Saving fuel, improving efficiency with lift axles
Lift axles, so named for the attached air bags or springs that lift the axle off the road’s surface when it is not needed, are becoming an increasingly popular option for fleets. Lift axles can be mounted on either the truck or the trailer, and promise fuel and tire savings since the axle is only
You say you want a truck efficiency ‘evolution’?
When we talk about the latest truck technologies, we often throw around words such as “evolution” and “innovation,” and it is a natural analogy given how rapidly technology, and more specifically software, replicates, updates and furthers itself at an exponential pace. In terms of trucking, very rarely do we anticipate a “new truck,” but we
How bridge formula laws impact lift axle design
One important aspect affecting the spec’ing of lift axles is the Bridge Formula, which was created by the federal government in order to keep bridges from becoming too overloaded. This federal law states that two or more consecutive axles may not exceed the weight computed by the Bridge Formula even though single axles, tandem axles
Low voltage lowdown: Dealing with growing electrical load demands
With the massive amount of electrical demand placed on today’s trucks, the dangers of low voltage demands are a real consequence faced by today’s fleets. The entire start and charge process of the truck’s electrical system is impacted by low voltage situations. You’ll see the effect in lift gates, electric APUs, hotel devices or any
Daimler evolves autonomous truck technology with Highway Pilot Connect
Daimler Trucks has introduced Highway Pilot Connect, the company’s latest development in autonomous technology. The company demonstrated the technology in on-highway in Germany with its Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Highway Pilot Connect is a further development of the Highway Pilot system that Daimler started work on in 2014 and Daimler Trucks North America demonstrated in the Inspiration
A truck tire conversation with Bridgestone Commercial
Bridgestone recently released the R283A Ecopia steer tire, and I had the chance to stop by the Bridgestone booth at TMC to learn about the new tire that tackles both improved rolling resistance for fuel efficiency and increasing wear life for reatreadability, a tire feat that is no small task.
NACFE releases aerodynamic device Confidence Report
The latest Confidence Report released by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room (NACFE) explores the benefits and challenges of a variety of trailer aerodynamic devices. The per-vehicle fuel economy benefit of trailer aerodynamic devices can be high, ranging from 1% to over 10%, depending on the devices chosen. Most fleets
eNow introduces solar-powered battery charging for Dometic Blizzard Turbo
eNow Inc. has announced the launch of its new solar-powered battery charging solution for the Dometic Blizzard Turbo auxiliary air conditioner. The combined eNow-Dometic system is the first solar-powered auxiliary A/C for the Class 8 sleeper trucks. “eNow technology harnesses the power of the sun to charge the auxiliary battery, which in turn powers the Dometic Blizzard Turbo auxiliary
IMI unveils Equal Flexx
IMI has unveiled Equal Flexx, an internal balancing tire product which removes 10 to 15% more vibration from the wheel-end, increasing tire mileage by up to 45%. It is an enhancement of IMI’s Equal balancer. “Equal Flexx reduces fuel and tire costs by removing vibration from the wheel-end. This optimizes the efficiency of the entire rotating assembly,”
Stemco introduces SuperSpare spare tire mount
Stemco has introduced the SuperSpare spare tire mount for heavy-duty trucks. SuperSpare is designed to be mounted on the tractor to simplify tire-related roadside maintenance. Installing SuperSpare technology also makes the adoption of fuel-saving “super single” tires more practical, the company said, as they require immediate replacement when damaged, so it is important to have a
