• Seatbeltswouldhavepreventedorreducedtheinjuriessufferedbytruckdriversinatleast60percentofthecrashesstudied.

• Ifheavyvehicleseatbeltwearingratesmatchedtherateachievedbycardrivers,itwouldreduceunbeltedtruckdriverdeathsbyabouthalf.

Usingaseatbeltassistsdriverstoremainintheirseat,therebymaintainingbettercontrolofthetruckintheeventofacrashsituation.

There are three common types of crashes where the truck driver is killed.

Truck leaves road.

Truck overturns.

Truck to truck collision, front impacts front.

Buying an Older Truck? Retro-fi tting is easy

MostB-Pillaranchoredseatbeltscanberetro-fittedwithanintegratedseatbelt/suspensionseatreplacement;however,somevehiclesrequireengineeringandcabmodification.Inthiscase,areputableseatsupplierwillinspectyourvehicletoensurethestructuralintegrityofthecabandreportanydeficiencies.

AirbagsAnairbagreducesinjuriestothedriver’schestandhead.

Analysisoftheactualcrashsequencein94real-lifecrasheshasshownclearlythatanairbag reduces injuries in frontal collisions.Theuseof a seatbelt incombinationwiththeairbagisthemosteffectiveprotectionadrivercanhaveinmostcrashes.

Cabin strengthFormaximumsafety,thecabframeitselfshouldbemadeofhigh-strengthmaterialsandisreinforcedatthedoorsandthefront.Inacollision,energyistransferredbackwardthroughthecabandasurvivalspaceiscreated.Thecabmountingscanbedesignedtoyieldtoacertainextent,enablingthecabtobepushedbackwardtominimisepenetrationandlikelyinjurytothedriver.

Thedashboardshouldbeenergy-absorbent,asshouldtheitemsoftrimatkneeheight.Thesteeringcolumnshouldlikewisebedesignedtoabsorbenergyandtoyieldonimpactbythedriver.Upholsteryfabricsshouldbemadeofflameproofmaterials.

LookforcabswithECE29CabStrengthstandard-orbetter.

Front Underrun Protection (FUP)EachyearacrossAustraliaaround300roadusersarekilled incollisionswithtrucks.Inmanysituationsthevehiclegoesunderneaththefrontofthetruck,damagingtherelativelysoftroofofthecarandexposingthevehicle’soccupantstoseriousorfatalinjury.

AFrontUnderrunProtection(FUP)deviceisastructureatthefrontofthetrucktopreventacarfrombecomingtrappedunderneath,andwillensurethatthesafetyfeaturesofpassengercars(suchasairbagsandcrumplezones)areactivatedduringacollision.

TheFUPalsoensuresthatthecrashforcesaredistributedevenlyacrossthe frontof thecaraswell ashelping topreventdamage to the truck’ssteering–enablingthetruckdrivertoremainincontrol.

Some truckshaveboth theFUPandanaddedbullbar. In thiscase thetruckwillneedaspecificallydesignedbullbarthatdoesnotinterferewithorcompromisetheenergyabsorbingFrontUnderrunProtectivedevice.

ThefitmentofFUPisoneoftherequirementstooperatea26metreB-Double.

Retro-fi tting a seat belt/suspension is simple and cost-effective.

Front Underrun Protection (FUP) device is a steel structure mounted under the front of the truck to prevent a car from becoming trapped underneath, and will ensure that the safety features of passenger cars (such as air bags and crumple zones) are activated during a collision.

FUP prevents cars being trapped underneath.

ECE29 Cab testing.

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Side and Rear Underrun ProtectionIncrashesinvolvingotherroadusers,sideandrearunderrunprotectionhelpspreventseriousinjuries.Researchshowsthat40%ofunprotectedroadusers(pedestrians,cyclists,motorcyclists)arekilledasaresultofimpactwiththesideofatruck.

Therearofthetruckisimpactedin9%ofvehicleoccupantdeathsand12%ofunprotectedroaduserdeaths.

Results of a side underrun crash.

Results of a rear underrun crash.

ChecklistsChecklists

Health&SafetyChecklists

The next time you go to buy a truck, check for these important safety features:

Safety Feature

Yes No

ElectronicStabilityControl

ElectronicBrakingSystem

ABS

CabstrengthtoECE29standardorbetter

AdaptiveCruiseControl

FrontUnderrunProtection

SideUnderrunProtection

RearUnderrunProtection

Integratedseatbelt/suspensionseat

Seatadjustment

Audiblereversingdevice

Loadsecuringdevices

Airbag

Noiselevel,comfort,ventilationandvisibility

Collapsiblesteeringwheel

Safeaccesstoandfromthevehicle

Cabinlayout/Instrumentlayout

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Used Trucks Q/A

When purchasing a used truck you need to ask yourself:

Question Answer

Howmanykilometreshasthetrucktravelled?

Whatistheservicehistory?

Wherearethemaintenancerecords?

Arethepartsusedtoservicethetrucktothe

manufacturer’sspecifications?

Whattypeofworkwasundertakenbythetruck?

Whataretheactiveandpassivesafetyfeaturesaboardthistruck?

ChecklistsChecklists

WhatisaRoadworthyCertificate?

When you purchase a used truck a Roadworthy Certificate is required, which is a check of the vehicle to ensure that key components have not worn or deteriorated and that the vehicle is safe for normal road use.

Aroadworthyinspectiononlycoversthemajorsafetyrelateditems,including:

• wheelsandtyres

• steering,suspensionandbrakingsystems

• seatsandseatbelts

• lampsandreflectors

• windscreenandwindows,includingfrontwindscreenwipersandwashers

• thestructureofthevehicleitself

• safetyrelateditemsonthebody,chassisorengine.

Theroadworthinesstestisnotacheckofthemechanicalreliabilityorgeneralconditionofthevehicle.

Thecertificatedoesnotmean:

• thevehicleisintopconditionwithoutanywearordeterioration

• non-safetyrelatedaccessoriessuchastheairconditionerandradioareworking

• itemscheckedduringtheroadworthyinspectionwillcontinuetofunctionaftertheinspectione.g.abrakelightcanstopfunctioningatanytimeaftertheinspection

TheRoadworthyCertificatewillalsonotrevealifthetruckisfittedwithpartsnotsuppliedbytheoriginalmanufactureofthetruck.

Moreinformation

Ifyouwanttoknowmoreaboutvehiclesafety,pleasevisit:

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

www.ntc.gov.au

www.dotars.gov.au

www.vta.com.au

www.tac.vic.gov.au

Buying a safer truck

TheVictorianTransportIndustrySafetyGroupacknowledgesthefollowingorganisationsforprovidingtheirsupportofthisroadsafetyinitiative.

Daimler Chrysler

Kenworth

Knorr-Bremse

Scania

Transpec

Volvo Trucks

Formoreinformationvisittheirwebsites.

TheVictorianTransportIndustrySafetyGroupincludesseniorrepresentativesfrom

WorkSafe,theCoronersoffice,TransportWorkersUnion,VictorianTransportAssociation,

VicRoads,VictoriaPolice,theTransportAccidentCommission,theBusAssociationofVictoria,

VictorianWasteManagementAssociationandMonashUniversityAccidentResearchCentre.

ToorderthispublicationpleasecontacttheVicRoadsBookshop60DenmarkStreetKew3101Tel:(03)98542782or

downloadthebrochurefromwww.vta.com.au