Posts Tagged ‘vehicle performance’
All New Tires May Require Label for Fuel Economy, Environmental Impact
Monday, June 29th, 2009
As you know, a tire’s performance plays a critical role in your fleet’s fuel economy. And if the U.S. Department of Transportation gets its way, you soon won’t have to guess at your tire’s impact on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission reductions, according to government-fleet.com. You’ll just have to look at the label on your tires when you purchase them.
The proposal, which was put forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), also would provide customers “with two other key pieces of tire performance information: wet weather traction and tread wear,” according to NHTSA officials, as reported by Modern Tire Dealer (MTD).
Should the proposal get approved, tire dealers would be required to display the label until that tire has been sold. The new ratings would also be posted on safecar.gov where savvy shoppers can compare overall tire performance before buying them.
“Today’s proposal takes the guess work out of buying the best tires for your vehicle,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our proposal would let customers look at a single label and compare a tire’s overall performance as it relates to fuel economy, safety and durability.”
Tags: Modern Tire Dealer, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safecar.gov, tires, vehicle maintenance, vehicle performance
Posted in Fleet Resources, Industry News | 1 Comment »
Vehicle Safety Check for Dummies
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
If you are a business owner, having vehicles on the road is normal but not knowing if they have passed a safety check is nerve racking. But why put yourself through that? Make safety your number one priority. Here is a simple – but important – checklist of items you should check before any one of your vehicles hits the road:
- Test the brakes to make sure they are in good working condition
- Verify that fuel and oil tanks are full
- Check that there is an adequate amount of windshield washer fluid
- Double-check that all cargo is secure
- Walk around the truck to check all tires. Any deflated or bald tires should be fixed or replaced.
- Verify that the vehicle is stocked with road flares, first aid kit and fire extinguisher
Tags: safety tips, vehicle maintenance, vehicle performance, vehicle safety
Posted in Small Business Help Tips | 1 Comment »
Tire Shipments Continue to Drop in 2009
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, tire shipments are expected to drop more then 7% in 2009, following an almost 9% decline from the previous year.
As we reported earlier, the decline in units is closely tied to the cost of oil, a primary ingredient in the manufacturing process. The RMA also noted decreased consumer confidence, higher unemployment rates and a decline in vehicle miles travelled as other factors in the nearly 21 million unit decline.
However, 2010 will bring better news as analysts are predicting a turn-around in line with economic forecasts. Analysts predict that the industry will begin to recovery and ship an anticipated 270 million units.
With tire shipments on the decline for the next few months, its more important then ever that you get the most mileage out of the ones that you have. With a fleet card, you can monitor your vehicles performance and maintenance schedules to ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly rotated and checked at the right time, giving you the most bang for your buck.
Click here to read the entire article.
Photo copyright of Mykl Roventine.
Tags: fleet monitoring, Rubber Manufacturers Association, tires, vehicle performance
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
