Fear of tire wear doesn’t have to be a path to the Dark Side
If there’s one thing trucking publications like to harp on, it’s taking care of your tires so you can be sure you’re getting the most out of them. Hopefully, at one time or another one of these columns has brought about the inspiration to go have a look at those tires yourself. And, maybe, particularly
Hauling refrigerated goods in the winter
If you haul refrigerated products, keeping them cold in the summer is of obvious importance; but in the winter it gets tricky—because there is such a thing as too cold. “For optimal food quality as well as food safety, temperature control of perishable products is always important regardless of whether it’s hot or cold outside,”
Unpacking the Cummins EPA 2021 X15, X12 engine details
Gone are the days where updated HP and torque specs tell the full tale of a new engine launch. Cummins optimizing its 2021 engines on the foundation of its 2017 X15 and X12 platforms shows that there’s still plenty of operational efficiency to be reaped from diesel powerhouses. It’s impressive, but it’s also complicated. It’s
Tech Tips: Five tips to keep your floor jacks from getting jacked up
Most well-made floor jacks will have a long service life in the shop if they are properly maintained. Like all equipment, floor jacks should be inspected regularly for damage and kept clean. The owner’s manual is the best source for specific recommendations on lubrication, when to change the hydraulic fluid and other maintenance requirements. The
How the right driver workflow lets your drivers get to driving
Recording load and route data, checking in with dispatch, logging hours of service (HOS) (the FMCSA Final Rule change just took effect in September) … given the choice, drivers would rather be, well, driving.
Pro driver workflow tips from the telematics pros
Addressing a proper work-life balance, recognition and opportunities for training are important in any industry for keeping employees satisfied, and in trucking, fleet managers have access to unique tools to keep tabs on these employee satisfaction levels. “Fleet management tools can be customized to collect rich data insights that adapt to the needs of the
The future of driver workflow is open wide
When it comes to driver retention, driver workflow technology is just as important for the fleet manager as it is to the driver. As data-gathering opportunities continue to grow, what can we expect to see from these applications in the future? According to Stephen White, senior business development manager, Class 8 market at Geotab, the
As trucks grow more complex, the basic principles of diagnostics still apply
“Could not duplicate. No problem found.” Those words bring out all sorts of customer frustration when they appear on the work order. Most of us have been on the customer side reading those fateful words, despite the fact that we know a problem exists. After all, we brought the vehicle into the shop for a
Winter-proof: How to keep your trailers in the best possible shape during the harshest season
There’s plenty to like about the winter, but it’s not all skiing and hot chocolate, especially if you’re a fleet manager who has to worry about the damage the harsh season will cause your equipment. Let’s zero in on trailers, which are susceptible to a variety of potential issues when running during the winter. Luckily,
Tips for reefer unit maintenance in the winter
Reefers equipped with transport refrigeration units (TRU) come with their own winter maintenance checklist. In addition to those mentioned above, here are a few reefer- and TRU-specific tips. “It’s essential to get units checked out before the cold sets in to ensure that the system is operating at full capacity,” recommend Scott Koch and Freddy
In-cab truck cameras are about seeing the context
So you’ve decided to use your truck telematics to help you improve operational safety and inform driver training. Great! And then your phone explodes with notifications—one driver had harsh braking, following distance and lane departure warning incidents in rapid succession, and you fear the worst. What actually happened and how do you approach the conversation?
ZF answers our biggest trucking questions
ZF has been a global leader in trucking equipment, including transmissions, steering technology and advanced safety systems. The question always was: When will we see this in North America? With ZF having acquired WABCO, that question, along with a host of others, once again came to mind. For the answer, I connected with Fredrik Staedtler,
