Choosing the best diagnostic tools for fleet maintenance
When it comes to your fleet’s maintenance program, choosing the best diagnostic tools for the job can make all the difference. “Noregon offers tools and services that utilize vehicle data to optimize the diagnosis and repair process to increase uptime for the end customer,” notes Shane Gilliam, vice president of sales for Noregon. “Our flagship
How fleets are gathering data for better asset management
To optimize assets, fleets need to know how their equipment and drivers are performing. The best way to garner that information is by capitalizing on information technology (IT) provided by onboard vehicle systems linked to in-house software. Maria Sotra, vice president of marketing for Geotab, notes the ways fleets can improve productivity and safety. “For
How fleets can take advantage of outsourced service offerings
Today’s trucking industry moves at a rapid pace, bringing new technology, new spec’ing options and new data points to delve into. That means more strain on your maintenance service operations. While some fleets prefer to keep service in-house, many fleets need a helping maintenance hand. Equipment complexity, difficulty diagnosing issues and a shortage of technicians
Fuel savings with APUs
What makes auxiliary power units (APUs) such a good investment today? Bill Gordon, division president of Bergstrom Parts LLC, says that the primary reasons are “fuel savings and less wear on the engine as a result of reduced idling. The fuel savings associated with reduced idling are significant. Omnitracs released a whitepaper recently that quantified
Spec’ing to optimize resale value
There are many factors that impact resale value for trucks. Dale Tower, vice president of remarketing for AmeriQuest Used Truck Services Inc., suggests that OEM selection, engine choices, horsepower, automated transmissions, APUs, SCR non SCR, super singles, chassis side fairings, single or double bunks (in sleepers) and even the color of trucks are all items that will
Easing ELD concerns
While the implementation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s electronic logging device (ELD) rules will usher in significant changes for our industry, there are many potential benefits. Despite the startup costs and learning curves, fleets may be poised to see significant improvements. “As fleets adopt various solutions, one of the biggest areas of concern
Drivewyze survey finds importance of weigh station bypass
Available on ELDs, smart phones and tablets, Drivewyze detects when the truck is approaching a fixed weigh station or temporary inspection site. Carrier information is pulled up and if the carrier passes the criteria established by the state’s commercial vehicle enforcement agency, a bypass is granted. “We’re finding that Drivewyze users with the best scores
Tire management is key to understanding fleet tire needs, costs
Taking care of tires is a fleet manager’s top priority. It’s where the rubber meets the road; the costs hit the bottom line. From tire benchmarking to data analysis to management action, crafting a complete tire management program for your tires can be the difference between profitability and dealing with costly tire headaches. “An effective
Gaining visibility with accurate load status information
“Capacity is not the constraining force for carriers, brokers and shippers,” says Glynn Spangenberg, general manager and executive vice president of MacroPoint, creators of freight tracking software designed to give third party visibility into load status. “The real governor on asset utilization, today, is driver availability, driven by a shortage of accessible drivers and new
What’s trucking’s biggest equipment trend?
Without a doubt, the heavy-duty trucking industry took one of its biggest leaps forward in 2014 in terms of getting the latest equipment technologies into fleets and on the road. There was no shortage of efficiency solutions as truck OEs and suppliers showcased everything from downsped engines and integrated powertrains to aerodynamic packages and vehicle connectivity
