The Savings of Truck Safety Technology
The rising cost of maintenance for Class 8 trucks needs to be weighed against safety and operational benefits, according to a recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute.
January 25, 2019Testing Fuel-Saving Technologies
As fleets know, many variables can affect test results for truck fuel-saving technologies and practices.
January 25, 2019Keeping an Eye on Truck Parts and Safety
The new year has arrived, and so has this first-quarter 2019 issue of Equipment & Maintenance Update. The two cover stories of this E&MU reflect in-depth features on timely issues and news developments that likely are to be of interest to those operating in the realm of trucking equipment and maintenance.
January 25, 2019Fleets Eye Camera Systems to Replace Mirrors
Camera monitor systems designed to replace a truck’s conventional side mirrors are getting favorable reviews from drivers, according to executives at fleets that are testing the new technology, which also recently received a nod of approval from federal regulators.
January 25, 2019CVSA: Mirrors Have Role in Roadside Inspections
Camera monitoring systems promise to improve highway safety by giving truck drivers better visibility around the outside of the truck, but removing the mirrors could force highway safety inspectors to change their practices, according to the executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
January 25, 2019Freight Railroads Record Progress on PTC Implementation, AAR Says
Large freight railroads functioned with the use of automatic braking technology for 83.2% of miles required by law, the Association of American Railroads announced Jan. 24. That proves the Class I railroads met 2018 requirements, and they are expected to finalize the implementation of positive train control technology by the final deadline of Dec. 31, 2020.
January 25, 2019Tackling Electrical Systems
Technicians often don't troubleshoot a truck's electrical system to the extent they could, according to a recent assessment by the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations. Here's why.
January 25, 2019Editorial: Watching the Slowdowns, Ending the Shutdown
A gangbusters year marked by soaring freight rates and frenzied order and sales activity for equipment ended on a soft note, as December saw reported declines in both truck tonnage and trailer orders. It had to happen eventually, but some may feel cheated that the industry didn’t get to close out this otherwise stellar year on a high note.
January 24, 2019USDOT: Surface Transportation Agencies Continue as Normal During Shutdown
More than a month into a partial government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that it’s business as usual for trucking regulators and officials responsible for the country’s surface transportation network.
January 24, 2019Walmart Says It Needs 900 More Truckers This Year, Hikes Pay
Walmart is raising trucker salaries in its push to hire 900 more drivers this year across the United States, including Texas, where it has a big concentration of large distribution centers where empty trucks get filled.
January 23, 2019