Editor's note: The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning Hybrids, in response to a recent powertrain column on hybrid drive technology.
In a recent column, Jack Roberts posed the question to Fleet Owner readers “Will your next powertrain feature hybrid drive technology?”
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...Read the rest of this storyPhoto: Mack Trucks
">Photo: Mack Trucks
">Mack Trucks is offering a lightweight version of the Mack Granite model, equipped with the 2017 MP 7 11-liter engine and mDrive HD 14-speed automated manual transmission aimed at concrete mixer applications.
The MP 7 11-liter engine received improvements for 2017, simplifying maintenance and improving efficiency. The MP7 is about 51 pounds lighter with up to 425 horsepower and 1,560 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine features an updated wave piston design and a common-rail fuel injection system to allow a more complete combustion of fuel, reducing emissions and improving efficiency.
Combined with a two-speed coolant pump, the new features help increase MP7 fuel efficiency by up to 2.1%, according to Mack.
“The Mack MP7 offers the power and performance to manage any task, but in a smaller displacement engine to provide weight savings,” said Tim Winkle, Mack construction product manager. “The integration with the Mack mDrive HD 14-speed allows for seamless communication among components so that the vehicle is always in the right gear without the driver having to manually shift, reducing driver fatigue and increasing safety. It also provides a deep ratio of 32:1 in the lowest creep gear to facilitate low-speed functionality such a curb pouring when needed.”
Mack Granite models for concrete mixer applications also come standard with Mack ClearTech One, a single-package Exhaust Aftertreatment System that frees up frame rail space and reduces weight by approximately 17 pounds. With Mack ClearTech One, the diesel particulate filter, selective catalytic reduction technology and diesel exhaust fluid dosing system are all combined into one unit. With the rail space gained, customers have more space to add water tanks and chutes with more wheelbase flexibility than before.
Mack Granite mixers come ready for upfit right from the factory with a rear-engine PTO, a special mixer cross member designed for mounting of the mixer ...Read the rest of this story
Photo: Goodyear
">Photo: Goodyear
">Goodyear is still looking for candidates for its annual Highway Hero Award, honoring professional truck drivers who put themselves in harm's way to help others.
Nominations for the 34th Highway Hero Award are open through Nov. 29, 2016. To nominate a truck driver for the Goodyear Highway Hero Award, click here, fill out the nomination form, and press the “submit” button, which will send your nomination directly to Goodyear.
The winner will be announced next March during the 2017 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The last winner of the award, Julian Kaczor, pulled a severely injured motorist from a flame-engulfed car.
Past winners include a driver who rescued a law-enforcement officer being strangled by a prisoner he was transporting and a driver who saved a woman from a gun-wielding attacker. The Goodyear Highway Hero award was established in 1983.
“The Goodyear Highway Hero Award honors truck drivers who put their lives at risk as they travel the roads and highways of North America,” said Gary Medalis, marketing director, Goodyear. “Over the last 30-plus years, we've heard hundreds of stories about the bravery of truck drivers. If you know of a truck driver who has performed a heroic act, please let us know.”
To be considered for the award the following criteria must be met:
Must be a full-time truck driverMust reside in the U.S. or CanadaThe heroic incident must have happened in the U.S. or CanadaNominee's truck must have had 12 wheels or more at the time of the incidentNominee must have been on the job – or on the way to or from work, in his or her truck – at the time of the incidentIncident must have taken place between Nov. 16, 2015, and Nov. 16, 2016A panel of trucking industry judges will select the winner from ...Read the rest of this story
So I spent last week listening to several U.S. economic and trucking forecasts at the annual transportation conference hosted by research firm FTR – some of it very gloomy, some of it surprisingly not.
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International Truck has announced that its upcoming LT Series on-highway Class 8 tractor will come standard with an advanced driver assistance safety system that includes collision mitigation and stability technologies.
Bendix Wingman Advanced is the standard solution offered on the LT Series, giving drivers following distance and stationary object alerts, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking and Bendix ESP stability technology. The system can help drivers avoid collisions, roll-overs and loss-of-control situations.
For fleets, the system can also provide data to help keep owners and operators aware of what is happening on the road.
"As part of our DriverFirst philosophy, driver safety is paramount when operating a truck and we're proud to lead the way by integrating a standard solution on the new LT Series, which demonstrates our commitment to drivers, their safety, and their livelihood,” said Bill Kozek, president, truck and parts at Navistar. "We continue to integrate industry-leading safety technologies on our vehicles and we're pleased to be the first OEM to make this level of driver assistance system standard on our newest on-highway tractor.”
Related: Jeff Sass on his First 4 Months at Navistar
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