Reducing stopping distances
In order to stop a fully-loaded vehicle in 250 ft., the torque output from the brakes needs to be 30 to 40% higher. Due to weight shift during the stop, the rear brakes are limited by ABS; so the front steer brakes have to do more work. This requires increasing the size of front brakes
Six wheel spec’ing considerations
Proper spec’ing your vehicles’ wheels can be relatively simple and straight-forward by following a manufacturer’s recommendations to achieve the longest life and performance from your wheels. The experts at Maxion Wheels, a large manufacturer of lightweight steel wheels, suggest fleet equipment specifiers can make wheels a ‘non-issue’ if they’d follow these spec’ing considerations to achieve long
Handling the tough hauls: What you need to know about severe-duty drivetrain, axles and suspensions
Extreme loads are no match for properly spec’ed and maintained severe-duty truck models. Vehicle OEMs, in fact, list a range of applications for which they have specific models designed to meet severe-duty needs. Included are dump, concrete, crane, roll-off body, refuse, heavy haul, logging, oil and gas field service, utility, fire and emergency, snow plow
Empowering components: Electrical products play an vital role in the truck’s operation
Whenever you talk about batteries, you have to talk about the electrical systems and the components they power. While the latest technology and devices might come to mind, electrical products such as starters, alternators, EGR valves, ignitions, sensors, turbo actuators, engine control units and headlamps play an vital role in the truck’s operation and have
Harnessing the power: Spec’ing batteries to meet today’s electrical system demands
The demands placed on today’s fleets are staggering. In addition to increased efficiency demands on the mechanical side, computer systems, ECUs, GPS, iPhones, TVs, reefer units and countless other innovations tax the truck’s electrical system. The electrical demands are more than ever in history, and demand for voltage is not going away—it’s going to grow.
Kiene Diesel offers seized brake drum puller
For removing seized brake drums, Kiene Diesel Accessories has developed a new brake drum puller adapter for its Wheel Whiz and Wheel Grabber tools.
Volvo Trucks 2014 engines improve fuel economy
Integral to the enhanced fuel efficiency benefits are multiple optimized or new engine components.
Ford installs 500,000th 6.7-liter power stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine
Ford announced the installation of its 500,000th 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine, which went into a new 2014 Ford Super Duty F-350 Lariat pickup truck. The engine was installed at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.
Understanding retreads
With more than 85% of commercial fleets retreading their truck tires multiple times and a typical retread costing approximately one-third to one-half the price of a new tire when you supply your own casing, it is obviously in a fleet’s best bottom line interest to maximize the number of retreads for each and every tire casing. The casing is clearly a valuable asset.
SmartWay spec’ing update: The heavy-duty industry’s push for efficiency
It has been nine years since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the SmartWay program aimed at reducing transportation emissions by creating incentives to improve supply chain fuel efficiency. To give you some perspective, in 2004, George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in the presidential election and Fleet Equipment’s then-editor Tom Gelinas urged fleet managers to invest in technology such as rear obstacle sensing systems and auxiliary heating and cooling technology designed to eliminate the need for idling for interior climate control. So how far has the heavy-duty truck industry come?
Navistar adds Cummins ISB for trucks, buses
Navistar International Corp. announced the expansion of its medium-duty engine offerings to include the Cummins ISB 6.7-liter engine for International DuraStar medium-duty trucks and IC Bus CE Series school buses.
VDO instrument clusters deliver engine monitoring solutions
With a central display that presents CAN, analog and digital engine data, new VDO Centrobase 350 and 400 Instrument Clusters from Continental Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket have been released.