Watch: Matching axle spec to load demands
Let’s talk matching axle spec to load demands. When it comes to handling maximum, constant and/or diminishing loads, axle spec choices can be influenced by the amount of time spent in each load situation. Startability and gradeability come into play when discussing load situations. The more time your trucks spend in a maximum load situation
On the Road: Freightliner electric trucks; Shell Starship; ZF Lane Keep Assist Technology
Our travel schedule took the FE team across the country last month. The biggest news was the unveiling of Daimler Trucks all-electric eCascadia and eM2 medium-duty trucks, signaling an all-in approach to electrification. The eCascadia has up to 730 peak HP. The batteries provide 550 Kwh usable capacity, a range of up to 250 miles
Watch: Penske Truck Leasing’s voice-assisted service tool in action
Penske Truck Leasing recently announced it had successfully completed its 1 millionth voice-directed preventive maintenance inspection using its paperless technology. The system provides voice prompts via a headset to direct maintenance technicians through a preventive maintenance (PM) inspection. While you can read more about it in the July issue of Fleet Equipment (click here to read
Watch: Buying used trailers? Here’s what to consider
Given that new dry van orders are booked into 2019, buying a used dry van trailer is going to be your best short-term bet in getting new-to-you equipment into your fleet to capitalize on today’s increased freight demand. The first step in the buying-a-used-trailer process is to communicate your application needs and find out how
Watch: Tips for switching to extended life coolants in heavy-duty trucks
Extended life coolant, or ELC, can simplify a fleet manager’s life by providing a longer service interval compared to conventional coolants. Click here to catch up on all the episodes of FE’s On the Road. When transitioning from conventional coolant to an ELC, you need to be aware of the conversion practices and ensure that
Watch: Trailer safety systems update
Many trailer manufacturers have been proactive in building safer trailers. The most recent example is the development of new rear underride guards. The newer designs are built to stop an automobile from sliding under the trailer in the event of a rear-impact crash. The number of fatalities due to underride crashes was 2,205 within a
Watch: Heavy-duty truck air disc brake maintenance tips
Over the past several years, adoption of air disc brakes (ADBs) has climbed to 18% to 25% of brakes ordered on trucks, according to brake manufacturers, who anticipate that number reaching 50% within the next decade. One of the major advantages of air disc brakes is the extended service interval for brake friction. However, that
Avoiding coolant-related heavy-duty engine failures
Fifty-three percent—that’s the percentage of catastrophic, premature diesel engine failures directly related to improper cooling system maintenance techniques and habits, according to filter manufacturers. Filtration plays a key role in coolant maintenance. Using the proper coolant filter can prevent scale, leakage and erosion in the cooling system. The filter captures damaging contaminate that may contribute
Why heavy-duty gear oil quality matters
Gear oils provide multiple important functions when it comes to the operation of gears and axles. As gear oils flow around axles, they help to cool the critical hardware components by carrying heat away and dissipating it. They also help to keep hardware components and assemblies clean by suspending contaminants, which would otherwise lead to
Watch: Tracking truck warranty information with fleet maintenance software
Improved maintenance processes, inventory management, and repair order generation and reporting are all staples of fleet maintenance software, but there’s one major component that might not immediately spring to mind but can pay dividends: warranty tracking and recovery. Many aftermarket parts come with a warranty ranging anywhere from 90 days to two years. When it
Watch: Detailing heavy-duty truck bearing maintenance, fuel efficiency gains
To squeeze the most fuel savings out of your next truck spec, you might want to extend efficiency gains out to your wheel end through the spec’ing of high-efficiency bearings for that extra fraction of fuel efficiency gain. While a fraction of a percentage might not seem like a lot for one truck, spread it
Inside automated manual transmissions with predictive cruise control
Introduced to the market only a few years ago, automated transmissions equipped with advanced cruise control features are now a staple of OEM offerings. Predictive cruise control systems use GPS data, onboard maps and cruise control to optimize cruising speed based on the topography of a truck’s route. As the truck enters certain types of
