Securing loads using winches
Continuing on the road to load security, Scott Frasier, national accounts manager for Kinedyne LLC, sounded off on the topic of securing loads using winches. “When a customer is spec’ing a trailer with winches, he or she is looking at a variety of attributes to make the decision,” he said. “Winches provide a method for
Three trailer leasing questions with AmeriQuest
Fleets looking to put trailers to work may consider leasing new trailers as opposed to taking the additional maintenance costs and potential out of service violations associated with an older fleet. Fleet Equipment (FE) caught up with Pat Gaskins, senior vice president of financial services for AmeriQuest, to ask three quick questions about trailer leasing
The inside scoop on spec’ing axles and brake ratings
For optimum performance and safety, brakes and suspensions need to be a match and work well together. So what do fleets need to know? Fleet Equipment asked major suppliers to provide the inside information.
XL Specialized Trailers opens new service center
XL Specialized Trailers has opened a trailer service center located across the street from their headquarters and main manufacturing facility in Manchester, Iowa. The service center is designed specifically to service trailers: lowboys, flatbeds, and other trailer models. XL plans to tackle many types of service work; everything from preventative maintenance to full restoration. “We are very excited
Special considerations for steer axle tires
Retreading commercial tires is standard operating procedure for successful fleets. Depending on the specific retread design and tread depth, retreads cost approximately one-third to one-half the price of a new tire. Fleets are always looking for ways to protect that tire casing since it is a valuable asset. Retreads can be used on any wheel
Manual transmissions, does the bell toll for thee?
They’ve been a staple of trucks since the very first one was built, but for manual transmissions, the end may be nigh. Magnus Koeck, Volvo’s vice president of marketing and brand management, says he believes that five years from now, manual transmissions in trucks will have disappeared entirely. One catalyst for this change, he explained, can
July was the weakest truck order month in six years
According to the latest preliminary numbers from FTR, July truck orders came in at 10,400 units, 56% below a year ago and the weakest month since February 2010. Several significant order cancellations resulted in net orders falling 19% below June and being below expectations. Individual OEM performance was mixed, depending on the number of cancelled
How to ensure top performance from ride control technology
Ride control technology, in the form of shock absorbers, struts, and related products, contributes to ride quality in vehicles. This technology can be specialized to vehicle type and end use to ensure top performance across the wide range of vehicle applications.
Cummins eyes the future with new X15 Big-Bore diesel engine line
With 2017 looming large, Cummins became the first heavy-duty diesel manufacturer to launch its next generation of big-bore engines at a press event at the Transportation Research Center’s test track and facilities outside of Columbus, Ohio. Cummins gave journalists a sneak-peek at its X15 engines late last year, with the company’s director of on-highway communications,
How tire troubles lead to roadside breakdowns
Tires are typically the cause of about 54% of roadside breakdowns, explained Jon Morrison, WABCO’s president for the Americas. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a report of a study it conducted that showed: Only 15% of tire-induced breakdowns occur as a result of a sudden damage; 85% of tire failures start with
Beat the heat: How summer temperatures impact tire pressure
As we roll into the dog days of summer, it’s important to keep an eye on your tire pressures. The ambient temperature will increase tire pressure by about 2 PSI for every 10º increase. The key is setting your pressures so that it is the optimal setting for your environment. “Reasonable increases in pressure may
Pressure points: Relieving the pain of inflated tire costs
There’s no getting around tire costs—this is where the rubber meets the road, literally. It’s a constant. However, keeping your tires properly inflated is one of the most important operational efficiencies that you can monitor and control to keep your tires rolling as cost-effectively as possible to get the most out of your tires and
