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CARB extends verification for some Carrier Transicold systems

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Air Resources Board has extended the verification of the Carrier Transicold Engine Emissions System Level 3 Plus Diesel Particulate Filter to include Carrier Transicold Trailer Transport Refrigeration Units that are powered by 2011 through 2022 model year Kubota manufactured off‑road diesel engines rated below 25 horsepower. The Carrier EES reduces emissions of diesel particulate matter by at least 85% and is designated as a Level 3 Plus system, a news release stated. The updated executive order for Carrier EES, along with the Engine Family List with the newly added engine families for model years 2011, 2021 and 2022, are available on CARB’s website. The Regulation for the Verification Procedure for In-Use Strategies to Control Emissions from Diesel Engines was created and adopted by our Board on May 16, 2002. “The goal of the Verification Procedure is to ensure that verified systems produce emissions reductions consistent with the verification level and that they are durable and compatible with various engines and applications,” according to the news release. Additional information on the regulation is available on CARB’s Verification Procedure for In-Use Strategies to Control Emissions from Diesel Engines website.  

Embark expands autonomous network from coast to coast in Sunbelt markets

SAN FRANCISCO — In a move the company says launches the backbone for coast-to-coast coverage, Embark Trucks Inc. announced Tuesday, Nov. 1, that it has added four new autonomous trucking facilities in the Sunbelt states. The Embark coverage map now includes nine transfer point sites in cities across the southern part of the U.S. New locations in Dallas and El Paso, Texas, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, Florida, join five existing sites in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, Phoenix, San Antonio and Houston. The nine sites were strategically selected to facilitate the eventual automation of crucial freight corridors for Embark’s carrier partners. The expanded network Embark is positioned to serve the Sunbelt network covered 9.5 billion miles of annual freight in 2020, including Dallas to Houston, San Antonio to Houston, and Dallas to Atlanta — some of the highest-volume inter-city lanes in the nation. According to Embark, 41% of shipment miles in the company’s expanded coverage map are along routes that are longer than drivers can complete in a single shift because of hours-of-service regulations. Once Embark’s technology is commercialized, the company estimates that 28% of U.S. shipping volume in the Sunbelt will be available for 24/7 autonomous transport operations by the company’s carrier partners. “Our carrier partners have a meaningful portion of their loads concentrated on a select set of lanes between major markets in the Sunbelt,” said Alex Rodrigues, CEO of Embark. “We are delivering on one of our key 2022 objectives by activating these key markets as one cohesive network today, giving carrier partners the line of sight, they need to plan their deployment of Embark-equipped trucks, improving the ecosystem’s ability to rapidly scale in 2024.” Currently, Embark’s coverage map is being used for multiple pilot projects with fleet partners. Through a long-standing partnership with Ryder, Embark is able to provide inspections and support services necessary to keep trucks moving in an efficient and safe manner.

CARB holds public hearing on regulations phasing out gas-powered vehicles

SACRAMENTO — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has held its first public hearing to receive feedback from the public on a proposal under consideration by state air regulators to phase out the sale of medium and heavy-duty gas-powered vehicles with the next 20 years. The new proposal, if adopted, would require all new medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2040. It also outlines a phased approach to adding zero-emission vehicles to certain fleets at the state and federal levels. The proposal calls for half of the vehicles added to state and local government fleets to be zero-emission starting in 2024 and 100$ by 2027. Federal fleets and fleets with 50 or more trucks can either phase in the use of zero-emission vehicles or begin purchasing all zero-emission vehicles in 2024 and retire combustion engine vehicles at the end of their useful cycle. The transportation industry accounts for 41% of the state’s emissions inventory with medium and heavy-duty trucks contributing a quarter of that sector’s emissions, according to CARB. CARB has already approved regulations requiring all cars sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. California truck drivers, public health organizations and environmental groups gave their feedback at CARB’s Thursday, Oct. 27, meeting to express concerns and express support for the new rules. Environmental groups expressed support but also wanted additional changes. Trucking industry representatives expressed concerns about the infrastructure needed to implement the board’s proposal and questioned the strength of the state’s electric grid to handle demands. The California Energy Commission has estimated that 157,000 chargers are necessary by 2030 to support the transition to electrification. Kiowa County Press reported that the Air Resources Board is expected to hold a second public hearing on the proposal before taking a vote in the spring.

Iowa rolls out app to help current, future commercial drivers

ANKENY, Iowa –- The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has rolled out an updated app to help future commercial drivers become licensed and aid those who already hold CDLs. According to an IDOT news release, the upgrade “will provide additional resources to Iowans, specifically around the pre-trip portion of the CDL skills test. The update includes 19 pre-trip instructional videos together with 130 new sample test questions. The addition of these videos and questions will provide more support and training materials designed to assist customers in successfully preparing for the necessary pre-trip vehicle inspection test.” The app also helps current CDL holders prepare for endorsements to their license including school bus, passenger and construction (i.e. air brakes). It includes information from the CDL manual that is broken down into sections along with micro-quizzes and full-length practice tests, all designed to be similar to the actual exam, according to IDOT. In addition, there is a dashboard for individual users featuring their progress which helps identify any knowledge gaps prior to taking the exam. The driver’s license test app is available for Android and iOS devices and was developed in partnership between IDOT and Iowa-based company Higher Learning Technologies. “It is a shining example of how private industry and government can work together to help make our citizens more successful,” the news release stated. “Commercial drivers are critical to our businesses, state and economy.” The app is free to anyone with a valid Iowa driver’s license.

S2Q Systems launches new program to help speed up load bidding

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – S2Q Systems has launched a new platform called Speed to Bid, which is designed to help transportation and logistics companies enhance their ability to bid on shipments nationwide in under a few seconds. S2Q officials say their new program can do this by aggregating third party spot freight bidding platforms into one. “Speed to Bid allows for thoughtful automation to speed up the process of spot freight bidding, but without the need for expensive bots and other cumbersome autonomous type systems,” Ben Derin, founder of S2Q Systems, said. “With Speed to Bid, freight brokers and carriers who don’t have unlimited tech budgets can now bid with ease.” Speed to Bid is currently only available to existing S2Q Systems customers but will become available to the entire market on Dec. 1.

Trucking profitability likely to buoy new Class 8 trucks sales into 2023

U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks remained strong in September with movement of 23,357 units reported by the manufacturers, according to data received from ACT Research. Compared with September of 2021, sales increased by 33%. September represented the fifth consecutive month of sales of over 20,000 units, after exceeding that threshold only once in 2021. Sales numbers did decline some from August to September — by about 2.5% — a drop that could be attributed to having one less business day in the latter month. Whatever the reason, it’s apparent the supply chain issues that plagued manufacturers for more than a year have abated somewhat. Trucks are being built. Orders for new trucks, which had fallen off earlier in the year, reached record levels in September as North American buyers ordered 53,700 new trucks. Some of the orders can be attributed to buyers canceling orders for 2022 models and replacing them with orders for 2023 models. Cancellations, however, remained low. The demand for new trucks remains high, despite declining rates and inflationary pressures. Another reason for the increased Class 8 orders could simply be timing. “The strength in orders reflects OEMs’ having fully opened their order boards for 2023 a bit earlier than normal, as the seasonally weak period for truck orders typically runs May-September,” said Eric Crawford, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research in an early October press release. If it seems strange that carriers are ordering more trucks at a time when fuel costs are up and freight rates are declining … well, that’s because it IS strange. The trucking cycle seems to be in a weird exception to the usual process. “We weren’t able to oversupply the market like we normally would have,” Crawford explained. “So, 2022 is less than it otherwise would have been.” In a nutshell, what Crawford means is that when rates are up and freight is plentiful, carriers buy trucks while profits are easier to come by. The usual result is overcapacity — too many trucks to haul the available freight. This time, however, carriers couldn’t buy all the trucks they wanted because the manufacturers couldn’t build enough. The result, for trucking, is that rates remained high for longer than they normally would. Spot rates have declined, but contract rates are just beginning to come down. The end result is that carriers are still making money. “We expect (contract rates) to follow suit, but still, carriers are at near-record profitability, really healthy cash flow,” Crawford said. “We still we still think next year is going to be a pretty healthy year.” Carriers that are earning profits tend to invest some of those profits into new equipment. According to Crawford, ACT predicts sales of 296,000 new Class 8 trucks next year. New equipment provides another benefit: Newer trucks are generally equipped with the latest technology, providing better fuel mileage as well as improved safety due to ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) features on newer models. The proverbial fly in the ointment, however, is unemployment. “Unemployment hasn’t been lower than 3.5% since Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon,” Crawford said. “We’re talking about a tight labor market and wage inflation. Wage inflation is the key driver for core inflation, and core inflation is what the Fed is trying to get rid of.” While low unemployment numbers seem like a great thing, the law of supply and demand applies to labor, too. With workers harder to come by, businesses are more willing to raise wages to keep their workforce, often raising the prices of their products to compensate. This process pushes the inflation rate upward. As for truck manufacturers, Freightliner sales of 8,395 Class 8 trucks on the U.S. market led all manufacturers in September, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. That number was down 1,388 trucks (14.2%) from August sales of 9,783, and was the largest decline by number of all manufacturers. Only tiny Western Star saw a larger decline by percentage, selling 392 trucks in September compared to 604 in August for a decline of 35.1%. International saw results trending in the opposite direction, selling 3,848 trucks in September, a 40% increase over August sales of 2,749. Compared with September 2021, International sales rose by 1,768 trucks — a whopping 85%. Volvo’s 2,432 trucks sold in September bested August sales of 2,243 by 8.4% and topped September 2021 sales of 1,713 by 42%. Volvo sibling Mack Trucks didn’t fare as well, with sales of 1,441 representing a decline of 9.6% from August sales of 1,594 — and a decline of 8.0% from September 2021 sales of 1,566. Kenworth reported a 5% sales decline, with August sales of 3,310 dropping to 3,146 in September. Compared with September 2021, however, sales numbers increased 19.8%. PACCAR sibling Peterbilt sold 3,317 Class 8 trucks on the U.S. market in September, rising 0.6% from 3,298 in August and showing an impressive 73.7% gain over September 2021 sales of 1,910. On a market share basis, Freightliner holds 38.1% of 2022 sales, down slightly from 38.3% at the same point last year, despite selling 5,695 more trucks. Peterbilt is next, with 15.1% compared to 14.8% at the same point last year. Kenworth is at 14.2% of U.S. Class 8 sales year to date, down from 14.8% at the same time last year, even though the manufacturer sold 1,207 more trucks. International is next with 12.4% of the Class 8 market, down from 12.6% at the same point last year but improved, with strong sales in the last several months. Volvo commands 11% of this year’s market, an improvement from 8.8% at the same point of 2021. Mack owns 6.3%, down slightly from 6.5% after the first three quarters of 2021. As a whole, the U.S. Class 8 market is 9.6% ahead of last year’s pace at the end of September and is performing better than predicted earlier in the year. As pundits continue to discuss an economic recession in the first half of 2022, Class 8 truck sales should continue to buck the trend by increasing. Lower freight rates, however, have already pushed more used trucks to the market, increasing the supply and beginning to push prices downward.

Fleet Advantage to order 200 electric Class 8 tractors

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fleet Advantage will be placing orders for 200 electric vehicle (EV) Class 8 tractors for deliveries commencing in calendar year 2023. “Fleet Advantage has 14,000 tractors under management and is committed to assisting its customers’ transition to alternative energies toward a zero-emissions goal using off balance sheet lease financing with little or no residual risk,” a news release stated. “All corporate fleets are considering how to transition from diesel internal combustion to zero emission “green trucks.” This purchase will be the company’s first major purchase of alternative energy trucks.” This initial purchase will be placed in service based on duty cycles and supply chain locations with reduced radius operations. “Fleet Advantage has identified a considerably greater volume of electric equipment that will complement their customers’ supply chain, reducing exhaust emissions and operating costs while enhancing corporate environmental, social and governance goals,” according to the news release. Fleet Advantage says it has a targeted a five-year plan to significantly grow its electric fleet by working with America’s top corporate fleets, including five of the top 10 private fleets in the country. “With the advancement of EV technology and growing interest in alternative fuel applications, we are excited to be in position to deliver new EV trucks for our customers,” Brian Antonellis, CTP and senior vice president of fleet operations for Fleet Advantage, said. “Fleet Advantage has already established its environmental leadership with a rich history of transportation asset management and flexible financing solutions that significantly reduce operating costs along with up to a 28% baseline reduction in CO2 emissions and carbon footprint.”

Volvo’s electromobility tool to help customers make decisions on electric trucks

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America has introduced a new electromobility total cost of ownership (TCO) tool to help potential customers decide whether purchasing and operating zero-tailpipe emission battery-electric trucks is right for them and their businesses. The TCO tool, now available for Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealerships throughout North America, is part of Volvo Trucks’ “concierge approach to electromobility, which includes helping customers implement solutions that achieve both economic and environmental, social and governance goals,” a news release stated. “When evaluating the investment of deploying a truck into your fleet, the purchase price is only one factor,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “While battery-electric trucks currently require a higher up-front purchasing investment than traditional diesel trucks, customers can benefit from available funding and incentive programs. Additionally, electric trucks eliminate many of the standard maintenance requirements compared to diesel trucks and offer managed charging costs, and the ability to make meaningful progress toward sustainability goals. Our electromobility TCO tool helps customers to understand and evaluate the full impact of their fleet purchasing decisions.” Evaluating the TCO of operating a commercial vehicle requires the consideration of multiple fixed and variable costs throughout the vehicle’s lifetime, including purchase price, maintenance, fueling, funding, tax credits and other factors, according to Volvo. “Through the TCO tool, prospective electric adopters can see the bigger picture, allowing for better long-term purchasing decisions that help promote the decision to transition to zero-tailpipe emission transportation solutions,” according to the news release. “When all these factors are evaluated, the TCO tool provides fleets with a transparent projection and comparison of the lifetime cost between battery-electric trucks and their diesel counterparts — including costs for repairs and maintenance, the current price of diesel fuel and electricity, and the estimated cost to purchase and install fueling or charging infrastructure.” To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website.  

DTNA to integrate Lytx video telematics system, cameras into select trucks

SAN DIEGO —  Select Freightliner and Western Star tractor models will soon be equipped with a new telematics and camera system designed to improve safety. Lytx Inc. made the announcement about its partnership with Daimler Trucks North America at this year’s American Trucking Association’s Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. “The solution will leverage Lytx’s Lytx DriveCam components, which will be integrated in the vehicle during the production of those models,” a news release stated. Customers can begin placing orders later this fall, with the first Lytx-equipped trucks to be built in early 2023 for the Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star X-Series line of 47X, 49X and 57X models. “Combining our business strategy of offering customer-first solutions with the configuration options within the Lytx Vision Platform,” Brandon Nixon, chairman and CEO of Lytx, said. “This integration partnership highlights our passion for leveraging our technology and expertise to provide companies with custom solutions to fit their needs.” Parked Feature “One of the lesser-known safety hazards that commercial drivers face is the challenge of locating a safe place to pull their rigs over,” the news release stated. “Drivers are often forced to park on the shoulders of interstates/highways or on/off ramps if no other options appear available. This type of risky parking can increase the chances of devastating collisions, serious injuries and financial liability risk for companies. The safety issue has received increased attention recently due to an announcement by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg that over $37 million in federal funding has been awarded to expand safe truck parking in Florida and Tennessee.” To help mitigate this rising risk, in the coming weeks, Lytx will provide a new feature for fleet managers looking to increase their vehicle parking visibility, as well as improve their operational efficiency and driver safety. The feature, called Parked-Highway/Ramp, triggers when the Lytx DriveCam event recorder identifies a stopped vehicle (for 10 minutes or more) and assesses if it is located on the shoulder of an interstate or highway or on an off/on ramp where other vehicles may be passing by. When a Parked-Highway/Ramp event occurs, the fleet manager is notified so that they can quickly intervene by sending nearby safe parking locations via GPS directly to their driver. Development of the Parked feature was initiated through a close collaboration with customers within Lytx Lab, an idea incubator and a way for Lytx engineers and safety experts to work directly with customers to address market needs. “The primary mission of Lytx Lab is to work closely with our clients during the research and development process in order to get a better understanding of what the market needs, enabling us to accelerate innovation and quickly deliver new tools powered by the Lytx Vision Platform that companies can use to improve their safety programs and operations,” Rajesh Rudraradhya, Lytx’s chief technology officer, said. “With the incredibly insightful feedback we received from customers using the feature in its early stages, we were better able to iterate and refine the final version of Parked-Highway/Ramp, the first official experiment to originate from Lytx Lab and be publicly released.”

Damaged or neglected tires can wreak havoc for drivers

Modern trucks are equipped with features that truckers several decades ago couldn’t even dream about. They are incredibly complex machines. Yet, there is one feature of every truck that is pretty simple. It’s also one of the most neglected. That vital component is the tires. If there’s an example in trucking of a product that has gotten so good that it’s taken for granted, it’s tires. The days of dangerous split rims, tubes and frequent maintenance are long gone. Today, tires are almost an install-and-forget item, providing 100,000 miles or more of flawless service without a problem. Tires aren’t, however, infallible. Tires can suffer damage from improper inflation, road hazards, overload and other conditions — and they can fail spectacularly, often at the most inopportune moments. A steer tire blowout can cause immediate loss of control and result in a catastrophic accident. That’s a worst-case scenario, but a failed tire can easily cost a truck owner both hours and dollars in an industry when both are at a premium. Good drivers know that a small amount of care can help keep tires faithfully performing their job longer. It starts with selecting the right tires for the job. Discounted, off-brand tires may save money at purchase time, but they could end up costing much more because of problems down the road. Drivers are often dismayed to notice uneven wear or even tread damage to tires that aren’t very old. In many cases, uneven wear can be caused by improper inflation or by wheels that are out of alignment. Cheap tires, however, are sometimes made with inferior rubber and other materials, or they can be improperly molded — including out-of-round or other imbalance conditions — right from the assembly line. One way to save money on new tires is to ask about “blems.” These are blemished tires that might have some cosmetic damage but are otherwise just as sound as unblemished versions. Blems can often be mounted so that the blemish can’t be seen without crawling under the truck, and they provide the benefits of quality tires at a reduced cost. Retreaded tires are another option, and some drivers have great success with them. Unfortunately, while some retread companies are reputable and reject damaged carcasses, there are a few that will retread just about anything. Inspect retreaded tires carefully, including a look inside for patches or hidden damage. Occasionally, it may be necessary to purchase a used tire to replace one that is too damaged to repair. If the used tire is to be paired with a tire already on the vehicle, the tread depth and diameter of the two tires should match. If they don’t, one tire may take on more weight than the other. When purchasing a new truck, wide-base tires may be an option for the drive axles. These tires have evolved from the “super-single” versions that were tested back in the ’90s. They’ve come a long way, providing more traction and longer life expectancy than their predecessors. Wide-base tires save weight — and therefore, fuel — and because of this, they are popular choices. A potential downside is that when one goes flat, there isn’t another tire next to it to absorb the load. A flat tire will put your truck on the side of the road until help arrives. It’s the driver’s responsibility to make sure the truck’s tires are inspected regularly, and that includes air pressure in the tire. A whack with a “tire thumper,” a hammer or even a flat hand can indicate that a tire is flat or dangerously low on air, but only an air-pressure gauge can detect smaller discrepancies. In some cases, an inflation pressure that is only a few PSI (pound per square inch) off can cause damage. In the case of steer tires, differing air pressures can cause the truck to pull to one side or the other. In cases where tandem tires are used, low air pressure in one tire can cause the tire beside it to absorb more of the weight that should be split evenly between them, increasing heat buildup and possibly overloading the tire. In any case, too little or too much air pressure can cause uneven tread wear, reducing the tire’s useful life. Every driver should carry a tire gauge. In addition, a handy device to have on hand is an air hose that will connect to the tractor’s emergency brake like. By pushing in the tractor protection valve, leaving the red trailer valve engaged, the air line is charged with enough pressure to air up a truck tire. Without an air hose, the driver must hope the truck makes it to the nearest truck stop and that there is an accessible air hose to use. Tires should be thoroughly inspected, including both the sides and the tread, during every pre or post-trip inspection. Foreign objects lodged in the tread can work their way through steel belts and into the tire’s air chamber, causing problems later. Often, objects such as screws and nails can be pulled out of the tread before they break through. Even when objects penetrate deeply enough to cause an air leak, the sooner they are removed the better. The longer they remain, the more damage they can do, potentially creating holes that are too large to repair. Holes, cuts and tears in tire sidewalls can’t be repaired, so it’s very important to inspect them regularly. Even on the brightest day, a flashlight may be necessary to get a good look between tandem tires or to view the inward side of tires. If damage is found, the tire must be replaced. Bulges or bubbles in the sidewall indicate a problem with an inner layer of the tire, allowing air to push out the sidewall. These should be looked at quickly. These bulges will only get worse if left alone — and they will eventually result in a blowout. Additional, quick inspections should be done whenever the truck is stopped. Checking each tire’s air pressure more than once a day is not necessary unless a problem is detected. A walk around and visual inspection, however, can help identify recent damage and prevent a bigger problem later. Some drivers make a habit of walking down one side of their truck on the way to the truck stop’s restaurant or restroom and then checking the other side on the walk back. Tires are one of the most abused items on a truck. Take care of yours — and they’ll take care of you.

Parade, TruckSmarter integrate for improved freight brokering

SAN FRANCISCO — Parade has announced a partnership with TruckSmarter that will give truck drivers real-time access to freight brokers. Brokers, in turn, can use the Parade platform to expand their carrier network and book freight with drivers via TruckSmarter, according to a news release. “TruckSmarter helps carriers and truckers find freight faster with its free load board,” the news release stated. “Users can act on their own volition and search by a variety of filters, including weight, distance, rates per mile, price, deadhead, pickup/drop-off radius and preferred brokers. Parade enables freight brokers to access TruckSmarter carriers through a single-click, zero-implementation integration.” A freight broker can immediately post freight to the TruckSmarter load board and begin receiving digital quotes on loads from interested carriers. Carriers can see all the available loads and book them based on their preferences, reducing the need for phone calls and manual activities. “TruckSmarter carriers get more bookings, while Parade freight brokerage customers get access to more carriers through the integration,” according to the news release. “There’s a sense of security you find with TruckSmarter that you can’t find with other load boards due to their invite-only system,” said Matt Newcomb, manager of carrier development at ARL Logistics LLC. “We can breathe easy knowing their quotes and carriers are not a part of the same logistics jungle most brokers are accustomed to.”  

Peterbilt’s advanced technology vehicles on display at ATA event

SAN DIEGO — Peterbilt Motors Co. is showcasing its advanced technology vehicles at the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Management Conference and Exhibition show in San Diego. The show ends Tuesday, Oct. 25. Peterbilt is also premiering its new SuperTruck II demonstrator vehicle. The goal of the SuperTruck II program, initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy, is to improve long-haul Class 8 vehicle freight efficiency, according to Peterbilt. “The program focuses on advanced and highly efficient powertrain systems and vehicle technologies that meet prevailing emissions and Class 8 tractor-trailer vehicle safety and regulatory requirements,” a news release stated. “In addition to the benefits of reduced fuel consumption and petroleum usage, the improvements in engine system efficiency will deliver a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.” SuperTruck II features an aerodynamic shape with a center drive position that improves overall visibility, a right-hand entry stand-up door, pop-out windows, cameras in place of mirrors, and custom tires and wheels. Other features include a mild hybrid powertrain, a waste heat recovery system and a lightweight chassis for improved fuel economy. The split-level integral cab and sleeper features a large, wrap-around dash with a 15-inch digital dash display for virtual gauges and critical vehicle data; an additional display for HVAC, infotainment and navigation controls; an articulated seat that rotates left and right; and a pull-out desk. “SuperTruck II is a perfect example of how Purposeful Innovation is at the center of Peterbilt’s development of advanced technologies and products in order to provide meaningful, tangible benefits to our customers,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The collaboration with our partners on this program has been incredibly successful and we are pleased to show this truck to the industry and customers for the first time at ATA.” The Peterbilt Model 579, equipped with the L4 advanced autonomous Aurora Driver, has also been on display at the ATA event. Aurora is testing and validating the fourth Beta software generation of the Aurora Driver with customers in Texas. Aurora’s next-generation sensor suite features high-resolution custom cameras that provide a nearly 360-degree field of view, along with FirstLight lidar, which can instantly track and measure the velocity of moving objects seven seconds faster than traditional lidar and imaging radar. This provides full coverage in challenging weather conditions. The company said it continues to refine its hardware kit for commercialization. Rounding out Peterbilt’s ATA display is the battery-electric Model 579EV, delivering zero-emissions performance for regional haul, drayage, pickup and delivery and last mile operations. The 579EV features a battery-electric drive system with a 150-mile range that can be recharged in as little as three hours.  

Paccar issues recall for nearly 80,000 trucks over faulty digital dash display

WASHINGTON — PACCAR has issued a recall for 76,492 late-model Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks due to a faulty digital dash display. Affected 2022 and 2023 models include Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 and Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 567 and 579 vehicles equipped with a 15-inch display screen. The manufacturer estimates that about 1% of the recalled trucks are likely affected by the glitch. On Oct. 18, PACCAR reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the display can freeze, preventing the system from updating. The freeze can also mean a loss of current indicators and warnings, such as the speedometer and telltales, increasing the risk of a crash. The NHTSA recall number is 22V-779. There have been no crashes related to the issue, according to the NHTSA. Paccar plans to install updated software in recalled trucks within 60 days. Owner and dealer notification is planned for Dec. 16. Paccar told the NHTSA that it found 57 warranty claims from May 2021 to September 2022 related to the digital dash system supplied by Stoneridge Inc. Paccar learned of the issue in August, and Stoneridge implemented a software fix Sept. 15.  

TeraWatt developing I-10 charging corridor for electric big rigs

SAN FRANCISCO — Electric fleet power company TeraWatt Infrastructure is developing the first network of high-powered charging centers for heavy-duty and medium-duty electric trucks along the Interstate 10, stretching from the Port of Long Beach, California to El Paso, Texas. The I-10 Electric Corridor will consist of multiple facilities, called TeraWatt Charging Centers, that will be spread across California, Arizona and New Mexico, a news release stated. “TeraWatt Charging Centers will be purpose-built to serve heavy-duty and medium-duty electric fleets, featuring dozens of direct current (DC) fast chargers, pull-through charging stalls, on-site driver amenities and reliable operations,” according to the news release. This will include “resiliency generation and zero carbon electricity options,” the company said. TeraWatt will offer access to these sites both for the purposes of long-haul and local electric trucking operations. “Long-haul trucking electrification represents a significant opportunity to reduce transportation sector emissions, but hinges on the rapid scale up of specialized charging infrastructure,” TeraWatt CEO, Neha Palmer said. “Our real estate and energy infrastructure development platform uniquely positions TeraWatt to solve the ‘charging problem’ for trucking operators, making freight electrification achievable within their operations.” The TeraWatt Charging Centers will be located approximately 150 miles apart to support the mileage range of commercially available electric trucks. These sites are located less than one mile from the nearest highway exit for ease of access and range in size between four to 100 acres, depending on location. TeraWatt is partnering with local and state governments and utilities and plans to leverage various grants and incentives, which, the company said, will provide additional benefits to charging customers.

Tradelink Transport increases number of electric trucks in fleet

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America customer Tradelink Transport, a minority-owned trucking company based in Compton, California, recently purchased 15 Volvo VNR Electric trucks for its land-bridge operations. According to a news release, the company transports a variety of products for major shipping companies between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and nearby rail yards. “The Class 8, zero-tailpipe emission trucks will provide air quality and noise-reduction benefits to the disadvantaged communities located adjacent to the ports and interstates 110 and 710,” the news release stated. “Since we started our business in 1998, Tradelink Transport has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable transportation, having always utilized a mix of new compressed natural gas trucks and the cleanest diesel models available,” Rigoberto Cea, president of Tradelink Transport, said. “With this order of 15 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, we are excited to become one of the first fleets in the nation to deploy battery-electric trucks and supporting infrastructure into our operations at scale. Our drivers are excited to drive the new VNR Electric trucks. Most live within a 15-mile radius of our facility and see how vital it is for the trucking industry to reduce its emissions and community impact.” Tradelink Transport’s 15 Volvo VNR Electric trucks will comprise nearly 30% of the total fleet once the trucks are deployed into its existing fleet of 40 Class 8 trucks at its Compton transfer facility. To determine which of its routes were the most ideal for battery-electric trucks, Tradelink Transport worked with TEC Equipment – La Mirada, a Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer, and Volvo Trucks North America, to simulate real-world Volvo VNR Electric truck routes via Volvo Trucks’ Electric Performance Generator (EPG) route planning tool. The EPG application takes into consideration the vehicle configuration and battery capacity, environmental factors such as terrain and ambient temperature, and specific route details, including traffic patterns. “The EPG route planning tool helped us identify a driver training opportunity by highlighting that the heavy traffic around the ports will allow significant regenerative braking,” Tracey Craik, regional sales director at TEC Equipment, said. “This in turn can increase range by returning up to 15% of the power back to the battery. In addition to route planning and driver training, TEC Equipment has supported Tradelink Transport in growing its Volvo VNR Electric fleet by identifying zero-tailpipe emission vehicle funding opportunities available to fleets that operate in disadvantaged communities.” Ten of the 15 Volvo VNR Electric trucks were purchased with vouchers from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Launched by the California Air Resources Board in 2009, HVIP provides point-of-sale vouchers to make advanced technology vehicles more affordable with first-come first-served incentives that reduce the incremental cost of commercial vehicles. “The Volvo VNR Electric is an ideal solution to support fleet customers with local and regional distribution, including port drayage, with less noise and emissions,” Jared Ruiz, acting head of electromobility sales for North America at Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Tradelink Transport recognized the significant benefits they could provide to the communities located near Southern California’s major freight corridors by deploying battery-electric trucks. Volvo Trucks has been really impressed with the commitment from both their leadership team and drivers.” To support its growing battery-electric truck fleet, Tradelink Transport is utilizing Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport program to install 10 chargers — a mix of 180 kW and 360 kW dual chargers. The chargers will be installed at Tradelink Transport’s new, five-acre facility, paired with onsite solar panels to generate renewable electricity and help offset peak charging costs.

UTA convention speaker to focus on new technologies

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — Yunsu Park, director for the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, will speak Nov. 10 at the 2022 Used Truck Association Convention in National Harbor, Maryland. Yunsu will speak to the convention on new technologies in the transportation sector and those that will come in the future. Yunsu has been working in truck transportation for nearly 25 years, with much of his career focused on freight efficiency. He began his career at Navistar, where he held positions in finance and engine development. After Navistar, Yunsu was the chief technology and chief operating officer at a startup that provided a platform to fleets to incentivize fuel-efficient driving behaviors. He has been working with NACFE since. The 23rd Annual UTA Convention is Nov. 9-12 at the Gaylord National Resort on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Maryland. Those who want to attend the event can register at https://www.uta.org/page/UTA-convention

Electric semi pulls 40-ton load through Austrian Alps

STUTTGART / ARLBERG PASS, Austria — An electric big rig has successfully crossed a section of the Alps while hauling a 40-ton load. The Mercedes eActros 300 recently glided up the Arlberg Pass in Austria, covering 69 miles while reaching a peak elevation of more than 5,905 feet, according to a news release. A special focus was placed on energy recovery through recuperation, which can be used extensively in the alpine topography of Tyrol. During recuperation, energy gained during braking is returned to the eActros’ batteries and then made available to the drive unit, the news release stated. The electric tractor unit was able to recover a total of around 180 kWh of energy. At the end of the tour, about 40% of the energy was still available. “The tractor unit version of the eActros 300 expands the application options of the eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport,” Stina Fagerman, head of sales, marketing and services at Mercedes-Benz Truck, said. “The intensive tests in Austria have shown our electric truck can reliably fulfill its tasks, even in a particularly challenging topography with extreme uphill and downhill grades.” In total, the electric semi-trailer climbed 7,545 feet in altitude during the test — the maximum grade was at 13%. On the way to the test area, the truck’s batteries were charged only at public charging stations. Series production launch of the eActros 300 tractor is planned for the second half of 2023.

FR8Focus mobile app aims to give carriers real-time tracking

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — FR8Focus has developed a new mobile application that provides visual, real-time digitization of freight and asset tracking for North American carriers. FR8Focus allows carriers to connect, mobilize, track and manage their fleets in real-time. FR8Focus was developed to integrate into all facets of less-than-a-truckload (LTL) and truckload operations (TL), a news release stated. “FR8Focus is about more than a single piece of technology,” NorthStar Digital Solutions COO Dave Brajkovich said. “Operations can see their entire fleet(s) on the road at a glance, communicate with drivers instantly and adjust schedules ad hoc.” The application completely digitizes operational workflow. PODs are scanned by truck drivers and uploaded instantly to backend TMS systems to provide next-minute customer invoicing. Customs documentation is uploaded immediately to expedite shipment release and border crossing. “Working with a large LTL provider over these past two years allowed us to co-create a solution that has solved many of the current LTL marketplace challenges while being simple to use, yet powerful to scale,” Radaro‘s head of North American operations Joe Thull said. “Our solution was developed with the carrier, the customer and the driver in mind, resulting in truly intuitive systems where workflows anticipate each step.”

Drivewyze, GDOT partner to provide real-time traffic alerts

PLANO, Texas – Drivewyze has partnered with the Georgia Department of Transportation to provide INRIX real-time traffic alerts through Drivewyze’s Smart Roadways service. In addition to Georgia, Smart Roadways Heavy Congestion and Sudden Slowdown alerts are currently available in North Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, covering more than 3,500 miles of the most traveled freight corridors, according to a news release. Drivewyze will be announcing more states soon. The Georgia alerts, available at no cost to commercial truck drivers, cover more than 500 miles of roadways, including along interstates 75, 95 and 16. “With nearly 3 million trucks integrated to the Drivewyze platform, state agencies can depend on these in-cab safety messages having a positive impact on highway safety,” Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze, said. Real-time congestion and incident data is provided by INRIX, a transportation analytics company that uses advanced algorithms to analyze millions of anonymous connected vehicles traveling more than a billion miles daily in the U.S. “When you consider that 30% of all crashes are on interstates — and many are secondary incidents where a truck or car rear-ended a vehicle that was in queue from the initial crash – it highlights the importance of these alerts,” Heath said. “We’re thrilled that Georgia is now working with us to improve highway safety. This partnership helps us expand our safety footprint by delivering truckers a heads-up on unforeseen slowdowns along several key interstates. Having ‘visibility’ to slowdowns ahead of time can help prevent secondary crashes from occurring.” In a pilot test in the Atlanta area, with more than 500,000 vehicle “visits” (comparing those who received and didn’t receive alerts), results showed between a 10% and 16% reduction in hard braking incidents. Another study in North Carolina on I-95 showed an average 11 mph reduction in speed after drivers were alerted of a sudden slowdown, along with an average 8 mph reduction when alerted about a congestion event. “We recognize real-time safety messaging as a key strategy to minimize crashes due to unexpected slowdowns,” Ben Lempke, assistant state ITS engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation, said. “This messaging becomes even more critical when you factor in the additional stopping distance required for trucks and the seriousness of truck-involved accidents. Our partnership with Drivewyze has been influential in our goal to deliver safer roadways for all travelers.”

Kodiak Robotics to deliver Texas freight via autonomous trucks for IKEA

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Kodiak Robotics is piloting autonomous freight deliveries in Texas for IKEA Supply Chain Operations. The cooperation, which began on Aug. 8, includes a Kodiak autonomous heavy-duty truck transporting IKEA products seven days a week between the IKEA Distribution Center in Baytown, Texas and the IKEA Store in Frisco, Texas, according to a news release. “The primary purpose of cooperation between the two is to get a better understanding of how Kodiak’s autonomous driving technology contributes to increased road safety and better working conditions for truck drivers on the longer distances,” the news release stated. The self-driving truck has a professional safety truck driver behind the wheel who picks up a loaded trailer at the distribution center each morning and oversees the autonomous delivery to the store by late afternoon. “We are proud to be working with Kodiak to achieve our ambitious goals of being at the forefront of innovation and building capabilities for future transportation,” Category Area Transport Manager of IKEA Supply Chain Operations Dariusz Mroczek said. “Kodiak’s technology will contribute towards our objective to put the driver in focus in the transition towards automated transportation and towards our road safety agenda.” Autonomous trucks are also more fuel-efficient, according to a study from the University of California San Diego, which estimated that self-driving trucks consume roughly 10% less fuel than traditional manually driven trucks on diesel-fueled fleets. “IKEA and Kodiak share a commitment to putting safety first,” founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics Don Burnette said. “Together we can enhance safety, improve working conditions for drivers, and create a more sustainable freight transportation system. Adopting autonomous trucking technology can improve drivers’ quality of life by focusing on the local driving jobs most prefer to do. We look forward to working with the IKEA carrier partners to bring these benefits to the IKEA supply chain.” Kodiak has been delivering freight daily between Dallas to Houston since mid-2019 and delivering freight between Dallas and San Antonio since mid-2021.