Beemac Opens New Terminal In Pennsylvania

Photo: Beemac Trucking

Flatbed transportation provider Beemac Trucking has announced opening a new terminal in Franklin, Penn., to expand its operations in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

The new addition is the 23rd Beemac Trucking terminal in North America. The new terminal will operate with more than 25 trucks and features a two-bay, full-service shop.

The company is bringing in Tim Engles to run the new terminal, an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience operating Engles Trucking and Engles Leasing since 1988.

“The addition of Tim and his team helps Beemac meet the growing capacity demand in the Western Pennsylvania market while also utilizing the new customer base to operate all Beemac trucks more efficiently,” said Richard Casoli, vice president of Beemac Trucking. “A key area of success in onboarding was our agent/driver pay package. We expect the Franklin fleet to grow to the 45 driver range to meet current customer demand.”

Beemac Trucking is a full-service transportation provider offering asset-based trucking, logistics, port, warehousing, and specialized hauling services. The company operates more than 350 trucks and is headquartered in Amrbidge, Penn.

Beemac Trucking was nominated to HDT's Top 50 Green Fleets in 2015.

Related: HDT's Top 50 Green Fleets of 2015

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

4-Cyl Questions Answered in Isuzu FTR Test Drive

Photo: Chris Brown

This week, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America unveiled the 2018 Isuzu FTR Class 6 cabover for limited driving at an event at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Similar events, attended by dealers, sales, service, and parts staff, fleet customers, and media, were held in Chicago and New York.

The redesigned Isuzu FTR is available for the first time since the model line was discontinued in 2009.

The event, attended by Bobit editors of Work Truck Magazine, Heavy Duty Trucking, and Business Fleet Magazine, included a business briefing and product demonstration followed by closed-track test drives of the 2018 Isuzu FTR against competitive trucks. The tests included a cone course designed to exhibit the FTR's handling and maneuverability and a timed “drag race” with competitive vehicles at maximum GVWR.

The 2018 Isuzu FTR, rated at 25,950-lbs. GVWR, is available in one powerplant configuration, a 5.2L four-cylinder engine with an Allison six-speed transmission. The FTR is rated at 215 standard horsepower and 520 ft. lbs. standard torque.

At the business briefing, Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, highlighted the expected sales growth of the medium-duty segment in conjunction with U.S. population growth that will concentrate on urban centers. “The FTR is designed to meet the needs of moving cargo in urban centers,” Skinner said.

Isuzu also unveiled results of comparative road tests conducted by Flexible Force LLC, an independent automotive testing and training company, in December 2016. The “blind comparative” tests were certified by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), measured the FTR's performance in acceleration, braking, turning radius, and fuel economy.

The FTR was tested against current models of Kenworth K270, Navistar 4300, Hino 268A, Freightliner M2, and Ford F-650.

All vehicles were loaded to exactly 25,975 lbs. according to Roger ...Read the rest of this story

Isuzu Pits FTR Against the Competition [Photos]

At a Ride and Drive event at the Auto Club Speedway in Ontario, Calif., Isuzu Commercial Truck of America pitted its FTR with a 4-Cylinder diesel engine against the competition. Photos by Chris Brown, Lauren Fletcher, and Steven Martinez.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

Roadnet Anywhere Update Offers Advanced Fleet Overview Options

Image: Omnitracs

Omnitracs announced the availability of Roadnet Anywhere version 4.5, incorporating advanced vehicle overview features that allow fleet managers to view the status of their entire fleet while also improving workflow on the ground.

The update introduces the Fleet Overview feature that improves a fleet managers ability to track the status and performance of their entire fleet in real time. Fleet Overview provides a better singular management area for vehicles that have a route plan, or do not have a plan at all. Managers can use Fleet Overview to keep their teams on schedule for deliveries.

“Our continuing development of this software brings a new level of innovation to the industry, providing fleet owners, operators and drivers ever-evolving resources to further advance their business,” said David Palle, Omnitracs vice president of product management. “Roadnet Anywhere version 4.5 provides benefits for all levels of a distribution company, and we're thrilled to continue to advance our products and better serve our partners across North America.”

The new update also offers advanced compliance tools that encompass hours of service, DVIR and IFTA, enhancing Omnitracs' Routing, Dispatching and Compliance solutions. Drivers and office personnel can manage their entire day using a single interface.

Roadnet Mobile, the Roadnet Anywhere mobile application, allows users to access all fleet data from a smartphone, tablet, heavy-duty handheld or basic phone. With version 4.5, the updated application allows users to add or remove fields, or create on-demand forms with customized questions. The configurable proof of delivery application allows fleet managers to guide drivers throughout their day by simplifying tasks related to tracking and navigation.

“We understand that every business has a different objective and operates in a unique way,” said Palle. “The high level of configuration offered by Roadnet Anywhere allows fleet owners to cultivate a software platform that best fits their needs ...Read the rest of this story

Robots in the Jungle

A new self-steering system developed by Volvo is being tested in South American sugarcane fields to see if it can reduce crop spoilage and increase yields. Photo: Volvo

These are the days of lasers in the jungle
Lasers in the jungle somewhere
Staccato signals of constant information

- Paul Simon, The Boy In The Bubble

Volvo tends to keep a lot of its autonomous technology development work under wraps. But, if you look around in the unlikeliest of places, you can find evidence of what the Swedish OEM is up to in terms of advanced vehicle tech.

Case in point, the sugarcane fields of Brazil, where Volvo has deployed a new self-steering truck that the company says can become a significant productivity booster for Brazilian sugarcane growers. It's also a good example of how emerging autonomous vehicle technology can be used to solve problems that are sometimes beyond the capabilities of all but the most seasoned truck drivers.

The truck, which is used to transport newly harvested sugar cane, is steered with great precision through the fields in order to avoid damaging the young plants that will form the following year's crop. At present, Volvo said, about 4% of the crop is lost as young plants are run over and the soil is compacted by moving vehicles. This can translate into tens of thousands of U.S. dollars in lost revenue per truck per season. Volvo said its new autonomous steering system is so precise, it will not allow a truck to deviate more than 25 mm laterally off a preset course.

The truck is undergoing field trials in a town called Maringá, an hour's flight west of São Paulo, where the Usina Santa Terezinha Group produces sugar and ethanol from its own sugarcane crops. The truck was developed to examine how automated driving can make ...Read the rest of this story

TMW Reveal Series now available to Appian FinalMile users

TMW Systems' Reveal Series cloud-based business intelligence and data analytics platform is now available as an add-on for users of the company's Appian FinalMile solutions, which include DirectRoute routing and scheduling optimization software as well as DRTrack fleet tracking and reporting.

read more

EFS launches new mobile technology for drivers

EFS, a WEX company, announced the launch of its newest mobile application for drivers and cardholders, EFS CardControl.

“EFS CardControl brings enhanced functionality and usability to drivers and cardholders putting the power of the EFS platform into the convenience of a mobile app,” the company noted. “EFS is helping drivers stay connected while increasing efficiency by providing the convenient access to their card funds while on the go – from their mobile device.”

read more