Cruise Control System In Indian Trucks: Do You Really Need It?

Here’s a comprehensive article explaining whether a cruise control system is required in Indian trucks and how and when to use it

In the commercial vehicle sector, new technological innovations integrated into trucks to enhance the vehicle's performance have helped set high safety standards. While there are several technological advancements in the sector for improving safety, a simple innovation that has resulted in occupant and cargo safety is the cruise control system.

According to many experts in the industry, 50 percent of accidents are caused by speeding trucks which lose control. With the installation of cruise control from the factory line, commercial vehicle-related accidents have reduced. Moreover, with an improvement in speed management, the road to enhancing safety is not a far-fetched dream. 

Today, let us discuss more about the cruise control system in trucks to understand how it works and how truck drivers can manage speed to enhance safety: 

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What Is A Cruise Control System In Trucks? 

A cruise control system in trucks is a safety feature that allows drivers to operate the vehicle at a particular speed without engaging the accelerator pedal. Once the system is activated, setting a particular speed, truck drivers can drive the vehicle at a desired speed, useful when driving on highways to improve driver performance. 

Further, adaptive cruise control in trucks is an advanced version of the standard cruise control system which works by setting a particular speed. However, the catch here is that the system in commercial vehicles maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front, which standard cruise control does not tend to do.  

Moreover, if the vehicle in front slows down, the adaptive cruise control system slows down your truck’s speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. This feature is particularly useful when driving in heavy traffic conditions behind slower vehicles. 

Why Do You Need To Use A Cruise Control System? 

As mentioned before, a cruise control system enhances the safety of the commercial vehicle. However, it also enhances the fuel efficiency of the truck to reduce the operating cost and improve overall profitability. Additionally, it helps improve driver productivity and functions as a comfort feature to enhance driver performance in long-haul journeys. 

It also helps in most cases to improve the vehicle's pulling power, especially if the weight of the load is evenly distributed between the drive axles and trailer tandems. Let us also check out all other reasons why you should be using a cruise control system in your truck: 

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Reasons To Use Cruise Control: Benefits Explained

Mileage Enhancement: A cruise control system in a truck helps improve the vehicle's mileage significantly. By setting a particular speed, the system maintains consistency in speed, keeping a particular pace and relieving the powertrain from excessive inputs like constant gearshifts or acceleration and deceleration – factors that reduce fuel efficiency.  

Reduction In Fatigue: Driving a truck is not an easy task, especially if the operator is hauling heavy goods onboard the vehicle. Operating a truck is a challenging task that can cause fatigue significantly. This is where the cruise control system comes into play. It helps the driver take the foot off the accelerator pedal, setting a particular pace, to reduce stress. 

Speed Limits: Speeding tickets are something drivers want to stay away from since they can burn a hole in their pockets. To ensure that they are driving the truck under the speed limit to avoid tickets, drivers can set a particular speed using the cruise control which maintains consistency in pace, ensuring the vehicle is running under the speed limits. 

Improvement In Reaction Time: Cruise control also helps drivers focus more on the road and have sharp concentration due to the reduction in effort required to operate the vehicle. The system helps drivers improve their reaction time to unexpected situations to avoid accidents. 

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Predict Turnaround Time: With the engagement of cruise control which maintains consistency in speed, drivers can predict and offer the estimated time of reaching their destination to fleet managers. This enables them to plan out their trips and manage their schedules through effective communication. 

Improvement In Stability: While carrying heavy loads onboard the vehicle’s load body, with acceleration and deceleration, the cargo tends to shift its position reducing the stability of the vehicle. With cruise control, which maintains consistency in speed, the tendency of the load to shift weight from one side to the other or move is reduced significantly.

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How To Engage Cruise Control? 

Step 1: Knowing When To Engage Cruise Control

Although cruise control is a safety and performance enhancement system that can be used to reduce driver fatigue significantly, drivers need to be aware of when to use it and when not to. So, the first thing should be to know when to engage and disengage the system. To point out, the cruise control system must not be used during heavy rain, icy road conditions or bad weather as chances for hydroplaning lurk around. 

Step 2: Setting The System Or Engaging It

To set up the system or activate it, there is usually a button to turn on or off the system. Once this on/off button is engaged, accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed, keeping in mind the speed limit. Once the vehicle has reached the desired speed, there is another button to lock in the speed (set) you want the system to engage.  

Step 3: Adjusting The Speed

Generally, there is a button to increase the speed and decrease the speed of the cruise control system of your vehicle without disengaging the system or using the acceleration pedal while the system is already activated. This way, you can increase the speed or decrease it gradually considering the speed limit. 

Step 4: Turning Off The System

Turning off a cruise control system is the easy part. When pressing the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle, the system automatically deactivates. You can also turn it off using the on/off button that we discussed earlier in Step 2. 

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Conclusion: Do You Need A Cruise Control System In Trucks? 

A cruise control system is necessary for modern-day trucks to enhance the haulage operation, reduce driver fatigue and improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicles. Although it does reduce accidents significantly, it must be noted that the system only controls the speed of the truck and does not remove the need for active driving. 

Moreover, it is high time that manufacturers install cruise control systems in trucks to improve driver performance, comfort, safety and efficiency of the vehicles - which are factors responsible for driving in profitability and improving turnaround times.

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