Equipment

About Equipment News...

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. 

Government, Business, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

After Uber Crash, Florida Still Welcomes Free-Range Robot Cars

The anything-goes approach meant to bring autonomous vehicles to Florida won’t change after the first fatal collision.

David Welch | Bloomberg News
March 23, 2018
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment

ELDs Hot Topic at MATS as April Enforcement Ramp-Up Nears

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The federal mandate of electronic logging devices has been in effect since late last year, but some truckers still have lingering questions about the finer points of the regulation as tougher enforcement nears.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
March 23, 2018
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Autonomous, Editorial

Editorial: A Proper Pause for Safety’s Sake

The decision by Uber to halt testing of its autonomous trucks in the wake of a fatal accident involving one of its pilot autonomous cars was a prudent move, and one that demonstrates how the relentless pace of technological innovation sometimes needs a pause.

March 22, 2018
Business, Equipment

Mack Cites Comeback of Longhaul Market in 2018

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fleets in the longhaul segment are increasingly spurring Class 8 demand as the highway market makes a comeback, according to Mack Trucks, whose new Anthem model is aimed directly at that segment.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
March 22, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment

New Technicians Lack Skills, Fleets Find as Demand Grows

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More technicians will be needed soon, nearly 77,000 more by 2026. However, plenty of students are in the pipeline. But questions remain about their ability to meet real-world needs in a shop, and about how to keep them once hired, experts said.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
March 21, 2018
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Revised ELD Guidance: FMCSA Allows AOBRD Software on Fleet Expansion Trucks

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued revised guidance permitting motor carriers that were using automatic onboard recording device software prior to the effective date of the electronic logging device mandate to add trucks to their fleet without having to update those new trucks to electronic logging device software until mid-December 2019.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
March 20, 2018
Business, Equipment

CVG Reports Net Loss on Higher Revenue in 4Q, Full Year

A tax-related charge led to net losses for truck industry supplier Commercial Vehicle Group in the fourth quarter and full year despite improvement in key markets.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
March 20, 2018
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Trump Infrastructure Proposal Could Fund Self-Driving Truck Lanes, DOT Official Says

Projects aimed at building dedicated lanes for self-driving trucks would qualify for funds under President Donald Trump’s infrastructure proposal unveiled last month, a top federal transportation official said March 16.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
March 20, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Autonomous

Toyota Pauses Robot-Car Program Citing Drivers’ Emotional Toll

Toyota Motor Corp. has halted tests of its “Chauffeur” autonomous driving system on U.S. public roads after a Uber Technologies Inc. vehicle operating in autonomous mode under the supervision of a human safety driver struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, on March 18.

John Lippert | Bloomberg News
March 20, 2018
Government, Equipment, Safety

Arizona DOT Trains Mexican Fleets, Expedites Border Inspections

The Arizona Department of Transportation has significantly reduced wait times for trucks moving through border inspection facilities using training programs geared toward Mexican fleets.

Eleanor Lamb | Staff Reporter
March 20, 2018