BRAKING & COLLISION AVOIDANCE
October 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 47
ahead to autonomous vehicles, the foundation
starts with braking; and more specifi cally, with
air disc brakes (ADBs).
ADBs are increasing their share of the
commercial vehicle market. Approximately 20
percent of commercial vehicles and 15 percent
of trailers are currently equipped with ADBs.
Th at is expected to increase to about 30 percent
of trucks and 25 percent of trailers in the next
couple years, and both will
continue to grow share.
More truck manufacturers
are off ering ADBs as standard
equipment. As ADBs on trucks
increase, it’s important to use
comparable brakes on the
trailer to ensure compatibility
and optimal eff ectiveness.
The more fleets, drivers
and workshops are exposed
to ADBs, the more they
appreciate them.
One reason for the increased
adoption of ADBs is their
benefi ts they off er over drum
brakes. For drivers, ADBs
provide superior reliability,
shorter stopping distance and
a feel that is more like that of
a passenger car. ADBs have
fewer parts than drum brakes.
Th is means during service,
technicians can provide faster
maintenance and expanded
service intervals. Plus, for
fl eets who are continually
monitoring operational costs,
the payback for ADBs averages
less than two years.
While the commercial vehicle
industry continues to move
closer to autonomous trucks,
the technologies that will
help the industry get there
are being used today to help
keep commercial vehicle drivers
safe. Th ese technologies,
which are critical to autonomy
and advanced functionalities
such as platooning, all start
with superior reliability and
stopping distance based on
the better braking provided
by ADBs.
The human element
While the industry may
someday rely on fleets of
driverless vehicles, the driver
continues to play a critical
role in the commercial vehicle
industry and will for the foreseeable
future. Th at makes
industry adoption of ADAS
technologies even more critical.
Th e National Highway
Traffi c Safety Administration
(NHTSA) says that 94 percent
of crashes are tied to a human
choice or error. With drivers in the cabs for
years to come, suppliers will remain focused
on innovating and further refi ning technologies
that are not just the building blocks for
autonomous vehicles, but also enhance driver
eff ectiveness and safety.
Safer and easier-to-drive trucks also may
help alleviate some of the driver-shortage
problem. Th e American Trucking Association
calculates that the industry will be short
more than 63,000 drivers by the end of 2018.
Increased safety may help keep some drivers
in the market, and perhaps attract new drivers.
Promoting the array of technologies in trucks
may entice new candidates who are interested
in a career fi eld where they can utilize the
leading-edge developments that are part of
today’s vehicles.
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TM
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