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 July focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
5. New oils are leading to longer life
“The appeal of extending your truck’s oil drain intervals beyond the manufacturer recommendations is easy to see: It’s both a cost-saving and time-saving measure, and it does make sense in a lot of applications. However, it’s important to remember that manufacturer oil drain intervals are set for a reason, and that while extending them may work in some applications, it’s not recommended for everyone. The consequences of deviating from the recommendations can range from minor setbacks to potentially catastrophic issues.”
Senior Editor Alex Crissey dives into the topic of oil drain intervals and used oil analysis, zeroing in on what fleets need to know.
4. Penske brings voice-assisted solutions to the service bay
It’s not uncommon these days to speak to electronic devices to complete daily tasks. We can ask Google Assistant to make our grocery list, Amazon’s Alexa to play our favorite song and Apple’s Siri to tell us the weather forecast. What if the same kind of system could walk technicians through a preventative maintenance program for your fleet? Penske Truck Leasing has figured that very thing out with its new fully digital and voice-directed truck fleet preventive maintenance (PM) process, through a voice it calls “Pace.” Contributor Carley Hull’s column takes a look at this futuristic process. And you can watch the way it works in the shop in our video here.
3. The same data and application insight we have in tractors is coming to trailers
Given how ingrained data is in today’s tractors, chances are good that you have wrapped your arms around today’s telematics offerings to improve your equipment operations. Well, do I have good news for you: that same depth of data and application insight is coming to trailers!
I can see your one-thousand-yard stare as you contemplate massive amount of data points and how to put them to work. The even better news is that since you’ve dipped your toe in the water with your tractors, you’ve got a head start on how to get to work with trailer telematics. Fleet Equipment is here to help you along your way as you hit the next mile marker on the road to improved asset efficiency.
2. OEMs are at capacity, so more fleets are looking to reman equipment
“Class 8 truck orders are effectively booked for the remainder of the year. OEMs are at capacity and that means you’re going to need to breathe some new life into your tractors to pounce on the current carrier-favorable environment. So let’s turn our attention to remanufactured equipment and components.”
Editor Jason Morgan busts some myths surrounding reman equipment, and builds the business case which, as noted above, is particularly viable in the current market.
1. Electric trucks are everywhere
FE‘s July issue emerged as a sort of unofficial “electric trucks” issue. And that wasn’t intentional–it’s just that electric trucks are, well, kind of everywhere right now.
For one example, Daimler Trucks made waves by announcing that it is developing not one but two electric trucks: the eM2 and the eCascadia. In this month’s executive interview, Jason Morgan sits down with DTNA President Roger Nielsen, who talks about the road to get these trucks developed and what’s next in electric.
In another example, Volvo Trucks has brought two electric prototypes to the streets of Europe. Alex Crissey talks to Volvo about some questions about the electric future here.
