Saia, a less-than-truckload carrier, is equipping 331 new Volvo tractors with Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems’ safety solutions, Bendix said.
The safety portfolio includes the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system; Bendix Wingman Advanced – a collision mitigation technology; Bendix ADB22X air disc brake; AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system from Bendix CVS; and Bendix BlindSpotter side object detection system.
Delivery is taking place through the second quarter of 2013.
Saia operates in 34 states through a network of 147 terminals, offering LTL next-day and second-day delivery and distribution and consolidation.
“Saia LTL Freight’s relationship with Bendix has been built on their products providing value,” said Brian Balius, Saia vice president of line haul and industrial engineering. “They have contributed to us receiving award-winning recognition for our safety performance from the ATA. We are excited about the additional innovations and the prospect for continued improvement in our results.”
Total sales of the Bendix ESP recently passed 225,000 since the product’s introduction in early 2005. Full-stability technology tends to be more effective than roll-only systems, Bendix said. Full stability typically assesses situations quicker thanks to additional sensors that measure driver intent and vehicle direction and then delivers automatic brake interventions involving the steer, drive, and trailer axles. Roll-only systems typically don’t have the additional sensors and apply the brakes only on the drive and trailer axles. Slowing the vehicle quickly helps mitigate rollovers faster, while slowing and redirecting can help the driver maneuver in loss-of-control situations.
Bendix Wingman Advanced, built on the foundation of Bendix ESP technology, delivers active cruise control with braking features, along with collision mitigation technology. Using a radar sensor mounted to the front of the vehicle, Bendix Wingman Advanced delivers both warnings and active interventions to help drivers potentially avoid rear-end collisions or, at least, help reduce their severity.
Whether or not cruise control is engaged, Bendix Wingman Advanced provides following distance and stationary object alerts at any speed greater than approximately 10 mph. The system’s collision mitigation feature provides additional braking interventions, delivering up to two-thirds of the vehicle braking power through the steer, drive, and trailer brakes, Bendix said. Above about 15 mph, this “always available” braking feature can assist drivers through an alert and an automatic application of the brakes to help decelerate the vehicle when a rear-end collision may be imminent. The driver still maintains control of the vehicle and can add additional braking or steering inputs to help avoid or minimize the collision situation.
The Bendix ADB22X air disc brake exceeds the recent NHTSA mandate for reduced stopping distance, the company pointed out.
AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system from Bendix CVS is a vision-based system that detects when a commercial vehicle begins to drift toward an unintended lane change and alerts the driver. Bendix BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System is a side-radar system designed to alert drivers to vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes.
