Fleet 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.
Zero Emissions, Potential Savings of Electrics Appeal to Some Carriers
Nikola Motor Co. founder and CEO Trevor Milton said he has figured out electric power for longhaul trucks with his upcoming Nikola One, due in production in the 2020 timeframe.
Industry Looks Beyond Batteries to Power Longhaul Electric Tractors
Technological advances soon could make electric Class 8 tractors feasible for longhaul applications, but rather than relying solely on plug-in battery systems, those trucks likely will incorporate other power configurations such as hybrid solutions and hydrogen fuel cells.
Fleets Must Evaluate EV Capabilities
Electrically propelled commercial vehicles are not new technology, but their practical application to trucking is evolving as battery technologies improve.
Electric Trucks Need Infrastracture
Development of electric-powered commercial trucks in the 21st century takes the industry full circle to the infancy of the automotive revolution that began in the late 1800s, when battery-powered cars pioneered modern society’s fascination with mobility. Early on, at least, battery-powered cars were preferred because they were easy to operate — no cranking the engine to start them.
Electricity Is in the Air
Electric commercial trucks have generated a lot of buzz in recent months, particularly, it seems, since the unveiling last December in Salt Lake City of the upcoming Nikola One, a Class 8 for longhaul use developed by startup Nikola Motor Co.
CK-4 Oil Makes Headway; Opinions Differ on FA-4
The American Petroleum Institute has licensed about 400 oil marketers to sell the new CK-4 diesel engine oil since Dec. 1 and more than 60 to sell its slightly lower-viscosity relative, FA-4. These new oils, collectively labeled PC-11 during development and testing, promise fuel savings and, in most applications, longer oil-change intervals.
More Than Half of Drivers Still Aren't ELD-Compliant, ONE20 Survey Finds
With six months to go before the government-mandated electronic logging device rule takes effect for most commercial truck drivers, a survey of drivers finds that fewer than half are ELD-compliant.
May 18, 2017Sen. James Inhofe: Every Funding Option for an Infrastructure Plan ‘On the Table’
WASHINGTON — A funding proposal for the country’s infrastructure system would likely entail myriad options, such as public-private partnerships and raising taxes on fuel, the former chairman of the Senate transportation committee told reporters May 16.
Trailer Orders Exceed 20,000 in April
U.S. orders for trailers in April were about 20,000 and posted strong year-over-year gains, analysts said.
Seko Logistics Expanding Footprint in Western New York and Pennsylvania
Seko Logistics has opened two warehouses this year as a result of medical, automotive, industrial and technology companies bringing supply chains back into the United States, the third-party logistics company announced May 10.
May 15, 2017