NHTSA Recall Notice 6.23.14

Please click on the following NHTSA Campaign ID links to view the recall information.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V243
Manufacturer :	Pierce Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	PIERCE / 2013
Subject :	Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V244
Manufacturer :	Supreme Corporation
Make / Model Years :	STARTRANS / 2013 SUPREME / 2013
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V267
Manufacturer :	Thor Motor Coach
Make / Model Years :	THOR MOTOR COACH / 2014-2015
Subject :	Generator Exhaust Routing (Fire/Asphyxiation)
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V268
Manufacturer :	Stoughton Trailers, LLC
Make / Model Years :	STOUGHTON / 2014
Subject :	Trailer Suspension Pivot Bolt Failure
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V270
Manufacturer :	Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	LEXUS / 2013
Subject :	Brake Pedal Load Sensing Switch Failure
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V282
Manufacturer :	Mazda North American Operations
Make / Model Years :	MAZDA / 2008-2011
Subject :	Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V289
Manufacturer :	Kia Motors Corporation
Make / Model Years :	KIA / 2014
Subject :	19" Non-Chrome Wheel Fracture
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V298
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	BUICK / 2013 CHEVROLET / 2013
Subject :	Passenger Front Air Bag Inflator Failure
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V299
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	CHEVROLET / 2014
Subject :	Electrical Short Circuit may Disable Air Bags
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V300
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	BUICK / 2012 CHEVROLET / 2012
Subject :	Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Not Deploy
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V301
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	CHEVROLET / 2014-2015 GMC / 2014-2015
Subject :	Absence of Warning Chimes/FMVSS 114, 208
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V313
Manufacturer :	Blue Bird Body Company
Make / Model Years :	BLUE BIRD / 2008-2013
Subject :	Heater Hose may Rupture Resulting in Burns
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V314
Manufacturer :	Blue Bird Body Company
Make / Model Years :	BLUE BIRD / 2008-2013
Subject :	Heater Hose may Rupture Resulting in Burns
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V315
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	CHEVROLET / 2012
Subject :	Transmission Turbine Shaft Fracture
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V317
Manufacturer :	General Motors LLC
Make / Model Years :	BUICK / 2014
Subject :	Wire Splice may Corrode and Break/FMVSS 114, 118

NHTSA Recall Notice 6.16.13

Please click on the following NHTSA Campaign ID links to view the recall information.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V258
Manufacturer :	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Make / Model Years :	HONDA / 2013
Subject :	Passenger Side Driveshaft Failure
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V312
Manufacturer :	Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	LEXUS / 2002-2004 PONTIAC / 2003-2004 TOYOTA / 2002-2004
Subject :	Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

A F550 Box Truck - Landscaper Body

I spotted this work truck in my neighborhood and wished to share it.

We like to take pictures of work trucks set up with application-specific equipment.

In this case, we spotted some landscapers busy planting flowers and working out of a box style truck body. From our experience, they usually work out off a pickup or a pickup with a trailer. As we approached, it became clear why the owners chose a box truck. That’s because they need to carry and store hundreds of plants. They keep the plants stored, out of direct sunlight and weather until they are ready to be planted

This Ford F550 is mounted with an enclosed box with a step-well style sidestep. It has an overhead rear door and a swing style side-opening door. 

  

Seldom do you find a truck with better space utilization.  Notice that the interior is finished off with plywood walls mounted with the black “etrack” strips. The etrack provides a connection for the four plywood shelves. This gives the 5 spaces for plant storage. Compare that to storing plants on the floor of a trailer or the back of flatbed, rack style body. The rear step bumper allows for step-up to access the rearmost plants on all levels.

The side door step-well style entrance allows entrances to a "cubby hole" where anyone has access to the front-most plants stored on 5 levels. 

This box truck configuration gives the potential of about 5 times the amount of storage for plants with easy access to the front as well as the rear.

Please call your Congressman ASAP and Urge them to: REJECT THE DAINES AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD BLOCK AN INCREASE TO MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Greetings!      This morning, the House of Representatives will vote on amendments to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Bill Fiscal Year 2015. Congressman Daines (R-MT) is offering an anti-truck safety amendment to block any increase in minimum insurance requirements for truck carriers.   Every year on average 4,000 people die in truck crashes and 100,000 more are injured at a cost of at least $87 billion. Crashes involving multiple deaths and injuries, similar to the recent tragic crashes in New Jersey and California, happen every week. The total combined damages from these crashes far exceed the current minimum insurance requirements. The families who suffer terrible losses and injuries should not have to also bear the financial burden of these crashes. TAKE action now:  Please call your Congressman ASAP and Urge them to:  REJECT THE DAINES AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD BLOCK AN INCREASE TO MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS  To find your Representative and their contact information, please click here.     Talking Points: We urge you to oppose the Daines amendment that would block an increase in minimum insurance requirements for motor carriers in the THUD bill for fiscal year 2015.  Minimum Insurance Levels for Motor Carriers Need to be Increased Minimum levels of insurance for trucks, currently set at $750,000, have not been increased in over 30 years and are woefully insufficient.  Consequently a portion of the damages and losses caused by motor carriers who carry insurance at or near the minimum is imposed upon the American motoring public.  The underinsured segments of the industry are effectively subsidized by American taxpayers through unreimbursed social welfare programs including Medicaid and Social Security.  If all of the industry were required to absorb more of the losses they cause, significant changes in the industry would occur, resulting in safer highways for all. FMCSA Report Supports an Increase in Minimum Financial Responsibility In April 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a report on its review of minimum financial responsibility that found current levels to be inadequate.   It found that costs for severe and critical injury crashes can easily exceed $1 million, that current limits do not adequately cover catastrophic crashes and acknowledged that medical care inflation would increase levels to at least $3.2 million. Additional Reports Support Increasing Minimum Financial Responsibility Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) - This report found that the upper range for liability awards involving death or catastrophic injury is $9-10 million, and recommended that DOT set limits per crash of at least $10 million. Trucking Alliance Review of Crash Settlements - Member companies of the Trucking Alliance voluntarily tracked 8,692 accident settlements between 2005 and 2011. According to the Trucking Alliance, 42 percent of the injury claims could have had no avenue for offsetting all medical costs.   The Daines amendment would inappropriately block a regulatory process that Congress directed.    Congress gave the DOT Secretary and FMCSA the authority to review the minimum insurance level, and the rule making process, including public comments, should be respected and followed. MAP-21 directed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to review minimum financial responsibility requirements for motor carriers. The Daines amendment would inappropriately block changes necessitated by this review.   The losses of lives and injuries in the recent tragic crashes in California and in New Jersey are just two examples of the potential for large damages in truck crashes. The American public should not be forced to subsidize the damages in these crashes. OPPOSE THE DAINES AMENDMENT

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at 703.294.6404.      Thanks,     John Lannen Executive Director Truck Safety Coalition jlannen@trucksafety.org 703.294.6404

NHTSA Recall Notice 6.9.13

Please click on the following NHTSA Campaign ID links to view the recall information.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V228
Manufacturer :	Coach and Equipment Mfg Corp.
Make / Model Years :	COACH AND EQUIPMENT / 2013
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V229
Manufacturer :	Nissan North America, Inc.
Make / Model Years :	INFINITI / 2014 NISSAN / 2014
Subject :	One Lug Nut per Right Side Wheel may be Loose
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V230
Manufacturer :	HME, Inc.
Make / Model Years :	FERRARA / 2013
Subject :	Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V231
Manufacturer :	Federal Coach, LLC
Make / Model Years :	FEDERAL COACH / 2010
Subject :	Electric Door Actuator May Lead to Fire
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V232
Manufacturer :	Mobility Works (WMK Inc.)
Make / Model Years :	FORD / 2013-2014
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V233
Manufacturer :	Keystone RV Company
Make / Model Years :	KEYSTONE / 2014
Subject :	Interior Steps May Fracture
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V235
Manufacturer :	Chrysler Group LLC
Make / Model Years :	FIAT / 2013-2014
Subject :	Coolant Leak in Power Inverter may Cause Stall
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V241
Manufacturer :	Turtle Top
Make / Model Years :	TURTLE TOP / 2013
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V256
Manufacturer :	Trans Tech Bus
Make / Model Years :	TRANS TECH / 2013
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V272
Manufacturer :	Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	TOYOTA / 2014
Subject :	Improper Seat Belt Restraint Software/FMVSS 208
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V284
Manufacturer :	Ford Motor Company
Make / Model Years :	FORD / 2008-2011 MERCURY / 2008-2011
Subject :	Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V285
Manufacturer :	Ford Motor Company
Make / Model Years :	FORD / 2010-2014
Subject :	Water Intrusion may cause License Plate Lamp Fire
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V286
Manufacturer :	Ford Motor Company
Make / Model Years :	FORD / 2011-2013
Subject :	Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V293
Manufacturer :	Chrysler Group LLC
Make / Model Years :	DODGE / 2014 JEEP / 2014
Subject :	Cruise Control Unintended Continued Acceleration
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V294
Manufacturer :	Chrysler Group LLC
Make / Model Years :	RAM / 2014
Subject :	Water Seepage Causing Circuit Corrosion

ANATOMY OF A DUAL-TRIP SNOW PLOW

A snow plow is a snow plow, right?  Or is it?  The fact is that all snow plows will push snow.  However, the mechanics of how a snow plow is designed and manufactured can make a huge difference in the efficiency, durability, reliability and productivity of the snow plow.  For snow removal contractors, having dependable equipment that helps you get the job done is an integral part of running a successful snow removal business.

To take a deeper dive into the anatomy of a plow, take a look at the dual-trip v plow infographic.  See how and why the DXT was designed and built to withstand not only tough plowing conditions but also how the dual-trip design provides enhances plow and vehicle protection when striking hidden obstacles. 

The Snowplow Blogger

Posted by Jodie Gilroy, Boss Plows on Tue, May 20, 2014

NHTSA Recall Notice 6.2.14

Please click on the following NHTSA Campaign ID links to view the recall information.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V210
Manufacturer :	Westward Industries
Make / Model Years :	WESTWARD / 2013
Subject :	Front Brake Pads may Fall Out of Caliper
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V215
Manufacturer :	Blue Bird Body Company
Make / Model Years :	BLUE BIRD / 2009-2015
Subject :	Ice May Form in Intake Manifold
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V216
Manufacturer :	Advanced Wheels Of Technology, Inc.
Make / Model Years :	FORD / 2008-2010
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift/Outer Roll Stop Latching Mechanism
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V217
Manufacturer :	E-One Incorporated
Make / Model Years :	E-ONE / 2013-2014
Subject :	Vehicle Input Module Software Issues
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V218
Manufacturer :	Nissan North America, Inc.
Make / Model Years :	NISSAN / 2014
Subject :	Steering Assembly may Loosen
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V220
Manufacturer :	Forest River, Inc.
Make / Model Years :	FOREST RIVER / 2014
Subject :	Incorrect Certification Label Information/567
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V221
Manufacturer :	Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
Make / Model Years :	UTILITY / 2015
Subject :	Axle Nuts May Be Over Tightened
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V222
Manufacturer :	Gillig LLC
Make / Model Years :	GILLIG / 2012-2014
Subject :	Electrical Harness Connector may Corrode
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V225
Manufacturer :	Oshkosh Corporation
Make / Model Years :	OSHKOSH / 2011-2012
Subject :	Over Pressurized Primary Fuel Tank
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V226
Manufacturer :	Glaval Bus
Make / Model Years :	GLAVAL / 2007-2012
Subject :	Wheelchair Lift Armored Pendant Cable Shortcircuit
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V242
Manufacturer :	Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Make / Model Years :	FREIGHTLINER / 2013
Subject :	Missing locking snap rings on wheel end drive axle
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V273
Manufacturer :	Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	TOYOTA / 2004-2011
Subject :	Spare Tire Assembly may Corrode and Detach
NHTSA Campaign ID Number :	14V274
Manufacturer :	Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Make / Model Years :	TOYOTA / 2014
Subject :	Second Row Right-Hand Seat Assembly/FMVSS 207