All Arrows Point to Trucking

Truck platoons may well be the way average Americans first see autonomous vehicle technology in the real world. Photo: Peloton

Last week, Amazon's Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates and (briefly) became the richest man in the world. And today comes the news that Mr. Gates has decided to invest in Convoy, a two-year old Seattle startup looking to crack the code on the same sort of real-time freight brokerage service as legally battered Uber Freight has been trying to do this year.

Gates has been sort of lurking in the background in automotive and trucking technology up to this point. It's worth wondering if the $62 million investment in Convoy that he's part of signals a bigger move into the world we all play in. I'm not a mind-reader, but my gut tells me, "Yes."

Trucking today is worth an estimated $800 billion a year in North America. That's excellent news for fleets, but hardly the motivating factor for guys like Bezos and Gates. They're innovators and visionaries. They see the world in a completely different way than you and I do. A century from now, we'll talk about them – and other tech leaders like Elon Musk and the late Steve Jobs the way we talk about Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford and Nikolai Tesla today.

This is a unique moment in time – one that doesn't come around very often – and we should all be glad that we're alive to see it: When new technologies and brilliant thinkers synch at exactly the same time to break new ground and move our society forward in dramatic fashion.

And, increasingly, it looks like trucking is going to be one of the industries that will bear the brunt of whatever is coming our way on the technology and innovation front.

In fact, I've argued ...Read the rest of this story

What will you do with the data from ADAS?

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The 3D Future: Is It a Print?

Laser metal 3D printer. Photo: UPS Longitudes

E-commerce is all the rage these days, but inventory requirements for shippers may actually decline in the years ahead if 3D printing catches fire.

Anyway, that's the prediction of the authors of the latest State of Logistics report. They see this gee-whiz technology being used first and foremost by manufacturers to fabricate spare parts on demand and by retailers to personalize merchandise for individual customers.

Also known as “additive manufacturing,” 3D printing is still largely being used to accelerate product development (28%), offer customized products (16%), and increase production flexibility (13%), according to a 2017 survey by Sculpteo, which provides online 3D printing services.

Among big logistics players, Big Brown has already stepped up to the printer. UPS announced last year that it was launching “a distributed, on-demand manufacturing network” that links its global logistics network with 3D printers at 60 UPS Store locations in the U.S. The company said customers will place 3D print orders online and the work will directed to the optimal manufacturing or UPS Store location based on speed, geography, and product quality required. What's more, the orders can be shipped as early as same day

“UPS is a leader in bringing industrial-strength 3D printing to reality,” according to Stan Deans, president, UPS Global Distribution & Logistics. “By building this disruptive technology into our supply chain models, we also bring new value to our manufacturing customers of all sizes. Additive manufacturing technology is still developing rapidly so ‘manufacturing as a service' is a smart approach for many companies.”

In a recent blog post, Alan Amling, UPS vice president-- corporate strategy, suggests thinking of 3D printing “as the Uberization of manufacturing, where supply can be accessed anywhere in the world to produce goods at the click of button.”

Amling says the upshot ...Read the rest of this story

Let the sun shine

When most people think of solar power they think of it as a renewable energy solution for homes, office buildings or airports. We see these panels springing up all over our country.

But solar also has a place in the trucking industry. Solar panels added to trucks can capture energy from the sun — free energy I might add — and convert it into usable power.

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Graco’s Grease Jockey is an Automatic Lubrication System

Graco has launched its Electric Grease Jockey system, an automatic lubrication system designed for the trucking industry.

The Electric Grease Jockey's new lubrication pump features integrated controls that provide system health and status, low-level alerts, and motor burnout protection. The distribution meters were also overhauled allowing the entire electric-powered system to deliver NLGI #2 grease.

The pump features an integrated low-level sensor that automatically alerts the operator when lubricant is low. It comes in a compact design with a single mainline lubricant distribution system to allow for easier installation and service inspections.

“This pump is a unique offering on the market, with new features that deliver first-in-class reliability,” said Dan Jensen, Graco's lubrication equipment division global product marketing manager. “We engineered an impact, UV and chemical-resistant system that is protected from motor burnout and provides valuable feedback to fleet managers while reliably and consistently delivering NLGI #2 grease – a tough pump for a tough industry.”

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Replace Plywood With Ancra’s Poly Deckboards

Ancra International's Poly Deckboards are designed to replace plywood deck boards as a more durable solution.

Ancra says its Poly Deckboards are 50% lighter than typical plywood. The Poly Deckboards feature hand slots, providing better ergonomics for dock workers and allowing for better load optimization.

Tested for durability under load and vibration, Poly Deckboards are also splinter proof to withstand forklift abuse. Built with high density polyethylene, Poly Deckboards are also designed for low temperature performance, down to -40°Fahrenheit.

Manufactured for Lift-A-Deck II Systems or Standard E Beams and used on 16-inch or 24-inch beam centers, Ancra's Poly Deckboards feature a nesting design for stackable storage to create a second deck for cargo support that is resistant to moisture and adverse weather conditions. Manufactured using 100% recyclable polyethylene, customers can receive a residual recycling credit on the back end.

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OTC Offers Bushing Adapter Kits for Hendrickson Suspensions

OTC has introduced new bushing adapter kits for Hendrickson front and rear suspensions in heavy duty applications.

The OTC 4250 Front Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit and 4254 Rear Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit are now available for select Hendrickson suspensions.

4250 Front Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit

4254 Rear Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit

The adapter kits include a custom plate, designed for an exact fit with suspension pieces, and custom adapters to align the tool properly and reduce the chance of damage to the bushings. The adapter kits are used with existing OTC Hendrickson Bushing Sets. OTC's Hendrickson suspension bushing tools feature a proprietary design that mounts directly to the vehicle suspension to reduce fatigue and make bushing service easier.

The 4250 Front Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit and 4254 Rear Suspension Bushing Adapter Kit are both now available through OTC's distribution partners.

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