Garmin Offers Suite of Truck Solutions Through Navigation Device

Garmin International has introduced the dēzl 580 LMT-S navigation device for trucks, offering built in- Wi-Fi for updates and a suite of truck solutions that can include hours of service compliance

The dēzl 580 LMT-S features a 5-inch display, customizable truck routing for the size and weight of a truck and the truck specific navigation features found throughout the dēzl product line, including bridge heights and steep grades.

Easy Break Planning is now possible thanks to timely break planning notifications with suggestions for upcoming truck stops, weigh stations, and rest areas. When truck drivers wirelessly connect the dēzl 580 LMT-S to the new Garmin eLog compliant ELD, important hours of service can be seen on the navigator's display.

“Not only does the dēzl 580 LMT-S take the guesswork out of break planning, but it also gives truckers a simple solution for HOS compliance if used with our new Garmin eLog ELD,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “One of the features we're most excited about is the dēzl 580's built-in Wi-Fi, so truck drivers can easily update maps and software with a touch of a button and avoid having to use a computer.”

For truck drivers who spend a significant amount of their time on the road, the dēzl 580 LMT-S features the Truck & Trailer Services directory that lets truckers filter truck stops by preferred brands or amenities.

The dēzl 580 LMT-S can also receive free real-time data when wirelessly connected to a trucker's smartphone using the free Smartphone Link mobile app. Once paired, the truck driver can use a wide range of features from free live traffic to weather forecasts. Text messages and calendar reminders can appear right on the navigation display allowing truck drivers to stow their phones away, with their eyes focused ahead and their hands on ...Read the rest of this story

Spot TL rates, volumes dip

The abundance of truckload freight on the spot market poured over into the week ending Aug. 19.

read more

Trucking doesn’t appear on this job list. That’s a problem.

So a firm by the name of CareerCast recently compiled a detailed analysis of the top paying jobs Americans can obtain without a traditional four-year college degree.

read more

HDT and Fleetmatics Partner on ELD Webinar

By December 18, 2017, commercial drivers will be federally mandated to manage and log their Hours of Service (HOS) digitally and automatically with an Electronic Logging Device (ELD). Fleetmatics, A Verizon Company and Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) magazine have partnered to help companies prepare for the ELD mandate deadline by hosting an open webinar on August 29, 2017. Countdown to ELD: Getting Your Burning Questions Answered is an opportunity for companies and industry experts to discuss common compliance concerns and confusion about the upcoming ELD mandate.

During the webinar, content will be presented in an open forum format, enabling attendees to bring their ELD questions and concerns to a panel of experts and their peers, for thoughtful discussions. Topics will include technical, operational and legal requirements, as well as common automatic on-board recording device (AOBRD) related questions and concerns. Panel experts include Deborah Lockridge, editor-in-chief of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, Kelly Frey, vice president, product marketing for Fleetmatics and Avery Wise, president of TransComply.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) ELD requirements are intended to help allow for a safer, easier and faster way of accurately tracking and managing records of duty status (RODS), and minimize human error of completing daily HOS logs by hand. Any commercial motor vehicle carrier or driver subject to the ELD rule must be electronically recording hours of service by the deadline, and the companies that employ them will need to purchase and integrate an ELD solution by the same deadline.

"We're creating a community of drivers and companies that are all sharing a common goal of getting an ELD solution in place before December," said Fleetmatics' Frey. "There's still a lot of confusion and uncertainty out there about the ELD mandate and having the opportunity to chat through ...Read the rest of this story

Arizona Adds Drivewyze Weigh Station Bypass Service

The Arizona Department of Transportation has added Drivewyze weigh station bypass service at eight ports of entry near the state's borders with California, New Mexico, and Utah.

Since Drivewyze can read weight data transmitted from WIM sensors embedded in pavement as the truck passes over them, the state uses weight readings as part of its bypass criteria at five ports of entry located on U.S. Interstates 10, 15, and 40. Of the eight locations where Drivewyze is offered, five are located on interstates that cross the Arizona/California border - I-8, I-10, and I-40. The remaining three are located on I-15, Arizona State Route 68 and U.S. Highway 93

“With Drivewyze now live in Arizona and California, drivers traveling east from Long Beach and California's Central Valley into Arizona and beyond have continuous bypass opportunities all along the way,” said Brian Heath, president and CEO of Drivewyze. “Drivewyze offers fleets an unbeatable competitive advantage over carriers using a transponder-based bypass service, or no service at all. That's important because fleets certainly can't afford to let their competitors' drivers get more bypasses.”

With the addition of Arizona and North Dakota, Drivewyze offers bypass opportunities at almost 700 locations in nearly every state in the Lower 48 and in the province of Alberta.

The Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass application comes pre-loaded on in-cab telematics and ELD devices like Omnitracs, PeopleNet, Rand McNally, and Zonar. Fleets can turn on a free analytics weigh station loss reporting tool to help them determine how much Drivewyze can potentially save them before activating the subscription-based weigh station bypass service. The application is also available for Android and iOS-based tablets or smartphones.

Related: Drivewyze Bypass Service Debuts in North Dakota

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

From managing iron to managing charts

Maintenance managers are always trying to be controlled by the bean counters. And in some cases they need to be, for there is no question about the value of measuring cash in versus cash out; of drilling down into the business plan of income and expenses to find savings.

For the last 35 years, managers of iron have found ways to reduce cost because they had to in order to keep their jobs; they had to be creative and make cuts to stay alive. Many needed to be forced, though, as some old iron men needed to truly understand where their costs where hiding.

read more

Peterbilt Pairs Column-Mounted Shifter with Paccar Automated Transmission

Photo: Jim Park

Peterbilt has announced that its ergonomically designed column-mounted shifter will be standard equipment on Model 579 and 567 trucks equipped with the new Paccar Automated Transmission.

The column-mounted shifter will also be standard equipment on trucks equipped with the Eaton Advantage and Ultra Shift AMTs. The column-mounted shifter will be available on Model 579 and 567s ordered with automated transmissions beginning in Oct. 2017.

The new shifter, located on the right-hand side of the steering column, features a multi-mode design that allows for control of all transmission and engine brake functions, including gear selection, engine brake mode, and manual shifting.

The column-mounted shifter was designed to place controls in a more convenient location, to minimize distractions and allow for increased focus on the road. With the implementation of a column-mounted lever, a new design pinch valve located on the dash replaced the traditional lever for trailer brake activation, enhancing control during coupling and uncoupling maneuvers.

“The column-mounted shifter was designed based on in-depth studies of driver behavior and ergonomics,” said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt chief engineer. “This new design also allowed us to improve on the usability of our dash by eliminating engine brake control switches.”

The new 12-speed automated transmission from Paccar is the latest addition to the proprietary Paccar Powertrain, designed for efficiency, drivability, and durability for Peterbilt on-highway models. The transmission was purpose-developed as an automated transmission for heavy-duty linehaul applications.

The Paccar Automated Transmission is available for order immediately on MX-13 equipped Model 579 and 567s scheduled for production after Oct. 16, 2017. Availability of the Paccar Transmission with the smaller Paccar MX-11 engine is scheduled for early 2018.

Related: Paccar Unveils Automated Transmission

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter