More efficient, more reliable, cleaner—equipment in the transportation industry is always changing and 2024 continued to bring interesting new designs for fleets.
New equipment meant not only alternative powertrains but improvements to the tried-and-tested diesel engine. Amid tightening regulations, manufacturers found ways to make these shiny new toys both compliant and efficient. Here are FleetOwner readers’ top 10 equipment articles of 2024.
10. Diesel to still rule transportation 'for many years'
The clock is ticking on modern heavy-duty trucking. But today’s fleet leaders must balance that push to embrace decarbonization with the pragmatic pull to focus on and find the best equipment supported by today’s best trucking power infrastructure: diesel fuel.
That more regulated, fossil-free-fuel future is getting closer with initial federal clean truck emissions regulations beginning with 2027 models. Those regulations should be phased in over time, which means most fleets will still rely on diesel powertrains well into the next decade. Read more…
9. Wheel supplier Accuride files Chapter 11 papers for U.S. operations
The private-equity owners of Accuride Corp.’s U.S. operations filed for protection from the wheel and wheel-end maker’s creditors in October and are looking to sell their businesses’ assets.
In filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Michigan-based Accuride disclosed that it had total debts between $500 million and $1 billion—and was down to about $6 million in available cash. Read more…
8. Ram Professional has plans to replace rivals in work truck market
With its sights on a larger market share, Stellantis launched Ram Professional in March. This new North American commercial vehicle division combines Stellantis’ light-duty commercial vehicle offerings into one business operation. The global company wants a bigger slice of the U.S. work truck market.
Along with increasing production capacity, the executive team leading the business venture teased new products in the pipeline. The team also told FleetOwner that Ram Professional is committed to helping fleets become more efficient—not only through truck and van electrification but also with better telematics and preventive maintenance solutions. Read more…
7. Eaton-Cummins joint venture launches new transmission for heavy-duty vocational vehicles
Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies launched a new heavy-duty transmission for vocational trucks: the Endurant HD V automated transmission.
The Endurant HD V is the latest edition of the venture’s Endurant family of transmissions. The 12-speed transmission is designed for vocational truck applications with maximum gross combination weight ratings of 70,000 lb. (32,000 kg) using 9-liter, 11-liter, and the upcoming Cummins X10 engines. Maximum engine torque is 1,700 lb.-ft. (2300 Nm). Read more…
6. Navistar rebrands as International Motors, signals new trucking solutions era
Navistar is no more. The legacy OEM producer of International trucks is returning to its roots. The company announced it rebranded from Navistar Inc. to International Motors with a refreshed logo and customer solutions focus, effective October 1.
OEM leaders said this rebranding is part of a shift in company strategy to expand beyond truck and powertrain engineering and production. International is shifting its business strategies to focus on transportation solutions and streamlining fleet customer and driver experiences. Read more…
5. Freightliner’s next Cascadia packed with more safety tech and efficiency gains
The most popular on-highway tractor in the U.S. will get a refresh next year, packed with more advanced safety technology, increased aerodynamics, and built-in business tools for fleets.
During its annual customer appreciation bash here in Music City, which featured a surprise concert performance by Def Leopard, the Daimler Truck North America OEM gave lucky fleet leaders a first glimpse of the fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia. The Class 8 truck brand name debuted in 2007 and was most recently remodeled in 2019, continuing to build on Daimler Truck technology and Freightliner loyalty across North America. Read more…
4. Heavy-duty engine trends to watch
The year 2027 will feature the most significant emissions regulations the heavy-duty trucking sector has seen since 2007. If fleets haven’t already, they should begin planning for these changes.
“It’s going to be a unique year when it comes to emissions and regulations,” said Len Copeland, product marketing manager for Detroit Diesel, which encompasses Daimler Truck North America’s drivetrain, safety, technology, and eMobility solutions. “In my 30-plus years in this industry, I’ve never seen a stack-up of emissions and vehicle requirements like we’re seeing right now.” Read more…
3. New Volvo VNL sets sights on trucking's next decade
Volvo Trucks North America is reimagining the Class 8 truck with a re-engineered Volvo VNL tractor developed by its U.S. team over the past six years. OEM leaders said it will be the base platform for current and future transportation technologies—from diesel to renewable fuels.
The newly designed VNL, available in six cab configurations, was designed for fuel efficiency, safety, driver productivity, connected services, and uptime. VTNA leaders said it would open order books by April for the new VNL, which will be produced at the Volvo Trucks New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, with first deliveries during the second half of 2024. Read more…
2. What's new in Cummins' next diesel X15 engine
To comply with 2027 emissions regulations, new powertrains must make performance compromises. Despite the added weight and backpressure of a larger aftertreatment system, Cummins' latest X15 engine still touts characteristic robustness and improved fuel economy. The 15-liter diesel engine is built to comply with EPA and CARB regulations and is a major step in the company's fuel-agnostic engine platform, HELM.
A significant part of the new X15’s fuel efficiency improvements comes from piston friction reductions, block cooling optimization, and weight reductions. Meanwhile, the aftertreatment system has expanded to meet some of the most stringent emissions requirements in decades. Read more…
1. 2025 FleetOwner vehicle guide
The fleet and transportation industries are transforming as commercial vehicle makers diversify their offerings for fleets facing increased regulations, tighter operating margins, and driver retention challenges. Along with emerging propulsion technology, fleets still have traditional trucks and tractors to choose from as we hit the middle of the decade.
FleetOwner’s (not quite comprehensive) vehicle 2025 guide lays out some of the most popular and emerging equipment as we reach the middle of this challenging decade and fleets face an uncertain future. Read more…
Along with these articles, FleetOwner publishes several popular annual features that garner attention throughout the trucking and transportation industries. These include our annual looks at the largest commercial transportation systems in the U.S., the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire and FleetOwner 500: Private Fleets.
Our annual profiles of women in the industry, Women in Transportation 2024, were published this summer. Each year, FleetOwner recognizes the transportation operations of private fleets with the FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year award. This fall, we expanded and rebranded our annual New Models to the 2025 FleetOwner vehicle guide, our largest-ever look at the next generation of heavy-duty, medium-duty, light-duty, and alternative-powered trucks and vans.
We put a bow on the year with the 2024 Trucking by the Numbers feature, an info-graphical look at the facts and figures that make up the trucking and transportation industries. To view what's ahead for FleetOwner in the new year, please check out our 2025 Media Kit.
