Purchasing the most economical products for heavy vehicle transportation, may not be the most financially prudent decision. This is according to industry expert, Transportation Components, who explained, once vehicles are out of warranty – worn out parts like brake linings have to be replaced with aftermarket components.

“A highly critical part of any truck and trailer combination is the braking system. All too often, we read of truck and bus accidents, which are invariably very serious,” said Patrick Bruinette, Sales Manager, Transportation Components.

Bruinette explained that the weight of a truck often amplifies the consequences of an accident, as well as the number of passengers carried in passenger vehicles like buses.

“For this reason, when it comes to heavy vehicle brakes, the quality of both the maintenance and the aftermarket parts that are fitted as replacements are of crucial concern,” he said.

In the very competitive heavy transportation industry, those in procurement are frequently under pressure to keep costs to a minimum. In addition, fleet owners/operators often do not fully understand the very considerable differences in price-related quality, which exist in components such as brake linings.

Transportation Components has taken samples of its brake lining friction material and tested them in a laboratory, which has given them a rule-of-thumb guideline as to the durability of various friction materials in service.

“Compared to various lining materials from second-tier manufacturers, our friction material original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Duroline’s brake liners and Eren’s disc pads – which are the ‘gold standard’ in the industry – proved to between 30% and 50% more durable,” said Bruinette.

“We put a lot of ongoing effort into educating fleet owners and others in the transportation industry about the varying quality of brake friction material,” he continued, adding that Transportation Components offered its customers parts that match OEM quality but at a considerably reduced price.

Bruinette cautioned that, for companies importing components, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) issued a ‘letter of authority’ (LOA), which gave permission to import specific components provided these parts meet certain minimum standards.

“Fleet owners need to be aware of this, and when buying low-priced components need to ask to see the supplier’s LOA, in order to ascertain whether it is legally correct; and whether the components which are being procured meet the required standards,” Bruinette concluded.