Winners' circle: Techs join Rush Truck Centers' elite family

As bitcoin skyrockets, a top Facebook exec is joining the board of Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange (FB)

Facebook Messenger boss David Marcus is joining the board of bitcoin startup Coinbase. The move is a big win for Coinbase, which has the most popular app in the Apple's US App Store, thanks to the bitcoin craze. As interest in bitcoin soars, a senior Facebook executive is joining the board of Coinbase, a startup that helps consumers trade and store the cryptocurrency.

Cautiously Optimistic, Rusty Rush Looks Ahead

Rusty Rush predicts “headwinds” with electric trucks, but thinks they will start to become commonplace in a couple years' time. Photo: Jack Roberts

Looking back on 2017, Rusty Rush sees a year of broad-based, consistent growth. And the chairman and CEO of Rush Truck Sales, says he's mildly surprised by that result.

Speaking to a group of journalists ahead of the 2017 Rush Technician Rodeo in San Antonio, on Dec. 12, Rush noted that overall Class 8 sales are projected to wrap up at around 197,000 units for the year, which he says is an uptick of 25-30% from initial projections. “We've seen excellent numbers from our perspective,” Rush said. “That includes International, Peterbilt, Isuzu, and Hino. So I feel good about where we've been, and as good as it's possible for me to feel in December. All in all, I'm cautiously optimistic looking ahead into next year.”

Looking at overall industry trends today, Rush said he firmly believes electric trucks are coming, and that electronic logging devices will be a technology enabler for the industry as well.

“I think we will see electric trucks, but they're going to be more on the medium-duty and P&D side of the business,” Rush said. “I think we're still 2 or 3 years away from seeing them in substantial numbers. And we're probably 10 to 15 years away from seeing any significant presence in the long-haul, Class 8 markets. There will be some headwinds with electric trucks. But I think they will eventually just be a part of an OEM's product offerings alongside diesel and natural gas units. But I think we'll learn how to sell and service them as dealers.”

Rush is also pragmatic about ELDs noting that they will be technology and maintenance enablers when tied in with telematics and diagnostic systems. “They're going to work ...Read the rest of this story

Proposed Bill Would Require Front and Side Impact Guards

Photo: IIHS

Several Members of Congress have proposed a bill to require impact guards on the sides and front of trucks to product passenger vehicles from being crushed underneath a a in a collision, according to an NBC News report.

The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 has been introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and is co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), with Sen. Rubio saying that the bipartisan legislation would save lives.

In addition to requiring side and front guards, the Stop Underrides Act would also update and improve rear-guard requirements.

Testing earlier this year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that side impact guards on truck trailers demonstrated potentially lifesaving benefits in side impact collisions. The tests were accompanied by video showing the roof of a car being sheared off in a collision at 35 miles per hour, decapitating the test dummy.

Another car at the same speed is shown hitting a trailer with the underride guard and it bounces off of it with only damage to the front of the vehicle.

The Natonal Transportation Safety Board recommended underride guard for trailer protection in 2014.

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Omnitracs Honors Veterans with Wreaths

In addition to its annual donation of $25,000, which purchases 2,500 wreaths for the graves of the nation's veterans, Omnitracs will have representatives taking part in ceremonies in Dallas; Arlington, Va.; Minneapolis; and San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Omnitracs)

Omnitracs, LLC, will continue to participate in the national Wreaths Across America program. For the eighth consecutive year, Omnitracs has pledged $25,000 towards the purchase of 2,500 wreaths to be laid on the graves of our nation's veterans.

On Saturday, December 16, thousands of volunteers will participate in wreath-laying ceremonies all over the nation, as well as abroad, to remember the lives of fallen veterans and give thanks for their service to our country. In addition to funding the purchase of the wreaths, Omnitracs employees will take part in ceremonies in the following locations:

• Dallas
• Arlington, Va.
• Minneapolis
• San Diego

“Omnitracs is honored to support Wreaths Across America as we join them in honoring the lives of our fallen U.S. veterans,” said John Graham, CEO at Omnitracs. “The program's mission to remember, honor and teach is one we are committed to furthering through monetary and volunteer support for many years to come.”

<img src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-wreaths1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="

On Saturday, each truck will carry approximately 4,700 wreaths. It takes 52 trucks to deliver 246,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery alone! (Photo courtesy of Omnitracs)

The trucking and transportation industry plays a significant role in supporting Wreaths Across America. Trucking companies, including almost 100 of Omnitracs customers, donate their time and services to fill more than 300 trucks with wreaths that are then delivered to more than 1,200 participating cemeteries.

“Wreaths Across America serves a cause that is close to our hearts – more than 10 percent of our drivers are veterans and several of my family members have served overseas,” said Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ...Read the rest of this story

FTR Trucking Conditions Index Spikes in October

The FTR Trucking Conditions Index for October, jumped to a reading of 9.48, way up from the previous month's level of 3.5.

A strong economy, pressure from hurricane recovery, and the upcoming ELD mandate have all created a tight market resulting in improved contract rates, according to FTR. While the TCI has hit a very high level, FTR believes there is potential for further upside during the first half of 2018.

“The TCI is nearing a double-digit number, which indicates that there are big opportunities for carriers with regard to both rates and the loads they choose to carry. Of course, there are still quite a few ‘ifs' in the near future,” said Jonathan Starks, COO of FTR. “If the economy can continue to grow at around a 3% rate in Q4 and 2018Q1, we will see freight demand maxing out any excess capacity.”

Any gains seen early next year will likely be followed by softening in industry conditions in the second half of 2018 due to slower freight growth, but it should still maintain solid conditions for carriers.

“If the ELD implementation and enforcement stay on track, the spring will bring capacity utilization over 100% and the freight transportation market will be scrambling to align loads and trucks,” said Starks. “If severe winter weather comes into play, transportation managers will be facing their toughest year since 2004. Carriers should be prepared for big changes, and big opportunities.”

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Battery Breakthrough Could Triple EV Range

Photo via Noya Fields/Flickr

New research at the University of Waterloo in Canada could lead to the development of batteries with triple the range of current battery technology for electric vehicles.

Quanan Pang, who led the research while a PhD candidate at Waterloo, and his fellow researchers made a breakthrough involving the use of negative electrodes made of lithium metal. The material has the potential to dramatically increase battery storage technology.

With increased energy density and therefore energy capacity, electric vehicles could see as much as three times the range on a single charge.

“This will mean cheap, safe, long-lasting batteries that give people much more range in their electric vehicles,” said Pang.

In developing the technology, two challenges arose for researchers. The first involved a risk of fires and explosions caused by microscopic structural changes to the lithium metal during repeated charge-discharge cycles. The second involved a reaction that creates corrosion and limits both how well the electrodes work and how long they last.

Researchers were able to solve both problems by adding a compound of phosphorus and sulfure to the electrolyte liquid carrying a charge within batteries.

The full research paper was published in the journal Joule.

“We wanted a simple, scalable way to protect the lithium metal,” said Pang, now a post-doctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “With this solution, we just add the compound and it works by itself.”

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