The diesel engines built this year are more efficient as the second step of greenhouse-gas Phase 1 standards takes effect. These power plants also offer improved reliability, advanced engineering, reduced maintenance and performance improvements that fleet managers and truck drivers will notice, industry experts said.
March 17, 2017EquipmentBusiness
Roadside Inspections, Food Safety Law Spur Increase in Tractor, Trailer Washes
Regular tractor and trailer washes are helping fleets stave off problems during roadside inspections, extend equipment life and improve public perception. In addition, new government regulations — particularly for food safety — are leading to an uptick in wash intervals and documentation.
March 15, 2017Equipment
GHG Regulations Drive Engine, Trailer Development
The effect of current and future emissions regulations on the trucking industry, particularly those for engines and trailers, are examined in two stories in this issue of Equipment & Maintenance Update.
March 15, 2017Equipment
Spec Aero Devices With Fuel Calculator
All fleets want to improve fuel economy, and many turn to aerodynamic devices to attain their fuel-consumption goals, but there’s a lot of trial and error that takes place in the process. Wouldn’t it be nice to know in advance what to expect from aerodynamic supplier offerings?
March 15, 2017GovernmentBusinessTechnologyEquipment
FMCSA to Review ELDs, Entry-Level Policies at MATS
Federal trucking regulators intend to host seminars on the minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers and the implementation plan for electronic logging devices at the Mid-America Trucking Show next week.
March 14, 2017BusinessEquipment
US Retail Sales of Class 8 Trucks Drop in February
U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in February fell 29.5% from a year earlier, as all truck makers posted double-digit declines, WardsAuto.com reported.
March 14, 2017GovernmentBusinessEquipmentSafety
Twin 33-Foot Trailers Would Boost Safety, Efficiency, New Analysis Concludes
A new analysis by traffic safety researcher Ronald Knipling has concluded that widespread adoption of twin 33-foot trailers would boost safety and efficiency for U.S. drivers, consumers and businesses.
March 13, 2017PerspectiveBusinessGovernmentSafetyAutonomousLogisticsTechnologyEquipment
Opinion: Virginia Increases Availability of TWICs at DMVs
As reported in Transport Topics in early December 2016, (12-12, pp. 4, 43) American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear told a roundtable of lawmakers at a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC, represents the future of secure transportation.
March 6, 2017BusinessEquipment
Class 8 Orders Rise 28%, Reach Highest Total in 14 Months
North American Class 8 orders in February reached a 14-month high as they cleared 23,000, and exceeded expectations, analysts said.
March 3, 2017PerspectiveEquipmentBusiness
Opinion: Aftermarket Systems Are Fleets’ Achilles’ Heel
Aftertreatment systems are unequivocally becoming the Achilles’ heel for all fleets and a leading contender for high cost, load delays and asset downtime. However, there is much more to the root cause of this escalating issue.
February 27, 2017