Emissions-Free Refrigeration Unit Project Gets $400K Grant

Screenshot via eNow

Renewable energy solutions company eNow has received a $400,000 grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to deploy its solar panel refrigeration solution in the area's transportation networks.

The proposed project is meant to demonstrate an electric replacement for truck refrigeration units. ENow is collaborating with Johnson Truck Bodies to provide the demonstration unit, and Challenge Dairy will operate the demonstration vehicle. The deployed trucks will use an all-electric refrigeration unit powered by eNow's solar panels and Johnson All Electric Cold Plate System. These systems are exempt from carbon emissions as defined by the Air Resources Board.

The proposed system uses photovoltaic enhanced battery-electric refrigeration systems augmented with a hybrid active evaporator/cold plate refrigeration system to provide for a 12-hour route operation. The demonstration system will be sized for a medium-temperature application, suitable for produce or dairy product delivery.

Both industrial product manufacturer Emerson and Johnson Truck Bodies will conduct refrigeration system tests in collaboration with eNow and Challenge Dairy, defining parameters for remote monitoring.

“Finding new technologies will be the key to the Valley coming into attainment for tough federal air quality standards,” said Seyed Sadredin, executive director and air pollution control officer of the SJVAPCD. “We are excited to support new technologies that improve air quality and are economically advantageous at the same time. This grant definitely fits that criteria.”

The project is currently in development and is expected to begin testing in September.

Related: Calif. Clean Air Plan Calls for Further NOx, PM Reductions

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Sponsored Content: PC-11: What You Need To Know

What is PC-11?

PC-11 (Proposed Category 11) is a new API specification taking effect on December 1, 2016, that will create two distinct lubricant categories: CK-4 and FA-4.

CK-4: CK-4 replaces CJ-4 and current engine oil standards.

FA-4 represents low-viscosity engine oils intended for modern and future engines.

Why PC-11?

Compared to current CJ-4 formulations, both CK-4 and FA-4 oils will help:

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IRTA publishes food rule compliance guides

The International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA), a partner of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), has released three resources to help support industry compliance with the Sanitary Transportation of Food Regulation.

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FMCSA Proposes Younger Driver Pilot Program for Former Military

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a pilot program allowing a limited number of drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce if they received specified heavy-vehicle driver training while in military service and are sponsored by a participating motor carrier.

The program is required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
During the three-year pilot program, the safety records of these younger drivers (the study group) would be compared to the records of a control group of comparable size, made up of drivers who are 21 years of age or older and who have comparable training and experience in driving vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license. The control group would consist of volunteer drivers who meet specified criteria and are employed by a participating carrier. The comparison of the two groups' performance would help to determine whether age is a critical safety factor.

FMCSA is also proposing criteria for a working group to consult with the Agency in conducting, monitoring, and evaluating the pilot program.

The agency notes that while there has been opposition to previous proposals to allow younger drivers to driver in interstate operations, many intrastate commercial vehicle drivers are already in this age group. But FMCSA is not aware of any studies or published reports comparing their safety performance with that of drivers over 21, either interstate or intrastate. This pilot program would provide much-needed data on the issue.

To have a statistically valid sample of drivers under the age of 21, approximately 200 study group participants are desired. When these individuals reach the age of 21, they would no longer participate in the pilot program and would be replaced by new study group members meeting the eligibility requirements.

Participating carriers that meet the qualifications would sponsor study group members and perform other duties related to the pilot, such as filing certain reports and recruiting existing drivers to participate as control group members. Carriers would be required to install and operate electronic logging devices (ELDs) on all vehicles operated by study and control group drivers. Data from these devices, such as vehicle miles traveled, is essential to analyze driving safety records, the agency notes.

The agency seeks public input during the next 30 days on the pilot program as well as outlined procedural steps and a data collection plan. Comments and data received from the public will be used to further develop the program.

Click here to read the Federal Register notice and provide comments.

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SuperTruck II and beyond: More money on the table for innovation

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Commentary: Don’t Blame the Driver, Blame the Watermelon

Rolf Lockwood

Every once in a while, I get talking to a civilian who asks about trucking. Depending on their intellectual wattage, the questions dribble away pretty fast. I do chat with brighter lights, of course, but almost nobody on the four-wheel side of the street seems to have a clue.

Not long ago I found myself in the midst of one such chat with a guy who understood zip about our game, but he was curious. He asked me about truck safety and driver fatigue and such. I've been through this a zillion times, enough to know that things can go one of two ways, depending largely on the kind of car the other person drives.

Seriously.

In this case, I happened to know that his wheels were dull — a green Toyota sedan, a very bad sign in the present context. Ownership of any such car implies that the road is no source of excitement. Had it been an old Z28, no sweat. You get the picture.

I assumed he had likely swallowed a lot of crap about trucking in the mainstream press. He was a smart guy, though, so I employed a little flair. I went through all the usual statistical stuff that shows how safe we really are per mile traveled, how more commuters fall asleep at the wheel than truck drivers do. And then I attacked.

I said, “If there's a problem on the highways, it's your fault.”

“My fault?”

“Yeah, yours.”

It all comes down to watermelons, I told him.

He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes, looking a little taken aback. Toyota drivers don't smoke, bless their clean souls, but it was the kind of moment where people like me light up a cigarette and hunker down a little.

“Watermelons,” he said. Not a question.

“Yep,” I retorted. “You want your watermelons fresh, right?”

“Of course,” he said.

“And you want 'em cheap, right?”

“Well, yes,” he replied.

“So it's to your advantage that the trucker who drags those watermelons from Arkansas or Mississippi should do it fast and cheap, right? And the guy who does it fastest and cheapest will sell his load first and head south for more before the next guy, right?”

“Well, sure,” he said, “but I don't want anyone breaking his neck on my behalf.”

“Ah, yes,” I countered, “but do you have any idea about what has to happen to bring those melons to your table? Do you really even care? Your only priorities are already established here — fresh and cheap, end of story.”

The conversation went on at some length, and of course I switched watermelons to cars and lumber and all the other things that he might buy as an ordinary consumer. In an era when the customer is king, the solitary truck driver is always the one at the end of the line. The one forced to perform, regardless, because Joe Consumer wants it now and wants it cheap.

I wasn't whining on your behalf. I was just telling him the way it is. The way it's been for ages. And all the while I was thinking of those suits in charge who aim to change the regulations that govern your lives without talking to drivers and dispatchers and other folks in the trenches.

Without understanding watermelons.

Related: Commentary: Autonomous by Retrofit

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Great Dane Adds Nevada Service Provider to AdvantEdge Network

Silver State Truck & Trailer of Las Vegas, Nev., has signed on as an authorized service provider for Great Dane's AdvantEdge National Parts and Service program.

Silver State Truck & Trailer has a 10-acre yard, a 12-bay tractor service department and a five-bay trailer shop with two mobile trucks available for off-site services. Great Dane says Silver State uses the latest ABS scanning equipment to eliminate guesswork and improve equipment downtime.

“We are excited to have Silver State Truck & Trailer as an AdvantEdge service provider. The company's after-hours service capabilities and staff of fully-trained technicians make it an excellent addition to the AdvantEdge network,” said Randy Gosson, national account sales manager.

Great Dane's National Aftermarket Parts and Service program provides access to features to streamline the functions of parts and service centers, including ordering, pricing and invoicing. The AdvantEdge network consists of more than 115 parts and service locations in the U.S. and Canada, serving over 130 fleets.

For more information on Silver State Truck & Trailer, click here. Additional information about AdvantEdge is available here.

Related: Great Dane AdvantEdge Adds San Antonio Service Provider

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