Covenant Transportation Group, Inc. Announces Participation in Cowen and Company 9th Annual Global Transportation Conference

Pig Absorbent Sock Also Dissipates Static

New Pig Corporation's Pig Static-Dissipative Absorbent Sock is a spill clean-up device that also dissipates static and is designed for fuels and solvents.

The absorbent sock makes cleaning up volatile organic spills safer by reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge around flammable liquids and vapors.

The Sock meets NFPA 99 standards for static decay and surface resistivity, making it safer for response in low-humidity environments, confined spaces and other areas where static is a concern. Flame resistant, polypropylene material won't burn immediately and is UV-resistant for up to 12 months.

The Sock floats on water and absorbs and retains oil-based solvents and fuels including acetone, benzene, gasoline, toluene, xylene, mineral spirits and jet fuels, but will not absorb water.

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Fumoto Offers Drain Valve for DEF Tanks

The Fumoto DEF Valve is a drain valve designed to improve the ease of draining diesel exhaust fluid from a diesel-powered vehicle.

The drain valve is constructed of stainless steel, allowing it to last longer in the presence of DEF which can corrode other metal types. The valve's internal Teflon seals and Viton O-ring are DEF safe as well.

Diesel exhaust fluid can be prone to freezing and opening a valve on a frozen DEF-tank can cause damage. The Fumoto DEF valve features a red indicator that becomes exposed when the valve is frozen, warning against operating the valve. This also provides room for the fluid to expand which can help prevent damage to the valve or tank.

The valve is currently made in the M14-1.5 size and will fit most DEF tanks, according to Fumoto. Other sizes will be made available soon.

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New E-Reefers Smart Move for LA Wholesale Delivery

Two of D&D's trucks outfitted with Volta Air electric reefers. Photo courtesy Second Generation Cooling and Volta Air.

California's continued push toward fewer and fewer emissions has affected all companies that use trucks in the state, and fleets that rely on trucks to deliver products are no exception. D&D Wholesale Distributors in City of Industry, Calif., has been distributing produce, meats, poultry, grocery, non-foods, frozen foods and dairy in the Southern California area since 1979, and it's responding to the demand by moving to all-electric refrigeration units for its delivery trucks.

“Because of the ARB problem in California, we looked really deep into the future and decided we wanted to go battery operated,” explains Frank Ulloa with Second Generation Cooling, also in the LA area, which handles refrigeration needs for D&D's 40 trucks.

They found a Canadian company, Volta Air, that offers all-electric refrigeration units for vans and medium-duty delivery trucks. Last year they installed a unit it a smaller truck, an Isuzu. It worked “wonderful,” according to Ulloa, so this summer they added a larger-size unit incorporating solar panels on a larger Hino box truck.

Not only will the move make the reefer units eco-friendly, they'll also save money — Ulloa says $3,500 a year just in fuel, not counting savings in maintenance costs. And, he says, the up-front cost is actually less than a traditional reefer unit.

Peter Johnston with Volta Air explains that the Vancouver, Canada-based company started out with a no-idle electric auxiliary power unit for long-haul trucking, and has been working with the Canadian government and educational institutions on further developing its electric compressor and control systems. The D&D unit installed this summer is the third one they have running in California but they're ready to do more with the help of Second Generation Cooling.

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