Search Results

Heavy trucks are produced with a great variety of vehicle configurations, operate over a wide range of gross vehicle weight and sometimes function in extreme duty environments. Frontal crashes of heavy trucks can pose a threat to truck occupants when the vehicle strikes another large object such as bridge works, large natural features or another heavy-duty vehicle. Investigations of heavy truck frontal crashes indicate that the factors listed above all affect the outcome for the driver and the resulting damage to the truck Recently, a new chassis was introduced for on-highway heavy truck models that feature frontal airbag occupant protection. This introduction presented an opportunity to incorporate the knowledge gained from crash investigation into the process for developing the crash sensor's parameter settings.

A commercial vehicle's unexpected deviation from its current lane, often referred to simply as lane departure, can be a manifestation of any number of problems focused on either the vehicle (mechanical or electrical malfunction) or the driver (distraction or drowsiness). To address the topic of commercial vehicle lane departure, DaimlerChrysler Research, Freightliner and Odetics developed Lane Guidance™, a commercially available lane departure warning system. The Roll Advisor and Control (RA&C) Field Operational Test (FOT) as part of the United States Department of Transportation's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) offered an excellent opportunity to evaluate the newly deployed Lane Guidance™ System with real world data. The goal of this evaluation was to understand the performance of the system under different environmental conditions such as rain, snow and night/daytime.

The purpose of this paper is to showcase the industrial design and ergonomic principles, tools and the processes that were concurrently applied throughout the development cycle of Thom”. Thomas Built Buses Engineering and Freightliner LLC Engineering groups worked interactively to optimize driver and passenger ergonomics, comfort and safety. Several examples are shown to highlight the benefits of applying 3-D human modeling to the design process. Resulting improvements of visibility, accommodation, and safety are shown.

Recently public agencies have been promulgating idling bans in an effort to mitigate the environmental effects of heavy-duty truck idling. In order to make rational choices, regulators, manufacturers, and consumers will need to compare idling reduction strategies, such as truck stop electrification and auxiliary power units. Truck driver behaviors, such as idling time, idling location, and accessory use will significantly influence the cost-effectiveness of the various technology options. Truck driver attitudes toward idling and idling alternatives will influence adoption of the technologies. A pilot survey of 233 line-haul truck drivers was administered in Northern California as the first step in assessing truck driver behaviors and attitudes related to idling. Initial findings reveal that line-haul truck drivers idle primarily to power climate control.

Late in 1999, Freightliner LLC commissioned a group to design and assemble a Sterling heavy truck for the 2000 Pike's Peak International Hillclimb. Many design and engineering innovations were necessary in order to optimize the total package for vehicle performance. Addressed will be the design and analysis used in optimizing the chassis/roll cage assembly for maximum torsional stiffness. Overall vehicle packaging for obtaining the vehicle weight and center-of-gravity location will be presented. Design details will be discussed for the truck-based front and rear suspensions, the special tire characteristics, the high performance powertrain, the rear axles, the cooling module and the rack and pinion steering.

This paper discusses one method for reducing heavy-duty truck rollover accidents, the Freightliner/MeritorWABCO Roll Advisor and Control (RA&C) System. It describes the operation of this system and the unique way in which RA&C trains drivers to avoid high-risk rollover and braking conditions. In addition, the rationale for this approach is discussed in terms of Behavioral Based Safety (BBS), and the means employed to communicate with drivers is described. A technical description of the RA&C system is presented including a discussion of the challenges of designing and developing this product to be a cost-effective system readily implemented in today's commercial vehicles. Resolution of these challenges leads to the choice of the ABS platform to house and operate the necessary electronics and software along with the Freightliner Driver Message Center for displaying driver information.