Wayne
County - Motor Carrier
Inspectors at the Richmond Scales on
I-70 at the 148mm westbound are
using new technology to help keep
Hoosier motorists safe. A pilot
program has been started utilizing
infrared thermometers to check for
overheating in truck hubs and
wheels. Inspectors can point the
thermometers at truck wheels as they
roll through the scales to check for
overheated bearings.
Connersville District Motor Carrier
Coordinator Fred Bunzendahl said “I
came up with the idea in October
2007 after Shelbyville Officer Gary
Henderson was killed on I-74.”
Officer Henderson was killed when
hit by tandem wheels that came off
of a passing truck after the wheel
bearings failed.
Bunzendahl went on to say “I saw
health inspectors using the infrared
thermometers to check the
temperature of food shipments. I
borrowed one from the Fayette County
Health Department and began using it
to measure the temperature of truck
wheels. The first time out I found a
truck that had a wheel at 165
degrees.”
Bunzendahl
did his research by contacting
bearing companies to find out at
what temperatures the bearings fail.
“We know from the bearing companies
that bearings will begin to fail
from 180 to 300 degrees. At 600
degrees they disintegrate.”
“This is a pilot program with four
of the thermometers being used state
wide. If it works out we would like
to purchase 100 more for use state
wide.” Bunzendahl points out that
“This program is just another way
for the Indiana State Police to help
make roadways safer for all
motorists.”
Wayne
County - Motor Carrier
Inspectors at the Richmond Scales on
I-70 at the 148mm westbound are
using new technology to help keep
Hoosier motorists safe. A pilot
program has been started utilizing
infrared thermometers to check for
overheating in truck hubs and
wheels. Inspectors can point the
thermometers at truck wheels as they
roll through the scales to check for
overheated bearings.
Bunzendahl
did his research by contacting
bearing companies to find out at
what temperatures the bearings fail.
“We know from the bearing companies
that bearings will begin to fail
from 180 to 300 degrees. At 600
degrees they disintegrate.”