Fuel Efficiency in Spotlight at Mid-America Trucking Show
By Jonathan S. Reiskin, Associate News Editor
This story appears in the March 31 print edition of Transport Topics.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Talk of fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions largely displaced glitz and chrome at center stage at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week.
With $4-a-gallon diesel prices ravaging trucking company profits and shippers pressing carriers for greener supply chains, equipment manufacturers here said they have — and are eager to sell — products that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Major original equipment manufacturers and smaller vendors to trucking kept returning to the twin themes of higher fuel mileage and lower carbon output at a series of press briefings March 26, prior to the official start of MATS, the largest trucking show in the United States. MATS officials said they expected to draw about 1,100 exhibitors and 80,000 truck buyers and enthusiasts before the show’s March 29 closing.
“The two major issues we see are fuel prices and emissions reductions,” said Joe Plomin, vice president for truck products at ArvinMeritor Inc. He told the story of a customer managing a 400-truck fleet who said he would save $350,000 a year if he could just boost his average miles per gallon to 6.6 from 6.5.
Plomin said ArvinMeritor has redesigned steer axles and brake drums and developed an automated tire-pressure system to support super-single tires, thereby paring 450 pounds from previous components.
Engine-maker Cummins Inc. said it is adding auxiliary power units to its product lineup so drivers will not have to idle the heavy-duty engines the company makes merely for the generation of heating, air conditioning and in-cab electricity.
From Paccar Inc., the general managers of Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors reminded those assembled at Mid-America that APUs introduced at last year’s truck show have added value this year in that they comply with anti-idling regulations set by the California Air Resources Board.
Environmental regulators in that state have been eager to stanch the emissions from idling trucks, particularly at ports (12-24 & 31-07, p. 2).
Kenworth executives spoke of their use of liquefied natural gas engines, while Peterbilt managers touted their work with hybrids.
As a sign of the changing times, while Peterbilt still offers its classic conventional tractor with a massive, battering-ram grill, that design was shunted to the side of its product literature so that more modern, aerodynamic vehicles could take center stage.
Joe McAleese, chief executive officer of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, said his company — perhaps best known for its brakes — has mainly been interested in truck safety issues, but with the current extraordinary levels for energy prices, it is impossible not to notice the desire by fleet managers to get some help in managing those costs.
Using the company’s expertise on braking, McAleese said, Bendix might have a lot to offer on hybrid engines that use surplus energy from braking for propulsion. He also said the company has been working on compressor electrification for smaller engines.
Smaller vendors also showed they have been listening to customers.
Grote Industries, a manufacturer of lighting for tractors and trailers, was quick to sell on the point that light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, are efficient at providing illumination with low levels of energy consumption.
Advanced Transit Dynamics announced a deal with Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. whereby Utility would offer ATD’s “TrailerTails” as an option.
The TrailerTail is a collapsible shell that attaches to the rear of the trailer and, when deployed, molds the shape of the wind rushing off the trailer as the truck rolls down the highway. The company claimed that on longhaul applications, the device can shave off 5% of fuel costs.
Smith said his product, which adds about four feet to the length of a trailer, has an exemption from the Department of Transportation’s 53-foot length limit, so carriers using it will not violate size-and-weight rules.
Webasto Product North America said it has launched a Web site — www.makealeap.org — that compiles state anti-idling regulations.
The company also unveiled four products to help lessen the need for idling: two in-cab heaters, an air conditioner and an engine coolant pre-heater.
Webasto ceded part of its time to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is providing a clearinghouse for loan applications. Paul Bubbosh, a manager with EPA’s SmartWay program, said small fleets and owner-operators can apply for bank loans to finance purchases of energy-efficient or low-emission equipment.
With a single document filed through EPA, a company or person can apply to multiple lenders. Interested lenders reply directly to the applicant, Bubbosh said.
This story appears in the March 31 print edition of Transport Topics.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Talk of fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions largely displaced glitz and chrome at center stage at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week.
With $4-a-gallon diesel prices ravaging trucking company profits and shippers pressing carriers for greener supply chains, equipment manufacturers here said they have — and are eager to sell — products that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Major original equipment manufacturers and smaller vendors to trucking kept returning to the twin themes of higher fuel mileage and lower carbon output at a series of press briefings March 26, prior to the official start of MATS, the largest trucking show in the United States. MATS officials said they expected to draw about 1,100 exhibitors and 80,000 truck buyers and enthusiasts before the show’s March 29 closing.
“The two major issues we see are fuel prices and emissions reductions,” said Joe Plomin, vice president for truck products at ArvinMeritor Inc. He told the story of a customer managing a 400-truck fleet who said he would save $350,000 a year if he could just boost his average miles per gallon to 6.6 from 6.5.
Plomin said ArvinMeritor has redesigned steer axles and brake drums and developed an automated tire-pressure system to support super-single tires, thereby paring 450 pounds from previous components.
Engine-maker Cummins Inc. said it is adding auxiliary power units to its product lineup so drivers will not have to idle the heavy-duty engines the company makes merely for the generation of heating, air conditioning and in-cab electricity.
From Paccar Inc., the general managers of Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors reminded those assembled at Mid-America that APUs introduced at last year’s truck show have added value this year in that they comply with anti-idling regulations set by the California Air Resources Board.
Environmental regulators in that state have been eager to stanch the emissions from idling trucks, particularly at ports (12-24 & 31-07, p. 2).
Kenworth executives spoke of their use of liquefied natural gas engines, while Peterbilt managers touted their work with hybrids.
As a sign of the changing times, while Peterbilt still offers its classic conventional tractor with a massive, battering-ram grill, that design was shunted to the side of its product literature so that more modern, aerodynamic vehicles could take center stage.
Joe McAleese, chief executive officer of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, said his company — perhaps best known for its brakes — has mainly been interested in truck safety issues, but with the current extraordinary levels for energy prices, it is impossible not to notice the desire by fleet managers to get some help in managing those costs.
Using the company’s expertise on braking, McAleese said, Bendix might have a lot to offer on hybrid engines that use surplus energy from braking for propulsion. He also said the company has been working on compressor electrification for smaller engines.
Smaller vendors also showed they have been listening to customers.
Grote Industries, a manufacturer of lighting for tractors and trailers, was quick to sell on the point that light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, are efficient at providing illumination with low levels of energy consumption.
Advanced Transit Dynamics announced a deal with Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. whereby Utility would offer ATD’s “TrailerTails” as an option.
The TrailerTail is a collapsible shell that attaches to the rear of the trailer and, when deployed, molds the shape of the wind rushing off the trailer as the truck rolls down the highway. The company claimed that on longhaul applications, the device can shave off 5% of fuel costs.
Smith said his product, which adds about four feet to the length of a trailer, has an exemption from the Department of Transportation’s 53-foot length limit, so carriers using it will not violate size-and-weight rules.
Webasto Product North America said it has launched a Web site — www.makealeap.org — that compiles state anti-idling regulations.
The company also unveiled four products to help lessen the need for idling: two in-cab heaters, an air conditioner and an engine coolant pre-heater.
Webasto ceded part of its time to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is providing a clearinghouse for loan applications. Paul Bubbosh, a manager with EPA’s SmartWay program, said small fleets and owner-operators can apply for bank loans to finance purchases of energy-efficient or low-emission equipment.
With a single document filed through EPA, a company or person can apply to multiple lenders. Interested lenders reply directly to the applicant, Bubbosh said.
