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April 2012

Editor's Page

  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Welcoming a 4th generation

    When Fleet Owner launched its first website back in the digital dark ages of 1995, we had a simple plan. We created a temporary site to provide news coverage from what was then the industry’s largest equipment event, the International Truck Show in Las Vegas. The goal was also simple—to see if our audience would use this new medium to keep track of business developments in the trucking industry....More

Features

  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article

    Natural Gas: Fad or Future 25

    Is natural gas just too good to be true? That’s what trucking companies large and small are asking themselves as they weigh the costs associated with switching to either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) against the ever-rising price of diesel fuel, which has hovered above the $4/gal. mark since late February of this year....More
  • Mar. 30, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Sizing the engine 1

    Displacement has become a key factor in selection...More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Solid Gold Data

    Information and communications companies, truck OEMs, equipment and service suppliers, and even the government have been using technologies onboard and off to help manage the business of trucking for years now. One result is a vast and still largely unexplored data landscape rich with valuable information there for the taking, if only it can be sifted out....More

Management

  • Apr. 22, 2003
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Diesel prices leveling off

    The average price at the pump for a gallon of diesel fuel dropped one penny this week, according to statistics released yesterday by the Dept. of Energy....More
  • Mar. 16, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Highway bill on hold

    House will not be acting quickly on highway bill...More
  • Mar. 5, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Transportation Worker poll: Sleepiness safety issue 3

    In National Sleep Foundation poll, 14% of truck drivers surveyed say they have had a "near miss" due to sleepiness....More
  • Mar. 9, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    FTR: “Good”recovery under way for trucking and manufacturing

    Noel Perry, senior consultant with FTR Associates and principal of research firm Transport Fundamentals, gave a very upbeat report on the state of the U.S. economy—including its positive impact on trucking—during a “State of the Freight” webinar hosted by FTR yesterday afternoon. According to Perry, the ongoing economic recovery in the U.S. has been “good” for both trucking and manufacturing....More
  • Feb. 27, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Groups cite driver fatigue in HOS suit

    Claiming the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) revamp of the truck driver hours-of-service (HOS) rule “fails to address driver fatigue,” the interest groups Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen and the Truck Safety Coalition as well as two individual truck drivers have filed a lawsuit challenging the new rule....More
  • Feb. 14, 2012
    Article

    Diesel prices cloud freight’s future

    The healthy outlook for the TL market – based in no small part on a big  freight tonnage boost at the close of 2011 – is being tempered by the  ongoing increase in diesel fuel prices, according to analysis by Wall Street  firm Jefferies & Co....More
  • Mar. 29, 2012
    Article

    First Person: Road Work

    If there’s one thing they love to agree on these days on Capitol Hill, it is to not agree. The partisan rancor whose drumbeat of “just say no” has been steadily increasing—at least since Bill Clinton was in the White House– has now reached such a crescendo of negativity in the House that the prospect for passing a long-term fix for our nation’s surface transportation woes seems quite dim....More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Maintenance Bay: Sorting out storage

    Manager: Bruce Donatelli Title: Supervisor, Office of Fleet Management Fleet: City of Philadelphia Operation: Municipality responsible for the acquisition, assignment and maintenance of about 6,300 vehicles and related equipment....More
  • Mar. 30, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Field evaluation

    James Zambero has seen a lot of equipment in 32 years with O&G Industries. From roles in parts and purchasing, as maintenance director for 10 years and as vice president since 1996, he has worked with suppliers to ensure the fleet is ready to meet the company’s needs....More

Equipment

  • Feb. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Arrow Truck Sales offering 90-day warranty

    Arrow Truck Sales is now offering a 90-day, 25,000-mi. comprehensive warranty program on 2005 or newer Class 8 and medium-duty trucks. The ConfidencePlus program offers coverage on the truck’s major components, including the engine, transmission, and rear ends, injectors and fuel pump. On 2008 model year and newer trucks, it also covers turbochargers, radiator, and ECM module....More
  • Feb. 21, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Fontaine introduces trailer rebuild program

    TAMPA, FL. Fontaine Trailer is officially introducing a flatbed and intermodal chassis rebuild program that draws from its experience rebuilding similar units under contract for the U.S. military....More
  • Feb. 17, 2012
    Article

    Meritor Wabco: System enhancements keep safety in focus

    Meritor Wabco Vehicle Control Systems has announced several new initiatives it said will increase driver and highway safety as well as two new air system efficiency innovations.  ...More
  • Feb. 17, 2012
    Article

    TRW returns to heavy-duty aftermarket

    TRW Commercial Steering Systems, a division of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., recently marked its official expansion into the North American heavy-duty independent aftermarket. According to the company, this expansion into the independent heavy-duty aftermarket will allow distributors to receive supply directly from TRW without having to rely on other channels....More
  • Mar. 12, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    East unveils its lowest drop deck trailer yet

    East Manufacturing will be showcasing a new 36-in. drop deck trailer designed for increased payload versatility and improved stability at the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show. The all-aluminum trailer has a lower center of gravity and is available in multiple axle configurations in lengths up to 53 ft....More
  • Jan. 18, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Eaton expands Reman transmission warranty coverage

    Eaton Corp. has extended the warranty coverage for its lineup of Eaton Fuller Reman and Eaton Fuller Flex Reman vocational transmissions from 18 months to 2 years...More
  • Feb. 16, 2012
    Article

    Smaller LED headlamp introduced

    Truck-Lite is adding  a new lamp to its LED headlamp line, which already includes a 7-in. round DOT  approved lamp. The new 5 in. x 7 in. LED headlamp was designed to utilize  cutting-edge 2   LED arrays and complex reflector, creating a smooth, even  light output and clean streamlined appearance, the company said....More
  • Feb. 21, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Air disc brake pads for mixed combinations

    TAMPA, FL. Textar T3070 is the first air disc brake pad specifically designed to work in tractor-trailer combinations that mix disc and drum brakes, according to TMD Friction Inc....More
  • Nov. 10, 2006
    article
    Fleet Owner

    New hose assembly offers corrosion resistance

    Sloan Transportation Products has introduced MaxxDuty hose assemblies, which feature a plating material that is said to better withstand the corrosive effects of new de-icing chemicals....More
  • Dec. 7, 2010
    article
    Fleet Owner

    KW, Paccar Financial extend Class 8 extended truck warranty

    The current extended warranty program available with the purchase of Kenworth Class 8 trucks has been extended through March 31, 2011, by Paccar Financial. Eligible trucks may receive a 3-yr./300,000-mi basic vehicle extended warranty when financing a Kenworth Class 8 truck with standard highway warranty through Paccar Financial...More
  • Mar. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Continental debuts EOBR solution

    LOUISVILLE, KY. Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket debuted its new VDO RoadLog electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) for the commercial vehicle market here this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show....More
  • Feb. 21, 2012
    Article

    Dana to expand Diamond driveshaft line

    TAMPA, FL. Dana Holding Corp. plans to expand its one-piece aluminum Diamond series driveshaft product line, which it introduced last year: offering driveshafts up to 130 in. in length versus the previous 106-in. limit....More
  • Feb. 22, 2012
    Article

    Stemco preps tire inflation system for market

        TAMPA, FL. A new automatic tire inflation system displayed here at the 2012 Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting by Stemco should hit the market this May, once ongoing field trials are wrapped up, the company said....More
  • Feb. 22, 2012
    Article

    Volvo bundles support services

      TAMPA, FL. In a move to simplify after-sale support for customers, Volvo Trucks North America has launched what it’s calling Volvo Truck Support Services, an integrated menu of services offered from a single source....More
  • Feb. 24, 2012
    Article

    Great Dane overhauls product line

    Great Dane is revamping its entire product line as part of a strategic alignment that’s an outgrowth of its acquisition of Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies two years ago.“The last two years have been filled with tremendous change for us as a nation and as a company,” said Bill Crown, Great Dane’s president & CEO. “In addition to a turbulent global economy, our own corporate leadership team weathered an unexpected transition....More
  • Feb. 13, 2012
    Article

    Next generation Freedom HF released

    Xantrex Technology has released the next generation of its Freedom HF inverter/charger. It is the first update since the Freedom’s debut in 2008. The updated Freedom HF includes a 1,000W model with 55A charger for large battery banks as well as 1,000W/20A and 1,800W/40A models. All have a quick-connect AC terminal block on both AC input and output for ease of wiring and fast installation, Xantrex said. This eliminates the need for strain relief clamps, the company pointed out....More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    What's new in: Batteries

    One of the most overlooked components in the trucking industry, unless, of course, your truck doesn’t start, is the battery. Demands on batteries have grown through the years mainly because anti-idling regulations require trucks to be turned off more frequently. And if your truck consistently runs in cold weather, there is added concern....More

Info Tech

  • Mar. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    PeopleNet adds WiFi to Tablet, unveils enhanced navigation

    KISSIMMEE, FL....More
  • Mar. 5, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Connection to allow vehicle data to be wireless written to RFID tags

    FRANKLIN, TN. Three companies are joining forces to create a product that will allow for internal vehicle data to be wirelessly written to or read from RFID tags while a vehicle is at a fuel dispenser....More
  • Mar. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Rand McNally opens software to integration

    KISSIMMEE, FL. Rand McNally announced at the Truckload Carriers Assn.’s Annual Convention here that it has released Rand McNally Connect, a new software platform that allows for seamless integration between the company’s FleetWatcher web portal and third-party applications. Rand McNally is currently working with customers implementing Rand McNally Connect with TMWSuite/Total Mailand TMW’s TruckMate....More
  • Feb. 27, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Free unlimited document scanning for drivers

      Eleos Technologies announced that its Drive Axle mobile scanning solution is free for all truck drivers, who can now use the technology on their iPhone and Android smartphones to scan and send unlimited freight documents at no cost....More
  • Mar. 8, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    CoPilot Truck 8 Professional adds XataNet

    KISSIMMEE, FL. ALK Technologies’ CoPilot Truck 8 Professional has been integrated with XataNet, from Xata Corp., to offer users more functionality, improved routing, and more availability on a wider range of hardware platforms.          The announcement was made at the Truckload Carriers Assn.’s 2012 Annual Convention in Kissimmee, FL....More
  • Mar. 9, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    AT&T adds location service, new ruggedized smartphone

    Designed for its business customers, AT&T is now offering enhanced global location options for mobile asset management as part of its Location Information Services (LIS) suite of products. The company is also now selling the ruggedized Samsung Rugby Smart smartphone....More
  • Feb. 16, 2012
    Article

    New service seeks to flag driver issues before they become violations

    J.J. Keller & Associates has launched a new service that will monitor drivers’ DOT roadside inspections along with the management of driver qualification documentation to identify driver compliance deficiencies before they become liabilities, it said....More
  • Feb. 15, 2012
    Article

    New tracking option available

    KISSIMMEE, FL. Sylectus has reached agreement with MacroPoint to offer a new “intuitive  fleet tracking solution” to trucking companies.  ...More

Green

  • Mar. 29, 2012
    Article

    Green Fleet of the Year: Veritable Vegetable

    Back in the 1970s, long before organic living became the preferred lifestyle for so many in this country, the San Francisco Bay Area was home to a vibrant, locally grown food network focused on procuring healthy food products. This system, called the People’s Food System, created an alternative to the dominant food system in place at the time. Nearly 40 years later, San Francisco has moved this alternative system into the mainstream....More
  • Mar. 8, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Obama unveils plan to boost alternative vehicle purchases 1

    Mt. HOLLY, NC. President Barack Obama chose a visit to Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA’s) Mt. Holly plant yesterday as the venue to introduce a new plan for boosting the use of alternative power vehicles.  He was greeted by workers here who are building the alternative power trucks that have figured so centrally in the administration’s energy plans for the future, including natural gas-powered vehicles, hybrids and all-electric trucks, as well as clean diesel-powered trucks....More
  • Feb. 22, 2012
    Article

    Federal fuel economy rules pose complex challenges

    TAMPA, FL. Despite holding out the promise of fuel savings on the order of $50 billion, the approaching implementation of the federal government’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions/fuel economy rules for heavy and medium-duty trucks continues to pose a series of complex, and potentially costly, challenges for both OEMs and fleets alike....More
  • Feb. 22, 2012
    Article

    Cummins Westport tests new heavy-duty natural gas engine

    Cummins Westport Inc., announced it has launched field trials on the new ISX12 G natural gas engine based on the Cummins ISX12 diesel engine platform, the newest member of Cummins heavy-duty engine family. Full production of the engine is expected to commence in early 2013....More
  • Feb. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Bevy of aerodynamic products for trailers unveiled at TMC 1

    TAMPA, FL....More
  • Mar. 14, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Electric APU available on new Volvo sleepers 2

    Volvo Trucks sleeper cabs can now be spec’d with the Idle Free Systems’ electric APU system direct from the factory. The option is available through the Volvo New Vehicle Option Center (NVOC) and can be purchased through any dealer....More
  • Feb. 21, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Fleet fuel efficiency study rates 60 technologies, techniques

    TAMPA, FL. A major benchmarking study on fuel efficiency using data from Werner Enterprises, Frito Lay, C.R. England, Challenger Motor Freight, Schneider National, Con-Way Truckload, GTI and Ryder has been released by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), a non-profit organization created to foster major improvements in the efficiency of freight movements....More
  • Feb. 24, 2012
    Article

    DTNA says its vehicle lineup is now GHG14 certified

    Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) said yesterday that it is the first truck maker to complete Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greenhouse gas 2014 (GHG14) certification for its entire model-year 2013 lineup....More
  • Feb. 29, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Re-refined oil meets GM specs

      EcoPower dexos1 re-refined engine oil has been acknowledged to meet the GM dexos1 specification. The global engine oil specification was designed by GM Powertrain engineers to signify oils that increase fuel efficiency, extend the life of emissions systems and produce fewer emissions in GM vehicles, Safety-Kleen, EcoPower’s manufacturer, said....More

The Work Truck Show

  • Mar. 7, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Bevy of bi-fuel pickups on the horizon 3

    INDIANAPOLIS. Pickups designed to run on both compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline are poised to start rolling off the production lines of Ram Truck, General Motors and Ford Motor Co. by the middle of this year as OEMs aim to spur a shift to natural gas in the face of high diesel and gasoline prices....More
  • Mar. 9, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Mitsubishi shows off 2013 Canter 4

    Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (MFTA) showed off its new 2013 model-year medium-duty cabover Canter at the National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) show this week in Indianapolis. The trucks are now in full production, the company noted....More
  • Mar. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Ford active on truck fronts 1

    INDIANAPOLIS. A new full size van, F-650 gasoline powertrain spec, and a bevy of alternative fuel and hybrid truck options are just some of the many moves Ford Motor Co. is making in the light and medium segments within the North American commercial truck market. During a press conference here at the 2012 National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) convention, Rob Stevens – Ford’s chief engineer for commercial products – noted that the full-size version of its...More
  • Mar. 7, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    CleanFuel, FCCC introduce propane truck platform

    CleanFuel USA, a supplier of propane autogas infrastructure and engine systems, along with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. introduced what is being called the only propane autogas-fueled option for the medium-duty commercial truck market....More
  • Mar. 5, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    GM to sell GMC and Chevy bi-fuel pickups 2

    General Motorsis unveiling its  2013 bi-fuel—gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG)—Chevrolet Silveradoand...More
  • Mar. 7, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    New van storage, work platforms

    INDIANAPOLIS. Weather Guardunveiled a new series of work and storage solutions at the 2012 NTEA Work Truck Showhere this week.   According to Weather Guard, the Red Zone line is about increasing productivity and organization. The line includes completely retooled shelving, an improved bulkhead, more-functional organizational features and a host of new accessories....More
  • Mar. 7, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Newton step van introduced 1

    INDIANAPOLIS. FedEx Express will receive the first walk-in all-electric vans from Smith Electric Vehicles. The Newton Step Van will be built on the Newton all-electric truck platform. It was introduced this week at the NTEA Work Truck Show here....More
  • Mar. 12, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    New storage system from Sortimo

    Multinational vehicle equipment provider Sortimo introduced a new storage array for work vans at the 2012 National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) show called the “L-Boxx,” which can be integrated into the shelves, case trays and mobile box rails of Sortimo’s Globelyst M System....More
  • Mar. 9, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Via, Verizon reveal electrified van concept

    Telecommunications giant Verizon and vehicle maker Via Motors revealed a new “extended range” electrified hybrid work van designed to not only reduce fuel consumption but provide plug-in electrical power for tools and other uses....More
  • Mar. 12, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    New controllers for Espar heaters

    Espar Heater Systems introduced two new controllers for its line of truck cab and engine heaters at the 2012 National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) show – the Multi-Max F1000 and Digi-Max D1000. Espar’s heaters are designed for mobile applications such as trucks, buses and light vehicles, using 12 or 24 volt battery systems, gasoline, or diesel as a power source to either heat truck cab or sleeper bunk air, or serve as coolant heaters for vehicle engines....More

Commentary

  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Life of the party 1

    Twitter is by far and away the fastest growing social media site (even more than Facebook). Two hundred and fifty million times a day, someone tweets a 140-character message telling followers, “Here’s what I’m doing.” It’s the central theme of Twitter. Frankly, I never got it. Other than my immediate family, I have zero interest in what someone else had for dinner. Even more confusing to me is why anyone would have one iota of interest in the mundane details of my life when I barely do....More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article

    Ending a stereotype

    Usually, I start this column by relating to a specific date or recent news item that seems to affect the industry, but this month, I can’t seem to cite a timeframe or event that makes this issue continue to gain momentum. Perhaps, it is the recent final rule on hours of service, the continued examination of driver medical regulations, or even the Truckload Carrier Assn.’s (TCA) very own Trucking’s Weight Loss Showdown; but driver health and wellness is an issue that never seems to go away and continues to gain momentum....More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Flour fleet

    Founded in 1886 when U.S. President Grover Cleveland was in office, Mennel Milling Co. began as an independent familyowned flour mill. Headquartered in Fostoria, OH, the highly successful company is a boutique, niche market manufacturer of premium, custom-blended soft, spring and hard wheat flour for the baking industry....More
  • Mar. 29, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    An age-old problem

    It’s been almost four years since ABC’s 20/20 investigative report on passenger and light truck tire aging, yet the subject still manages to grab the occasional headline despite the fact that there is still no data linking older tires to accidents. Most recently, the state of Maryland introduced senseless and misguided tire aging legislation that could open the floodgates for other states to pass similar or worse regulations....More
  • Mar. 30, 2012
    Article

    The fuel game

    With all the turmoil in the world, it’s time to have a definitive fuel cost-to-revenue strategy to deal with the day-to-day price volatility in diesel prices. The one thing that will put a small trucking company out of business quickest is getting behind the fuel eight-ball. You don’t want to be charging hauling rates that are based on last week’s, or even last month’s, price of fuel at the pump....More
  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Over a barrel

    W ill rising gas prices affect consumer spending? If so, will higher prices ultimately result in lower freight volumes? Rising energy prices will cause the growth rate of consumer spending to moderate as gasoline and purchases of other energy products capture a larger share of households’ budgets. Since many consumers purchase gasoline and other energy products with a credit card, the adjustment in consumption trails higher prices. As credit card balances increase over time as a result of higher prices, consumers will adjust spending on nonessential items....More

Last Word

  • Apr. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Last Word

    Looks count Cash and prizes for winning show trucks will be in excess of $25,000 at the 30th Anniversary Shell Rotella SuperRigs contest, to be held May 17-19 at the Speedco in Joplin, MO. What’s more, the event will feature fun and entertaining events for drivers, their families and the entire community, noted Shell, including a truck parade in downtown Joplin as well as concerts and fireworks....More
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