October’s five truck trend takeaways
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 October focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place. 5. Fleets are seeing the benefits of traction control technology The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require full-stability technology on most
USA Truck’s comprehensive approach to streamlining operations, improving retention and lowering costs
As one of the nation’s largest over-the-road truckload carriers, USA Truck is constantly on the lookout for ways to make life on the road less stressful and more productive for the approximately 1,750 drivers it employs. In many cases, that approach pays other dividends for the fleet as well. For many years, for example, USA
Detroit partners with AT&T, Microsoft on connected solutions
Detroit Diesel Corp., a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), has announced collaborations with AT&T and Microsoft Corp. to deliver enhancements to its Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services. AT&T will provide Internet of Things connectivity for the new Detroit Connect Truck Data Center platform. The platform, made specifically for the new Freightliner Cascadia,
How remote diagnostics stay on top of service issues
While OEMs will share their proprietary service data through Right to Repair, they have also continued to develop their respective remote diagnostics offerings to better diagnose a truck’s problems. In fact, Remote diagnostic systems are now offered in some form by all the major truck and engine OEMs. These systems collect diagnostic data on the
How Pan American Express carefully chooses equipment, operational practices
While NAFTA, the 1993 trade deal linking the United States, Canada and Mexico, has become a political issue in this election year, politicians and trucking industry observers alike need to look no further than to Pan American Express Inc. (Panamex) to see how cross-border trade can provide jobs and an economic boost. The motor carrier,
Meritor WABCO receives award from Daimler
Meritor WABCO has received the 2015 Masters of Quality supplier award from Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The award recognizes outstanding suppliers that have received high scores on their quality, delivery, technology and cost performance as measured on a balanced scorecard basis. The honored suppliers represent the top-quality providers of components and services for DTNA’s Freightliner
Detroit introduces new Connect platform, including OTA updates
Detroit has introduced a proprietary connectivity platform for the new Freightliner Cascadia. The platform features new vehicle communications hardware that will facilitate new Detroit Connect services to deliver customers deeper insights into their fleets’ fuel efficiency and safety performance as well as enable over-the-air powertrain programming capabilities. The Detroit Connect platform also features technology that
SAV Express: Making the right moves
While providing reliable freight hauling services has always been the focus of the SAV Transportation Group, maintaining a high level of quality service has meant continued readjustment. Perhaps nowhere in the diversified company is that more apparent than at its asset-based SAV Express operation. “We’re currently readjusting our fleet based on current market and economic
The impact of expanding integrated technology across different truck applications
Integrated vehicle technology continues to evolve. While medium-duty trucks have long been built with integrated systems, new onboard technology is raising the level of sophistication and, for at least one truck maker, borrowing from its proven heavy-duty vehicle technologies. According to Kary Schaefer, general manager of marketing and strategy for Freightliner and Detroit brands at
Detroit readies the DD5 engine for production
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced that it will begin production of Freightliner M2106 trucks equipped with the DD5 engine beginning in October. The DD5 is the newest Detroit engine to be released, and was first announced in late 2014. Detroit also announced that the DD5 engine has received EPA certification, meaning that it has met the 2017
