Volvo Trucks North America revealed its contribution to the Department of Energy's SuperTruck project on Sept. 13, 2016. VTNA President Göran Nyberg presented the truck to DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz near DOE headquarters in Washington D.C. Equipment Editor Jim Park was there and compiled this gallery of the event.
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INDIANAPOLIS. The long lead time and “flexibility” built into the Phase 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations make them, in the end, “good rules,” at least in the eyes of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA).
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...Read the rest of this storyINDIANAPOLIS. The U.S. economy is a chair that is balancing on only one of four legs, in the words of FTR economic expert Bill Witte, and that “one leg” is household consumer spending.
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Cummins Filtration has refined its Fleetguard LF14000NN combination lube filter for its newer engine platforms including Cummins X15 engines, introduced in August.
The new Fleetguard LF14000NN uses a co-bonding lamination process that pairs NanoNet and StrataPore media together to create a single filter element.
The filter further reduces flow restriction, allowing the latest generation of diesel engines to operate more efficiently with less parasitic power loss, which can lead to better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
Depending on the quality of oil used, the LF14000NN is capable of longer service intervals which can help fleets lower their operating costs on replacement filters over the course of an engine's life. The NanoNet media structure is engineered for improved efficiency, capacity, and restriction for optimal engine performance and protection.
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...Read the rest of this storyPhoto: FedEx Freight
">Photo: FedEx Freight
">FedEx Freight has purchased more than 100 compressed natural gas powered tractors and has installed a CNG fueling station to serve its CNG fleet in Oklahoma City Service Center.
FedEx Freight contracted Clean Energy Fuels to design build and maintain its fueling station. The FedEx Freight facility includes a four-lane, fast-fill station as well as a time-fill station which has six zones and 18 hoses.
In time-fill applications, drivers connect their vehicles to an automated system in which the tractors are fueled over an extended period of time typically overnight.
FedEx Freight is a subsidiary of FedEx and a provider of less-than-truckload services. The CNG expansion in Oklahoma City is part of FedEx's company initiative to reduce its environmental impact. The company has upgraded air and ground fleets, used biofuels and introduced programs like FedEx Fuel Sense and EarthSmart.
“A fact we take very seriously at FedEx is that people want to do business with companies who invest in making the world a better place,” said Michael Ducker, president and CEO of FedEx Freight. “Plus, it's simply the right thing to do. And given that the state of Oklahoma has been so supportive of sustainable transportation solutions, we felt this was the perfect place to set a strong example within the LTL industry.”
Related: FedEx Boosts Fleet Fuel Efficiency
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Preliminary numbers for U.S. net trailer orders are projected to be up in August after weak order numbers in July, according to ACT Research.
ACT is projecting trailer orders of 15,300 units, up from a dismal 10,147 orders in July. July was the weakest order month since January 2010 and was down nearly 25% from June.
“Volume rebounded in August after a dramatically weak July,” said Frank Maly, ACT's director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research. “While the 50% month-to-month gain for the industry was certainly welcome news, that progress is somewhat tempered by the year-over-year performance; net orders are down almost 38% versus August 2015.”
While August is typically a modest month for orders, the weak numbers so far compared with last year could indicate that fleets are cautious about committing to new trailer orders into next year.
“Year-over-year performance implies caution by fleets regarding their investment commitments, and likely sets the industry up for a restrained 2016/17 order season,” said Maly. “Initial reports also indicated higher cancellation activity in August, a further indication of shifting fleet intentions.”
Analysts at Stifel Transportation and Logistics expect September orders to increase over August but said they will still fall short of last year's numbers. Manufacturers will more fully open their order books for 2017 in September to fleets.
Related: Trailer Aerodynamics Not Overly Popular, Study Shows
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Phillips Industries' Permalite XT 4-inch round clear reverse light offers high durability with improved resistance to impacts, corrosion, harsh chemicals and UV exposure.
The reverse light has 9 diodes, uses Boardfree technology and comes in either flange or grommet mount. The lights can be mounted in any direction and still meet SAE R and DOT specifications. The integrated male 3-pin AMP connector is sealed and greased to keep corrosion-causing contaminants out.
Phillips has also released a ¾-inch round hard-wired light to be used as an alternative when space is restricted. They are constructed with a polycarbonate lens and the housing is sealed to protect the three diodes inside from outside contaminants and moisture.
The lights are available with a variety fo lens colors and wiring configurations for single or dual function marker/clearance, auxiliary and license lighting applications. All hard wired lights include their correlating mounting grommet.
The 2.0-inch and 2.5-inch mounting adapter plates constructed of non-corrosive polycarbonate material are being introduced to upgrade from traditional 2.0-inch and 2.5-inch flange style lights to smaller, more efficient LED lights.
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