Category: Trucking News

International Makes Collision Mitigation Standard on LT Series Trucks

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

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

...Read the rest of this story

Economic Watch: Manufacturing Remains Soft; Homes, LEI Slip

A preliminary report released Friday shows growth in the nation's manufacturing sector is easing this month amid the slowest expansion of new orders so far this year, according the financial information services provider IHS Markit.

The seasonally adjusted Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for September is registering 51.4, down from 52 in August, pointing to the weakest improvement in overall business conditions since June. A reading above 50 indicates expansion while one below 50 signals contraction.

The full report, along with a similar and more closely watched one from the Institute of Supply Management, are both due out on Oct. 3.

Despite the September showing, the latest PMI reading marked seven years of continuous growth across the manufacturing sector. However, the headline index was below the average of 54 seen over this period and remains close to the post-Great Recession crisis low of 50.7 recorded in May.

Softer rates of output and new business growth were the main factors weighing on the headline PMI during September, according to the report. Also, the latest expansion of manufacturing production was the weakest for three months.

Survey respondents suggested that relatively subdued economic conditions had acted as a brake on new order volumes, while there were also reports that the strong dollar had dampened export sales. Reflecting this, latest data signaled that new work rose at the slowest pace since December 2015, while export orders dropped for the first time in four months.

“Softer new order gains are the main concern in the latest PMI survey, and this could act as a drag on production growth into the final quarter. Alongside reports of subdued domestic demand, a renewed dip in export sales also held back growth momentum in September,” says IHS Senior Economist Tim Moore.

He says despite the growth setback in September, manufacturers appear reasonably upbeat about ...Read the rest of this story

Electric Fuso Canter coming to U.S. in 2017

With new advances in battery technology, Daimler sees bright future for urban EV delivery trucks.

HANNOVER, GERMANY. Once skeptical about the practicality of electric-powered commercial vehicles, Daimler Trucks is now planning to bring the Fuso eCanter to the U.S. market next year and to follow with production of electric light trucks from its van group by 2018.

read more

...Read the rest of this story

Getting a handle on hydraulic hybrid drivetrains

Jack Roberts

It's funny how in the age of social media and near-instant communication you rarely get a real, live, letter any more. But that's exactly what happened on the heels of my recent Fleet Owner blog, when I noted that electric hybrid drive systems would, in all likelihood, be a part of the OEM formula for meeting Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG 2) regulations when they come into law a decade from now.

read more

...Read the rest of this story