Truck Electrification: Fleet Equipment’s 2017 Equipment Trend of the Year
As the calendar flipped to 2017, rumors rumbled on trucking’s horizon. Predictions of electrified trucks seemed distant, as if the alternative fuel forecast could suddenly shift and call for more diesel days. And then the first flash of electrification innovation shot across the industry with the unveiling of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America’s Class 4
Slow it down: How maximum torque at lower RPMs can lead to fuel efficiency gains
Engines have become more efficient over the past few years, and yet engine manufacturers are still finding ways to squeeze additional efficiency out of their diesel powerhouses. As an example, for model year 2017, Volvo Trucks North America added a turbo compounding option for its D13 engine, and Mack Trucks also began to offer turbo
Dealing with aftertreatment issues
If you’ve been paying attention to the most recent engine announcements, you’ll notice that the engine companies have spent a good deal of time highlighting the features of the aftertreatment system (ATS). That’s no accident—the ATS is extremely important, and the systems have advanced significantly in recent years. Before we dive into the details, here’s
How engines aim to minimize DPF downtime
Of course, the DPF and aftertreatment system (as detailed in our in-depth feature story here) aren’t the only reasons for downtime when it comes to engines. We spoke to the engine manufacturers about other ways in which their newest engines help fleets avoid downtime. According to Darryl Oster, assistant chief engineer with Peterbilt, maximizing reliability
Visions of the future: Where trucking’s possibilities and realities converge
Visions of trucking’s future are as nuanced as those who dare to picture it. The possibilities of today’s truck equipment technology serve as a sort of trucking Rorschach test—where one person looks at automated trucks and imagines a world without professional drivers, and others look at that same technology and can’t imagine that there wouldn’t
Volvo debuts VNL, VNR models in Mexican market
Recently at Expo Transporte in Guadalajara, Volvo Trucks North America announced the availability of its new VNR and VNL models in the Mexican market. Both models were unveiled in the U.S. and Canada earlier this year. The new VNL series is available in several configurations, including a new 70-in. sleeper, and it comes standard with the
Volvo touts safety features in VNR, VNL
The new long-haul Volvo VNL and regional-haul VNR series trucks combine active safety innovations to help drivers reduce fatigue and distraction, making them the safest Volvo trucks ever, the OEM said. “The new VNR and VNL series strengthen our leading passive safety features with active safety innovations to help drivers prevent accidents before they occur,” said Wade
Talkin’ tough transmissions: automatic, automated manual transmissions for vocational applications
Crawling through cramped city streets in stop-and-go pick-up and delivery applications. Driving through the dugout tire tracks of a dirt-caked construction site. Rolling through residential refuse duties. Vocational applications tackled by Class 6 through 8 trucks can place unique demands on transmissions compared to their on-highway counterparts. Yet that hasn’t stopped the trend turning toward
Volvo Trucks overhauls VHD Vocational Series interiors
Volvo Trucks North America debuted new interiors for the Volvo VHD series, bringing improved driver comfort and productivity features to its vocational lineup. Volvo VHD 300 daycab and VHD 400 regional sleeper model interiors feature LED lighting and extensive connectivity points to support a driver’s daily work. “Design of the VHD’s new interiors was guided
Taking the next step: Volvo emphasizes safety, fuel efficiency in its newly announced VNL
It’s a big year for Volvo Trucks. This spring, the company introduced a brand-new regional-haul truck, the VNR, and already, Volvo reports that it has sold more VNRs since its introduction in April than it sold of the truck’s predecessor in all of 2016. A new regional-haul truck would be more than enough to make
The evolution and benefits of reman engines
These days, there are even more advantages to purchasing reconditioned/remanufactured engines than there have been in the past. According to Stanford Siy, heavy-duty and high horsepower ReCon engine product manager for Cummins, “A genuine Cummins engine for used equipment gives owners a way to increase their return on investment on their tools for trade. For
Volvo Trucks unveils new VNL Series
Volvo Trucks North America revealed the new Volvo VNL series, aimed at long-haul trucking customers and professional drivers that offers efficiency, productivity, safety and uptime, according to the OEM. The new VNL series is available in several configurations, including a new 70-in. sleeper, and it comes standard with the 13-liter Volvo D13 engine, while Daycab and VNL 400
