Interstate Batteries Archives - Fleet Equipment Magazine
Interstate Batteries announces new partnership with Tractor Supply Co.

Interstate Batteries recently announced a new partnership with Tractor Supply Company to exclusively supply the retailer’s automotive, commercial and agricultural and power sports batteries.   Interstate’s battery products will begin appearing on Tractor Supply shelves by late Q4 2022. The 70-year-old battery company will utilize its network of 235 distributors, operating in 332 warehouses and in

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Truck battery preventative maintenance checklist to avoid no-starts

Beyond those mentioned in our feature story about how to keep batteries in good shape for the winter, many of the battery maintenance steps you need to take should occur long before that season. It all goes back to that summer heat issue. According to Jeff Barron, lab manager/engineering and tech. services for Interstate Batteries,

Don’t let parasitic loads take a bite out of your truck batteries

More on-board, electronically-driven and controlled systems means more strain on your batteries that are already faced with tackling tough applications and pandemic-driven changing duty cycles. “Parasitic loads are ever-increasing,” said Vicki Hall, director of transportation technical solutions for EnerSys. “The more electronics and creature comforts are being added to trucks, especially sleeper cabs, the higher

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How summer heat drains your truck batteries (and what you can do about it)

Ask any heavy-duty truck battery or electrical system expert about the summer heat’s adverse impact on battery performance and they’ll likely share the age-old adage: “Summer heat and sun are what kills a battery; it just doesn’t know it’s dead until it gets cold.” (Seriously, I asked five experts and that was every single answer.)

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Optimizing onboard data-driven systems to mitigate downtime

Onboard intelligence gives fleet managers all the details needed to manage maintenance effectively when vehicles are on the road or in the shop. Everything you need to know, and then some, is available as a reference for service and troubleshooting. Predictive maintenance practices Minneapolis-based Koch Trucking is an over-the-road carrier with 900 power units, mostly

Harnessing the power: Spec’ing batteries to meet today’s electrical system demands

The demands placed on today’s fleets are staggering. In addition to increased efficiency demands on the mechanical side, computer systems, ECUs, GPS, iPhones, TVs, reefer units and countless other innovations tax the truck’s electrical system. The electrical demands are more than ever in history, and demand for voltage is not going away—it’s going to grow.

Heavy-duty Truck Sleeper Batteries