SIGNAL LIGHTS – FRIEND OR FOE?
Text by L. Baker
Is there anything more annoying than following a vehicle which has had their signal light on for five blocks? Actually yes there is; a vehicle that turns directly in front of you without signaling at all, causing you to jam on your brakes!
Every year there are cases of serious traffic accidents which could have been prevented if proper signaling was used. We are all guilty at some point or another of signaling offenses. These offenses aren’t just annoying, they have the potential to cause harm to us and others around us.
Let’s take a look at some of the basic signaling practices.
1) A vehicle should signal at least 3 hydro poles before making any turn. Cancel the turn immediately after turning. When signaling too quickly you risk having the driver behind you run into you.
2) Ensure your correct signal light is on; ex: when turning left, check to make sure your left signal is on. People sometimes put on the right signal then turn left causing very serious accidents.
3) When stopped on the roadside remember to signal as you are preparing to return to traffic.
4) Always signal before you pull out of your lane to pass a vehicle and then signal as you are pulling in front of them.
5) Remember to signal when you are changing lanes or gliding onto a ramp way.
When you head out for a drive remember you are steering a 1200lb machine that could cause serious harm to yourself or others. Take your road safety very serious and be a responsible driver, use your signal lights.
Highway Tractor – Driver Education
Text by Pat Gerbrandt
There is a critical shortage of highway tractor drivers throughout North America and there is a good indicator that the need for such training will only increase.
Free Eagle prides itself on quality instruction and offers one-on-one training. The minimum 40-hour instruction time is all in-truck. Drivers begin directing one of five company owned rigs, complete with trailer, on gravel roads near the Blumenort head office. As soon as they are ready to venture further, the trainers take their charges onto the highways, continuing to guide them as they eventually navigate city streets in Steinbach. The next stage is driving in Winnipeg.
While some drivers are able to learn enough to pass the government road test within 2-3 weeks, many require a longer time. Safety is of prime concern as drivers shift their way through all the steps of handling highway tractors.
A familiarity with operating heavy equipment is a definite asset, and instructors can quickly tell if a student has natural ability for highway driving. The best drivers are those who have keen ability to anticipate what will happen all around and how to navigate every intersection. Potential students can find out if they really want to drive by accompanying qualified drivers on at least one or two runs. (Most companies which allow passengers require a signed waiver releasing the company from any liability in case of an insurance claim.) Then they must pass the written government test and obtain a physician’s health certificate. Books and medical forms are available from any MPIC outlet or the Motor Vehicle Branch.
During the summer, there may be a waiting time of up to three weeks, but that change as cooler weather sets in.
Many people dream of trucking. They are lured by the prospect of a good income (potentially as high as $75,000 annually) and by what are perceived as the adventurous nature of the job. Drivers need to consider being gone from home a lot. If a child is sick at home, the driver can’t just park the truck in Texas and hurry back. He or she has to bring the truck home, and that may mean going to Vancouver or Toronto first.” Family and social life are curtailed by the demands of long-distance driving. According to latest statistics, 43% of long distance drivers quit after six months; more than 70% after their first two years in the industry.
Students of all ages, ranging from 18 to past 60, continue to look for the training that will put them in the driver’s seat.
Clean Car Windows – Safe And Healthy
Text by Tom Hamilton
Have you ever ridden in a car or truck that had windows so dirty that you had difficulty seeing outside?
As the passenger, how safe do you feel? Secondarily and of equal if not more important, how healthy are dirty windows?
Is winter time the worst season for dirty windows? Absolutely not. Dirty windows are just plain unsafe and unhealthy for both the driver and as well as the passengers. In addition to obstructing everyone’s view, dirty windows detract from the view of the surrounding scenery and the pleasure of the trip.
Every vehicle owner should routinely clean their windows, outside and inside with a good window cleaner that contains either ammonia or vinegar to cut through the film and to disinfect the glass. Many factors are at work inside your vehicle. Sneezing, coughing, smoking, little dirty hands all smear the glass and obstruct your view. Many of these causes of dirty windows carry germs that are breathed in the air inside the car or truck.
Bacteria can be airborne. Once an infected person coughs or sneezes on a window, any bacteria within the residue of that cough or sneeze can live on the warm inside of a window for some time. The warm air from your heater can prolong the life of these bacteria and allow them to be passed on to you and your passengers.
So, how can you provide yourself and your passengers a more safe and healthy environment in your car or truck? Simple, clean the windows regularly with a good window cleaner. Use a disinfectant spray on your car seats, the dash, and spray the heater and air conditioning vents as well. Oh, and don’t forget those carpets. A good spray of disinfectant after a wash job is always a great idea. In addition to giving your car or truck that nice fresh clean smell, its more healthy for everyone riding inside. If you are a parent who car pools their children to school, keeping those windows clean and disinfected will help keep your children free from colds and flu.
Auto Maintenance
Text by Blair Korchinski
One of the best sources of information on required maintenance for your particular vehicle is the owner’s manual. It will tell you what is required and the intervals that maintenance should be performed. It is best to follow the heavy usage list, even if you don’t drive much or consider your usage to be light.
Oil Changes
The one thing that most vehicle owner manuals miss the mark on is the frequency of oil changes. You should have the oil in your vehicle changed every 5,000 kilometers or once a season, whichever comes first. Synthetic oils can extend the period between oil changes, but for piece of mind at a relatively low cost, the 5,000 kilometers/once a season rule of thumb is still a good idea.
Check your oil once a week. The level should be at the full mark on the dip stick. If the oil looks dirty or discolored, you should have it changed even if you have not driven 5,000 kilometers. Discoloration can be a sign that anti-freeze is contaminating the oil. If your oil appears milky, have it checked by a professional.
Coolant
In modern vehicles, coolant is very important. Today’s engines run hotter than engines of the past and require a proper operating temperature to achieve peak performance. Even if you live in an area where the temperature never dips below freezing, you should use a coolant that meets the specifications for your automobile and never use only water.
Coolant levels should be checked once a week, coolant strength should be checked at least once a year, and your cooling system should be flushed and the old coolant replaced at the interval recommended in your owner’s manual.
Transmission fluid
Most cars and trucks in North America have automatic transmissions. The transmission fluid level should be checked at least once a week. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual.
Transmission fluid becomes dirty, degrades over time, and with heavy use. You should have your transmission fluid and filter changed according to the recommendation in your owner’s manual.
Brakes
Braking systems are composed of a combination of mechanical and hydraulic components and, on newer vehicles, electronics that control the ABS and/or traction control systems.
The service required varies with the make and model of vehicle, but most modern systems require that the system be flushed and the fluid changed at regular, though infrequent intervals. In addition to this you should have your braking system checked if the brake warning light appears, if there is a change in the feel of your brake pedal, or if squealing occurs during braking.
Components such as flex brake hoses should be inspected for cracking and wear at least once a year.
Washing
A dirty vehicle wears out more quickly. Rust is a problem on the outside, and dirt will cause interior components, such as seats and carpets, to wear prematurely. Dirt on mechanical components can cause them to dissipate heat improperly, leading to breakdowns.
You should wash the exterior of your vehicle once a week. Pay particular attention to the area around the wheels and the underbody of the car. This is especially important in areas where road salt is used.
Interior carpets and cloth seats should be vacuumed once a week and shampooed or steam cleaned once per season. Vinyl and leather seats should be cleaned with a suitable product once per week.
The engine compartment should be washed or steam cleaned once a season.
The Walk Around
Once a week, you should walk around your car. Check underneath for leaking fluids, check the tire pressure, make sure that your headlights, marker lights, and signal lights are working, check the operation of your windshield wipers and the level of the washer fluid.
This is also a good time to check for any scratches or small dents and lubricate any squeaky door or trunk hinges.
Taking care of small problems will keep them from becoming big problems.
Regular maintenance will extend the life of your car, lead to greater reliability, and increase the resale value when it comes time to replace your vehicle.
Commercial Vehicle Maintenance
Text by Rick Tachuk
If you own and operate a commercial vehicle today you should have calculated your cost per mile of operation. Included in those costs should be the cost of a solid maintenance program.
Whether you operate a single unit or a fleet of trucks you know that the demands placed on equipment today are harsh and constant. The operation of your vehicle over rough terrain and roads, hauling heavy loads, in extremes of temperatures can devastate components from your engine and electrical system to your suspension and tires.
The days of an oil change, lube job and a thump of your tires are gone. If you are still trying to operate in this fashion, be prepared to operate in the red very shortly. The only way to have a viable profitable operation, is to have a viable cost effective “Maintenance Program” that allows you to be one up on possible repairs or component failures before they become critical and result in an on the road breakdown.
Below is a brief description of just some of the ways you can benefit from a good professional maintenance program, with some of the things you should ask and look for from your maintenance provider.
Be able to track parts, keep notes, and keep track of tire rotations, tire depth, and tire air pressures, fuel logs including fuel cost per mile, filters and oil samples for each piece of equipment. All records can be previewed or printed!! (will assist with tax information)
30-Day Report that shows each piece of equipment requiring inspection, Lubrication, vehicle registration, and all repairs in the last 30 days. (will help provide CVSA monthly reports).
Detailed record of (90-day you decide inspection interval) inspections completed and shows each item inspected for a truck or a trailer.
You check the defective part and then the program automatically schedules the next inspection and starts notifying you of upcoming inspections prior to due date.
Clear and concise record of lubrications performed and schedules the next lubrication based on time, miles or hours of operation.
A simple to read All Equipment Last and Next Maintenance Report lists a useful summary of each unit’s, equipment number, VIN number, license number, year, model, last lubrication, next lubrication and the month in which registration is due.
The detailed history of your repairs and cost for each repair. Lets you see all the repairs done on each piece of equipment. All records can be previewed or printed.
An all Equipment Summary Report, get an overview list of all the equipment in your entire fleet. It lists units that are out of service as well as in service
Detailed report of the entire year for each item inspected during the 90 day (You decide inspection interval) safety inspections, the printout tells you if the item was OK or Defective, the mileage or hours and date when the item was inspected and who inspected it. This is very handy for CHP BIT and DOT inspections.
Decide if you wish to set up your Maintenance Program in-house or outsource the responsibility. In any case ensure your maintenance provider is committed to quality service and can assist you in keeping your costs to a minimum and provide the records you need.
REMEMBER! A well maintained vehicle is not just a necessity, not just important, its good business sense.
