This month’s issue is all about vans, but it’s likely vans aren’t the only vehicles in your fleet. That’s why we chatted with Craig Smith of Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.) to discuss the company’s tire solutions that work for all fleet vehicles, from light-duty vans to heavy-duty trucks. Read on to discover the company’s offerings such as monitoring systems, P.S.I.’s telematics solution, and more.
MWS: CAN YOU GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF P.S.I., AND WHY OUR READERS SHOULD KEEP THE COMPANY ON THEIR RADAR?
SMITH: Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.) is the global leader in onboard tire management systems for commercial and recreational vehicles. P.S.I.’s portfolio includes automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS) for commercial trailers, tire pressure monitoring systems (TireView® TPMS), and a telematics solution (TireView LIVE™), which delivers real-time tire health information to any fleet’s operation center. TireView’s sensors are proven in the field. Real-world, independent testing confirms that TireView sensors deliver significantly higher data reliability than the competition.
Compatibility is key, and our various sensor options work together, offering complete tire management solutions for trucks, tractors, and trailers of all sizes and configurations—even with existing ATIS. Easy installation options include cap sensors that screw on to valve stems, flow-thru sensors that allow airing up tires without removal, and band sensors that mount internally to the wheel/tire assembly. You may also use TireView flow-thru brackets and check port (CP) hoses on drive and trailer axles. The CP hoses bring the valve stem of any tire within easy reach and allow operators to air up tires without sensor or valve cap removal.
MWS: THIS ISSUE’S FOCUS IS ON WORK VANS. WHAT PRODUCTS OR SERVICES DOES P.S.I. OFFER THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE WHO OWN A FLEET OF WORK VANS?
SMITH: Underinflation is the leading cause of tires not reaching their full potential in terms of fuel economy and tire life and uptime. According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study, the use of tire pressure monitoring systems can improve fuel economy by approximately 1.4%. P.S.I.’s TireView TPMS and TireView LIVE telematics solutions complement each other to offer a complete tire management solution for owner/operators and commercial fleets, both small and large.
The first step is adding TPMS, which gives the driver real-time tire pressure and temperature information. For additional visibility, if the vehicle already has a telematics solution, TireView LIVE can easily integrate with other telematic providers through its open API (application programming interface) platform, eliminating the need for multiple accounts or logins. If you don’t already have a telematics solution, TireView LIVE can stand on its own, allowing operators to track and manage their tire status in real time from any computer or device connected to the internet.
MWS: WILL THOSE SOLUTIONS ALSO WORK FOR FLEETS THAT DON’T HAVE VANS?
SMITH: Typically, tires are the number two operating cost behind fuel. Adding TPMS to any vehicle with tires will not only save money but will also alert the driver or fleet manager of tire issues in real time.
MWS: WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMER/FLEET WILL SEE THE MOST BENEFIT FROM A P.S.I. PRODUCT?
SMITH: Adding a TPMS is just one part of the solution. Adding P.S.I.’s TireView to your vehicles—any vehicle—will benefit the entire fleet. TireView’s user-programmable parameters let you tailor your alerts to best suit your application. TireView detects fast or slow air leaks and alerts drivers immediately. The in-cab display continuously cycles through all tire pressure and tire temperature readings. Any operator or fleet that is conscious about maintenance will benefit from this system. With TireView LIVE, larger fleets can benefit from comprehensive asset history in the form of the downloadable data stream from sensors, which provide detailed, customizable reports. You could then drill down by vehicle type, terminal, or region, for example, to make better informed decisions on tire maintenance.
MWS: WILL A CUSTOMER SEE BENEFITS ONLY IN TIRE MAINTENANCE OR ALSO IN OTHER AREAS, SUCH AS SAFETY?
SMITH: “Air carries the load,” and if your tires are not properly inflated you are leaving money on the table in the form of lost fuel economy and vehicle downtime, not to mention the security of knowing your tires are safely inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Having a TPMS in place can also aid with pre-trip tire inspections and post-trip analysis with the click of a button. With TireView LIVE, you can sort and share data to make the best decisions about pressure monitoring and in-transit repairs.
MWS: CAN YOU SHARE A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE OF A FLEET THAT SAVED MONEY OR HEADACHE AFTER IMPLEMENTING A P.S.I. PRODUCT?
SMITH: Sure! One fleet was recently conducting trials of P.S.I.’s TPMS and TireView LIVE on 10 units in an effort to get proactive with tire maintenance. The system consisted of TPMS sensors mounted on all tractor and trailer tires, along with a TireView LIVE telematics unit mounted on the vehicle, reporting real-time tire health directly to the fleet manager.
About an hour or so after installation on one of their units, they got an alert that a tire was at 61 psi. Using TireView LIVE’s GPS feature, they were able to identify and locate the trailer, then call the third-party hauler driver that was hooked to it. They asked the driver to get out and check the tire. Upon returning to the trailer, the driver said the tire “looked good” and was “fine” after kicking it. When the trailer got to the shop the TireView alert was still announcing 61 psi. The technician took the sensor off and checked it with a gauge. The gauge showed 61 psi just like the sensor said. The technician then changed the tire and was able to send it out for repair. In this instance the fleet saved a cap and casing. Lesson learned? Visually inspecting or simply kicking a tire does not equate to proper maintenance.
MWS: ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS?
SMITH: Combining P.S.I.’s ATIS with TireView TPMS and TireView LIVE telematics gives you complete data analytics for proactive tire management and makes it easy to:
- See tire pressure, temperature, and status for all system-equipped trucks and trailers
- Identify a problem tire and get ahead of repairs before a failure
- Create real-time alerts to notify your team of issues
- Help identify brake problems through the temperature monitoring of the TPMS sensors
Put simply, P.S.I. delivers tire intelligence—and has been for almost 30 years.
Since 1993, P.S.I. has been on the forefront of tire management. Our patented ThermALERT™ wheel end heat sensing technology feature has been available since 2009 and offered as standard equipment since 2017. P.S.I. has also just released its Digital ThermALERT™, which now reports real-time wheel end temperatures to the TireView LIVE platform. TireView LIVE is specifically designed to help fleets combine tire data into a comprehensive platform where they can view and understand data quickly to make decisions that save time and money.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Craig Smith is the marketing manager at Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.). Smith joined P.S.I. in 2019. He leads all aspects of marketing for P.S.I.’s Commercial Vehicle and Truck System Technologies (TST) and RV businesses, focusing on the technical aspects of branding, collateral material, and website development, as well as the company’s presence at trade shows and other industry events. He has a strong background in digital and interactive promotion. Prior to joining P.S.I., Smith spent 10 years as a marketing and communications manager for a global undercarriage solutions provider in the commercial vehicle industry. Find out more, visit www.psitireinflation.com.
