Distracted Driving In Big Trucks

Driven to Distraction

Big truck drivers have to meet tight delivery schedules and maintain contact with their dispatchers.  A New York Times article Driven To Distraction was published on September 28, 2009.  Big trucks and their drivers are now getting the scrutiny of Federal and State regulators regarding these distractions.

Killer Texting

The Automotive Tribune focused on Killer Texting and addressed foundation issues concerning this deadly distraction.  Big truck drivers have an equally problematic situation.  Commercial drivers need to maintain contact with their dispatchers.  However, these communications should be fairly predictable and systems engineering can logically decrease unnecessary or wasted time in communication.

4 Seconds = A Football Field

50 MPH means that in 4 seconds the truck would cover 300′.  Many research studies have been conducted but the simple fact is that taking your eyes off the road for 4 seconds results in a lot of distance covered and additional time is required to figure out what is going on when your eyes return to the roadway.  Additionally, you may have missed clues about upcoming hazards.

Inattention In Driving

Inattention in driving has resulted in heavy truck related fatalities increasing.  Since fatalities are only a small percentage of injuries then many more heavy truck injuries have occured.

A Legislative Battle Will Come

Driving a big truck and dealing with distractions is going to result in all sides of the industry getting into the fight.  This is a multi-faceted distraction with economic consequences for all players.  It may come down to a total re-assessment for all commercial electronic communication devices legally installed in commercial vehicles.

Minimized Commercial Distraction

Systems with minimized communication function in a commercial validation can work.  However, there ar no standards or recommended practice categories.  Industry and governmental advocates will end up at this point of agreement.

Eastern European Classics

The Eastern Europe Classics

By Dejan Dramicanin

This article gives comprehensive overview of Eastern Europe car classics. The cars from the list are sorted randomly.

Volga

GAZ-24 Volga

Author’s comment:

Volga was Russian for higher status. Produced from 1956 to these days, most popular revision is GAZ-24 (1970 – 1985). In version with 5.5L V8, 3-speed automatic gearbox, and black paint, it was KBG agent car of choice. Standard setup 2.5L I4 was known for brutal fuel consumption.

Lada NIVA

Author’s comment:

Lada NIVA is the best mini SUV in the world. It is produced since 1977 without any changes because it is simply perfect. This is excellent car if you need robust, real off-road vehicle. Older NIVAs have 1.6L petrol with carburetor and newer have 1.7L Opel engine with fuel injection, and there is variant with 1.9L diesel from Peugeot, all with full-time 4WD. I have never heard that someone complaint about this car, and because of exceptional center of mass it is simply unbelievable where this car can climb! With 1.7L engine and factory installed natural gas, NIVA costs less than $10k.

FSO Polonez

Author’s comment:

I put this car on the list because it is always considered as ugly and poor performing – the karma unjustly generalized for eastern Europe cars. Name Polonez given after swift Polish dance polonaise, rounds up the nonsense of its existence. Production started in 1978, and finally ceased in 2002 because FSO was not able to withstand competition of Western cars in the same price range (for example: used, 15 years old VW Golf mark 2).

Zastava 101

Author’s comment:

The Zastava 101 is car built by Serbian car manufacturer Zastava, based on Fiat 128 sedan platform. The car was in production from 1971 to 20 November, 2008, with 1.3 million units sold. In 2007, it estimated that Zastava 101 was the world’s second most affordable car. This is car of my childhood, since my family had one in period from 1976 to 1984. The 101 can be seen in all generations across Eastern Europe, it is solid and inexpensive. I had chance to try many of them, and in compare with today’s car with “synthetic” driving feeling, I find driving 101 interesting since reactions of the car are with a lot of feedback. Zastava 101 remains legend in Serbia. The most usual engine is 1116 cc 55 HP.

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GM — The Clock Is Ticking

Not Business As Usual

The GM Board of Directors will meet on September 8 – 9, 2009 and this certainly appears to not be the same old “ribber stamp” from the Board.  The Wall Street Journal had a very significant article about ChairmanEdward E. Whitacre, Jr and his no-nonsense approach to the basic business of GM.

Sell Cars, Keep Market Share, Make A Profit

The basic business of GM, in the simplest of terms, includes selling cars, keeping and increasing market share, and making a profit.  These are the most basic of business issues.  For the past 30 years, GM has has been a failure on all points, a fact that has been addressed in the Tribune.

Boardroom Direction

Serving on a Board of Directors affords the Director an opportunity to participate in strategic decision making for the Company.  If the Company runs into a wall or loses direction the Board has responsibility.  If the Board is apathetic or follows directions from the Company Management then the Board has given up control.  This terrible condition has been in place at GM for so long that the Board became a “rubber stamp” for Company Management.  This terrible condition of Boardroom Apathy has permitted GM to crash.  Jerry York served, arguably as a dissident Board Member, on the GM Board and made a notable presentation at the Society of Automotive Analysts’ 18th annual Automotive Outlook Conferencein Detroit on January 10, 2006.  This transcript provides an intuitive insight into the domestic and international manufacturers.

Tough Talk From Mr. Whitacre

The WSJ reported that Whitacrewas going to push GM and the Board.  One particular statement is paramount today.  ‘”He’s said to us that ‘you’ve been given a clean balance sheet, now apply the same focus to market share and sales,” said one person familiar with Mr. Whitacre’s views.’

Boardroom Deadlines

GM plans to have a public offering to sell stock in about 12 months to pay back part of the $50 billion the US Government has given it.  For this to successfully happen there must be a successful business plan must be implemented immediately.

Public Relations Are Paramount

Above all GM must have a PR campaign that communicates the strengths of the Company that was in bankruptcy for 40 days.  Financial analysis in addition to the common investor will look at the GM stock offering very carefully.  If GM is to be successful then they must put a positive spin on what is going on, in addition to getting people to buy their current product line.

Action Now

GM must get the car business right and they must do it now.  The seriousness of what is happening now cannot be underestimated.

Dictionary of Automotive Body Terms

Automotive Body Terms

Every automotive professional has been challenged by their lack of knowledge regarding this particular terminology.  Complications arise when the same parts and sub-assemblies are referred to with different names even if everyone speaks English.  Furthermore, every automotive technical professional has been frustrated by their lack of knowledge of automotive terminology.

Not only does terminology vary world-wide for assemblies and sub-assemblies among countries but from manufacturer to manufacturer a fact which is also evident when analyzing GM, Ford, and Chrysler that respectfully reside in Warren, Dearborn and Auburn Hills, Michigan.

• Backlight – glass in rear window opening
• Belt Line – lower boundary of the side window daylight opening (DLO)
• Black Box – a design, development, and build program that a supplier completes with almost no supervision by the car company (combined radio and sound system would be an example of this type of program).
• Body-in-White – bare metal shell of the body including doors and deck lid prior to paint and trim
• Boot – folding top storage area (convertible).
• Center Pillar – box construction used on four door bodies forming the front door body lock pillar and rear door body hinge pillar.  Also known as the “B” pillar.
• C.K.D. – completely knocked down or disassembled.
• Crease Line – discernible line in body exterior skin caused by abrupt change in surface.
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Motors Liquidation Company = The Old GM

Motors Liquidation Company

GM filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on June 1, 2009 and GM officially changed its name to Motors Liquidation Company.

On June 1, 2009 Motors Liquidation Company (formerly General Motors Corporation) and certain of its subsidiaries filed a voluntary petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

For bankruptcy court documents, please visit www.motorsliquidationdocket.com.

If you are accustomed to looking at the GM stock price you will find Motors Liquidation at MTLQQ

Some Not So Fine Print … Continue Reading

Auto Ramblings

National Automobile Dealers Association

NADA asked the Federal Government on August 19, 2009 to suspend the CARS Cash for Clunkers Program because, by their research, the $3B has been exhausted.

It is clear that the CARS program has lifted vehicle production quotas, especially for fuel efficient vehicles.  Automotive Tribune is of the opinion that winding the CARS program down will result in a long term Federal program that will encourage purchase of high mileage vehicles.

‘Old Chrysler’ Creditors Sue Daimler Over Assets

Daimler still owns 19.9% of Chrysler.  However, since the failed “Merger of Equals” things have again started to heat up.  It is clear that a great deal of discontent is evident because of the Chrysler meltdown.  Watching this litigation will definitely produce another round of very nasty automotive finger pointing.  There will be plenty of media coverage … stay tuned.