All Entries in the "News" Category

40th Anniversary California Fire Mechanics Academy

TSE adds Leland brand, relocates to Alabama

By CCJ Staff – Repost from:

TSE Brakes Inc. has added the Leland brand to its product portfolio, with Jason Gerding leading the expanded business as TSE president. Gerding previously was president of Leland Brake & Wheel Parts.
“With 14 years in the transportation industry and a solid understanding of 80/20 business principles, Jason brings strong management skills to the combined operation,” says Pedro Ferro, president of the Marmon Highway Technologies Undercarriage Group, which includes both TSE and Leland.

Greg Smith, son of company founder Ted Smith, is leaving TSE to pursue other interests. Under the Smith family’s leadership, the company has grown from a northern California regional provider to an enterprise serving customers in more than 30 countries.

TSE Brakes is an OEM supplier of air brake actuators, offering Ultralife, Omnibrake and Alumiline brands. The Leland brand expands TSE’s aftermarket product line to include brake hardware kits, S-cams and cam-related parts, slack adjusters and air brake valves, giving customers access to a broader array of key components through a single source.

In a related action, TSE will relocate its headquarters from Fresno, Calif., to Cullman, Ala., and expand its engineering, R&D and customer support capabilities. This move enables TSE to work closely with the MHT Undercarriage R&D Center and Testing Facility in Cullman, assuring that TSE customers benefit from the latest advances in brake technology.

Distribution services also will be improved with the addition of Leland’s distribution centers in Dubois, Pa., and Fontana, Calif., to TSE’s distribution network, which includes facilities in San Luis, Ariz., and Greenfield, Ind.

“We are excited about these changes,” Gerding says. “We are bringing together the best of both TSE and Leland and their complementary product lines while enhancing service and strengthening our commitment to product innovation, all focused on meeting the needs of our customers.”

OSFM Fireline Jan: 2010

Allison Transmission – Service Information Letter – Fluids

Introduction:

Optimum performance and reliability of heavy-duty automatic transmissions can be noticeably influenced by the type of fluid used and the frequency with which that fluid is changed. Allison Transmission has designed extensive programs including specifications and tests to verify the quality of fluids and consequently have specific fluid and filter change recommendations. Due to field studies, changes in emission requirements, vehicle design, and operating environments, Allison Transmission has realigned recommended fluid and filter change intervals. Heavy-duty Automatic Transmission change intervals have been revised to more closely match today’s operating environments. Allison has also created a new automatic transmission fluid specification, Schedule One TES 389. The new Allison specification gives OEMs and customers another approved fluid choice. Allison C4 fluids and DEXRON® fluids are no longer approved for new Commercial On-Highway products.

Pierce Command Vehicle is Very Connected

Frisco’s Pierce Command Vehicle Is An Information Grabber

 

Subscribe to the magazine now!

By Lyn Bixby
Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine

Stepping inside a new $1.5 million mobile command vehicle built by Pierce Manufacturing for the Frisco (Texas) Fire Department can be intimidating. You’re surrounded by a half-dozen sophisticated work stations, and video monitors of different sizes are everywhere, some displaying multiple images that can come from anywhere in the world and be sent anywhere in the world.

See the Full Article here

!!! ALL STOP, 1411.7 ALL STOP !!!

!!! ALL STOP, 1411.7 ALL STOP !!!

Following assurances by all concerned at CalTrans that the CCR 1411.7 was a done deal and became law on Dec. 3 at 5:00 PM, we received a call today from James Anderson of CalTrans that stated the law change has been tabled by the CA Division of Administrative Law who does not like some the wording. Apparently, he bulk of the content is fine.

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, ALL MESSAGES PERTAINING TO CHANGES ARE NULL AND VOID. CONTINUE TO RUN UNDER THE EXISTING RULE. 

Egg on our face, to be sure. Frustration?  Beyond your comprehension.  This will be fixed and has a mandated maximum 120 day window. If your exemption is about to expire, renew it. 

From all of us working on this issue, our sincere apologies for the premature announcement that we had a successful result. Please get on the phone and spread the word to anyone not on the automatic email system.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/exemptions/firetrucks-ccr.htm

NCFMA – Donald Wisinski Memorial Scholarship

APPLICATION

Donald Wisinski Memorial Scholarship

This Scholarship shall be awarded annually to one member in good standing of the Northern California Fire Mechanics Association.

The scholarship award shall include CFMA tuition and textbooks approved by the Board of Directors of the California Fire Mechanics Academy, Inc. Transportation and housing costs are not included. All applications must be received by the NCFMA Executive Board no later than February 15, 2010. Late applications will not be accepted.

Section I: Personal Information

Name ________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________

City _____________________ State _________ Zip ______________

Telephone ___________________ (work) __________________ (home)

E-mail ___________________

Highest Level of Education (HS/College/Other) ______________________________

Employment History

Agency/Company Position/Title From-To

List all Mechanic Certifications Currently Held (ASE/EVT/Other)

Section II: Personal Statement

Provide the NCFMA Board of Directors with any additional information you feel would help in making a decision about your application. Please include your personal goals, educational goals, career objectives and statement of financial need, if applicable. (Attach a separate sheet)

Section III: Letter of Recommendation

Provide the NCFMA Board of Directors with at least one professional letter of recommendation from your current employer outlining your qualifications, job responsibilities and experience.

Section IV: Review Process

All applications will be reviewed at the February meeting of the Northern California Fire Mechanics Association by the Board of Directors. The scholarship recipient will be personally notified no later than March 1, 2009 and will be introduced at the annual CFMA banquet.

Fire Mechanic Passing……

Fire Mechanic Marshall Hayes of San Bernardino County Fire, passed  away last Friday, 11/27/09. He had the flu, caught pneumonia, and died of respiratory failure. He was not even 50 years old, and leaves behind his wife & three children. I just received the arrangement info a short time ago.

The viewing is this Thursday evening @ Miller Jones Funeral Home from 5:00PM to 8:00PM, 
1835 North Perris Blvd., Perris, Cal. 92571.
The funeral is this Friday @ 10:00AM @ Emanual Baptist Church,  28355 Baseline Drive, Highland, Cal.
92346.