The Trucker News Staff

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Port of Los Angeles and its partners on June 7 announced the launch of five new hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), along with the grand opening of two hydrogen fueling stations. Under the $82.5 million Shore-to-Store (S2S) project, more than a dozen public and private sector partners have teamed up for a 12-month demonstration of zero-emission Class 8 trucks. The project will be expanded to include five more hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty trucks, two battery-electric yard tractors and two battery-electric forklifts. The large-scale, multiyear demonstration is designed to advance the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) goals and help California achieve statewide climate change, air-quality improvement, and sustainability targets for reducing greenhouse gases and toxic air emissions. The project will assess the operational and technical feasibility of using FCEVs in a heavy-duty setting, as well as expand infrastructure to support hydrogen-fueled vehicles throughout the region. “Transporting goods between our port and the Inland Empire is the first leg of this next journey toward a zero-emissions future,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “This project is a model for developing and commercializing the next generation of clean trucks and cargo-handling equipment for the region and beyond. Just as the air we breathe extends beyond the port’s footprint, so should the clean air and economic benefits we believe this project will yield.” The port’s technology development partners include Toyota Motor North America, which designed and built the powertrain’s fuel cell electric power supply system; Kenworth Truck Co., which designed and built the Class 8 trucks powered by Toyota’s fuel cell electric system; and Shell Oil Products, which designed, built and will operate the project’s two new high-capacity hydrogen fueling stations in Wilmington, California, and Ontario, California. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is supporting the project with a matching grant of $41.1 million. Project partners will contribute the remaining $41.4 million in financial and in-kind support. “For generations, neighborhoods located next to high-volume traffic corridors have experienced disproportionately high rates of air pollution and pollution-related illness, particularly in the greater Los Angeles region,” said Craig Segall, deputy executive officer for CARB. “We are working steadily to change this trajectory by helping to fund, support and promote comprehensive efforts like the Port of L.A.’s Shore-to-Store Project that will run cleaner and quieter trucks that will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower smog-forming emissions as well. It’s a sizable investment in a project with the potential to radically transform how we move freight in one of the most populous regions in the U.S.”   Partners operating the trucks include Toyota Logistics Services and UPS, along with trucking companies Total Transportation Services Inc. and Southern Counties Express. Gas and technology leader Air Liquide is also participating as a fuel supplier. The Port of Hueneme will partner on drayage runs and serve as the site for testing the zero-emission yard tractors. Other public sector partners include the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), serving as a project advisor; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which will collect and analyze project data; and the Coalition for a Safe Environment, representing the community. The vehicles’ duty cycles will consist of local pickup and delivery and drayage near the Port of Los Angeles and short regional-haul applications in the Inland Empire. Project partners will study the technical feasibility of hydrogen-fueled tractors and battery-electric cargo-handling equipment operating in the southern California market. At the same time, it will measure the reduction of nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other pollutants. The Port of Los Angeles S2S Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities. The demonstration is moving forward with a $41.1 million grant from CARB’s zero and near zero emissions freight facilities (ZANZEFF) program, paired with financial or in-kind support from participating partners. Planning for S2S began in 2018. The project is one of 16 demonstrations underway at the port to accelerate near-zero and zero-emissions solutions for moving cargo.

IRVINE, Calif. — Getac Technology Corp. and Pedigree Technologies recently announced a joint ELD (electronic logging device) solution that combines Getac’s rugged Android Tablet and dock (Model ZX70) with Pedigree’s Cab-Mate ELD and other in-cab solutions. According to the two companies, the resulting next-generation in-cab system is designed to provide long-term reliability to trucking fleets that may have been challenged with tablet failures, missing data or inconsistent connectivity. “A significant chunk of our ELD business comes from enterprises who were disappointed with their early ELD investment,” said Wade Wilson, CEO of Pedigree. “Customers told us about consumer tablet issues including USB connector failures, short-lived batteries and inconsistent Bluetooth connectivity. This is why we’re excited to join Getac in providing the most robust ELD solution on the market.” The joint solution is directly connected with the truck to address connectivity delays and missing data often seen with BYOD (bring your own device) offerings. “As soon as the truck is turned on and moves, ELD data is logged, regardless of connectivity. Keeping to our commitment of strict adherence to the ELD mandate while keeping it as easy as possible, Pedigree aims to make the ELD bulletproof,” Wilson said. Powered by Android, the ZX70 supports Android’s standardized Google Play applications and is available with various docks and mounts for in-cab deployment in all sizes of trucks. According to Getac, the ZX70 tablet and dock is engineered to survive 6-foot drops, shocks, rain, vibration and dust. It operates at extreme temperatures, from minus 6 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and will work after being submerged in 1 meter of water. The ZX70 also offers optional certifications for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. “An extra-rugged device is important. Whether the device is dropped or exposed to really bad weather, it’ll work. We’re so confident that the ZX70 can handle extreme environments we offer a bumper-to-bumper, three-year warranty including accidental damage,” said Joe Martin, director Getac’s director of Product Solutions division. Verified by Google as an Android Enterprise Recommended Rugged Device, the ZX70 can also be used for out-of-truck mobile productivity. Along with one-handed operation, the 7-inch display features Getac’s sunlight-readable touchscreen technology, LumiBond 2.0, with better contrast and crisper colors. The ZX70 comes with a hard-tip stylus and supports touch, glove or pen modes, and it provides best-in-class battery run time. Pedigree’s ELD Cab-Mate offering was developed with customer feedback, including budget and application requirements. Built on the OneView platform, the ELD Cab-Mate supports a full suite of tools, from ELDs, International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) records, DVIRs (driver vehicle inspection reports) and work orders to equipment health and driver safety solutions, including cameras.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michelin North America Inc. is launching two pre-mold retreads to broaden its lineup of tire retread technologies. According to Michelin, the X Multi T-SA Pre-Mold Retread is designed to address the scrub and stresses in spread axle and tag axle applications while also providing mileage performance in regional and super-regional operations. The Michelin X One Line Energy T2 Pre-Mold Retread is designed to lower the total cost of ownership for the line-haul market through trailer tread wear and fuel savings. “Fleet managers are under pressure to have well-managed tire programs, yet some managers may be pressured into selecting low-priced tires instead of high-quality retreads,” said Adam Murphy, vice president of business to business marketing for Michelin. “The smart money is on retreads. Retreading plays the central role in delivering the lowest total tire program cost and creates the greatest return on a fleet’s tire investment. In addition, manufacturing a retreaded tire requires 15 gallons less oil and approximately 90-100 pounds less total material than a new tire, so the environment also benefits.” The Michelin X Multi T-SA Pre-Mold retread tire is designed for regional and super-regional operations. A rubber compound enhances scrub resistance and wear rate while the rounded, solid shoulder provides resistance to aggression, the manufacturer said. This retread provides maximum tread-to-shoulder adhesion in high scrub applications and provides up to 25% more mileage. Groove-bottom protectors defend against stone drilling. The Michelin X Multi T-SA retread is available with a deep 16/32-inch tread depth in six tread base width/tread width with wings including 185/225, 195/235, 205/245, 215/255, 225/265 and 245/285. The Michelin X One Line Energy T2 Pre-Mold Retread, which will be available July 1, is designed for better wear compared to the Michelin X One Line Energy T Pre-Mold Retread it replaces. For line-haul applications, the Michelin X One Line Energy T2 Pre-Mold Retread provides outstanding handling and has a solid shoulder to help reduce irregular wear. This trailer-position retread offers fuel savings through its advanced compound tread for a lower total cost of ownership. A winged tread provides shoulder adhesion to the casing, while waved grooves help prevent stone drilling and wide grooves promote improved water evacuation. This retread meets SmartWay requirements and offers tire technology in a retread. There is a 375/425 tread base width and a tread width wings size with a 13/32-inch tread depth. Tread widths with two measurements have wings. The first number is tread base width in millimeter. The second number is the overall width, wing tip to tip. As a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Program, the retread has demonstrated incremental fuel savings when low rolling resistance tires are used just on the tractor and/or just on the trailer. Actual results may vary, and may be impacted by many factors, to include road conditions, weather, environment, combination of steer and drive tires used, driving habits, tire size, equipment, and maintenance.

PULASKI, Va. — It may soon be possible for trucking executives to convert their diesel fleets to battery electric power without replacing existing tractors. A diesel to electric (D2E) driveline conversion program for electrifying existing Class 7 and Class 8 diesel trucks is currently being developed by Trova Commercial Vehicles (TrovaCV), an engineering and manufacturing firm. “Over the past year, we’ve developed our rolling chassis as a ‘skateboard’ solution for converting existing heavy-duty trucks to electric power at a much lower cost than buying a new EV,” said Patrick Collignon, TrovaCV founder and CEO. “Our D2E package combines the latest electric driveline technology with a completely new chassis thoughtfully designed from the ground up specifically for EV components.” TrovaCV is developing a prototype vehicle and engineering processes for the conversion program, with rollout planned in late 2022. “It is simply not possible to reach lofty zero emission targets without transforming existing diesel trucks in one way or another,” Collignon said. “We are aiming at a population of 400,000 Class 7 and 8 vehicles in North America that are excellent candidates for conversion to battery electric power through our D2E program.” Each conversion will ride on TrovaCV’s new proprietary rolling chassis, which is purpose-built to accommodate battery-electric driveline components. With this method, a truck’s battery packs can be packaged within the chassis rails. According to TrovaCV, central mounting increases battery-pack durability compared to side-rail mounting, helps to improve vehicle stability and increases the safety of both the batteries and vehicle in major side-impact crashes. The conversion process will be conducted in a factory. Before the arrival of the original truck to be converted, a new rolling chassis will be equipped with a brand-new electric driveline. Once the truck has been cleaned and all liquids drained, the bumper, hood and cab will be removed and prepped for reassembly. Next, the original axles, fifth wheel and brake system from the existing truck will be transferred onto the new chassis. Finally, the cab, hood and bumper will be reassembled. A statement from TrovaCV promises the process will be engineered to the highest quality-assurance standards and will incorporate a thorough component inspection prior to reassembly. While the truck is being converted, fleet personnel will be educated on the use and maintenance of their new battery-electric vehicle. The environmental benefits of the TrovaCV D2E Program extend to putting the recovered components, such as the diesel engine, transmission, and cooling module, into a reman process to extend their life cycles. In addition, the old chassis will be reconditioned and reused if possible; otherwise, it will be recycled.

COLUMBUS, Ind., and BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — According to analysts at ACT Research and FTR, preliminary figures for May show a 32% drop in Class 8 order for May 2021. According to data from ACT, Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for May totaled 22,900 units, down 32% from April — but 242% higher than May 2020. Demand for Classes 5-7, with orders at 24,800 units, slipped 14% from April. Analysts at FTR reported that preliminary North American Class 8 net orders cooled off in May to 23,600 units. “As we have been tracking for several months, medium- and heavy-duty backlogs for the remainder of 2021 were essentially filled with April’s orders,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “With 2022 order books not yet opened, it is not particularly surprising that orders for both segments fell to levels last seen in August 2020. We reiterate that the order pullback aligns with expectations, driven by the supply of open build slots in 2021, rather than demand for equipment.” FTR reports that Class 8 orders are returning to a pace more in line with seasonal trends. May orders were down 32% month over month but still up 16,800 units year over year from the anemic level of May 2020. Class 8 orders now total 420,000 units for the previous 12 months. “Most fleets have ordered all the trucks they need for 2021,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles for FTR. “They are getting frustrated because production is unable to keep up with demand. Carriers need more trucks on the road now, but semiconductor and other component shortages continue to restrict production.” The drop-off in May does not represent a weakening of demand, as freight growth continues to be robust and spot rates are hitting all-time highs. Build slots for delivery this year are filling up, and OEMs are not yet booking for 2022. “There is tremendous pent-up demand being generated in this market,” Ake said. “Freight is growing at a brisk pace, but the supply chain bottlenecks slow the flow of new trucks coming off the production line. This, in turn, is keeping the spot market overheated.”

KIRKLAND, Wash.– Kenworth now offers a 52-inch flat-roof sleeper specifically for Class 8 crane, pump, car hauler and other applications that may require a low roof. With the addition of the 52-inch flat roof sleeper and the Kenworth AG400L rear suspension’s new 6.5-inch ride height (2 inches lower than previously available) Kenworth has created a perfect combination for low-roof applications. The new specification and sleeper are available for the Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 models. To support the new application, the W990 model now has a right-hand side horizontal tailpipe beneath the DPF/SCR to match the current T680 and T880 offering. An under rail DPF/SCR exhaust system is also available on the T680 and T880 models. To further reduce overall truck height, the set forward front axle Kenworth W990 and T880S models have a 5-inch drop front axle option that lowers the front of the truck by 1.5 inches over the standard 3.5 inches drop. Kenworth low-profile tire options include 275/80R22.5 front tires and 255/70R22.5 rear tires, 295/60R22.5 front and rear tires. The smaller 22.5-inch diameter fuel tanks allow for maximum ground clearance. The 52-inch flat roof sleeper model is equipped with a 2.1-meter wide cab. Key features include a fully trimmed premium interior, 56-inch interior cab height, a triple-sealed door for a quieter ride, and a 15-inch digital display. Kenworth SmartWheel is available with cruise and radio control on the steering wheel, and an under-door light which illuminates the steps and ground. Also available are the latest driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation. In addition, remote PTO controls are available from the factory for upfit, and a full truck kit provides air and light lines to the end of the frame. “Truck height is extremely critical in many low-roof operations,” said Laura Bloch, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “The 52-inch flat roof sleeper, plus the other supporting options, will help our customers specify their trucks to meet the needs of their low-profile applications.” For more information about the new Kenworth 52-inch flat-roof sleeper, contact a local Kenworth dealer.