XL Fleet to merge with Pivotal Investment Corp. II
XL Fleet and Pivotal Investment Corp. II have entered into a merger agreement. Upon closing, the combined company will be named XL Fleet. XL Fleet says it has over 3,200 commercial and municipal vehicles deployed throughout the U.S. and Canada which have logged more than 130 million customer miles driven on the company’s hybrid and
Traxen introduces A.I.-based iQ-Cruise for fuel savings
Traxen has launched its intelligent adaptive cruise control system, iQ-Cruise, for traditional and electric commercial vehicles. The system will be available to both commercial vehicle aftermarket and OE customers. Through the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.), algorithms and sensors, the company says iQ-Cruise can reduce fuel consumption by an average of 10% while improving safety
Volvo LIGHTS team wins 2020 Innovation Award
The Volvo LIGHTS project in Southern California was named the 2020 Innovation Award Honoree at the recent Breath of Life Awards Gala. The event, which was held virtually Sept. 24, celebrated leaders in the Southern California community for accomplishments that align with the organization’s mission of promoting clean air and human health through research, education,
Preventive maintenance truck tips for automatic slack adjusters
Time and miles: Both seem to roll by more quickly than we realize. Consider six months, 1,800 operating hours, or 50,000 miles – for many working trucks and truck drivers, those aren’t long intervals: But they’re key markers for a piece of basic wheel-end preventive maintenance that’s too often overlooked. This installment of the Bendix
Fleets have ‘renewed confidence’ as truck orders improve in September
According to the latest numbers from FTR and ACT Research, Class 8 net orders surged in September to the highest total since October 2018, hitting 32,000 units according to FTR (ACT Research reports 31,100 units). September order activity was up 55% month-over-month and 160% year-over-year, FTR says. “As orders rebounded to relatively healthy levels early
The benefits of API FA-4 heavy-duty engine oils
Introduced nearly four years ago, API FA-4 heavy-duty engine oils came to the market alongside API CK-4 lubricants to much anticipation as the biggest overhaul in engine oil specifications in a decade. It marked a significant step change in the development of lower viscosity oils to meet the needs of modern heavy-duty fleet engine designs.
ACT Research: August used truck metrics show volumes remain up YTD
According to the latest numbers from ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes were up 17% year-to-date against the first eight months of 2019, with average price, miles and age all below August 2019 year-to-date rates, down 15%, 1%, and 8%, respectively. The report also indicated that used Class 8 sales volumes rose,
Navistar adds new partnerships with telematics, fleet management providers
Navistar International Corp. has announced Gateway Integrations, a collection of software integrations with telematics and fleet management providers. Navistar says Gateway Integrations are designed to reduce fleet costs, simplify data transmission and streamline access to fleet management and compliance solutions by using Navistar’s factory-installed telematics device as a gateway to streamline software solutions without the
FTR’s July Shippers Conditions Index falls to negative territory
The FTR Shippers Conditions Index fell into negative territory for the first time since August 2018, with a -0.36 reading. FTR says after a huge positive spike as COVID-19 impacted freight movement, the SCI now reflects a continued weakening of shippers’ market conditions. Freight volume and utilization were actually more favorable to shippers in July,
ACT Research For-Hire Trucking Index highlights driver shortage
The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with August data, showed a continuing tight trucking market, with volume and rate surges ongoing and driver availability deteriorating. August’s Volume Index rose to 67.9 (SA), and productivity was at 67.8. With capacity and driver availability in contraction territory, at 48.9 and 32.0, respectively, the combination
