Petro-Canada Synthetic Gear Oil Designed for Fuel Efficiency

Petro-Canada Lubricants has announced its Traxon gear oil line has now expanded to include Traxon Synthetic MTF 75W-80.

The gear oil is a commercial vehicle manual transmission fluid, formulated to provide extended drain capability (up to 250,000 miles), deliver all-weather protection, and reduce maintenance costs.

The new product is recommended for extended drain service in class 6, 7, and 8 manual transmissions, and has been fully approved by Volvo and Mack for use in their synchronized automated manual transmission applications such as the Volvo I-Shift and Mack mDRIVE.

The product has been specifically formulated to limit drag losses and reduce fuel consumption versus conventional manual transmission fluid and API GL-4 axle SAE 80W-90 / 75W-90 oils or higher viscosity grades. It also delivers improved oxidation stability to resist deposits and sludge formation which reduces issues with transmission shifting, system efficiency and equipment functionality.

“We are thrilled to enhance the Traxon product line. We are committed to developing top-tier products that deliver operational excellence and cost-saving results for our customers,” said Barnaby Ngai, category portfolio manager, heavy duty engine and driveline oils, Petro-Canada Lubricants. “The unique fuel efficient formulation is an advanced product to meet the future demands of new hardware, and is testament to raising the bar on our heavy duty driveline offering.”

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Spot Truckload Rates Drop for Third Straight Week

Average spot truckload freight rates over the past four weeks. Graphic: DAT

Spot truckload freight rates continued trickling lower for the third straight week for the week ending Jan. 27, according to new figures release from freight matching service provider DAT Solutions. Despite this drop, rates remained higher than at any point in 2017, based on information from this network of load boards.

The van and flatbed rate each fell 1 cent to $2.26 per mile and $2.39 per mile, respectively. The rate for refrigerated freight decreased 3 cents to $2.67 per mile as produce and other temperature-controlled goods experience a seasonal lull.

Spot load-to-truck ratios have eased off from record highs as the overall number of available loads fell 3% and truck capacity increased 8.3% compared to the previous week.

Van: 8.5 available loads per truck, down from 9.8 the week before

Flatbed: 53.9 loads per truck, unchanged

Refrigerated: 12.8 loads per truck, falling from 12.8 from the previous week

While spot van volumes declined 5% and truck posts increased 10% van rates fell in major markets over the past week

• Chicago, $2.92 per mile, down 15 cents
• Columbus, Ohio, $2.78 per mile, down 9 cents
• Philadelphia, $2.34 per mile, down 10 cents
• Charlotte, $2.57 per mile, down 5 cents
• Los Angeles, $2.42 per mile, down 12 cents

In the reefer market, load posts fell 14% and truck posts increased 4%. The national average reefer rate dipped despite strong prices in key markets including

• Green Bay, $4.18 per mile, up 18 cents
• McAllen, Texas, $2.95 per mile, down 4 cents
• Atlanta, $2.89 per mile, down 4 cents
• Los Angeles, $3.19 per mile, down 13 cents

Spot prices for flatbed freight remain seasonally high. The national average flatbed rate slipped but was buoyed by stronger construction and oilfield activity, according to DAT. The flatbed load-to-truck ratio was unchanged as load posts increased 6% and truck posts also increased ...Read the rest of this story

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Fleets Reach Out to Drivers With Better Per-Mile Pay

Southern Refrigerated Transport announced its second pay bump in six months. Photo: Southern Refrigerated Transport

With an increasing demand for capacity and high driver turnover at large fleets, two trucking companies this week announced significant pay increases to attract and retain established commercial truck drivers.

Southern Refrigerated Transport announced that its drivers would receive the biggest pay raise in company history this spring, offering up to a 6-cent per mile increase for mileage-based drivers. This is the second pay bump for drivers at SRT in the past six months for the refrigerated carrier.

This latest pay increase goes into effect for all mileage-based SRT drivers on March 11. Utilization is also up at the company, offering drivers the chance to driver more miles at the higher rate, according to SRT.

“Our drivers didn't want another bonus, which you see so often throughout the industry, said Billy Cartright, chief operating officer at SRT. “They wanted a pay increase they can see every week on their paycheck.”

KLLM Ups Driver and Owner-Operator Pay

KLLM Transport Services also announced a pay increase for its company truck drivers as well as for its independent and lease-purchase contractors. Effective immediately, KLLM solo company drivers are now paid 38 to 50 cents per mile depending on experience, with over-the-road teams receiving 48 to 53 cents per mile depending on experience.

Effective Feb. 5, independent and lease purchase contractors will receive 95 cents per mile with fuel surcharge on loaded miles.

"This represents the largest pay increase in KLLM's 53-year history," said Jim Richards, president and CEO. "Our driving force is the most important asset we have, and we want to provide them with the top-tier income that they deserve. We have stronger requirements for our drivers, so we want our pay to be at the top, too."

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Keynote Speaker Named for Green Truck Summit

Kary Schaefer, general manager of marketing and strategy for Daimler Trucks North America's (DTNA) Freightliner Trucks and Detroit brands, will serve as keynote speaker at the 2018 Green Truck Summit on Tuesday, March 6. Her speech will address the diversity of available new technologies, as well as ongoing developments in clean diesel, natural gas, and electrification.

Held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show 2018 and Fleet Technical Congress, Green Truck Summit gathers industry leaders to share developments and decisions about the journey toward higher productivity and efficiency. Produced by NTEA, Green Truck Summit is held March 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Green Truck Summit begins March 6 at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks, followed by Schaefer's keynote address at 8:45 a.m. General sessions then run from 9:20 a.m.-–5 p.m. Lunch is included, and a reception from 5–6 p.m. wraps up the day. Attendees can choose from dozens of Green Truck Summit, Fleet Technical Congress, and Work Truck Show concurrent sessions March 7-8; the exhibit hall is open March 7-9.

With nearly two decades at DTNA, Schaefer has served as a design engineer, project planning engineer, engineering project manager, director of engineering services and chief engineer, before becoming general manager of marketing and strategy for Freightliner Trucks and Detroit brands in 2015. In her current role, she is responsible for market analysis, product planning, brand management and marketing operations. She leads the organization in the creation and execution of product roadmaps from the evaluation of customer needs and market trends, to early business case development, to new product launch, and ongoing product management.

SCHAEFER

Prior to joining DTNA, Schaefer held engineering positions at Pacific Testing Laboratories and Boeing Aerospace. Between 2012 and 2015, she led an engineering group within United Technology Corporation — responsible for the development of autonomous flight ...Read the rest of this story