Accuride introduces Quantum 99 aluminum alloy with increased strength
Accuride Corp. has introduced its new Quantum 99 aluminum alloy, which is 20% stronger than Accuride’s previous alloy, enabling Accuride to reduce the weight of its standard lightweight aluminum wheel by 11% to 40 lbs., the company said. “To help our customers achieve greater fuel economy and lower emissions, Accuride continues light-weighting our products while maintaining
Accuride introduces two new Accu-Lite steel wheels
Accuride Corp. has introduced two- and five-hand-hole versions of its Accu-Lite 22.5 x 8.25 steel wheels. Both wheels will be available to customers in April 2017 and can be ordered in white, black and gray. Specifications for the new wheels: • 51487 wheel – five-hand hole wheel weighs 65 lbs. by eliminating 3 lbs. from the
Bendix introduces PermaGuard brake shoe protective coating
Bendix launches PermaGuard, a protective coating for its remanufactured brake shoes that is engineered to improve resistance to rust jacking, while offering fleets increased brake life and contributing to lower total cost of ownership, the company says. In creating PermaGuard, Bendix reformulated the coating and wash process, improving its ability to adhere to the metal
Trailer orders end 2016 on a strong note
Commercial vehicle trailer orders closed 2016 on a solid note, as December dry van orders were up 26% year-over-year, with reefer orders up almost 140% over 2015, according to the latest data from ACT Research Co. Despite that solid y/y performance, both new and net orders were down 5% from the previous month. Additionally, the
Writing the rules of the autonomous road
Welcome to 2017—the future is coming fast and furiously. In the trucking industry, automated truck technology has gone from sci-fi-esque, space age technology to an equipment reality. The next challenge is how to bring that technology to today’s highways. Last September, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published its “Federal Automated Vehicle Policy: Accelerating
Class 8 sales strong in December
North American Class 8 retail sales rose to a six-month high of 21,281 units sold, which brought the full-year sales total to 249,952 units, according to the numbers from ACT Research Co. Set against strengthening orders, seasonal production weakness reduced December build to 14,145 units, leaving the full-year North American Class 8 production tally at 228,347 units.
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index remains steady
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for November, at 4.58, changed little from the previous month’s adjusted reading of 4.38. The current TCI level is consistent with FTR’s forecasts of steadily-improving trucking conditions heading into 2017. An expectation for stronger demand, along with the mandate for electronic logging devices (ELD), should tighten capacity through 2017, with
2017 model year engines: What you need to know
With the New Year comes new engines, which meet the increasingly stringent EPA requirements and improve overall efficiency. There’s a lot to talk about, so we’re going to dispense with the editorial pleasantries and get down to brass tacks. New engine oil category recommendations The introduction of the new engine oil categories—API CK-4 (which replaces
Giti Tire introduces SmartWay-verified long-haul GT Radial drive tire
Giti Tire, which markets and sells GT Radial commercial tires, has introduced its SmartWay-verified GT Radial GDL651FS drive tire. “This new generation drive tire was designed specifically for the North American market in a collaborative effort by our technical center in Ohio and corporate R&D center,” said Patrick Gunn, director of sales and marketing, commercial
Tips for avoiding common CSA violations
Some of the most common violations uncovered during Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) inspections occur from improper maintenance, particularly in the lighting and braking systems. Although these systems have many areas that require attention, there are some simple steps you can take to lower the likelihood of being cited for violations found during an inspection. Lighting
Dometic, eNow offer solar-powered auxiliary A/C for Class 8 sleeper trucks
Dometic is powering its Blizzard Turbo auxiliary air conditioner with eNow’s Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panel system, which the companies say makes it the first solar-powered auxiliary A/C available for Class 8 sleeper trucks. The Dometic eNow solar-powered Blizzard Turbo auxiliary air conditioner harnesses the power of the sun to capture and store energy in the
Talbert Manufacturing highlights 65FG oil field trailer
Talbert Manufacturing highlights its 65FG Oil Field trailer line. According to Talbert, the 65FG was manufactured to stand up to the demanding schedule and rough terrain of the oil fields. Features highlighted by the company include a high-arch profile that provides enough space to prevent contact between the tractor and the bottom of the gooseneck; extra welds
