Peterbilt unveils new Class 5-8 medium-duty trucks, PACCAR TX-8 transmission
Peterbilt Motors Co. has unveiled the new medium-duty Model 537 and Model 548, designed for the Class 7/8 segment, as well as the medium-duty Model 535 and Model 536, designed for the Class 5/6 non-CDL lease and rental markets. Each new model is available for order with deliveries starting in July. Model 537 and Model
Don’t let parasitic loads take a bite out of your truck batteries
More on-board, electronically-driven and controlled systems means more strain on your batteries that are already faced with tackling tough applications and pandemic-driven changing duty cycles. “Parasitic loads are ever-increasing,” said Vicki Hall, director of transportation technical solutions for EnerSys. “The more electronics and creature comforts are being added to trucks, especially sleeper cabs, the higher
How summer heat drains your truck batteries (and what you can do about it)
Ask any heavy-duty truck battery or electrical system expert about the summer heat’s adverse impact on battery performance and they’ll likely share the age-old adage: “Summer heat and sun are what kills a battery; it just doesn’t know it’s dead until it gets cold.” (Seriously, I asked five experts and that was every single answer.)
Optronics releases Opti-Brite Diamond Series LED interior lamps
Optronics International has unveiled its new Opti-Brite Diamond Series LED interior lamps. The thin, surface-mount lamps are dimmable and able to remember previous intensity settings, the company says. Diamond Series lamps are designed for broad interior application flexibility and can be wired to operate manually or use their passive infrared sensors (PIR) to automatically illuminate
Making the Right Battery Choice for Your Fleet
Putting the right battery in the right application makes all the difference when it comes to uptime and fleet performance. The wrong type of battery, or ones not equipped for your fleet’s needs, can turn routine maintenance into emergency replacements, and anything done in an emergency or on the side of the road will cost
Fitting cab and chassis designs to the needs of vocational trucks
OEM designs and resources are making upfitting easier than ever for vocational truck operators.
Upfitting efficiency: Vocational resources
OEMs are making available a range of resources where fleets can access valuable help for customizing light- and medium-duty vocational trucks.
Optronics introduces new LED warning and beacon lamps
The lamps employ a solid-state, surface-mount device (SMD) design that protects their electronics against moisture, shock and vibration, and the lamps come with Optronics’ one-diode lifetime warranty protection, which will replace any lamp if even one diode fails.
Watch: Choosing the right alternator
Today’s commercial diesel engines depend on the reliable flow of fuel, air and coolant to efficiently take you from Point A to Point B. However, if you bring a stray electrical current into the mix, you could be faced with wrecked internal components and sophisticated electronics systems that are put in an early grave.
Why the wrong truck alternator could lead to unwanted downtime
The modern commercial diesel engine relies on precise, reliable flows of fuel, air and coolant to do its job. What you don’t want flowing through your engine, however, is stray electrical current that can quickly destroy internal components and wreak havoc on sophisticated electronics. These stray amps are coming from computer-controlled direct injection to driver-assist
