NACFE ‘Run on Less’ achieves 10 MPG average, conquers real-world challenges
Run on Less, a cross-country road show to showcase fuel efficient truck technology and equipment, announced an average of more than 10 MPG in real world conditions hauling real world freight. The seven participating trucks drove a combined 50,107 miles during the seventeen day event which kicked off on September 6. They achieved a cumulative
Brown Transportation invests in equipment and people
It’s not unusual to hear trucking companies talk about how they provide high-quality service to customers, and that they strive everyday to meet their needs and expectations. In the case of Brown Transportation, those goals are being met with an apparently successful approach. “We’re very diverse, which helps us weather any changes in the business
Fleets save nearly $500M using fuel-efficient technologies and practices, study finds
Nineteen fleets operating more than 71,000 tractors and 234,000 trailers saw a 1% increase in fuel economy in 2016 by adopting a variety of fuel efficiency technologies, according to the Annual Fleet Fuel Study released by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE). This is the ninth year in a row trucking fleets
Trucking Efficiency’s Run on Less announces drivers, technologies
Carbon War Room (CWR) and the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) have announced the seven drivers participating in Run on Less, a fuel-economy roadshow that kicks off on Sept. 6. Run on Less will demonstrate how Class 8 trucks can use different technologies to achieve the best fuel economy possible. The three-week experience
Optimizing onboard data-driven systems to mitigate downtime
Onboard intelligence gives fleet managers all the details needed to manage maintenance effectively when vehicles are on the road or in the shop. Everything you need to know, and then some, is available as a reference for service and troubleshooting. Predictive maintenance practices Minneapolis-based Koch Trucking is an over-the-road carrier with 900 power units, mostly
Inside axle ratios: Detailing the range of downspeeding options
Any on-highway truck you spec today will likely employ downspeeding to some degree. The sources within this story all agree that the majority of trucks today are putting faster ratios on the road. It’s a trend being driven by increased powertrain innovation and integration, with automated manual and automatic transmissions playing a key role in
Balancing act: Weighing the need for both efficiency and power in engines
A recent trend in the trucking industry reveals surprising results. In 2009, 56% of all US Class 8 trucks spec’d engines were greater than 13 liter, (a.k.a. big-block or big-bore engines), but as of 2016, that number has fallen to about 40%. The reason for this may be that fleets that prioritize efficiency and lighter-weight
The future of electrification
Knowing that the current low prices of diesel won’t last forever, cost-conscious fleets in medium-duty segments are starting to look toward alternative sources of fuel for the future. This year, there have been several big announcements involving electric trucks, including Mitsubishi Fuso bringing a limited-production line of fully electric trucks, known as the eCanter, to
Timken to acquire Groeneveld Group
The Timken Co. announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Groeneveld Group, a provider of automatic lubrication solutions used in on- and off-highway applications, for approximately $280 million. For the 12 months ending May 31, 2017, Groeneveld Group sales were approximately $105 million. The transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings
Motiv Power Systems brings the country’s second all-electric refuse truck to Sacramento
The city of Sacramento has ordered an all-electric automated left-side loader garbage truck powered by Motiv Power Systems’ scalable and modular All-Electric Powertrain. The Electric Refuse Vehicle (ERV) will be built on a Crane Carrier chassis, and the body will be built by Loadmaster. The city of Sacramento aims to run the ERV on residential and
