SmartValve’s a Back-Saver at Meijer Logistics

Meijer Logistics driver Ron Diamond points to the button that can save him considerable work and time — and prevent an injury — during a hookup.

Ron Diamond is typical of the drivers who run out of Meijer Logistics' distribution facility in Newport, Mich., south of Detroit. He drops and hooks trailers about 10 times a day, and it can be tiring. But dropping and hooking are integral to the operation of Grand Rapids-based Meijer Stores, which has 228 tractors and 2,850 trailers in its private fleet.

“Cranking the landing gear is the hard part,” Diamond says. Cranking is required not only to raise and lower the gear for travel and parking, but also to adjust the nose height of trailers before coupling onto them with the tractor's fifth wheel.

Even if the landing gear is in low range, it takes arm, shoulder and back muscles to raise a nose so the upper coupler plate and kingpin matches the height of the fifth wheel. Of course, it's harder if the trailer's loaded. Dan Scherer, Meijer Logistics' fleet maintenance manager, says back injuries can be a plague to drivers and employers alike.

But those injuries may be a thing of the past because Meijer has adopted the Hadley SmartValve, which turns the tractor and its air suspension into a jack that does the heavy work.

The Hadley SmartValve is primarily an adjustment valve that keeps the tandem suspension at a preset height. If a trailer's nose is too low, using the normal dump valve bleeds air from the bags and lets the tractor's rear end settle down so the frame and fifth wheel slides under the nose. If it still can't get under, the driver backs up a bit more so two ramps atop the frame rails — specially spec'd by Meijer — wedge against ...Read the rest of this story

Tech Startup Overhaul Launches Online Marketplace for Shippers

Austin-based startup Overhaul has released a mobile app and online marketplace designed for the unique requirements of enterprise shipping.

Overhaul has signed two Fortune 50 shippers of high-value cargo to use its online marketplace web-based portal and managed logistics services to transport their cargo. Enterprise shippers may not use online marketplaces because of the sensitivity of cargo and the lack of visibility and security, according to Overhaul.

“We have cracked the code that allows high-value shippers to play in the online arena,” said Barry Conlon, Overhaul CEO. “Overhaul has identified the gaps in premium transport and created a custom made technology solution that manages the known risks in the movement of high-value or time sensitive cargo.”

For drivers and owner operators, they can take advantage of free features available within the Overhaul mobile app including route planning, locating points of interest along the haul and more. The app is available for download on both iOS and Android.

The application also features a loadboard and shipment management tool which allows Overhaul-certified owner operators and drivers to manage all shipments on the go from contract set up to tracking the status of each shipment, and following Overhaul's shipment milestones to earn more along the haul. With Overhaul, owner operators can receive fast payments to help improve cash flow and eliminate their need to factor. They will also have access to the online marketplace and other business tools.

The marketplace is actively accepting loads and Overhaul offers a 24/7 concierge team to support drivers and shippers as they onboard or search for capacity.

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Q. Are CK-4 and CJ-4 oils compatible?

A. Yes, they are fully compatible, and there should be no concern if the two are mixed. However, full performance benefits of API CK-4 oils will only be realized when the engine is full transitioned from API CJ-4 to CK-4

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Q. Will OEM’s be issuing their own specifications aligned with these new categories?

A. Yes. It has become very common for engine makers to issue their own specifications which incorporate requirements from the industry standard along with additional OEM-specific requirements to help customers spec oils that are appropriate for use in their engines. In some cases, this involves using the same performance tests, but with more stringent limits. In other cases, new OEM-specific tests are introduced and required alongside the standard tests. This is particularly true for OEM-specific material compatibility tests and other bench tests that the engine builder has determined to be particularly relevant to their needs. We expect that OEMs will be issuing specifications tied to API CK-4 and/or API FA-4 in the very near future and we will provide updates as they are issued.

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Q. Why do we need a new heavy duty engine oil category?

A. In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced regulations designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mandate fuel economy improvements for medium and heavy-duty engines and vehicles. The new regulations would be phased in between 2014 to 2017, imposing different fuel-efficiency targets based on the size and weight of vehicle/equipment types. Diesel engine design is undergoing a period of significant change to meet the new requirements. The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) in turn made a request for the American Petroleum Institute (API) to develop a new commercial engine oil performance category to address engine oil requirements of these new engines.

There are two outgrowths of these new regulations that are driving the formulation of the new oils. For one, the new engine designs run hotter, which puts an increased demand on oil formulas to withstand higher heat environments and actually be able to run longer when exposed to higher temperature. Secondly, it is recognized that engine oil can play a direct role in improving fuel economy, through the use of lower viscosity grades. The EMA request included a proposal to introduce a subcategory with lower viscosity than allowed by previous performance categories.

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Q. Is PC-11 just for the On-hwy segment and is it relevant to off-hwy?

A. PC-11 will offer improvements to engine oils that are important for diesel engines of all types, even off-highway! With improved oxidation stability, wear performance and shear stability, PC-11 oils will deliver additional benefits to customers around engine durability, oil drain interval extension and a wider range of products formulated for a wide range of off-road applications.

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