Spireon offers solar-powered trailer tracking

Spireon announced its first solar-powered trailer and asset telematics solution, providing customers with a new way to gain location information and Rich Data around their trailers and assets.

According to the company, the self-powered solution is compatible with a range of transportation vehicles and equipment, including dry vans and intermodal applications such as containers. Upon installation, customers tap into a renewable energy source that powers Spireon FleetLocate's Rich Data telematics solution.

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Free webinar: Leasing vs. owning your fleet

In a challenging transportation landscape that includes increasing regulations, more complex vehicle technology, and rising fleet costs, it is becoming more critical for executives to uncover all direct and indirect costs impacting their fleets. Ryder has partnered with KPMG to reevaluate cost components of ownership, analyze market trends, and develop a proprietary tool to help businesses like yours understand their transportation infrastructure.

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Specs for 2018 Isuzu FTR released

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America highlighted key specifications of its all-new Class 6 medium-duty truck, the 2018 Isuzu FTR, following a series of “whistle stops” at several dealerships the OEM made while taking the vehicle on a nationwide tour over the last two weeks.

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Diesel Prices See First Significant Increase in Nearly 2 Months

Source: EIA

After holding nearly flat for more than a month and a half, the price of diesel fuel increased by more than 5 cents last week, according to the latest numbers from the Energy Department.

The average price of on-highway diesel fuel jumped by 5.6 cents for the week, hitting $2.445 per gallon at the pump. Despite the increase, the price is still more than 11 cents cheaper than it was in the same week of 2015.

Prices were up in all major regions of the U.S. with the largest increase hitting the Gulf Coast at 6.7 cents per gallon. The smallest increase in prices was in the Lower Atlantic region with a jump of 3.6 cents for the week.

The average price of regular gasoline was also up, though by a smaller amount, jumping 2.7 cents for the week to $2.272 per gallon. The price is only 6.5 cents cheaper than it was in the same week a year ago.

The largest increase in prices was in the Midwest region with a 4.8-cent jump. Prices were actually down slightly on the West Coast with a 0.4-cent drop at the pump.

Crude oil prices have been up lately as Russia and members of OPEC discussed a freeze to oil production in order to reduce a supply glut that has plagued the market so far this year. However, prices ended the day down a little bit on Oct.11, according to the Wall Street Journal, due to a new report indicating that supplies actually increased in September. Ironically, it was Russia that was cited as the main reason production levels increased, despite lower overall global demand this year.

Related: Alternative Fuels in the Age of Cheap Oil

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New Jersey to Hike Diesel Fuel Tax by 27 Cents

Gov. Christie speaking at announcement of fuel-tax deal with Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (left) and State Senate President Steve Sweeney (right) looking on. Photo: New Jersey Governor's Office/Tim Larsen

New Jersey lawmakers have approved a bipartisan deal that not only raises fuel taxes in the Garden State for the first time in three decades, it substantially hikes them— by 23 cents per gallon for gasoline and by 27 cents for diesel.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly both passed the bill on Oct. 7 and Gov. Chris Christie (R) is expected to sign it within the month, resulting in the first fuel-tax increase for the state since 1988.

The compromise measure was crafted by Christie and the leaders of the Democratic-controlled legislature, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) to replenish the state's Transportation Trust Fund. The TTF was drained as of early this summer, leading the governor to halt all non-emergency roadwork on July 8.

The New Jersey Motor Truck Association said on Oct. 11 that the gasoline tax increase should go into effect on Nov. 1 while the diesel hike will be implemented in two stages starting next year: The first increase will come on January 1 and the second on July 1.

NJMTA said in a statement that its lobbying effort “was able to get a delayed implementation on diesel as many of our members operate with contracts. Unfortunately, the delay in passage reduced the deal from six months to two-and-a-half months' notification.”

The exact amount for each stage has not been determined yet, NJMTA noted. “Per the bill, the first increase on January 1, 2017 would be 70%, or approximately 18.9 cents, and on July 1 [it would be] approximately 8.1 cents. The initial rate will be determined by a survey of the statewide price on July ...Read the rest of this story

Acquisition to Bring Automatic Truck-Loading Tech to U.S.

Photo: Ancra Systems

The Heico Companies has acquired Dutch firm Ancra Systems B.V. with plans to bring the company's automatic truck loading/unloading system to North American markets.

Ancra Systems is based in Boxtel, Netherlands and expands Heico's holdings of cargo management entities. Heico is a parent holding company for a portfolio of more than 36 businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and industrial services.

“This acquisition will bring advanced loading system technology to the North American trucking and material handling sectors and extend the advantages of automation throughout the warehouse, to the docks and into the trailers,” said Steve Frediani, president and CEO of Heico's Ancra unit. “The addition of Ancra Systems positions Heico as a global player in the automated cargo management, loading, control and unloading space.”

Ancra's automated system can load or unload a trailer with palletized cargo in about three minutes, according to the company. The system can also have safety benefits as forklift-based cargo movement leads to about 34,800 serious injuries each year, according to OSHA. The automated system can reduce the opportunity for human error within a facility and potentially increase safety.

“Automation and the efficiencies it brings has already permeated many dimensions of manufacturing and warehouse operations in Europe and North America,” said Marc Hezemans, managing director for Ancra. “The difference is that many European operations have been enjoying the additional benefits of our automated truck loading and unloading systems for more than 20 years.”

Ancra offers six different systems with custom-designed capabilities that include a Chain Conveyor System and Skate System for palletized freight, a Roller Conveyor System for air cargo, a Slat Conveyor System for mixed and palletized freight, a Plastic Belt System for mixed and palletized freight and a Belt Conveyor System for loose loaded parcels.

The Skate Loader and Load Runner Plus systems require no trailer mounted interface ...Read the rest of this story

Scania Awarded 2017 International Truck of the Year

Photo: Sven-Erik Lindstrand

Scania's new R- and S-series trucks have been awarded the 2017 International Truck of the Year award by a jury of 25 European commercial vehicle industry journalists.

The award was received by Henrik Henriksson, Scania president and CEO during the IAA truck show in Hannover, Germany.

The jury gave Scania's new truck range high marks for driver comfort, safety improvements, side-window curtain airbags, as well as improvements to the vehicle's total fuel economy .

The new cab has been developed from scratch together with sister company Porsche Engineering which, like Scania and MAN, is also part of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group. The cab has added new aerodynamic elements for reduced wind drag like an adjustable roof spoiler and modified rear mirrors.

Related: Seen at IAA 2016 Truck Show [Photos]

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