TruckSmart App Allows for Parking Space Reservations

TravelCenters of America has updated its TruckSmart Mobile App, allowing drivers to reserve and pay for an available parking space at any TA or Petro location up to 30 days in advance.

The feature is the mobile version of TA's Reserve-It! Parking program, designed to help truckers guarantee a spot to park at the end of a workday. Truckers can reserve a spot from within the app and make payment for it using a credit card.

“Reserve-It! was created by TravelCenters to help professional drivers increase their efficiency and productivity, and to help them ensure they can find truckstop parking at the end of their workday,” said Tom O'Brien, president and CEO of TravelCenters. “Adding functions to our TruckSmart app makes Reserve-It! more convenient than ever before.”

TruckSmart also includes access to UltraOne account balances and recent transactions, fuel prices, show and parking availability, maintenance services schedule queuing, store specials and RoadSquad emergency roadside service.

TruckSmart is available for Android and iOS smartphones through the Google Play and Apple App Store.

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Hino Trucks Produces 50,000th Vehicle

A 2017 model-year Hino Model 268A was the 50,000th truck produced by Hino Trucks. (PHOTO: HINO)

Hino Trucks has produced its 50,000^th Hino truck. A ceremony to celebrate the milestone took place at Hino's plant in Williamstown, W.V., in front of it local and state officials, assembly team members, and Hino executive management.

The 50,000^th truck is a 2017 Model 268A, which is part of Hino's lineup of conventional trucks. The milestone caps a record growth period for Hino in which the company has seen a 30% increase in two years. The growth in sales can be attributed to a combination of improved vehicle offerings including a fully connected vehicle platform that is standard across all Hino models, according to the truckmaker.

The Model 268A features a 25,950-pound GVW, achieves 230 hp 520 lb-.ft. of torque and is powered by a turbocharged, intercooled Hino J08E-WU engine (with an optional Hino J08E-VB that can achieve up to 660 lb-ft. of torque) with air brakes.

"It's gratifying for our sales team, our manufacturing team, and our production team to have reached this significant milestone in our company's history. This production level is testament to our trucks longevity and to the commitment of our customers to support a quality product," said Yoshinori Noguchi, chairman of Hino Trucks. "The Hino brand has risen from humble beginnings in the U.S. to become the premier leader in the medium-duty truck market. We have built a solid foundation on which we plan to build consistently and substantially with the help of an ever expanding portfolio of standard features."

Assembled in Williamstown and driven nationwide in a host of applications, the 268A is part of Hino's Class 6-7 conventional truck lineup. Current vocational markets that utilize the 268A include food and beverage, delivery, construction, towing, waste, sanitation, refined fuels, utility, and aerial.

Related: 10,000th Hino Truck Delivered to Penske Truck Leasing

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Freightliner Hardest Working Cities video

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U.S. Xpress specs Bendix air disc brakes on tractor steer axles

U.S. Xpress is spec'ing Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes on the steer axles of more than 2,800 tractors, including vehicles manufactured by Freightliner, International, Kenworth and Peterbilt. Delivery began last year and continues in 2016, according to the company.

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Schneider rolls out latest “Ride of Pride” truck

Schneider Inc. officially announced its tenth Ride of Pride truck this week; a series of highway tractors designed by Freightliner Trucks since 2002 as a rolling tribute to members of the U.S. military, past and present.

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Playing in the dirt with Volvo iron

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WABCO, ZF Unveil Advanced Braking and Steering Technology

Evasive Maneuver Assist first warns the driver of an impending and will take automonous evasive action if the driver fails to do so. Photo by Jim Park

AACHEN, GERMANY -- Automated collision avoidance is several steps closer to reality. At a demonstration event held here on Wednesday, ZF Friedrichshafen AG and WABCO Holdings Inc. revealed a prototype collision avoidance technology for commercial vehicles called Evasive Maneuver Assist.

EMA leverages the combined capabilities of Wabco's OnGuardACTIVE radar-only collision mitigation system along with its proven electronic braking system (EBS), advanced emergency braking system (AEBS), electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle dynamics control systems with ZF's electro-hydraulic ReAX power steering system.

A radar sensor identifies moving or stationary vehicles ahead and alerts the driver via visual, audio and haptic signals (moderate brake applications) of an impending rear-end collision. If the driver determines that the system cannot avoid a rear-end collision by driver-initiated or autonomous braking alone, EMA engages to help the driver steer safely around the obstructing vehicle and to bring truck and trailer to a safe and complete stop.

"Today's Evasive Maneuver Assist prototype demonstration is a powerful example of WABCO's and ZF's leadership in developing advanced safety technologies for commercial vehicles," said Jacques Esculier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wabco, "EMA connects Wabco's braking and stability control systems with ZF's active steering solution for the first time and marks an important step toward realizing the transportation industry's vision of autonomous driving."

European Union regulations now require newly registered trucks to be fitted with Electronic Stability Control, Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) and Lane Departure Warning systems (LDW). ZF considers that the more closely systems and functions are networked and automated and as more passenger car technologies transfer to the commercial vehicle sector, the greater is the potential for safety improvements that will quickly and effectively protect drivers and other road users.

"I'm excited that ZF and Wabco joined forces to combine their world-class steering and braking technologies to create a new collision avoidance functionality for commercial vehicles," said Dr. Stefan Sommer, Chief Executive Officer, ZF Friedrichshafen AG. "Evasive Maneuver Assist is yet another industry leading innovation that has the potential to significantly advance commercial vehicle and road safety worldwide."

Steps Closer to Autonomous Driving

ZF says the megatrends of automation, networking, safety and the electrification of formerly mechanical control components are changing the world of mobility.

Instead of developing stand-alone solutions, ZF is integrating intelligent systems that reflect the megatrends and adding value to the safety proposition.

The demonstration day at Aachen included ride and drive demonstrations for the global trucking trade press of various technologies that will bring heavy trucks closer to being fully autonomous in certain situations.

ZF demonstrated a truck that can back itself into an alley dock with the combined use of GPS for positioning and a camera and target arrangement that provides guidance for the truck's controllers. The driver passively assists the maneuver by walking along side the vehicle holding a button down on a tablet which keeps the truck in motion. The truck and camera system have sensors that can detect pedestrians or cars coming into the truck's path.

Another feature demonstrated was a fully self-steering truck equipped with a hybrid electric powertrain. It operates on electric motors at low speed, up to 30 km/h, before switching to diesel. It also has a version of adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe following distance at all times, even at low speeds.

The features (on their own) and others are individual systems that are combined into what ZF calls Innovation Truck 2016, which will appear at this year's IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover Germany in September.

Wabco and ZF demonstrated Evasive Maneuver Assist at the test track of RWTH Aachen University in Aldenhoven, Germany.

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