Telogis Updates WorkPlan App to Further Automate HOS

Photo: Telogis

Telogis has updated its WorkPlan hours of service module, allowing drivers to select the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's 150-air-mile non-CDL short-haul exemption upon login.

When selected, the app will automatically switch a driver from exempt to active status if they travel outside the regulated radius and are not back to their starting location within the allotted time. This should help commercial drivers with routes that vary from day to day stay compliant by processing logs, according to Telogis.

In addition to HOS specific upgrades, WorkPlan now allows users to identify when changes to forms have been made and it provides the ability to reset passwords from the app's login screen. WorkPlan also allows workers to manage work orders from the field, minimizing the time spent preparing, planning and processing work orders.

It also incorporates HOS management features with HOS limit warnings, further automating the process. Updates to log signatures and driver notifications when rest/break provisions are met were also added.

“The Telogis WorkPlan app enables people in the field to stay focused on servicing their customers instead of stressing over paperwork,” said Erin Cave, vice president, product management for Telogis Compliance and Navigation. “When you drive a different number of miles and different routes each day, it's a dream come true when the system automatically detects when hours need to be managed; it's what our customers love about the new capability within Telogis WorkPlan's HOS function.”

For more information on Telogis WorkPlan, click here.

Related: Verizon Offers ELD Solution Bundles Ahead of Mandate

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Meritor Inks 3-Year Supplier Deal with REV Group

REV Group and Meritor have announced a new three-year standard supplier agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, REV Group will equip its specialty, fire, and bus vehicles with Meritor's fully dressed axle assemblies.

Milwaukee, Wis.-based REV Group is the parent company of 29 brands with more than 240,000 vehicles in service.

"REV Group's focus on continuously improving quality and reliability drives our strategic supplier selection. Partnering with Meritor allows REV to further strengthen our value proposition to customers,” said Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of REV Group.

REV brands included in the agreement are:

Training and support for end customers will be available from DriveForce, Meritor's North America sales and service organization that offers solutions before, during and after the sale.

"This strategic partnership with REV Group positions Meritor as a supplier of choice for a growing company," said Joe Muscedere, general manager, off highway, specialty and defense, North America for Meritor. "We look forward to continued work with the REV Group on new products and the development of future designs."

Related: Meritor Launches Online Platform for Buying Parts

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Biodiesel Blooms from Algae in Chile

Image: National Biodiesel Board

Scientists at the Catholic University in Santiago, Chile contend that if biodiesel made from microalgae is used to power trucks and buses, it could cut GHG emissions by as much as 80%, according to a Reuters report.

Such a reduction would be especially helpful to reduce air pollution in heavily contaminated cities. “What is new about our process is the intent to produce this fuel from microalgae, which are microorganisms," researcher Carlos Saez told Reuters.

He said the key will be to produce a sufficient volume of microalgae. Fortunately, the South American country is blessed with an array of both fresh and salt water algaes.

Reuters also reported that Saez said the scientists are working to improve algae-growing technology “to ramp up production at a low cost using limited energy.”

Most of the world's biodiesel, which is produced primarily to cut dependence on petroleum-based fuels, Reuters noted, is derived from soybean oil. Biodiesel can also be produced from animal fat as well as canola and palm oils.

Related: Truckstop Group Urges Congress to Extend Biodiesel Tax Credit

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Volvo Issues Upbeat Truck Forecast Heading into Fall

Volvo executives (left to right) John Mies, Rikard Orell, Jason Spence, Magnus Koeck and Göran Nyberg celebrate the launch of the new VNL tractor in New River, VA, on July 12, 2017. Photo: Jack Roberts

By day's end, with the new VNL launch behind them and the cocktail reception kicking off, the mood among Volvo Trucks North America executives was positively jubilant.

The press debut of the new tractor had gone off without a hitch. And even more exciting, from the executives' point of view, order books for the new truck had opened earlier in the day to enthusiastic responses from Volvo customers. And while he declined to give specifics, one Volvo official described the response from North American fleets and dealerships as “phenomenal.”

It was a fitting cap to an upbeat day, which included an optimistic update on the state of the North American truck market for the year to date by Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo's global truck operations.

Because Volvo is one of the largest truck and engine manufacturers in the world today, Nilsson naturally began by looking at global market conditions, citing the company's current 17% market share in Europe while noting that Volvo is now the “leading” truck OEM in Russia, with 23% share in that market. The United States remains the largest truck market in the world, he added, with Germany in second place.

South American markets are generally strong, Nilsson said, although demand in Brazil is currently weak. Core markets in Asia and Africa, including South Korea, Japan, and South Africa are also strong – although Nilsson said demand in oil-producing countries is flat.

In North America, Nilsson said Volvo feels the market has flattened out and is looking for upward sales pressure moving into the second half of 2017 – a trend he is confident ...Read the rest of this story

Volvo Issues Upbeat Trucking Forecast Heading Into Fall

Volvo executives (left to right) John Mies, Rikard Orell, Jason Spence, Magnus Koeck and Göran Nyberg celebrate the launch of the new VNL tractor in New River, VA, on July 12, 2017.

By day's end, with the new VNL launch behind them and the cocktail reception kicking off, the mood among Volvo Trucks North American executives was positively jubilant. The press debut of the new tractor had gone off without a hitch. And even more exciting, from the executives' point of view, order books for the new truck had opened earlier in the day to enthusiastic responses from Volvo customers. And while he declined to give specifics, one Volvo official described the response from North American fleets and dealerships as “phenomenal.”

It was a fitting cap to an upbeat day, which included an optimistic update on the state of the North American truck market for the year to date by Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo's global Truck operations.

Because Volvo is one of the largest truck and engine manufacturers in the world today, Nilsson naturally began by looking at global market conditions, citing the company's current 17% marketshare in Europe while noting that Volvo is now the “leading” truck OEM in Russia, with 23% share in that market. The United States remains the largest truck market in the world, he added, with Germany in second place.

South American markets are generally strong, Nilsson said, although demand in Brazil is currently weak. Core markets in Asia and Africa, including South Korea, Japan, and South Africa are also strong – although Nilsson said demand in oil-producing countries is flat.

In North America, Nilsson says Volvo feels the market has flattened out and is looking for upward sales pressure moving into the second half of 2017 – a trend he is confident the new ...Read the rest of this story

Navistar OnCommand Telematics Now Available for Purchase

Navistar announced availability of its OnCommand Connection Telematics solution at the Walcott Truckers Jamboree. Photo: Navistar

Navistar has made its integrated OnCommand Connection Telematics solution available for purchase. Launched in March, the solution includes OnCommand Connection Telematics, Advanced Remote Diagnostics, and an Electronic Driver Log.

OnCommand Connection Telematics is a combined hardware and software solution that provides a stream of real-time vehicle data, linked to GPS and other sources of data that can help drivers and fleets become safer and more productive.

“Only about 30% of small fleets are benefiting from the amazing power of telematics,” said Terry Kline, Navistar senior vice president and chief information officer. “In keeping with our DriverFirst philosophy and Uptime mission, we developed OnCommand Connection Telematics to make this information easily available and usable for the entire industry, from owner/operators to large fleets, on an integrated, predictable and easy-to-understand basis.”

The telematics solution is integrated with a new version of the OnCommand Connection Advanced Remote Diagnostics system. The system provides data on each vehicles health and fault code action plans through a web-based portal and dashboard.

OnCommand Connection Telematics and Advanced Remote Diagnostics are also integrated with OnCommand Connection Electronic Driver Log (EDL), which automates federal hours of service compliance requirements that are mandated for all heavy duty trucks by Dec. 18, 2017. OnCommand Connection Electronic Driver Log can also aid in fuel tax reporting, vehicle inspection reports, vehicle idling reports, and vehicle trip mapping history.

OnCommand Connection Telematics, Advanced Remote Diagnostics and the Electronic Driver Log app are available at participating International Truck dealers and to all HDA Truck Pride members. The Electronic Driver Log app is available in both the Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store.

For more information, click here.

Related: Navistar Expands OnCommand Connect Capabilities

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Sygic Truck Navigation App Reaches 1M Installs

Photo of HUD courtesy of Sygic.

More than 1 million users have downloaded the Sygic Truck Navigation app on Android to use the navigation platform that's designed for trucks.

New users will now get the Head-up-Display (HUD) feature at no cost. This feature projects navigation information onto a driver's windshield, so the driver never has to take eyes off the road to look down at their navigation software. Sygic's HUD feature gives drivers the full Sygic experience with features such as live traffic and turn-by-turn voice guidance.

Sygic Truck Navigation offers realistic 3D maps, accurate searching and precise route computing. Sygic Truck Navigation uses specially defined maps with specific features for larger vehicles that automatically avoid roads not suitable for trucks.

Drivers can choose the type of vehicle, define dimensions and weight and the navigation will automatically avoid low bridges and roads not suitable for the truck. The app also offers specialized features like points of interest, parking places, and gas stations suitable for trucks.

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