ATA adopts safety agenda
November 2008 Commercial Carrier Journal 15 Journal (Continued of page 16) Job No: SLB TRK D84453-11C Description:Trucking Answer Column Trim: 4.5 x 9.5 , 2/C (process) With keyline Prepared by JWT/Houston Printing Specs: 2 color Media Space: 2/3 page Media Issues: CCJ Art Director: Kewe Copywriter: Scott Account: Acord Production: ARCHIBALD Traffic: perez Vendor: TBD Studio: See initials please Filed: Studio Output Size: 100% ANSWER COLUMN From the experts at Shell Lubricants This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Do you have a question? Visit www.rotella.com, call 1-800-231-6950, or write to THE ANSWER COLUMN, 1001 Fannin, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77002. How is synthetic motor oil different from conventional motor oil, and are there any benefits to using a synthetic? There are some important differences. First, we'll start with a short chemistry lesson, and then explain the benefits of synthetic in practical terms. Conventional motor oils are made by combining additives with base oil to change the viscosity, heat-breakdown levels, and protection properties. Synthetic base oil is processed so that it's possible to manipulate the base-oil molecules, which come in all shapes and sizes. In synthetic oil, the molecules are broken down and rebuilt to exact shapes and sizes, to better resist chemical attack and oxidation. The synthetic motor oil is then combined with protective additives. One of the main benefits of synthetic motor oil is cold-start performance, providing reliable pumping on start-up under cold climate conditions. And with improved fuel and ignition controls reducing the time it takes to start your engine, the oil flow in your engine at start-up is critical. Synthetic motor oil flows to the upper deck of the engine faster, to provide the protection it needs. Synthetic motor oil helps keep the engine cleaner through improved sludge, deposit and varnish protection, and helps reduce overall engine wear under extreme operating conditions. Synthetic motor oils typically have more stable viscosity and provide better protection when the engine is running under high-temperature conditions, such as high speeds, high RPMs, and long-highway driving. You have a lot invested in your equipment, so converting your truck to synthetic motor oil may be a wise investment. Most conventional heavy-duty diesel-engine oils are fully compatible with synthetic heavy-duty engine oils. Shell Lubricants will soon introduce a new formulation of Shell Rotella T Synthetic SAE 5W-40 motor oil that meets API CJ-4 requirements. If you buy your motor oil in gallon bottles, it will be in the same easy-to-use bottle as Shell Rotella T with Triple ProtectionTM technology, which offers an ergonomic design for easy handling and pouring. If you have questions or concerns, give us a call or contact us at www.rotella.com. D84453-11C CCJ benefits CJ4.indd 1 10/15/08 10:47:55 AM Shell_CCJ1108_PG015.indd 1 10/15/08 3:32:47 PM W rite 232 on Reader Service Car d ATA adopts safety agenda Most tactics focus on safer truck, automobile drivers The American Trucking Associations' board of directors on Oct. 7 adopted 18 recommendations aimed at reducing highway-related fatalities and injuries through improved safety performance of drivers, vehicles and motor carriers. The recommendations were among 23 items identified for consideration by ATA's Safety Task Force, which the group estab-lished earlier this year. On several occasions during ATA's Management Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer, referred to the pending package of safety policy recom-mendations as one of three critical steps the trucking industry needed to take in order to show that it is deserving of greater consideration in upcoming federal legisla-tion especially the reauthorization of the highway program. The other two elements are establishing the essentiality of truck-ing through programs like Good Stuff Trucks Bring It, for example and envi-ronmental responsibility through the sus-tainability initiative ATA launched recently. A majority of the 18 recommendations address the performance of drivers both commercial and noncommercial and include support for: Apolicyontheuseofnonintegrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion i.e., technologies that could distract drivers; Uniformcommercialdriver'slicense (CDL) testing standards; AstudyofCDLgraduatedlicensing; Additionalparkingfacilitiesfortrucks; Anationalmaximum65mphspeed limit; Strategiestoincreasetheuseofseatbelts; Anationalcar-truckdriverbehavior improvement program; Increaseduseofred-lightcamerasand automated speed enforcement; Graduatedlicensinginallstatesfor noncommercial teen drivers; and Morestringentlawstoreducedrinking