Fleet Equipment is live covering the 2020 TMC Annual Meeting and Exhibition, the industry’s annual gathering where rules and regulations are set, issues are discussed, and news is made. You can find all that news below, and this post will be updated throughout the week as more news breaks. You can also find the rest of FE‘s TMC 2020 coverage here.

On to the news!

• The vHub trailer repositioning and sharing marketplace will be available in the U.S. on Feb. 26, the company announced.
• Alcoa Wheels introduced a new lightweight aluminum wheel and new wheel technology.
• FlowBelow Aero Inc. has been added to the Alliance Parts product catalog. Starting in April, Alliance Parts customers will have access to all parts manufactured by FlowBelow, including first-fit drive wheel fairings and wheel covers for Freightliner and Western Star models and FlowBelow’s replacement and retrofit parts. 
• Michelin Mechanical Care, a new program that outsources scheduled light mechanical maintenance for trailers, was introduced by the company’s Services Division.
• Phillips Connect Technologies announced a variety of telematics solutions encompassing areas such as tractor-trailer pairing and security; read more details here.
• WABCO introduced an intelligent trailer platform that is built on four key technologies—an Intelligent Anti-Lock Braking System (iABS); trailer Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS); Intelligent Trailer Program (ITP); and TrailerCAST—as well as open software architecture to facilitate cooperation with key industry players.
• Hyliion announced the delivery of the first of three hybrid Class 8 vehicles to Penske Truck Leasing, with the remaining vehicles being delivered throughout the year.
• Dana announced several pieces of news at the show, including the start of production of the Spicer Electrified e-Axle; enhancements to the SPL series of driveshafts; and expansion of its technician training series.
• The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) announced that it will be focusing much of its attention on regional-haul electric trucks, having determined that regional trucking operations are well suited to be early adopters of electric trucks. You can read more details about what this means for NACFE here.
• Mitchell 1 TruckSeries truck repair software was recently updated with interactive wiring diagrams that aim to increase efficiency, as technicians can access component repair information directly from inside the wiring diagrams without having to initiate a secondary search.

Update 1!

• FleetNet America discussed the results of its 2019 Q3 quarterly truck maintenance cost benchmarking program, announcing that the average cost of a mechanical roadside repair exceeded $400 for the first time since the study began in 2017.
• Are aerodynamic devices worth it? The American Trucking Associations Technology & Maintenance Council, in conjunction with FPInnovations’ PIT Group, released a pair of reports detailing the effectiveness of the council’s aerodynamic fuel savings calculator and investigating electromechanical brakes for tractor trailers.
• Navistar International Corporation has introduced new service and connectivity initiatives in its International 360 platform. Navistar also expanded its parts availability, including introducing a new line of filters through the company’s all-makes aftermarket truck and bus parts brand, Fleetrite parts.

Update 2!

• Mack Trucks has introduced Command Steer technology for its Anthem models. This new active steering system adds an electric motor to the existing hydraulic steering to help reduce driver effort by up to 85% and improve driver productivity and comfort, according to Mack.
• Fleet Advantage added predictive Lifecycle Management Software (LMS) to its ATLAAS platform (Advanced Truck Lifecycle Administrative Analytics Software). This software notifies fleets months in advance of when an individual truck or group of trucks will reach their tipping point, the point at which a truck reaches economic obsolescence, and costs more to operate than to replace with newer equipment. Watch COO and CTO Jim Griffin explain how the new addition works in our video.
• Meritor, Inc. has launched Drivetrain on Demand to offer simplified ordering processes for U.S. and Canadian customers requiring fast replacement of driveshaft and differential assemblies.
• Eaton’s IntelliConnect remote diagnostics technology has received new features to help enhance usability for fleet administrators. A few of the upgrades include: A fleet transmission health report; a report that compiles lists of all vehicles with transmission service recommendations; and the ability to add and update fleet information by uploading a vehicle information file. Click here for the full list of upgrades.
• Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is showcasing its advanced air-free commercial truck tire concept for the heavy-duty trucking market. Bridgestone says the air-free commercial truck tire concept, designed to be used in high-speed, long-haul applications, leverages a proprietary design where tire tread is placed on a structure of high-strength, flexible spokes, eliminating the need for a tire to be filled and maintained with air.
• The North American Truck Writers committee honored Stoneridge’s MirrorEye Camera Monitor System with the 2020 Jim Winsor Technical Achievement Award.