Blue Bird Introduces Stability Technology to North American School Bus Market with Bendix® ESP® Full-Stability System

Bendix Advanced Safety System Is First Stability Technology to Be Offered as Factory-Installed Option on School Buses in North America

News provided by

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Dec 18, 2014, 04:45 ET

ELYRIA, Ohio, Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bendix^® ESP^® Electronic Stability Program full-stability system, a proven commercial vehicle technology that helps mitigate or possibly prevent loss-of-control and rollover conditions, is now available as a factory-installed option on conventional Blue Bird Corporation school buses. Blue Bird, a leading bus manufacturer, is the first North American school bus manufacturer to offer stability technology. More than 300,000 commercial vehicles in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are currently equipped with Bendix ESP.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, the first North American brake manufacturer to make full-stability solutions widely available for the commercial vehicle market, has long known that these technologies aid in reducing the likelihood of commercial vehicle accidents.

"We've been testing tractor-trailer, truck, and motorcoach full-stability systems for more than 14 years, and since launching Bendix ESP in early 2005, we've seen the commercial vehicle industry embrace the technology in ever-growing numbers," said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Controls group. "We are proud to partner with Blue Bird in making this system available to those fleets and drivers responsible for transporting America's most valuable cargo of all: the students who depend upon a school bus ride every day."

Fort Valley, Georgia-based Blue Bird is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and with more than 200,000 buses in operation today. The company employs more than 1,600 people in its Georgia manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of dealers and service facilities throughout North America.

"Blue Bird is pleased to partner with a commercial vehicle technology leader, Bendix, to introduce the industry's first electronic stability control system," said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. "Electronic stability control is established and proven in the commercial vehicle industry, assisting even the most cautious drivers during rain, snow, or clear conditions. We are passionate about offering class-leading features and solutions that delight our customers, and this product is another example of our commitment."

Bendix® ESP® is an antilock braking system (ABS)-based stability technology that recognizes and assists with both rollover and vehicle under- and over-steer driving situations. It uses a series of sensors to continuously monitor vehicle parameters including wheel speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, brake pressure, and yaw rate. These sensors combine to measure driver intent and vehicle direction, helping to mitigate skids, slides, and loss of control – including rollovers – through interventions such as de-throttling the engine and selectively applying the brakes, typically reacting faster than a human can.

"Often, drivers may not know a vehicle is unstable, because they can't feel what's happening until it's too late to correct," Thomas said. "By slowing the vehicle when it nears a critical stability threshold, Bendix ESP helps keep the driver in control and more closely aligned with the intended path."

The combination of its extensive sensor array and both all-axle and individual braking capabilities enables Bendix ESP to deliver stability performance on dry and wet surfaces. Additionally, full-stability technology functions in a wide range of driving and road conditions, including snow, ice-covered, and slippery surfaces.

Bendix emphasizes that no technology can replace the importance of skilled drivers practicing safe driving habits behind the wheel, and systems like Bendix ESP are designed to complement a driver's ability, in conjunction with continuous, proactive training programs. Ultimate responsibility for control of the vehicle remains with the driver at all times.

The Bendix ESP full-stability system is part of the company's ever-growing portfolio of technology developments that delivers on safety, plus other areas critical to fleets' success. By helping to reduce incident potential, improving vehicle performance and efficiency, and providing unparalleled post-sales support, Bendix can help lower total costs of vehicle ownership, and strengthen their returns on investment in equipment and technology.

For more information about Bendix ESP, call Bendix at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE or visit www.bendix.com.

About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix^® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 2,800 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Bendix is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with manufacturing plants in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Huntington, Indiana; North Aurora, Illinois; and Acuna, Mexico. For more information, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit www.bendix.com. To learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit www.bendix.com/careers. Follow Bendix on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Bendix_CVS. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at www.brake-school.com.