The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require electronic stability control (ESC) to be added to all new 6x4 tractor orders starting August 1, 2017.
NHTSA research suggests that the new rule to equip trucks with ESC can save up to 49 lives, prevent up to 1,759 crashes and provide economic benefits of more than $300 million annually.
The rule requires manufacturers to install an ESC malfunction telltale. An ESC system combines two basic technologies: anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control. When equipping trucks with stability technology, they gain:
Profitability Protection
Every dollar you save through an incident reduction goes directly to your business’ bottom line. For example, a fleet operating at a 5 percent margin would need to increase revenue by 20 times the cost of accident-related losses. This means reducing accident costs by $100,000 is the equivalent of growing top-line sales by $2 million.
Enhanced Driver Training
With tractor-trailer combinations, drivers don’t always know the vehicle is tipping because they don’t feel what’s happening until too late. ESC systems can help mitigate those events, offering driving data that can be monitored and used as a proactive training tool.
Stronger Operational Efficiency
The reliability of an ESC system, along with a variety of easy-to-use diagnostic tools requires less training and increases vehicle uptime.
Talk to your local MHC representative to learn more about the ESC regulations and ensure your trucks meet industry compliance.
