Equipment
Commercial freight transportation is a machine-based business. Highly technical equipment and advanced engineering are at the center of supply chain and require constant innovation. Transport Topics equipment coverage focuses on the machines and other physical assets that make delivery possible. It looks closely at available truck, trailer, and chassis models, developments in the engineering space, and maintenance innovations and best practices.
GM Debuts Midsize Electric Delivery Van
General Motors Co.’s electric van unit plans to build a new midsized cargo hauler called the EV410, and has signed up Verizon Communications Inc. as the first buyer, the company said Sept. 28.
Toyota Banks on Mobility Technology for Future Growth
TOKYO — Japanese automaker Toyota is revving up acquisitions in mobility technology, adding Renovo Motors Inc., a Silicon Valley software developer, to its Woven Planet team, which is working on automated driving.
EV Maker Polestar Valued at $20 Billion in SPAC Deal
Polestar, the electric vehicle maker backed by Volvo Car Group and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, agreed to go public through a merger with a blank-check company at a roughly $20 billion enterprise valuation.
Orders for Business Equipment Rise for Sixth Straight Month
Orders placed with U.S. manufacturers for business equipment strengthened in August, extending to six months a solid run of robust capital investment that’s helping fuel economic growth.
Mack Defense Delivers Heavy Dump Trucks to US Army
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Mack Defense officially delivered to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve the first M917A3 heavy dump trucks during a tented ceremony Sept. 23.
Western Star Launches 47X Model for Weight-Sensitive Vocational Market
Daimler Trucks North America has introduced the Western Star 47X vocational model, a Class 8 truck intended for lighter-weight applications than the heavier 49X introduced in September 2020.
NACFE Finds Many Fleets Could Run Electric Trucks Now
Fleets in four market segments could switch to battery-electric vehicles right now, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency concluded after its recent Run on Less — Electric event.
Pacific, Atlantic Ports Report Strong Growth in August Amid Tight Supply Chains
As volumes continue to surge at the nation’s ports on the coasts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, two of the nation’s biggest facilities — Los Angeles and Long Beach — are taking the first steps to expand their hours of operations to 24/7 to keep up with the backlog of freight.
FedEx, Paccar, Aurora Launch Autonomous Trucking Pilot
Aurora Innovation Inc., Paccar Inc. and FedEx Corp. launched a commercial pilot of autonomous trucking in Texas.
Ford, Redwood to Partner on Recycling EV Battery Materials
Redwood Materials Inc., the startup founded by Tesla alum J.B. Straubel, has formed a partnership with Ford Motor Co. to recycle and reuse key ingredients within the lithium-ion batteries that will power the automaker’s burgeoning fleet of electric vehicles.