J. B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. announced the acquisition, by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Masterack, LLC, of CVP Group, LLC, the manufacturer and distributor of Masterack products.
read more
...Read the rest of this storyZonar and Cummins Inc. are announcing the availability of Cummins Connected Diagnostics to customers using Zonar's smart fleet management solution.
According to the companies, by obtaining data through Zonar's V3TM telematics control unit, Cummins Connected Diagnostics wirelessly connects engines to Cummins for immediate diagnosis of engine fault alerts.
read more
...Read the rest of this storyThe Heico Companies announced it has completed the acquisition of Astro Tecnologia, one of Brazil's manufacturers of cargo securement systems, webbing, lifting slings and supplemental decking equipment.
read more
...Read the rest of this storyWith the start of 2018 model year production, Ram Truck is boosting the capability of its 3500 HD pickup model; increasing available torque for its optional diesel engine package and adding an optional fifth wheel designed by Ram Engineering that can tow up to 30,000 lbs.
Working closely Cummins, Ram said the 3500 model for 2018 will feature higher boost limits through a variable geometry turbo and flow rate increases through the fuel delivery system for its optional Cummins 6.7-liter I-6 diesel engine.
read more
...Read the rest of this storyStack of steel members slipped forward and rammed the tractor's sleeper. It could've been worse. Images: Tom Berg, from YouTube
">Stack of steel members slipped forward and rammed the tractor's sleeper. It could've been worse. Images: Tom Berg, from YouTube
">What do you do when the load on the trailer shifts, ramming your sleeper just behind you? Thank the Lord that the stack of steel didn't go farther, stabbing you in the back. Then call for a wrecker, one with a strong crane that can move the load back where it belongs and whose crew will tie down the load more securely.
That's the story in this YouTube clip that I found this morning. It was posted by a regular contributor, Ron Pratt, who operates a heavy tow truck for Midwest Truck Sales & Service in Scott City, Missouri. Ron wears a camera on his cap (or helmet) and began shooting this episode on the way to the place where the semi's driver had parked along Interstate 55.
The clip runs an hour and 12 minutes – kinda long, unless you imagine you're right on the scene, admiring the work. An intro said the driver had slammed on his brakes to avoid an accident ahead. In this situation, a shifting load was the lesser of two bad outcomes. You can save time by picking up the video about 30 minutes in, where the actual work begins.
This reminds me of a story I heard many years ago, about a rookie trucker on his very first run, dispatched with a load of steel pipe on the flatbed behind. He slammed on the brakes for some reason and the load slid forward, piercing the back of the cab and skewering his back and head – a bloody end to a very short career.
I had that tale in mind about 1980 when I was test-driving a White Road Boss conventional in central Texas. I had ...Read the rest of this story
read more
...Read the rest of this story
Mickey Truck Bodies, which makes beverage bodies and trailers, has introduced the new 21st Century trailer, designed and built specifically for beverage delivery. The heavy-duty trailer configuration handles better, has a more modern appearance and lasts longer than conventional box trailers, according to the company.
"The new 21st Century trailer is ideal for full-pallet delivery at the loading dock or street level, and its improved structural strength means a much longer lifecycle for our customers," says Tom Arland, corporate vice president of sales for Mickey Truck Bodies. "This design was engineered for the rugged duty applications that beverage distributors require."
Arland says current users of the trailer have experienced less trailer sway and say they expect greater fuel savings with the unit's aerodynamic design. The rivetless aluminum side skins allow for clean decal application for a "rolling billboard" impression.
Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter
...Read the rest of this story
