Stepping stones: Bendix travels further down the road toward the automated future
When we talk about automated vehicles, there’s a temptation to place the conversation far off in the future, but it’s worth remembering that the bones of the automated future are already on the road in today’s trucks. Fred Andersky, director of customer solutions for the controls group with Bendix, describes today’s advanced safety systems as
The background behind diesel particulate filters
During the combustion process, particulates can lead to increased emission problems and negative health effects. As regulatory changes in emission standards aim at reducing the by-products of the emissions process, OEMs have adopted innovative ways of integrating advanced exhaust aftertreatment devices into new vehicles. Over the last decade, on- and off-road diesel engines have started
Vehicle integration: The importance of truck OEMs and suppliers working together
A great deal of ink has been spilled on integrated powertrains and the trend toward vertical integration at the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), an arrangement in which the OEM owns the component supply chain. But how does this impact the fleet executive looking to secure new sophisticated safety systems, for example? This topic takes me back
Roush CleanTech enters the electric vehicle market
As a provider of alternative fuel vehicle technology, Roush CleanTech is best known for its propane autogas and compressed natural gas fuel systems for medium-duty commercial vehicles. Recently, the company expanded its alternative fuel portfolio with an all-electric version of the Ford F-650. Built on the OEM’s chassis, Roush CleanTech’s fully electric vehicles have a
How to get an insider’s look at the latest truck equipment
New product cycles and technology adoption by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been expedited thanks to pressure from technology-savvy fleets, Silcon Valley tech disrupters and increased demand from equipment operators trying to maximize profitability. Long gone are the days when regional industry trade shows dominated the landscape of new equipment and technology reveals. Today, manufacturers
Tire forensics: The importance of scrap tire analysis
Though it may look like junk to the untrained eye, a used tire can actually be a useful source of information and a way for fleets to recoup major savings. Analyzing scrap tires can offer a number of critical insights to help maximize miles and minimize down time and wasted opportunities to retread a casing.
Reducing downtime through location, logistics and data
There are two things any fleet can agree on when it comes to getting a downed truck back on the road—they want the service job done quickly, and they want it done correctly. Fairly or not, technology continues to raise our service expectations. In our personal lives, we push a button to instantly stream a
The lowdown on high-quality gear oil
Wherever shafts and axles turn, and wherever gears mesh, you’ll probably find a lubricant of some kind. Gear oils provide multiple important functions when it comes to the operation of gears and axles. As gear oils flow around axles, they help to cool the critical hardware components by carrying heat away and dissipating it. They
How biodiesel can solve fleets’ lubricity problems
The move to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) has been a good thing for the environment, but it has not come without some undesirable side effects for diesel engines. Chief among them is the loss of lubricity. Sulfur is what gives diesel fuel its lubricating properties. By shifting to ULSD, diesel fuel significantly reduced the component
The king of gear oil specifications: SAE J2360
The value of improving the durability and economical operation of a commercial vehicle fleet grows by the day. Operational efficiencies, maximum uptime and reduced maintenance and downtime can result in cost savings and increased profit. One straightforward way to leverage these benefits is to use a higher-performance gear oil. The result is better protection of
How to extend tire tread life
Maintaining trailer tires is one of the most challenging aspects of commercial fleet maintenance, since tires are frequently rotated or released in a route or during a delivery change. With tires making up one of the largest costs of fleet equipment, we’ve asked industry experts for tips on extending the tread life of trailer tires—recommendations
A recap on API FA-4 oil durability in diesel engines
Last month, we discussed how the new API FA-4 lubricants meet and exceed engine protection requirements specified by engine manufacturers and the lubricant industry. The most notable highlight was that API FA-4 lubricants must pass the same engine durability testing as their more traditional API CK-4 counterparts to receive certification. With field testing beginning back