Brandon Clemens, Fleet Manager
“We weren’t doing a great job checking tire pressure as drivers,” said Brandon Clemens, Fleet Manager. “We were having a lot of flats."
Looking for ways to optimize tire performance and reliability, Dick’s Sanitation turned to Continental and it's ContiConnect digital tire monitoring system. Offering a more efficient and consistent approach to tire management, ContiConnect allows Dick's Sanitation to access their fleet's tire data and insights in real-time. This has enabled them to implement a proactive maintenance schedule that greatly reduces tire-related incidents and costly downtime. “Five years ago, we made a commitment to do I think 30-50 sensors a month,” says Brandon Clements, fleet manager for Dick's Sanitation. “Now we’re fully integrated.”
Utilizing Continental's tire monitoring solution for domiciled fleets, the ContiConnect Yard system has allowed Dick's Sanitation to drastically decrease potential tire issues. “We catch 99% of the flats that we have via the Yard Reader,’ Clemens said. “We know everything about that tire. If it's hot, cold, low on pressure, high on pressure. And we know that every single day.”
Dick's Sanitation waste transport vehicle on a pickup, equipped with the Conti HAU 3 WT urban all-position tire. It features enhanced sidewall protection that resists cuts, curbs, and abrasions, providing superior durability for tough urban conditions.
With two Yard Readers on-site, their fleet of diesel and natural gas trucks keeps tire pressures in check on every return trip to the yard.
During the early stages of implementation, Dick's Sanitation started with tire sensor installation on thirty of their trucks. That number has since grown to approximately 1,000 sensors, with every truck in the fleet now equipped with advanced tire sensors. Ease-of-use and data availability has led to Dick's Sanitation relying on ContiConnect Yard as the sole method for tire inspection within the fleet. Since adoption of the ContiConnect Yard solution, Dick’s Sanitation has optimized their tire maintenance process, driving significant improvements to overall fleet safety and efficiency.
“Ideally we don’t ever have to affect anybody on the road,” Clemens said. “And that’s what we strive to do. [ContiConnect] helps us to be the safest possible.”
The ContiConnect Yard Reader is ideal for trucks regularly returning to a depot, fueling station, yard, or home base.
"The product we were sold is exactly what we expected. So, the people are what makes it the best thing to help us do the best job. But the support from the team has been second to none. And that’s why we’re with Continental."
Brandon Clemens, Fleet Manager
The ContiConnect® Yard Reader eliminates the need for drivers to manually check tire pressures, allowing them to concentrate on reaching their destinations safely. Strategically mounted in a stationary location within the truck yard, the system enables effortless monitoring as vehicles pass by. Once connected, data from the tire sensors is transmitted to the secure ContiConnect® platform, where it can be analyzed and shared with the fleet management team.
While some might be hesitant about using new technology, this system’s intuitive design makes it easy for all users. As Clemens points out, “Darwin, who is our tire guy, can run this thing and he is not a tech-savvy guy.”
Designed with ease of use in mind, this system offers value to less experienced drivers as well. When temperatures are less favorable, manually checking tire pressures can be a hassle. As he puts it, “it takes 30 seconds to do when it’s -30° degrees out or 95° degrees out. It’s a lot better than having to be outside in those elements and struggling.”
As a dedicated Continental Tire purchaser, Dick’s Sanitation has experienced the value of using the ContiConnect® system by utilizing Continental’s intelligent tires with built-in sensors.
“It makes complete sense here. [While] there’s the initial sensor buy, we’re [already] a Continental Tire purchaser,” Clemens said “Also, on steer tires and those come with sensors. So, we continue buying tires that come with sensors.”
Continental’s intelligent tires are equipped with a pre-mounted sensor from the factory. This smart sensor provides accurate readings of tire pressures and temperatures, thanks to its placement in the inner liner of the tire. It’s simple to use and manage, and fleets don’t have to worry about the added hassle of purchasing or installing the sensors after the fact.
At Continental, we prioritize our partnerships with customers, dealers, and fleets, taking pride in not only delivering premium tires and tire products but also in fostering long-lasting relationships. Our strong collaboration with clients like Dick’s Sanitation, Inc. exemplifies our commitment, which goes beyond tire sales. “If we didn't have the relationship we had with those people [sales representatives] and the Continental team, we would be with somebody else,” Clemens said.
