Instrumentation Features

Well when im driving I like to keep an eye on my miles, miles per gallon, oil pressure and air pressure. I think some trucks have this but would be nice to monitor air bag pressure on the tractor.

 

I'd like to see an odometer system that allows the driver to enter a reading and select count up or count down. Use a keypad to enter numbers into the display, select which way you want the numbers to run, maybe intergrate the system with a simple calculator to allow the driver to do math and use the result as his entry to the odometer.

 

Yeah a low airbag warning light would be nice and would be nice to monitor air bag pressure. Another thing that I would like is 4 mile readers for the tripodometer thingy. Cause I like to have one to show my total miles for the week, also like to have one for miles on my current trip. Would be nice to have the extras so I could easily see how many miles ive run on the fuel, and another for city to city or short run miles.

 

I watch all the gauges that affect my driving. As far as miles that's kind of a nice to have thing. There is one item I'd like to see on trucks that haul heavy loads and go down mountains all the time. I would like to know how hot my brakes are. You could have sensors that monitor each drum and you could gain alot of information from a system like that. You could tell if the brakes are out of adjustment and you could see if one drum is working hotter than others. But above all you can save money by knowing exactly what the brakes are doing.

 

I think the one of the most important gauges, although alot of trucks don't have it, is a pyrometer. Measuring exhaust temperature is very important in my eyes as it can tell the driver alot. Another one I like is a boost guage.

 

that brake temp idea is a great one about the bag psi gauge I depend on mine to tell my weights on both truck and trailer once you know your unit you can be very accurate.
Tip(you need to check all axle weights first) take the weight say 19000kgs divide your suss. press. say 81 psi into it = about 235 stay with me now to tell your weight if you have say 70psi just times that by 235=1640kgs I haul bark and wood chips and rarely have access to a scale until its too late this method works pretty good and I know my unit 85 on the drives 60 on the cluster max load so the boss is happy and a green light so i'm happy

 

Sometimes I write down the odometer reading when I get on an un-familar interstate, I note the mile marker and odometer reading so if something should happen I can calulate exactly where I am.
Having worked as a dispatcher for law enforcement, it's surprising how many conflicting reports we get when something happens on the highway. You go with the reports people give you and search for the accident.
You could also use this feature to calculate how far you can drive today and watch it count down.