America has been ignoring a crucial tie between Nazi Germany and the Confederate South for generations

It's easy to see a simple connection between the people waving Nazi flags and Confederate flags...

Analysis: Why won’t Donald Trump condemn white nationalism?

Why doesn't President Donald Trump just unequivocally condemn white supremacists? It's a jarring question to ask about an American president. But it's also one made unavoidable by Trump's delayed, blame-both-sides ...

Trump plans to make China very angry at the worst possible time

On Monday, President Donald Trump is expected to sign a measure that will initiate an...

Siemens to Build eHighway Demo in Germany

Overhead lines, like these in Siemens' Swedish demo eHighway, will provide power for trucks. Photo: Siemens

A new “eHighway," which will allow specially equipped hybrid trucks to access electric power via an overhead trolley-type system, will be built on a 10-kilometer stretch of autobahn in Germany.

Siemens has been commissioned by the German state of Hesse to build an overhead contact line for electrified freight transport. The system will be installed on the A5 federal autobahn near the the Frankfurt Airport.

With this field trial, the eHighway will be tested on a public highway in Germany for the first time. Siemens will be responsible for the planning, construction and, as an option, maintenance of the system. The system is being built as part of the joint project "Electrified, innovative heavy freight transport on autobahns" (ELISA) of Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

"Construction of the system will demonstrate the feasibility of integrating overhead contact systems with a public highway,” said Gerd Riegelhuth, Head of Transport of Hessen Mobil. “The system will be used for real transport networks, and prove the practicality of climate-neutral freight transport in the urban region of Frankfurt."

Siemens says its eHighway is twice as efficient compared to internal combustion engines. That not only means cutting energy consumption in half, but also significantly reducing local air pollution.

The core element of the system is an intelligent pantograph on the trucks combined with a hybrid drive system. Trucks equipped with the system operate locally emission-free with electricity from the overhead line and automatically switch to a hybrid engine on roads without overhead lines.

Siemens built its first eHighway demonstration project in Sweden.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

FedEx Express Driver Named National Grand Champion

A Massachusetts driver for FedEx Express took home the title of Bendix Grand Champion this weekend from the American Trucking Associations' 2017 National Truck Driving Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Roland Bolduc's driving accuracy and knowledge of truck safety surpassed the more than 420 other state champion professional truck drivers competing in all vehicle classes last week.

Bolduc, who also took home the Sleeper Berth class title, lives in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and has more than 1.9 million safe driving miles in his career. He has worked in the trucking industry for more than 36 years, spending the last 23 years with FedEx Express. Bolduc was named an America's Road Team Captain in 2000.

ATA also recognized Bryce Neilson as the 2017 Rookie of the Year. Neilson claimed the title after performing well in the Flatbed division. Additionally, the team of drivers from Kentucky produced the best collective score, with an average of 307.13, and were honored as the top state delegation.

Professionalism and dedication to the trucking industry were key themes during the National Truck Driving Championships. Daniel Shamrell was honored during the awards banquet with the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award and Joe Smith was chosen as the Lifetime Volunteer Award recipient.

Champions from each of the nine vehicle classes were also announced. Joining Roland Bolduc on the list of national champions are:

3-Axle: Glen Kirk, Franklin, Indiana, Old Dominion Freight Line

4-Axle: James Duffy, Marshall, Wisconsin, FedEx Freight

5-Axle: Michael Miltenberger, Cumberland, Maryland, PITT OHIO

Flatbed: Wayne Crowder, Louisville, Kentucky, FedEx Freight

Sleeper Berth: Roland Bolduc, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, FedEx Express

Straight Truck: Richard Bailey, Macomb, Michigan, FedEx Freight

Tank Truck: Scott Woodrome, Middletown, Ohio, FedEx Freight

Twins: Chris Poyner, Richland, Washington, XPO Logistics

Step Van: Michael Bills, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, FedEx Express

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone 8 Rumors: What’s Next for the iPhone 8?

While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 8 rumors have been accelerating in the last few weeks, pundits still are going back and forth over whether “iPhone 8” will even be the name of the forthcoming flagship. Gruber instead suggests that either iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8 Pro, or iPhone, iPhone Plus, iPhone Pro are likely naming schemes.

Man accused of ramming protesters pictured with racist group

The man accused of plowing a car into a crowd protesting a white supremacist rally in Virginia had been photographed hours earlier carrying the emblem of one of the hate groups that participated in the ...