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October 2012

Driver Simulators, a home on the road and a look at the 2012 election from the trucking industry prospective are included in the October 2012 issue of FleetOwner.

Editor's Page

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    A truck for every occasion 1

    Last month I talked to a fleet manager who’s running 14 plug-in electric trucks, all Class 5 box trucks making deliveries to company retail stores. And he’s so enthusiastic about them that he envisions converting the entire 54-truck fleet to EVs....More

Features

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Home office 4

    If there’s one common thread to all the over-the-road tractor models now available, it’s that OEMs have poured reams of research and much thought into seriously enhancing the interior design and features of cabs and sleepers. All this effort serves a very singular purpose—to assist fleets in recruiting and retaining drivers by providing them literally with home offices on wheels that are safe, productive and comfortable to work in and to live in while they rack up miles and hours, on and off duty....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Navigating the virtual road

    The steer tire blows with a tremendous, reverberating boom. And the truck driver does what anyone behind the wheel would instinctively do at highway speed—hit the brakes. Hard. But that’s precisely what a truck driver with a blown steer tire should never do. Hitting the brakes with a blown steer tire transfers the entire load of a tractor-trailer to that very wheel end, putting all 80,000 lbs. at the one point on the truck that now lacks traction as well as control....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    The path yet chosen 16

    Much of the focus in this year’s presidential election has centered on the state of the economy and who is responsible for the unemployment rate, Democrats or Republicans. But there are other critical issues, such as the state of our transportation and infrastructure system. While nearly everyone was pleased when Congress came together to pass a 27-month transportation bill this summer, the timing of that bill creates a potential threat to a longer-term version....More

Management

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    The path yet chosen 16

    Much of the focus in this year’s presidential election has centered on the state of the economy and who is responsible for the unemployment rate, Democrats or Republicans. But there are other critical issues, such as the state of our transportation and infrastructure system. While nearly everyone was pleased when Congress came together to pass a 27-month transportation bill this summer, the timing of that bill creates a potential threat to a longer-term version....More
  • Aug. 27, 2012
    Article

    FMCSA to tweak CSA in December 1

    The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to tweak its Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) program this December is an effort to “sharpen” the CSA data used by enforcement personnel so they can more quickly identify high-risk truck and bus companies....More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    A. Gordon Clark, key figure in growth of Freightliner, dies

    A. Gordon Clark, former senior vice president of sales and marketing for Freightliner Corp. and consultant to Daimler AG when it entered in the U.S. trucking market, passed away on Sept. 2, in Chagrin Falls, OH. He was 90. Clark's transportation career spanned seven decades and featured positions both in the U.S. and abroad. After serving in the Canadian Navy during World War II, he started his business sales career disposing of war surplus materials....More
  • Aug. 20, 2012
    Article

    More positive indicators for the U.S. economy

    Despite continued projections for slow growth through the end of 2012, a bevy of more positive metrics also indicates the U.S. economy overall may be in the process of “stabilizing” as well....More
  • Aug. 30, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    FleetOwner presents City of Seattle with Vocational Fleet of the Year award

     Seattle Mayor, Mike McGinn, was on hand recently to accept Fleet Owner’s 2011 Vocational Fleet of the Year award on behalf of the City of Seattle. The city’s fleet (of some 4,000 vehicles) was selected in part because of the progress fleet managers have made toward sustainability under their “Green Fleet Action Plan.”...More
  • Sep. 11, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Study: Truckers might understate sleep apnea symptoms for fear of losing job

    Commercial truck drivers could be incorrectly reporting symptoms of sleep apnea due to their fears of endangering their employment, according to a new study released at the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) Annual Congress in Vienna. “Our study suggests that commercial drivers are playing down their levels of sleepiness for fear of losing their jobs,” said Dr. Werner Strobel, University Hospital, Switzerland and lead author of the study....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Fiscal restraint

    I hear talk in the media that companies are sitting on a lot of cash, just waiting for confidence in the economy’s future to emerge before they invest in job creation, thereby stimulating the economy. Well, I disagree with this. The economy needs stronger growth in business sales. This will create incentive for businesses to invest in capacity expansion, which will then result in new jobs....More

Running Green

  • Jun. 27, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Thermo King: Reefer units will be ready for EPA Tier IV rules 1

    Thermo King has announced it will be introducing a “full range” of EPA Tier IV Final-compliant refrigeration units, beginning January 1, 2013.  The Tier IV rules will apply to diesel engine sof 50 hp. or less and become effective the first of the year....More
  • Sep. 7, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    CARB applauds $100 million truck loan milestone

    The California Air Resources Board and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, part of the State Treasurer’s Office, announced they have hit the $100 million mark in financial assistance to small-business truckers to purchase cleaner equipment....More
  • Aug. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    GE Capital Fleet Services launches site dedicated to alternative fuels, sustainability

    GE Capital Fleet Services has launched a new website focused on alternative fuels and sustainability. The site, located at www.gefleet.com/eco, offers tools on how customers can best utilize GE Capital Fleet Services to improve fleet performance and increase productivity through the use of alternative fuel strategies. The site also includes:...More
  • Aug. 22, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    XL Hybrids inks battery supply agreement with Johnson Controls

    XL Hybrids will use a lithium-ion battery from Johnson Controls in its low-cost hybrid electric powertrain....More
  • Aug. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Natural gas here to stay for U.S. fleets

    While much of the world has embraced natural gas as a fuel for heavy duty trucks, the U.S. has remained skeptics for 15 years, “but those days are over,” according to Dr. Kennon Guglielmo, chief technical officer for a major designer and builder of engine control systems. His company, Econtrols, has already sold NG fuel control systems for over 100,000 trucks, most operating in Asia, and is currently supplying 4,000 a month in that market....More
  • Sep. 10, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Eaton, Cummins experts help author book on advanced hybrid technologies 1

    Eaton Corp. scientist Dr. Haoran Hu along with Cummins Engine executive director of systems engineering Dr. Rudy Smaling have helped author a new book published by SAE International. The book, “Advanced Hybrid Powertrains for Commercial Vehicles,” was written with fellow author Simon Baseley, who recently retired from Bosch Rexroth Corp. and is now a visiting research investigator at the University of Michigan....More
  • Sep. 20, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    DOE laboratory looking for participants for APU fuel cell study

    The Dept. of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking request for proposals (RFP) for the analysis and demonstration of fuel cell-based auxiliary power units (APUs), for refrigerated trucks....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Green Fleet of the Month: Idle time

    Are you interested in getting up to 16% better fuel economy for your fleet? If you are, and you run in colder climates and have not installed an auxiliary power unit (APU) yet, then here’s a lesson you....More

Equipment

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Maintenance bay: Mobile filter

    MANAGER: Mark Shackleford TITLE: President/owner FLEET: Shackleford Enterprises, Rossville, GA OPERATION: Emergency roadside repair service Problem: Time is money in the emergency roadside repair business—and no one knows that better than Mark Shackleford....More
  • Oct. 8, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Navistar cuts deal with Icahn and Rachesky to replace 3 board members

    Under increasing pressure from investors Carl Icahn and Mark Rachesky, Navistar International Corp. has agreed to add three people to its board of directors. The three will replace existing board members, Navistar said. Rachesky and Vincent J. Intrieri will join the board and the third member will be a mutually-agreed upon director between Navistar, Icahn’s Icahn Partners (Icahn) and Rachesky’s MHR Fund Management (MHR)....More
  • Oct. 5, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Navistar reviewing plant closures

    In an interview with Reuters yesterday, new Navistar CEO Lewis Campbell said the company is continuing to explore cost-saving opportunities and has not ruled out closing factories. “We are now looking at what are the range of industry volumes that could come to us over time and what is the right footprint? More than likely we’ll have to adjust our footprint. And we’re ready to do that,” Campbell told the news service....More
  • Jul. 12, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Production of Peterbilt 579 kicks off 2

    Production has begun on Peterbilt Motors Co.’s new flagship Model 579. Launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in March, the 579 features a 2.1-meter aluminum cab with optional detachable sleeper. “This is truly a historic occasion for our Peterbilt Denton production team,” said Bill Kozek, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president....More
  • Aug. 24, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Michelin adds new SmartWay line haul tire

    Having introduced the X Multi Energy D dual drive tire last spring, Michelin Americas Truck Tires has added a fuel efficient dual for line haul applications, the X Line Energy D. Like the regional dual and its X One wide base tire, the X Line is verified as a fuel efficient tire by the EPA SmartWay program....More
  • Sep. 10, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Bendix delivers 200,000th full-stability control system

    More than 200,000 Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability systems have now been produced, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announced. Bendix began producing the product in 2005. To illustrate the booming interest in stability control systems, Bendix noted it took six years before it produced its 100,000th unit, but less than two to reach the 200,000 mark....More
  • Aug. 27, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Kenworth adds dual LNG tank to T800, options to cabovers

    Kenworth Truck Co. made a pair of announcements late last week, including the introduction of dual fuel tanks on its liquefied natural gas (LNG) T800s powered by a 15L Westport GX engine. The company also unveiled new options to its medium-duty K270 and K370 cabover models....More
  • Aug. 24, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Utility adds steel options, expands plants

    Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. has added high strength steel options for its 4000D-X composite dry van and also announced expansion plans for two of its plants that will improve its ability to accommodate complex custom modifications for both its refrigerated and dry van trailers....More
  • Aug. 16, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Meritor Wabco ups safety quotient

    ROCHESTER, MI. In the minds of Jon Morrison and Scott Belcher, innovation comes from pushing the limits. First came anti-lock brakes for trucks, then the OnGuard collision mitigation system (CMS). Now, Meritor Wabco is taking safety to a new level with its next-generation OnGuard system as well as a new lane departure warning system, electronically controlled air suspension and a stability and traction control system called ESCsmart....More
  • Aug. 24, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    New synthetic Delo 400 said to offer up to 4.5% fuel economy improvement

    Chevron Products Co. has launched a new brand of synthetic oil that it said will provide up to 4.5% fuel economy improvement in short-haul operations with a Class 6 truck. According to Chevron, long-haul Class 8 trucks could see a 2% improvement with the Delo 400 LE Synthetic SAE 5W-30 when compared to a SAE 15W-40 reference oil in SAE J1321 fuel consumption testing....More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    Article

    Ford reveals shape of new Transit van

    Ford Motor Co. revealed the new look and shape of its global commercial van platform today in Amsterdam, taking the wraps off its all-new full-size Transit commercial van – due to be introduced in the North American market next year – as we as a redesigned and updated version of its compact Transit Connect van....More
  • Sep. 11, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Work truck upfit guide published

    A new 10-page guide to upfitting work trucks has been published and is available from Auto Truck Group, a work truck upfitter. The Work Truck Upfit Selection Guide includes critical considerations for spec’ing and building work trucks for all types of applications and requirements, the company said....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Onboard tire inflation

    It’s well-known that maintaining correct tire pressure improves fuel mileage. But proper pressure can also improve tire life and reduce downtime due to on-road tire failures. Manufacturers are working hard at incorporating the latest technologies into their products to ensure your tires remain properly inflated for the long haul. While users generally acknowledge the benefits of an onboard tire inflation system, there remains some trepidation about the systems....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Maximizing opportunities

    Improving the operations of a single fleet is one thing; doing it for a series of disparate fleets under municipal budget considerations is quite another. That’s why a central management team in New York City meets regularly to share expertise and coordinate best practices and strategies. “We’re working hard on a coordinated effort for the management of our fleet,” says Keith Kerman, chief fleet management officer in New York City....More

Info Tech

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Navigating the virtual road

    The steer tire blows with a tremendous, reverberating boom. And the truck driver does what anyone behind the wheel would instinctively do at highway speed—hit the brakes. Hard. But that’s precisely what a truck driver with a blown steer tire should never do. Hitting the brakes with a blown steer tire transfers the entire load of a tractor-trailer to that very wheel end, putting all 80,000 lbs. at the one point on the truck that now lacks traction as well as control....More
  • Aug. 13, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Xata announces new all-mobile platform and new XRS Corp. name

     Minneapolis. When the house lights dimmed and the opening general session of the Xata User Event (XUE) began here on Monday morning, the company was called Xata. When the lights went back up, the company had a new name, XRS Corporation, and a new, all-mobile platform sharing the same XRS moniker. The new name stands for Xata Road Science. It honors both Xata’s history and its commitment to mobile technology as the way of the future....More
  • Aug. 23, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Drivers given a new RoadMate

    DALLAS. Magellan has released its latest RoadMate GPS unit with an extra-large display and hands-free communication this week at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. The RoadMate Commercial 9261T-LM GPS also offers customizable truck-specific routing....More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Vigillo releases new driver reporting system

    Data mining software provider Vigillo has released its Daylight Driver Index (DDI), a driver scoring system that describes an individual driver’s FMCSA record using CSA data. Like many of Vigillo’s product, this new offering has received the endorsement of the American Trucking Assns. (ATA)....More
  • Aug. 27, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Software update for IntelliRoute TND 510 released

    Updated map data, additional trucking points of interest, and other new features first incorporated into other IntelliRoute models have now been released for the IntelliRoute TND 510, Rand McNally said. TND 510 units will ship with the upgraded software starting next month. Users participating in the Lifetime Maps program can also download the upgrades from the Rand McNally Dock onto existing units. ...More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    News
    Fleet Owner

    Wright Express to acquire Fleet One

    In a bid to quickly expand the markets it serves, Wright Express Corp., a provider of business payment processing and information management solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire Fleet One, a retail fueling business, from private equity firms LLR Partners and FTV Capital for $369 million in cash....More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Updated Trailer Tracks 210 features solar charging

    The latest edition of Qualcomm’s Trailer Tracks 210 (TT210) includes a solar charging system to maximize battery life and unit uptime. An untethered trailer tracking platform, the new TT210 includes one-piece hardware configuration for easy installation and offers timely information about the location and status of trailers for more efficient planning, enhanced productivity and improved security....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Having the right focus

    Many micro and small carriers fail because they focus too much on the rate they’re paid per mile rather than on the total revenue they need to generate monthly and quarterly. Those who focus on the per-mile rate look at a single, static rate as income per load. The problem with this approach is that a carrier’s cost per mile is influenced by multiple factors: - Total distance traveled from destination to destination. - Total elapsed time from destination to destination. - Cost of fuel....More

Opinion

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Joining the crowd 2

    If you’ve ever been part of the “crowd,” then what follows is probably not new to you. But if you think the crowd was the cool kids in high school, you need to spend some time talking with Scott Belcher. Belcher, president & CEO of Intelligent Transportation Society of America, spends his days focused on things such as the crowd, the cloud, and vehicle connectivity....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Alternative compliance

    If you have ever listened to the Dave Nemo Show on SiriusXM Radio, you may have tuned in to TCA’s bimonthly show called Load ’Em Up, Move ’Em Out. Appearing as a guest on a recent show, the topic of alternative compliance became the subject of the discussion. While I hope I provided some insight on the topic for the listeners, the conversation did become food for thought on what will most likely be talked about more frequently as the regulatory agenda continues along its laborious path....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    Healthy drivers

    Since March of 2011, David Adcock has lost 100 lbs.—without surgery, without medication, and all the while working as an over-theroad truck driver for Air Products. When he’s home, he works out in the gym. When he’s on the road for work, he takes walks around his truck, climbs into his bunk to do sit-ups, and has been known to go for a run in his work boots to maintain fitness. He has also modified his diet to include healthy foods....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Commentary
    Fleet Owner

    On a scale of 1 to 10

    I cringe when I look at some of my older columns. Time has made some of my thoughts so contradicting, I wonder what song sheet I was singing from back then. One area where I’ve changed my tune is the value of customer surveys. In the past, I’ve penned how essential they are, insisted they be done annually, and made a lot of important business decisions based on their results. Fast-forward a decade and I think customer surveys of any kind are totally and utterly useless. A waste of your time and your customers’....More
  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Education
    Fleet Owner

    Lock out, tag out, or get out 3

    If you’re looking for an example of a government agency that performs regular inspections of the workplace, look no further than the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA. MSHA governs all of the mines in the U.S.—from the local gravel quarry to the mammoth open pit and underground mining operations. When it comes to maintaining or repairing the equipment that operates in these environments, MSHA inspectors always make sure the “lock out, tag out” rule is regularly followed to prevent an accident....More

Last Word

  • Oct. 1, 2012
    Article
    Fleet Owner

    Hearts galore

    Hearts Galore Love’s Travel Stops recently kicked off its 14th annual fundraising campaign for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals to raise money at all its locations to help provide care for sick and injured children treated at 89 member children’s hospitals across the U.S....More
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