Warren with Harbor Truck Body and Van shows off the modular van interiors bin packages available for all types of commercial vans. See more at http://www.harbortruck.com
12/30/18
Modular Van Interiors From Harbor Truck Body & Van
Warren with Harbor Truck Body and Van shows off the modular van interiors bin packages available for all types of commercial vans. See more at http://www.harbortruck.com
12/28/18
Do your current lifting solutions meet OSHA and ASME requirements? SpitzLift does.
Lifting is a huge, unavoidable part of job sites. Whether it's field services equipment or construction materials, lifting is required. SpitzLift lightweight aluminum cranes are portable, easy to use, and have robust load capacities of 900 lbs. making it the ideal lifting tool on job sites.
REDUCE RISK and BOOST PRODUCTIVITY.
Be job site ready with SpitzLift.
Learn more at: https://spitzlift.com/
12/26/18
Stahl Peterbilt wins top award with VMAC’s multi-power system
Kerr is the Service Operations Manager at Stahl Peterbilt in Northern Alberta, with locations in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Grande Prairie. As such, he manages all service departments, including the body shop, pre-delivery inspection, service dealerships, and mobile truck servicing. He is responsible for maintaining his fleet of service trucks, ordering and upgrading equipment and vehicles, and managing all service personnel.
After almost 4 years as the Service Operations Manager, Randy continues to appreciate being part of this reputable company. “Stahl Peterbilt is owned by the Stahl family, who built this dealership, and continued to grow the company over the years,” says Randy. “They’re phenomenal to work for and work with. It’s very family-oriented.”
Stahl Peterbilt: Best in Class
Stahl Peterbilt’s mission statement is to “Consistently provide high quality customer service in all areas of our business”, and Stahl Peterbilt lives this mission every day. It’s this dedication to their customers and this team that has led the Edmonton branch to consistently rank in the top 10 of all Peterbilt dealerships in North America over the years. Most recently, at Peterbilt’s Best in Class awards for North American dealers, Randy and his team were awarded the Top Service Department in North America for 2017. This prestigious honor recognizes the dealer that scores highest for standards of excellence, financial performance, parts and service performance, and utilization of Paccar (Peterbilt’s parent company) training and programs.
So what does it take to foster a high-performing service center dedicated to customer service? Randy took some time to delve into how he keeps things running smoothly.
Managing an Award-Winning Service Center
“We are proactive when it comes to our customers’ needs,” says Randy. “Stahl Peterbilt offers fleet health checks, where we have our technicians check our customers’ entire fleet.” This proactive and free service enables Stahl Peterbilt techs to diagnose problems early and make recommendations for future maintenance. It has big rewards for their customers, allowing them to catch potential issues early, plan for maintenance, and most importantly, decrease downtime.
Though there are shop locations in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Grande Prairie, with technicians in each one, the mobile technicians really enhance and expand Stahl Peterbilt’s service business. Just four years ago, there were only four service trucks—now they’ve expanded to nine.
“A service truck is a profitable expansion of our shop footprint, having our technicians travelling to our customers is much more convenient for them,” explains Randy. “We entrust our technicians to manage our customers as their own; they’re responsible for customer retention and acquisition. Our mobile techs are paid a premium, and by empowering this team, they run their service truck like it’s their own business.” Not only does this organizational structure produce remarkable results (like Top Service Department for North America!), it keeps employee turnover low and the knowledge base high. Many of Stahl Peterbilt’s most talented and experienced technicians have been in the same territory and with the same truck for years.
The Right Equipment For the Right Job
Stahl PeterbiltAs Stahl started growing their fleet over the years, from 4 trucks in 2015 to 9 trucks in 2018, they took advantage of the opportunity to review the equipment their technicians were using. Reviewing the truck-mounted air compressors, they found that their gas-powered compressors had several problems. “It was a nightmare. The air compressors took up too much space, they wouldn’t start in cold weather, they had no power, no capacity, they were completely substandard,” explains Randy. “And because our trucks are diesel, using gas-powered air compressors meant we had to use two different types of fuel.” Randy knew it was time for a change, so he contacted Jim Raymond, VMAC Sales Manager, to discuss switching to VMAC air compressor systems.
“Jim listened to our concerns, and understood our needs, and suggested we test out the VMAC Multifunction Power System,” says Randy. “We tried it out and loved it.” From there, Randy called Dematco, a custom truck builder in Acheson, Alberta, to build a new service truck, and included a VMAC 6-In-1 Multifunction Power System on it. “Mike, the Dematco owner, is amazing. We’ve worked with other dealers, but Dematco has the best quality products, and the best service, it’s superior to anything we’ve experienced,” acclaims Randy.
Stahl PeterbiltAs for the equipment, this VMAC multi-power system ticks all the boxes—it’s proven to work in extreme cold climates and diesel powered, plus it’s compact, up to 6 cubic feet smaller than other leading multi-power brands. This one piece of equipment provides the Stahl Peterbilt technicians with everything they need, including a 45 CFM rotary screw air compressor, an 8 kW continuous AC generator, 250 A DC welder, 12-48 V battery booster and charger, a 2,800 RPM PTO port, and a factory-installed cold climate kit, tested to -40°F (-40°C).
It’s now been two years and Stahl Peterbilt’s fleet has grown dramatically, with each new truck being equipped with a VMAC 6-in-1 Multifunction. “We get air 100% of the time,” says Randy. “It works incredibly well. The VMAC Multifunction never fails.”
And his advice to someone considering a VMAC Multifunction? “Just buy it.”
Setting The Standard
Being an award-winning Peterbilt dealership and service center, Stahl Peterbilt employees like Randy are always trying to improve their business and better serve their customers. The VMAC Multifunction helps achieve these goals of continuous improvement: “The VMAC offers better performance and better productivity. After being recognized as the Peterbilt Service Center of the Year in North America, Peterbilt started looking at our trucks, and how we do it to help set standards for other dealerships,” say Randy. “Part of our success is due to our equipment, and Peterbilt is looking at the VMAC Multifunction as the benchmark for service truck business.”
Overall, under the leadership of Randy Kerr, and through the contributions of his exceptional team, Stahl Peterbilt’s success continues to trend upwards. “Expanding in Alberta is a big opportunity for Stahl Peterbilt,” says Randy. And the VMAC 6-In-1 Multifunction Power System plays a role in that expansion, ensuring his technicians have the right tools and equipment to do their jobs. “The VMAC Multifunction improves efficiency, which allows for business growth. We want to expand our business, and the best way to do it is through our service truck business.”
About Dematco Manufacturing
Dematco Manufacturing Inc. is located in Acheson, Alberta, and has served customers all over Western Canada, including Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Fort St. John, and Lethbridge. Dematco was started 12 years ago by company President Mike Dejanovic, who has over 35 years of experience in the industry. Dematco is known for building custom truck bodies, upfitting them with accessories, and even offering custom fabrication, allowing for a product to be built to their customers’ exact specifications. Each truck service body is built for reliability, serviceability, maximum payload, while conforming to rules and regulations.
Like Stahl Peterbilt, Mike at Dematco ensures his customers are treated to high levels of service, and a superior product. This is where VMAC fits in: “We’ve been a VMAC dealer for about 5 years now,” says Mike. “I love working with VMAC. It’s a great product, and I enjoy working with the people; they all have a good sense of humor.”
And while Mike has been selling VMAC products for years, it’s the VMAC Multifunction Power System that has many of his customers, including Stahl Peterbilt and Finning, interested. “The VMAC Multifunction is smaller and lighter than the other multi-power systems, and that’s important when you’re building a truck,” says Mike. “And what’s most important, is that it’s well-designed and functional. We get lots of positive reviews from our customers about the VMAC Multifunction.”
And with positive reviews on the VMAC Multifunction from experienced customers (like Randy and Stahl Peterbilt) Mike knows VMAC is a product worthy of promoting. “Randy is very easy to work with. He understood what he needed and was very precise in his request. It’s a pleasure to work with a customer like this. Stahl Peterbilt is a great company offering a quality service.”
From VMAC and Dematco, to Stahl Peterbilt Service Department and the entire Stahl Peterbilt team, congratulations on being recognized as the Top Service Department for North America!
For more information on Stahl Peterbilt: https://www.stahlpeterbilt.com/
For more information on Dematco: https://www.dematco.com/
To learn more about the VMAC Multifunction Power System: https://www.vmacair.com/product/multifunction-power-systems/multifunction-6-in-1-power-system/
12/24/18
12/22/18
Hours of Service - Who Must Comply?
Most drivers must follow the HOS Regulations if they drive a commercial motor vehicle, or CMV. In general, a CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business and is involved in interstate commerce and fits any of these descriptions:
The HOS Question and Answer session addressed the number hours that a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver may be on the road, the HOS exemptions, and the number of hours a CMV driver may be on duty before a required period of rest. In addition, the session addressed the permitted driving time based on a driver’s on-duty hours in a “work-week”.
Source: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-of-service
"Hours of Service Live Question and Answer" Session transcripts
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Hours of Service Final Rule for Truck Drivers
The Hours of Service of Drivers Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2011. The effective date of the Final Rule was February 27, 2012, and the compliance date of remaining provisions was July 1, 2013.NOTICE: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 was enacted on December 16, 2014, suspending enforcement of requirements for use of the 34-hour restart, pending a study. Based on the findings from the CMV Driver Restart Study, the 34-hour restart rule in operational effect on June 30, 2013, is restored to full force and effect. The requirement for two off-duty periods of 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. in section 395.3(c) of the Agency’s hours-of-service rules will not be enforced, nor will the once-per-week limit on use of the restart in 395.3(d).
Summary of the Hours of Service Regulations
Hours of Service: How Familiar Are You? Webinar
The
FMCSA hours of service (HOS) rules are designed to eliminate the type
of drowsiness that can lead to crashes. Although many commercial motor
vehicle (CMV) drivers feel that they know when they are getting drowsy,
various laboratory tests have shown that persons are not good at
estimating their own drowsiness.
The following topics are discussed in the "Hours of Service: How Familiar Are You?" webinar:
- Purpose of the Hours of Service Rules and Regulations
- Applicability
- Drivers' Responsibilities
- Carriers' Responsibilities
- Property Carrier Hours of Service Driving Time Limits
- Passenger Carrier Hours of Service Driving Time Limits
- Acceptable Recording Methods
- Important dates and deadlins for Electronic Loggind Devices (ELDs)
- Limited Exceptions to the Hours of Service Rules and Regulations
"Hours of service: How Ready are You?" transcripts
Color/508 Compliant
Black and White
Hours of Service Live Question and Answer Session
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hour-long Hours of Service (HOS) Question and Answer Session allowed participants the opportunity to submit HOS related questions and have them answered by FMCSA’s HOS subject matter experts Tom Yager, Chief of the Driver and Carrier Operations Division, and Peter Chandler, Lead Transportation Specialist in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Passenger Carrier Division.The HOS Question and Answer session addressed the number hours that a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver may be on the road, the HOS exemptions, and the number of hours a CMV driver may be on duty before a required period of rest. In addition, the session addressed the permitted driving time based on a driver’s on-duty hours in a “work-week”.
Source: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-of-service
"Hours of Service Live Question and Answer" Session transcripts
Updated: Thursday, May 31, 2018
12/20/18
West Coast Fleets Deploy XL Hybrid Electric Technology to Save Fuel, Reduce Emissions
Los Angeles County, Cities of Long Beach and Seattle electrify fleets to improve MPG and promote sustainability
BOSTON - XL, the leader in connected vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, is upfitting a combined 38 hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric trucks and vans for the City of Seattle, Los Angeles County and the City of Long Beach to improve fleet efficiency, increase MPG and reduce CO2 emissions. The municipalities expect to see a 25 percent increase in MPG on hybrid electric models and a 50 percent MPG increase in plug-in hybrid electric models compared to their standard gasoline fleet vehicles. The orders represent the first hybrid electric cargo and passenger van purchases for Los Angeles County and the City of Long Beach.
The West Coast of the United States has some of the most stringent emissions regulations and aggressive sustainability targets in the nation, and these three municipalities are among those making a long-term commitment to reducing the environmental impact of their fleet vehicles with XL hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) electrification systems. With XL’s Fleet-Ready™ electrification technology, customers can improve fuel economy and reduce emissions without needing to invest in additional charging or fueling infrastructure, and with no impact on vehicle performance or driver requirements.
For example, California’s goalis to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent to reach 1990 levels by the year 2030, advancing the state’s leadership in alternative fuels and clean energy usage. Additionally, the City of Seattleis working to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by the year 2025.
XL hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric technologies both leverage regenerative braking to capture and store energy during the braking process, and provide electric torque for acceleration. The company’s plug-in hybrid system, which leverages a 15 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, can be charged using standard wall outlets, or level 1 and 2 chargers. Following is what the municipalities are saying about their work with XL:
John Seevers, the City of Long Beach’s acquisitions superintendent (8 PHEV Ford F-150’s, 11 HEV Ford cargo vans): “We are always striving to be a leader in leveraging alternative fuel options for all applicable vehicle purchases. XL provides our fleet with cost-effective fleet electrification technology for our fire department, public service, parks department and other applications to help us save fuel and achieve our sustainability goals.”
Mike Quan, C.P.M for the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department - Fleet Services (6 HEV Ford cargo vans): “The XLH system is helping us to be in line with the California greenhouse gas reduction standards for the vehicles we use in the County. And the XL Link telematics program will allow us to measure and analyze speed, idling, vehicle drive cycle, CO2 emissions reductions and MPG.”
Andrea Pratt, Green Fleet Program Manager of City of Seattle (13 HEV Ford ambulances and cargo vans): “We are constantly looking for ways to reduce fuel and emissions, but most options come with a heavy price tag. XL, however, does not have high incremental costs, and it’s an easy technology to incorporate, so our partnership with the company allows us to stay competitive with our green technology and work towards our sustainability goals.”
“The aggressive goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are driving the priorities for many state fleets and utilities,” said Clay Siegert, co-founder and chief operating officer of XL. “The XL technology is one of the few ways that local city and county fleets can immediately move closer toward these goals in a cost-effective and scalable way, without having to wait for charging or alternative fueling infrastructure to catch up to vehicle demand.”
The XL team will showcase its XLH hybrid-electric Ford F-250 and XLP plug-in hybrid electric Ford F-150 at the Government Fleet Expo in San Diego, California, June 4-7. Attendees can see the new Super Duty hybrid pickup truck in booth 920 and register to drive the plug-in hybrid F-150 during the Ride & Drive on June 4. For more information about XL fleet electrification technology, fleet managers can also contact sales@xlfleet.com.
About
XL is the leader in connected fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, relied on by customers such as The Coca-Cola Company, Verizon, Yale University and the City of Boston. XL’s fleet customers can increase fuel economy by up to 25 percent and 50 percent respectively for Class 2 to 6 commercial fleets, as well as decrease operating costs, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and meet sustainability goals with zero impact on fleet operations or service. For more information, visit www.xlfleet.com or on Twitter @XLFleet.
Source: http://www.xlfleet.com/content/news-and-events/news-releases/west-coast-fleets-deploy-xl-hybrid-electric-technology-to-save-fuel-reduce-emissions/
12/18/18
Highway Products Truck Accessories -Military-grade strength, style and function.
Highway Products builds a massive range of military-grade aluminum truck accessories. Our products have been engineered and overbuilt for every job, lifestyle and need. Whether you're a contractor, plumber, highway maintenence crew or just a "truck guy," we've got the ulitmate solution just waiting to be put on your truck. Your lifestyle and job commands respect, and our truck accessories will help you earn it.
Learn more at: https://www.highwayproducts.com/collections/truck-accessories/
12/16/18
Harbor Does Custom BIG TIME!!! - Harbor Truck Body
Warren Mason with Harbor Truck Body shows off a custom Workmaster with all types of LED lighting and space galore. This was made custom per the customers request and specifications. See more at http://www.harbortruck.com
12/14/18
Introducing Transfer Flow's TRAX 3™ Fuel Monitoring System!
12/12/18
Electric Powertrains Are the Future. Will Fleets Be Ready?
Most readers of Government Fleet are seasoned professionals pursuing careers either in public fleet management or in corporate roles in support of public sector fleets. For a moment, however, put aside your current career history and aspirations and try to remember when you were a younger person, weighing career options and considering just what path to take.
The public fleet industry is on the threshold of a truly cosmic shift, and it’s quite possible that young people today are looking at our industry and questioning those options. We should, as those young people may be doing, consider what this shift will mean when it occurs.
The shift will be toward a predominance of electromotive powertrain technology and away from the internal combustion engine (ICE). Is it true that the demise of the ICE is greatly overstated, or, should we, like those young people still contemplating their career paths, be reading the tea leaves and presume they portend a very different future for us?
LEARN MORE AT: http://www.greenfleetmagazine.com/channel/electric/article/story/2018/03/electric-powertrains-are-the-future-will-fleets-be-ready.aspx
12/10/18
GMC Sierra Denali - 2019
2019 SIERRA DENALI
The 2019 Sierra’s industry-first MultiPro Tailigate offers six functions and positions for enhanced second-tier loading and load-stop solutions.
NEW FOR 2019
- Redesigned from the ground up and larger in almost every dimension, including a longer wheelbase and longer crew cab body that offers about 3 inches more rear legroom than the previous model
- GMC-exclusive, industry-first MultiPro Tailgate offers six functions and positions for enhanced second-tier loading and load-stop solutions, a standing workstation and easier access to items in the cargo box
- Segment-first Multi-Color Head-Up Display projects key, customizable vehicle data on the windshield in a 15-inch diagonal display
- GMC-exclusive, industry-first CarbonPro carbon fiber cargo box was developed to increase durability, efficiency and functionality, while offering best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance
- Segment-first Rear Camera Mirror. Compared to a traditional inside rearview mirror, this rearview mirror display can function either as a traditional mirror or as a camera screen, helping to eliminate obstructions such as rear seat passengers and head restraints while providing a wider, less obstructed rear field of view
- ProGrade Trailering System with Trailering App offers a connected and comprehensive suite of trailering technologies
- Up to 360 pounds (163k) lighter than the previous model, thanks to a mixed materials approach — including aluminum for the doors, hood and tailgate, with steel for the fenders, roof and standard cargo box
- Fully boxed steel frame that is 88 pounds (40 kg) lighter than its predecessor, while offering 10 percent greater torsional rigidity
- Enhanced front and rear suspensions incorporate new, lightweight components, including composite second-stage leaf springs on the rear suspension
- Denali-exclusive Adaptive Ride control offers premium ride comfort through real-time monitoring of the road and driver inputs, reacting in milliseconds to adjust damping for exceptional body control and ride isolation
- Dynamic Fuel Management featured on Sierra Denali’s V-8 engines expands cylinder-deactivation capability with 17-cylinder activation combinations to optimize performance and efficiency in all driving conditions
- Improved brake system featuring electro-hydraulic power assist, larger-diameter Duralife brake rotors and larger brake pads
- Best-in-class cargo volume, with Sierra Denali’s 5’ 8” box offering 63 cubic feet of volume; most of that volume was created by widening the maximum width of the bed floor nearly seven inches
- Higher-strength standard steel floor: a roll-formed, high-strength steel bed floor featuring a higher-grade steel that is 50-percent stronger than the previous model
- Additional bed functionality with enhanced LED cargo lights, 12 fixed cargo tie-downs rated at 500lbs per corner and larger rear CornerStep openings
- Expanded roster of active safety features, as well as new HD Rear-Vision Camera, Lane Change Alert with Size Blind Zone Alert and HD Surround Vision
- All-New Traction Select System allows the driver to choose from preset drive modes that have been tailored for different terrain or weather conditions. Selecting one of these modes adjusts Sierra’s transmission shift points, throttle mapping and StabiliTrak to optimize performance for the situation at hand.
- Next-generation GMC Infotainment systems and connectivity
- Sierra Denali is offered exclusively as a crew cab in 2WD and 4WD
- Denali-exclusive exterior elements include a bright, multidimensional grille, chrome exterior accents and body-color bumpers
- New high-intensity LED headlamps that incorporate C-shaped "light blade" signature lighting elements, LED fog lamps and C-shaped LED elements within the taillights
- 20-inch aluminum wheels are standard, with 22-inch wheels available
- Integrated dual exhaust with bright polished outlets standard
- Denali-exclusive materials, including premium Forge leather-appointed seating, authentic open-pore ash wood trim and dark-finish aluminum décor
- Heated and ventilated perforated leather-appointed front bucket seats and heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel are standard
- Premium Bose Audio System standard
- Available Technology Package includes HD Surround Vision, Rear Camera Mirror and Multi-Color Head-Up Display
- Standard 5.3L V-8 engine with Dynamic Fuel Management and an eight-speed automatic transmission
- Available 6.2L V-8 engine with Dynamic Fuel Management – the largest and most powerful V-8 engine in the class – paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It is available exclusively with 4WD
- Available 3.0L turbo-diesel engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission (late availability)
- Dynamic Fuel Management standard
- Automatic locking rear differential is standard and reacts in milliseconds in low-traction situations to improve safety and confidence on wet, snowy or muddy surfaces
- 2-Speed AutoTrac Transfer Case standard on 4WD
- Adaptive Ride Control is standard
- ProGrade Advanced Trailering Package is standard and includes Hitch Guidance with Hitch View and Trailering App
- MultiPro Tailgate is standard
- Spray-on bedliner with Denali logo is standard
- GMC Infotainment system with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and embedded navigation, is standard. System features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection compatibility, advanced voice recognition, in-vehicle apps and personalized profiles
- GMC 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi hotspot (includes one-month/3GB data trial)
- Remote vehicle starter system is standard
- Keyless Open and Start is standard
- Air bags: dual-stage frontal and seat-mounted side impact, driver and front passenger, and roof-rail for all outboard seating positions
- Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology, trailer sway control and hill-start assist
- Standard Front and Rear Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Driver Alert Package II is available on and includes Forward Collision Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, IntelliBeam automatic headlamp control, Following Distance Indicator and Safety Alert Seat
- Standard Teen Driver feature and Rear Seat Reminder
12/08/18
The DECKED Brand Product Story
Born in Idaho, made in the USA, DECKED innovates products that make working in and around vehicles more efficient, safer and easier. Our manufacturing partners help us produce the highest quality products on the market right from the heartland of America.
We started thinking about DECKED in 2011, and by 2014 we were shipping our first full bed-length drawer storage systems. With a relentless eye on product quality and customer satisfaction, we are driven by the needs of the working man and woman.
See more at https://decked.com/
12/06/18
Custom Designed Welders Bodies by Harbor Truck Bodies
Harbor can custom build a Welders Body
for each customers unique needs
for each customers unique needs
It seems that there's no such thing as a standard Welder Body because every welder want something different.Harbor can custom build a Welders Body for each customers unique needs.Here's a 9' Low Pro 34" Open Top Service Body with Stainless Steel lids and with slightly raised front compartments to the standard height of 40" closed compartment style.
This also has a small sized transverse compartment with two compartments for tall gas bottles in storage, while in the main front compartment are bottle brackets and rings for short gas bottles. This also has the rear compartment cut off and an 18" work platform with V-groove on the back plus the standard 8" step bumper.
This is all mounted on a new Dodge 3500 regular cab chassis and makes for a very clean looking rig.
Let Harbor create a unique body for you! Call 800-433-9452. www.htbi.net
12/04/18
Air N Arc® I-300 ALL-IN-ONE Power System® by Vanair
welder | generator | air compressor | battery booster | battery charger | hydraulic pump
Vanair's inclusive, innovative, indispensible Air N Arc® I-300 is the first system in the world to offer six forms of power in a single 48" unit. Based on the technology of the Air N Arc® 300 diesel system, it provides an integrated 40 cfm rotary screw compressor, 7kW AC generator, 300 amp welder, battery booster and battery charger, with the newly added power of a 10.5 gpm hydraulic pump...all driven by a single engine. Designed to provide full functionality with the truck engine off, mechanics can remain productive in all areas of their workday. The Air N Arc® I-300 offers enough power to run a crane and the technology to integrate with the crane control.
12/02/18
Crane operator certification deadline
“I spoke to the directorate last week [early October] and they are still confident they can get this final rule out before then,” Graham Brent said in a phone interview in mid October.
“I’ll only say they’ve been pretty confident before and they haven’t managed to meet the deadline,” Brent added.
In fact, the day before the previous deadline of Nov. 10, 2017, OSHA published a notice on the Federal Register that confirmed a long-anticipated extension.
The operator certification requirement was included in an update to OSHA standard for cranes and derricks in construction — called 29 CFR Part 1926 — published in 2010. Most of the provisions went into effect soon after, Brent said.
Some exclusions apply
The proposed rule excludes cranes of 2,000 pounds capacity or less. “This standard applies to power-operated equipment, when used in construction, that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load,” the proposed regulations say. They specifically include “service/mechanic trucks with a hoisting device” but also exclude a “mechanic’s truck with a hoisting device when used in activities related to equipment maintenance and repair.”
Since service trucks are used primarily for repairing and maintaining equipment, the certification requirement usually doesn’t apply. However, Brent outlined a scenario where a service truck operator goes to a jobsite expecting to work on an engine and someone else on the site notices the crane and asks the operator to lift some pipe.
“Of course the guy is going to do that,” Brent said. “And that’s construction. So as an employer you want to be completely covered 100 percent of the time. And the way to do that is to have them certified.”
Another grey area is that service truck cranes are also used to hoist propane tanks. The wrinkle is that when a crane merely swaps an empty tank with a full one, that’s considered maintenance. But when a crane installs a propane tank for the first time, that’s regarded as construction.
Propane group seeks exemption
The National Propane Gas Association has called for OSHA to exempt truck-mounted crane delivering propane tanks from the regulations and asked for it to delay the Nov. 10, 2018 deadline. “This certification will cost the industry an estimated $151 million every five years,” said a posting on the association website.
The association even threatened to press the case to President Trump. “With the compliance deadline coming up in November, let’s tell The White House how much this rule impacts our industry so they will intervene with OSHA on our industry’s behalf.”
The NCCCO, in a July 5, 2018 letter to Loren Sweatt, the deputy assistant secretary of labor at OSHA, said it would “reluctantly support” another six month extension to the rule-making process. “We said, frankly, no because it’s taken us so long to get here that we think six months is probably not going to make a whole of difference,” Brent said.
He added that the delay “absolutely has maintained the risk because certification is a risk mitigator.” What’s driving the call for certification is the marketplace, he said, noting that 16 states already have their own crane operator certification requirements and that many job postings for crane operators require certifications.
“So if you’re a crane operator it’s in your own interest frankly to get certified,” Brent said.
The new rule will cover states and territories lacking crane certification requirements and create a “federal floor” that state regulations must meet at a minimum.
1,000 service truck certifications
About five years ago, the service truck industry formed a committee of manufacturers, dealers, users, trainers and others to work with the NCCCO to develop a certification for service truck crane operators. In its first year, the service truck program only certified about 75 operators. But the program has picked up steam and at last count had certified about 1,000 service truck operators, Brent said.
(Another certification body, Crane Institute Certification, has also launched a certification program for service truck crane operators.)
Since the last deadline extension on the regulations, OSHA has proposed removing a provision that required different levels of certification based on lifting capacity, although testing agencies can still do so. That’s a move the NCCCO supports.
OSHA also considered but declined to include an exemption for operators of cranes in the 5,000 to 35,000 pound capacity range. The NCCCO supports that move as well.
“What they said was the same risks are present regardless of the capacity,” Brent said, although he was at a loss to explain why that proposal didn’t also cover cranes from 2,000 to 5,000 pounds capacity.
One area where the NCCCO disagrees with OSHA is a proposal that trainers not be required to be certified operators.
In its response, the NCCCO said that “while certification may not be an appropriate ‘sole’ crit
erion or a sufficient indication of competence as a trainer, it should be regarded as an appropriately necessary condition of establishing such competence and ensuring a ‘baseline’ of knowledge and skills.”
Numbers hard to estimate
Brent said the NCCCO has currently certified about 100,000 crane operators, which he “conservatively” estimated is 80 percent of all the certified operators. But how many others are still to be certified, “frankly, nobody knows,” he said.
“We won’t really know before the whole thing shakes out,” he added. “It’s obviously more than 100,000. Is it 200,000? Probably not actually. We’ve been doing this for 23 years and we’ve been talking about it now as a federal rule for at least 15. We’ve had deadlines come and go but these deadlines have had the effect of focusing people’s attention and getting trained and certified. So we’ve had spurts along the way. I’ve got to think, though, we’re it’s only half way there.”
The rules themselves might even lead to companies having fewer crane operators because firms might decide to reduce the cost of certification and only assign specific people to operate the cranes and assign others who formerly did some crane operating to other duties. Indeed, he cited the example of an unnamed petrochemical company that he recalled doing just that.
“That’s why it’s completely impossible to estimate because as soon as you can get an accurate number right this minute, they will change or probably reduce as a result of the mandatory requirement coming in,” Brent said.
— Keith Norbury
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)
Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA)
Source: Service Truck Magazine
November 19, 2018
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