Truck driver satisfaction isn’t all about pay

Recently, the TruckersReport.com – an online “community” of roughly 190,000 truck drivers – recently conducted a detailed analysis of its membership in conjunction with software firm OdinText to find out what big rig operators really like and dislike about their jobs.

Simply put: is good pay and home time enough for a fleet to “satisfy” both seasoned and rookie truck drivers, and thus help keep them long term? Or is something else needed?

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Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck to Run Routes in California

Toyota's Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered Class-8 proof-of-concept is seen operating in the Port of Long Beach. Photos: Toyota

Toyota Motor North America has announced that its Project Portal Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck has completed initial testing and development and will begin regular drayage routes at ports in Southern California starting in late October.

Project Portal has already completed more than 4,000 successful miles of testing while pulling drayage-rated cargo and will begin moving goods from select Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals to surrounding rail yards and warehouses for distribution on Oct. 23. Project Portal was originally announced in April of this year as a proof of concept to determine the feasibility of fuel cell technology for heavy-duty trucks in drayage operations.

With initial testing complete, the truck will log around 200 miles worth of daily trips from the twin ports. The localized, frequent route patterns are designed to test the drayage duty-cycle capabilities from the fuel cell system while capturing real-world performance data. As the study progresses, Toyota will introduce the truck to longer-haul routes.

The initial feasibility study operations will be managed by the TMNA Project Portal team in collaboration with Toyota's Service Parts Accessories Operations group and its drayage provider, Southern Counties Express.

“Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said Bob Carter, TMNA executive vice president. “From the introduction of the Mirai passenger vehicle to the creation of the heavy-duty fuel cell system in Project Portal, Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain.”

Project Portal is a fully functioning heavy-duty truck concept that generates more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 lb.-ft. of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery - a relatively small battery to support Class 8 ...Read the rest of this story

Coca-Cola Adds Lytx DriveCam Video Safety System

Photo: Lytx

Coca-Cola Consolidated conducted a trial with Lytx's DriveCam video safety program, reducing collision frequency by 27% and reducing the severity of unsafe driving behaviors by 25%.

Coca-Cola Consolidated implemented the program at three company locations, involving 200 drivers and 115 vehicle assets. The DriveCam trial revealed challenges with late response, distracted driving, and adequate following distance.

Following the program, Coca-Cola Consolidated decided to roll out the DriveCam program to 28 locations over the course of six months. Along with pinpointing issues with driving behavior, the DriveCam program allows Coca-Cola Consolidated to identify and reward exceptional drivers for good performance.

Related: Lytx Offers Enhanced Video Safety System

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XL Hybrids Raises $22M to Expand Fleet Business

Photo courtesy of XL Hybrids.

XL Hybrids, Inc. has raised an oversubscribed Series D round of $22 million in venture capital funding to expand its sale and distribution of fleet vehicle electrification solutions to major customers across North America.

Constellation Technology Ventures (CTV), the venture capital arm of Exelon Corp., and IKEA Group participated in the round along with new and existing large family office investors. The series brings XL Hybrids' total funding to over $50 million to date.

CTV and IKEA Group both financially back companies that are leading the charge within the megatrends of vehicle electrification, vehicle connectivity and the low carbon economy.

"Electric vehicles are an increasingly viable option for customers to meet sustainability goals and manage operating fuel costs," said Scott Dupcak, manager with CTV. "Our investment in XL Hybrids both addresses a need in the commercial space for fleet conversion and is indicative of Exelon's commitment to providing customers reliable, clean, and affordable energy products and services."

The latest funding will allow the company to accelerate growth by expanding its team and facilities, growing its product portfolio of hybrid electric and plug-in vehicle solutions, and investing in additional proprietary technical solutions.

"At IKEA Group, we want to support innovative companies that are developing new technologies, solutions and business models and one of our priority investment areas is to help accelerate the transition towards electric transport," said Krister Mattsson, IKEA Group's head of financial asset management. "Through the investment in XL Hybrids, we want to enable the company to become a leading provider of electrification solutions for commercial vehicle fleets."

XL Hybrids also recently marked several milestones, including the first hybrid electric upfit for commercial Ford F-250 pickups, and the new XLP plug-In hybrid electric upfit for Ford F-150 pickups; a first-ever California Air Resources Board executive order for electrifying Ford Transit vans; ...Read the rest of this story

Court Battle Erupts over Truck Trailers and GHG/MPG Rule

Court filings have begun to pile up that may ultimately determine the fate of the trailer-related provision within the federal Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards.

On Oct. 12, the Environmental Defense Fund and a coalition of other environmental and public health groups formally requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reject what they regard as the “eleventh-hour stay” of the trailer provisions filed as a motion with the court by the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association on the 25th of last month.

In its statement of intervenor opposition asking the court to deny TTMA's motion for stay of the Phase 2 trailer provision, EDF argues in part that “TTMA attempts to artificially divide the tractor from the trailer to claim that TTMA's members cannot be regulated directly because they are not manufacturers of motor vehicles.”

In addition, EDF contends in its brief that “TTMA has likewise failed to demonstrate that its members will be irreparably harmed absent a stay of standards that simply require manufacturers to equip more of their trailers with widely used technologies that deliver fuel savings.” It also argues that TTMA's motion is “littered with contradictions and belied by its remarkable eleven-month delay in seeking a judicial stay.”

The Phase 2 GHG/MPG rules are set to require compliance starting in Jan. 2018, which explains TTMA's desire to secure a stay of the trailer provision. In addition, TTMA filed a lawsuit back in Dec. 2016 asking the D.C. Circuit to overturn the trailer portion of the Phase 2 rule. EDF and a coalition of public health and environmental groups are also intervenors in that case, along with the California Air Resources Board and a group of seven states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington). ...Read the rest of this story

Stoughton Launches Platinum Series Grain Trailer

Stoughton Trailers has announced its newly designed Platinum Series Grain Trailer, available in eight different models to fit a variety of agriculture needs.

The Platinum Series Grain Trailer was designed for durability and built using tested and proven components, according to Stoughton. It is available in 34-, 40-, and 42-foot lengths.

All Platinum Series Grain Trailers come standard with a 34-degree hopper slope for faster and better cleanouts. The “easy-opening” Platinum Plus two-stage door is constructed of corrosion resistant materials and reduces the amount of torque needed by the operator to begin emptying the load. Additionally, the liner is now removable to provide access to trailer components behind the liner panels.

On the front and rear, the new handrail has been moved further up and away from the trailer to allow easier platform access and improve safety.

To provide greater durability, strength, and stability, the Platinum Series trailer's new front wall is made of composite panels with stainless steel front corners as standard. The top divider rail is now 25% thicker to provide additional strength.

Standard on all Platinum Series, aluminum subframe grain trailers have hot-dipped galvanized steel supports which connect the subframe to the cross members. In combination with the aluminum subframe, this offers a more durable and corrosion resistant solution. The front upper rail and top shelf have been redesigned to improve strength.

Stoughton engineers focused on lighting solutions for better visibility and safety on the Platinum Series. The lights on the upper rear header of the trailer now function as brake lights and turn signals.

Work area lights are standard, offering a superior solution when unloading at night. Each hopper/trap is equipped with 3 mini LED lights, integrated into the lower trap frame to greatly reduce the chance of being damaged. The crank area is equipped with 1 mini LED light.

All Platinum Series ...Read the rest of this story

Peterbilt’s Gansle Named to Used Truck Association Board

Anthony Gansle, Peterbilt's director of marketing and sales. Photo: Peterbilt

Peterbilt has announced that Anthony Gansle, director of marketing and sales, has been elected to the Used Truck Association's board of directors.

Peterbilt is an active participant in the used truck industry and with the UTA, including organizational sponsorship, facilitating plant tours for its members, and educational webinars on emerging technologies.

“Being a member of the UTA is an important part of the overall business of Peterbilt. It gives us an opportunity to educate the used truck community on vehicles and new technologies that will be coming to the used market,” said Gansle. “It also allows us to receive feedback on specifications and concerns specific to the used truck market. As a member of the board of directors, we will have the opportunity to serve the association to a greater extent.”

Outside of the UTA, Peterbilt established its Used Truck Dealer Council in 2015, launched the Red Oval Certified Pre-Owned Truck program later in 2015, and announced the Paccar Engine Pre-Owned Warranty in 2016.

The company noted that its Red Oval Certified Pre-Owned Truck program offers low-mileage trucks that are evaluated through with a 150-point inspection and reconditioning. The trucks come with a standard one-year, 125,000-mile Paccar Engine Pre-Owned Warranty and other Paccar Financial and Parts benefits.

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