Truck & trailer suspensions: Application is key
If you’re an established fleet, chances are you have go-to specs for your trucks that you’ve stuck to for a long time. As well as those choices might have worked for you up to this point, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate them every once in a while. If they’re still working for you, that’s
Finding benefits in leasing and outsourced truck maintenance services
Uptime is always driven by a strong maintenance program, notes Steve Zaborowski, senior vice president at XTRA Lease. “Our customers need to manage trucks, freight and drivers, so we’re focused on providing different types of services to keep them up and running,” he says. “Especially as we add trailers to our fleet, that means being
Riding on air: The application benefits of air ride suspensions
Suspensions have a job that is both difficult and crucial. Think of them like the spine of the vehicle, supporting both the handling and the ride quality, keeping cargo in good shape while making sure the driver is shielded from the harshest bumps on the road. The importance of this component cannot be overlooked. There
What you need to know about air disc brakes as they increase in popularity
Over the past few years, the take rate of air disc brakes (ADBs) has been steadily growing. This growth has only accelerated recently, thanks in part to the fact that many truck OEMs have made air disc brakes standard equipment. International, Kenworth and Peterbilt are among the manufacturers who now offer ADBs as standard on
Avoiding lighting problems and CSA citations
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) lighting violations or safety concerns often result from intermittent flickering of lights, diodes being out on LED lights, voltage drop on double or triple trailer configurations and non-functioning lights on the trailer. “Just one inoperable lamp can make a law enforcement official suspect that the vehicle, the driver and the fleet
Photo gallery: Expo Transporte 2017
Efficiency. Driver comfort. Electrification. All of the bullet points that punctuate U.S. truck trade shows also permeate Expo Transporte—the largest trade show in Latin America. A show of this size and caliber would be most closely likened to the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS). The Fleet Equipment team hit the show floor to check out the
How GHG regulations are impacting suspensions
Engines are the most obvious truck part that is affected by the GHG regulations, but suspensions aren’t far behind. The designs of suspensions made in the last few years are noticeably being modified to accommodate fleets’ continued desire to cut their trucks’ weight. “Since a suspension doesn’t rotate 360 degrees (no frictional or rolling resistance
Maintenance tips for truck brake friction
In terms of brake friction maintenance, there is a lot more to look out for beyond whether the pads or friction is worn. The surrounding parts should also be checked in any inspection. For our in-depth story on brake friction, we interviewed brake experts from Bendix, Haldex, Hendrickson, Meritor, SAF-Holland, TMD Friction and WABCO. These
Minimizer introduces insert-style slick plate
Minimizer has introduced the insert-style slick plate, specifically designed for trucks that have Holland fifth wheels with built-in lube plate inserts. These models include the Holland FWAL, FW31 and FW33 fifth wheels. “Minimizer’s new insert-style slick plate compliments our line of other greaseless products that truly do help truck drivers get rid of that mess
What you need to know about brake friction
If you are spec’ing brakes, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that lately, the brake market is increasingly split into two categories: the tried-and-true drum brakes, and the up-and-coming air disc brakes (ADBs). Although most heavy-duty vehicles on the road still use traditional drum brakes, which cost quite a bit less than disc
