FIRST TAKE Checks & Balances WRITTEN BY RYAN GRAY |
RYAN@STNONLINE.COM F
or decades, motorists have been greeted by an illuminating revelation literally just beyond their fingertips, as they grasped the wheel, the siren’s call flashing a certain
hue of orange-yellow, beckoning for attention: Te dreaded “check engine” light; and its angry-red cousin, the dripping oil can. Service indicators have been the savior of many a motorist as well as the bane of many more, pre-dating OBD-I and OBD-II. In passenger vehicles, these cau- tionary icons have evolved to indicate any host of engine issues, required brake maintenance, low tire pressure, loose or missing fuel tank caps, just to name a few. In the commercial vehicle world, diagnostics are not simply a warning or even source of anxiety (well, some- times they are), but, as we learn this month, a lifeline. Fault codes, of course, are nothing new to the school bus industry. Yet, today’s school buses, as with other medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, are easier to obtain than ever before. Te latest telematics software built into school buses at the factory remove any guessing games by automatically sending this data, based on the fleet manager’s set parameters, via an app to a smartphone or other device. In real time using Wi-Fi, fleet managers are alerted of potential issues and can communicate with the bus driver on required next steps. Depending upon the type of telematics data captured and transmitted, technicians can begin to diagnose the cause and can determine if the driver needs to pull over immediately, or if the route can proceed until an inspection and/or service can be performed back at the garage. Tis month, we explore how and why school dis-
tricts are using telematics for onboard diagnostics as well as how the technology has evolved. Now options on most new school bus purchases, telematics can not only be an added cost, but also the one that pays dividends down the road. Literally.
A plethora of products and solutions — both
software and hardware — are now on the market to decrease vehicle downtime by providing diagnostic solutions that put added efficiency into maintenance programs to effect Total Cost of Ownership. Speaking of which, we also attempt to answer a com- mon and frequent question from readers on the public and private sides of the industry. Is there data available to actually define manufacturer claims of lowest cost of operation? Without diving into the intricacies and offerings
of different brands, STN Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski surveyed large and small fleet managers across the country to ascertain what their school districts are actually spending on maintenance in terms of parts, labor and more. We believe the analysis is a first in the industry, and that much constructive discussion will ensue. Stay tuned as we unveil more plans for the STN EXPO this summer to learn how you can become a part of the conversation that started right here, on page 32. Be sure to also catch Sean Gallagher’s look at how OEMs continue to beat the TCO drum and what it all means for maintenance programs. Ten, read Jeanette Reveles’ article on the many service and repair options available to fleet operators. Meanwhile, contributor Eric Woolson’s feature on
certified quality and safety processes achieved by com- panies to bring better school bus products to customers, starting on page 52. When factoring in articles on brakes, the latest elec-
tronic stability control technology and school bus air conditioning trends, a clearer picture of today’s mainte- nance needs and opportunities comes into full view. It’s clear that technology has changed school bus garages and will continue to by providing in dept information on total vehicle health. And there is abso- lutely no cause for anxiety regarding what these signs indicate to us. l
Ryan Gray Editor-in-Chief
12 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2016
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