Putting the right truck equipment, service practices in place during a pandemic
Fleets thrive on predictability. Uptime and asset utilization are improved when you can see what’s coming. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 anything but predictable. Shifting applications, duty cycles and equipment needs continue to impact all trucking segments in unique ways; a fact that is felt by Penske Truck Leasing as it helps
An overview of the TPMS and ATIS offerings
There is a wide variety of tire inflation technology available, both in TPMS and ATIS form. Let’s take a quick look at some of the offerings.
Maximizing trailer capacity: Time is the crucial factor
For delivery fleets that make multi-stop runs, a constant challenge is to meet all daily delivery requirements while making the least number of trips possible—a benefit that keeps costs low and customer satisfaction high. Trailer utilization is, of course, key to achieving this goal, but an unfortunate reality is that fleet managers often underestimate the
Fleet Profile: Queen Transportation & Logistics
Since 2006, the family-owned Queen Transportation & Logistics has been focused on providing shippers with trucking and logistics services they can always trust, notes Daniel Queen, the fleet’s vice president. “Our customers appreciate our ‘whatever-it-takes’ spirit and our expertise in meeting their transportation needs,” Queen says. “What really sets us apart from the competition, however,
Watch: Is lightweighting a smart idea for light- & medium-duty trucks?
The North American Council for Freight Efficiency, or NACFE, says it’s difficult to determine how much additional revenue or lower operating costs will be guaranteed by lightweighting. However, reducing vehicle weight provides manufacturers with opportunities to keep enhancing operational efficiencies, and can have a direct influence on operations, drivers, maintenance and vehicle life cycles. Click
Must-do truck battery maintenance in the shop
You want to catch as many potential truck battery problems before they happen as you can, and that means checking the truck electrical system during preventative maintenance. Here’s how to get started. First, safety. “Technicians should always follow the shop rules for PPE equipment,” said Larry Rambeaux, sales application engineer for Purkeys. “The most obvious
Discount Tire talks meeting the local needs of light-duty fleets
Light-duty vehicles have seen a boost in operations during the pandemic. From last-mile delivery to contract service providers and the like, commercial vans and light-duty trucks are rolling large to meet essential business demands—and with that comes increased service needs. “What’s interesting, specifically with a model like Amazon, is it’s more of a franchise model
Inside the truck data integration: Volvo Trucks, Geotab
Every truck data integration is different. That’s true whether you’re integrating your own data with new telematics service providers (TSPs) or OEMs are integrating with TSPs, which has been a growing trend over the past couple of months. TSPs are receiving data direct from OEM-installed hardware, but how does it work and what does it
Addressing advanced driver assistance system differences
Every piece of trucking equipment has its nuances. It’s those little operational differences that add up to big fuel efficiency savings while boosting productivity. When it comes to safety, you want to make sure that the truck safety systems work how you expect them to—seat belts click, trucks stop when you apply the brakes. But
Watch: Are low rolling resistance tires right for your trucks?
Finding the right tire for your truck is wholly mysterious and inexplicable, and yet so rare, that the finest poets have never succeeded in fully expressing its joy. You see, choosing the right tire is no simple task, because tire companies today are manufacturing tires to fit very specific, niche applications. The fact that manufacturers
Hidden pearls of mechanic wisdom
Virtually every technician in the vehicle service industry with more than a few years of experience knows the mechanic proverbs passed from one generation to the next. These proverbs are basic wisdom in a simple, yet memorable form that help the technician in performing maintenance and repairs. It really is okay to admit that the
DTNA Pres., CEO Roger Nielsen talks truck market changes, electric trucks on the horizon
The trucking industry continues to roll large through the pandemic. While April and May brought drastic changes in operations and even applications, the so-called “whiplash” market recovery is starting to manifest. “Every one of our businesses, from school buses to heavy-duty trucks, has gone through this pandemic and come out of it really strong,” Daimler
