Analysis paralysis: Keeping it simple can still trump data
Recently, an established fleet maintenance manager—let’s call him Zackary—asked me to attend a regional meeting one of his vice presidents was having with his newly formed regional maintenance staff. I have great respect for Zackary and his success working with pervious fleets. The difference this time was that he had little control because his current
Dealing with aftertreatment issues
If you’ve been paying attention to the most recent engine announcements, you’ll notice that the engine companies have spent a good deal of time highlighting the features of the aftertreatment system (ATS). That’s no accident—the ATS is extremely important, and the systems have advanced significantly in recent years. Before we dive into the details, here’s
How engines aim to minimize DPF downtime
Of course, the DPF and aftertreatment system (as detailed in our in-depth feature story here) aren’t the only reasons for downtime when it comes to engines. We spoke to the engine manufacturers about other ways in which their newest engines help fleets avoid downtime. According to Darryl Oster, assistant chief engineer with Peterbilt, maximizing reliability
BlackBerry, Fleet Complete announce partnership
BlackBerry and Fleet Complete announced that they have entered into a reselling partnership that will expand Fleet Complete’s current fleet tracking and monitoring solution. The expanded solution enables better asset capacity management for carriers, allowing for digital freight brokering, and incorporates the environmental conditions of trailers and containers in a single interface, the companies said.
Why heavy-duty truck alignment is important
The two primary reasons for keeping your vehicles properly aligned are to ensure that your tires do not develop irregular wear and to keep your drivers happy. If vehicles are doglegging to the left or right, the tires’ tread will scrub off quickly and inner or outside wear will occur. With the average price of
How GHG regulations are impacting suspensions
Engines are the most obvious truck part that is affected by the GHG regulations, but suspensions aren’t far behind. The designs of suspensions made in the last few years are noticeably being modified to accommodate fleets’ continued desire to cut their trucks’ weight. “Since a suspension doesn’t rotate 360 degrees (no frictional or rolling resistance
Hot Shot’s Secret Stiction Eliminator reformulated for use in all diesel engines
Hot Shot’s Secret Stiction Eliminator, first introduced in 2004 to resolve issues related to clogged or malfunctioning HEUI injectors for the 6.0L Ford Power Stroke, is now available with a new formulation that the company says removes close to 100% stiction from any gas or diesel engine, including those from GM, Ford, Cummins, Caterpillar, Power
What you need to know about brake friction
If you are spec’ing brakes, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that lately, the brake market is increasingly split into two categories: the tried-and-true drum brakes, and the up-and-coming air disc brakes (ADBs). Although most heavy-duty vehicles on the road still use traditional drum brakes, which cost quite a bit less than disc
How to maintain good electrical connections in your trucks
When it comes to tractor-trailer electrical connections, there is no such thing as “plug and play.” In other words, all electrical connections need to be secure and properly maintained. “Testing in the proper sequence is critically important to not only perform the correct test, but also in the correct sequence and repair as you go,”
Five truck trend takeaways from August
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 August focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.
