Greenhouse Gas Phase II: Mitigating road and traffic issues
Comments made recently by Martin Daum, president and chief executive officer of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), focused on the industry’s continuing efforts to address CO2 reductions as outlined in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Phase II legislation, noting that clean engines are only part of the solution. He suggested that adjusting speed limits and improving the
The perfect combination: The Zen of creating the optimum downsped engine/axle/drivetrain mix
Most truck engines, today, run at around 1,450 RPM at cruising speed to provide the 200 HP needed at the wheel-end. Engine downspeeding allows the truck to operate consistently in a more efficient range, generally between 1,100 to 1,200 RPM, while maintaining the same 200 HP at the wheel end. As a result, fuel efficiency
From SuperTruck to reality: A look at the technology that could drive tomorrow’s trucks forward
The objective of the 2012 Department of Energy (DOE) SuperTruck program was to develop tractor-trailers that were 50% more efficient than the 2009 baseline models by 2015. What truck OEMs have learned—and put into production—during that process is that truck technology development is surpassing original expectations. So here’s an update from one truck OEM. Applied
Smoot Brothers Transportation: Conquering CSA citations
Smoot Brothers Transportation (SBT) was founded in 1988—with one truck—by Mike and Matt Smoot. In 1991, Kenny Smoot, who is now the vice president, joined his brothers in the company. SBT has since grown to more than 50 trucks and can be seen on highways across the entire continental United States and Canada. The fleet
Heavy-duty truck leasing primer
The ability to lease vehicles adds flexibility, not only because it increases equipment in boom times, but also because it helps fleet control capital investment. With this in mind, Fleet Equipment asked three of the top leasing companies to outline the features and benefits of the programs they offer. Choosing your lease package Joe Gallick,
American Truck Dealers comment on Greenhouse Gas
Recently, at a joint meeting of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Eric Jorgensen, chairman of the American Truck Dealers (ATD), said that the Phase II of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) initiative needs to make certain that truck and engine efficiency standards are affordable
Buying trucks with resale in mind
“A quality, premium-spec’d truck is going to command higher resale value and helps a truck stand out on a dealership’s lot,” begins Anthony Gansle, marketing manager of on-highway products for Peterbilt. “In addition to greater resale value and desirability, running high-content trucks provide fleets with numerous cost-saving advantages that factor into the total return on
Where to buy pre-owned trucks
Angelique Pierce, manager of marketing and pricing for Daimler Trucks Remarketing, states, “At SelecTrucks, the majority of our Freightliner trucks were originally operated by the most successful mega-fleets in North America. Thus, the trucks in our inventory have been spec’d for optimum fleet performance and field-tested for proven reliability.” “While the first owner specs the
Upgraded dealer service relationships
What do you expect from your dealership? I’ll bet top on your list is throughput time; in other words, how much time it takes for the vehicle to enter the shop, be serviced, and get back on the road making money. Also on your list might be parts availability, quality of repairs and service, attitude
Inoperable truck lighting attracts the wrong kind of attention
Having an inoperable vehicle lamp is like waving a red flag and just asking to be pulled over. Lamp failures are easy to spot, even from afar, and while a vehicle is stopped for the lighting infraction, a more thorough CSA roadside inspection will likely happen. Hours may lapse before a vehicle gets back on
Employing buisness intellegence for maintenance
It’s just basic: Fleets want to improve asset utilization, lower rental costs, boost PM performance and reduce breakdowns—and eliminate costly road calls. One of the best ways to do is to use reliable data. In the age of “more information than we can possibly use,” it is important to find the business intelligence solution that
Keys to keeping your brakes up to CSA standard
With the exception of tires, few components can get truck fleets and operators into as much trouble as brakes and lighting, according to Fred Fakkema, Zonar’s vice president of compliance. Zonar is maker of the 2020 Mobile Tablet, which provides an electronic vehicle inspection reporting system (EVIR). “Brakes and lighting represented 13 of the top
