Heavy Duty Vehicles - Repair & Maintenance

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Heavy Duty Vehicles - Repair Maintenance
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Synopsis

• Heavy Duty Vehicles on the Highways
• Keeping the Public Transport Running
• Bus Maintenance - Public Transport Safety

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Heavy Duty Vehicles on the Highways

• Repairing trucks on the highway has its problems
  especially refrigerated vehicles where goods have
  a certain 'travel time'. These goods often need
  to be transferred to another vehicle and the
  problem truck towed to the repairer's yard. These
  interstate operating trucking companies must have
  vehicles that comply with the FTA (Federal
  Transit Administration) in all respects and
  therefore the repair company is required to be
  licensed to carry out repairs on these vehicles.
  Towing vehicles, especially large heavy duty rigs
  can be extremely problematic unless the repair
  company is knowledgeable in all aspects of towing
  which is also a licensed operation.
• It becomes important for any transport company
  that the towing company that will tow the vehicle
  will also repair it subject to FMCSA guidelines.
  This means that a licensed company must effect
  the repairs also. Likewise, in the case of all
  heavy-duty trucking companies, roadworthiness is
  subject to Federal Regulations.(FMCSA) It is also
  the responsibility of the trucking company to
  make sure the inspection decal is clearly shown
  so that the repair company is able to verify that
  the inspection date is valid.
• All repairs are subject to the adherence of the
  FMCSA, including new parts which must meet the
  FMCSA criteria. Also, inspection must be
  performed after repairs have been carried out by
  an inspector licensed by the FMCSA as referred to
  in393.3 part 396of the FMCSA regulations.

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Keeping the Public Transport Running

• Taking into account the federal laws governing
  the repair and service of busses you need to take
  due cognizance of how their rules apply to repair
  companies. For example, if a bus's brake system
  has to be overhauled then special circumstances
  apply and must prevail. The hydraulic fluid
  specified by the ECFR (Electronic Code of Federal
  Regulations) or e-CFR, has specifications for
  tolerances and therefore only recommended types
  of fluids may be used. The same will apply to the
  brake drums and pads and other parts. There are
  many such parts on the braking system of a bus
  and each one has an approval code. From pistons
  to cylinders as well as other parts, all must be
  certified which is sometimes difficult when a
  breakdown occurs. The repairs to a bus need to be
  carried out efficiently and as soon as possible
  as, for the downtime which occurs for the company
  owning the bus, it means a loss of revenue. Very
  often a bus needs to be towed as even the
  smallest part that is not operating correctly
  will take the bus off-the-road. The driver of the
  bus has the responsibility to inform his company
  that a problem has occurred.
• Towing busses for repairs is also a specialized
  operation and needs to be carried out without
  delay as the vehicle must be placed back in
  rotation as soon as possible. The towing company
  and the mechanics or technicians that will work
  on the bus need to be ASE trained as that
  particular bus, once repairs are completed, has
  to be inspected by an authorized official who is
  licensed and falls under the jurisdiction of the
  ECFR.

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Bus Maintenance - Public Transport Safety

• The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
  (e-CFR),lay down the procedures for bus
  maintenance and servicing. The e-CFR code,
  section 396.3, deals with Inspection, repair and
  maintenance of busses and has laid down
  procedures to be followed. For example, a
  full-service record must be kept for one year
  indicating the date of the last service and a
  record of the test performed after service,
  including such items as test performed on
  emergency doors and windows. Specific lubrication
  must be used and all movable parts lubricated
  with the correct oil and grease. The vehicle
  shall be free of any oil leaks and care must be
  taken to affix a sticker stating 'out-of-service'
  which shall only be removed by the responsible
  official after due inspection of the vehicle.
  Without exception, the following equipment shall
  be checked after any service to the bus or
  busses Parking brake, steering mechanism, tires,
  horn, windshield wipers, lighting devices lamps
  etc., rear vision mirrors, wheels and trim and
  all emergency equipment. Furthermore, the
  qualifications of the inspector for all braking
  apparatus shall be in compliance with section 25
  of the same regulations.
• Maintaining Busses often calls for new parts
  required for servicing. These parts/spares must
  pass the FMCSA as bus all maintenance has to be
  carried out with public safety in mind. To do
  this effectively not just anybody or any company
  can service busses and there are rules governing
  inspection, repair and maintenance laid down by
  the Federal Transit Administration. A company
  such as Mobile Truck Services, Bus repair
  division, can carry out repairs with their DOT
  registration, DOT3090107.They are especially
  equipped to deal with emergencies and with the
  breakdown of public transport, towing etc. in the
  Myrtle Beach area. They also operate in Conway,
  Murrels Inlet and other areas in South Carolina.

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The End

• For more details, please visit
• http//mobiletruckservicesc.com/