Starting sustainability efforts with diesel engines
Nearly every time I talk with people about sustainability, I ask: Is this time different? Years ago we saw the growth of “going green,” which carried a hefty price tag for environmentally conscious decisions. The difference this time around isn’t just the improvement in electrification technology—it’s the attention sustainability is receiving throughout society. Transportation operations
Samsara releases fuel efficiency benchmarks report
Samsara has released its Fuel Efficiency Benchmarks Report to help fleets evaluate how their vehicles are performing across key efficiency metrics. With the data from this report, fleets can start making meaningful changes to their fuel and fleet decisions, the company says. With this report, Samsara says customers can set and track fuel efficiency goals
Correcting truck spec’ing assumptions, the impact on fuel efficiency
Last time I talked with Allison Athey, product marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America, she turned the tables and sprung a question on me in true Unscripted fashion. When we were done recording, I joked that she should guest host next time and ask me the questions. She said she was game and the
How to get maximum fuel efficiency from your truck engine and transmission
Integrated powertrains can offer multiple advantages to fleets compared to a traditional manual and legacy automated transmission-based systems, noted Kristopher Ptasznik, powertrain total cost of ownership and consultancy leader at Cummins. “Traditionally, drivers can account for up to a 30% difference in a fleet’s fuel economy,” Ptasznik said. “By making it easier to operate the
Peterbilt GM Jason Skoog talks next-gen 579 truck technology, fuel efficiency
The technology you can’t see in today’s trucks is just as important as the technology you can. The next-gen Peterbilt 579 first impression is striking—from the improved aerodynamic design that offers a 7% fuel efficiency gain over the previous iteration when spec’d with a PACCAR powertrain, according to the OEM, to the 15-in. digital driver
Hands on: Peterbilt 579 next generation truck
For fleet managers, the experience of a truck can be seen on the P&L—you want your fuel costs to go down and your profitability to go up. For the drivers, it’s all about the feeling behind the wheel. OEMs have the unenviable task of creating a top-notch experience for both. On paper, the next-gen Peterbilt
PACCAR Genuine releases new air filters
PACCAR Parts has released a new line of PACCAR Genuine air filters, an Original Equipment (OE) first-fit part installed at the factory on Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. One of the key features of the new PowerCore blue media PACCAR Genuine air filters is lower initial restriction, the company says, adding that it provides better fuel
Canadian Tire, NuPort Robotics to commercialize automated HD trucking technology in Canada
Canadian national retailer Canadian Tire Corp. and Toronto-based start-up NuPort Robotics Inc., an autonomous trucking company, have partnered with the Ontario government to invest $3 million to undertake an automated heavy-duty trucking project to test new technology. The companies say the technology provides a transportation solution for the middle mile, the short-haul shuttle runs that
Watch: How to maximize a truck’s fuel economy using wheel position
Every fleet wants to maximize efficiency, so here’s a fuel economy tire hack: Maximize the impact of the truck’s wheel position. You see, the trailer wheel position, which carries the most weight, contributes the most to the overall fuel efficiency of a commercial truck at about 43%. This is followed by the drive position at
Podcast: The impact of emissions standards on trucking equipment
You’ve probably heard about the EPA GHG regulations that are ramping up throughout the 2020s, starting this year. You’ve probably also heard about more advanced emissions programs introduced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). But you might wonder, if I don’t run trucks in California, why do I need to know what CARB is
Watch: New technology to decrease a truck’s emissions & better fuel economy
In November 2018, the EPA announced the need to update nitrogen oxide emissions standards in heavy-duty trucks with its Cleaner Trucks Initiative. According to the initiative’s overview found at epa.gov, heavy-duty vehicles are the largest contributor to mobile source emissions of nitrogen oxide, and they are expected to be one of the largest mobile source
Hands on: Kenworth T680 next-gen truck
The story of the next-generation Kenworth T680’s launch is a tale of two redesigns: one outside and one inside. The new aerodynamic designs add up to increased fuel efficiency compared to the previous T680, while the new 15-in. digital display offers a bevy of customization options. Then there’s the new Kenworth ADAS offering that pairs
