WASHINGTON, DC — The heavy duty brake manufacturing industry supports efforts by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reduce the required stopping distance for truck tractors by 20 to 30 percent.

“We support the agency’s efforts to achieve further advances in heavy duty vehicle safety by seeking an improved stopping distance standard for truck tractors,” said Tim Kraus, executive director of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA).

HDMA, along with its parent association, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Heavy Duty Brake Manufacturers Council (HDBMC), submitted formal comments in response to NHTSA’s proposed rulemaking.

“We urge the agency to consider our comments and issue a rulemaking that will effectively and efficiently bring about an increased level of heavy duty vehicle safety,” Kraus said.

In their comments, the brake product manufacturers urged NHTSA to:
• Target current federal air brake stopping distance performance requirements for “typical” 3-axle truck tractors
• Initiate a collaborative government-industry effort to further examine stopping distance performance for “non-typical” truck tractors
• Set an implementation date for the rule in 2008, or in early 2009 at the latest
• Examine further considerations beyond brake product availability for 3-axle truck tractors
• Address issues which can impact braking performance for truck tractors during FMVSS 121 vehicle testing
• Further study brake system balance issues
• Refrain from making changes to the dynamometer procedure or requirements at this time

The Heavy Duty Brake Manufacturers Council will hold a special press teleconference on Thursday, April 27 at 2 p.m. (EDT). Press and the industry are encouraged to participate and hear remarks made by HDBMC chairman Paul Johnston, senior director, North American Foundation Brake Business, ArvinMeritor; Jim Szudy, engineering manager, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems; and Randall Petresh, director of engineering, Haldex Brake Products Corp.

Johnston, Szudy and Petresh will discuss details of the Council’s comments and take questions on the future of the commercial vehicle brake industry. To participate in the teleconference, call 800-377-8846, and enter the passcode: 79616497#.

HDBMC is a not-for-profit council of HDMA, whose members are the providers of foundation brakes, friction materials, brake control and electronic components and systems for heavy duty trucks, buses and trailers in North America. HDBMC aims to improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles through the introduction and acceptance of brake system technologies.

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