More than 55 motor carrier executives from the Northeast, Midwest, South, and Canada experienced first-hand the performance and benefits of advanced braking systems for truck trailers at a ride-’n-drive demonstration in the Detroit suburb of Romeo MI recently. Attendees included members of the Safety Committee of the National Private Truck Council.
Fleet managers were able to see and feel active-safety technology for commercial trucks, buses, and trailers, including air disc brakes, SmartTrac stability control systems (truck and trailer), and the OnGuard collision safety system.
The program is part of a series of demonstrations Meritor WABCO is holding throughout the United States for fleets and dealers.
Meritor WABCO developed a range of commercial vehicle controls. These include SmartTrac stability control systems for trucks and trailers, and OnGuard, designed to detect objects in the vehicle’s path and manage the distance between them. Both systems can automatically intervene to slow a vehicle to reduce the likelihood of a rear-end collision or loss of stability. This allows the driver time to maintain control and apply additional braking force as needed.
SmartTrac stability control systems and the OnGuard collision safety systems are building blocks in Meritor WABCO’s “Pyramid of Safety.” The products are extensions of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and use software and sensors to coordinate object detection, braking, and throttle adjustment, minimizing the need for additional hardware.