Humboldt Bus Crash and New Alberta Trucking Regulations Canadians are known for their patriotism, community, and love of hockey – and it’s not often that all three of these combine under the umbrella of a nationwide tragedy. But this was the case back in April when an under-qualified truck driver caused a collision on a rural Saskatchewan highway, killing 16 young hockey players and injuring over a dozen more. And now, due to this accident, the trucking industry guidelines across Alberta are set to change in order to prevent it from happening again.
The 5 Senses of Truck ServiceHave you ever wondered just how to tell when your truck or other equipment needs a tune up? You don’t have to be an expert to get a sense for what’s happening when you’re driving. Just let your senses help you out! Here are some ways to discern potential problems using nothing more than what you’ve already got.
1. Listen: This is one of the most helpful senses when trying to find out what might be going on in your engine. If you hear knocking coming from under the hood, possible causes could be mechanical parts – like valves, injectors, gaskets or pistons – or even some sort of mechanical failure in the engine itself. It could be an exhaust leak, badly aligned tires, or any number of issues. The only way to be sure is to get a mechanic to take a look – ideally before major work is needed. So call us, and save stress and your money! And if you hear honking from other drivers while you’re behind the wheel, then that is probably a good sign that something might be wrong. Stop right away, check over your truck, and make sure everything is okay to drive! Can your semi truck maintain itself? One of the biggest costs of running a vehicle is that of the ongoing maintenance it needs – and of these, the most common is the oil change. For big trucks and specialized units, it can costs hundreds of dollars to flush out the system and buy the filter and oil necessary, and if you’re on the road as part of your job, you can rack up the mileage extremely quickly. What’s the best way to get the most life out of your oil and filters?
Is Your New Battery Dead? It could be Parasitic Power Draw! If you’re reliant on your vehicle to work, one of the most frustrating events that can happen is your engine not starting when you need it to. You could have sworn that everything was checked out, that your battery was still pretty new, that it hasn’t been that cold outside lately…so what’s going on? Well, you might be experiencing a phenomenon known as parasitic power draw.
We Have Brand New Ownership! It looks like the city is finally coming out of the bitter cold of winter, and spring will soon be on its way. That means change is coming, and like the saying goes, change is good! That rings especially true in the technical industries, because as technology increases and improves, new methods and tactics are needed to stay current with trends. That’s why West Tech Mobile is happy to announce a change in ownership, and some great new results coming to our clients!
We’d like to give an official welcome to Sorin Deaconu, a Red Seal-licensed mechanic and an APEGA professional engineer. He has a background in lean manufacturing, maintenance and reliability engineering, quality engineering, and heavy-duty equipment design. All of that makes him a perfect fit for our industry, and for our customers! Synthetic vs. Mineral Lubes for Gears Every engine, from those in the smallest toy trucks to the ones in expensive high-end vehicles, uses gears of some kind. These gears transfer movement from the engine components to the axles – which means that they need to be in proper working order for the vehicle to perform at its highest standard. And with constant friction, hard metal parts, and often-dirty work environments, keeping gears lubricated is a must if you want your powertrain to do its best.
When it comes to lubricants, there are two kinds to know about: synthetic and mineral. Synthetic is more expensive, but more stable; mineral is cheaper, but not as versatile in extreme temperatures. How can you know which one to use on your powertrain gears? 2018 Canadian Positive Air Shutoff System RegulationsBig trucks can mean big business – and with that can come some intense regulations that helps keep the drivers and the public safe. As technology gets better and more capable, regulations can change from year to year, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep up with the latest laws and equipment requirements.
As of January 12, 2018, new government regulations will come into effect regarding the presence and use of positive air shutdown systems in diesel engines. While these systems are already mostly in place for trucks that come into contact with atmospheric gaseous hydrocarbons, many of them are still either manually activated, or automatically reset after they have been used. The new rules target this specifically: only trucks and equipment that may come into contact with hazardous gaseous hydrocarbons will be required to have positive air shutdown systems, and furthermore, they must automatically activate in the event of an engine runaway and remain on until they are manually reset. All Class 2 & 3 chemical haulers must be equipped with RPM controlled manual reset positive air shutoff systems. The Importance of Heavy Truck & Equipment Engine Coolants Engines come in thousands of different styles and sizes, but they all operate on the same basic principle: turning a fuel, like gasoline or diesel, into the power that runs the moving parts of your vehicle. However, since this process is not 100% efficient, every engine also has something else in common – they all use a special kind of coolant to keep excessive heat from destroying your engine.
Without coolant, temperatures and pressures inside your engine’s hoses, pipes, lines, and other components could quickly get out of control, causing permanent and irreversible damage. It’s important to have not only enough of it, but to make sure it’s the right type and that it’s working properly for the job your vehicle is performing. The Importance of Positive Air Shutoff Systems When you’re out in the field, working hard, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you’re safe. You take precautions, you keep up on your safety checks, and you try your best to ensure that nothing goes wrong. But here in Alberta, where volatile and dangerous gases are everywhere out in the oilfield, there are extra steps that you must take to keep things running smoothly.
It Might Be More Than Just Worn Out Semi Truck Tires... Vehicles, and even more so specialized work vehicles, have a lot of complicated moving parts – there are plenty of circuits, hoses, valves, pipes, hydraulic lines, and belts that can wear out over time. But there’s one part that consistently gets overlooked when it comes time to maintain your truck – a part that might get the most wear and tear of all. We’re talking, of course, about your tires.
Tires are incredibly tough, and they have to be. They put up with the punishing cold air and blistering heat from the asphalt, and they experience friction along the rough road surface literally every time your truck is used. And despite all this, they can last a very long time…but it also means that if something is wrong with your tires, it’s going to affect the rest of your unit’s performance. Have you ever gone to a workshop or a place of business, seen how it operates, and left feeling put off by the employees and their lax safety standards? We have. Whether it’s a messy and dirty work space, improper procedures, incorrect equipment, or just plain bad attitudes – an industry like ours is full of companies who don’t take their safety seriously. And that’s why here at West Tech Mobile, we’re committed to going the extra mile with our workers. We want them all to get home safe to their families at the end of the day, and to prove it, we are proud to show off our Certificate of Recognition (COR) from Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety department.
Calgary Stampede Heavy Truck Trailer Repair Summer has finally arrived in Calgary, and the long days here in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for Stampede! Hitting the city for ten days every July, this internationally-renowned event draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world.
Of course, with all these people come all the logistics, and getting Stampede Park ready for more than a million visitors is no easy feat. Dozens of trucks, tractor-trailers, forklifts, and other heavy equipment roll through the streets, and plenty more campers, motorhomes, pickups and horse trailers, and buses follow behind them. Even though everyone hopes for the best, the fact is that sometimes there are unfortunate circumstances and unforeseen problems. Motorhome Mechanical Repair Service It seems like the bitter winds and intense cold snaps of winter are finally behind us, and people all over Calgary are looking forward to summer. With the longer, warmer days comes the promise of vacations, road trips, and nights spent under the stars, which makes us wonder: is your motorhome ready for the season? Is it time to look into Motorhome Mechanical Repair Service?
That’s right! Here at West Tech Mobile, we’re not just about fixing up heavy commercial equipment or trucks – we can also give your recreational vehicle the attention it needs in order to get you where you’re going this summer. Whether you’ve got a diesel pusher, a Class A, or a Class C RV, we’ve got you covered. When You Should Change Your Truck Gear Lubes Modern trucks have come a long way since their start over a hundred years ago – from the simple engines and mechanical parts of the first trucks, we now have trucks that are specialized for all kinds of heavy-duty tasks. As their capabilities and environmental pollution standards increased, the amount of necessary equipment under the hood did, too, and today, we have finely-tuned machines that will perform their duties incredibly well…provided that they are maintained properly.
Some of the most important components in a truck transmission are the gears, which allow the generated movement to be transferred to the axles and the wheels. An improper gear alignment can wreak havoc on the vehicle’s ability to perform well, and the sound of grinding gears is one that no owner wants to hear while they’re on the road. To prevent this, and to keep your truck at its top abilities, it’s a good idea to make sure that your gears are not only set properly, but also lubricated correctly. What to look for in a Heavy Truck & Equipment Service Shop Calgary is a city of more than a million people, and is home to many industries that require heavy equipment. Along with that, you’ll find dozens of service shops to keep all that equipment up and running. But with so many options available, how can you be confident that you’ve chosen correctly, and that you’ll get the best value for the money you spend? There are many factors that contribute to this, but they can all be broken down into three categories: certifications, convenience, and customer service.
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