Five truck trend takeaways from November
A look at the five biggest takeaways from the month of November in the world of heavy-duty trucks.
Detroit to produce new medium-duty engines, DT12 AMT in Michigan production facility
Daimler Trucks announced a $375 million investment to enable production of the new DD5 and DD8 medium duty engines at Detroit brand headquarters and manufacturing facility in Redford, Mich. Additionally, Daimler Trucks’ powertrain celebrated the production commencement of its automated manual transmission (AMT), the DT12. With the launch , the company is delivering on the
Matchmaking and downspeeding
Choosing an engine, transmission and axles that are specifically matched to work together for optimum performance is a fast emerging trend. When I say “optimum performance,” I mean maximum fuel efficiency with the right horsepower engines, coupled with an automated manual transmission that shifts at exactly the right RPM, and an axle with the best
The sky isn’t falling if truck sales decrease
As the end of the year approaches, the trucking industry remains strong. 2015 has generally been slightly lower order-wise than 2014 was, and unless this fall matches the historic boom we saw last year, it will end up as a down year. Despite that, it has still been a respectable year on the whole. Reports
Greenhouse Gas Phase II: Mitigating road and traffic issues
Comments made recently by Martin Daum, president and chief executive officer of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), focused on the industry’s continuing efforts to address CO2 reductions as outlined in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Phase II legislation, noting that clean engines are only part of the solution. He suggested that adjusting speed limits and improving the
Watch: Truck equipment technology update: Take a tour of the ATA MC&E trade show floor
Fleet Equipment is giving you an all-access pass to the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition trade show floor. There was plenty of new technology to see and news from truck manufacturers and technology suppliers. In the video above, we’ll talk with some of the top industry minds to get a handle on today’s truck
The perfect combination: The Zen of creating the optimum downsped engine/axle/drivetrain mix
Most truck engines, today, run at around 1,450 RPM at cruising speed to provide the 200 HP needed at the wheel-end. Engine downspeeding allows the truck to operate consistently in a more efficient range, generally between 1,100 to 1,200 RPM, while maintaining the same 200 HP at the wheel end. As a result, fuel efficiency
Daimler Trucks adds used truck after-treatment system warranty coverage
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced an addition to the used truck Select Limited Warranty coverage options available through its used truck retail network, SelecTrucks. The new warranty will cover the After-Treatment System (ATS) on both Detroit and Cummins engines, a service not offered by others. The warranty is available on used Freightliner and Western
The truck telematics revolution
It’s hard to believe that years ago, “technology” inside a cab meant it came with a CB radio. Today, those same cabs have onboard telematics systems that relay information from the drivetrain to help keep track of fuel economy, speed, driving habits—pretty much anything related to the trip. OEMs have been paying attention to this
Five truck trend takeaways from August
1. It’s time to start preparing for GHG Phase 2 “The new standards separate rules for engines and vehicles, an approach that some manufacturers supported while others preferred a single standard. In general, industry reaction was positive.” It’s time to gear up for phase 2 of greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards. The new standards
Buying trucks with resale in mind
“A quality, premium-spec’d truck is going to command higher resale value and helps a truck stand out on a dealership’s lot,” begins Anthony Gansle, marketing manager of on-highway products for Peterbilt. “In addition to greater resale value and desirability, running high-content trucks provide fleets with numerous cost-saving advantages that factor into the total return on
Where to buy pre-owned trucks
Angelique Pierce, manager of marketing and pricing for Daimler Trucks Remarketing, states, “At SelecTrucks, the majority of our Freightliner trucks were originally operated by the most successful mega-fleets in North America. Thus, the trucks in our inventory have been spec’d for optimum fleet performance and field-tested for proven reliability.” “While the first owner specs the
