Final numbers for March used truck sales are a mixed bag
Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in March, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. “March Class 8 used truck volumes, up 8% month-over-month, continued their upward trek, following a significant recovery last month from January’s low. This, however,
When choosing friction, know the facts behind heat transfer in braking
As part of its Bendix Tech Tips series, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC offers a dive into the science behind heat transfer in braking, a look at temperature ratings in friction, and a discussion of additional factors that should be considered when choosing friction.
Trailer orders disappoint in March
According to the latest numbers from FTR, U.S. Trailer net orders for March came in at 13,800 units, down 35% from February and 39% from March 2015. The monthly order activity was the lowest since July 2013, and well below FTR’s expectations. Despite the weak numbers for March, backlogs are down only 6% year-over-year. Dump trailers were the
Daseke Inc.—Powered by strength in diversity
For Scott Wheeler, it’s all about continuous improvement. “Our mission is to be better tomorrow than we are today,” says Wheeler, executive vice president and corporate chief executive officer of Daseke Inc. “Daseke is more than a group of trucking companies. It is comprised of companies with strong management and highly personalized customer service skills,
PACCAR releases the Allison TC10 transmission in Peterbilt, Kenworth chassis
PACCAR has started an engineering program with Allison Transmission to release the fully automatic Allison TC10 in the latest PACCAR models. The TC10 transmission will be offered in Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt models 567 and 579 with both PACCAR and Cummins engines. “We are looking forward to offering the TC10 to our Peterbilt
Natural gas truck sales numbers see modest improvement
U.S. and Canadian natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales improved modestly in February, after getting off to a slow start in 2016, according to a recent report from ACT Research. The “Natural Gas Quarterly” attributes this to a high number of natural gas (NG) vehicle repeat sales, despite the continuing low cost of diesel
Class 8 orders drop in March
Class 8 orders dropped 10% month over month and 35% year over year in March, to a total of 16,354 units. Medium duty net orders totaled 13,242, down 3% from February, but up 10% year over year. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report from ACT Research Co. “Medium and heavy demand
Spec’ing to optimize resale value
There are many factors that impact resale value for trucks. Dale Tower, vice president of remarketing for AmeriQuest Used Truck Services Inc., suggests that OEM selection, engine choices, horsepower, automated transmissions, APUs, SCR non SCR, super singles, chassis side fairings, single or double bunks (in sleepers) and even the color of trucks are all items that will
‘It’s an evolution’: Mack introduces its 2017 powertrain
Mack Trucks has introduced its new powertrain line for model year 2017. The powertrain includes the company’s MP7 and MP8 engines, mDrive transmission, axles, and ClearTechOne exhaust aftertreatment system. The 2017 versions of Mack’s 11-liter MP7 and 13-liter MP8 engines bring with them several new features. Both engines feature an updated wave piston design that raises the
Applying the brakes: Ensuring the future of truck safety
Advanced safety systems that employ radar- and camera-based technologies that enable adaptive cruise control and even autonomous truck operation rely heavily on one specific component—the brakes. The safety of these futuristic collision mitigation systems rests squarely on proper brake application, operation and maintenance. “It’s important to keep in mind that advances in collision mitigation technology
Disc brakes vs. drum brakes
When deciding on specs for a commercial truck, the braking system is one of the most important components to consider. There are several aspects to think about, but one of the first decisions is most likely going to be between disc and drum brakes. Each type has pros and cons that will impact different users
Scrap tires: Where do they go now?
Not so long ago, there was a concern about what to do with truck tires once they could no longer be retreaded or repaired. Today, most of the new practices should make our industry proud. It’s taken the North American economy a while to figure out the scrap tire dilemma, but as usual, it appears
