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Michigan Law Opens a Door for Platooning

Screenshot via Peloton

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has signed S.B. 995 into law on Dec. 9, authorizing electronically coordinated truck platooning on Michigan roads by creating an exception to the state's minimum following distance for commercial vehicles.

Originally there was a minimum of 500 feet of following distance required by commercial vehicles, which presented a hindrance to testing and implementing truck platooning technology that requires at least two vehicles to follow closely. Using technology to link two vehicles together, a platooning truck can respond to braking by the lead truck in 10 milliseconds, bypassing a lag in driver perception and reaction time.

“We are committed to advancing safety and efficiency in commercial trucking operations and accelerating the economic benefits that result from improving the movement of goods,” said Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. “Michigan is proud to be a leader in paving the way for the deployment and growth of vehicle platooning technologies.”

Connected and automated vehicle technology company Peloton applauded Michigan's decision to support platooning technology calling it a “landmark law.”

“Michigan now leads the nation in the rollout of commercial truck platooning,” said Josh Switkes, CEO of Peloton Technology “We are proud to be working with forward-looking state leaders like those in Michigan who prioritize prudent, driver-assistive truck automation systems that will provide strong economic benefits and improve the safe, efficient movement of goods."

Under the new law, Michigan DOT and State Police will review plans submitted by the operators of platoons before vehicles are allowed to use the technology on state roads.

The law also requires that truck platoons allow access for other vehicles to move safely between platooning trucks. Drivers holding a valid commercial driver's license must be behind the wheel of every truck in a platoon.

Peloton is in a partnership with suppliers and truck manufacturers to create ...Read the rest of this story

Trucking insurance: Technology may help stem rising premiums

The big spike in trucking insurance premiums that occurred in 2016 may ease up in the new year, but the major driver of those spikes – high-dollar jury verdicts in accident cases involving commercial vehicles – may dog the industry for some time to come, according to Todd Reiser, vice president of the transportation practice for the Lockton Companies.

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Colorado Announces Energy-Transfer Highway Project

Nikola recently introduced the hydrogen fueled, electric-powered Class 8 Nikola One. Photo: Tom Berg

Hard on the heels of last week's high-profile Nikola's hydrogen-electric powered truck launch comes news that the Colorado State Department of Transportation is working with private partners to explore the development of an energy-transfer highway segment.

The project will allow real-world testing of a stretch of an electric grid embedded in a stretch of highway that transfers electricity to electric-powered trucks through a coil transmission and reception system. Much like a cell phone charging surface commonly used today, the project would use powerful energy coils to transmit electric power upwards and into energy receiving coils mounted on the underside of trucks traveling in the dedicated energy-transfer lane.

Peter Kozinski is director of CDOT's RoadX program - a forward-looking initiative that seeks out new, energy-efficient transportation technologies. He says the agency has been working with AECOM, a Los Angeles-based infrastructure builder for approximately 8 months to flesh out the beginning stages of the pilot program.

“We feel the vehicle of the future will be electrically powered,” Kozinski said, “and yet the cost of battery packs, combined with range anxiety concerns are real barriers to widespread acceptance of this technology. Our goal with this project is to determine if this power grid and energy transfer system can work in real-world driving conditions.”

Andrew Liu, vice president, AECOM Ventures said his company is a progressive, and forward-thinking road building and infrastructure construction firm that is committed to helping the United States move its road network into the 21st Century. “We're already seeing the rise of all-electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles,” Liu said. “But what we have today are increasingly smart vehicles driving on dumb roads. And we want to help change that.”

According to Liu, AECOM has been working with the Sustainable Electrified Transportation Research Center, ...Read the rest of this story

East Manufacturing Names Dump Trailer Product Manager

Chris Cooler Photo: East Manufacturing

East Manufacturing appointed Chris Cooler as its product manager for dump trailers in addition to his role as Mid-South regional manager.

In his new role, Cooler will oversee all dump trailers and truck dump bodies for the brand. He has been working with dump trailers since 1992, when he became East's manager of production engineering. In that role, he led the engineering team in addition to performing all engineering functions of the dump trailer product line.

“Chris has a firm understanding of the dump market,” said Charlie Wells, vice president sales and marketing. “His previous experience with East dump trailers combined with our new dump technology is an asset to East and our customers' future growth.”

After four years with East, Cooler became chief engineer at Davy Drill, an Ohio-based construction drill rig manufacturer. He subsequently advanced to sales engineer, and then after a four-year period at Schnabel Foundation Co., he became vice president for Davey Drill, where he was involved with sales in addition to production and engineering management.

Cooler holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Is There a Great Future in Plastic Trailers?

Dustin Hoffman's character, Ben Braddock, listens as Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) advises him to seek a future in "plastics." Photo: Tom Berg, from "The Graduate" (Embassy Pictures, 1967), via YouTube.com.

In that oft-cited scene from the 1967 movie classic, “The Graduate,” Mr. McGuire (actor Walter Brooke) tells young Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) what he should do for a career. “Just one word,” Mr. McGuire says in a hushed tone. “Plastics. There's a great future in plastics.” There was, and still is.

Plastics have replaced steel, aluminum and other metals in many consumer products and industrial applications. And plastics might constitute the future of trailers. Some are already used in Europe, and Wabash National is ready to build them here.

Four fleets have committed to join a launch program for company's Cold Chain series refrigerated van trailer. It's made of molded structural composites, and Wabash showed a prototype at the TMC Expo in Nashville early last year.

Werner Enterprises, K&B Transportation, Combined Transport, and Leonard's Express will acquire some MSC trailers for testing, Wabash has announced. Three dealers -- Regional International, TEC Equipment and Wick's Truck Trailers -- will help bring the plastic trailers to market.

The reefer van is made out of a proprietary molded structural composite “with thermal technology” (MSCT), which improves thermal performance by up to 25%, said Brent Yeagy, president and chief operating officer, in a statement. It's up to 20% lighter and has improved puncture and damage resistance.

Also, its MSC floor system promises ratings of up to 24,000 pounds, which is 50% stronger than a standard aluminum floor. And it has no crossmembers.

“Refrigerated carriers see the superior performance benefits in our new molded structural composite technology,” he said. “Many carriers have been very interested in participating in the launch program so they can better understand the value ...Read the rest of this story

New accident reporting app available for trucking

A new mobile accident reporting app tool for the transportation industry has re-set the standard for documenting the occurrence of commercial and business vehicle traffic crashes.

The Accident Plan app leads the driver through each critical step of the accident reporting process, and will also keep administrators informed in real time, document every vital aspect of the event and assemble it into a comprehensive accident report.

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