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Knight-Swift becomes first major US fleet to receive Kenworth T680E

LOS ANGELES — Knight-Swift Transportation recently became the first major U.S fleet to take delivery of a zero emissions Kenworth T680E Class 8 battery-electric vehicle. The Kenworth T680E will operate at the Knight Port Services terminal in Southern California, according to a news release. The fleet worked on the T680E’s procurement and purchase of a supporting PACCAR 120 kW electric vehicle charging station with Inland Kenworth-Phoenix. The Kenworth T680E is designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul and drayage application, and is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck. The T680E has an 82,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating and an estimated 150-mile operating range, depending on the application. The Kenworth “Driving To Zero Emissions” program also features the Class 7 K370E and Class 6 K270E battery electric vehicles, along with PACCAR charging stations. “Both the K270E and K370E are for pickup and delivery and short regional haul operations,” the news release stated. “The electric powertrain is available with high-density battery packs of 141 kWh, 209 kWh and 282 kWh that deliver up to 100, 150 and 200-mile range, respectively.”

Schneider receives fleet of battery-electric rigs in Southern California

GREEN BAY, Wis.– Schneider officials have announced that the first of their new battery-electric vehicles (BEV) have arrived in Southern California. Daimler Truck North America delivered the first of almost 100 Freightliner eCascadias to Schneider, according to a news release. Schneider expects the BEVs to be fully operational by the end of 2023, positioning the company to become one of the largest battery-electric truck fleets in North America. The eCascadias will join Schneider’s Southern California Intermodal operations. Schneider is constructing 16 charging stations to power the BEVs. The eCascadias have the potential to avoid over 81,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per day. That is equivalent to removing 2,400 gas-powered cars from the road over the course of a year. “Battery-electric trucks are a crucial component in Schneider’s efforts to reach its sustainability goals of reducing CO2 per-mile emissions by 7.5% by 2025 and 60% by 2035,” the news release stated. “Schneider has already achieved more than half of its 2025 goal by reducing per-mile emissions by 5%. Battery-electric trucks will help move the company even further toward these goals.”

Amogy announces success in testing ammonia-powered big rig

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Amogy Inc. has successfully tested the first ammonia-powered, zero-emission Class 8 semi-truck. After integrating its technology into a 5 kW drone in July 2021 and 100kW John Deere tractor in May 2022, Amogy scaled its ammonia-to-power technology to 300 kW, according to a news release. Following an eight-minute-long fueling, the semi-truck, having 900 kWh of total stored net electric energy, was tested for several hours on the campus of Stony Brook University. Later this month, the Amogy team will pursue a full-scale testing on a test track to showcase the truck’s performance under various real-world operating conditions. Amogy’s proprietary technology enables the on-board cracking of ammonia into hydrogen, which is sent into a fuel cell to power a vehicle. Liquid ammonia’s energy density is approximately three times greater than compressed hydrogen and it requires less energy. Two-hundred million tons of ammonia are produced and transported each year. “Beyond its incredible energy-density and liquid phase at an ambient temperature, ammonia is an optimal fuel to achieve rapid decarbonization of heavy transportations because it is available globally with existing infrastructure already in place,” Seonghoon Woo, CEO at Amogy, said. “This achievement not only showcases Amogy’s technology as an accessible and scalable solution for trucking, it also highlights the capabilities and dedication of our outstanding team. First it was an ammonia-powered drone, then a tractor and now a truck. In the near future, we look forward to further scaling and tackling other hard-to-abate sectors, such as global shipping.” Amogy officials say they will continue to pursue partnerships across the global shipping and transportation industries. This includes the company’s 1 MW-scale ammonia-powered tugboat to be presented later in 2023, and other commercial deployments with partners including a recently-announced inland barge retrofit project with Southern Devall.

California dairy farm using 2 electric big rigs as part of Volvo LIGHTS project

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America customer Rockview Farms has deployed two Volvo VNR (Volvo North American Regional) Electric trucks to support farm-to-customer deliveries of local California milk. The zero-tailpipe emissions battery-electric trucks “will help reduce noise and emissions in the neighborhoods surrounding Rockview Farms’ facility in Downey, California, which is the central hub for deliveries throughout the greater Los Angeles area,” according to a news release. Rockview Farms’ Volvo VNR Electric trucks are the final two trucks to be funded through the award-winning Volvo LIGHTS project. “Volvo Trucks commends Rockview Farms for being a good neighbor that has long demonstrated their commitment to the local community, which they are continuing to support by deploying zero-emission Volvo VNR Electric trucks for their local routes,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Delivering these two trucks to Rockview Farms is a nice closure to the successful Volvo LIGHTS project, which was focused on providing a range of benefits — cleaner air, reduced noise, workforce development opportunities, and more — to Southern California communities through freight electrification.” Volvo Trucks deployed its first Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to fleet operators in 2019 as part of the Volvo LIGHTS project. Over the next several years, Volvo Trucks North America, South Coast Air Quality Management District and 12 other organizations designed and implemented a blueprint for the complete ecosystem needed to deploy commercial battery-electric freight trucks, eventually deploying more than 30 in California’s South Coast Air Basin. “Our Downey facility is surrounded by neighborhoods, and as Southern California’s hometown dairy since 1927, we strive to be a good neighbor in our hometown. We were excited to receive funding for the Volvo VNR Electric trucks to help reduce emissions from our daily operations, while also reducing noise, as the battery-electric trucks are very quiet,” Curt DeGroot, owner of Rockview Farms, said. “Our drivers love them for those same reasons. We’ve had to keep the same drivers on the trucks, because once they drive the Volvo VNR Electric trucks, they don’t want to go back to driving anything else.” The Volvo VNR Electric model produces zero-tailpipe emissions and significantly reduces heat, noise and vibrations, TEC Equipment–La Mirada, a Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer, provides ongoing training to Rockview Farms drivers to help them understand how to optimize the range of the Volvo VNR Electric, including how to leverage regenerative braking benefits to add power back to the battery. The dealership also utilized a route planning tool, the Electric Performance Generator, to help Rockview Farms evaluate the routes that were best suited for its Volvo VNR Electric trucks, taking into consideration the vehicle configuration and battery capacity, environmental factors such as terrain and ambient temperature, and specific route details, including traffic patterns. In addition to supplying grocery stores in Southern California, the battery-electric trucks supply cruise ships at the Port of Long Beach four times a week. Rockview Farms is currently evaluating the trucks to see how they perform on their current routes and has already identified 10 additional local routes that could be a good fit for electrification. Rockview Farms is building out high-powered charging infrastructure at its Downey facility to support the battery-electric Volvo VNR Electric trucks with funding from Southern California Edison (SCE)’s Charge Ready Transport program. Once complete, the infrastructure will also charge the batteries for its electric transport refrigeration units. The facility is currently utilizing temporary 75kW chargers to support the Volvo VNR Electric trucks and two planned electric yard trucks. To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website.  

Trucker Tools completes integration of Banyan’s LIVE Connect software

RESTON, Va. — A full-stack integration between Trucker Tools’ software platform and Banyan Technology’s LIVE Connect software platform is complete. Cleveland-based Banyan Technology’s LIVE Connect software includes truckload, less-than-truckload, local carrier and parcel capabilities, according to a news release. “We are excited about our new partnership with Banyan Technology and the benefits it will provide to our freight broker and third-party logistics provider customers,” Kary Jablonski, Trucker Tools CEO, said. “With this integration, users of Banyan’s LIVE Connect can leverage Trucker Tools’ automated booking technology, freight matching and shipment visibility to drive greater efficiency and reduce costs at a time when operating expenses for transportation businesses are at all-time highs.” The partnership integrates Banyan Technology and Trucker Tools via API connection to give LIVE Connect users the ability to post loads for and accept bids from carriers in Trucker Tools’ nearly 2.5 million driver and 250,000 carrier-strong network, the news release stated. The integration also allows users of LIVE Connect to retrieve shipment details, tracking updates and uploaded documents from Trucker Tools via LIVE Connect’s user interface. “We are excited to announce our latest integration with Trucker Tools to further enhance our Truckload capabilities and complement our commitment to all over-the-road modes,” Brian Smith, CEO of Banyan Technology, said. “The Trucker Tools integration provides a clear path for our clients and partners to access the Truckload spot market and to further streamline their shipping processes for all over-the-road modes including truckload, LTL, local carrier and parcel.” Jablonski added that the two organizations share a mission to help brokers leverage real-time data to make better business decisions while building lasting, productive relationships with independent owner operators and carriers of all sizes. The Trucker Tools mobile driver app is available for both Android- and Apple-powered smartphones and is provided free of charge to independent truckers and small fleets. Trucker Tools’ comprehensive Smart Capacity software platform provides predictive freight-matching, automated booking, GPS-driven automated tracking and digital document management to more than 350 freight brokers and 3PLs.

Drivewyze, Bestpass collaborate to provide GPS-based toll trip reporting

PLANO, Texas – Drivewyze and Bestpass, Inc. have formed a new partnership to address fleet and driver pain points with tolling. The partners “are aligning their offerings to streamline onboarding and support for fleets adopting weigh station bypass and toll management services,” according to a news release. Both companies are also collaborating on the rollout of a Drivewyze toll trip report, which provides GPS-based toll event data. Drivewyze offers PreClear weigh station bypass services at more than 840 sites in 45 states and provinces. In addition, it offers Drivewyze Safety, which includes features allowing fleets to create in-cab toll road notifications. Bestpass works with more than 50 tolling authorities across the U.S. “Two industry leaders have come together to streamline the onboarding and activation of weigh station bypass and toll payment and management services,” Tom Fogarty, CEO of Bestpass, said. “Trucking companies across our industry have been asking for innovation and cooperation in tolling and bypass, so we are answering that demand with better alignment and coordination so fleets can adopt our products easier, minimize their onboarding times, and maximize their ROIs with our respective services.”

PGT Trucking purchases first Nikola Tre BEV semi-truck

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — PGT Trucking Inc. has purchased their first Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle semi-truck, becoming the first flatbed trucking company to actively grow its fleet with zero-emissions equipment. PGT will immediately utilize the Nikola Tre BEV on a select customer account, primarily operating on local, dedicated routes, a news release stated. “Our customers have expressed a need for sustainable shipping solutions, and we are working to align ourselves with their green energy commitments,” Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking president, said. “With the purchase of the Nikola Tre BEV, PGT is prepared to meet these demands. PGT will continue to revolutionize the industry through the Future of Flatbed, utilizing innovative technology and zero-emissions equipment to provide progressive transportation services for our customers, enhanced lifestyle benefits for our drivers and sustainable shipping methods for the environment.” PGT’s new Research and Development Department, led by Laurence Cox, vice president of sustainability, has been tasked with analyzing and applying the company’s green fleet solutions, identifying additional short-haul usages for the battery-electric truck and exploring new initiatives to support its operation across multiple platforms. Previously, PGT signed a letter of intent to lease 100 Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle trucks, and PGT’s R&D Department will help prepare for the full integration of these units into PGT’s fleet, which are anticipated to arrive later this year. With the addition of the new zero-emissions equipment, PGT is on track to reach its sustainability goal, reducing carbon emissions from its company-owned fleet by 35% by the year 2025, according to the news release. “This is a tangible example of how PGT is shaping the Future of Flatbed in the transportation sector, solidifying our commitment to our customers’ sustainability goals,” Cox said. “We are excited to put our Nikola Tre BEV to work, further refining the application of this advanced equipment through our R&D department.” PGT’s Future of Flatbed Fleet will be the first to drive the Nikola Tre BEV, working with PGT’s R&D Department, dedicated partners and customer representatives to haul flatbed loads in real world scenarios. The drivers were selected during an extensive application process and prepared for their roles by receiving advanced training on the equipment, attending product development meetings and participating in pilot programs. “PGT’s decision to place a Nikola Tre BEV immediately into operation is telling of their commitment to drive forward their ambitious corporate sustainability initiatives today,” Nikola Corporation President and CEO Michael Lohscheller said. “We are extremely proud to partner with another well-respected industry leader by providing progressive zero-emission transportation solutions that are intended to improve safety, reduce costs and CO2 emissions, and improve overall total cost of ownership.”

Roadrunner implements update of Load Plan 2.0

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Roadrunner has implemented its updated proprietary Load Plan 2.0, speeding up its network across 130 major lanes, representing its fourth round of transit time improvements over the past 18 months, according to a news release. Highlights of the network improvements include: 130 terminal-to-terminal lanes with faster transit times. 12.5 million improved zip-to-zip combinations. Faster transit times from 30 origins and to 27 destination service centers. “Roadrunner’s Weekend Plus advantage gives shippers access to its network on weekends,” Director of Network Analytics for Roadrunner Phillip Thalheim said. “Our Chicago-to-SoCal and SoCal-to-Chicago lanes represent the fastest transit times in the industry, offering expedited service at LTL rates.” Roadrunner’s Head of Technology, Operations and Linehaul Tomasz Jamroz said that the company is “committed to building the best long haul LTL network in the industry. Our continuous network optimization is expected to result in additional transit time improvements in 2023.” In addition to transit time reductions, Roadrunner’s new driver app, Haul Now, was released in December 2022 and provides real-time data about shipment location. “We run 0% of our miles on rail and we stopped relying on low-quality third-party agent partners in remote areas,” Shari Leon, Roadrunner vice president of linehaul operations, said.

Torc Robotics partnering with Fortellix for development of autonomous big rig tech

TEL AVIV, Israel — Torc Robotics has announced a multi-year deal to work with Foretellix on Torc’s latest autonomous driving technology for Class 8 trucks. According to a news release, the tech is “capable of testing the millions of driving scenarios required to ensure the safe deployment of Level-4 autonomous trucks.” “Our technology is designed with safety as the first priority,” Axel Gern, Torc senior vice president of engineering and managing director of Torc EU, said. “Our collaboration with Foretellix is in line with Torc’s safety mission. It provides Torc with verification and validation tools to add to our current toolset, based on industry standards, to conduct the massive scale testing and validation we need to ensure the safety of our systems”. The Foretellix platform, known as Foretify, uses the OpenSCENARIO 2.0 standard to describe the possible driving scenarios and define verification and validation goals, according to the news release. The platform uses Foretellix’s L4 highway trucking V-Suites, which is a verification and validation package of scenarios, test plans, maps and KPIs. “Foretify uses these scenarios to generate a multitude of test scenarios in virtual simulation to represent real-world conditions and uncover unknown edge cases,” according to the news release. “Foretify measures and analyzes test results and validation completeness and helps development teams uncover bugs earlier in the development cycle.”

JX Truck Center-Gaylord opens new facility with expanded services

GAYLORD, Mich. – JX Truck Center-Gaylord opened the doors of its new facility to customers on Monday, providing an services that include all makes and models parts, maintenance and repairs, truck rental and leasing, and pre-owned vehicle sales. The newly renovated dealership is off Interstate 75, approximately three miles from its previous parts-only location, at 1160 Milbocker Road in Gaylord, Michigan. With 11,625 sq. ft., the dealership will have large parts and merchandise showrooms, as well as nine service bays with translucent-style overhead doors to maximize natural lighting. JX Truck Center-Gaylord will be fully staffed with personnel from its previous location, including service technicians from other JX Truck Center locations. It is on five acres, with space for truck and trailer parking. “We’re proud to announce the new JX Truck Center-Gaylord is now open for business,” said JX Operations Manager Micah Herin. “We’re ready to serve a greater range of customer needs and provide an outstanding JX Customer Xperience.” Parts and service at JX Truck Center-Gaylord facility will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Monday-Friday and sales, rental and leasing will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, visit jxe.com and jxgbff.org or call 989-735-6003 or toll free at 833-455-1133.

GeoSpace Labs releases AI Dashcam

LAKELAND, Fla. — GeoSpace Labs has launch its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Dashcam. According to a news release, the AI Dashcam :is supported by an enhanced safety platform that transforms the way fleets manage driver safety. GeoSpace’s event intelligence technology analyzes every video within seconds to determine the context and severity. Fleets now have the power to prevent accidents and structurally reduce risk.” Distracted driving is responsible for 87% of preventable crashes every year, according to GeoSpace Labs. “With insurance costs at an all-time high and road crashes predicted to be a leading cause of death over the next decade, operating a safe fleet has never been more critical to the health and success of the businesses that power the physical economy,” the news release stated. Key features of the AI Dashcam include high HD video resolution and a wide field of view for more coverage, up to 104 hours of camera storage and a built-in Quick Capture feature button to instantly initiate an automatic video upload to safety departments. “What we’re doing here at GeoSpace is bringing professional grade technology to the smaller fleets and independent operators who would otherwise struggle to be able to afford these cutting-edge tools,” Mark Rupert, GeoSpace Labs president, said. “We simply don’t believe that cost should be a barrier on American roads to safety.” The GeoSpace Labs advanced AI dashcam and GPS tracking systems products are available at: https://powergps.io

More states are pushing drastic emissions regs — but at what cost?

Not since Benjamin Franklin’s fabled kite-and-key experiment has the concept of electrification jolted the nation as strongly as the push to advance all-electric electric vehicles. The debate over efforts to electrify the freight industry and mothball diesel trucks continues to rage in many parts of the country. Increasingly, this drama is being played out in the statehouse. According to Electric Trucks Now, 16 states, along with the District of Columbia, are in various stages of developing clean air plans in which electric vehicles are central. With about a third of states in this legislative pathway, the likelihood of Washington, D.C., adopting similar federal standards continues to grow. If enacted, these regulations would have far-reaching consequences for the trucking industry — much like the tipping of the first domino in creating a chain reaction. “Different regulations, whether they be environmental or labor-based or whatever the case may be, each have their challenges,” said Dave Williams, senior vice president of equipment and government relations for Knight-Swift Transportation. “This one, from a magnitude standpoint, feels like it could have a greater impact than any of them.” Of the 16 states, six have adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which is now law in California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington state. The rule represents the most aggressive measures yet to replace diesel engines with electric ones. Three more states — Connecticut, Maryland and Maine — are actively working toward ACT legislation. The remaining states (Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and the District of Columbia) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for zero-emission trucks but have yet to advance any legislation. The MOU signals a state’s intent to achieve a goal that 100% of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission by 2050, with an interim target of 30% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030. Williams, who has spent 30 years in the trucking business, says while regulation is nothing unfamiliar in the trucking business, the impact of ACT rules is nothing short of transformative for the industry. “With all regulations, there are things we have to change and there are costs we have to bear,” he said. “But in this case, we’re talking about moving from a piece of equipment that is very flexible, is highly efficient, that has a tremendous amount of range and capability to equipment that doesn’t do near as much work, that costs a lot more and that doesn’t go as far and isn’t as flexible. So, from an impact standpoint, this (regulation) has the potential to rank very high.” California, the bell cow in this lineup, has adopted myriad emissions regulations over just the past two years, going after everything from commercial trucks to passenger cars to leaf blowers. In June 2020, the state’s 16-member California Air Resources Board (CARB), a non-elected body appointed by the governor and legislature, made headlines for adopting ACT, the world’s first zero-emission commercial truck requirement. Per CARB, the regulation “is part of a holistic approach to accelerate a large-scale transition of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles from Class 2b to Class 8.” In addition to addressing new vehicle sales, steadily increasing the percentage of electric models by 2035, the new rules impose a schedule for replacement of diesel trucks with electric ones in existing fleets. Williams says that on the face of such legislation are serious questions about infrastructure and services — such as the power grid limitations and lack of charging stations — to support its implementation. But the bigger issue, he notes, is the piecemeal way in which these laws are coming into being. “Our supply chain — through the (COVID-19) pandemic, we’ve already seen that it’s fairly fragile,” he said. “Now, instead of having the Environmental Protection Agency lead in this area and really set a standard that allows us to have freight in this country move seamlessly, we’ve now got a patchwork started by California and then adopted by various states throughout our country. “California has basically created a de facto national standard and they’re the ones leading the way followed by patchwork regulation that creates confusion and is really inefficient,” he continued. “What we’re ending up with is that you could be on an interstate, going coast-to-coast, and about every 400 to 500 miles, the rules change. So, how do you do that?” Williams says the other problem with the fast-tracking of still-evolving electric vehicles is that it ignores other technologies that are ready now, such as renewable natural gas engines and hybrids. “This is very technology-forcing,” he said. “We’re trying to go somewhere really, really fast. With any new technology, there’s a development cycle. There are things that need to be accomplished in order to mature that technology appropriately. In this case, it feels like we’re trying to skip the middle — that entire development phase that allows us to learn and grow and modify and adapt — and go right to the final phase.” That is problematic in a number of ways, he pointed out. “There are a lot of technologies, that I would call bridge technologies, that help achieve a lot of environmental gains,” he said. “But we’re not spending any time or any money developing those technologies, because of the way the rule is written, there’s no incentive to do that.” The regulations have had assistance from Washington, D.C., with moves that have allowed this patchwork to come into being. Last April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rolled back restrictions that limited states’ ability to pass stricter guidelines on emissions standards and zero-emissions vehicle mandates, mirroring the waiver California has enjoyed since the 1970s. Under former President Donald Trump, such loopholes were closed, including revoking California’s waiver, establishing the framework for uniform regulations and rolling back emissions regs from the Obama administration. Each of these was quickly rescinded by President Joe Biden, which suggests that national guidelines similar to what’s being passed in the states would have a willing ally in the White House. “Make no mistake; clean air, clean water, good environment — these are all things that we all want,” Williams said. “From a sustainability standpoint, we think that’s a great thing. But there’s another form of sustainability that I think is being overlooked, and that’s economic sustainability. It’s not a matter of whether this is a good place to go; it’s how you get there and how fast you get there.”  

SAE International publishes new guidelines for wireless heavy-duty EV charging

WARRENDALE, Pa. – SAE International has published the first Technical Information Report that specifies, in a single document, both electric vehicle and ground-system requirements for heavy-duty wireless charging of EVs. “SAE TIR J2954/2 Wireless Power Transfer & Alignment for Heavy Duty Applications paves the way for charging HD vehicles without the need for plugging in – widely considered to be a key enabler for accelerating the adoption of EVs and autonomous vehicles,” a news release stated. “This new guideline builds off the success of the first light-duty SAE J2954 standard published in 2020. The SAE TIR J2954/2 exponentially increases the power level of Wireless Power Transfer for heavy-duty vehicles.” Power is transferred by creating a magnetic resonance field between the ground transmitting assembly and a vehicle assembly fitted on the underbody of an HD vehicle. The energy crosses an air gap — the ground clearance between the pads — and is then converted from AC into DC on the vehicle to charge the vehicle batteries. “Charging a heavy-duty EV should be as simple as parking in the right spot — the wireless charging SAE TIR J2954/2 Guideline makes it possible to do that automatically,” Jesse Schneider, chair of the SAE Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) Task Force (ZEV Station), said. SAE International said the technology is a safe and efficient method for transferring power from the AC grid supply to the HD EV. Field trials using a 10-inch ground clearance have shown that WPT systems operate at grid-to-battery efficiencies of 92% and above. WPT with additional alignment elements in SAE J2954/2 also offers the potential to fulfill charging requirements for autonomous EVs to charge themselves without human interaction. “The SAE TIR J2954/2 is a game-changer guideline enabling ultra-fast wireless charging to 500kW, for both trucks and buses,” Schneider said. “It also makes it possible for wireless ‘opportunity charging at stops’ for buses to overnight charging without a cord and HD truck sleeper cabs. To top it off, SAE J2954/2 enables dynamic wireless power transfer, making it possible to charge while driving at roadway speeds. This enables a leap forward for wireless charging for EV heavy-duty vehicles by establishing a common vehicle and parking location and frequency.” SAE J2954 recently published an updated Version 2 of its SAE J2954 light-duty standard for wireless power transfer for electric vehicles. This update improves the standard by creating requirements to assist Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) 2750 in creating a certification program for SAE J2954 light-duty systems. “The SAE J2954 Standard has the potential to greatly accelerate validation and therefore commercialization of wireless charging systems for light-duty vehicles,” Jesse Schneider, chair of the SAE WPT Taskforce, added. “SAE TIR J2954/2 Heavy-Duty Wireless Power Transfer has the potential to change the mindset of fleet operators enabling both transit buses and truck fleets to go electric. It makes the whole prospect of charging easier to handle compared to conductive charging,” Mike Masquelier, sub team co-chair J2954 HD WPT (WAVE), said. SAE and UL signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and share WPT standards to help accelerate the certification of wireless power transfer for electric vehicles. “The TIR J2954/2 is a first big step for wireless HD dynamic charging. On-the-go charging will significantly reduce vehicle battery cost, weight and provide a flexible resource to electric utilities,” Dr. Regan Zane, sub team co-chair of dynamic charging (Utah State), said.  

Carrier Logistics to integrate SMC³

ELMSFORD, N.Y. – Carrier Logistics Inc. (CLI) has completed development work to fully integrate with truckload data and solutions provider SMC³. The new integration will benefit customers using FACTS freight management software by automating the handling of less-than-load (LTL) shipments with other capacity providers, a news release stated. “The nature of LTL freight transportation involves complex supply chain logistics that our asset-based clients address every day to efficiently move goods for shippers,” Ben Wiesen, president of CLI, said. “But those carriers sometimes need to provide services outside the geographical footprint they cover with their own trucks and drivers. When their shippers are looking for a single provider with a one-stop solution, the integration we’ve enabled in our FACTS freight management system with SMC³’s LTL APIs (Application Programming Interface) simplifies the selection of a capacity provider with the ability to move a shipment.” Through integration with FACTS  CLI customers can use the SMC³ LTL APIs solution to connect and communicate with the expansive number of LTL carriers in the SMC³ network to: Electronically find carriers with capacity, schedules and equipment that meet their shippers’ needs. Receive quotes from multiple carriers to find the provider who offers the right mix of cost and service. Dispatch orders to capacity providers. Receive automated track and trace updates on in-transit shipments. View and download digital documents including weight certification, proof of delivery, bills of lading, and other critical shipment information. “Driven by the requirement for real-time visibility and connectivity, CLI is using our LTL APIs to offer their customers an integrated next-generation solution, with full visibility across the entire shipment lifecycle,” Brian Thompson, chief commercial officer at SMC³, said. “With this new opportunity, we are leveraging our combined expertise and trustworthiness in the industry and extending our relationship with CLI to offer users a winning combination.”

Vision Truck Group becomes Volvo’s fifth certified EV dealer in Canada 

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America has named Vision Truck Group as the first Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. Vision Truck Group has served the heavy-duty trucking industry for more than 50 years, providing sales, service, modifications and parts across a network of dealerships in Southwestern Ontario. With the certification of its Brampton location, Vision Truck Group’s sales and service team will assist its fleet customers across the region, which includes Brampton, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Toronto, and York, with their transitions to zero-tailpipe emission transportation solutions. “Our team is excited to announce that Vision Truck Group has become the fifth Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer in Canada, further expanding the critical sales and service ecosystem necessary to support scaled deployments of the Volvo VNR Electric model,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Vision Truck Group’s Brampton facility is located near Highway 410, one of the area’s busiest freight traffic corridors, making it a prime location to support fleets interested in deploying the Volvo VNR Electric Trucks for urban pickup and delivery.” Vision Truck Group’s Brampton location was newly designed, built and launched in 2019. It was designed as a dedicated Certified Uptime Center facility with 34 bays. Two of the bays were built with the tooling and barriers to service battery-electric trucks that can be easily expanded as the dealership adds electromobility customers. Given its role in growing Volvo Trucks’ market share and delivering superior customer service, Vision Truck Group received the Volvo Trucks’ Canada Dealer of the Year Award in 2019. “Our dealership has conducted a series of successful EV demo events at our Brampton facility this year and received a lot of interest from customers involved in local goods movement,” Anthony Crombleholme, vice president of sales and marketing at Vision Truck Group, said. “We plan to continue hosting these events, as they enable fleets to experience firsthand the powerful performance and quiet motor in the Volvo VNR Electric trucks.” Volvo Trucks now has certified EV dealers in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Canada, with several dealerships across North America finalizing their certifications in 2022 and 2023.  

Used Class 8 retail volumes trend downward, according to ACT Research

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) were down 19% month-over-month in November, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research. Average mileage was down 1%, with average price down 3% and age up 2%, month-over-month. Longer term, average price and miles were higher year-over-year, with age up 7% year-over-year. “Used truck sales typically see a meaningful fall off in November when compared with October, so the decline was in line with expectations,” Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research, said. “Used Class 8 retail truck sales for November were also meaningfully weaker for longer-term comparisons, falling both year-over-year and year-to-date.” He said near-term channel results show auction sales were up 46% compared to October, while wholesale activity softened 13% month-over-month. In total, the market was 3% lower in November than in October. “We are expecting the total market to decline in 2022,” Tam said. “Looking ahead to 2023, the market is expected to continue falling as inflation triggers a short, shallow general recession, concentrated in the manufacturing segment.”

ACT Research: Net trailer orders decline in November

COLUMBUS, Ind. – November net U.S. trailer orders of 39,590 units were 17% lower compared to last month, -27% on a seasonally-adjusted basis, and 22% above the year-ago November level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report. “Discussions across the past month continue to indicate more OEMs are expanding the availability of 2023 build slots, but 2023 is not yet fully open,” Jennifer McNealy, director–CV market research & publications at ACT Research, said. “Supply-chain concerns still linger, so OEMs are hesitant to overpromise and underdeliver for the second half of 2023, where visibility is limited. That said, nearly as soon as a build slot is available, there is a fleet ready to fill it with an order.” She said backlogs are resuming growth in line with typical seasonality, as orders flow in as more OEMs open or expand their 2023 build slot offerings. “We expect this trend to continue.” McNealy said. “November activity resulted in the industry closing the month with a 7.9-month backlog-to-build ratio (7.3 months seasonally adjusted), as order intake remained stronger than the uptick in build rates.”

November sales of Class 8 trucks seem to belie predictions of recession

With all the predictions of a recession coming — or perhaps that it’s already here — it might be tempting to think carriers will slow down on purchasing of new trucks. Well, that’s not happening. More new Class 8 trucks were sold on the U.S. market in November than in any other November for 22 years, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. November sales even exceeded the record-setting year of 2006, when the market was buoyed by carrier pre-buys of 2006 trucks from buyers hoping to avoid the pitfalls of new EPA diesel engine emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks that took effect with the 2007 model year. In 2022, November sales of 23,075 trucks were reported by manufacturers, an increase of 212 trucks (0.9%) over October sales of 22,863. November was the second-highest sales month of 2022, trailing behind only August. Since December is typically the strongest truck sales month of the year, the November numbers could indicate an exceptionally strong finish to the year. Compared with November 2021, when supply chain issues wreaked havoc on OEM assembly lines, sales this November were up by 39.5%, or 6,536 units. Strong truck sales are expected to continue into 2023, according to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK. “In line with expectations, the industry has witnessed a surge of Class 8 orders into year end,” wrote Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT. “With strong demand in place and inflation metrics moderating, we are now more convinced that first half build rates will be sustained deeper into 2H’23.” ACT reported North American Class 8 net truck orders of 33,000 in November, pushing the backlog of trucks waiting to be built to nearly nine months. “OEMs having opened their orderboards for 2023 more broadly, and ongoing pent-up demand — with tailwinds from strong carrier profitability and elevated fleet age — is proving resilient,” said Eric Crawford, vice president and senior analyst at ACT. “We continue to expect a freight recession, and an eventual economic recession (mild to medium in magnitude), but OEMs at this point have clear visibility to a strong 1H’23 (barring any unforeseen cataclysmic events).” FTR reported preliminary North American Class 8 truck orders of 34,300 units. While that number is down from September and October order numbers, it’s a whopping 254% higher than November 2021. November is still the third-highest order month of 2022. In the FTR report, Jonathan Starks, chief executive officer and chief intelligence officer, commented, “The market remains strong despite the economic uncertainties, and production still will be limited to some extent by supply chains and labor.” Order and production numbers from various reporting agencies often differ because of differences in reporting manufacturers and dates. While orders for new trucks were high in September and October, the used tractor market was considerably softer. October same dealer sales declined by 19% from September numbers, according the ACT’s State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks. Compared to October 2021, sales declined 42%. The average price of used tractors rose by 15% compared to last October, while the average age and average odometer mileage rose slightly. The sales decline seems unusual in light of strong new truck sales and orders, but carriers holding on to current fleet trucks longer because of wait times for new trucks can keep the number of available used trucks lower than usual, resulting in fewer trucks sold and higher prices. Of the individual manufacturers, Freightliner is responsible for 38.1% of all U.S. new Class 8 truck sales in 2022, about the same percentage as last year. In November, the company reported sales of 8,453, down 6.7% from 9,056 in October but 37.8% ahead of November 2021 sales of 6,134. The other Daimler-owned U.S. company, Western Star, is at the opposite end of the new Class 8 spectrum with November sales of 465, up 11% from 419 sold in October but down 7.6% from November 2021 sales of 503. Western Star is responsible for 2.5% of sales this year. International sales of 3,016 in November showed a decline of 0.9% from October, but an eye-popping increase of 129.5% over last November, when the company sold 1,314 Class 8 trucks. For the year to date, the company has increased sales by 16.8% compared to the average increase of all OEMs combined (14.2%). The company’s market share increased from 12.3% in 2021 to 12.6% in 2022. International appears to have put regulatory issues about its engines and emissions control systems in its rear-view mirror and is performing well under Traton Group ownership. Volvo’s numbers look sad for November — but in a year-over-year comparison, the OEM increased sales over 2021 by 32.3%, the largest percentage of sales growth of any of the major manufacturers. November sales of 2,121 were down 18.6% from October’s 2,606, but still accounted for 3.6% of November 2021 numbers. Sibling Mack hasn’t fared as well for 2022. November’s 1,665 trucks sold was 25.4% higher than October’s 1,328, but the year-over-year comparison isn’t as positive. Class 8 sales at Mack are down 7.2% from the same point in 2021, and its percentage of the market has shrunk from 8% to 6.5%. Mack sells a healthy percentage of its Class 8 trucks to the vocational market, which isn’t as dependent on over-the-road freight rates. Peterbilt’s November sales of 3,612 ran 6.7% ahead of October numbers and 27.1% ahead of November 2021 sales. For the year to date, Peterbilt sales are 16.2% ahead of last year’s pace and the company has sold 15.2% of new Class 8 trucks on the U.S. market. Kenworth sales of 3,743 was an increase of 23.6% over last November. For the first 11 months of 2022, the company has sold 12.5% more Class 8 trucks than for the same period last year and is responsible for 14.3% of the U.S. market. With sales to date of 225,360 as of the end of November, the U.S. new Class 8 market has already surpassed the 2021 full-year total of 221,971. A very strong December should push sales over the quarter-million truck mark.

Trucker Path, Transport Pro partner to expand load visibility for drivers, fleets 

PHOENIX — Brokers using the Transport Pro TMS solution can now post loads on the Trucker Path TruckLoads digital freight exchange. The integration with TruckLoads instantly puts available loads in front of Trucker Path’s 1 million-plus community of drivers, according to a news release. “With the instant access to TruckLoads through our integration with Transport Pro, their brokers can substantially increase exposure to loads,” Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path, said. “At the same time, the community of Trucker Path users gains immediate access to more available freight. This integrated capability will help meet capacity needs for brokers, and enhance the ability of drivers and fleets using TruckLoads to easily find loads and generate revenue.” The new integration with Transport Pro allows brokers to opt in to post all of their available loads on TruckLoads with a single click. On the Trucker Path load board, users can lock in capacity instantly and digitally, or communicate directly with the broker to negotiate rates or ask questions. Drivers and carriers can also verify their operating authority and insurance on the platform, simplifying the onboarding process for brokers. The integration also offers a link back to Transport Pro’s Book Now platform, which increases online booking visibility. “By providing a seamless, automated integration to TruckLoads, Trucker Path enables our brokers to further expand their digital freight network,” Kenneth Kloeppel, director of technology at Transport Pro, said. “This new integration gives them an additional resource for finding quality capacity and meeting the freight hauling needs of their shipper customers.”  

Roadrunner launches Haul Now app

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Roadrunner, a less-than-truckload carrier specializing in long haul metro-to-metro shipping, announced the launch of its new Haul Now app. Designed for long-haul owner-operators and teams, the free app aims to enable them to schedule their own loads, track their settlements and run as many miles as possible, according to a news release. “Haul Now is a game-changer because it gives drivers autonomy over their businesses,” Roadrunner Head of Technology, Operations and Linehaul Tomasz Jamroz said. “For all the talk about the Uberization of freight, this is the real deal – drivers can finally schedule their own loads. The more miles they drive, the more pay they earn. This is consistent with our mission of empowering entrepreneurs to pursue the American dream, Haul Now means less downtime and more earnings for drivers.” Haul Now provides a single place for drivers to choose loads, plan consecutive trips, update status, check settlements, review routes and loads, contact terminal dispatchers, receive important reminders in real time and reach out for help if necessary. This is done via functionality that currently exists only in consumer ride sharing apps such as Lyft and Uber. Roadrunner has built an internal team focused on product-centric design and a continuous development life cycle with multiple planned subsequent releases. In Haul Now 2.0, Roadrunner is planning to open the platform to external drivers and partners to enable enhanced visibility for customers and further enable their owner-operator model. Owner-operators interested in using Haul Now should contact Roadrunner at (866) 718-5705. Using GPS location and hours of service available, Haul Now allows drivers to find available loads at their desired terminal and filter by the number of miles they want to drive. “Roadrunner’s proprietary algorithm ensures optimal driver assignment by preselecting teams vs. solo drivers or selecting hazmat if required to assign the best drivers and ensure strict service and fast transit standards are being met,” the news release stated. “The interface shows critical terminal information such as an address, hours of operation and contact information all in one centralized location. Assigned loads are stored in one place for easy review of pickup details, rate per mile, destination information and more. Additionally, all settlement information is easily viewed to see the total money earned and what payments are pending.” Roadrunner uses the latest mobile tech stack with a focus on the speed and integrity of the information available to drivers in real-time. The app utilizes the latest tracking technologies, machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence, as well as IoT integration. “The Roadrunner technology team has worked on this app that utilizes the latest technology advancements in app development,” Director of Technology David Rumpf said. “It will be available at launch in both the Google Play and Apple App stores. We have designed this app working closely with our drivers, linehaul team, and our UX/UI product team, and we are extremely proud to demonstrate our internal technology capabilities.”