Trucking Equipment

There is no timeline for implementation of any new NOx rulemaking, but there are a couple of key questions that must be answered: What will the limits be and how much will this cost?

U.S. Xpress CEO Fuller warns that a lot of companies are still working with 30-year-old technology.

The year 2018 has been a big one for Nikola Corporation, and investors continue to line up to support the hydrogen-electric truck startup. Next year might be even bigger.

At Marketwaves18, Eric Berdinis said the industry can all benefit from a greater level of cooperation.

Penske Truck Leasing has added a major upgrade to its Penske Driver app, giving drivers the ability to quickly and easily call for roadside assistance without the need for a phone call.

In a surprise move, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced the Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI), which will try to rein in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from commercial vehicles.

Trailer orders are booming for manufacturers, setting a record in September and nearly matching it in October.

International’s new CV Series of Class 4-5 trucks is designed to help smaller companies scale and give larger fleets the opportunity to expand their businesses with one truck maker.

As it continues work toward disrupting the traditional diesel-powered truck market in North America, Nikola Motor Company is eyeing another continent for its hydrogen-electric tractor: Europe.

While most of the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada is an update to NAFTA, there is a paragraph inserted into the agreement that could disrupt cross-border trade via truck.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary this month, Pilot Flying J announced donations totaling $2 million at a Nov. 1 presentation at the company’s headquarters in Knoxville.  More than 20 nonprofit organizations will receive contributions.

Truck repairs are inevitable, but a new solution from Uptake that utilizes Geotab sensors and artificial intelligence aims to identify problems before they become extended downtime events.

FMCSA is allowing concrete pumper operators to work up to 14 hours in a day through a new exemption to the 12-hour workday for short-haul operators.

International Trucks has introduced a new spec package for its LT Series that it says will increase fuel efficiency by up to 8%.

Peterbilt Motor Company has added two additional ratings to its MX-13 engine family for the 2019 model year, both aimed at increasing uptime and improving fuel economy for truck owners.

Drayage to be test bed as OTR market remains out of EV reach.

Tennessee Tech has acknowledged that the results of its controversial glider kit study were “inaccurate.”

Daimler Trucks sold more vehicles in quarter three than a year ago, but its parent company, Daimler AG saw revenue flat for the third quarter at $45.8 billion (40.2 billion Euros).

Revenue forecasts were reached only because of a one-time tax event. But by almost any other standard, it was a strong quarter.

The FreightWaves Research Institute has announced the list of 55 voters who will be choosing the inaugural winners of the Freight.Tech 25 awards, and it’s who’s who of freight leaders.

From on-demand trucking to blockchain, loadboards and freight matching, the list of companies bringing innovative technologies to the freight industry is growing by the day, which makes the 100 that have made the cut to be honored by the FreightWaves Research Institute as part of its inaugural Freight.Tech 100 all the more special.

It started with an open nomination period, and after culling through hundreds of submissions, the FreightWaves Research Institute has announced the inaugural Freight.Tech 100 companies.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Go ahead, whack your tires. Are they properly inflated? Do you really know? The manual way of checking tire pressure may be costing your fleet money.

Mike Roeth, executive director of NACFE, spoke last week at the Meritor/P.S.I. Fleet Technology Event, telling the audience that one of the lessons he learned from NACFE’s Run on Less program in 2016 was that drivers still have plenty of influence over fuel economy, despite technology advances.

Long known for its automatic tire inflation system (ATIS), P.S.I. adding a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to its portfolio of solutions to help fleets more effectively manage tire maintenance.

Tri-state Truck Center in Memphis is part of a family-owned dealership chain. The Memphis location has historical significance, as it was built on the site of Martin’s Stadium, home of the Memphis Red Sox Negro League team for decades.

Rising driver wages and fuel costs pushed up the cost per mile to operate a commercial vehicle in 2017, according to an annual report released by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The group said it cost $1.69 per mile to operate a truck last year, up 6% from 2016’s cost.

“A well-spec’d long-hood conventional stands out in a crowd,” Kyle Cousins, vice president of operations of Fleenor Bros, said after receiving one of the first W990 model tractor from Kenworth.

On Thursday night at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kenworth Truck Co. introduced its newest long-hood tractor, the W990.

Volvo Trucks will introduce an all-electric truck in California next year before making them commercial available in North America in 2020, the company said.

How good is the technology and powertrains on modern tractors? A group of journalists driving similarly spec’d Mack Anthem sleeper models, achieved over 8 mpg – even as high as 10.5 for one day – with the trucks on a three-day run from Asheville, NC, to New Orleans.

With ELDs in nearly every truck, it was only a matter of time before insurance companies started to utilize the devices. Progressive is among the first, launching a new discount program for truckers that provide Progressive access to their ELD data.

The underlying science of glider kit emissions was the topic of a hearing on Thursday in Washington, although opponents of glider kits were not part of the panel.

Schneider National has a Crisis Communications Team that is responsible for planning the safety of employees, equipment and customer freight during hurricanes and other adverse weather situations. Here is some of what they have learned.

Bulk trailers, including walking floor and end dumps, are commonly used for cleanup following hurricanes. The timing of Florence could create a capacity issue in the southeast for ag products as owners of these types of trailers shift to cleanup efforts.

The monthly numbers of ACT and FTR on class 8 builds set new records; a Goldman Sachs report tries to measure the number of scrubbers that will be used for meeting IMO2020 standards.

For many truckers, their vehicles are their pride and joy. Each year at the Great American Trucking Show, they get a chance to show off their creations during the Pride & Polish competition.

John Henry, director of sales for ZED Connect, explained to FreightWaves how the evolution of the company is developing to deliver vehicle data solutions centered around what its parent company Cummins knows best – engines.

Spireon’s IntelliScan, using laser and optical imaging tools, helps bring the trailer more into the world of smart technology.

For those in the trucking industry, Mack Trucks – with its 111-year heritage – is certainly an iconic brand. For new Mack Trucks President Martin Weissburg, that was reinforced over the past four years as he led Volvo Construction Equipment in Europe.

Low-speed vehicles are not often considered when companies are looking for commercial vehicles, but upgrades to a line of electric compact utility vehicles could change that.

US Southeast ports to be served by bigger, more modern chassis pool.

Toyota has unveiled its second-generation hydrogen-electric truck, which builds upon the success of the first model that has been hauling live loads in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Realizing the need for its customers to have easy access to and use of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the future, Penske Truck Leasing has joined the global Charging Interface Initiative e.V. association.

Solar fields are being used by RLS Logistics to provide power for its cold-storage warehouses, but that is really only approach the company is taking to build greener and more sustainable facilities.

Workhorse Group, a technology company focused on offering sustainable mobility solutions, announced a new public offering of its common stock to raise additional funds as it works towards profitability.

So much for the summer doldrums. New truck orders, which typically take a dip in the summer months as both carriers and OEMs reset for the fall, hit a new all-time high in July, according to the latest data from ACT Research.

Cummins Inc. announced record earnings for its second quarter this morning, and that news was immediately overshadowed by an engine recall that has already impacted 230,000 vehicles and now will encompass an additional 500,000 heavy-duty truck models.

Toyota Motor has been testing a Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck in port operations in California, but yesterday it took that program to the next level with introduction of Version 2 of the truck with more range and other features.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …When it comes time to replace tires, whether they are on the tractor or the trailer, more fleets are turning to retreads as a cost-effective alternative to new tires.

Used truck prices in June were changed little month-over-month, but posted a 15% increase over June 2017, according to ACT Research.

Rush Enterprises posted an increase in second-quarter revenue buoyed by strong used-truck sales and significant growth in its aftermarket business, which accounts for 64.8% of the company’s gross profits.

Growth in its dedicated and ChoiceLease programs drove a strong second quarter for Ryder System (NYSE: R), helping the leasing and rental giant surpass earnings expectations for the second straight quarter.

Family owned TEC Equipment operates 26 Mack and Volvo truck dealerships in five states. In June, the company opened a $30 million location in Fontana, CA. Here is a look at that facility.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 18,105 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles for a brake caliper mounting bolt issue, the company informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Covering 14 acres, TEC Equipment’s new Mack/Volvo dealership in Fontana, CA, is designed to improve customer service and features many driver amenities.

Mack will now offer the Lytx DriveCam safety program as a pre-wire option on Granite models, joining the TerraPro and LR cabover models offering the option.

The maker of FreightLiner and Western Star trucks wants its parts business to grow and have stronger brand identification.

One of the largest wasted revenue opportunities for carriers in freight movement is when trailers move less than full. FR8Star has introduced a new partial load service to help change that.

To help alleviate the growing technician shortage, Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks are partnering with local colleges to develop training programs.

Hyliion has taken steps to help secure its pipeline of technology with the acquisition of Gentherm’s battery division and strategic partnerships with Toshiba and Dana Corp. as it seeks to further its hybrid-electric technology.

Solar power may not be the cure-all for reducing fuel costs, but it can provide assistance and achieve payback in relatively short time if used in the right applications.

To successfully market a new or existing product, a company needs the right mix of product innovation, marketing, sales and promotional efforts. Some companies are finding that outsourcing some or all of these functions can provide many benefits over in-house teams.

Third-party supply chain provider NFI along with Penske Truck Leasing will take delivery of and test Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) electric vehicles.

Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to potentially develop commercial vehicles as part of a strategic alliance.

Penske Logistics has reached agreement in principle to acquire Epes Transport Systems, of Greensboro, NC. The deal, expected to be finalized in the next few weeks, will add over 1,200 units to Penske Logistics.

There is now a bill in both the House and Senate that would repeal the 12% excise tax on new trucks and trailers.

Ag haulers are not only dealing with ELDs and hour-of-service uncertainty, but tariff talk is clouding the future outlook as well.

Daimler Trucks of North America reveals 2 new services that take a very datacentric approach. One of them will improve the driver experience.

No longer just a tire company, Michelin is quickly becoming a “solutions” company as it positions itself as a business its customers can rely on regardless of their needs.

Most may not associate the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with freight movement, but the organization is working hard to change that and the industry, launching a new transport decarbonization tool on Wednesday.

According to experts, platooning is a “now” technology ready for commercial operations, but there is still some resistance and operational challenges that must be overcome.

Michelin made a statement on Wednesday at the Movin’ On 2018 conference in Montreal when it announced its goal of recycling 100% of all tires globally by 2048 and using 80% sustainable materials in the production of those tires, also by that timeframe.

As fleets adopt more advanced safety system, the issues of initial and ongoing driver training become the primary vehicle to the success of those system.

Trucking interests, led by LTL carriers, have been pushing legislation that would allow 33-foot double trailers on American roadways. Opponents are ramping up efforts to stop it.

Trailers orders dipped month-over-month in April, but for the 17th consecutive month they posted year-over-year gains.

According to at least one analyst, Tesla may be putting its ambitious Semi project on hold as it tries to solve its many other issues, including Model 3 production.

Seeva Technologies believes its targeted washer system will play an important role in the development of advanced vehicle safety technologies by keeping cameras, radar and windshields free of debris.

A Walmart worker loads a trailer inside a distribution center. Private fleets can provide significant value to their broader organizations, but they still must compete for business, which is why customer service ranks so high as a top concern.

Nikola Motor has sued Tesla for patent infringement on its Nikola One, at left. The Tesla model is at right. Nikola claims Tesla violated patents on door placement, wraparound windshield and the fuselage.

Tax changes have made leasing an even more inviting proposition for fleets, says the COO of Fleet Advantage.

Mack Trucks said it will have a fully electric Mack LR refuse truck model with an integrated Mack electric drivetrain operating in North America in 2019 and Freightliner introduced the EconicSD low-entry, cab-over-engine waste collection truck.

Irrespective of who wins the race to deploy the first fully autonomous vehicles, the unanimous view was that in the future, size is going to matter and carriers/OEMs will need balance sheets to be able to survive.

Volvo Trucks has now formally entered the all-electric push with the announcement that its FL Electric vehicle has been introduced in Europe.

Hinting that it has just received a large contract with “one of the most recognized and valuable brands in the world,” Nikola Motor Company announced last week that it will be refunding all monies paid as part of a reservation to receive a Nikola One hydrogen-electric truck.

The FMCSA has formally moved to exempt the MirrorEye Camera Monitor System (CMS) from Stoneridge from federal regulations as the company seeks to begin on-road testing of the system on vehicles without side mirrors.

Clean Truck Programs that remove older trucks from port operation benefit not only the environment, but also productivity, says the program manager of one such initiative.

To help fleets maximize the value of their equipment, Ryder has launched an Airbnb-type sharing platform that facilities the rental of idle equipment to those in need.

Presented by Reliance Partners …Cargo theft doesn’t just happen on the road, it can also happen at the warehouse. To prevent it, leading experts noted some of the approaches that scare away thieves.

Love’s continues to grow, and its need for technicians is growing as well,  which is why it has created an apprenticeship program.

ZED Connect is moving beyond just providing ELDs to collecting and analyzing vehicle data and providing insight into that data back to fleets and owner-operators.

Twenty years after first entering the market, BFGoodrich is reintroducing itself with two new all-terrain tires designed for the growing energy, construction and logging markets.

With truck order forecasts continuing to rise, Mack Truck officials speaking at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville on Thursday reiterated their confidence in a strong economy through the end of this year.

Interest is surging in making the trailer data as visible as that of the truck.

Loss expects at leading fleets say more thought needs to go into package design to ensure cargo is well protected during transit.

Strong sales of new trucks is expected to keep used truck supplies rising. 

Last fall, it was revealed that Hino – traditionally a medium-duty truck company owned by Toyota – would build a Class 8 truck for North America. That truck was unveiled on Wednesday at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.