Michigan, Ohio, Pacific propane gas associations offering rebates
Propane gas associations in Michigan, Ohio and in the Pacific region are offering rebates to fleets who buy a new propane vehicle or get a propane vehicle conversion. Michigan Michigan truck and bus fleets are getting $4,000 rebates when they buy a new propane vehicle or get a propane vehicle conversion. Propane vehicle rebates are
Truck brake, tire maintenance tips to prepare for International Roadcheck
According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), one-fifth of the more than 50,000 commercial vehicle inspections conducted during the 2020 International Roadcheck event resulted in a vehicle being taken out of service because of safety violations. And of all violations found during the inspection event, close to 40% were tied to the vehicle’s brake
Lighting tips to prepare for International Roadcheck
One area of focus for this year’s International Roadcheck, which takes place May 4-6, is vehicle lighting, as this category accounted for significant violations in 2020, according to Grote Industries. “Implementing a schedule of thorough, pre-trip inspections will go a long way toward cutting down on violations of all kinds, including lighting,” said Alicia Jones,
FMCSA proposes rear impact guards be checked during annual inspections
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently proposed to include the rear impact guard on the list of items that need to be examined during a commercial vehicle’s annual inspection. Despite being a requirement on most commercial vehicles since the 1950s, rear impact guards are not yet required to be checked during an annual
The case for fuel additives to combat rising repair costs
Today, the cost of truck maintenance and repairs can easily equate to thousands of dollars. Fleet managers understand that some parts, like belts, hoses, and air filters, just to name a few, are inevitably going to need to be replaced. However, frequent and premature replacement of parts like these could lead to expenses skyrocketing. Likewise,
Eaton, Tenneco partner on integrated exhaust thermal management system
Eaton and Tenneco have entered a joint development agreement between Eaton’s vehicle group and Tenneco’s clean air business group to produce an integrated exhaust thermal management system that will enable commercial truck and light vehicle manufacturers to meet upcoming emissions regulations. Across the globe, emission standards are tightening for vehicle manufacturers. In Europe, the next
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
What you need to know about the upcoming Canadian ELD mandate
Cross-border cooperation can be a thing of beauty, as anyone who has heard the beautiful harmonies of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or watched another Nash (Canadian Steve Nash) lead revolutionary offensive play on the Phoenix Suns in the mid-’00s can attest. However, if you operate a business in both the U.S. and Canada you
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
Why alternative fuels will accelerate in 2021
The 2021 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo happened the same week a new president was inaugurated, and that timing did not go unnoticed. From policy expectations to the environmental benefits of various fuel sources, here are some of the key takeaways for fleet operators from this event. Political change is an opportunity for growth President
Utility Trailer implements standard 7-in. rear impact guard on all trailers
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.‘s dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds produced after 2002 can now be retrofitted with Utility’s standard 7-in. deep horizontal Interstate Commerce Commission (I.C.C.) bumper. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently proposed to include the rear impact guard on the list of items that need to be examined during a commercial
What 2021 Greenhouse Gas regulations mean for you and your engines
The previous decade may have seen the debut of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) regulations for heavy-duty engines, but the 2020s will be the decade in which these regulations ramp up. That starts with model year 2021 engines, with more restrictions coming in 2024 and then again in 2027, and continuing efforts to improve the environment mean
