Seth Skydel, Author at Fleet Equipment Magazine - Page 20 of 47
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Making sure your tractor-trailer connection is safe, secure

What should shops inspect on fifth wheels to ensure safe and reliable operation? “During the shop’s inspection and maintenance of the fifth wheel, it is important to understand how the fifth wheel operates, and that all parts and adjustments are maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications,” says Rob Nissen, director field service at SAF-Holland Inc. “Proper

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The vocational truck rollouts roundup

When more than 10,000 truck fleet managers, manufacturers and equipment distributors descended on the Indiana Convention Center for The Work Truck Show 2015 they were able to witness the debut of a number of new vocational truck products. Among them were three vehicle announcements. Extending its lineup from Class 4 through Class 7, Hino Trucks

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Defining downtime to make effective service choices

Any fleet manager will tell you that well maintained vehicles are safer, more fuel efficient and can provide for a longer and lower cost service life. For that reason, they would say, planned downtime for maintenance and repair events is a good investment. “While some downtime is a necessary and routine part of doing business

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The right network helps fleets cut downtime with telematics solutions

With the growing number of onboard applications being utilized by commercial vehicle fleets, addressing needs for communications networks that link with telematics systems is essential. Network requirements, costs and reliability are all increasingly important considerations for an industry that is inherently mobile. “No one wants to add downtime, so we’re seeing a rising rate of

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The latest in OE natural gas offerings

Revised in the fall of 2014, the Heavy-duty Truck and Bus Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Roadmap by the California Hybrid, Efficient and Advanced Truck (CalHEAT) Research Center operated by CALSTART concludes that, “The recent increase in supply of natural gas in the United States along with a highly attractive price point, nearly half that of

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Fuel purchasing solutions to optimize your fleet

“Even at currently reduced prices, fuel represents a lot of money relative to a motor carrier’s margin,” says Ernie Betancourt, president of QuikQ. If a carrier averages 6.5 MPG, and pays an average of $2.50 per gallon for fuel, that represents a cost of $0.38 per mile. “Managing fuel purchasing is an extremely complex process,”

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Why companies are switching to propane autogas trucks for delivery operations

H&S Bakery, a Baltimore-based provider of hearth-baked goods, recently unveiled a fleet of alternatively fueled vehicles powered by propane autogas. “We want our customers and community to know that we are investing in and working hard to meet our sustainability goals,” said Chuck Paterakis, vice president of transportation and logistics for H&S. “With propane autogas,

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Optimizing suspensions to lower total cost of ownership

As fleets continue to seek new technology that lowers their overall total cost of ownership (TCO) while improving safety and performance, notes Bill Hicks, director of product planning/market development for the Trailer Suspension Business Unit at SAF-Holland, suspension/axle suppliers are responding with a total system integration approach. “This presents opportunities for matching and optimizing the

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Fleets set their sights on going electric

When Tony Earley, chairman, chief executive officer and president of PG&E Corp., the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., spoke recently at the Detroit Economic Club, he quickly laid out his vision for an environmentally cleaner, economically stronger and more energy-independent America. “One of the most important keys to such improvements is the

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The latest transmission technology benefits shifting fleets

In many fleets, traditional manual transmissions are becoming a thing of the past. With more new drivers joining fleet ranks, easier to operate automated manual transmissions (AMTs), along with full automatics, are gaining in popularity. These transmissions also help all drivers—novice and veteran alike— improve fuel economy and safety. Full control Eaton’s newest automated transmission

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Cabover offerings for medium-duty vocational fleets

While cabover engine (COE) style trucks are rarely if ever seen in on-highway trucking operations, they are considered effective by many local and regional medium-duty operations. Highly maneuverable in tight spaces and offering exceptional visibility and maneuverability, COEs are the vehicle of choice for a range of vocations, including pick-up and delivery, lease and rental,

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Labor estimating: Managing costs is reliant on shop efficiency, data accuracy

It’s probably not a surprise to learn that labor costs account for a sizable portion of a fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO). What you may not know is that you are not alone if you don’t believe you have a complete and comprehensive understanding of those costs. That conclusion was made clear recently when

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