Fleet Owner June 2012 Magazine: Issue Contents

Jun. 5, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

Criticize wisely

There’s never any shortage of things to write about in this industry. As an essential part of the economy, trucking can sometimes seem like a magnet for those looking to solve economic, public welfare and environmental problems with regulations intended to force truck users to do the right thing. Objecting to inequity is always the right course, but sometimes those in the industry respond with automatic opposition instead of objective assessment, resulting in a loss of credibility with regulators and the general public....More

Jun. 5, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

The emissions dividend

No one denies that federal regulations have greatly reduced diesel engine emissions over the past 15 years. While that’s an achievement widely applauded, it’s also generally acknowledged that those same regulations have added greatly to the cost of a new truck. And for many fleet owners, the perception is that while society as a whole has gained much from their cleaner engines, the cost has come with little to no benefit for their businesses....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Trailer Aerodynamics: Ready for prime time

Trailer aerodynamic packages have been battling for acceptance for many years. Despite documented fuel savings by independent labs and fleets themselves, however, widespread adoption was still waiting for its breakthrough moment—until now. Thanks to regulations promulgated in the state of California and the likelihood of more complex federal regulations on big-rig fuel efficiency on the horizon, that moment may have arrived....More
Jun. 7, 2012

gallery

Photos: 2012 Vehicle Graphics Awards

Photos from the winning entries in the 2012 FleetOwner Vehicle Graphics Awards
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

ERP: When “P” is for people

It may seem ironic that enterprise resource planning (ERP)—that ultimate, comprehensive approach to automated business management—has suddenly taken a turn toward the human, but there it is. Out of the blue, ERP is feeling the tug of humanity on the other end of its IT rope. Enterprise resource planning is becoming enterprise resource people, and for good reason. There is just no limit to how people can impact a business....More

Jun. 1, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Chance of profits

It seems that wherever you turn these days, someone has an opinion on the economy. It’s good, it’s bad, it’s muddling along. Forecasting the impact it has on trucking is no exception. A mix of recent news implies that caution may be the proper path going forward, even as sunlight peaks through the clouds....More
Apr. 19, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Trucking exec. calls for Congressional oversight on toll authorities

The chief financial officer for Cherry Hill, NJ-based National Freight Inc. (NFI) warned a Senate committee that rapidly increasing and excessive highway tolls are a threat to both consumers and the trucking industry and called for Congressional oversight of tolling authorities that serve interstate traffic....More
May 2, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

FMCSA issues rule to stop ‘reincarnated’ carriers

A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule establishes procedures for issuing out-of-service orders to “reincarnated” motor carriers in order to ensure that carriers who have a proven history of unsafe operations are not able to evade regulation by simply forming a new company or obtaining new registration....More
Apr. 13, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Canadian task force tackles driver shortage 4

A landmark report by the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is being called by leaders of the group the most comprehensive and honest attempt to tackle the burning questions surrounding the shortage of qualified truck drivers, which CTA said is Canadian motor carriers’ biggest operational concern. While the obvious focus of the report is the driver turnover and shortage situation in Canada, many of the issues there obviously parallel those of trucking companies in the U.S....More
May 12, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

NPTC and Bridgestone/Bandag honor safe fleets

Companies whose fleets experienced the lowest ratio of accidents per million miles for the past year were presented with 2012 Fleet of the Year Awards at the recent National Private Truck Council Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held in Cincinnati, OH. The awards, sponsored by Bridgestone/Bandag Tire Solutions, are given for the entire fleet’s vehicle accident rate frequency....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Article

NPTC Top Grad: Wood top of the class

One of the highlights of the National Private Truck Council Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition is always the recognition of those who have successfully completed the rigorous Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) training and certification program. This year’s conference in Cincinnati, OH, was no exception....More

Jun. 5, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

The emissions dividend

No one denies that federal regulations have greatly reduced diesel engine emissions over the past 15 years. While that’s an achievement widely applauded, it’s also generally acknowledged that those same regulations have added greatly to the cost of a new truck. And for many fleet owners, the perception is that while society as a whole has gained much from their cleaner engines, the cost has come with little to no benefit for their businesses....More
Apr. 30, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Carrier survey shows high interest in LNG, but slow adoption

To determine the potential of LNG vehicle use for industrial freight, PLS Logistics Services — a provider of transportation management, technology and brokerage solutions for industrial shippers — recently surveyed senior executives at 100 of the largest industrial trucking companies in the U.S. and found that most see barriers to widespread adoption of the technology in trucking....More
Apr. 17, 2012

article

Fleet Owner

Researchers document reductions in truck emissions

A new study completed by two researchers at North Carolina State Universityand partly supported by a grant from the National Science Foundationfinds that trucks built since 2007 have substantially lower emission rates than trucks built earlier....More
Jun. 5, 2012

News

Fleet Owner

Siemens unveils the eHighway

Siemens introduced its “eHighway of the future” concept—the electrification of trucks and select highway lanes via overhead electrified wires similar to how modern day trolleys or streetcars are powered on city streets—at the 26th Annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The eHighway concept is an easy solution to reducing pollution and will be very easy to integrate into existing highways and infrastructures, said Daryl Dulaney, CEO of Siemens Infrastructure and Cities, United States....More
Jun. 5, 2012

News

Fleet Owner

Recycled bottles used for truck parts

Volvo Trucks is using polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin, made in part out of recycled plastic bottles, for the brackets of the side air deflection system in all seven models of its 2012 Volvo VN family of heavy trucks....More
May 2, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Mack shows natural gas TerraPro models at Waste Expo

Mack Trucks is showing three natural gas TerraPro models this week at Waste Expo 2012 in Las Vegas. Two cabover models and one low-entry model, all equipped with Cummins Westport ISL-G natural gas engines, are part of Mack’s booth, which also includes a tandem-steer version of the TerraPro cabover as well....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Delivery trucks arrive

Three hybrid hydraulic package delivery trucks have been sent to FedEx Ground, Purolator, and UPS for evaluation in cooperation with CALSTART and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC). Built on an FCCC chassis and utilizing a Morgan Olson body, the vehicles are powered by a Parker Hannfin hydraulic hybrid drive system. According to Parker Hannifin, a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy and additional assistance from CALSTART helped fund the prototype program, which marks the first time this technology has been deployed on a Class 6 truck....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Article

Green Fleet of the Month: Fine option

To become a major force in the world of food transport requires careful attention to detail, particularly as it relates to transporting those finished products to their final destination. Make those products temperature-sensitive salads, side dishes, dips, Mexican foods, and other specialty products, and that adds yet another layer of complexity. But Beaverton, OR-based Reser’s Fine Foods has found solutions through the use of electricity and cold-plate refrigeration technology....More

Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Trailer Aerodynamics: Ready for prime time

Trailer aerodynamic packages have been battling for acceptance for many years. Despite documented fuel savings by independent labs and fleets themselves, however, widespread adoption was still waiting for its breakthrough moment—until now. Thanks to regulations promulgated in the state of California and the likelihood of more complex federal regulations on big-rig fuel efficiency on the horizon, that moment may have arrived....More
Jun. 6, 2012

News

Fleet Owner

Increasing demand alters production plans

A sharp uptick in demand for light trucks, especially pickups, is leading to production capacity increases for some OEMs, especially Ford Motor Co. Ford said it will produce nearly 40,000 additional vehicles between June and August by cutting its “summer shutdown” at 13 of its North American factories, including six assembly plants, from the traditional two weeks down to one....More
May 9, 2012

gallery

Western Star's new 4700 tractor

Here's a look at Western Star's new 4700 tractor model, expected to be in full production by late 2012.
May 4, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Lightweight replacement leaf spring for Camelback suspensions

Triangle Suspension Systems has released its second lightweight replacement leaf spring for the Mack Camelback suspension. This 62-143 version for 46,000 lbs. suspensions with 55-in. axle spacing saves approximately 300 lbs. per vehicle, Triangle said. The new model is based on the earlier 62-147 model launched in 2010. Both springs are suited for a variety of vehicles including front- and rear-loading refuse trucks, roll-offs and dump trucks....More
May 7, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

PPG unveils new primers

PPG Commercial Coatings has introduced its CRE Series of corrosion-resistant epoxy primers. The CRE-X21 Series primers provide a range of performance features that include improved chemical resistance, enhanced corrosion protection, a broad 96-hour recoat window, and adhesion to galvanized, galvaneal and stainless steel as well as to current compatible substrates, the company said....More
Apr. 25, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Expandable 35-ton double drop trailer offered 1

Talbert Manufacturing has produced a 35-ton SRG double drop trailer with aluminum pull-outs that add 2 ft. to each side of the trailer. The 48-ft. versatile trailer can accommodate wider equipment and is ideal for over-the-road haulers and transporters of large agricultural equipment, Talbert said....More
May 1, 2012

News

Fleet Owner

Michelin retread designed for on/off-road use

Michelin Retread Technologies has rolled out the new Michelin XZY3 Pre-Mold retread, which is aimed at on/off-road applications of mixed-use fleets and owner-operators. The company said the all-position tread is designed to deliver exceptional wear and durability in on/off-road use, offering a retread that extends the performance of the popular new tire tread design throughout the casing life....More
Apr. 22, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Volvo’s XE fuel package available on 16L

Volvo Trucks’ XE fuel efficiency package, which “downspeeds” engines by 200 rpm to maximize fuel economy, has been added to two additional Volvo powertrains featuring the 16L D16 engine. The new packages are for combination weights up to 143,000 lbs. common in the heavy long combination vehicle market, and for five-axle tractor-trailer combinations up to 80,000 lbs....More
Apr. 18, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Daimler Trucks bets on India

CHENNAI, INDIA. With expectations that India will be the world’s second largest truck market by 2020, Daimler Trucks has invested over $900 million here to launch a new brand with eight initial new models built at a green-field plant capable of producing 36,000 trucks a year....More
May 10, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Eco Plus compounding being added to HSL2 product line

Continental Tire the Americas’ HSL2 steer tire is the first tire in the product line to be produced with the company’s Eco Plus compounding for low rolling resistance. Continental will phase out the previous generation of HSL2 products in favor of an updated line featuring Eco Plus compounding in all products. All sizes will be changed to HSL2 Eco Plus by the end of summer 2012, said brand manager Libor Heger....More
May 7, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

New bead seating tool for tubeless tires

Ken-Tool has released the Mega AirBlast, a bead seating tool designed to properly seat the bead of tubeless tires to the rim. The Mega AirBlast has an operating maximum pressure of 165 psi (11 bar) and uses pressurized air to uniformly force the tire’s bead onto the rim before inflating the tire to the correct pressure,...More
Apr. 16, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Kenworth delivers 250,000th T800 2

Trican Well Service recently took delivery of the 250,000th T800 produced by Kenworth Truck Co. A celebration of the milestone truck was held at the Kenworth assembly line in Renton, WA. Trican is a provider of oil and gas pumping services. It is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with worldwide operations in Canada, the U.S., Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and North Africa....More
May 8, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Axle among new Hendrickson product releases

Hendrickson International announced its SteerTek NXT axle is now available on International ProStar+, TranStar, and LoneStar models. The SteerTek NXT is a fabricated front steer axle....More
Apr. 13, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Side-dump trailer manufacturer adopts Air-Weigh scales as standard

Sidump’r Trailer, a manufacturer of side-dump trailers for construction bulk hauling, is offering the Air-Weigh QuickLoad trailer scale as a standard feature on its products. Air-Weigh products have been offered for nearly a decade on Sidump’r trailers, but until now had been optional....More
May 2, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Lightweight, low-cab-forward LoadStar refuse truck on display

Navistar showed off its International LoadStar lightweight, low-cab-forward refuse truck this week at Waste Expo 2012 in Las Vegas. The truck, which was officially unveiled at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show, was built for severe-duty applications such as waste and recycling....More
May 1, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

New tire inflation system for wide-base steering trailer axles

Vigia has released an internal automatic tire inflation system designed for most steering trailer axles and lift-steering axles. The system works with wide-base or dual tires. The system delivers air to the tires through conduits inside the axle so no lines are externally visible, the company said. Rotating valves are placed outside the hubcap to prevent water and other contaminants from entering the hub. ...More
Apr. 24, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Ram remanufactured transmission update 1

Jasper Engines & Transmissions has made an update to its Chrysler 47RE/48RE transmissions commonly found in Dodge Ram pickups. According to Craig Leuck, transmission division manager, the lockup piston will wear on one side of the inner seal but not the other, creating a critical weakpoint. The main reason this occurs is that the piston is not properly centered on the turbine hub of the converter, Jasper said....More
May 11, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

2-post vehicle lift

Heavy-duty lift manufacturer Mohawk Resources has released a new 18,000 lbs. capacity two-post vehicle lift. The TP-18 has a full 6-ft. lifting height and can handle everything from light-duty passenger cars to one ton utility, work, and service trucks....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Plastic makes perfect

Manager: Matt Long Title: Highway equipment supervisor Fleet: West Virginia Dept. of Highways Operation: Municipal operation maintaining 38,646 mi. of roads and 6,800 bridges throughout West Virginia Problem: While many fleets expressed trepidation when the trucking industry switched over to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel back in 2006, that changeover recently blossomed into a fullblown nightmare of sorts for the West Virginia Dept. of Highways....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Pickup & Delivery: Perfect position

From Craig Burt’s perspective, the economy is turning around. “We’re seeing business growth among our customers with pickup and delivery operations,” says the general manager at Houston-based PV Rentals LLC. “For us that means opportunities to expand our market while meeting the growing needs of companies that use trucks and vans to run their businesses.”...More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

What's new in: Retreads

While they are not likely on the forefront of everyone’s mind, retreads have become an important part of a fleet’s tire program. They serve to drive down overall tire costs while maximizing tire life. “Retreading is an excellent way to save money and utilize the full life and value out of a casing,” says Ted Becker, vice president of marketing for Michelin North America, adding that delivering on fuel efficiency and mileage are central points that customers want from their retreads....More

Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

ERP: When “P” is for people

It may seem ironic that enterprise resource planning (ERP)—that ultimate, comprehensive approach to automated business management—has suddenly taken a turn toward the human, but there it is. Out of the blue, ERP is feeling the tug of humanity on the other end of its IT rope. Enterprise resource planning is becoming enterprise resource people, and for good reason. There is just no limit to how people can impact a business....More
May 2, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Engine reporting for CNG/LNG vehicles new from PeopleNet

Cincinnati, OH. Fleets adding compressed- or liquid natural gas- powered vehicles (CNG or LNG) to their operation now have a tool to help accurately measure driver and vehicle performance and forecast the impact of switching to natural gas thanks to a new offering from PeopleNet....More
Apr. 17, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Dashboard displays driver load and payment information

A new dashboard from Aljex Software displays all the relevant information managers need to manager and pay owner-operators. The Driver Pay dashboard is used with Aljex’s Vision software and hosted on the Internet. The dashboard displays all of a driver’s current loads as well as loads waiting to be paid. Also, the screen shows a driver’s pending pay deductions as well as escrow accounts and balances....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

OBC gets trip planning apps

The Qualcomm Mobile Computing Platform 50 (MCP50) will add two management applications this summer that can automate trip planning and updating for drivers and provide fleet managers with easy access to trip details. The company has also announced an agreement with InstallerNet Inc. that gives it access to 1,100 technicians located throughout the U.S. for installation of the MCP50. The InstallerNet agreement creates a national MCP50 installation program to minimize installation time and disruption, according to Qualcomm....More
Apr. 27, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Crash management solution offered

Vigillo has released a web-based crash management system (CMS) as part of its Daylight Suite of products. The Daylight Suite is designed to provide carriers, brokers, shipper, insurers and drivers the tools they need to comply with and monitor operations under CSA. The new CMS is the seventh product in the Daylight Suite. It provides fleet safety data in an easy-to-read scorecard format, Vigillo said....More
Mar. 28, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

PHH Arval unveils mobile app for job management

PHH Arval has launched the PHH InterActive Mobile application for Android, Apple and certain BlackBerry phones and tablet devices. The app will provide mobile access to the daily activities managers need to effectively conduct their business, the company said....More
Apr. 26, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Fleet Director 9 released

The latest update to Teletrac’s Fleet Director software includes a new in-cab color tablet and safety analytics with new insights....More
May 1, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Cadec expands PowerVue solution with new Enterprise edition

Cincinnati, OH. Cadec Global announced PowerVue Enterprise, a new Software-as-a-Solution (SaaS) product added to its popular PowerVue fleet management solutions. The announcement was made at this week’s NPTC 2012 Education Management Conference & Exhibition here....More
May 3, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Blue Tree Systems available on Windows CE, Windows Mobile devices

Blue Tree Systems’ R:COM fleet management software is now available on most handheld devices with the inclusion of Windows CE and Windows Mobile devices. “This new capability means carriers already using any device operating on the Windows CE & Mobile platform can seamlessly install our R:COM fleet management system without undergoing expensive and lengthy hardware changes,” said Charlie Cahill, CEO....More
May 9, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Additional smartphones, tablets certified to run Xata Turnpike

Eight smartphones and tablet computers have been certified to run Xata Corp.’s Turnpike fleet management solution. There are now more than 85 devices certified to run Turnpike, Xata said. “The days of multi‐thousand dollar, difficult‐to‐install and proprietary platforms are fading away,” said Christian Schenk, vice president, market development and product marketing, Xata. “A tablet by definition is a portable device that operates completely independent of other hardware or cradles, and...More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Fleets online: Asset Intelligence

COMPANY: Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated OPERATION: The nation’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler, operating five production centers and 50 distribution centers in 11 states Problem: Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated (CCBC) produces 160 million cases of soft drinks a year. To move that much product requires 250 tractors and over 800 trailers spread throughout the Southeast. But keeping track of all that equipment, let alone ensuring it is in the right place at the right time, was a massive undertaking....More

Jun. 1, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

Do not disturb

Go ahead, it’s okay to admit it. We’ve all done it. The phone rings and for a moment, just a brief moment in time, we turn our attention to the cell phone. Perhaps we’re annoyed by the ringing; maybe we just don’t want to miss the call; or perhaps we’re simply too well-conditioned in this modern society of ours to let a ringing phone do what it does best—ring. But if you’re reading this today, at least you haven’t been a victim. Not yet, anyway....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

Make your voice heard

Recently, I had the pleasure of accompanying several state trucking associations to the nation’s capital during their “Call on Washington” program. What is this program you ask? It is a grassroots initiative designed to bring state trucking association members to Capitol Hill and give them an opportunity to connect with their U.S. senators and representatives to voice their concerns over the legislative and regulatory landscape....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

A winner for all

We will be talking about this conference years from now. Thank you for the fine work in putting together a powerful agenda and attracting a quality group of people. There is no organization quite like this one and probably never will be. NPTC is very much like family in that everyone looks out for each other professionally and personally.” “I am proud to be associated with an organization that delivers so much value to the industry. The conference…is such a professional event…everything is buttoned up and runs so smoothly.”...More
Jun. 5, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

Profit: Is there an app for that?

Yet another report on the driver shortage was the rage of social media sites recently. To sum it up in less than 140 characters: The pay stinks and no one wants the job. It’s hard to get excited when you’re all over the continent for weeks on end and earning about the same as someone who flips burgers for a living. A better bottom line is the only way we’ll ever have the coin to attract the human capital we need....More
Jun. 5, 2012

Commentary

Fleet Owner

Identity crisis 1

Despite widely varying media reports, the reality is the economy will continue to expand at sub-par growth rates (less than 3%) for an extended period of time as it is still in the process of reducing large imbalances that are a drag on growth....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Load harvest 1

Trucking and farming businesses have a lot in common. They’re both risky because they’re affected by weather, fuel costs, and huge maintenance requirements for their equipment. Both have similar objectives. On the farm, the plan is to prepare the ground for planting by tilling and fertilizing, creating a fertile place to plant the seeds. Next comes nurturing and care through proper watering, keeping weeds from infiltrating the planted areas, and keeping insects from eating or destroying the crops....More

Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Abover and beyond

Having learned of a professional truck driver who was killed while attempting to help an accident victim, the Truckload Carriers Assn. has posthumously bestowed its Highway Angel award on Good Samaritan Raul C. Perez Jr., who drove for Lancaster, TX-based Aquatic Trucking....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Bright blue

Harvey & Karen Zander were awarded the 2011 NAST Truck-Lite Trophy and $5000 check for the winning show-truck entry, a 2003 International Model 9001x bobtail dubbed "Icy Blue 2."...More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Seeing Yosemite green

Once only passable by foot or horseback, Yosemite National Park now allows visitors to enjoy the pristine surroundings onboard new low-emissions, fuel-friendly vehicles powered by Eaton’s hybrid electric systems. Eaton worked with the U.S. General Services Administration and Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, which handles the majority of the park’s transportation needs, to deliver four Class 8 tractors fitted with the Eaton systems....More
Jun. 6, 2012

Article

Fleet Owner

Something to tow about

Hino Trucks teamed up with Miller Industries to provide one lucky tow operator with the chance to win a “fully loaded” 2012 Hino 258ALP truck mounted with a Century 12 Series LCG carrier. The giveaway is part of an effort that benefits The Professional Wreckers of Florida (PWOF) Education and Legislation Programs....More

June 2012

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