Ford Adds Electrification to Vehicle Modifier Program

Photo of XL Hybrids E-350 cutaway courtesy of Ford.

Ford has expanded its Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program to include companies who install electrified and hydraulic hybrid systems so those vehicles will retain the factory powertrain warranty.

The newly christened eQVM program, announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, is launching with XL Hybrids, Lightning Hybrids, and Motiv Power Systems. These three companies produce hybrid versions of Ford trucks and vans.

"Ford supports electrification for a variety of vehicle types," said Richard Cupka Jr., Ford's sustainability and QVM program manager. "The eQVM program extends that support to the vocational truck industry, where customers need relatively small numbers of specialized vehicles. There is no one-size-fits-all work truck."

XL Hybrids offers a gasoline-electric hybrid drive system for the Transit, E-350 and E-450 chassis vans; F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks; F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks; F-53 or F-59 stripped chassis; and a plug-in hybrid upfit for the F-150.

Lightning Hybrids offers a hydraulic hybrid energy recovery system for the Ford E-350 and E-450 chassis; F-350 to F-550 Super Duty trucks; F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks; and F-59 chassis.

Motiv Power Systems offers an all-electric powertrain for the Ford E-450 and F-59 chassis.

The Ford QVM program includes more than 200 companies. To be included in the program, companies must complete on-site assessments at each location to verify that the operation meets manufacturing, assembly, workmanship, customer service and quality requirements. The company must also show it uses processes to produce vehicles that meet federal regulations.

The eQVM program builds on the Advanced Fuel QVM program Ford launched in 2010. Through that program, customers can obtain Ford Transit Connect, Transit or E-450 vans and chassis, F-Series trucks and F-53/F-59 stripped chassis that run on compressed natural gas or propane autogas.

Related: Ford Updates Transit Van for 2018

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Ford Updates Transit Van for 2018

Photo of 2017 Transit courtesy of Ford.

Ford added several new features and new optional equipment to its Transit full-size van for the 2018 model year, the company announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

Ford's 2018 Transit will move the rear-view camera above the rear doors on medium- and high-roof models. It will also get a locking glove box, new rear door exit handle, and rear LED cargo lamp switch.

New optional equipment includes heavy-duty cargo area flooring, heavy-duty rear scuff plate kit, extended-length running boards, a push-down manual parking brake, alloy dual rear wheel package, and charcoal leather-triummed heated seat package.

Other new options include power-folding short-arm heated mirrors and turn signals; AM/FM stereo with audio output jack, microphone, and Bluetooth interface; and D-pillar assist handles for medium- and high-roof models.

Related: Ford Adds Electrification to Vehicle Modifier Program

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Ford F-650/F-750 Again Named Medium-Duty Truck of the Year

Ford's F-650 and F-750 vocational trucks have been named the 2017 Medium-Duty Truck of the Year award for the second consecutive year, Work Truck magazine announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

The trucks were chosen from a field of 12 trucks.

"Our customers demand the most capable, dependable vehicles to get the job done and we strive to meet and exceed those expectations," said John Ruppert, Ford general manager, commercial vehicle sales and marketing. "Winning the prestigious Work Truck magazine Medium-Duty Truck of the Year award for the second straight year is confirmation that we are doing our job to give customers what they need. Customers have embraced Ford medium-duty trucks as is evident by 2016 sales of F-650 and F-750 being at their highest level since 1997."

Ruppert accepted the award from Mike Antich, Work Truck's editor and publisher, during a March 14 ceremony.

Related: Ford F-650/F-750 Named Medium-Duty Truck of the Year

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Trucking Company Faces EEOC Lawsuit Over Veteran’s Service Dog

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against CRST Expedited for allegedly failing to accommodate a veteran with a service dog and then retaliating against the man.

According to the EEOC lawsuit, Leon Laferriere applied to be a truck driver with CRST in Fort Meyers, Florida, and signed up for the driver's certification course with CRST's partner training company. After being accepted in the program but before leaving for it, Laferriere disclosed his disabilities and use of a trained service dog to help him control anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

After completing the training program, Laferriere was told he could not advance on to the on-the-road program, which requires overnights away from home, allegedly due to CRST's no-pet policy. As a result, he was not hired by the company.

Shortly after Laferriere's disqualification from hire, the EEOC alleges that CRST developed a new Service Dog Process to address accommodation requests for the use of a service dog. Despite this, the lawsuit claims that Laferriere was denied the opportunity to qualify for hire under the new policy.

"Laferriere did the right thing by disclosing that he used a service dog due to disabilities to the CRST recruiter before leaving for the driver's certification course," said Julianne Bowman, district director for the EEOC's Chicago district office, which investigated the charge of discrimination.

The EEOC says that this incident violates the Americans with Disabilities Act for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for disability, failing to hire an applicant due to a disability, and retaliating against an applicant for seeking a reasonable accommodation, as well as interfering with an applicant's rights under the act.

"CRST's refusal to accommo­date Mr. Laferriere is an example of the hardships that returning veterans with disabilities can face as they seek to reintegrate into civilian life,” said Jean Kamp, associate ...Read the rest of this story

Eaton Increases Power, GVW Capacity on Procision Transmission

Image: Eaton

Eaton has increased the horsepower and gross vehicle weight ratings for the company's medium-duty Procision 7-speed transmissions. The company announced the expanded capabilities at the NTEA's Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

The new ratings were added to expand the market of potential customers and increase compatibility with a greater number of diesel engines. Horsepower ratings have been increased to 300 horsepower, with maximum GVW ratings increasing to 35,000 pounds on air brake-equipped vehicles and 33,000 pounds on Park Pawl-equipped vehicles.

The Procision is a dual-clutch transmission designed specifically for Class 6 and 7 commercial vehicles. By combining the efficiency of a manual transmission with the smooth shifting of an automatic transmission, Procision offers improvements in safety and low-speed maneuverability when compared to torque converter automatic transmission technology, according to Eaton.

“By extending the horsepower and GVW ratings on Procision, Eaton is providing more customers with the opportunity to spec this transmission to help them achieve better fuel economy and improve driver confidence across applications,” said Jeff Walker, product director, heavy-duty/medium-duty/hybrid transmissions, Eaton's Vehicle Group. “Fleets that have specified and are running Procision today have seen the benefits, and today's announcement broadens the range of applications for Procision.”

Related: Using Eaton's Procision Dual-Clutch Transmission

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Chevrolet’s Medium-Duty Truck Gets Duramax Engine, Allison Transmission

Photo of Duramax engine assembly courtesy of GM.

Chevrolet's medium-duty truck will pair a Duramax diesel engine with an Allison transmission and will arrive in 2018, General Motors announced at the Work Truck Show.

Chevrolet and Navistar are jointly developing the Class 4/5 truck for vocational uses such as construction fleets, said John Schwegmen, GM Fleet's U.S. director of commercial product and medium duty.

"Our new Chevrolet medium-duty will be the flagship of our truck portfolio for fleet and commercial customers, and we believe the strength of Duramax/Allison powertrain combination will be able to tackle various jobs — from general contracting to urban delivery to bucket loaders and wreckers," Schwegman said. "To win customers, we're marshaling the best diesel and heavy-duty transmission engineers in the world and offering more choices than any other manufacturer."

Chevrolet has been installing Allison transmission in its work trucks since the 1950s. The first Duramax diesel engines were introduced in Chevrolet and GMC trucks in 2001. They use technologies such as aluminum cylinder heads, the quick-start system and the Venturi Jet Drive Oil separator.

Technical specifications for the truck will be released closer to launch.

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Chevrolet’s Medium-Duty Truck Gets Duramax Engine, Allison Transmission

Photo of Duramax engine assembly courtesy of GM.

Chevrolet's medium-duty truck will pair a Duramax diesel engine with an Allison transmission and will arrive in 2018, General Motors announced at the Work Truck Show.

Chevrolet and Navistar are jointly developing the Class 4/5 truck for vocational uses such as construction fleets, said John Schwegmen, GM Fleet's U.S. director of commercial product and medium duty.

"Our new Chevrolet medium-duty will be the flagship of our truck portfolio for fleet and commercial customers, and we believe the strength of Duramax/Allison powertrain combination will be able to tackle various jobs — from general contracting to urban delivery to bucket loaders and wreckers," John Schwegman said. "To win customers, we're marshaling the best diesel and heavy-duty transmission engineers in the world and offering more choices than any other manufacturer."

Chevrolet has been installing Allison transmission in its work trucks since the 1950s. The first Duramax diesel engines were introduced in Chevrolet and GMC trucks in 2001. They use technologies such as aluminum cylinder heads, the quick-start system and the Venturi Jet Drive Oil separator.

Technical specifications for the truck will be released closer to launch.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter