The New Oils: An Update on CK-4 and FA-4

Extensive engine testing of the new oils involved engine teardowns. Photo: Chevron

Last December, for the first time, the American Petroleum Institute started licensing two different approved heavy-duty diesel engine oils. CK-4 is the new backward-compatible standard, designed to replace CJ-4. A new FA-4 category was designed to offer a lower viscosity that performed under stressful conditions to help engine makers meet fuel efficiency standards.

CK-4 adoption is going largely as expected, but very few fleets are using FA-4 yet – because very few engine makers so far are recommending it.

Currently there are close to 600 licensed CK-4 oils and about 80 FA-4 oils, according to Kevin Ferrick, senior manager of API's Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System.

CK-4 and FA-4 both have to meet the same performance standards in terms of things such as oxidation control, preventing engine wear, and protecting the aftertreatment system. They're designed to be more robust and resistant to oxidation compared to their CJ-4 predecessors, says Brian Humphrey, OEM technical liaison for Petro-Canada Lubricants. “This may mean that, with proper oil filtration, longer oil drain intervals may be achieved. They are also designed to improve resistance to aeration and have increased shear stability, which will provide enhanced performance and greater hardware protection over time.”

But FA-4 is a different viscosity, and it's limited to XW-30 grades such as 10W-30 and 5W-30. And that's to offer better fuel economy.

Steve Phillips is president of Allied Oil & Tire in Omaha, Nebraska, a 59-year-old business with significant focus on the heavy-duty commercial truck market. Nearly all of its customers have transitioned to CK-4 – but none to FA-4.

“We spent about a year with the guidance of our vendors making sure we educated our customers on what that difference was,” Phillips says. “To me it speaks volumes as far as the fuel efficiency ...Read the rest of this story

ATRI Research Advisory Chair Tapped to Lead OSHA

Scott Mugno, the American Transportation Research Institute's research advisory committee chairman, has been nominated to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as an Assistant Secretary of Labor.

Mugno has been actively involved with ATRI for more than a decade. He currently serves as vice president of safety, sustainability, and vehicle maintenance at FedEx Ground. At FedEx, he held a variety of safety-related roles since 1994 and has twice received FedEx's highest honor, the FedEx Five Star Award, for his safety leadership at FedEx Express.

"Scott has always shown a commitment not only to safety but to using good data and input to determine how best to improve safety," said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president. "He has repeatedly demonstrated this commitment through his involvement with ATRI and it is a trait that I know will make him a strong and fair regulator."

American Trucking Associations also congratulated Mugno on the nomination. Mugno served on or led a number of ATA policy committees including the Safety Policy Committee, Labor and Regulatory Affairs Policy Committee, the Hazardous Materials Committee, the Hours-of-Service Subcommittee and the Ergonomics Subcommittee.

“Scott is a very familiar face to ATA, having been a longtime and active member in our organization,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “Throughout that whole time, he has been a strong and committed voice for safety and responsibility. He is an outstanding choice to lead OSHA and I look forward to working with him after his swift confirmation.”

Related: Improving Truck Ergonomics for Driver Safety

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Accuride Reorganizes to Support Global Expansion

Photo: Accuride

Accuride Corporation has realigned its organizational structure and made key appointments for its executive leadership team to support the company's expansion as a global supplier of wheels and wheel end solutions.

Accuride is consolidating its Gunite and KIC business entities into a single new business unit called Accuride Wheel End solutions. The products and technologies of Accuride Wheel End Solutions will continue to be marketed under the KIC and Gunite brands.

Additionally, Accuride has reorganized into two separate, coordinated business units for commercial vehicle wheels: Accuride Wheels North America and Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia.

Gregory A. Risch, previously the president of Accuride's Gunite business unit, has been appointed president, Accuride Wheels North America. Scott D. Hazlett, previously president, Wheels, now serves as president, Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia. Risch, Hazlett, and Schneider report directly to Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch.

“These organizational changes and appointments better align our team to efficiently lead and operate Accuride following our acquisition of KIC, while supporting our continued global expansion initiatives, including completion of our pending acquisition of Mefro Wheels GmbH, which is now undergoing routine merger clearance review with appropriate authorities,” said Dauch.

Related: Accuride Introduces Hub Wheel End System

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Report: Technician Shortage May be Worse Than Previously Thought

Photo: Steven Martinez

In a new report, the TechForce Foundation is predicting that demand for new vehicle technicians from 2016-2026 will be three times higher than was previously projected for the 2014 -2024 period.

The TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit that supports technical education, has teleased its Transportation Technician New Entrant Demand report, which reveals the severity of the technician shortage.

Based on analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the report focuses on technicians that are joining the field, rather than on experienced technicians who move around but don't add to the overall trained workforce.

“BLS had underestimated the replacement component of demand-- replacing existing technicians who have retired, been promoted, or decided to find a new career,” said Greg Settle, one of the co-authors of the report and TechForce's director of national initiatives. “That methodological problem has been rectified with the new projections just issued by BLS for the 2016-2026 period.”

Previously, BLS projections showed an average annual new entrant demand of 23,720 auto technicians for the 2014-2024 period. TechForce's report has revised that number to show demand for 75,900 for the 2016-2026 decade. The demand for collision and diesel technicians is similar. The newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand of 28,300 diesel technicians far exceeds the previously projected demand of 7,690.

The tech shortage has been exacerbated by a variety of conditions, including a growing economy, increased demand since the 2008 recession, and increased vehicle complexity, according to Settle. The authors of the report say that to alleviate the shortage, the industry needs to focus on recruiting younger people to the field and suggest changing the “grease monkey” image of the career.

“In order to solve the tech shortage, the industry needs to pool its resources and create and disseminate consistent public messaging highlighting the many and varied opportunities of a ...Read the rest of this story

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