Western Star adds new aerodynamic roof fairing for 5700XE
A new roof fairing is now available for Western Star 5700XE 82-in. ultra-high roof sleeper models. According to the company, the new roof fairing maximizes aerodynamics on the truck, optimizing airflow across the trailer gap and sides to reduce drag. The fairing has been designated as SmartWay Certified by the EPA. “We’re proud of our participation in
Western Star adds new drive axle option for snow plows on 4700
The Western Star 4700 set-back (SB) all-wheel drive (AWD) 6×6 and 4×4 trucks can now be spec’d with an 18,000-lb. front drive axle, the company announced. The company says that this option is ideal for snow plow applications, provides enhanced maneuverability required for harsh winter conditions. The heavy-duty front drive axle from Meritor also contributes to
Revenge of the regen
“Regeneration.” The word alone is enough to send chills down a fleet service manager’s spine. Although the reliability of aftertreatment systems has improved over the years, it’s still a top service pain point for fleets polled by Fleet Service Technology. One of the latest headaches is the abuse of the regen inhibit button. With a single
Oil drain intervals, OEM recommendations and whether you should extend
Today’s heavy-duty diesel engines are fine-tuned, highly engineered power plants. They’re churning out more power at lower RPMs and using advanced lubrication technology. Manufacturer recommended oil drain intervals (ODI) are equally engineered to provide the best performance, and they’re aggressive. Check out the latest oil drain interval recommendations: Cummins: When operating in the average 5.5
Bridgestone releases all-position on/off highway retread
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. has introduced the Bandag BRSS all-position retread, which the company says is designed for fleets that work in on and off-road environments, from pavement to dirt and gravel. According to Bridgestone, the retread is engineered for long wear life on multiple surfaces, and is a reliable solution for fleets looking to extend tire
Nu-Line introduces side guards for straight trucks
Canadian spray suppression company Nu-Line has introduced a new side guard for straight trucks. The Nu-Line side guard provides an additional protection barrier in the event of a side collision for trucks that work in close proximity to pedestrians and cyclists. A growing number of municipalities are adopting the requirement for their trucks, as well
Five truck trend takeaways from November
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 November focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
Reward trucks and the driver shortage
The driver shortage is ongoing and shows no signs of stopping. “We need about 90,000 drivers a year coming into our industry, and we’re about 50,000 short today,” outgoing ATA Chairman Dave Manning said in a recent speech. “We project that to be 125,000 short in the next six years. “We have a workforce policy
Fighting moisture intrusion in refrigerated trailers
“Moisture intrusion in refrigerated trailers impacts thermal performance through the degradation of insulating foam quality, increases in thermal conductivity and potential weight gain,” says Chris Lee, vice president of engineering at Great Dane Trailers. “Outgassing, in particular, causes moisture intrusion into foam cells, degrading the insulation’s value and leading to as much as a 30%
Tire autopsy: Tips for analyzing tire failures
Not every tire failure requires a major investigation. Sometimes, the 3-in. screw sticking out the sidewall makes it pretty obvious why the tire is out of service. Other times, the autopsy requires a bit more digging to understand the circumstances that led to the tire’s demise. In order to get a better idea of
