Heavy Duty Trucks News
What’s next for collision mitigation systems?

Like most equipment, the collision mitigation systems available today are the stepping stone to the more evolved systems tomorrow. We asked members of four makers of collision mitigation systems what’s on the horizon. Fred Andersky, director of government and industry affairs, and director of customer solutions, controls for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems: “Expect to see continuing

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How to calculate collision mitigation system ROI

Let’s get the obvious, and most easily answered, question out of the way: Do advanced radar- and camera-based collision mitigation systems work? Yes. These systems are reducing both the severity of accidents and the accidents themselves. WABCO reported that its OnGuard collision mitigation technology has reduced rear-end accidents by up to 87%, according to Jon

Prioritizing luxury: Today’s cabs are built with driver retention in mind

In a recent Fleet Equipment fleet survey, we found that 75% of fleet managers are spec’ing in-cab amenities and creature comforts as part of a driver retention program. That should come as no surprise, as the latest driver shortage numbers from the American Trucking Associations are still concerning, with 83% turnover for larger fleets and

Partnership value: Food Express leverages supplier relationships to meet customer needs

After nearly 35 years in the trucking business, Kevin Keeney believes strongly that the only way to remain successful is to meet customer needs. It’s an approach the vice president of Food Express applies in different areas of the bulk hauler’s operation. Founded in 1983 by Keeney and his parents, Walter and Joanna, Food Express

Internal tire options to improve tire life and performance

In recent years, a growing number of products designed to be used inside mounted truck tires have begun to emerge, leaving fleet managers with plenty of choices. These products are promoted to improve vehicle ride, reduce punctures and keep tires running cool—which will help in increasing casing retreadability and improve fuel economy—while others reportedly reduce

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Setting the pace: Volvo Trucks drives equipment advancements forward

Volvo Trucks is setting a blistering pace as the OEM continues to unveil equipment advancements, updated integrated technology and business partnerships that aim to grow its offerings. Last fall, Volvo pulled the sheet off its futuristic SuperTruck, which boosted fuel efficiency by 70%—exceeding 12 MPG, with some test runs showing more than 13 MPG—in road

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Great Dane improves its rear impact guard

To make its trailers safer for truck-trailer drivers and those on the road with them, Great Dane has enhanced its rear impact guard to help make it safer during collisions. It was recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and passed the organization’s rigorous 30% offset test, Great Dane said. “This new

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Increasing axle efficiencies

When Fleet Equipment caught wind that Meritor is using a unique lube management systems on its new 14X HE tandem axle, we wanted to know more. So we caught up with Ken Hogan, Meritor’s vice president for rear drivetrain, to find out how it works, what the benefits are for the axle and what other

What protects the driveline from the demands of today’s downsped engines?

The continued integration of powertrain components propels advancements in downspeeding as ratio speeds increase. In fact, Dana recently announced a new 2.47:1 axle ratio for the Spicer AdvanTek 40 tandem axle. Meritor’s new 14X HE tandem axle has ratios down to 2.15. According to Ken Hogan, Meritor’s vice president of rear drivetrain, approximately 25% of today’s

Great Dane debuts smart trailer concept

Great Dane has introduced a new smart trailer concept that the company says will keep drivers and fleet managers informed about basic pre-trip inspection checks and alert notifications while on the road. The data monitored includes tire inflation, weight distribution, door sensors, lights, GPS location and more. Data from this system can be received through

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Truck sales strong in February, preliminary data says

February 2017 was yet another strong month for truck sales, according to preliminary numbers from both FTR and ACT Research. ACT’s preliminary numbers had February Class 8 orders hitting a 14-month high at 23,200 units, a second consecutive month of orders rising above both trend and ACT’s expectations. “Orders rose 28% versus year-ago February. That

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Meritor introduces 14X HE line-haul tandem axle

Meritor has introduced its new 14X HE high-efficiency line-haul tandem drive axle. Meritor said its engineering teams used the latest technologies to improve axle efficiency up to 1.5% while also reducing weight by 30 lbs. over its 14X design. The 14X HE comes standard with high-efficiency bearings, the Meritor Lube Management system and precision-finished gearing. Meritor uses

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