Since 2011 the trucking driving shortage in the U.S. has been skyrocketing. According to the American Trucking Association's (ATA), if the trend continues, there will likely be severe supply chain disruptions resulting in significant shipping delays, higher inventory carrying costs, and perhaps shortages at stores. With almost 70% of all freight tonnage moved on our nation's highways the shortage could be a lit powder keg on our economy.
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Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and Ram Truck are certainly not resting on their light truck and commercial van haunches as all three have rolled out some new offerings of late. (All photos courtesy of Ford, GM, and Ram)
TRP Parts has released two new air spring designs to expand its offering in the off-road, vocational market.
The AS70306P and AS9780S are air springs are designed for longer lifespan and lighter weight in vocational applications.
The air springs are manufactured with a proprietary rubber compound and reinforcing material that extends component lifespan by limiting heat-buildup while also reducing weight. TRP's springs undergo testing and quality control to ensure that the parts are leak-proof.
The AS70360P is a cab suspension spring designed with a proprietary composite base to reduce weight without compromising performance or lifespan.
The AS9780S features a powder-coated steel base that resists corrosion for improved durability and is made to fit the industry's most popular applications, according to TRP.
TRP has also announced an enhanced warranty on its complete line of all-makes air springs. TRP's Air Spring Performance Guarantee is a promise to buy back any TRP air springs that do not satisfy customer expectations for up to two years after purchase, through any TRP retail location in North America and Latin America.
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Photo: U.S. DOT
">Photo: U.S. DOT
">Trucking industry research organization ATRI recently led the development of two primers for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Integrated Corridor Management program, offering strategies for fighting congestion.
Earlier this year, ATRI's research placed the cost of congestion to the trucking industry at $49.6 billion in 2014. One of the ways to reduce congestion is more effective and efficient movement of people and goods through major urban areas, according to ATRI.
The two ICM primers are designed to help transportation networks realize improvements in urban congestion through integrated, proactive management of existing infrastructure along major corridors.
Most ICM strategies to date have focused on the passenger car aspect of reducing congestion. But ATRI's primers focus on freight's role in congestion as well as the role that law enforcement, fire and rescue and other traffic incident management services can play.
ATRI's first primer examines how freight can be incorporated into an ICM approach as well as the benefits of ICM in addressing many of the challenges in moving freight through congested areas. It explores opportunities to integrate freight considerations into corridor management institutionally, operationally and technically. These include leveraging existing platforms and considering new options for coordination between traditional ICM and freight stakeholders.
The other primer focuses on traffic management and describes how traffic incident management can be incorporated into TCM. It also details how ICM can benefit a traffic incident management program.
Both primers are available on ATRI's website in PDF format.
Related: America's Highways Turn 60, Need Major Facelift
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