Five truck trend takeaways from March
We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from March focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
Saving fuel, improving efficiency with lift axles
Lift axles, so named for the attached air bags or springs that lift the axle off the road’s surface when it is not needed, are becoming an increasingly popular option for fleets. Lift axles can be mounted on either the truck or the trailer, and promise fuel and tire savings since the axle is only
Class 8 orders down 42% year-over-year
Class 8 booked 18,078 net orders in February, down 42% year over year, while Classes 5-7 net orders were the highest since December 2014 at 22,316 units, according to ACT Research Co.‘s most recent State of the Industry report. “The commercial vehicle industry, primarily the heavy truck segment, continues to struggle with adjustments in response
How bridge formula laws impact lift axle design
One important aspect affecting the spec’ing of lift axles is the Bridge Formula, which was created by the federal government in order to keep bridges from becoming too overloaded. This federal law states that two or more consecutive axles may not exceed the weight computed by the Bridge Formula even though single axles, tandem axles
Peterbilt breaks ground on Denton plant expansion
Peterbilt Motors Co. recently broke ground on a 102,000 sq.-ft. expansion to its heavy-duty truck manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas. The new building will be located just north of the plant and provide additional capacity for production and testing. “This expansion is Peterbilt’s largest facility investment since the construction of the Denton plant and it
Gates Corp. expands FleetRunner Micro-V belt line
Gates Corp. has expanded its original equipment heavy-duty belt line with three new FleetRunner Micro-V belts to Gates heavy-duty belt line. FleetRunner’s patented belt technology is designed for the toughest applications to provide superior durability, slip resistance, crack resistance, load capacity and belt life, according to the company. “Our quarterly new product releases demonstrate our continued commitment
Daimler evolves autonomous truck technology with Highway Pilot Connect
Daimler Trucks has introduced Highway Pilot Connect, the company’s latest development in autonomous technology. The company demonstrated the technology in on-highway in Germany with its Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Highway Pilot Connect is a further development of the Highway Pilot system that Daimler started work on in 2014 and Daimler Trucks North America demonstrated in the Inspiration
How Old Dominion Freight Line is leveraging technology
At Old Dominion Freight Line, sustainability is a promise that goes hand in hand with ongoing growth. “We keep that promise by leveraging new technology, and training our employees and drivers,” says Thomas Newby, the company’s vice president of equipment and maintenance. One part of that focus at Old Dominion is on the adoption of
Kenworth begins production on 40-in. sleeper for T680 and T880
The new Kenworth 40-in. sleeper for the Kenworth T880 and T680 has entered production. Applications that the 40-in. sleeper is suited for, according to Kenworth, include regional bulk haulers, vocational applications that use straight trucks, and open-deck or flatbed operations where length and weight is a factor. “The 40-in. sleeper offers drivers organizational features to make the space
Cummins expands ISX15 ratings options
Cummins Inc. has released three new ISX15 ratings: 475-, 450- and 400-HP ratings with 1850 lb.-ft. of torque, which the company says will provide an optimal blend of performance and fuel efficiency for high-load applications or fleets that frequently encounter mountainous terrains and require strong pulling power. Customers that typically operate in high-load conditions (gross combined
Latest ACT Research report finds U.S. trailer orders down, inventory and build up
According to the most recent “State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers” published by ACT Research Co., U.S. trailer orders were down, inventory and build rates were up, and cancellations were inconsequential. “The front-loading of the fall/winter order season we’ve noted over the past few years continues to impact recent order levels; new and net orders
Buying pre-owned trucks? No need to kick the tires
Purchasing a pre-owned truck should not be a contest. Buyers should have confidence in the equipment they are purchasing—with no surprises down the road. Inspections Some truck buyers do their own preliminary inspections prior to purchase. Many experienced fleets have a list of things to review prior to purchase—like checking axle configurations, engine and horsepower