Seasonal trailer maintenance advice as summer turns up the heat
If your trailer inspection and preventative maintenance checks are on point, you’ll likely catch a lot of the summer-maintenance checkpoints as the seasons shift. Coming out of winter, wheel end and electrical issues will be the most apparent. “During the winter, salt and road chemicals can work their way into small nooks and start to
What makes Level 2 autonomy the ultimate driver’s assistant
Level 2 automation has been a game-changer in terms of safety for about a decade now, and manufacturers continue to churn out better versions of this technology every year. Active steering, automatic emergency braking—you’ve heard the terms and you have a good sense of what they do, but how do the companies behind this technology
Tips for getting drivers used to Level 2 automation
When any new technology that changes how a driver performs her job is introduced, it’s not uncommon to be met with some skepticism. So how are drivers reacting to today’s options of available Level 2 driving assistance? According to Tom DiSalvi, vice president of safety, driver training and compliance at Schneider, most drivers tend to
Is Level 2 automation the future of fuel efficiency?
While safety and driver assistance are the primary functions of Level 2 autonomous systems, the experts developing this technology say the benefits don’t have to stop there. “Level 2 systems are designed initially for safety and convenience in mind—but as we move toward higher automation levels in areas like truck platooning there can be enhancements
Must-do trailer maintenance when times are tough (and even when they’re not)
Given the latest industry trailer order numbers (April was the lowest order month since 1990), it’s clear that many fleets are making do with the trailers they have, at least until there’s some certainty in our pandemic-impacted world. To ensure your trailers roll productively and safely, you’ll need eagle-eyed focus on maintenance. So we picked
How engineers figure out the right tread patterns for your truck tires
What if I told you your tire tread defines more than just the traction and rolling resistance of your tires? Tread patterns affect all kinds of performance criteria for your trucks, like traction and braking, tire removal mileage, fuel efficiency, maneuverability, noise, driver comfort, tire durability and resistance to stone retention and stone drilling. This
How service keeps rolling through the changes
While many of our country’s businesses either shut down or saw business slow significantly this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one area of the economy that has had to stay resilient is truck service. To borrow from the famous motto of the United States Postal Service, neither rain nor snow nor pandemic can keep
Ford rolls out new offerings and enhancements to its line of commercial vehicles
Focused on providing a complete portfolio of light- and medium-duty commercial vehicles, as well as enhancing existing products, Ford used the 2020 Work Truck Show to showcase a range of new offerings. Headlining the company’s announcements was that an all-electric Ford Transit commercial van is on its way for the 2022 model year. While full
Fleet profile: Waste Connections Refuse
While fleets across the country remain focused on COVID-19 prevention issues, there’s no question that refuse collection operations are going the extra mile to safely provide an essential service. For Waste Connections, an integrated solid waste services company that operates over 10,000 vehicles at approximately 500 facilities in the U.S. and Canada, working to ensure
Five steps to bring retread savings to vocational truck tire applications
Rolling through rugged construction sites, cornering in cramped city streets, or tackling rough-and-tumble, stop-and-go refuse tasks, you demand performance from your vocational tires above all. While the ROI that their long-haul brethren reap from retreads is well documented, that same value prop can be true for vocational tires. And you don’t have to just take
Diagnostic complexity keeps growing
Trucks have become increasingly complex over the last few years. Generations of mechanics were once able to easily adapt to changes in truck technology over the span of a career. In some ways, servicing engines became easier as new production advancements appeared. For instance, when did any of us last adjust the connecting rod shims
How API engine oil categories are defined
Ever wondered how those engine oil categories from the American Petroleum Institute (API) are decided upon? Here’s a bit of behind-the-scenes info. “It’s important to note that once a standard or an API category has set those specifications, they remain untouched,” says Jeff Harmening, API manager of the Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS).
