Bendix (Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake) announced the 2013 schedule for its Bendix Brake Training School, continuing its efforts to support and educate both new and experienced technicians. Bendix opens this year's training school on Tuesday, March 5, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The schedule offers classes into November, with a total of 26 sessions in 15 U.S. states and Ontario.
Bendix will also conduct the training school on-site at attendee facilities, an option the company has offered since 2010, and which continues to grow in popularity.
Bendix, the North American leader in commercial vehicle active safety and braking system technologies, trained more than 10,000 people through the program in 2012, its largest annual class to date. Class participants recorded more than 42,348 training hours, learning from the venerable, 100 percent ASE-certified Bendix Service, Warranty, and Training (SWAT) team experts. Together, the team members represent more than 195 years of comprehensive, practical commercial vehicle service and troubleshooting experience.
"As safety and braking technologies advance, it is crucial that we continue to equip technicians with the industry's most up-to-date operational and service knowledge," said John Reid, Bendix SWAT team manager and a four-decade company veteran. "The Bendix Brake Training School keeps fleets and owner-operators on the leading edge of air and foundation brake system technical information, reducing downtime and service costs. And when commercial vehicles on the road are kept in good working condition, it helps to ensure safety for everyone on the roadways."
The three-day Bendix Brake Training School curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to teaching maintenance professionals the description, operation, and service of the entire range of foundation and air brake system components. As the only authorized training in Bendix products and services, the program also offers in-depth coverage of safety solutions such as Bendix brand air disc brakes, antilock braking systems (ABS), SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) by Bendix CVS, stability technologies like Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system, and Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology.
The Bendix Brake Training School's intensive curriculum details operational system aspects such as the fundamentals of compressed air and tactics for air system failure mode diagnosis and troubleshooting. It also addresses foundation brake and air brake system components, including air compressors, valves, slack adjusters, brake chambers, shoes, and drums.
Additionally, the program covers the commercial vehicle regulatory landscape, including federal Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) regulations, the second phase of which takes effect in August 2013, and the current era of Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA).
Bendix has demonstrated its dedication to safety technology support and technician education for more than 50 years, and its training programs are among the longest running in the industry. More than 250,000 people have successfully completed Bendix training to date, and more than 350,000 student training hours have been logged in the past decade. Expert post-sales support is just one part of the Bendix approach that delivers performance, safety, and lower total cost of ownership for vehicle operators.
The Bendix Brake Training School is one of a growing number of educational options Bendix makes available to vehicle owners and technicians. Additional online options are slated to launch in early 2013.
Class size is limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration may be completed online at www.bendix.com or www.foundationbrakes.com; by phone at
1-800-AIR-BRAKE, option 3; or via fax (216-651-3261). For a full listing of locations and dates, as well as instructions for scheduling on-site training, visit www.bendix.com or www.foundationbrakes.com.
