Truckload carrier Schneider National is making the Meritor Wabco OnGuard collision safety system standard equipment on all new Class 8 tractors within its fleet. Schneider will install more than 2,500 such systems in 2012, Meritor Wabco said.
OnGuard is an “always on” collision mitigation system. It uses an active braking system regardless of whether the cruise control is engaged. It will be paired with Meritor Wabco’s SmartTrac stability control system, which is also standard equipment on Schneider vehicles.
“Schneider continues to take a progressive position related to safety. It was one of the first major fleets to adopt Meritor Wabco’s SmartTrac stability control system as standard in its operation back in 2004,” said Mark Melletat, director of field operations, Meritor Wabco.
OnGuard features a forward-looking radar sensor that monitors the distance, speed and deceleration of a vehicle ahead and, if necessary, alerts the driver to take appropriate action through an in-cab display. If the driver doesn’t immediately decelerate the vehicle, the collision mitigation system (CMS) integrated within OnGuard automatically de-throttles the engine and provides up to a 50% full-service brake application to help the driver avoid or reduce the severity of a rear-end collision, Meritor Wabco said.
“We operate first and foremost with the safety of our drivers and the motoring public in mind,” said Don Osterberg, senior vice president of safety and security at Schneider National. “Investing in new equipment, technology and training to make the industry and our highways safer overall is simply the right thing to do. While there’s no substitute for well-trained and disciplined drivers, we’re optimistic that the OnGuard technology will reduce rear-end crashes or mitigate crash severity by decreasing collision speed.”
