Equipment & Tech

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — MVT Solutions on Tuesday, April 19, announced the test results for Aerovolution’s Booster-Tail for Class 8 tractor-trailers. The Booster-Tail, located at the rear of the trailer, uses natural air pressure to self-deploy at highway speeds. No additional deployment hardware or driver intervention is needed. Testing in February 2022 demonstrated that using the technology resulted in a fuel savings of 5.04 gallons per 1,000 miles, according to MVT. “We wanted to get fuel economy data for the unique geometry of our device,” said Lee Telnack, president of Aerovolution. “I was happy with the test results because they confirmed what we knew, and they echoed results we got from CFD studies.” The tests were conducted on an International LT sleeper tractor with a Cummins X15 15-liter engine and a 53-foot Hyundai dry van loaded to 72,000 pounds and traveling 65 mph. A test was run with the Booster-Tail in place; then the aerodynamic device was removed and the test was run again. “We are quite impressed with the Booster-tail,” said Daryl Bear, lead engineer and COO for MVT. “It is a much simpler design that overcomes many of the issues experienced with former boat tails including driver involvement and complexity, yet it still captures the fuel savings.” “The test results speak for themselves and confirm the device works operationally and fleets will get a good ROI from it,” said Telnack. According to Bear, the fuel economy improvement of 5.04 gallons per 1,000 miles (4.18%) represents a “substantial fuel savings.” The full report can be downloaded at https://m-v-t-s.com/certified-technology/aerodynamics/aerovolution-booster-tail/.  

Blacksburg, Va. – Torc Robotics has announced the launch of the Torc Autonomous Advisory Council in support of its goal to be the first scalable, profitable, commercialized Level 4 truck operator. Level 4 autonomous vehicles allow a driver to give up complete control of their vehicle to a self-driving system on board. The TAAC is comprised of freight industry players who will provide strategic guidance to Torc as it integrates with the freight network and tackles challenges beyond highway driving. “Torc has a history of collaborating with our partners who are experts in their field,” Michael Fleming, Torc founder and CEO, said. “The Torc Autonomous Advisory Council (TAAC) is the next step in the process of incorporating deep industry insights and expertise as Torc works to commercialize autonomous trucking. We view this Council as a vital part of our work to integrate autonomous trucking into the existing freight industry while ensuring autonomous trucking benefits are realized with optimum safety.” The cross-functional TAAC has various trucking industry backgrounds in courier and parcel delivery, less-than truckload, full truckload, technology, and logistics. It will provide significant insights into the needs of the freight industry, validate logistics and operations development (hub logistics, tracking, etc.), and optimize safe autonomous trucking operations in the existing network. “We’re committed to testing and providing the most effective vehicle technologies for our customers and driving innovation when it comes to mobility,” Paul Rosa, Penske Truck Leasing senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning, said. “We believe it’s important to collaborate with other leading companies who are creating the next generation of transportation solutions to meet the future needs of our industry and enhancing the supply chain.” “Torc’s Autonomous Advisory Council will help shape the future of the trucking transportation industry,” Rob Reich, Schneider executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said. “We see great potential for this technology to improve efficiency while helping to lower cost. Being part of the Council allows carriers like Schneider to have a strong voice in how autonomous vehicles (AVs) are developed and tested, and how this technology will complement our professional over-the-road driver associates.” Some of the TAAC members include Baton, C.H. Robinson, Covenant Logistics, Penske Truck Leasing, Ryder System, Inc. and Schneider. Daimler Truck North America, a pioneer in autonomous driving, is the sole original equipment manufacturer on the Council. “At C.H. Robinson, we see the potential for AV technology to transform logistics and to essentially create a new mode of freight transportation,” Pat Nolan, C.H. Robinson vice president of North American Surface Transportation, said. “That’s why we’re joining the Torc Autonomous Advisory Council to help maximize the benefits for the industry, to ease the capacity crunch for shippers, and to serve as a voice for our 85,000 carriers. Making sure shippers have access to AV and making sure smaller carriers are represented in the conversation is critical. We know Torc shares that belief.”  

ATLANTA – Transportation Insight Holding Company has announced the rollout of a new carrier web and mobile application. Part of the Beon™ Digital Logistics Platform, the new carrier web and mobile app gives a network of 80,000 carriers direct access to intelligent tools that increase flexibility across carrier operations, from searching loads to modifying payment options. The web and mobile app provide carriers a direct integration point to Nolan Transportation Group & Transportation Insight’s digital freight and warehousing networks, and access to over $15 billion in transportation spend across small-to-mid-sized (SMB) shippers and Fortune 500 companies. Through Beon Carrier, carriers of any size get more freight, options, intelligence and support, giving them greater control of their assets and operations. Features include: Search, Submit Bids & Book Loads: The Beon Carrier load board allows users to easily find loads that match their needs, then bid and book with a single click.  Post It Now Feature & On-demand Freight Matching: Carriers can post their truck location via the Post It Now feature and leverage intelligent algorithms in real time to match their capacity with the best available options, at the right price. Posting multiple trucks is just as easy while managing all matching results with advanced search and filter functionality.  Easy Tender Acceptance: Whether it is dedicated lanes or intelligent freight matching, Beon Carrier lets users easily accept or decline freight tenders or submit a counter offer straight from the tender view.  Check Payment Status: Beon Carrier makes it easy to search and view the payment status of all recent loads and offers 24/7 support for any payment inquires.  Fast, Flexible Payment Options: Beon Carrier is introducing new payment options with direct deposit, offering 1 Day and 2 Day Pay for carriers with industry-low fees and the flexibility to modify payment terms for individual shipments. Drivers no longer need to deal with the hassle of delays at truck stops to get paid because they receive digital payment on the go.  Document Management on the Go: Easily upload documents or photos directly through the Beon Carrier app, allowing shipments and accessorials to be processed in a timely fashion. “Over the years, our carrier network has been critical to our growth and success as a business,” Geoff Kelley, president and chief operating officer at TI Holding Company, said. “We are building tech that scales with our carriers and their needs, giving them the tools and flexibility needed amidst ever-evolving market conditions. Beon Carrier levels the playing field for carriers of all sizes with digital products and tools that work for them, wherever they are.” Beon Carrier replaces the legacy NTGVision portal for carriers. Additional features and programs will be launched in the coming months, including improved track and trace within the app and carrier loyalty programs. “We’ve invested significantly in the design and optimization of our carrier-facing organization, for both people and technology,” Drew Herpich, chief commercial officer at TI Holding Company, said. “The most important role we play as a 3PL is making our carriers’ lives easier, while giving them the resources and tools to grow their business. I could not be more excited to see these products in the hands of our carriers and see our people continue to support them as they advance to the next level.” ​​​To learn more about the Beon Carrier web and mobile app, visit www.ntgfreight.com/beon-carrier. To learn more about the Beon Digital Logistics Platform or TI and NTG’s full portfolio of supply chain solutions, visit www.transportationinsight.com and www.ntgfreight.com. TI Holding Company is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — TLG Peterbilt PacLease, a PacLease franchise with eight leasing locations in six states, has been named the PacLease 2021 North American Franchise of the Year. Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, the franchise offers Peterbilt’s full line of medium-and heavy-duty trucks for lease and rental. According to Ken Roemer, president of PACCAR Leasing, TLG Peterbilt PacLease grew its fleet by 38% in 2021 over 2020 and added Charlotte, North Carolina, as a new operation in its portfolio of leasing locations. “TLG Peterbilt PacLease had an outstanding year,” Roemer said. “They increased their PacLease footprint and adopted new technology to improve both communication and uptime for their customers. They do an excellent job of creating real partnerships with their customers by providing the right solutions and excellent products backed by great customer service.” In addition to the North American Franchise of the Year award, PacLease also recently recognized its top U.S. and Canadian franchises. PacLease named Allstate Leasing (headquartered in South St. Paul, Minnesota, with 10 locations) and Gabrielli PacLease (headquartered in Jamaica, New York, with 11 locations) as its U.S. Franchises of the Year for Peterbilt and Kenworth. Burnaby, British Columbia-based Inland PacLease (with 19 Canadian locations) took home the honor as the Franchise of the Year for Canada. Allstate Leasing is not new to winning national awards from PacLease, having won the top North American Franchise of the Year award in 2019. “Allstate continues to excel every year, thanks to their dedication to customer service,” Roemer said. “In addition to having fully-dedicated service locations for PacLease customers, they’ve improved their flow-through when it comes to PMs for their customers. They’ve fully implemented PACCAR Leasing’s voice-guided preventive maintenance program that guides a technician through the service process quicker and more accurately. It’s just one more example of how they’re providing more uptime for their customers.” For Gabrielli PacLease, this was the franchise’s first national award. “They have done an excellent job of expanding their customer base,” Roemer said. “Customers are demanding quality equipment that is backed by exceptional service and that is what Gabrielli provides. They also continue to expand and will be opening two more PacLease locations this year. What’s more, they’ve built a very diverse rental fleet, allowing them to meet the needs of all of their customers.” In Canada, Inland PacLease – a two-time PacLease Canadian award winner – is a long-standing PacLease franchise, having opened its doors in January 1984. “They have the PacLease network’s highest customer retention rate, which speaks volumes for the level of service they provide,” Roemer said. “Their company-wide collaborative approach with customers is very evident, and a model for others to follow.” Overall, Roemer said in a year that was challenged by numerous global issues impacting transportation, he was extremely pleased with how PacLease franchises pivoted to keep customers operating trucks. “Our franchises had to be creative,” he said. “They had to extend leases and maintain an older fleet while awaiting new truck deliveries – all while providing outstanding customer service. Our franchises did an excellent job of working through obstacles to help their customers succeed. I am very proud of the outstanding people that make up the PacLease network.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced a new app that provides audible route navigation for oversize/overweight loads. The app was created as part of an innovation competition among IDOT employees, according to a news release. Developed in partnership with ProMiles, this new mobile app provides audible turn-by-turn navigation for those moving oversize/overweight loads on permitted routes. The app enables drivers to keep their eyes on the road while driving, reduces the risk of infrastructure damage that may occur when oversize/overweight loads veer off course and facilitates the movement of goods critical to our economy and the nation’s supply chain. “This year’s contest has once again produced a bounty of innovations from creative employees throughout the state,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “With an eye toward ingenuity, this contest is yet another example of how our team is always looking to improve the services we provide to the people of Illinois.”  

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – U.S. Xpress and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. recently completed four round trips in an autonomous Class 8 tractor-trailer between Austin, Texas and Dallas as part of a pilot self-driving truck program. The trips, which took place in March using a Kenworth tractor equipped with Kodiak’s Class 4 autonomous technology, included eight segments and ran 24 hours a day for a total of 131 hours over more than five days and 6,350 miles, according to a joint news release from the two companies. Class 4 autonomous vehicles are considered “high automation” but still have human override capabilities. A rotating team of four professional Kodiak safety drivers oversaw the autonomous system.  “By servicing lanes often deemed less desirable by professional truck drivers, autonomous trucks complement human drivers, allowing them to focus on routes which can provide a more consistent schedule and predictable paycheck,” according to the news release. Officials with both companies said that that the trips “represent a more than 100% increase in utilization compared to a traditional truck and professional driver with 11 hours of service limit.” “By increasing the number of hours a truck can be used per day to 20-plus hours, autonomous trucks will allow carriers to haul more freight with fewer trucks, increasing revenue while decreasing costs,” the news release stated. “As part of this partnership, a Kodiak autonomous tractor picked up and delivered U.S. Xpress pre-loaded trailers.” The companies are planning to soon launch autonomous freight routes between Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, marking the first commercial autonomous trucking lane to the East Coast. “This pilot demonstrated to our operations teams and our customers the benefits that can come with autonomous technology,” said Eric Fuller, president and CEO of U.S. Xpress. “We fundamentally believe that Kodiak’s autonomous technology will allow us to scale our fleet while increasing truck utilization compared to a human-driven truck. Our strategic partnership is helping both of our teams identify ways to quickly integrate and scale autonomous technology into our fleet once it is commercially available.” The two companies said that the route between Dallas and Atlanta “is a perfect entry point for continuous autonomous operations because it’s slightly longer than what a driver is permitted to operate in a day but is too short to economically run as a team.” “Our partnership with U.S. Xpress marks our service expansion to the East Coast,” said Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak. “We believe it is the furthest east any company has delivered multiple loads using autonomous technology. Having the capacity to sustain 24/7 operations across the more than 750 miles between Dallas and Atlanta — two of our nation’s busiest freight hubs — represents a giant step forward for Kodiak, and for the AV trucking industry as a whole. We chose to make U.S. Xpress a cornerstone partner in our Partner Deployment Program because we see U.S. Xpress and its Variant division as ideal long-term partners for the deployment and scaling of our autonomous long-haul solution.” In addition to Dallas to Atlanta, Kodiak has been delivering freight daily on the 240-mile lane from Dallas to Houston since mid-2019 and on the 280-mile lane between Dallas and San Antonio since mid-2021.  

BOISE, Idaho – Carriers can keep their business running no matter where they are with the launch of Truckstop Go™, a next-generation mobile app from Truckstop.com. Users can find loads in real time, book loads instantly, locate competitive rates and get paid quickly, all through a mobile app. New Truckstop Go features will include: Live Loads – provide notifications in real time when a new load matching search criteria is posted. Book it Now – books loads instantly from trusted brokers with competitive rates. Factoring* – eliminates paperwork and get quickly paid all through the mobile app. “Mobile apps give carriers the freedom and flexibility they need to conduct business on their own terms, whether they are on the road or at home,” Brett Webb, chief product officer of Truckstop.com, said. “We have listened to our customers and created an intuitive and comprehensive app full of the features and functionality they want to organize their businesses and become more competitive.” Available next month, Truckstop Go will enable carriers to get more done in more places with key features that provide critical tools that keep their businesses moving forward. Carriers can check daily rate information for loads to help them negotiate with confidence and swipe in app to save, compare and hide loads so they can focus on what’s important, staying on the road and in the money. For carriers, mobilizing their operations is crucial and mobile apps have become table stakes, especially in the freight transportation industry. According to a survey from Truckstop.com, nearly half (46%) of respondents use a mobile app daily to do their jobs. Sixty percent of respondents use mobile features for freight matching or to find loads, with 59% checking spot rates. Apps are also helping with back-end operations: 58% of carriers use mobile features to get paid faster and 54% use them to eliminate the paperwork. According to the survey, carriers polled use mobile apps daily for: Freight matching/finding loads – 60% Checking spot rates – 59% Getting paid quickly – 58% Eliminating paperwork – 54% Ensuring compliance – 48% Forty-six percent also say they use a mobile app for load planning every single day – 93% use an app at least once a month.

LAS VEGAS – Drivewyze has partnered with Samsara to streamline the driver onboarding experience. By having an administrator enter their Samsara credentials, vehicle and driver data from Samsara will automatically sync to Drivewyze PreClear and Drivewyze Safety+ applications to simplify the driver onboarding process. “Activation is very easy and simple with no transponders required,” Gavin Henry, Drivewyze vice president of business development & channel management, said. “Samsara customers can immediately begin taking advantage of weigh station bypass at more than 800 locations, in 49 states and provinces.” Samsara’s Connected Operations Cloud allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights. With Samsara’s open API, users can connect their most important third-party applications to the platform and unlock a more holistic view of this data in real-time. “We’re excited to add Drivewyze as our latest partner integration on the Samsara App Marketplace,” said Chris Mozzocchi, senior director of product management for ecosystem integrations at Samsara. “In today’s landscape, we know operational efficiency is more important than ever. A huge part of that efficiency lies in the driver experience and making sure they have the technology they need to remain productive. By integrating with Drivewyze, we aim to automate the onboarding experience so that drivers can focus on what matters most to their business.” “Samsara offers an easy-to-use platform and fleets see the value – it’s why their customer base is growing rapidly,” Henry said. “We’re excited to be partnering with Samsara to make the driver onboarding experience as easy as possible for our customers.” Once activated, driver and vehicle data from Samsara are automatically synced to Drivewyze and consolidated with additional data points, like safety scores and registration, and transmitted to the weigh station.  This information is then calculated against the bypass criteria established by the state or province. If the carrier and vehicle pass the criteria, at one mile out, the driver receives permission to bypass the site on their mobile device. The better the fleet’s safety score, the more bypasses typically granted. Drivewyze is now available for customers on the Samsara App Marketplace. Subscribers to Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass can also activate Drivewyze Safety Notifications, a free service that provides safety notifications for high rollover areas, mountain corridors, and low bridges. In addition, fleets can subscribe to Drivewyze Safety+, an extension of Drivewyze Safety Notifications. The service provides fleets and drivers with additional safety notifications and back-office tools for fleets to create their own customized driver alerts, plus offers safety analytics to monitor driver behavior and driver coaching.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America’s customer WattEV has ordered 50 Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to launch its unique Truck-as-a-Service model in California. WattEV’s TaaS model provides shippers and carriers access to battery-electric trucks at a per-mile rate, including charging, that is on par with the total cost of operating diesel trucks. Over the next several months, the Volvo VNR Electric trucks will begin operating on routes between California’s San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire, and the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. “Volvo Trucks applauds WattEV’s unique approach to accelerating fleet electrification through its TaaS model, which aims to remove potential barriers to adoption so that fleets of all sizes can get access to electric Class 8 trucks and perform local and regional delivery with zero-tailpipe emissions,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “This type of innovative thinking is necessary to transform how the industry transports freight, and we look forward to collaborating with WattEV as they scale their TaaS fleet across California and the nation.” To support its TaaS model, WattEV is building a public network of heavy-duty battery-electric truck charging depots to service major transportation corridors, connecting shipping ports with freight distribution centers and warehouse locations. WattEV’s first public truck charging depots will be in Bakersfield, San Bernardino, and near the Port of Long Beach, and will feature 250 kW CCS chargers that will provide the Volvo VNR Electric trucks an 80% charge in 90 minutes for the six-battery packs. As WattEV’s public charging network expands nationwide, the company plans to scale its depots to provide 1.2 MW charging capability for ultra-fast charging. “WattEV is thrilled to purchase our first battery-electric Class 8 trucks from Volvo Trucks as they quickly scale their electric truck supply and dealer support network across the nation,” Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO of WattEV, said. “We are grateful to partner with an OEM that shares the same commitment to freight electrification throughout North America.” Volvo Trucks is focused on supporting customers in their electromobility transition by expanding its network of Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealerships, where service teams are trained and equipped to safely perform battery-electric truck maintenance and repairs, and key VNR Electric parts are stocked to minimize downtime. Volvo Trucks currently has certified dealers in the U.S. in California, New York, and Virginia, as well as in Quebec, Canada, with dealerships in several additional states finalizing their certifications throughout 2022. WattEV’s Volvo VNR Electric order was facilitated by TEC Equipment Fontana, which was the first Volvo Certified EV Dealer in the nation and offers onsite charging for its customers. “It is rewarding to see the momentum building for battery-electric truck adoption, and TEC Equipment is committed to continue supporting fleets like WattEV with their electric truck procurement plans, including identifying and securing incentive funding,” David Thompson, founder and CEO of TEC Equipment, said in reference to his team’s support helping WattEV secure vouchers from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). The Volvo VNR Electric model is designed as a sustainable transportation solution for local and regional distribution, pickup and delivery, and food and beverage distribution. The models ordered by WattEV are based on its six-battery package option featuring increased energy storage of 565 kWh and an operational range of up to 275 miles. To learn more about the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website.  

BOISE, Idaho – Customers can negotiate rates and stay competitive in the spot market with Truckstop.com Rate Insights, a spot market rate tool using machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide accurate, same-day rate estimates at the load level. Rate Insights comes standard with Load Board Pro and Premium subscriptions, providing standalone accessibility for shippers, and API access for all customers. This more advanced rate tool feature is available within the freight matching web and mobile experiences. Carriers, brokers and shippers can access daily market rates specific to load attributes, including equipment type, location and dates. New Truckstop.com Rate Insights features include: Rate estimate – See specific rates based on unique load attributes. Rate comparison – Benchmark the posted rate against a data-driven estimated rate. 4-week trend – See spot rate trends over four weeks. 36-month trend – See spot rate trends over 36 months. “Accurate and timely spot rates give brokers, shippers and carriers alike the power of negotiation and the ability to stay competitive in the market,” Pete Lunenfeld, chief product officer at Truckstop.com said. “We are the first in the industry to use machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide customers with same-day spot rate estimates at the load level—a game changer, considering the industry standard uses 30-day lane-level rates using broad region averages. We are leveling the playing field for our customers, further enabling them to continue to move their freight and business forward.” Rate Insights will enable customers to post and negotiate competitive rates and is available on desktop and in the Truckstop.com mobile app, Truckstop Go™ as both a load rate estimate and general rate insight tool for lane analysis. For more information, visit https://truckstop.com/product/rate-insights.  

AUSTIN, Texas – SH 130 Concession Company, the private entity that operates and maintains the 41-mile southern section of State Highway 130, is utilizing satellite technology to evaluate roadway conditions with millimeter accuracy in order to identify and address potential problems before they impact safety or ride quality. The company has partnered with EO59, a U.S.-based technology startup that provides remote monitoring services to measure ground and structural movement. Satellites pass over the SH 130 toll road between Austin and San Antonio every six days and provide measurements on more than 30,000 points along the roadway, according to a news release. SH 130 Concession Company is one of the first private companies or public agencies in Texas to use satellite technology to monitor major roadway maintenance conditions on an ongoing basis. “Limited use of satellite monitoring in the transportation industry nationwide has typically been on much smaller structures such as bridges and retaining walls,” the news release stated. The company is the satellite to monitor the full 41-mile length of the state-owned toll road facility that it operates and maintains. Company officials said they can assess the performance of past maintenance projects, as well as predict and mitigate potential future issues. “We needed an independent, data-driven analysis of our previous roadway repair projects, as well as a tool for looking at future needs and performance,” SH 130 Concession Company Chief Operating Officer Jeff Billows said. “There will always be a need for in-person visual inspections, but the satellite monitoring allows us to identify areas to concentrate on long before they would be noticed through visual assessment.” EO59 focuses on using satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, to track subtle movements as slight as one millimeter. The project with SH 130 is the company’s first in Texas. SH 130 Concession Company CEO Doug Wilson said he believes that incorporating technologies like InSAR is critical for the company’s predictive approach to keeping SH 130 among the safest highways in the state. “By utilizing this innovative technology, SH 130 Concession Company is taking a proactive approach to maintenance that uses incredibly detailed data to accurately predict potential problems so that we can address those issues well before they begin to impact the driving experience of our customers,” Wilson said. “The Austin-San Antonio corridor is booming, and SH 130 will be increasingly important as more people and goods move through the region. It’s imperative that we continue to implement innovative solutions that keep SH 130 a safe and predictable route for many years to come.”

ALBANY, N.Y. – Bestpass announced Tuesday an expansion of its service capabilities outside of toll with the launch of a new product, citation payment services. Citation payment services will help fleets simplify the payment process and identify opportunities for training for fleet employees who receive multiple citations, according to a news release. Longtime customer of Bestpass, National Seating & Mobility, piloted the new citation service. “The addition of citation payment services further simplifies the payment of associated costs involved with managing a large fleet of vehicles,” Charlie Capps, fleet manager with National Seating & Mobility said. “Bestpass makes it simple to manage the payment of citations so that I can focus on optimizing the performance of my fleet.” Bestpass already offers toll violations management, but with the addition of citation payment services, Bestpass will be able to give customers a complete view of the hidden costs of operating a fleet. The new citation payment service will allow Bestpass customers to upload their citations to the Bestpass portal. From there, they will be given a complete view of the vehicle and associated costs. When the monthly statement is sent out, customers will receive summaries of all citations and the cost per vehicle for toll and citations. “We are incredibly excited to launch this new service to our customers,” Tom Fogarty, CEO of Bestpass, said. “Service fleets with multiple vehicles on the road know the headache of managing all the bills. Having one place they can view payments and be sure all the payments are happening on time is important, saving fleets time and helping them understand the costs associated with running a fleet.”

DETROIT – Daimler Truck North America announced Monday the opening of the expanded Detroit Service Training Center, which will be used to train technicians in electric powertrain service, battery maintenance and full truck repair. “For the trucking industry to successfully transition to zero-emission vehicles, technicians need to know how to diagnose, service and maintain new technology in order to keep our valued customers running with maximum uptime,” said Matt Pfaffenbach, head of operations, Detroit Powertrain. “The continued investment in our brand and the location are key to ensuring our unmatched service network is ready to deliver for our customers, and their electric trucks, well into the future.” Originally established in 2018 to provide service training on conventional Detroit powertrains, the center has been enlarged to accommodate eight new courses, including those to teach courses on the Detroit ePowertrain launching in the Freightliner eCascadia and eM2. Certified technicians will be able to travel to the facility to learn the latest techniques from the nation’s leading manufacturer of heavy-duty engines (10 liter and above) and ePowertrains. Courses in both diesel and electric vehicles are available at the facility and offered to the nearly 10,000 technicians who support 770 Detroit distribution and service locations. Dedicated onsite trainers instruct technicians on chassis-specific diagnostics and repairs, from basic truck maintenance and repairs to platform-specific advanced diagnostic training on the newest Freightliner and Western Star trucks. The Detroit Service Training Center is one of three corporate truck service training centers located in, or adjacent to, DTNA manufacturing plants. Additional training centers can be found at DTNA’s Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant in Oregon, which also serves as the assembly point for the Freightliner eCascadia and eM2, and the Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant in North Carolina.

BALTIMORE — After the recent announcement that A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) plans to order 110 additional Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks to its North American fleet, increasing its total commitment to 126 trucks, Maersk officials said that this is just the beginning. Maersk expects to deploy 450 electric trucks in North America from various manufacturers in 2022-23, according to Narin Phol, regional managing director for Maersk North America. Meanwhile, the Volvo electric trucks will be delivered by the end of Q1 2023 to support increased demand from customers, according to company officials. “Our customers are looking for tangible actions on sustainable supply chains – not just conceptual,” a Maersk news release stated. “With this in mind, we move decisively towards building an end-to-end, landside decarbonization offering for our customers – in line with our target to extend Maersk net-zero efforts to all transport modes in our global operation. These investments in our North America network will generate valuable experience for the continued journey towards similar customer offerings across the globe.” Vincent Clerc, CEO of Ocean and Logistics at Maersk, said that the new order builds on the August 2021 order of 16 Volvo VNR Electric trucks as part of Maersk’s Environment Social Governance (ESG) strategy to decarbonize logistics. “The strategy is a key driver for zero carbon operations in trucking and an important part of Maersk’s goal of enterprise-wide, carbon neutral operations by 2040 with significant steps to be taken by 2030,” Clerc said. “Today’s order reflects the company’s responsible procurement efforts to integrate ESG into Maersk business activities.” Maersk executives said that their long-term goal in North America is to “move toward a fully electric trucking fleet to offer customers an environmentally-friendly alternative for short-haul trucking. We recognize the electric vehicle technology is in the early stages and we’re committed to working closely with our partners to pilot and optimize the technology to scale it across our operations.” The Volvo electric trucks will be used in Southern California for short-haul warehouse and distribution center operations. Electric charging infrastructure will be installed in April-May 2022 and operational in June 2022, the company said. Volvo Trucks, in partnership with our dealer TEC Equipment, will collaborate with Maersk on its fleet sustainability goals and commends the organization’s continued scaled investments in electromobility solutions. “Incredibly, this is the second time in less than a year that Volvo Trucks has had the opportunity to announce that a Maersk Company has placed the largest order of Volvo VNR Electrics to date, which underscores their organization’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Green Car Journal has named Volvo’s VNR Electric, a Class 8 battery electric model featuring zero operating emissions and a driving range of up to 275 miles on electric power, as its Commercial Green Truck of the Year. Additionally, eight commercial trucks were recognized with the magazine’s 2022 Green Car Product of Excellence™ award. These include the Freightliner eCascadia, International eMV, Kenworth T680E, Lion Electric Lion6, Mack LR Electric, Nikola Tre BEV, Peterbilt 579EV and SEA Hino M5 EV. “The need to dramatically reduce emissions and encourage use of clean fuels has grown significantly since Green Car Journal’s first issue three decades ago,” Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com, said. “While serious effort has been devoted to ‘greener’ consumer vehicles for years, focus has only recently expanded to lower- and zero-carbon commercial trucks. The magazine’s Green Car Awards™ have evolved to recognize their environmental achievement.”  

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America has received its largest global order of Class 8 electric trucks to date with Performance Team – A Maersk Company, making a total commitment to purchase 126 Volvo VNR Electric trucks. The logistics company placed its first order of 16 Volvo VNR Electrics in Q3 2021 which Performance Team will begin operating in Q2 2022 in its Southern California fleet operations serving port drayage and warehouse distribution routes. Performance Team has ordered an additional 110 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to scale its zero-tailpipe emission freight logistics fleet in 2022. All 126 trucks are scheduled for deployment by Q1 2023. “Volvo Trucks, in partnership with our dealer TEC Equipment, is excited to continue growing our collaboration with Maersk on its fleet sustainability goals and commends the organization’s scaled investments in electromobility solutions,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Incredibly, this is the second time in less than a year that Volvo Trucks has had the opportunity to announce that Performance Team – A Maersk Company, has placed the largest order of Volvo VNR Electrics to date, which underscores their organization’s firm commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.” As the world’s largest integrated container logistics company, Maersk is leading a variety of initiatives to improve supply chain sustainability throughout each of its business lines. The acquisition of zero-tailpipe-emission, Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks is part of Maersk’s environmental social governance (ESG) strategy to decarbonize logistics. “Our customers are looking for tangible actions on sustainable supply chains – not just conceptual.  With this in mind we move decisively towards building an end-to-end, landside decarbonization offering for our customers – in line with our target to extend Maersk net-zero efforts to all transport modes in our global operation. These investments in our North America network will generate valuable experience for the continued journey towards similar customer offerings across the globe,” Vincent Clerc, CEO of Ocean & Logistics at A.P. Moller-Maersk, said. The landmark order was facilitated in collaboration with TEC Equipment, Volvo Trucks’ largest West Coast dealership and the first to achieve the Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealer designation in North America in 2021. TEC Equipment’s Fontana and La Mirada locations in Southern California will support Performance Team in maximizing the uptime of their Volvo VNR Electric fleets. As Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealers, the two TEC Equipment locations have trained and equipped their service teams to safely perform battery-electric truck maintenance and repairs for customers. “Our excitement for this partnership with Performance Team continues to grow as we see their commitment towards offering more sustainable transportation solutions in Southern California accelerate. We stand ready to help all our EV customers maximize their uptime, and celebrate the advancement of electromobility,” David Thompson, founder and CEO of TEC Equipment, said. The Volvo VNR Electric model has been designed as a sustainable transportation solution for fleet operators supporting local and regional distribution, pickup and delivery and food and beverage distribution. In January 2022, Volvo Trucks announced production plans for its next generation VNR Electric model with an operational range of up to 275 miles. The enhanced Volvo VNR Electric comes with state-of-the-art 250kW charging capability, enabling an 80% charge in 90 minutes for the six-battery package and 60 minutes for the four-battery version. To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website.