Today’s truck technologies are more connected than you know
Driver-assistance systems. Predictive maintenance capabilities. Remote diagnostics. Truck telematics. Taken separately, the latest truck technology can seem like options that can help improve fuel efficiency and safety, and reduce downtime—and this is true, but take a step back and look at the big picture. It’s the data that’s streaming off of your trucks working in
Outtakes from our cover story with DTNA’s David Carson and Stefan Kurschner
Our August issue cover story that focused on the customized solutions at work today and currently behind-the-scenes at Western Star trucks and the Aftermarket division of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) offered so much info that we couldn’t pack it all into the print cover story. Rather than leave that insight on the cutting
Watch: Truck routing solutions and expanding your fleet’s applications
The last-mile delivery buzz is reaching a fever pitch. Consumers are demanding that more products be delivered to their front door, and instead of hauling product across the country or state and handing it off to another carrier for front-door delivery, fleets have the opportunity to invest in medium-duty trucks and finish the job themselves.
Truck data security threats are serious
You might be saying to yourself, “Come on, is anyone really interested in my equipment data?” Here’s Andrew Dondlinger, Navistar’s vice president of connected services, with an answer that might send a shiver down your spine: “Yes, there are people trying to get into all data because they never know what they’ll find. Certainly, I
One dashboard to rule them all! How to integrate your truck data
There’s no sign of truck data slowdown. In fact, data is only going to come more fast and furious as component manufacturers start streaming information and data sets become richer and deeper. Managing a multitude of trucks is difficult enough without a multitude of data dashboards telling you different things. So here’s a quick guide
Putting the right truck in the right application
Six months. Sixteen days. Eighteen hours. That’s how long David Carson had held the title of Western Star president, and Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) chief diversity officer, when he took the stage during a recently held press conference. Back in January, David stepped into his new office facing an industry outlook that was mostly
Improving the service experience to keep trucks productive
Twenty-four hours. That’s the amount of time that Stefan Kurschner is fixated on as he steps in front of the collected North American trucking business press. Stefan, as Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) senior vice president for aftermarket, faces a rapidly evolving, customization-demanding environment: truck service. “This is the last shiny truck you’re going to
Watch: Tips for sharing your fleet’s data
You know all that data streaming off your truck: fault codes, efficiency data, safety data, and beyond. Yeah, you own that. It’s yours to share with anyone you like. First, a warning: Be sure whomever you decided to share your data with, be it an OEM dealer or independent service provider can transfer and keep
The diesel impact of tire selection
There is a clear conflict between rolling efficiency and durability in terms of tire design. The advent of low rolling resistance tires was a boon for fuel efficiency and SmartWay verification, but the tire construction, compounds and tread design that make those possible weren’t always the most durable, which could lead to reduced miles-to-removal. Today’s
Truck electrification: ‘You’re not late, but you’re not early’
As electrification makes its way into heavy-duty truck drivelines, the integration of the truck’s components will go even deeper than we see in today’s powertrains. It’s a result of moving to one electrical-power infrastructure as opposed to today’s trucks, which draw from diesel power to provide electrical energy. “Any type of all-electric vehicle is its
Watch: What to look for in truck scrap tire analysis
Digging through your out-of-service tire pile and analyzing the causes of tire failures can show a fleet maintenance manager the major causes for their tires being out of service. This could lead to changes in maintenance procedures, revisiting removal tire tread depths and a number of other countermeasures that could result in increased tire life
Watch: Matching axle spec to load demands
Let’s talk matching axle spec to load demands. When it comes to handling maximum, constant and/or diminishing loads, axle spec choices can be influenced by the amount of time spent in each load situation. Startability and gradeability come into play when discussing load situations. The more time your trucks spend in a maximum load situation
