Continental announced it has released VDO RoadLog Office Solo, an online tool for fleet management and compliance reporting that provides FMCSA compliance with no monthly fees. VDO RoadLog Office Solo is the entry service level offered in the VDO RoadLog Office suite of online fleet management tools, the company said.
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...Read the rest of this storyThe American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) issued a data call for the annual update to its Operational Costs of Trucking report. The online questionnaire seeks to capture basic cost information from for-hire motor carriers such as driver pay, fuel costs, insurance premiums and lease or purchase payments. Carriers are asked to provide full-year 2016 cost per mile and/or cost per hour data.
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...Read the rest of this storyBalancing tires and wheels before they are installed helps ensure a smooth ride and better tread life. Photo by Jim Park
" >Balancing tires and wheels before they are installed helps ensure a smooth ride and better tread life. Photo by Jim Park
" width="300">The jury is still out on wheel balancing. We now have certified tests that show a small percentage of improvement in fuel efficiency, and balancing has proven to help prevent certain forms of life-robbing irregular wear, but it's not a routine maintenance item at a large number of fleets.
Years ago, before the big-name tire manufacturers got really good at producing tires, balancing was almost a requirement. Today, with much tighter manufacturing tolerances and state-of-the-art tools, tires are much more uniform and consistent in build. You can make an argument that modern tires really do not need balancing.
On the other hand, after the first mile of use the tire is no longer the same as the day it left the factory. Rubber scrubs off, chunks of tread get ripped away, irregular wear scrubs away tread rubber and on it goes. Maintaining balance in that tire may require some outside help.
Fred Staugh, vice president of maintenance at CRST, does not balance his tires. He spends a little more time ensuring they are mounted properly. He believes that unless there's a defect in the tire, if the tire and wheel assembly is round and running true, it won't need balancing.
"When I say round, I'm talking 60- or 90-thousandths of an inch of tolerance on radial and lateral runout as measured with a dial indicator," he says. "If you have that inspection process down and you use those guidelines, there's no reason on Earth to balance a steer tire."
Staugh believes you can eliminate the need to balance tires just by installing them properly and then checking them for runout and a heavy spot while on the vehicle. He says rims should be inspected ...Read the rest of this story
Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) provided journalists with a chance to get up close and personal with its new VNR regional haul tractor during a special ride and drive event in Winston-Salem, NC; a tractor that the OEM only recently unveiled to the industry.
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...Read the rest of this storyMichael Donner, regional manger with Pilot Flying J Truck Care, has advice for any truck drivers that might be cramming to be ready for a possible inspection next week during Roadcheck.
“Drivers should be preparing daily for these inspections and not just this one big push,” he said.
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In a detailed report, the Committee for Economic Development of the Conference Board made recommendations for improving America's roads and bridges. The nonprofit, non-partisan, business-led public-policy organization delivers analysis and solutions to critical national issues.
Noting that the National Highway System carries more than 75% of heavy truck traffic as well as 40% of all highway traffic and 90% of all tourist traffic, CED made several recommendations in its report, including more private investment in road building and maintenance, streamlining regulatory review, improving project selection, investing in technology and moving toward user fees to fund roads and bridges.
The study was spurred by discussions by Congress and the Trump Administration to increase investment in repairing, expanding and modernizing the country's infrastructure. The report, Fixing America's Roads & Bridges: The Path Forward, examines the role U.S. surface transportation plays in economic activity.
The report recommended greater private sector investment because lifecycle costs are better incorporated into the upfront cost of a project. Private money also incentivizes faster project completion because delays can incur contractual penalties as well as rewards, according to the study. Businesses were also seen as a way to increase the adoption of cost-saving technologies.
On the public side of things, CED encouraged public officials to be smarter about selecting projects based on a data-driven approach. Rather than putting political needs (pork projects) at the forefront of project selection, investment decisions should be made with the entire transportation network in mind instead of on a stand-alone basis.
CED also advocated for more reliance on user fees to cover operational and maintenance costs using mileage-based fees. These fees can fluctuate based on the demand for road space at particular times of the day through managed traffic lanes in congested areas. The belief is that travelers are more willing to pay a fee or a premium ...Read the rest of this story
The LoadHandler Power Products all makes starter and alternator line now offers six new alternators and starters in a variety of application configurations to provide completely new, drop-in replacement coverage for popular medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
LoadHandler Power Products starters and alternators are a line of rotating electrical products that have been tested for medium- and heavy-duty applications. Each LoadHandler product was engineered to meet and exceed OEM specifications and carries a one-year warranty.
The new medium- and heavy-duty LoadHandler alternator series now includes 140-, 150-, 160- and 200-amp coverage in several brushed and brushless designs.
The new LoadHandler starter series has a high-torque, high-efficiency design to provide fast, reliable starting power. The line now includes heavy duty gear reduction and straight drive starters, engineered for common medium- and heavy-duty applications.
“LoadHandler Power Products provide reliable performance at a value-driven price,” said Jonathan Smith, assistant director, aftermarket sales and marketing, Prestolite Electric. “For medium and heavy duty applications where performance is critical, the extensive new line of LoadHandler 100% new, drop-in replacement starters and alternators provides a robust solution that can impact your bottom line.”
Each LoadHandler product features application-specific technology to help ensure durability and performance in a wide array of operating environments.
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