Mack updates Pinnacle, Granite interiors with driver-focused features

read more

Challenges ahead for ELD ‘foot draggers,’ panel concludes

INDIANAPOLIS. Fleets that haven't already made the transition to ELDs could have some unpleasant surprises in store, panelists at the 2017 FTR Transportation Conference explained here Tuesday. Issues include lost productivity, driver turnover, customer expectations, the availability of ELD units, and even whether or not the units will perform as advertised—and as required by the regulations.

read more

HDT’s Guide to the New Volvo VNL

Photo: Jack Roberts

The VNL is Volvo Trucks North America's first all new Class 8 highway tractor in 20 years, building on the company's established styling cues combined with dynamic, modern features.

Volvo Trucks North America Tuesday revealed its new Volvo VNL series highway tractor, available in several configurations, including an all-new, 70-inch sleeper.

Volvo Trucks North America's new Volvo VNL series highway tractor, with improved fuel economy and designed with the driver in mind, is available in several configurations, including an all-new, 70-inch sleeper.

Volvo Trucks North America unveiled the VNL, its first new highway tractor in more than 20 years. HDT's Jack Roberts was there and filed this video report with his first driving impressions of the new truck.

The truck builds on Volvo's established styling cues combined with dynamic new features, such as swept-back headlights that include signature Volvo daytime running lights, and a bold new Volvo grille and hood.

Exterior styling aside, a lot of developments have occurred over the past two decades. And it's obvious that even more are rapidly approaching. Volvo's new VNL reflects many of those current and future trends.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

Geotab Launches GO8 LTE Telematics Device

Geotab has begun offering its GO8 telematics device with connectivity on 4G LTE networks, the telematics provider announced.

Like its predecessor, the new GO8 offers advanced GPS technology, G-force monitoring, Geotab IOX expandability, engine and battery health assessments, and in-vehicle audible driver coaching, according to Geotab.

"The speed, efficiency and connectivity of LTE offers fleet managers a telematics solution that they can depend on for years to come," said Neil Cawse, Geotab's CEO. "With the increasing demand for more sensors in more vehicles, the launch of the GO8 LTE ensures that Geotab's data continues to be highly reliable, accurate and a trusted source for smart city and connected vehicle planning. LTE is the technology of the future and is receiving very large scale investment by all carriers."

Geotab records more than 1.5 billion data points daily from its connected vehicles. Each data point is processed in the MyGeotab cloud-based software against pre-configured rules and notifications set by the customer.

This data analysis has provided further insights into traffic patterns and commercial fleet activity, including the impact of both hurricanes Harvey and Irma on vehicle fleet activity, as well as benchmarking fuel economy by state for trucks, according to Geotab.

Truck fleets use new Geotab Drive features, such as hosting data for truck driver hours of service (Cloud ELD) that pairs the vehicle with MyGeotab.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

Mitsubishi Fuso Starts Production of All-Electric eCanter Truck

Mitsubishi Fuso's all-electric eCanter truck has a daily range of approximately 60 miles, based on configuration.  Photo: Mitsubishi Fuso

Highlighting the evolving need for clean, quiet, dependable transportation in large urban centers, Mitsubishi Fuso today announced that it is beginning series production of its eCanter, all-electric truck.

The company, a division of Daimler-Benz, says the move makes the eCanter the first all-electric truck to go into full production worldwide. The truck is now being built at facilities in Japan and Europe, and is on sale now, according to Marc Llistosella, chief executive officer of Daimler Trucks Asia. “This truck is not a prototype,” Llistosella insisted at the press conference. “This truck is for sale and coming this year.”

According to Llistosella, the new eCanter truck has been undergoing extensive real world testing in both Germany and Portugal for the past two years. The company will conduct additional eCanter unveilings next month at the Tokyo Motor Show and before year's end in Berlin, reflecting the focus on the types of cities the truck was designed to work in. Citing the truck as a “gamer changer,” he said New York City expects to have 50 all-electric eCanters in service before the end of the year.

Llistosella said all-electric medium-duty eCanter is Daimler Trucks answer to the public's need for a zero-emission, zero-noise truck for inner-city distribution. The FUSO eCanter has a range of approximately 62 miles and a load capacity of two to three tons – depending on body and usage. The vehicle's electric powertrain contains six high voltage lithium ion battery packs with 420 V and 13.8 kWh each. In comparison with a conventional diesel truck, Daimler says it offers savings of more than $1,000 in operating costs for approximately every 6,200 miles. He added that the truck's range could “easily” be increased to 100 ...Read the rest of this story

The Amazon Effect on Freight Transportation Discussed at FTR Conference

A panel discussion at the FTR Conference tackles the Amazon effect, with FTR's Eric Starks (left) moderating. Photo: Evan Lockridge

Talk about how the company Amazon is changing the future of freight transportation kicked off the final day of the FTR Transportation Conference in Indianapolis on Wednesday with a panel that included two truck fleet representatives.

There is little doubt the company that offers everything from books to bananas is changing the landscape for logistics providers, said Matt Parry, senior vice president of logistics, Werner Enterprises. He noted Amazon is forcing logistics providers to choose a niche so they can survive the future.

The panel also touched on the subject of how Amazon has changed inventory management. Paul Will, senior executive consultant for Celadon Trucking Services, noted that Amazon has greatly decreased the amount of time between the time a customer orders and product and arriving on their doorstep.

“You really think about what happens now from the standpoint of logistics and supply chain. Now you need these massive distribution centers when you are trying to get merchandise to people in just two days,” he said.

In other words, how will the freight transportation industry get merchandise to people who want it practically immediately, including in a matter of hours, not days?

He also pointed out that trucking companies will be challenged with delivering products as their customers have increasingly different ways to interact with consumers through omnichannel retailing.

“The Amazon effect is our expectations are so much greater now to get stuff,” Will said. This includes customers demanding cheap to no cost shipping, and shippers having to figure out where the product is coming from and how it is tracked, all of which will make for rapid changes in the trucking and logistics sectors.

Both Parry and Will said Amazon has also upended so-called final mile deliveries, ...Read the rest of this story

Mack Reveals new Anthem On-highway Tractor

ALLENTOWN, PENN. – Mack Trucks today introduced its new, next-generation highway hero, the Mack Anthem, during the Mack Global Dealer Summit in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mack calls the Anthem a re-engineered, redesigned and reimagined interpretation of what today's highway truck should be – aerodynamic, comfortable and connected with a bold Mack look.

“As one of the most significant new trucks in Mack's 117-year history, the Anthem combines our latest innovations with more than a century of truck-building know-how,” said Dennis Slagle, president, Mack Trucks. “The incredible result is a truck that's been built for our customers' business and designed for drivers, all while delivering the power and presence that only a Mack truck can deliver.”

The Mack Anthem features an all-new exterior design with optimized aerodynamics for improved fuel efficiency. New driving and sleeping environments were crafted with an emphasis on increasing driver comfort and productivity. The Anthem is available in several configurations, including a Day Cab, an all-new 48-inch Flat Top Sleeper, and an all-new 70-inch Stand-Up Sleeper.

“Every detail on the Anthem was designed with purpose,” said Jonathan Randall, senior vice president, sales, Mack Trucks North America. “We surveyed thousands of drivers and incorporated their feedback to deliver a functional, strong, efficient highway truck with an authentic design unlike anything on the road today.”

The Anthem is available with the 13-liter Mack MP8 engine with ratings as high as 505 horsepower and 1,860 lb.-ft. of torque. Several enhancements to improve efficiency and productivity are included, such as a patented wave piston design that enables more complete fuel combustion and a common-rail fuel system to more accurately control fuel injection. The 11-liter Mack MP7 is available as an option on the Anthem with ratings up 425 horsepower and 1,560 lb.-ft. of torque.

Mack's SuperEconodyne downspeeding packages are available with both Mack MP7 and MP8 engines.

Available ...Read the rest of this story