Loadmasters with the 439th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, load a 1982 Mack 1250 GPM pumper fire truck into the belly of a C-5B Galaxy cargo plane at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst NJ for a 3,700 mile journey to Managua, Nicaragua. Retired from the Mercer Engine No. 3 firefighting company of Princeton, NJ, this fire truck is being donated to a group of volunteer firefighters in Managua. (All photos courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense)
KIRKLAND, WA. Characterizing the 2016 economic climate as “a good year overall though off slightly from last year,” Kenworth Truck general manager Mike Dozier nevertheless sees U.S. retail Class 8 sales falling off from an initial forecast set a range of 260,000 to 280,00. Given softer than expected sales in the first half, that forecast is now down in the range of 235,000 to 240,000, he said during a press conference at company headquarters.
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Kenworth now offers the fuel-efficient Kenworth T680 Advantage Day Cab for pickup and delivery and regional haul operators.
">Kenworth now offers the fuel-efficient Kenworth T680 Advantage Day Cab for pickup and delivery and regional haul operators.
">BELLEVUE, WASH -- Kenworth will extend its T680 fuel economy Advantage package into vocational applications soon with the launch of two new, T680 Advantage Day Cab models, but will cut production of the T660 by the end of the year.
The announcement came Friday at Kenworth headquarters in Bellevue, Wash., ahead of a demonstration of Bendix's new Fusion Advanced Vehicle Safety system.
Kenworth Chief Engineer Kevin Baney said the new trucks will help pickup and delivery and regional haul operators save money with enhanced fuel economy benefits pioneered and refined on the company's Advantage highway tractor.
The new T680 Advantage Day Cab features an optimized powertrain built around the 2016 Paccar MX-13 or MX-11 engine. A fuel efficiency-optimized Eaton Fuller Advantage series 10-speed automated transmission is standard, combined with Meritor MT40-14X drive axles rated at 40,000 lbs. Other key features include Kenworth Driver Performance Assistant, Kenworth Predictive Cruise Control, Kenworth Neutral Coast, and FlowBelow aero wheel covers.
Aerodynamics provide the foundation for any fuel-efficient truck design today, and the T680 Advantage Day Cab is no different, with aerodynamic treatments designed to further reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy. These include a front air dam, roof cap “bulb” seal, lower fairing extensions, and lower fairing closeouts – all carefully engineered to expedite airflow across all surface areas on the truck and negate aerodynamic drag and vacuum areas as much as possible.
All told, Baney said, the combination of a highly efficient powertrain and super-slippery aerodynamic profile give the T680 Day Cab up to a 6% boost in fuel economy, compared to a non-optimized version of the truck.
The new model will debut later this month.
In other news, Kenworth announced that it is enhancing its T370 medium-duty truck with additional new options that further expand its capabilities for vocational customers.
These upgrades include a new, durable straight steel channel bumper, larger size 385/65R22.5 steer tires, and rugged, molded thermoplastic fender extensions. The heavy front axles can be paired with 46,000-lb. rear axles to create specifications ideally suited for vocational applications, such as dump, fuel delivery, utility, crane, service trucks, or mixers.
Additionally, Kenworth CEO Mike Dozier noted that after a successful 10-year run, the company will "sunset" production of its T660 Class 8 tractor. The final production run of 500 units is underway now. Dozier noted that more than 60,000 T660s have been sold over the past decade.
Kenworth also announced it has received $8.6 million in grants for low-emission T680 Day Cab drayage truck projects in California. The three government grants will support low-emissions projects involving Kenworth T680 Day Cabs targeted for use as drayage tractors in Southern California ports.
The first two projects are funded at $1.9 million each by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, with Southern California's South Coast Air Quality Management District as the prime applicant. Kenworth will build two proof-of-concept T680 Day Cab drayage tractors to transport freight from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to warehouses and railyards along the I-710 corridor in the Los Angeles basin.
The first will be a hybrid electric drayage truck producing near-zero emissions using a currently available compressed natural gas engine to generate electrical power. The second will feature a hydrogen fuel cell offering true zero-emissions operation. These trucks are expected to be identical, except for their power generation systems. Both trucks will have an all-electric range of 30 miles, as well as on-board CNG and hydrogen capacity, respectively, of 100 diesel gallons equivalent.
The third project is funded at $4.8 million by the California Air Resources Board, again with the SCAQMD as the prime applicant. Kenworth will build four hybrid-electric T680 Day Cabs and support the customer field test of the units in Southern California drayage operations.
“Hybrid-electric powertrains are expected to be required within seven to 10 years to meet emissions requirements in several major metropolitan areas of the United States," said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president. "Already California is considering regulations requiring port drayage trucks to run at zero-emission levels when operating in economically disadvantaged communities. These T680 Day Cab projects are a great opportunity for Kenworth to advance the development of key technologies that may play a critical role in the trucks of the future.”
Related: Q&A – Kenworth General Manager Talks Trucking's Future Challenges
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Photo: Morgan Corporation
">Photo: Morgan Corporation
">Medium-duty truck body manufacturer Morgan Corporation has announced plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in the Midwest.
The company is actively searching for a site in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, or Michigan to select a location capable of supporting production of up to 3,000 truck bodies annually. Morgan plans to open the facility and become operational in 2017.
The facility will have a footprint of around 160,000 square feet and Morgan expects to employ approximately 175 team members.
“With a total of 12 facilities in the U.S. and Canada, we know that Morgan's proximity to its customers is an important part of improving customer service,” said Norb Markert, president and COO of Morgan. “Our decision to operate a plant in the Midwest will enable Morgan to better meet the needs of its customers and to more aggressively compete in this strategic region.”
Morgan produces truck and van bodies in North America specializing in Class 3 to Class 7 box truck/straight truck bodies for the dry freight and refrigerated industries. For more information, click here.
Related: 6 Steps to Better Work Truck Body Upfits
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KIRKLAND, WA. Kenworth Truck introduced its fuel-efficient Kenworth T680 Advantage Day Cab for pickup and delivery and regional haul operators.
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J.J. Keller & Associates has introduced Vehicle Inspections: Tractor Trailers, a new training program that gives drivers a comprehensive and streamlined examination and explanation of required inspections.
Using video techniques and technology, Vehicle Inspections: Tractor Trailers shows a standard vehicle inspection from the driver's perspective. The high resolution video provides a detailed view of complex parts and the program includes two bonus videos covering intermodal chassis and refrigerated trailers.
The training teachers drivers how to conduct pre-trip inspections, when and how on-the-road inspections must be done, how to conduct post-trip inspections, when DVIRs are required and how to complete them and the importance of using the same inspection routine every time.
“A company's maintenance practices ensure that their drivers have safe equipment,” said Tom Bray, lead transportation editor at J.J. Keller. “But it's up to their drivers to make sure the equipment remains in top condition, which means they must know how to do a proper inspection. J. J. Keller's new training program will help ensure a thorough, efficient inspection process so no critical areas are missed.”
Vehicle Inspections: Tractor Trailers will be available in mid-August on DVD, tablet-compatible Pay Per View and Online Course, and Video Training Book — a new, portable format that puts video-based training directly into employees' hands, with no internet connection required.
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Road Choice Truck Parts, an all-makes private label brand for heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, has added 40 parts categories to its overall product portfolio.
New offerings include, wheels, filters, anti-freeze and coolants, hydraulic bottle stands and jack stands, DEF, grilles, spray paints and fan belts. All of Road Choice's parts are covered by a minimum one-year warranty, providing owners of out-of-warranty trucks with options for truck parts.
“We plan to continue to increase the Road Choice product portfolio to provide owners of second- and third-generation trucks the in-demand parts they need at competitive prices,” said Anders Granberg, marketing manager for Road Choice. “The recent launch of major programs like steel wheels and our American-made filtration line helps reinforce our commitment to giving our customers the best total value proposition in the industry.”
Road Choice parts are available at more than 500 dealer locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company's selection of all-makes parts and a list of authorized Road Choice Truck Parts retailers are available on the Road Choice website.
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