Grote Industries has introduced the industry's first advanced, compact, portable Roadside Lighting Repair Kit.

The company says the kit was a logical response to the problem of unpredictable lighting and wiring failures that occur in the field. The kit contains 23 of the most practical, commonly used, mission-critical lighting components found in today's commercial vehicles. The kit has everything a driver needs to make a first-class field repair and make it back to the hub or to the nearest service center -- without a roadside service call, without an error and without an incident.

"Nothing is easier to spot than an inoperable vehicle lamp; it's much like an invitation to be pulled over," John Grote, vice president sales and marketing for Grote Industries, said. "While stopped, a vehicle could undergo a more thorough CSA roadside inspection, potentially leading to the discovery of multiple infractions."

Grote noted that it could be hours before a vehicle is back on the road, especially if a roadside service call is required to correct a problem. "Now, a $5 lamp has cost hundreds of dollars in service fees, hours of lost vehicle and driver productivity, fines for violations and points against the fleet's CSA score and that of their driver," he said.

Grote notes that vehicle maintenance violations (such as those for lighting defects) will affect a driver's score for 36 months and a fleet's score for 24 months. Lighting-related violations are clearly taken very seriously by the system and inspectors alike, and that's why the Grote Roadside Lighting Repair Kit is such a valuable asset to have onboard any commercial vehicle or mobile repair unit.

The kit is flexible, lightweight and made of rugged nylon. Even fully loaded, it measures only 11 inches long, 8 inches tall and 7 inches deep, so the Grote Roadside Lighting Repair Kit can be easily stowed behind a seat, under a console and in other tight spaces.

The kit comes complete with 23 of the industry's most commonly used lighting-related parts: 12 lamps, four styles of pigtails, three unique grommets, two unique brackets, conspicuity tape and a selection of 14-gauge butt connectors. The kit also includes a selection of zip tie fasteners to help stabilize any field repair. There's even room to add a selection of additional parts and tools. Grote's kit also provides a handy inventory sheet with part numbers and color images that will help keep track of content usage and replenishment.

Grote said the kit will help fleets keep asset utilization up, while keeping infraction-related costs down. Grote indicated that putting effective tools, such as this kit, in drivers' hands will also help fleets attract and retain top talent, by demonstrating the fleet's focus on professionalism and commitment to reducing CSA infractions for everyone's benefit.

"Early users have begun referring to the kit as 'a CSA first aid kit' and 'an additional insurance policy,'" Grote said. "Whatever the kit is called, fleets seem to be enamored with its practical and effective ability to support a field repair and thus allow the driver and vehicle to successfully avoid a roadside inspection, while providing time to get somewhere to have a formal inspection and repairs made."

The Grote Roadside Lighting Repair Kit has a fleet wholesale price of around $105 and can be purchased virtually anywhere Grote products are sold, including Grote's extensive network of heavy-duty parts distributors. The kit can be ordered using part number 00990.

More info: Grote.com.