Yokohama introduces BluEarth ultra wide base drive tire
Yokohama Tire Corp. has announced the introduction the BluEarth 709L ultra wide base (UWB) drive tire, the first commercial tire in the company’s environmentally-focused BluEarth line. It is available now in size 445/50R22.5. “The BluEarth designation reflects Yokohama’s most advanced environmental technologies, and the BluEarth 709L UWB definitely fits the bill,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama Tire’s
How USA Truck is filling driver ranks
While actively addressing driver retention needs with new equipment, specifications and other benefits and programs, USA Truck is simultaneously focused on recruiting drivers. One approach it is taking, for example, is to pay for 15 qualified applicants to complete a five-week Commercial Driver’s License training program. Announced earlier this year, the USA Truck Career Launch Program
USA Truck’s comprehensive approach to streamlining operations, improving retention and lowering costs
As one of the nation’s largest over-the-road truckload carriers, USA Truck is constantly on the lookout for ways to make life on the road less stressful and more productive for the approximately 1,750 drivers it employs. In many cases, that approach pays other dividends for the fleet as well. For many years, for example, USA
Cooper Tire adds new size to its Roadmaster RM332 WB commercial tire line
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has announced that it has added a new size to its Roadmaster RM332 WB commercial tire line, which is a premium, wide-base steer tire for mixed service applications. The RM332 is now available in size 385/65R22.5 in load range L, in addition to size 425/65R22.5 in load range L introduced in
How axles improve traction and safety
A roundup of the latest in heavy-duty axles and how they improve traction and safety. Steve Slesinski, director of global product strategy, planning and management for the commercial vehicle market at Dana Inc., explains how Dana axles fit into creating better traction control, saying…
The benefits of traction control technology
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require full-stability technology on most new Class 7 and Class 8 tractors—“typical” 6×4 tractors—starting in August of 2017. As with all commercial safety technologies, full-stability systems are subject to the laws of physics, and ultimate responsibility for control of a vehicle remains with the driver. No system
Outtakes from our Kenworth executive interview
In the world of print magazines, there’s only so much space that we can fill, and Fleet Equipment has the knack for packing our print issues with a truckload of insightful info. Believe it or not, great kernels of knowledge still get left on the editing room floor. But in the digital world, anything goes.
Seven maintenance practices to preserve tire casing integrity
When asked by Fleet Equipment what maintenance practices they would recommend to preserve tire casing integrity, Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. provided an extremely detailed answer, which, while unable to make it into the print story, we thought we would share here so fleets can bolster their knowledge. Here is the full answer from Gary Schroeder, director of
Tire casings that live another day
Fleet managers are well aware that tires make up a significant chunk of their expenses. Tires are the second-highest cost for fleets, behind fuel; clearly, it’s important to have a program in place to manage the tires all the way from cradle to grave. The tire casing is the key to a tire cost management
Kenworth doubles down on success of T680 Advantage, PACCAR MX engines
It’s a time of growth and change at Kenworth. The T680 Advantage has proven itself as the truck of choice for many of its customers—which has led to the expansion of the T680 Advantage offering with the announcement of the Kenworth T680 Advantage Day Cab for pickup and delivery and regional-haul operators and the retirement of the
Fuel efficiency increases continue for progressive fleets
A recent study from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Carbon War Room followed 17 fleets and found that they saved $500 million in fuel compared to the national average in 2015, thanks to their adoption of various fuel efficiency technologies. These fleets also saw a 3% improvement in fuel economy compared
How proper tire practices can reduce roadside service calls
Commercial fleets take tires and tire programs seriously. With the average price of a new tire in the $500+ range, tire-related expenses play a major role in a fleet’s bottom line. Being stuck on the side of a road waiting for a flat tire to be serviced is not just costing your fleet money—it is
