Government, industry leaders experience Bendix technologies

Key legislators, regulators and industry association representatives experienced Bendix advanced safety, fuel economy and environmental technologies for commercial vehicles firsthand during demonstrations Sept. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a developer and manufacturer of active safety, energy management and braking solutions, conducted the learning experience for the third consecutive year at RFK Stadium. More than 90 people attended this year’s demonstration by Bendix and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake.

U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), a strong proponent of commercial vehicle safety and a leading supporter of active safety technologies, took the first ride in a truck outfitted with the Bendix ESP full-stability system and Bendix Wingman Advanced – a Collision Mitigation Technology.

“At a time when everyone is talking about creating jobs, I am proud to work with a company like Bendix, whose leading-edge safety and environmental technologies for commercial vehicles are helping to bring jobs to Northeast Ohio and other parts of the county,” Sutton said. “I will continue to stand by and work with companies like Bendix across Northeast Ohio to create new jobs and new opportunities for middle-class families.”

Attendees included representatives of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, American Trucking Associations, National Transportation Safety Board, Volvo Trucks North America, Paccar Inc., Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance,
National Automobile Dealers Association/American Truck Dealers, National Tank Truck Carriers, AAA and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Several congressional offices also were represented, as well as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Key fleets also attended.

Participants experienced firsthand the performance and effectiveness of the range of Bendix advanced safety, environmental and fuel-saving technologies available today for tractor-trailers, trucks and motorcoaches. These systems are designed to help drivers mitigate rollover, loss-of-control, and rear-end collision situations, while others alert drivers to stationary objects in the vehicle’s path of travel and/or an unintended departure from the current lane of travel.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to launch the demo and ride in vehicles which demonstrated the advanced safety and environmental technologies that Bendix develops for the commercial vehicle market,” Sutton said. “I can see how these technologies will help drivers, fleets and owner-operators improve safety, as well as improve fuel economy and reduce emissions – benefits for all of us who share our nation’s roadways.”

Bendix also showed systems that feature information to help fleets strengthen driver performance, along with technologies to help improve stopping distance. Demo participants learned about the Bendix air management solutions that deliver performance, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. The Bendix team also offered demo participants a glimpse of several future technologies designed to integrate video and radar.

“Bendix was pleased to have representatives of so many legislative offices, regulators and industry associations attend the technology demonstration in our nation’s capital,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director of government relations. “Providing an ‘in the seat’ demonstration truly is the best way to enable someone to get a better understanding of how Bendix technologies work and the solutions that are available to mitigate accidents, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.”