What’s in it for fleets spec’ing the latest in driver comfort options?
How can fleets measure the value of driver comfort options? According to truck manufacturers, it starts by listening to your drivers and measuring the impact of your choices on recruitment efforts and retention success. “Quantitatively, fleets can measure the impact of comfort and convenience items through metrics like driver retention, driver health and recruiting efforts,”
How electrification will change your service operation
One of the most promising pieces of good news to come out of 2020 was the announcement of the availability of multiple medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks. OEMs like Daimler, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt and Volvo all announced battery electric trucks that are either available now or will be in the foreseeable future, and several of
Daimler Trucks N.A. appoints new chief engineer of product validation engineering
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has named Randy DeBortoli as chief engineer of product validation engineering, where he will steer the strategic development of Freightliner and Western Star trucks. DeBortoli has been with DTNA for almost 30 years. Recently, DeBortoli served as the chief engineer of chassis and vocational engineering, playing an instrumental role in
Daimler Trucks N.A. appoints new president, CEO
The board of management of Daimler Truck AG has appointed John O’Leary as the next president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), with its brands Freightliner Trucks, Western Star Trucks, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Detroit Diesel Corporation. Effective April 1, O’Leary follows Roger Nielsen, who retires effective April 30
PPG Delfleet One paint system approved by Daimler Trucks North America
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has approved the PPG Defleet One paint system for warranty and aftermarket repairs on its Freightliner and Western Star trucks. As an integrated system of undercoats, topcoats and clearcoats, the company says the PPG Delfleet One paint system was developed to meet the color-matching and productivity needs of aftermarket users.
Daimler Trucks N.A. gives details on Detroit e-Powertrain, $20M manufacturing investment
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has announced the proprietary Detroit ePowertrain to power the upcoming Freightliner eCascadia and Freightliner eM2. The company says it is part of Daimler Trucks’ global platform strategy to establish a uniform basic architecture for its line-up of battery-electric vehicles. Initially, the Detroit ePowertrain will offer an eAxle design operating at
Daimler Trucks N.A. appoints new head of eMobility
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has appointed Rakesh Aneja as the company’s new head of eMobility, reporting directly to Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of DTNA. In his new role, Aneja will lead all eMobility activities at DTNA, including product strategy, platform management, customer consulting and charging infrastructure services. He will also serve as program
Alliance Parts expands retail footprint, adds to product portfolio
Alliance Parts, a brand of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), says it grew its retail footprint by nearly 55% in 2020, and is also increasing its product portfolio. Alliance Parts says it expects to grow its product portfolio by an additional 30% in 2021. Alliance retail locations primarily stock Alliance Parts and Detroit Reman products
Freightliner eCascadia used to deliver charging infrastructure to Schneider
Southern California Edison (SCE), the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California, recently used a Freightliner eCascadia to deliver an electrical transformer to one of Schneider‘s trucking terminals in Los Angeles. The transformer will be used to supply power to electric vehicles and support Schneider’s deployment of battery-electric trucks, like the Freightliner eCascadia.
DTNA names new head of corporate communications
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has named Andrew Johnson as the company’s head of corporate communications. DTNA says Johnson brings 26 years of creating and implementing successful marketing and communications programs within the organization. He has extensive background managing and executing launches of a variety of commercial vehicles, from the new Western Star 49X, to
Aftermarket executives to give the ‘Real-World View’ at HDAD ’21
The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), the commercial vehicle division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and MacKay & Company have announced Chris Patterson, retired CEO of Daimler Trucks North America and an independent director, will lead a session getting a “real-world view” from aftermarket executives at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue (HDAD) on
DTNA commits to carbon-neutral vehicle production by 2025
Daimler Trucks North America says its Portland truck manufacturing plant is achieving carbon-neutral production in 2020 with reduced energy consumption and the offset of on-site emissions. DTNA adds it further plans to incorporate CO₂-neutral production at all of its remaining truck manufacturing plants by 2025. The Portland plant will be the first vehicle manufacturing plant
