Managing assets: Developing a leasing contract
Evaluating lease contracts, finding the right deal and the right mix of leasing and ownership for a fleet begins with questions: What is the best way to use available capital? What are my fleet’s costs for maintenance and ownership? What information do I need to make that determination? What are the benefits of leasing if
DTNA’s eco initiatives extend from the plant to the road
Daimler Trucks North America sustainability efforts extend from the plant to the road. While initiatives focused on reducing emissions and fuel consumption have been around for some time, new greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards continue to propel manufacturers to develop alternatively powered vehicles. “Our ongoing support for the environment is found in our commitment
Saving reefer fuel
Refrigerated carriers like TransAm Trucking and Witte Bros. Exchange are also taking the opportunity to reduce fuel use from the fleets’ refrigeration units. TransAm Trucking, which Thermo King recently presented with its Energy Efficiency Leader Award in recognition of the carrier’s commitment to energy and operational efficiency and sustainability, has chosen to upgrade its entire
Choosing SmartWay vehicle components to save fuel
In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched SmartWay, a public/private collaboration with the freight transportation industry that helps carriers and other companies improve fuel efficiency and lower costs. EPA’s SmartWay Technology program develops test protocols, reviews strategies and verifies the performance of vehicles, technologies and equipment that have the potential to reduce greenhouse
Combined Transport leverages technology, the right specs
Specialized operations require equally precise equipment and maintenance practices, and that is exactly the case at Combined Transport Inc. The Central Point, Ore.-based specialized motor carrier, as well as a hauler of general commodities throughout the lower 48 U.S. states and Canada, routinely handles oversized loads with multi-axle heavy haul trailers. Additionally, the company’s Glass
Ford expands truck lineup
Ford is expanding its commercial vehicle lineup for 2014 and is offering new information sources. The truck maker has set its commercial lineup for 2014 and among the announcements from the OEM is a new CNG/LPG-prepped engine for the F-150 half-ton pickup. Beginning last fall, the 2014 Ford F-150 equipped with a standard 3.7-liter V6
Ram Truck brings out 2014 models featuring MPG-boosting innovations
Central to the design and development of 2014 model year Ram Truck pickups and chassis cabs is an emphasis on boosting fuel efficiency. The 2014 Ram 1500, for example, was designed with the manufacturer’s TorqueFlite 8, an eight-speed automatic that doubles the amount of gears compared to the previously available four-speed transmission, and stop-start, thermal
KLLM is focused on technology as a path to a competitive advantage
For KLLM Transport Services, one of the more highly recognized temperature-controlled carriers in the United States, using technology to gain cost and competitive advantages has helped paved the road to success for many years. Recently, however, that need grew significantly, if not in scope then most certainly in size. In mid summer of this year,
Stay cool: Refrigerated trailers and bodies
The thermal efficiency of any refrigerated truck body or trailer is a direct result of materials used and construction techniques. At Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, for example, a sandwich construction process for the company’s Blizzard, Guardian, Majestic and Cadet models includes using seamless exterior fiberglass panels and seamless interior liners called ArcticTherm, steel tubes and
Driving performance with information: ATA summit addresses the value of information technology
For fleets that have embraced technologies designed to provide a better understanding of business processes, the ability to analyze and use data to make more effective choices is a clear path to a more competitive advantage in the market. How information technology is changing the trucking business for the better was the premise of the
Generating uptime: Meeting medium-duty fleet needs
Navistar’s president reflects on how truck OEMs are addressing the needs of medium-duty fleets: “The goals of medium-duty fleets are not really different than those of heavy-duty on-highway operations,” says Bill Kozek, president, North America Truck and Parts at Navistar. “While medium-duty operations generally see trucks as a tool to get their real business done,
Putting the GM Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab to the test
GMC continues to offer trucks ready to meet fleet needs. There’s nothing like firsthand experience, which is exactly what we got when GM offered a 2014 Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab pickup truck to us for a test drive. The sibling to the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was fitted with a 5.3-liter V8 EcoTec3 355-HP
