Making informed truck management decisions during the microchip shortage
The trucking industry could be headed toward the perfect storm of equipment shortages. We’ve already heard how the microchip shortage is impacting OEM truck production, and those supply challenges are being felt by suppliers and service providers. ACT Research noted that Class 8 truck orders are nearing their “best ever,” and vocational markets are expected
Watch: Is there a sustainability strategy that will work for your fleet?
Nowadays, OEMs seem to be rolling out trucks running off of alternative fuels all the time in the name of sustainability, and many fleets are adopting them. But which alternative-fuel trucks are right for your fleet? Or are you planning to invest in alternative fuels at all? Click here to watch more of FE’s On
How to capture the right data during truck service
There’s a common saying when talking about capturing truck data: Junk data in, junk solutions out. When you’re making equipment decisions, whether it’s when to buy a new truck, when to do the next PM or when to stock your next round of tires, you can’t just guess–you need to use data to ensure you’re
Correcting truck spec’ing assumptions, the impact on fuel efficiency
Last time I talked with Allison Athey, product marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America, she turned the tables and sprung a question on me in true Unscripted fashion. When we were done recording, I joked that she should guest host next time and ask me the questions. She said she was game and the
Watch: Why your truck grease deserves more love
Greases aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Fortunately, most fleets can get away with using maybe two, three or four greases. Click here to watch more of FE’s On the Road video series. Here is a transcript of the video: If you’re selecting your heavy-duty truck grease based on price rather than on application, you’re opening yourself
The problem of unassigned drive time and what NFI Industries did about it
When you start tracking everything, you start to notice gaps. One of the unforeseen challenges of trucking’s ELD mandate was the problem of unassigned drive time–instances of the truck moving without a driver logged. Maybe it was at a service station, maybe a fuel depot, maybe a delivery location. Either way, it’s the carrier’s responsibility
Predictive truck maintenance: What it is and how to trust it
The truck data that has been amassing over the years from all of the connected trucks on the road has made predictive truck maintenance based on probabilities is a near reality. But it’s not enough to just predict the event — you want to be able to act on it. What if you could catch
Watch: Moving the trust needle on cameras in trucks
There are few topics as divisive as the use of cameras in trucking, but both outward-facing cameras and in-cab video recording technology has come a long way over the years. A big part of using driver-facing cameras to your best advantage boils down to encouraging and working with the drivers rather than against them. Click
Hands on: Peterbilt 579 next generation truck
For fleet managers, the experience of a truck can be seen on the P&L—you want your fuel costs to go down and your profitability to go up. For the drivers, it’s all about the feeling behind the wheel. OEMs have the unenviable task of creating a top-notch experience for both. On paper, the next-gen Peterbilt
How to take advantage of truck data integrations
With so many data points streaming off of trucks, integrating that data to minimize your number of dashboards and maximize your data usage is key, but not something you want to do alone. The data integration process starts with talking with all of your equipment and service providers to bring them to the integration table,
Watch: What tires will work best for regional-haul trucks?
All trucks are not created equal – and neither are truck tires. The wrong tire used for the wrong application can easily set you way back, damaging both your productivity and your ROI. Trucks in regional-haul applications, for example, need to be spec’d with the right tires to handle the job. In these tires, durability
Trailer telematics and the ‘smart’ trailer evolution
Trailers are in a unique position. No, I don’t mean behind the tractor (hey-O!). I’m talking about the current phase of the trailer telematics evolution. While trailer telematics has mostly revolved around GPS location tracking (and that’s still important), the amount of data that trailer components are generating—from wheel ends and tires to lighting and
