Truck Orders Mostly Hold Steady in September

Net orders of Class 8 trucks were in line with expectations, falling only slightly from the previous month's numbers, according to preliminary numbers from FTR and ACT Research.

FTR's September order numbers are projected at 13,800 units, down 2% compared to August. ACT Research projects its order numbers at 13,900 units and says that with seasonal adjustment, the month's intake would be 16,100 units.

Despite the small loss, September's truck orders will not be one for the record books and FTR says that orders are down 27% from a year ago and are the weakest September orders since 2009.

“At 28% below September 2015's intake, it remains crystal clear that truckers are still struggling to balance excess freight hauling capacity in the context of anemic freight growth,” said Steve Tam, ACT's vice president.

October is expected to be a better indicator of what Class 8 truck orders will look like in 2017 as the fall is traditionally when large fleets begin to place orders for the following year.

“The October orders will still be a critical sign for 2017,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “If the economy does improve and the trucking outlook brightens, then medium-sized fleets and others should feel confident enough to order also in coming months. This would put the market near replacement levels in 2017.”

Related: Medium-Duty Orders Rebound in August

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Petro-Canada’s Duron Oils Meet API CK-4 and FA-4 Specifications

Petro-Canada Lubricants has introduced its Duron product line, featuring API CK-4 and FA-4 specification compliant engine oils.

Duron offers a durable, high-performance line of heavy-duty diesel engine oils designed to surpass the demands of API CK-4 and FA-4 specifications. The product line is available in four performance tiers:

Duron Advanced will stand as Petro-Canada Lubricants' fully API FA-4 approved product and is specifically designed to improve fuel economy and provide engine protection.

Formulated using leading-edge lubricant technology to combine the best additives with the purest base oils, Duron next generation has been engineered to meet and exceed the advanced OEM engine performance requirements for better protection and fuel efficiency.

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PIT Group to Conduct Fuel Efficiency Testing for U.S. Xpress

PIT Group, an engineering and research group for the trucking industry, plans to conduct its first In-Service Fuel Testing on powertrain combinations for U.S. Xpress.

For the evaluations, PIT Group will make use of a 60-mile test course consisting of highways and local roads. U.S. Xpress fleet and other test vehicles will pull trailers with loads of equal weight to represent typical fleet operations. An in-cab observer from PIT will accompany U.S. Xpress drivers while they operate the test vehicles. U.S. Xpress will also provide fuel, technicians and maintenance facilities for the event, including a mobile service truck if required.

Suppliers are currently being invited to participate in the evaluations for U.S. Xpress, Inc., which will take place from Nov. 7-11, 2016 at the carrier's facility in Tunnel Hill, Ga. The event will also include an Invited Carriers & Media Day.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the PIT Group to showcase our testing capabilities with a carrier that is widely known for its use of innovative technologies,” said Yves Provencher, director of the PIT Group. “The ability to add real world test findings to test track data by a group of certified unbiased engineers will help carriers make the right decisions on which solutions will have the greatest economic impact on fuel consumption.”

PIT Group In-Service Fuel Testing uses TMC Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type III (RP 1103A). The industry standard test compares the fuel consumption of one component of a combination vehicle to the same component in another combination vehicle. PIT Group uses an ISO- 17025 certified process conducted by engineers dedicated solely to providing accurate unbiased test results on fuel saving technologies.

“We decided to host In-Service Fuel Testing to compare the fuel efficiency of engine-drivetrain components because we believe the PIT Group is the leading expert in the ...Read the rest of this story

Mack Releases Asist Mobile App for Service Management

Mack Trucks has announced its Mack Asist mobile app that allows customers to manage service and unplanned events from any location on a mobile device.

Mack Asist is a cloud-based service relationship management tool that keeps fleet customers, dealers and service providers, Mack field staff and Mack Uptime Center agents connected during service and repair events.

“Mack Asist enables us to give customers key information to help increase uptime and expedite the repair process,” said David Pardue, Mack vice president of connected vehicle and uptime services. “The new Mack Asist app enhances our customers' ability to manage these events from a mobile device.”

The Asist app will be free and will feature a quick link to the Mack Uptime Center for quick repairs. The Uptime Center, based in Greensboro, N.C., houses personnel from all customer support functions and connects them to customers and dealers through the latest vehicle communications technology and case management tools.

Mack Asist is a key part of the closed loop communication process around fault codes identified by Mack GuardDog Connect. Through its partnership with Decisiv, Mack is currently piloting the app with select customers for Android and iOS operating systems.

Mack's approach to uptime begins with Mack GuardDog Connect, a proactive diagnostic and repair planning system. GuardDog Connect monitors fault codes that could potentially shut down a truck or lead to an unplanned visit to the dealer. The system enables quick diagnosis of issues, proactive scheduling for repairs and confirms parts availability, all while the truck is still on the job.

Mack Asist enables communication through the entire process, allowing all parties to remain informed about the status of their vehicle before, during and after a service event. It also allows for a consistent customer service experience across the Mack dealer network including real-time updates to fleet customers.

Related: Mack to ...Read the rest of this story

Volvo, Mack Sign Deal With Geotab for Connected Vehicle Services

Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks have entered into a memorandum of understanding with telematics provider Geotab.

Through the agreement, Volvo customers that are not equipped with Remote Diagnostics will have connectivity options, designed to help connect legacy Volvo vehicles. Similarly, Mack customers not using Mack GuardDog Connect will also have connectivity options.

“The partnership with Geotab offers customers not currently connected the ability to access data not previously available to them,” said Conal Deedy, director of connected services for Volvo Trucks. “The easy accessibility of this information will enable customers to make informed decisions to enhance uptime, productivity, fuel efficiency, compliance and safety.”

Details of the new service offerings for Volvo and Mack customers have not yet been finalized and will be announced later.

“We are pleased to sign this agreement with Geotab because it will offer Mack customers who previously did not have access to data and services the ability to be connected,” said David Pardue, Mack vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services. “Customers with Mack vehicles not already equipped with GuardDog Connect now will have the opportunity to utilize proven connected services to enhance fleet operations.”

Related: Geotab Telematics Device Designed for Harsh Environments

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