Bendix (Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake) announces the 2014 schedule for its in-person 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 25, in Owosso, Mich. The schedule offers classes into November, with a total of 23 sessions in 13 U.S. states and Ontario.
Bendix, the North American leader in commercial vehicle active safety and braking system technologies, trained more than 7,000 people through the program in 2013. Class participants recorded more than 30,000 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.
"The trucking industry depends on technicians being equipped with the most up-to-date operational and service knowledge, a need that becomes ever more important as braking and safety technologies advance," said John Reid, Bendix SWAT team manager and a four-decade company veteran. "We offer the Bendix Brake Training School to allow fleets and owner-operators to stay on the leading edge of technical information about air and foundation brake systems. This helps them keep their vehicles in good working condition – reducing downtime and service costs, and contributing to safer roads."
The three-day Bendix Brake Training School curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to teach 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.
In addition to classroom lectures and product cutaways, visual aids are incorporated to demonstrate the components and related systems in each training class. All locations feature operational demonstration boards.
The program also covers the commercial vehicle regulatory landscape, including federal Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) regulations and 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 during the past decade. Expert post-sales support is just one part of the Bendix approach that delivers performance and 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. In March 2013, the company introduced the Bendix On-Line Brake School at www.brake-school.com. The website offers a dynamic curriculum covering all aspects of electronics and air brake maintenance, and has attracted a rapidly growing number of registrations across all participants in the commercial vehicle industry.
Class size for the Bendix Brake Training School 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 at 216-651-3261. For a full listing of locations and dates, visit www.bendix.com or www.foundationbrakes.com.
