Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorder Training

By Alyse Ridpath

Dr. Alan Lynch, PE, recently attended the Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorder (HVEDR) training offered by the Midwest Association of Technical Accident Investigators.  The training was designed for vehicle accident investigators of heavy trucks crashes.  Heavy trucks include original equipment manufacturers such as Freightliner, Volvo, and Peterbilt among others.  The training included the proper procedures to download data contained in the truck engine’s electronic control module (ECM).  The ECM data is often times referred to as black box data.  Dr. Lynch received hands-on practice in downloading the ECM data in a laboratory benchtop setting and on heavy trucks at a local Peterbilt repair shop.  Below is an image of a successful download from a Detroit Diesel engine HVEDR. Dr. Lynch is certified to reconstruct accidents through the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR).