Seven maintenance practices to preserve tire casing integrity
When asked by Fleet Equipment what maintenance practices they would recommend to preserve tire casing integrity, Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. provided an extremely detailed answer, which, while unable to make it into the print story, we thought we would share here so fleets can bolster their knowledge. Here is the full answer from Gary Schroeder, director of
ATRI: Decline in operational costs driven by fuel prices
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today released the findings of its 2016 update to “An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking.” Using financial data provided directly by motor carriers throughout the country, this research documents and analyzes trucking costs from 2008 through 2015 providing trucking industry stakeholders with a high-level benchmarking tool, and
What to know about tires and 6×2 configurations
Many commercial fleets are evaluating the benefits of specifying new tractors with a 6×2 configuration versus the more popular 6×4 configuration. The standard 6×4 consists of three axles and six wheel-ends; both axles have driven axles. The new 6×2 features three axles and six wheel-ends on which only one of the axles is driven. The
Driving retention: How the right equipment can keep the right drivers in the seats
Fuel efficiency and total cost of ownership typically top the charts of topics here at Fleet Equipment. On the other hand, you can spec the most efficient, cost-effective trucks possible, but it’s no use if you don’t have anyone to drive them. Just take a look at the American Trucking Associations’ latest driver turnover numbers.
Special considerations for steer axle tires
Retreading commercial tires is standard operating procedure for successful fleets. Depending on the specific retread design and tread depth, retreads cost approximately one-third to one-half the price of a new tire. Fleets are always looking for ways to protect that tire casing since it is a valuable asset. Retreads can be used on any wheel
Bulldog Hiway Express is firmly focused on safety, customer service
It’s no mystery what’s most important to Phil Byrd, president and chief executive officer of Bulldog Hiway Express. “All of our employees know that we will never, ever compromise on safety or compliance,” he says. “We will always operate as a safety-first company.” What’s also apparent is that those aren’t just words to Byrd. In several
International launches DriverFirst initiative
International Truck has launched a company-wide initiative, DriverFirst, aimed at giving its customers an edge in attracting and retaining qualified drivers through vehicles designed with a strong emphasis on the driver’s perspective. “Today, for our customers, uptime means more than having trucks that are built to stay on the road,” said Denny Mooney, the company’s
Redefining reward: Western Star’s 5700XE puts an edge on efficiency
The driver shortage continues to plague fleets. The latest numbers from American Trucking Associations showed that annualized turnover rate for large truckload fleets rose two percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 102%, the second straight quarter in which it was at least 100%. The turnover rate for small truckload carriers—fleets with less
What you need to know about tire mileage testing
Tire manufacturers are continuously developing new products for steer, drive and trailer tires. Many of these new tire makes/models are designed to increase removal mileage (miles/32 in.). A combination of new and improved compounds along with design and construction enhancements can lead to increased tire removal mileages. The key is to determine if the specific
Wabash National introduces new rear impact guard
Wabash National Corp. introduced a new rear impact guard design option for its 53-ft. dry van trailers at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. The RIG-16 Rear Underride Guard System is engineered to prevent underride in multiple offset, or overlap, impact scenarios, the company said. “Safety is our
