Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake will offer 17 in-person Bendix Brake Training School sessions from spring through fall 2016. Registration is open for the complete schedule, which kicks off Tuesday, March 22, in Owosso, Michigan, and covers 14 U.S. states before concluding in late October 2016.
For more than half a century, Bendix – the North American leader in commercial vehicle active safety and braking system technologies – has provided technician education and support through some of the industry’s longest-running training programs.
“As hard as Bendix works to improve highway safety by advancing braking technology and safety systems, we are equally determined to support the professional technicians who keep commercial vehicles in good working condition and operating safely,” said Lance Hansen, North America regional vice president – fleet, trailer and service engineering at Bendix. “Up-to-date operational and service knowledge is a vital part of improving fleet and highway safety, and it’s crucial that both new and experienced technicians alike have opportunities to study at the leading edge of today’s ever-evolving technologies.”
The Bendix Service Engineering Team, formerly the Bendix Service, Warranty and Training (SWAT) team – the ASE-certified professionals who conduct the training – represents more than 175 collective years of comprehensive, practical commercial vehicle service and troubleshooting experience on air and foundation brake systems.
During Bendix Brake Training School’s three-day sessions, maintenance professionals learn the description, operation and service of the entire range of foundation and air brake system components. The comprehensive curriculum provides the only authorized training in Bendix products and services, including safety solutions such as Bendix brand air disc brakes, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) by Bendix CVS, stability technologies like Bendix ESP (Electronic Stability Program) full-stability system and Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology.
Classroom lectures address foundation brake and air brake system components, including air compressors, valves, slack adjusters, brake chambers, shoes and drums. Other system aspects detailed in the intensive coursework include the fundamentals of compressed air, and tactics for air system failure diagnosis and troubleshooting. Visual aids, product cutaways and operational demonstration boards enable up-close component study and hands-on learning. Bendix experts also discuss the commercial vehicle regulatory landscape, including federal Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) regulations.
Bendix’s dedication to safety technology support and technician education is long-standing and well-recognized in the commercial vehicle industry. More than 250,000 people have completed Bendix training to date, and more than 350,000 student training hours have been logged during the past decade. In addition, Bendix partners with HDA Truck Pride each year to present the HDATP Truck Service Experts award for exceptional training performance.
As part of its mission to provide expert post-sales support, Bendix continues to expand its educational opportunities for vehicle owner-operators and technicians. The Bendix On-Line Brake School at brake-school.com offers an extensive, regularly updated curriculum covering all aspects of electronics and air brake maintenance. Since its launch in March 2013, the training portal has registered more than 35,000 users from more than two dozen countries. In 2015, Bendix added more than 25 new courses to the site, with more material planned for regular release.
“When fleets and drivers invest in vehicle safety equipment, it helps make the roads safer for everyone,” said Chuck Miller, Bendix manager of field service and training. “Bendix training programs can help strengthen the return on that investment, delivering performance and efficiency, lowering total cost of ownership, and ultimately, keeping vehicles on the road and in safe working condition.”
Class size for the 2016 in-person Bendix Brake Training School is limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration and more detailed information can be found online at bendix.com or foundationbrakes.com; registration also can be completed by phone at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE, option 3, or via fax at 216-651-3261.
