Saving fuel with Run on Less

A 17-day fuel economy test involving seven different tractor-trailers operated across the country overseen by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) delivered an average of 10.1 miles per gallon (mpg) using what Mike Roeth, NACFE's executive director, called "real trucks hauling real freight over real routes." That 10.1 mpg average also occurred despite higher winds and heavier traffic flows caused in part by hurricanes Harvey and Irma as well, the group said.

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Eaton Cummins Endurance Automated Transmission Designed to Save Fuel, Weight, Maintenance

ATLANTA – Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies unveiled the first product from its joint venture, a lightweight, efficient automated transmission, at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show.

Company officials said the new Endurant 12-speed automated transmission is the lightest, most efficient 1,850 lb.-ft.-capable heavy-duty transmission. Designed for linehaul applications, it weighs up to 105 pounds less than competitive automated manual transmissions (AMTs).

“Fleets will find that Endurant has been intelligently engineered from the ground up with features that protect your investment and make it easy to maintain,” said Scott Davis, general manager, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies. “With a sophisticated communication system between the engine and transmission software, Endurant promises to deliver industry-best performance and reliability, fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance, and driver comfort features.”

Company officials stressed that Endurant is not an automated version of a manual transmission “Endurant was designed, engineered and created from a clean sheet to be an automated transmission, not simply an update to an AMT, allowing us to optimize the transmission's weight, dimensions and features,” explained Gerard DeVito, vice president, Technology, Eaton Vehicle Group.

“The market demands have changed, and automated transmissions really are the future, they're what our customers are asking, what drivers are asking for,” said Jeff Bosscher, systems engineering manager, Endurant.

The Endurant shares many of the features of the new Paccar Automated Transmission, which was designed by Eaton to work with Paccar powertrains.

An extensive component and complete vehicle testing program put Endurant through extreme conditions at the Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall, Michigan, as well as in the high heat of Death Valley, California, and minus 40-degree temperatures in northern Minnesota – more than 2 million equivalent field test miles in all, they said.

The joint venture got customer input throughout the process, not just from fleets, but from drivers, technicians, and others as well.

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Run On Less Drivers Average 10.1 mpg, Surpassing Goals

PepsiCo was one of the title sponsors and also one of the participating fleets. Photo: Evan Lockridge

ATLANTA – Despite the challenges of two hurricanes, on top of the normal trucking challenges of high elevations, heavy loads, and crosswinds, seven drivers over 17 days and 50,000 miles managed to average 10.1 mpg overall in the Run on Less fuel-economy road show that concluded this weekend in Atlanta at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show.

Run on Less, put on by the Carbon War Room and the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, proved that 10 mpg is possible using efficiency technologies that are available on the market today. The results exceeded the original 9 mpg goal set by CWR and NACFE.

Using a variety of commercially available technologies, including 6x2 axles, trailer and tractor aerodynamics, engine accessories, tire pressure systems, automated transmissions, low viscosity oils and others, they demonstrated that it is possible to save fuel in real world operations.

If the 1.7 million trucks on North American highways today achieved the same level of efficiency as the trucks in the Run, they would save 9.7 billion gallons of diesel fuel, $24.3 billion and 98 million tons of CO2 each year.

The 17-day event kicked off on Sept. 6. The trucks—from fleets Albert Transport, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Division, Hirschbach, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nussbaum Transportation, Ploger Transportation, and U.S. Xpress— saved 2,877 gallons of fuel and $7,193 compared to the national average of 6.4 mpg. The highest mpg achieved in a single day was 12.8, and three different trucks had days over 12.5 mpg. The lowest mpg from a truck was 7.1 on one of the days, and the average for all lowest mpgs throughout the Run was 8.8. The average gross combination weight over the Run was 55,498 pounds, with 31 of the 99 ...Read the rest of this story

Thermo King Says New Electric APU Runs Longer

ATLANTA – Thermo King is unveiling its new all-electric TriPac Envidia auxiliary power unit, which it claims has the longest run-time in the industry, at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta this week.

Thermo King says Envidia is an environmentally clean, reliable APU that delivers the longest run-time in the industry, without tractor startup.

Historically, battery-powered APUs provided insufficient run-time and limited power, with fleets and drivers complaining they do don't provide enough cooling for drivers' full rest periods, especially in hot climates.

Because there is no diesel engine, the TriPac Envidia not only runs clean, but it is significantly quieter and requires minimal maintenance.

“The introduction of this emission-free technology is a significant milestone for Thermo King, and it reaffirms our commitment to sustainability through innovation,” said Dane Taival, vice president and general manager, Thermo King North America.

The unit's simple in-cab controller allows drivers to select the desired function of the system – cool, fan or heat modes. The controller also indicates the battery charge level, and allows drivers to adjust the fan speed and cab temperature.

The Envida's patented battery management technology also provides:

Individual charging and discharging management for each batteryThree-stage charging profile to optimize performance and extend the life of its NXT dry cell technology batteryFull discharge of the auxiliary power-pack batteries before switchover, to minimize depletion of tractor batteries during HVAC operation

Whether supplementing with solar, or using power options like battery or shore power, the TriPac Envidia offers choices for drivers to tap into the power they need to stay charged.

The TriPac Envidia by Thermo King meets anti-idle and anti-emission regulations nationwide, including California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. The all-electric APU will be available for purchase in early 2018.

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Are you creating a culture of safety?

You definitely want your drivers to operate in a safe manner. You make safety a key element of your new driver orientation, and you talk about it in driver meetings. Your supervisors constantly mention it. Your dispatchers may even bring it up to drivers from time to time.

You “think” you operate a safe fleet, but do you know for sure? Simply put, if you want to improve your fleet's safety you obviously need a good understanding of your current safety status.

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Gauging the Tech that Will Drive the Future of Trucking

Volvo's Lars Stenqvist says the technologies set to most potently change trucking are connectivity, electromobility and automation.  Photo: David Cullen

Lars Stenqvist sees the potential for a chicken-or-egg dynamic to slow down how quickly smart trucks and smart highways can be integrated to fully leverage their potential to boost trucking efficiency.

Stenqvist, appointed executive Vice President of Volvo Group Trucks Technology and chief technology officer of Volvo Group last year, held a roundtable discussion on technology and trucking with industry editors on Sept. 18 at the Swedish embassy in Washington, DC.

An industrial engineer by training, Stenqvist's prior experience includes a stint as head of Research & Development and CTO of Volkswagen Truck and Bus. Before that, he held a range of R&D, production, and engineering executive positions with truck maker Scania, which is owned by VW.

Stenqvist said the three technologies that have the greatest potential to change trucking are data connectivity, electric power and autonomous driving. He pointed out that even though each of these are being developed independently to a large degree, their real power will be realized when the three converge to benefit trucking and overall society by increasing highway safety, reducing congestion, and enhancing the quality of life.

“I don't know what the future will look like,” Stenqvist said, “but I have a clear view of where it's headed.” He explained that what will really drive trucking forward will be the work that enables both smart trucks and a “smart infrastructure” to work hand-in-glove.

He did allow, however, that there is a danger that research and development work as well as the practical engineering of “smart” solutions could be hampered if transport operators, industry suppliers and government agencies get too hung up on the “chicken vs. the egg— that is do they build the smart truck ...Read the rest of this story

Driver Sustains Over 11 MPG for 5,600 Miles

Driver David Gooch was able to sustain 11.21 miles per gallon over 5,599 miles during the #Raceto10mpg challenge put on by Cumberland International and Sharp Transport.

To achieve the high mileage figure, Gooch made extensive use of cruise control in order to stay in top gear as often as possible. He managed to keep cruise control on 83% of the time, allowing the truck to stay in top gear 89% of the time. During the time the vehicle was in top gear, it averaged 12.34 mpg.

Gooch stayed in communication with personnel at Sharp Transport throughout his run for day-to-day telematics reports. These reports helped him tweak his driving habits and routines to maximize his overall fuel economy during the nearly 6,000-mile run which took him through 10 states.

Gooch was one of two Sharp Transport drivers given Cumberland International's C10 LT demo truck. The C10 is a truck spec'ed by the Tennessee dealership with the best fuel-saving options it has to offer. Cumberland allows fleets to try out C10 trucks for free to see how the spec works in their operations.

Related: The Race to 10 MPG

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