Fuel economy and new engine oils
Engine oil makers weigh in on the new oil formulations to help meet EPA improved fuel economy standards.
New heavy-duty engine oil categories are driven by regulation
When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced regulations in 2010 designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mandate fuel economy improvements for heavy-duty engines and vehicles, it set in motion a change to engine oil specifications. In turn, the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) requested that the
Five truck trend takeaways from June
We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from June focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
Integrated safety systems: Living up to the hype
Mandating stability control and safety systems for heavy trucks began several years ago with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) test analysis, which revealed that a large percentage of heavy truck crashes are rollover-related and can be mitigated by stability control interventions. During that period, braking system suppliers began testing new braking and stability
Zonar launches ZFuel, Ground Traffic Control performance package
Zonar Systems has announced the general availability of the Ground Traffic Control (GTC) Performance package, including its ZFuel application. GTC Performance is Zonar’s cloud-based fleet management web-application, a driver and truck analysis tool for uncovering areas for improved truck operation and performance. Fleet managers can use ZFuel to identify non-diagnostic issues with trucks as well as areas to coach, motivate
California’s latest regulating nightmare
Sometimes our states meddle in areas where they shouldn’t be meddling; California has a history, of which they are very proud, of doing just that. One of the proposals of the FAST Act, which was struck down, was to prevent states from writing requirements that preempted applicable federal standards. This proposal didn’t make the cut,
Aftermarket brake friction: Know what you need and what you are getting
When replacing brake friction material, Dan Dunkleberger, Haldex Friction’s product manager, says that fleets “need to understand the application, duty-cycle and environment in which the vehicle in is performing. These three key things will give the end-user the necessary information needed to spec the correct friction material for the job. Application and duty-cycle are also
From SuperTruck to reality: A look at the technology that could drive tomorrow’s trucks forward
The objective of the 2012 Department of Energy (DOE) SuperTruck program was to develop tractor-trailers that were 50% more efficient than the 2009 baseline models by 2015. What truck OEMs have learned—and put into production—during that process is that truck technology development is surpassing original expectations. So here’s an update from one truck OEM. Applied
Cummins and Eaton: United by efficiency
In the spring of 2013, Cummins and Eaton took their business partnership to the next level by launching their SmartAdvantage Powertrain package that, today, offers the Cummins ISX15 and ISX12 paired with the Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-Speed automated transmission, touting a 3 to 6% increase in fuel economy. It’s paying off for fleet customers that are
Fuel efficiency options: Looking to application to inform your specs
“With the cost of equipment today, typically one of the first questions raised by our full service lease customers is about fuel efficient specifications,” says Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske Truck Leasing. “Customers always weigh the idea of whether or not a spec is the right fit for
