We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from January focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
5. Hybrid solutions are emerging
All-electric trucks are exciting, but the reality is that in the heavy-duty world, range-extended hybrids are a more practical stepping stone into electrification. Senior Editor Alex Crissey takes a look at the Hyliion 6x4HE, a recently introduced electric drivetrain system for Class 8 diesel trucks, and the applications that are best suited for hybrid trucks.
4. It’s important to understand the real world benefits of electrification
Electrification! The buzz of that word is quickly drowning out the reality of the technology. It’s easy to talk about it in terms of generalities, but it’s important to understand that the excitement around electrification. Editor Jason Morgan takes a look at the real-world, money-saving applications that will impact your fleet in the next two to three years.
3. Keep your trucks in good shape during the winter
“This is a winter we won’t soon forget. Temperatures in the sub zero range across the country and snow covering roads from north to south have made it a treacherous time for those who make their living on the road—and a challenging time for fleet managers who must make sure vehicles are road-ready and prepared to handle the elements. Here are some truck maintenance tips to help.”
2. What remote diagnostics can do for your medium-duty engines
“They say that knowledge is power, and a fleet manager’s ultimate power is the ability to have all of his or her trucks out on the road generating revenue. Remote diagnostics can play a big role in making that a reality, if you know how to leverage them.”
Alex Crissey goes over the current options for medium-duty remote diagnostics and their benefits, then takes a look at what’s coming in the future.
1. It might be time to focus on FA-4 oil
“With a year of the new American Petroleum Institute (API) CK-4 and FA-4 oil categories under the industry’s belt, you have, most likely, switched your fleet over to the CK-4 formulation, as that was the engine OEM-approved backward compatible formula. The transition to FA-4 formulations for 2017 engines, on the other hand, has been a little slower.”
This deep dive from Jason Morgan goes over the benefits and details of the FA-4 oil category.
