North East Truck and Trailer opens upgraded Nova Scotia facility

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has upgraded its North East Truck and Trailer Sales facility in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

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DAT Solutions adds five TMS integration partners

DAT Solutions has five new partnerships with transportation management software (TMS) providers that have integrated DAT products into their applications, the company announced this week.

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Ryder Equips Rental Fleet With Aperia’s Automatic Tire Inflators

Photo: Ryder System

Ryder System has signed an exclusive partnership with Aperia Technologies to equip the Halo Tire Inflator solution on the company's heavy-duty commercial rental fleet.

The tire inflation system will become the standard specification for Ryder's rental fleet driven by increasing demand from customers looking to improve fleet performance, safety, and driver satisfaction.

“We believe innovative automatic tire inflation solutions provide tremendous peace of mind for customers committed to on-time deliveries,” said Scott Perry, chief technology and procurement officer for Ryder Fleet Management Solutions. “These technologies will play a major role in the rapidly growing tire management space and will also become a critical component in advanced driver-assistance systems. Our strategic partnership with Aperia expands upon Ryder's ability to provide customers with the most innovative solutions to help them streamline operations, promote safety, and reach their efficiency goals.”

Halo will also become Ryder's preferred tire inflation solution for Ryder ChoiceLease customers and bundled offerings will also be available to Ryder SelectCare customers. The Ryder offering is Aperia's first exclusive partnership with a full-service leasing company for a bundled Halo purchase and installation.

“Technology-enabled task automation in the commercial vehicle market is helping fleets—from drivers and technicians to owners and managers—operate more safely, reliably, and efficiently. With Halo, we are delivering a step-change improvement in how fleets interact with their tire assets,” said Josh Carter, CEO of Aperia. “We see tremendous opportunity with Ryder's similar commitment to bring innovative products and service solutions to fleets with the goal of maximizing uptime. Now it will be easier for more fleets to reduce complexity when it comes to tires and reap the benefit of fast payback with our industry-leading technology.”

Ryder fleets equipped with Halo can improve tire life and reduce fuel consumption based on automatic tire pressure management. The Halo Tire Inflation Solution is self-powered, self-contained, ...Read the rest of this story

Peterbilt, Kenworth Offer Eaton’s New Endurant Transmission

Eaton's Endurant 12-speed automated transmission. Photo: Eaton

Eaton's recently released 12-Speed Endurant automated transmission, developed in a joint venture with Cummins, will be offered on major truck models from both Peterbilt and Kenworth.

Peterbilt announced the transmission's availability for its Model 579 and 567, and Kenworth announced that it would be offered on the T680. Introduced by Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, the purpose-built Endurant transmission was engineered for integration with the Cummins X15 engine to provide improved fuel efficiency, performance, and low-speed maneuverability. The transmission offers engine ratings up to 510 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque, and weight savings up to 105 pounds less than competitive automated transmissions, according to Eaton.

The Endurant is standard with the Paccar column-mounted shifter, putting gear selection and engine brake controls at the driver's fingertips for better ergonomics and improved performance.

“The 12-speed Endurant automated transmission is an important technological advancement for the Kenworth T680. Fleets and truck operators will benefit from its light weight, efficiency, reduced maintenance, and driver comfort,” said Patrick Dean, Kenworth chief engineer.

Other key features include a cooler-free precision lubrication system with a 750,000-mile lube change interval, encapsulated sensors and wiring, and a standard eight-bolt PTO opening location. The Endurant offers a 5-year/750,000-mile warranty and a 3-year/350,000-mile clutch warranty.

“Endurant has a wide range of benefits including its lightweight design and longer service intervals,” said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt's chief engineer. “Its integration with the column mounted shifter will make it a top choice for both fleet and owner-operator customers.”

Related: Eaton Cummins Unveils Endurant Automated Transmission

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Ram adds 2018 upscale luxury, Texas-only special edition pickups

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Telogis Enlists Former FMCSA Administrator to Certify ELD

Annette Sandberg Photo: TransSafe Consulting

Former Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration Association administrator Annette Sandberg has personally verified that the Telogis Electronic Logging Device solution will meet federally mandated requirements, Telogis announced.

The Telogis ELD solution has already been listed on the FMCSA's certified list but since companies self-certify to gain entry onto the FMCSA list, the company wanted a third party to verify that its solution met all requirements.

“The FMCSA's ELD self-certification process is important but it's not enough; our customers want to be sure providers have taken the necessary steps to ensure that they have a fully certified solution for the ELD deadline,” said Erin Cave, vice president of product management for Telogis, a Verizon Company. “Annette Sandberg delivered unparalleled expertise and a comprehensive verification process, enabling our customers to have total confidence in the integrity of our solution.”

Sandberg was the FMCSA administrator from 2003 to 2006 and is currently the CEO of TransSafe Consulting, where she offers her knowledge of the industry to trucking companies seeking counsel on ELD issues and other trucking industry topics.

“Earning a spot on the list of certified ELD providers ahead of the deadline is very important to customers and providers,” said Sandberg. “The mandated requirements can be quite complicated, and companies that have to meet this mandate need to know that their provider understands the critical nature of this mandate. After working with Telogis and conducting a comprehensive review of its ELD solution, I am confident that it meets every technical requirement.”

The Telogis Compliance HOS application allows customers to record, transmit and store all HOS information according to the functional requirements as detailed in the official ELD mandate - additional functionality includes over-the-air (OTA) updates, support for iOS and Android, multiple rulesets and exemptions – including the 150-air-mile non-CDL short-haul exemption, and ...Read the rest of this story

FTC Uses Online Tech to Keep Drivers Trained

Based in Oklahoma City, FTC Transportation is a small dedicated carrier for the Feed the Children Program, delivering food and relief to those in need. Photo: FTC Transportation

FTC Transportation's 30 drivers are never in the same place at the same time. Operating in the lower 48 states, some drivers come through the carrier's terminal in Oklahoma City only once in a month.

FTC drivers also have a unique mission. The company is the primary carrier for Feed the Children, a global hunger relief charity. That means regular work with those in need and deployments to disaster areas in moments of tragedy.

The company is also big on workplace safety, winning safety awards from the Truckload Carriers Association, Great West Casualty, and the Oklahoma Trucking Association. But it was searching for a way to improve driver training without having to divert drivers to headquarters.

“We do a lot of safety training and try to do a lot of different safety events throughout the year,” says Emory Mills, director of safety and driver administration. “We're always looking for something different so we can avoid complacency.”

Enter CarriersEdge, which offers online training in a variety of subjects. The training is delivered through video instruction with regular quizzes on the material. Most importantly, it can be delivered anywhere at any time through computers and smart devices, giving FTC options for reaching drivers on the road.

“We wanted to make sure we were reaching the drivers who aren't necessarily through our office as much,” Mills says.

Drivers can log in any time it's convenient for them. This gives the company more flexibility to keep drivers up to date on training, allowing for more timely remedial training.

“If somebody had a backing accident, we want them to have some additional training,” Mills says. “We can go into CarriersEdge and assign them something that ...Read the rest of this story