Truck-Lite Co., LLC has introduced the Light-Out Detection System, which utilizes a newly developed microprocessor technology that monitors the
LED safety lighting system on trailers.
Truck-Lite says this new product, released Sunday at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., will improve safety while protecting against CSA violations and downtime.
“As the industry continues to adapt and to improve their vehicle safety standards, fleets are looking for new ways to ensure compliance, improve CSA scores, and increase driver confidence. Failed safety products can lead to high CSA scores, driver retention problems, and excessive downtime. This is a product that was designed to help fleets across the board,” says Brad Van Riper, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Truck-Lite.
Truck-Lite says the Light-Out Detection System works with all LED lamps. It is installed on each trailer as part of the SAE J560 nose box assembly and is integrated into the trailer electrical system.
It is first used during the pre-trip inspection. With just a quick toggle of a switch, a driver can perform the routine light check without assistance; the lights will turn on and cycle through the various circuits for thirty seconds each. The driver can hit the road assured that he/she is starting the trip with all lights functioning properly, or is alerted that a repair is needed before leaving. This helps prevent most roadside service calls and out-of-service violations, which lead to expensive downtime and high CSA scores, Truck-Lite says.
The Light-Out Detection System also provides on-the-road awareness of the trailer’s safety lighting. Truck-Lite says the system monitors all of the trailer’s LED safety lighting and wiring, and, via an indicator light mounted on the front roadside corner of the trailer, alerts the driver to a fault. The driver can easily locate the fault by toggling the switch on the system, which causes the indicator light to blink a coded sequence that is assigned to the problematic light circuit.
Van Riper says the indicator light will even illuminate in situations where the truck’s lighting system is not currently turned on.
