VMAC launches air compressor for 2017 Ford F-250, F-350

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Rotary Lift’s new pre-cast, in-ground lift installation saves time, works in any weather

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Crete Carrier raises maximum speed to 65 mph

Crete Carrier Corp. has increased the maximum speed for its truckers in cruise control to 65 mph from 62 mph.

Although Crete and subsidiaries Shaffer Trucking and Hunt Transportation have been limiting speed for safety and fuel economy, the company said improved safety technologies and aerodynamics “have had a major impact on these factors,” the company said in its announcement.

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Commentary: Innovation Comes from the Top – and yet it Doesn’t

Deborah Lockridge

As part of an audience exercise at HDT's inaugural Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange event last month, table groups brainstormed reasons that people don't think, why they don't innovate. A common theme was that people are not expected to, not challenged to — and when they do come up with an idea, they aren't listened to. So why bother?

“You can't transform an organization until you transform its thinking,” said keynote speaker Tim Richardson. His message was that leaders need to teach people how to think, give them some freedom to do so, and thank them when they do. If someone comes up with an idea and it's ignored, dismissed, or laughed at, what's going to happen the next time they have an idea — maybe one that might have been a game-changer? Doubtful they're going to try again.

Also at HDTX, as part of the Truck Fleet Innovator panel discussion, Randy Obermeyer, terminal manager for Batesville Logistics, talked about how he not only uses Lean processes and tools to make his shop more efficient, but he also teaches his technicians how to use those tools to come up with waste-cutting ideas of their own.

At U.S. Xpress, they're recruiting for management talent outside of the industry and putting them through a two-year program to learn the ropes (read more about the Xpress Elite program on page 88.) But not only are the future managers learning about how the various departments of the truckload carrier work, they also are bringing in best practices and ideas from other industries that can be applied in trucking. And U.S. Xpress is listening.

Yet one of the most overlooked sources for good ideas may be drivers.

At HDTX, Jeff Sass, Navistar's senior vice president of North America truck sales and marketing, shared some stories about how the ...Read the rest of this story

Accuride Agrees to Buy German Wheel Supplier

Accuride has entered into an agreement to acquire Mefro Wheels, a privately owned German-based supplier of steel wheels to the commercial vehicle industries in Europe and Asia.

Mefro also produces wheels for the automotive industry and global agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers. The company is the second acquisition that Accuride has pursued since being acquired by private equity firm Crestview Partners in 2016.

Accuride's first acquisition under Crestview Partners was of the North American component supplier KIC in May 2017.

The latest acquisition will allow Accuride to expand in Europe and Asia and provide operational and engineering resources for the company's global customers. The deal will also let Accuride diversify into automotive and off-road construction and agriculture equipment segments.

“The strategic acquisition of Mefro Wheels will solidify Accuride's position for future growth as a supplier of wheel-end solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry, enabling us to better serve the needs of our global customers,” said Rick Dauch, Accuride president and CEO. “The addition of Mefro Wheels will extend Accuride's geographic reach, expand our truck and trailer wheel offering in Europe, Russia, and Asia, and further diversify the end-markets we serve with passenger car and off-road construction and agriculture businesses."

Related: Accuride Acquires Wheel End Supplier KIC

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The Latest Fuel-Sipping Engines

Fleets expecting better fuel economy and reliability have a lot to look forward to if the engine makers' claims are accurate. Photo: Jim Park

There's a new crop of engines on the street now that's cleaner, more fuel efficient and hopefully more reliable than previous models. Most North American heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers rolled out substantially revamped engines last year to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GHG17 emissions regulations. Those rules were the final step for diesel engines in Phase 1 of the EPA's grand CO2 reduction plan. Engine makers now have a few years to figure how to meet the next, more restrictive round of fuel efficiency improvements, which come into force for model-year 2021 engines.

According to DieselNet, an independent online information service covering technical and business information on diesel engines, model-year 2017 heavy-duty diesels have CO2 emissions limits of 460 grams/bhp-hr, which translates into a fuel consumption limit of 4.52 gallons/100 bhp-hr. While that won't mean much to most of us, it forces truck makers to up their game by 7% to 20% compared to MY 2010 trucks ­— with engines contributing a sizable chunk of those reductions. And, by popular demand, engine makers had to step up the reliability quotient, too.

To meet those goals, engine makers deployed combinations of more advanced electronic controls and mechanical changes to their engine, which in several instances included new injection systems, new piston designs, variable speed accessory drives, low-friction components, lighter lubes, higher compression ratios and new aftertreatment systems. Benefits to the truck owner include in some instances lighter engines, more torque at lower rpm, less horsepower at higher rpm, better drivability and of course reduced fuel consumption.

It's still a bit early to make a pronouncement on the reliability question, but each of the engine makers' reps we spoke with emphasized ...Read the rest of this story

Accuride agrees to buy German maker of steel wheels

Accuride Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire Mefro Wheels, a privately owned supplier of steel wheels to the European and Asian markets based in Solingen, Germany.

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