Onsite, en-route outsourced trailer maintenance: Is it the answer?
Trailers, trailers, trailers! Trailer builds are going up like drive-in movies of the ’50s, and with the world of online buying and overnight deliveries increasing demand for freight and storage, the demands for trailer maintenance, annual inspections and roadside DOT compliance is more important than ever. Most fleets are not investing in brick-and-mortar maintenance facilities,
Daimler Trucks North America announces Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet partners
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced that Penske Truck Leasing and NFI have agreed to partner in operating the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet of eCascadia heavy-duty trucks and eM2 106 medium-duty trucks. The move is the next phase of a co-creation process that DTNA is utilizing to actively involve customers in the development of commercial
Volvo Trucks North America, FedEx demonstrate on-highway truck platooning
Volvo Trucks North America recently teamed up with FedEx and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to use advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technology to conduct on-highway truck platooning as part of an ongoing research collaboration. The trucks used Volvo’s Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) on N.C. 540, the Triangle Expressway. “Volvo Trucks has long supported platooning
Watch: Trailer safety systems update
Many trailer manufacturers have been proactive in building safer trailers. The most recent example is the development of new rear underride guards. The newer designs are built to stop an automobile from sliding under the trailer in the event of a rear-impact crash. The number of fatalities due to underride crashes was 2,205 within a
Savings from buying new trucks have increased, according to Fleet Advantage data
Fleet Advantage has released its 2018 Truck Lifecycle Data Index (TLDI) comparing all-in operating costs of early-model Class 8 trucks to 2019 model-year replacements. The TLDI serves to provide a snapshot of the cost savings involved, based on actual fleet truck utilization data, when replacing older trucks with newer, more efficient vehicles. With diesel costs
Wabash National recognizes top dealers
Wabash National Corp. has awarded 12 van trailer dealers with ambassador awards for achieving four- and five-star dealer status based on 2017 performance criteria. Of the 23 dealers that are part of the company’s Dealer Ambassador Program, 12 earned an award for top performance: Five-Star Dealers in 2017 Fleetco, Inc. M&K Trailer Centers TEC Equipment,
Volkswagen Truck and Bus renames itself Traton Group
Volkswagen Truck and Bus has announced that it will rename itself Traton Group. Andreas Renschler, chief executive officer of Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group and member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG, said the new brand name gave the group a new separate identity from parent Volkswagen Group. “The new name Traton is
Bendix updates service interval recommendations for air dryer cartridges
As part of the Bendix Tech Tips Series, Bendix offers new guidelines and service interval recommendations across its range of air dryer cartridges. These updates reflect the results of extensive real-world testing and customer input from a wide array of vehicle applications, as well as a growing number of aftermarket replacement choices, according to the
Valvoline Premium Blue One Solution now Cummins approved for extended oil drain intervals
Valvoline’s Premium Blue One Solution engine oil has become the first engine oil approved to meet Cummins Engine Spec (CES 20092) that allows for extended drains in natural gas engines. Premium Blue One Solution, an engine oil approved for use in certain natural gas, diesel and gas fleet engines, was first released in March. With
Watch: Heavy-duty truck air disc brake maintenance tips
Over the past several years, adoption of air disc brakes (ADBs) has climbed to 18% to 25% of brakes ordered on trucks, according to brake manufacturers, who anticipate that number reaching 50% within the next decade. One of the major advantages of air disc brakes is the extended service interval for brake friction. However, that
