sweetbillebob
Seasoned Expediter
We are in Canada, have been here since Tuesday, (Currently Thurs Mid Day). I would like to share what I have seen and heard from Canadians regarding the limiter(s).
Scale houses are full of trucks being checked, most are open during the day, none at night that we have seen. (We have been back and forth across 401,402,403 (3) times.) Lots of guys running around with hand held devices. (This has been seen from the road, we have not had to pull in yet. They turn on the flashers indicating open when they have a few open spots, then turn the flashers off until they have room again.) We stopped by Freightliner yesterday to pick up some rubber nuts for our grill and I had a long talk with the guy at the service desk regarding the limiters.
He said, "they pull the pertinent data out of the truck with the hand held devices. Then download the data into a computer. Add in some additional data such as tire brand/size. Then the computer gives a go/no go. If no go, the computer identifies the reason. All data effecting the limiter is utilized, (revs/mile, diff. ratio, etc.). Fines are increased if the limiter is set and other parameters have been altered to make it seem like you are complying when you can actually run faster".
He also talked with me about parameters specific to Freightliner under the "Smart Pass" section. Smart Pass is designed to work when the vehicle has been limited. It is available for all Freightliner models and all engines supplied by Freightliner. The purpose to to make available extra speed, past the set limit, for passing and emergency situations. He showed me the parameter settings of a truck that had just been in to get the Smart Pass variables set. There are (3) parameters that get set; max speed increment above the setpoint, amount of time allowed over the set point, timer reset. In the case I was shown, the truck could run 10 km/hour over the speed limiter setpoiint, for 25 minutes, every 8 hours. It is actuated by depressing the accelerator to the floor, releasing, then accelerating again. It starts counting time when the speed passes the limiting setpoint, stops counting time when the speed is back under the setpoint. The next time it is invoked, it adds to the previous time. The time counter is reset, in this case after 8 hours, resetting the cumulative time above the setpoint. All three variables can be adjusted, I know some of the limits, but not all. Max time is 255 minutes, min reset time 8 hours, max reset time 24 hours.
He did not have information regarding whether or not the DOT allows these parameters to be set. It would make sense that if they did there would be limits. He did say that 50% of the truckers who came in the have their speed limiter set were choosing to set the Smart Pass variable also. And that by and large they were using the parameters as intended, (for passing and emergencies). They were not being set high to allow extended running time above the limit. The fine is from $250 to $20,000. The high end being used as a deterrent from messing with parameters to allow speeds in excess of the limit while trying to appear compliant.
Scale houses are full of trucks being checked, most are open during the day, none at night that we have seen. (We have been back and forth across 401,402,403 (3) times.) Lots of guys running around with hand held devices. (This has been seen from the road, we have not had to pull in yet. They turn on the flashers indicating open when they have a few open spots, then turn the flashers off until they have room again.) We stopped by Freightliner yesterday to pick up some rubber nuts for our grill and I had a long talk with the guy at the service desk regarding the limiters.
He said, "they pull the pertinent data out of the truck with the hand held devices. Then download the data into a computer. Add in some additional data such as tire brand/size. Then the computer gives a go/no go. If no go, the computer identifies the reason. All data effecting the limiter is utilized, (revs/mile, diff. ratio, etc.). Fines are increased if the limiter is set and other parameters have been altered to make it seem like you are complying when you can actually run faster".
He also talked with me about parameters specific to Freightliner under the "Smart Pass" section. Smart Pass is designed to work when the vehicle has been limited. It is available for all Freightliner models and all engines supplied by Freightliner. The purpose to to make available extra speed, past the set limit, for passing and emergency situations. He showed me the parameter settings of a truck that had just been in to get the Smart Pass variables set. There are (3) parameters that get set; max speed increment above the setpoint, amount of time allowed over the set point, timer reset. In the case I was shown, the truck could run 10 km/hour over the speed limiter setpoiint, for 25 minutes, every 8 hours. It is actuated by depressing the accelerator to the floor, releasing, then accelerating again. It starts counting time when the speed passes the limiting setpoint, stops counting time when the speed is back under the setpoint. The next time it is invoked, it adds to the previous time. The time counter is reset, in this case after 8 hours, resetting the cumulative time above the setpoint. All three variables can be adjusted, I know some of the limits, but not all. Max time is 255 minutes, min reset time 8 hours, max reset time 24 hours.
He did not have information regarding whether or not the DOT allows these parameters to be set. It would make sense that if they did there would be limits. He did say that 50% of the truckers who came in the have their speed limiter set were choosing to set the Smart Pass variable also. And that by and large they were using the parameters as intended, (for passing and emergencies). They were not being set high to allow extended running time above the limit. The fine is from $250 to $20,000. The high end being used as a deterrent from messing with parameters to allow speeds in excess of the limit while trying to appear compliant.
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