In April, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC conducted two fleet ride-and-drive demonstrations of its safety technologies and services. Bendix hosted representatives from a wide range of fleets April 9-11 at the Fayetteville Executive Airport, Drake Field, in Fayetteville, Ark., and April 24-25 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in the Atlanta, Ga., metropolitan area.
Fleets attending represented the full scope of commercial vehicle vocations and applications. The events were part of the long-standing Proving Ground demo program offered by Bendix, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies.
“Riding in a vehicle and experiencing Bendix’s safety systems in action is a real eye-opener for our customers and, collectively, they paint a vivid picture of the value these safety systems provide,” said Todd Swales, Bendix director of fleet sales. “Showing Bendix technology at work in real-world situations and letting fleets and drivers engage with our experts in person are by far the best ways we can convey our commitment to performance, safety, value, and post-sales support.”
From the passenger seat – and, for some, the driver’s seat – attendees experienced the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system, Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology, and the Bendix ADB22X air disc brake. Vehicles were also equipped with Bendix Versajust™ slack adjusters, the Bendix EverSure spring brake with No Touch technology, the Bendix AD-IS air dryer, the SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) by Bendix CVS, the Bendix Trailer Information Module (TIM), and AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System from Bendix CVS.
Classroom presentations from product experts provided insight into other Bendix technologies, including the SafetyDirect Web portal and the Bendix eTrac™ automated air pressure transfer system for 6×2 suspensions, along with a firsthand introduction to the Bendix On-Line Brake School at www.brake-school.com. At the close of each ride and drive, Bendix also completed “at-your-door” demonstrations for fleets in the region.
For the in-cab demos in Fayetteville and Atlanta, drivers put several vehicles through maneuvers spotlighting the capabilities of Bendix technologies.
“The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received during the Southeastern U.S. leg of our 2013 Ride and Drive schedule shows that fleets and drivers everywhere share our dedication to safety, and that bringing these technologies to the customers so that they can see, feel, and interact with them leads to safer roadways,” Swales said.
Bendix will conduct a number of fleet demos throughout the remainder of 2013, offering in-person experiences across the United States.
