Yokohama Offers Fuel Efficient Long-Haul Drive Tire

Yokohama Tire Corporation has launched the TY577 MC² fuel efficient, SmartWay verified long-haul drive tire.

Now available in the U.S., the TY577 MC² comes in sizes 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 285/75R24.5 and 11R24.5, and is also offered in 16-ply construction.

The tire is designed for long tread life is achieved by a 30/32-inch deep groove depth that delivers a firm and stable road grip while maximizing run-out mileage. It also features a closed shoulder rib that enables more rubber-to-road contact for long, even wear. Additionally, the stress wear control groove redistributes more load to the outside rib, reducing the chance of shoulder step-down wear.

Yokohama's Stem-2 technology improves durability and retreadability by redirecting destructive casing flex. Additionally, the funnel-shaped groove reduces stone retention and increases block rigidity for improved traction and wear rate.

“The TY577 MC² delivers it all: exceptional traction, long even wear, superior durability, low rolling resistance and incredible fuel efficiency,” said Tom Clauer, Yokohama Tire's manager of commercial and OTR product planning.

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ATD 2018 Truck Dealer of the Year Nominees Revealed

ATD Senior Director Barbara Robinson presents the trophy for the 2017 Truck Dealer of the Year to winner Robert Nuss. Photo: Bob Brown

The American Truck Dealers, Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, and Procede Software have announced the nominees for the 2018 Truck Dealer of the Year – a national award that recognizes commercial-truck dealers for business performance, industry leadership and community service.

The nominees were selected by state, metro, and national association leaders. A panel of professors from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business will evaluate the nominees on dealership performance, industry leadership, civic contributions, and community service.

The seven nominees for 2018 are:

• Joseph Alosa, Sr., president/CEO of New England Kenworth in Concord, N.H.
• John Arscott, CEO of The Pete Store in Baltimore, Md.
• Mark Bergey, president of Bergey's Truck Centers in Souderton, Pa.
• Richard Reynolds, president of Peach State Truck Center in Norcross, Ga.
• Jon Vandehey, president/CEO of Mid-State Truck Service in Marshfield, Wis.
• Lee White, II, president of Old River Companies in South Richland, Miss.
• Craig Young, president of Young Truck Sales in Canton, Ohio

The winner and runner-up will be announced during the 55th annual ATD Show (formerly the ATD Convention & Expo) in Las Vegas, which will run from Thursday, March 22, through Sunday, March 25, 2018. The four-day event runs concurrently with the 2018 NADA Show.

For more information, click here.

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Mail Contractor Touts Low Carbon Footprint of ISL G Engine

Photo via Sheehy Mail Contractors

Sheehy Mail Contractors, one of HDT's Top 50 Green Fleets for 2017, announced that it is testing the Cummins-Westport ISL G Near Zero natural gas engine using renewable natural gas, which the company said will produce the lowest carbon footprint of any modern-day fuel.

Since June 2017, SMCI has been testing the ISL G Near Zero (NZ) NOx natural gas engine in two of its trucks. These trucks have been traveling to the East Coast daily while producing near zero emissions.

The engine has been designed from the ground up to use natural gas in several forms, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or renewable natural gas. The emissions are so miniscule that SMCI believes that by combining RNG fuel with the ISL G Near Zero engine, trucks can run cleaner on RNG fuel than on electricity.

Although electric motors don't burn fuel, most of the electricity produced in the U.S is done so by consuming various fossil fuels, such as coal. RNG fuel, however, can be produced naturally via biomethane from landfills, animal fodder, and even wastewater treatment facilities.

“The mode of power will be the mode that has the lowest cost of operation including acquisition costs and has the most robust refueling/recharging system”, said John Sheehy, CEO of Sheehy Enterprises.

Sheehy Mail Contractors is a transportation company based in Waterloo, Wis. Since 1952, Sheehy Mail has been a premier mail contractor for the U.S Postal Service.

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DuraBrake Launches Air Disc Brake Program for Trucks and Trailers

DuraBrake, formerly Durametal, has introduced a new all-makes air disc brake program for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.

DuraBrake has manufactured brake drums and rotors for specialty applications for seven decades. DuraBrake offers a comprehensive lineup that covers most major OE air disc brake products, which represents a large portion of the heavy duty aftermarket.

“With Air Disc Brake systems being specified on 20-25% of new vehicles, and vehicles starting to come off warranties, now is the time when these parts are going to start increasing in the aftermarket,” said Shaun Shroff, president, DuraBrake. “While we have offered ADB parts for over 10 years, we now have a much more comprehensive line of aftermarket options with performance comparable to that of OEM product.”

The DuraBrake line of ADB parts covers brake systems from Bendix, Knorr Bremse, Meritor, Wabco, Haldex and Hendrickson. It will consist of the following components:

• Rotors
• Disc pad sets
• Caliper Guide Bolts and Seals
• Calipers – new for Bendix and Wabco coming in 2018

DuraBrake air disc brake products are tested for material and performance requirements. The line of rotors and pads meet FMVSS 121 requirements.

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Q&A: Bendix’s Bracht on the Changing Truck Industry

Berend Bracht. Photo courtesy Bendix.

We recently caught up to Berend Bracht, president and CEO of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, at an industry event to talk about his first two years on the job in a rapidly changing industry. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

HDT: You've been in this position a little over two years. What have your priorities been?

Bracht: I think the first one was to learn the business as fast as I could, not only from the commercial vehicle side, but also the Bendix culture, the [parent company] Knorr-Bremse culture as well, and all of the facilities by visiting as many as I could.

HDT: What were some of the things you learned?

Bracht: It's a good product, highly enginnered. Everybody wants everything faster, and this is accelerating. I think the service level was very good, our aftermarket was positive, and we had and still have a very high market share in the industry – which for a new guy coming in was a bit of a concern, because you need to maintain and expand it. That's why we focus our company around the customer 2.0 concept. Bendix was always listening closely to the customers, but the idea was to push it up one notch higher.

HDT: What are you proud of accomplishing since then?

Bracht: We have our highest market share ever. We really invested into the new technology such as collision mitigation and air disc brakes. You never relax, but we are in good shape with our core customers. We also changed a little of the outlook by really focusing on trailer makers. For the first time we are organized by safety solution, trailer solutions, and powertrain solutions.

HDT: We're hearing a lot about more autonomous driving technologies and electric powertrains. Where is Bendix going with ...Read the rest of this story

Zed Connect Offers OBDII Bluetooth ELD Adapter

The Zed Connect ELD offering has been expanded to include the ZED Bluetooth OBDII adapter that works with the company's mobile app.

By connecting to the diagnostic port, the ZED Bluetooth OBD connects to the mobile app capturing data required for electronic logging device compliance.

The Bluetooth connection works with compatible iOS and Android devices and the 16-pin adapter is compatible with most domestic vehicles 2008 and newer.

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