| Heavy Duty Data-driven reefer maintenance and operational savings tion and service. It provides documentation that proves the vehicle was maintained. Th e checklist, if structured correctly, documents the condition of the vehicle at the time of the service – before and aft er. Th is could prove critical if the trailer is involved in some type of incident and maintenance is a concern. When constructing the checklist, remember to include detailed instructions. An example would be to provide the torque requirements to be used when checking the lug nuts. By providing such details, it clarifi es how the activity is to be completed. Also, you should provide a spot for the technician to record any measurements taken, such as brake slack adjuster free play, brake lining thickness and tire tread depth. By David A. Kolman, Editor As telematics systems evolve beyond track and trace capability into interactive asset management solutions on the road and in the yard, today’s easy-to-use tools ensure connectivity on the go. Additionally, such solutions give refrigerated fl eet managers or maintenance managers information when they need it and where they need it. This helps them increase uptime, improve effi ciency, reduce operating costs, record data digitally and meet the ever-increasing demands of their customers. Sophisticated cellular remote monitoring systems with temperature and fuel level sensors, door switches and solar panels have made accurate temperature and refrigeration equipment monitoring and diagnostics easier and more accessible, says Gayatri Abbott, telematics product manager for Thermo King. Today’s telematics solutions enable fl eets to monitor cargo integrity and fl eet uptime, plus manage fl eet operating and maintenance costs more effectively. Real-time remote monitoring not only offers peace of mind, she adds, but also the ability to react and correct potential issues before load integrity is compromised or a delivery schedule is interrupted. Thermo King (na.thermoking.com) manufactures transport temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications, including trailers, truck bodies, buses, shipboard containers and railway cars. It is a division of Ingersoll Rand (www.ingersollrandproducts. com), a global business committed to advancing the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and effi cient environments. Thermo King’s TracKing telematics solution, for example, enables fl eets “to operate more effi ciently and stay at the forefront of evolving industry requirements,” Abbott says. “The dynamic, web-enabled system provides traceability during transport while helping to ensure temperature compliance and increased productivity.” The solution provides fl eets “with the tools to protect their assets, improve their response times and manage their operating costs, while maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards,” she adds. MAINTENANCE SAVINGS Like trucks and trailers, refrigeration units need regular maintenance to deliver maximum performance and ensure that valuable loads arrive on time and in optimal condition. “Customizable electronic tracking allows users to create a personalized view of their fl eet to optimize – and manage – maintenance to ensure preventative maintenance schedule compliance, avoid unexpected breakdowns, extend system life and ultimately save time and money,” Abbott says. “Coupled with a guaranteed maintenance program, telematics eliminates the guesswork.” “Fleets with similar refrigeration units operating in similar environments can expect up to 30 percent fewer breakdowns when telematics is supported with a guaranteed maintenance program,” says Patrick O’Meara, Thermo King’s director of customer service. “Because telematics provides unprecedented visibility into a fl eet, we can help customers transition from a reactive to a proactive and predictive approach to maintenance.” By monitoring data provided by the systems like TracKing, real-time engine hours and reefer alarms data can be utilized to assess unit health and make informed decisions specifi c to the fl eet to better manage maintenance schedules and costs. When this data is further integrated into fl eet maintenance management systems, it helps with maintenance planning and scheduling and is a good example of how to fully optimize telematics data. “The ability to remotely download the refrigeration unit datalogger to get a more in-depth view of refrigeration unit health further enhances maintenance effi ciencies and asset uptime,” O’Meara says. “Predictive maintenance not only saves valuable time, it also takes the unknown out of maintenance pricing so fl eets can better control Figure 1. SVC (Servicing Valued Customers) Revenue Generating Calculator Graphic courtesy of Thermo King Trailer PM needs to compare components to specifi c “wear limits” and replace them when they reach the limit. Photo courtesy of J. J. Keller & Associates THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM needs to be both systematic and effective. 20 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ OCTOBER 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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