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. 

Business, Equipment

Wabash Realigns Retail Segment

Publicly traded trailer manufacturer Wabash National Corp. said it is realigning its retail segment under its commercial trailer products and diversified products operations, and transitioning a company-owned retail store to an independent dealer.

June 23, 2016
Business, Equipment

Cummins Recalls Nearly 5,500 Diesel Truck Engines

Manufacturer Cummins Inc. is recalling nearly 5,500 heavy-duty diesel truck engines due to an electrical issue.

June 21, 2016
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment

FMCSA Defends ELD Rule in Appeals Court Filing

In a brief filed with a federal appeals court, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration defended a legal challenge to the agency’s electronic logging device rule by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
June 20, 2016
Business, Equipment, Autonomous

May Truck Sales Fall 19.5%

U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in May dropped 19.5% as the downturn rolled on for a sixth consecutive month and still has not hit bottom, analysts said.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
June 20, 2016
Editorial, Business, Safety, Government, Technology, Equipment

Editorial: Collision Technology Proves Its Worth

Let us pause for a moment and consider the number zero. As in, during a recent test, 150 heavy-duty tractors racked up 3 million U.S. highway miles and there were zero rear-end collisions.

June 20, 2016
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Collision Avoidance Systems Succeed in NHTSA Field Test

A yearlong federal field test of 150 Class 8 tractor­-trailers equipped with collision avoidance systems had no rear-­end crashes, a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study revealed.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
June 20, 2016
Equipment, Business, Fuel

Gearing Up for New Engine Oils

The heavy-duty engine oil specification that has been used for about 10 years is set to be replaced by two new ones: CK-4 and FA-4. The pair have been enhanced to withstand the rigors of lubricating hotter-running diesel engines and boost fuel efficiency better than the current offering, known as CJ-4 and marketed under many brands.

Roger Gilroy | Senior Reporter
June 17, 2016
Equipment, Safety

Safety Systems Start With Anti-lock Brakes

Sales of active safety systems are rising and, as of next summer, the first versions will become mandatory on new U.S. heavy-duty tractors. Two of the largest suppliers to truck makers keep making the systems more capable, but no matter how sophisticated they get, they all start with anti-lock brakes.

Jonathan S. Reiskin | Associate News Editor
June 17, 2016
Equipment, Fuel

Energy Efficiency at Facilities Brings Sizable Savings to Fleets, OEMs

Efficiency improvements and energy-reduction strategies at trucking facilities are saving fleets and original equipment manufacturers money and time. Even minor changes — such as conversion from older, high-intensity-discharge (HID) lights to skylights or to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in offices and break rooms — result in lower electric bills, increased visibility and greater employee satisfaction, facility managers said.

Susan L. Hodges | Contributing Writer
June 17, 2016
Equipment, Business

Gauging an Engine’s Life Expectancy Starts with B-Life Rating

Engine makers are providing customers a gauge to help them determine how dependable and durable an engine is supposed to be, called a B-life rating. It’s regarded as the industry standard for measuring the life expectancy of an engine, but the figures are sometimes misunderstood.

Evan Lockridge | Special to Transport Topics
June 17, 2016