Central Refrigerated Service is adding the Bendix Wingman Advanced collision mitigation system from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems to its highway tractors.
The fleet is equipping 100 new Peterbilt tractors with Bendix Wingman Advanced this year. Approximately half are already on the road, Bendix said. Central Refrigerated Service also equips all of its tractors with the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system.
The Salt Lake City, Utah-based fleet has 1,950 tractors and 3,400 trailers in its fleet, which services 48 states.
Other Bendix products used by the Central Refrigerated Service fleet include AD-IP air dryers with PuraGuard oil-coalescing technology, Bendix Versajust slack adjusters, Bendix EverSure spring brakes with No Touch technology, and Bendix ES (Extended Service) wide drum brakes.
“Safety is our number one priority, and we have been consistently impressed by Bendix’s game-changing active safety technology,” said Mark Hadley, Central Refrigerated Service’s director of fleet maintenance. “We began adopting today’s stopping distance and safety standards seven years ago, adding Bendix’s wide brakes to our trucks. From brakes to full-stability, every Bendix product we’ve incorporated into our fleet has been reliable. With Bendix Wingman Advanced, we believe our incidences of rear-end collisions have been reduced – our use of the system is still new, so we’re waiting for conclusive data.”
Bendix Wingman Advanced 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. 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.
“Bendix is proud to be a part of Central Refrigerated Service’s commitment to provide safe vehicles for their drivers and improve roadway safety for everyone.” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Controls group.
