The growing demand for upfitted electric drive systems
Electrification solutions for light- and medium-duty vehicles are continuing to grow in popularity. As a result, XL Hybrids is reporting that a rising number of commercial and government fleets, universities and national parks have been adopting its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System. New municipalities deploying the XL3 system include the city of Long Beach, Calif.,
Armellini Express Lines: Safer drivers in safer trucks
Now in his 50th year in the trucking business, Jeff Drury could easily sit back and talk at length about the many changes he’s seen when it comes to trucks. For the vice president of risk management, safety and human resources at Armellini Express Lines, however, there’s no time for reflection. “Today, it’s all about
Ryder sets the electric vehicle stage
When Ryder System announced it would become the exclusive sales channel partner and service provider for Chanje, a new California-based medium-duty electric vehicle manufacturer, the message it sent was loud and clear. “Electric vehicle technology is advancing rapidly,” says Ryder Chief Technology and Procurement Officer Scott Perry. “The number of configurations is expanding, along with
Preventing costly trailer electrical system failures
“Corrosion-causing moisture is always present and any breach in integrity enables it to invade an electrical system,” says Brett Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Optronics International. “When connections aren’t maintained, not only can it mean an early death for that particular component, it can mean that the entire system may be in jeopardy.”
The value of low rolling resistance trailer tires
For many years, tire manufacturers have been promoting the fuel-saving potential of their low rolling resistance products. Their claims, based on sound research, indicate that tire rolling resistance accounts for a significant percentage of fuel consumption. Their case for adopting low rolling resistance tire technology becomes even stronger when you consider that, under the EPA
Getting the most value from your vocational fleet
As light- and medium-duty work trucks become more complex, well-written specifications are increasingly important for avoiding costly mistakes. That is the key message in an article by Christopher Lyon, director of fleet relations at NTEA, as part of the organization’s efforts to provide resources for improving operational efficiency and fleet performance. Efficient vocational vehicle specifications
Brown Transportation invests in equipment and people
It’s not unusual to hear trucking companies talk about how they provide high-quality service to customers, and that they strive everyday to meet their needs and expectations. In the case of Brown Transportation, those goals are being met with an apparently successful approach. “We’re very diverse, which helps us weather any changes in the business
Sweet rewards: Sugar Foods Corp. is using technology to operate safely and efficiently
Trucking operations measure success in many ways, and for Sugar Foods Corp., the numbers paint a very favorable picture. The private fleet, for example, has a 94.5% on-time delivery rate, an empty mileage rate of only .01% and driver turnover of less than 10%. The Sugar Foods fleet has also been recognized by the National
Covering fatigue risk, safety systems and more at EUFMC
The educational program for the annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) is based heavily on input from attendees and is designed to address the informational needs of utility fleet professionals. Therefore, it came as no surprise that the 2017 conference included several sessions on safety-related topics. Addressing an issue that is common in all
How Melton Truck Lines improves operations, enhances safety
“We don’t make equipment decisions without taking financial considerations into account, but we always look first at the safety and driver benefits a technology may offer,” says Russ Elliott, senior vice president of operations for Melton Truck Lines. “ROI is important but it’s not generally our first concern. “It’s not getting any easier to find
Adding it up: The benefits of fleet electrification
A longtime innovator in the adoption of alternative fuel technologies into its fleet of nearly 14,000 vehicles, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is also leading the charge when it comes to fleet electrification. The natural gas and electric utility company, based in San Francisco and serving nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central
How the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s fleet helps those in need
“We watch our bottom line like any other business,” says Mark Quandt, executive director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. “As a non-profit agency, it’s just as important for us to make cost-effective fleet decisions as it is for companies that use trucks in for-profit businesses with pick-up and delivery operations, or
