BrandFX launches new truck body products at NTEA

INDIANAPOLIS. BrandFX introduced its new products UltimateFX and UtilityFX here at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show.

According to the company, UltimateFX is the first and only all-composite body and understructure for service trucks. Chris FitzGerald, CEO, explained the truck body is up to 60% lighter than steel, which helps reduce fuel consumption, increase load capacity, allow for downsizing of vehicle, and reduce wear on tires, brakes, and suspension components.

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XL Hybrids displays XLP upfit on F-150 at NTEA

INDIANAPOLIS. XL Hybrids displayed its XLP plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) upfit solution for the first time during the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show.

According to Clay Siegert, XL Hybrids' co-founder and chief operating officer, the XLP upfit on F-150 half-ton trucks will begin delivery in fourth quarter 2017 and will provide 50% improvement in miles driven per gallon, as well as reductions in C02 emissions.

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Fuso unveils new gas-powered cabover, all-electric eCanter truck

INDIANAPOLIS. Mitsubishi Fuso announced it is developing a new gasoline powertrain for its FE Series medium-duty cabover trucks and launched its new electric truck, the eCanter, here at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show.

According to the company Fuso's FE130, FE160 and FE180 will be powered by a PSI-GMPT Vortec Series 6-liter V8 engine, coupled with an Allison 6-speed automatic transmission. The new V8 engine models will be the first Fuso vehicles to be assembled in the U.S., noted Jecka Glasman, Fuso's president and CEO.

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Trailer Orders Down in February, but Still Up From Last Year

February trailer orders are expected to trail January's excellent numbers but still exceed last year's numbers, according to the preliminary estimates from ACT Research.

Net trailer orders in the U.S. for last month are expected to hit 26,400 units, falling around 20% from January but still up 24% from February 2016. Comparisons between this year and last year could prove tough because of fleets waiting to make investment decisions post-election.

“The January to February decline in net orders, roughly a 20% slide, is much more in line with expectations for the December to January timeframe,” said Frank Maly, ACT's director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research. “The delay in the overall order season has the opposite impact on year-over-year comps.”

Order cancellations are expected to continue at a tolerable level, despite hitting the highest rate posted since October.

“Additionally, it appears that reefer backlogs held steady last month, while both the dry van and total industry orderboards posted their fourth straight monthly gain,” said Maly.

Related: January Trailer Orders Indicate Rise in Fleet Confidence

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ATA Fills Six Leadership Positions

American Trucking Associations promoted four longtime staffers and hired a new vice president of creative services and creative director, and a new director of marketing as part of the federation's continued retooling.

“ATA's members count on the professional staff in Washington to be an advocate on their behalf and on behalf of the industry,” said Chris Spear. ATA president and CEO. “Being able to recognize and promote people – and add to our roster of first-class staff is an important part of representing this industry.”

ATA promoted four staffers – Dan Duggan, Henry Hanscom, Joe Hite and John Lynch – to new leadership positions within the association.

In addition to these promotions, ATA hired Tim Smith as ATA's new vice president of creative services and creative director and Julia Grove as director of marketing.

Smith was previously an award-winning art director with the National Restaurant Association, where he spent two decades. Grove joins ATA after spending more than seven years at ...Read the rest of this story

Mack Brings Uptime Solutions to ‘Legacy’ Vehicles

Photo: Mack Trucks

Mack Trucks is bringing its telematics-driven uptime solutions to customers with older Mack vehicles, the company announced at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

The company is working with telematics technology provider Geotab to offer connectivity for older Mack trucks that are not equipped with Mack's GuardDog Connect telematics hardware.

By installing a small Geotab telematics device, the Mack Uptime Center will be able to monitor the same critical vehicle codes as Mack's GuardDog Connect hardware. If an issue is detected, Mack OneCall agents will evaluate and provide the customer's designated contact with decision-critical information through Mack Asist, an online communications and service management portal. Repair scheduling, as well as parts and service bay availability, are also confirmed, all while the truck is still on the job.

“The benefits of Mack's uptime solutions are proven, with significant reductions in diagnostic and repair times,” said David Pardue, Mack Trucks vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services. “We are pleased to partner with Geotab and offer those same benefits to customers who own Mack legacy vehicles.”

Mack's GuardDog Connect service contact for legacy vehicles, which includes the Geotab vehicle tracking device, will be available for order through Mack dealers beginning May 1 and is compatible with all model year 2011 and newer Mack vehicles equipped with Mack engines. Installation is plug-and-play, followed by a brief activation and onboarding process.

Related: Mack Launches Wireless Software Updates

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Rates slip despite truck-to-load ratio increase: DAT