‘What’s an e-fluid?’ and other electric truck maintenance topics
We’re just beginning to understand the operational and maintenance nuances of electric trucks. They aren’t a one-to-one replacement for diesel-powered trucks. Even topics as innocuous as greases and fluids (yes, fluids are potentially still a part of electric trucks) require new considerations when running electric trucks. Case in point: Shell recently announced its line of
Talking 2020 truck telematics trends and solutions to leverage in 2021
The ELD mandate that went into full effect in December of 2019, while a thorn in some fleets’ sides, was timed fortuitously. When the pandemic hit the U.S. in March, essential fleets ran trucks longer and harder than ever to deliver goods to where they were needed most, and those fleets had more insight into
Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association names David Giroux as president, COO
David Giroux will become president and chief operating officer of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), and the current president and chief operating officer, Tim Kraus, will retire after 16 years at the trade association, MEMA President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Long announced. Giroux, who will join HDMA on Jan. 4, brings more than
Understanding the 2020 trucking market and what’s ahead in 2021
If you would have asked me what the trucking market at the end of 2020 would look like in March or April, my answer would have been something like this: Clearly not optimistic. And I would have been wrong. Like all things in 2020, the market was unpredictable. The shape of recovery has been compared
Unpacking the Cummins EPA 2021 X15, X12 engine details
Gone are the days where updated HP and torque specs tell the full tale of a new engine launch. Cummins optimizing its 2021 engines on the foundation of its 2017 X15 and X12 platforms shows that there’s still plenty of operational efficiency to be reaped from diesel powerhouses. It’s impressive, but it’s also complicated. It’s
Hands on with the Western Star 49X
Rolling loads through a quarry, traversing the job site and tackling the rough and tumble landscape of Oregon’s high desert, the new Western Star 49X worked with confidence. The OEM put its new truck in the hands of trucking trade journalists and let us put it through its paces. Watch the video above as we
Volvo Trucks sounds the horn on the start of VNR electric truck’s availability
During a virtual press conference, Volvo Trucks announced that its VNR Electric is now commercially available in the U.S. and Canada. The Volvo VNR Electric truck is designed for applications and driving cycles with local and regional distribution ranges, including food and beverage and pick-up and delivery routes. The 264-kWh lithium-ion batteries, which charge up
Taking advantage of truck driver safety technology
Truck driver safety and training solutions have grown astronomically this year. With truck drivers being more remote than ever due to the pandemic, an increased focus on safety came with it. Connected telematics alert you to unsafe operation, in-cab cameras let you peer into the situation in and around the truck and training platforms let
In-cab truck cameras are about seeing the context
So you’ve decided to use your truck telematics to help you improve operational safety and inform driver training. Great! And then your phone explodes with notifications—one driver had harsh braking, following distance and lane departure warning incidents in rapid succession, and you fear the worst. What actually happened and how do you approach the conversation?
What to know before your truck cameras start rolling
You need to set the right tone within your fleet before implementing a video telematics system. Transparency and openness to make a system successful. You have to get your drivers’ buy-in, or at very least head off any Big Brother-like feelings at the pass. You want to be able to share the purpose and plan
Electric truck charging infrastructure basics
The reality of electric truck charging infrastructure is not a “set it and forget it” process. Even after working hand in hand with your truck OEMs, charging infrastructure manufacturer and local utilities, charging your electric truck will require more hands-on management than you’re currently used to with diesel. On top of that, there are still
International truck unwraps the new HX Series trucks
The new International HX Series is the first product released under the company’s Navistar 4.0 strategy and its Project Compass initiative. The new HX Series is available in both a set-forward axle HX520 and a set-back axle HX620. The HX620 comes standard with the International A26 engine, delivering up to 500 HP. Additionally, both the
