The unintended ADAS consequences of seemingly unrelated truck repairs
A truck rolls into a service shop and needs a radiator replaced. The technician dutifully does the job, moving components out of the way, replacing the radiator and putting everything back into place. The truck rolls out, but when the truck rolls under certain overpasses, a shuddering of the active brake assist systems runs through
Upfitting an electric truck for vocational applications
Short routes. Return-to-home operations. Those are seemingly slam-dunk applications for electric trucks. We’ve seen electric trucks roll large in pick-up-and-delivery applications, as well as regional haul routes. So what’s the hold up in the vocational truck space? Like many trucking segments, challenges come with the unknown. Chassis space and weight play a larger role in
The road to self-driving trucks with Torc Robotics CEO
The automated truck driving excitement among some fleets is palpable. The automated driver assistance systems–like the currently available adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist features–that are the foundational stepping stones of automated driving technology are seeing strong adoption rates, according to OEMs. Yet, the step from Level 2 automated assistance systems to Level 4
Complete equipment solutions that still tackle specific vocational tasks
Dump applications, flatbed and drop-deck hauls, dry bulk loads, pneumatic tank and liquid tank trailers–what do those applications have in common? On the surface, not much. Sure, it still involves a truck and hauling from Point A to B, but specialized applications often require specialized solutions. That can create a challenge for manufacturers and suppliers
Freightliner Plus Series medium-duty truck walk around
Productivity and safety were the names of the Freightliner Plus Series M2 and SD games when the OEM unveiled the refreshed medium-duty and vocational trucks at a pre-launch truck event earlier this summer. While the talking point of truck technology finding its way into the vocational truck segment has been building over the past several
What the Inflation Reduction Act means for fleet electrification plans
Could the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) be a turning point for trucking fleet electrification? Steve Koerner, vice president of policy, AMPLY Power (now a part of bp’s global electrification brand, bp pulse) sure thinks so. He called the IRA a “historic piece of legislation. … This is real. This is going to change the marketplace.”
The real-time impact of A.I.-powered in-cab cameras
In the world around us, cameras are ubiquitous. Security cameras, phone cameras, laptop cameras. There’s a camera pointed at me right now. And they’re finding their way into truck cabs. More and more fleets are spec’ing in-cab cameras that provide visibility into on-road situations that can help protect the driver. That means lots of video
The aftermarket e-commerce impact on truck service
The battle to find truck parts has never been greater. Supply chain shortages and trucks that have grown long in the tooth have increased the truck service stakes. Uptime is paramount, but how do you keep your trucks on the road when you can’t get the right part to the right place at the right
Cummins test drive: Everything but a diesel engine
The first thing you need to know about Cummins’s engine strategy is its fuel-agnostic approach in both its heavy- and medium-duty engine lineups. What that means is the new fuel-agnostic engine platforms will feature a series of engines that are derived from a common base engine–below the head gasket of each engine will largely have
Western Star 57X test drive, walk around and safety demo
There’s no substitute for climbing into the cab of a brand new truck, taking the driver seat, sliding your hand across the wheel and taking it for a drive. Hopefully, this video is the next best thing. At a pre-launch event, the Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) team gave me the chance to get behind
Mobile fueling services that aim to meet fleet sustainability goals
It seems counter intuitive–bringing diesel fuel to your trucks to meet your sustainability goals. Yet, decarbonization starts with fuel efficiency, and what’s more efficient fuel usage: your fully loaded Class 8 truck hauling itself to the gas station to fill up or a smaller vehicle outfitted with a diesel tank coming to you? Meeting sustainability
Trailer tracking tips to address theft
Cargo theft ticked up in 2020 during the pandemic and continues to plague fleets. Even the mere threat of a trailer gone missing can cause a cold sweat. So what if you could track it? In the same way you can pinpoint a missing cell phone, you can track a trailer. But it’s not just
