How fleets can go green in the shop
Increasingly, regulations mandating environmental protection practices are requiring fleet managers to implement new procedures and programs, address shop equipment and design, and provide training for technicians. These rules cover a wide variety of topics, among them waste handling and recycling, fuel storage and leak detection, parts washing, AC system service and vehicle refinishing. One consolidated
Commercial tire retread options
Almost 90% of commercial trucking fleets retread their tires at least one time. Steer tires are typically retreaded with a drive tire design the first time. The second retread will most likely be retreaded back to the trailer. Drive tires are retreaded as another drive tire and then back to a trailer design. Trailer tires
Truck industry events showcase technologies, training, products
Industry events are always great places to share best practices with industry counterparts and to meet with suppliers and learn about new technologies. This March, three events being held at the same time will provide an unparalleled opportunity to do just that. Scheduled from March 8-11 in Indianapolis in conjunction with the 47th Annual National
Truck tire balancing clarification
As late as the 1970s, some bias ply truck tires came from the factory with balancing “pads” strategically placed inside the tire liner to at least partially correct the uneven distribution of mass around the tire. This helped reduce vibration as the truck rolled at increasing speeds on road surfaces. Of course, then suspension systems
Understanding the use of alternative fuels for fleets
As the use of alternative fuel powered light- and medium-duty trucks rises, fleet managers are applying proven management techniques to monitor and validate their choices. Thanks to a new partnership between CALSTART and Utilimarc, interested fleets now have available a very valuable resource for up-to-date information on these technologies, and for benchmarking their performance. CALSTART,
CSA 2010 and its impact on tires
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has officially rolled out its new Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) program. Commercial trucking fleets need to fully understand all of the rules and regulations of CSA that will affect your fleet’s tire program. Commercial fleets cannot afford to be penalized for the results of a poor tire maintenance
Managing changing tire margins
Ask almost anyone in business or management to define “margins” and they will say margins generally quantify financial success or lack thereof. Sometimes, it’s simply the difference between the cost and selling price of a product or service. Other times it’s the difference between all revenues minus all expenses. Operating margins are typically synonymous with
Ford plans ‘extensive powertrain overhaul’
Ford has rolled out its 2011 F-150, announced plans for its 2012 model year medium-duty chassis cabs and provided details on an alternative fuel offering. Representing what the manufacturer said is “the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the 62-year history of Ford F-Series trucks,” the 2011 Ford F-150 was introduced in early fall 2010. Mated
Proper truck tire sizing
There are lots of incentives in today’s transportation business to maximize efficiencies by carefully matching equipment—especially trucks—to the tasks at hand. Recent new truck sales reports from Wards show that purchases of Class 3 through 6 trucks through September are substantially higher than in earlier years, especially compared to the same time period in 2009.
General Motors enters new fleet territory
Citing the growth and expansion of the compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) infrastructure in key fleet markets, General Motors has continued finalizing plans for its new offering of CNG- and LPG-powered versions of its Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. GM’s new powertrain options for the 2011 model year vehicles
Returning idled truck tires to service
Truck tires, unlike many automobile and light truck tires, are all about performance and life-cycle costs. In fact, if truck tires are used within their engineered parameters of load/inflation/speed and are properly maintained, near continuous use would not be out of the question. In fact, they are not designed to require recesses or idle periods.
Hino hybrids are ready to roll
After just a few months of operating the first Class 4 Hino diesel hybrid in the U.S., the New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is reporting “very favorable feedback” to the manufacturer. “As part of its initiative to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” reported Glenn Ellis, vice president, marketing and dealer operations for