Opinion: Lighting Tech for Better Trucking

David Seewack

CEO

FindItParts.com

This Opinion piece appears in the April 8 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

Lighting is already responsible for 19% of the world’s electricity consumption, and its technological advancements are changing the world in fascinating ways, including some that are becoming increasingly more evident in the trucking industry.

For example, light-emitting diodes — LED lighting — are among the most efficient lighting sources available and have become the technology of choice for the trucking and freight industries.

LED lighting can help make cities more energy-efficient, provide safer living conditions, create better learning environments and more productive office spaces, and many more great things that affect our lives every day.

LED lighting also affects the trucking industry in a number of ways. Reducing the carbon footprint of fleets, for example, can have a material effect on the environment, business bottom lines and the safety of drivers. Here are five reasons why upgrading your lighting to LEDs is a great investment.

1. Consider the data. LED lighting has the ability to dramatically increase your fleet’s productivity. The benefits of enhanced lighting on your fleets can result in less downtime, better driver visibility, decreased maintenance costs and fewer accidents.

It’s no secret that spending a bit more money now for higher-quality goods can mean significant savings down the road — literally, when it comes to trucking. Upgrading to LED lights is a good case in point. Sure, there are countless numbers of low-cost incandescent lights in the market, but the hidden cost of not upgrading can really sneak up on you.

One major truck-lighting supplier suggests considering the example of a fleet that uses 100% incandescent stop/tail/turn (STT) lamps for its 2,000-trailer fleet. The fleet has 8,000 STT lamps in circulation and, at a 3.5-year average life expectancy per bulb divided by 365 days per year, that fleet will experience approximately six STT lamp failures a day. Amazingly, that creates more than 2,000 downtime episodes per year.

What’s more, before all those downtime episodes become an issue, the fleet has more than 2,000 chances of getting pulled over for an on-the-road lighting violation that could very well result in a parked truck waiting hours for a $150 roadside service call — not to mention the “hidden” fee of a service not being performed or, worse yet, a load not delivered.

There was a time when measuring savings was possible only by simply comparing old cost vs. new cost, i.e., hard savings. But this example shows how a fleet not only can measure these savings, but more important, quantify them, i.e., soft savings.

2. Avoid lighting infractions and fines. Lighting infractions are a leading reason a fleet’s maintenance score can deteriorate. In 2011, lighting violations accounted for four of the top 11 violation categories — or 22.3% of all violations. A high-quality lighting strategy will help improve the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program scores by lowering the number of unexpected lighting incidents incurred in normal operations.

3. Minimize equipment downtime. Unplanned equipment downtime is a big concern for fleets. The costs associated with delayed deliveries and lost loads are far more costly than the money saved by buying inexpensive lighting.

The very low-current consumption and superior illumination in LED lighting is coupled with a life span that can exceed 50 years of operation for a traditional 18-wheeler covering 100,000 to 200,000 miles per year. Imagine the long-term benefits of having safe, reliable lights without the worry of violations, reduced visibility or downtime for maintenance.

4. Increase driver safety. The increasing shortage of truck drivers has made retaining current drivers — and attracting younger drivers — absolutely critical. One very important concern for drivers has been increasing safety standards. LED lighting can have a material effect on improving standards for drivers, as LED lighting has proven to decrease accidents and improve overall driver safety.

5. Save money. With any business, the ability to effectively manage expenses is important. In the trucking industry, it’s absolutely critical. The expenses associated with fleet downtime, accidents, maintenance and other related issues can be extremely costly. LED lighting provides savings by way of longevity, increased driver visibility and low maintenance levels.

Fleets that try to save money on initial LED lamp purchases inevitably spend more money over the life of their equipment. That’s because not all LED lamps are alike. Here are some guidelines for making your big purchase and doing it right the first time.

• Choose an LED lamp of the highest quality, as not all lamps are created equal. Remember to consult an expert, as there are many factors to consider, including design sophistication, ruggedness of both structure and electronics, protection from voltage spikes and electromagnetic interference, lens design, mounting design, etc.

• The quality and life expectancy of LEDs vary significantly. Low-quality LEDs start to dim unevenly or simply burn out — a big problem over time. In addition, the electronics within inexpensive lamps may not last as the result of vibration, corrosion and the stress of the highway environment.

• Entire lighting systems provide the best long-term solutions for your investment. If the LED lamp technology can outlast the equipment it is installed on — you may have a problem.

Overall, LED lighting is revolutionizing the trucking industry and helping to provide a safer, more profitable environment for fleet owners nationwide.

Based in Los Angeles, FindItParts.com is an e-commerce solution for heavy-duty truck parts, with more than 2.5 million parts from more than 1,200 manufacturers.