Equipment & Tech

BOULDER, Colo. — Five regions of the U.S. have been identified as possessing characteristics required for successfully expanding the use of electric vehicles in freight transportation, according to a report released by the North American Council for Trucking Efficiency (NACFE) and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). By increasing the use of commercial electric trucks in these regions, the two organizations hope to reduce the sectors’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while retaining the important function of trucking in transporting supplies for health care as well as food and other necessities. Recognizing places with the most favorable conditions for adopting wide-spread electric trucking is a key strategy in helping the trucking industry use more electric vehicles, according to NACFE and RMI. The top regions share named in the report share certain traits, including include natural conditions such as mild weather, access to necessary technology, and a pressing need to improve air quality while also already existing large quantities of freight. The five regions noted in the report include: Northern and Southern California; The Texas Triangle (an area of Texas that is roughly bordered by Dallas, Houston and San Antonio/Austin); The Rocky Mountain Front Range (a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains located in the central part of Colorado and the southeastern portion of Wyoming); Cascadia (a geographic region in the Pacific Northwest); and The Northeast (an area along the Atlantic Ocean that’s bordered by Canada, the Southern U.S. and the Midwestern U.S.). According to the NACFE and RMI, these areas are conducive to “regional haul” trucking, which generally features routes of less than 300 miles per day with drivers often returning their trucks to a base at night. Batteries already exist to support this driving distance, and charging infrastructure would be less complex to deploy, the organizations said. “We are confident that there will be a significant, early wave of electric tractors in regional haul. For success, they need to be deployed in the regions where they will be most successful. This comprehensive framework is a strong start.” said Mike Roeth, executive director of NACFE. The report also examines the ways in which cooperation between trucking fleets and multiple stakeholders is crucial to success: City and state incentives can help utilities with essential funding for infrastructure, which creates increased revenue for utilities as well as incentivize trucking fleets to switch from diesel-fueled trucks. Trucking fleets can partner with local technical schools and colleges to find and train staff to drive, manage and service electric trucks, creating local economic opportunity and job creation in a green economy. Early planning between stakeholders is crucial to building infrastructure and helping truck fleets acquire vehicles, while also helping regions avoid grid infrastructure problems or other challenges. “In considering where to deploy electric trucks, there’s a lot to think about — everything from charging infrastructure to which climates the technology operates the best in to where the most funding and incentives are available,” said Patrick Browne, director of global sustainability for UPS. “This framework helps not just fleets, but utilities, OEMs, policymakers and others think through the many considerations to ensure that wherever they deploy electric trucks that they’re a success.”

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Navistar has added WABCO MAXXUS L2.0 air disc brakes to the available options for International’s LT and RH series trucks, according to ZF’s commercial vehicle control systems division. ZF, an air disc brake supplier to commercial truck and trailer OEMs and fleets, touts the brakes as the North American market’s “lightest high-performance air disc brake.” The new WABCO MAXXUS air disc brake, manufactured in Charleston, South Carolina, has been proven through more than 6.5 million miles of road testing. In addition to exceptional road-proven performance and reliability, MAXXUS L2.0 brakes are the lightest tractor air disc brakes available for commercial vehicles in North America, weighing just 66.9 pounds. An International LT or RH Series equipped with optional WABCO MAXXUS L2.0 brakes will be approximately 80 pounds lighter weight than the standard air disc brake. “ZF, like Navistar, is intensely focused on offering reliable and innovative technologies that help increase vehicle safety, performance, customer uptime and ROI,” said Julien Plenchette, sales business leader of ZF’s commercial vehicle control systems division. “Market-leading drag torque control combined with a lightweight brake design help fleets save money on fuel while increasing load capacity,” Plenchette continued. “With up to 43 fewer parts than competing double-piston air disc brake designs, and next-generation features that provide faster serviceability, MAXXUS L2.0 will help support vehicle uptime for customers.” ZF engineers developed an advanced adjuster mechanism designed to continuously and precisely maintain optimal running clearance between the brake pads and rotor, even under extreme conditions, minimizing the risk of hot runners. In addition, MAXXUS L2.0 air disc brakes feature the company’s most advanced taper wear mitigation system, with an offset integrated pressure plate and larger piston that’s designed to provide more consistent, precise pressure across the full pad face, ensuring more even pad wear.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — In collaboration with Volvo Trucks North America and key suppliers participating in the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project, REMA EV Connections, a provider of charging connectors, has secured UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification for its Combined Charging System CCS2 connector. Volvo LIGHTS is a collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) and 13 other organizations to develop a blueprint to successfully introduce battery-electric trucks and equipment into the market at scale. The project, headquartered in Southern California, is demonstrating a range of strategies to provide flexible, cost-effective charging options for commercial fleet operators. While the CCS2 connector is not new to the global transportation market, it is new to North America. To date, the Combined Charging System CCS1 connector has been prevalent in North America while CCS2 connectors have been prevalent throughout the rest of the world, including Europe, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia. The UL certification indicates that a nationally recognized testing laboratory has verified that CCS2 connectors meet North American safety standards. This enables fleet operators to purchase fast-charging CCS2s directly from suppliers — including Volvo LIGHTS vendor ABB — and not have to go through a complex field-certification process after the chargers are installed. Additionally, it paves the way for utilities and other agencies to expand their list of approved charging options for electric vehicle fleet infrastructure programs. “The CCS2 UL-certification will give fleets more charging options and greater flexibility for integrating battery-electric vehicles into their fleets in a very nascent marketspace,” said Keith Brandis, vice president of partnerships and strategic solutions at Volvo Group. “As part of the innovative Volvo LIGHTS project, our team was happy to collaborate with ABB and REMA to accelerate the UL certification of the CCS2 connector, which will be used to charge Volvo’s pilot VNR Electric trucks.” The Combined Charging System joins AC and DC charging into a single port on a vehicle. The CCS1 and CCS2 connectors primarily differ with the type of AC charging. The CCS1 is designed for single-phase AC charging, while the CCS2 enables 3-phase AC charging via the J3068 NA standard. “Some medium- and heavy-duty fleet operators will benefit from AC charging, as it can greatly simplify infrastructure installation by making use of an on-board converter located on many electric vehicles,” Brandis noted. REMA EV Connections manufactures charging connector systems for vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure operators. “REMA is proud to be the first cable manufacturer in North America to receive UL-certification for the CCS2 vehicle connector,” said Tim Rose, general manager of REMA USA. “This certification will continue to advance vehicle electrification in North America, paving the way for all of the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) providers to expand their charger portfolio to meet emerging EV demands.” ABB has been tapped as the preferred charging hardware provider for the Volvo LIGHTS project and is installing a mix of high voltage-capable public and private electric vehicle chargers that utilize REMA’s CCS2 connectors, including the Terra 54HV (50 kW) and the HVC 150 Depot Box (150 kW). “Flexibility is the key to success in a dynamic industry like fleet electrification,” said Bob Stojanovic, director of EV Infrastructure for ABB North America. “As the first charger manufacturer to offer multi-standard EV chargers, ABB was ready to support this initiative with safe, reliable charging solutions. We look forward to being able to deliver UL-certified CCS2 charging systems to fleet operators in North America.” Volvo LIGHTS project partner, Southern California Edison (SCE), is the utility for the region where Volvo’s pilot VNR Electric trucks will be demonstrated by local fleet operators over the next several months. Following the CCS2 UL certification, SCE officially added the ABB CCS2 chargers being used in the Volvo LIGHTS project — the Terra 54 HV and HVC-150 — to the list of approved charging equipment for its Charge Ready Transport EV charging infrastructure program for medium- and heavy-duty fleets.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same-dealer sales volumes were up 13% year to date against the first seven months of 2019. Average with average price, miles and age were all below July 2019 year-to-date rates, down 15%, 1% and 8%, respectively. Near term, the report also indicated that used Class 8 sales volumes rose, up 15% sequentially, with average price unchanged month over month, and average miles and age virtually flat, down 1% each, compared to June. “July’s strong sales can, in part, likely be attributed to the weakness in late spring sales, driven by stay-at-home orders,” said Steve Tam, vice president of ACT Research. “That said, the remainder of the year continues to be overshadowed by uncertainty, as businesses evolve to new sales models and small truckers enter and leave the market.” ACT’s report provides data on the average selling price, miles and age based on a sample of industry data. In addition, the report provides the average selling price for top-selling Class 8 models for each of the major truck OEMs, including Freightliner (Daimler), Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar), International (Navistar), and Volvo and Mack (Volvo). The report helps those in the industry gain a better understanding of the used truck market, especially as it relates to changes in near-term performance. “Regardless of July’s volumes, used truck sales are spotty, with some dealers and sales reps very busy, while others are experiencing very slow sales,” Tam noted. “Another part of July’s success may be attributed to new or first-time buyers entering the market, attracted by near-record spot freight rates, with some customers who might otherwise have purchased a new truck turning to the late model, low mileage used trucks instead, after new truck production was halted in the spring to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” he concluded. Click here for more information about the report.

WASHINGTON — The Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) welcomes Old World Industries LLC (OWI), maker of BlueDEF, to the forum, which is celebrating its 20th year. Through research, collaboration and outreach, members of the not-for-profit Diesel Technology Forum seek to promote greater awareness of the energy efficiency, economic importance and continuous improvement of clean diesel technologies in the U.S. and around the world. “OWI manufactures and distributes BlueDEF, America’s No. 1 diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) brand,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of DTF. “DEF is a critical component of many of today’s advanced clean diesel engines, vehicles and equipment, which makes OWI a great addition to our growing membership.” OWI is a full-service supplier of DEF and a wide range of bulk delivery systems to commercial trucking, construction, marine and other diesel equipment customers across North America. DEF is a key component in many of today’s advanced technology diesel engines that utilize selective catalytic reduction systems. It enables the lower emissions and increased fuel efficiency achieved in today’s modern clean diesel systems. “OWI welcomes the opportunity to support the work of the Diesel Technology Forum, and we share their outlook for a vibrant future for advanced clean diesel technology,” said Charles Culverhouse, CEO of OWI. “We are excited to work together to highlight how advanced clean diesel technology will be the continued technology of choice for a more sustainable future.”

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Schneider has been selected to participate in the all-electric Freightliner Customer Experience (CX) Fleet. The CX Fleet is a part of Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) ongoing initiative to engage customers in the commercial electric vehicle development process by deploying trucks in real-world applications. “Schneider’s commitment to innovation is matched only by our commitment to operating sustainably,” said Jake VandeLoo, vice president of equipment engineering at Schneider. “Joining the Freightliner CX Fleet is a great opportunity to flex both of those muscles and help lead the industry in transitioning to more sustainable transportation options,” he added. “From a driver’s perspective, they’ll experience a great ride. The truck is very quiet, with little to no vibration, and a straight acceleration means there’s no real loss of power or torque. The overall feel is very smooth.” Schneider will test the eCascadia, a Class 8 tractor, to detect and address potential challenges to widespread use of commercial battery electric vehicles. Schneider will monitor the following processes and characteristics to help provide actionable feedback to the manufacturer: Best type of mode, freight characteristics and areas of operation for the vehicle’s charge range; Charging requirements to help maximize the duty cycle; Facility modifications needed to accommodate electric trucks; and Submission of data and observations to Freightliner to help the company improve on future vehicle design. “It’s critical that we collaborate with customers across multiple segments to further our understanding of how commercial battery electric trucks will be part of a long-term solution in CO2-neutral transportation,” said Richard Howard, senior vice president of on-highway sales and marketing for DTNA. “Our customers provide important, continuous feedback that contributes to our ongoing design and purposeful innovation of these trucks, and together we will lead the future.” Schneider is set to deploy the eCascadia late this summer; testing will continue through summer 2021.

LISLE, Ill. — Navistar, which manufactures International brand medium- and heavy-duty trucks in addition to school buses and defense vehicles, is working to provide expanded service to customers operating electric vehicles. To that end, the company’s NEXT eMobility Solutions business unit has signed a master services agreement with In-Charge Energy, an energy solutions company based in Los Angeles, to provide charging infrastructure and consulting services to Navistar and its electric vehicle customers. Since its launch in October, NEXT has focused its eMobility development on a comprehensive “four Cs” approach — consulting, construction, charging and connecting. This partnership strengthens Navistar’s ability to provide customers with superior support in each of these categories, according to an Aug. 26 statement from Navistar. “With electric vehicles, it’s important to understand that we can provide the very best bus or truck for our customers, but if they don’t have a partner to show them how to operate it, charge it or take care of it in the long run, it likely won’t be a successful deployment,” said Jason Gies, director of business development for Navistar. “This partnership ensures that IC Bus and International Truck customers have the infrastructure support they need to ultimately be successful in electric.” Electrifying a fleet requires much more than simply purchasing an electric vehicle. Customers should also consider the impacts on maintenance and facilities, such as increased electricity demand, utility upgrades and other factors. “The total cost of ownership with electric vehicles promises to be less than conventional vehicles; however, that is only possible with well-designed charging infrastructure and a trusted partner,” said Cameron Funk CEO of In-Charge. “Navistar has the right vision, and In-Charge is pleased to provide their end-to-end charging solution.” Bob Walsh, vice president of emerging technology, strategy and planning for Navistar, said he is happy about the two companies’ new partnership. “Together, we can truly provide our customers with a partner for the entire electrification process — from initial interest to having a full fleet of electric vehicles and beyond,” he said.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — During its 2020 virtual in.sight user conference + expo, Aug. 24-26, Trimble announced new integrations and enhancements for its portfolio of Transportation Management System (TMS) solutions. Available for TMW.Suite, TruckMate and Innovative IES users, these features are designed to create efficiencies and streamline operations for carriers, brokers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. “We remain focused on further developing our dynamic TMS solutions to provide additional value to customers,” said Jay Delaney, senior director of product management for Trimble Transportation. “These new integrations and upgrades help bring the connected supply chain together more than ever, streamlining operations and creating efficiencies for carriers and their customers.” Trimble’s new KeepTruckin Integration, a mobile communications tool that spans multiple TMS solutions, allows carriers to more easily take advantage of key information such as electronic driving log (ELD) data, position, geofencing and messaging. The integration, which is available directly within Innovative or TMW.Suite TMS, enables effective communication with drivers and continual monitoring of hours and status. Trimble also debuted several product-specific enhancements uniquely available for TruckMate, Innovative IES and TMW.Suite. Enhancements to the TruckMate platform: project44 Integration: An integration with project44 provides TruckMate broker and 3PL customers with quicker access to rate quotes and easier management of load tenders and acceptance. With this new tool, brokers and 3PLs can gain access to industry-leading carriers directly within their TMS without the need to maintain individual connections. Container IQ In-Port Tracking: Container IQ has been enhanced to enable TruckMate intermodal carriers to track containers in port, providing greater visibility into container location. This enhancement joins Container IQ’s existing rail tracking functionality and expands a fleet’s ability to more closely anticipate containers’ availability for pickup, potentially decreasing time spent waiting at ports for containers to become available and additional port demurrage fees caused by late pickups. Using information in Container IQ, intermodal fleets can set appointments with the port to authorize charges and validate the pickup company for added security. WorkOptima Integration: Along with the existing TMW-Synergize solution, TruckMate customers now have a user-configurable cloud-based solution for document and process automation. When using WorkOptima with TruckMate, carriers and brokers can manage critical documents, workflows and processes in a cohesive and integrated solution. The solution enables automation to improve accuracy, save time and reduce errors and the costs of utilizing manual paper and workflow processing. Enhancements to modules within the Innovative IES platform: Innovative’s new, flexible dashboard provides a flexible user interface that allows end-users to customize their screens to meet the user’s own organizational needs and processes. The Windows-based tool lets users add key data content to their screen; then drag and drop it into the format that works best for them. Content such as Available Loads, Assigned Order, Orders in Progress and Units are available, and users can also incorporate additional content such as Reports, Maps and Graphs to further improve the management of their daily activities. New options for new TMW.Suite users: Available for fuel marketers as well as carriers, the Fuel Dispatch subscription bundles offer a standalone solution to improve planning and dispatch operations, streamline in-ground inventory management, and replenishment of products and track fuel deliveries to ensure they are made on time and in the right quantity. This solution bundle is designed to help companies leverage key cloud-hosting services to limit IT expenses and requirements, while also predictably managing technology expenses through monthly payments without an upfront capital investment.

OKLAHOMA CITY — To help professional drivers prepare for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2020 International Roadcheck, more than 390 Loves Truck Care and Speedco locations will offer free TirePass inspections and half-price DOT inspections from Sept. 7-11. In addition, with the purchase of a tire or an oil-change service package, drivers will receive a complimentary visual inspection. The CVSA International Roadcheck, set for Sept. 9-11, is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 15 vehicles inspected every minute across North America. The focus of this year’s Roadcheck is on the driver requirements component of a roadside inspection. “Love’s Truck Care and Speedco team members want to help drivers be safe and legal on the road and this event aims to help drivers be both of those things,” said Gary Price, executive vice president of truck care for Love’s. “We know time is important to professional truck drivers, so by having the TirePass inspection completed — including mud flap and light inspections — while they fuel up, we can save them time and prepare them for CVSA Roadcheck.” Tire-related issues tend to be at the top of the list for placing drivers out of service, so it’s important to identify and correct any potential tire-related compliance violations before a driver rolls up for inspection. Love’s TirePass is an in-lane tire inflation and assessment service, available on the inside diesel lane at Love’s Travel Stops across the country.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — In an independent third-party certified fuel-economy test conducted by Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions (MVTS), the Michelin Energy Guard system, coupled with a Michelin X One tire package, demonstrated a combined fuel savings of 17.01 gallons/1000 miles, Michelin announced Aug. 19. Michelin’s Energy Guard is a SmartWay-verified and CARB-compliant solution. “Our goal, through continued testing, was to provide certified fuel-economy performance test data results that fleets can use to confidently make purchasing decisions about aerodynamic trailer solutions and realize real-world savings,” said Calvin Bradley, technical leader of Michelin Aerodynamic Solutions, Michelin North America. “The newest testing confirms these significant results and validates our product from others on the market.” Two 2015 International LT tractors with Cummins ISX 15-liter engines and Eaton 10-speed automated manual transmissions hauled 53-foot Hyundai dry vans ­— a combination with a gross vehicle weight of 72,000 pounds — to perform the tests. The vehicles were thoroughly inspected and received regular maintenance before testing. The tractors and trailers were fitted with wide-base single tires set at 100 PSI. One vehicle was fitted with Michelin X Line Energy Z on the steer position, Michelin X One Line Energy D on the drive position, and Michelin X One Line Energy T on the trailer position. The other vehicle was outfitted with a competing brand. All tires were EPA SmartWay-approved and had a 500-mile break-in procedure using the same vehicle and load. The Michelin X One tire package alone saved 6.70 gallons/1000 miles, the tests showed. Combining the X One tire package with the Michelin Energy Guard system yielded fuel savings of 17.01 gallons/1000 miles. This can reduce a fuel bill by as much as 12.6% or up to $5,195 per truck per year. To learn more about this winning combination, click here. “MVTS-certified testing is a much more advanced and reliable method for predicting fuel savings,” said Daryl Bear, lead engineer and COO, MVT Solutions LLC. “The results provided are comparable with what a progressive fleet can expect in real-world operations. Combining fuel-efficient tires with aerodynamics can save a fleet significant fuel and money.” Detailed information on the complete test can be found in a separate report on the MVTS website; look for the Michelin logo under “Certified Products.”

PULASKI, Va. — Trova Commercial Vehicles (TrovaCV), a new company that offers customized engineering and manufacturing expertise for commercial vehicles, specifically fully electric trucks, has been launched by Patrick Collignon, former chief operating officer for Volvo Trucks North and South America. TrovaCV will focus on the engineering, design and production of fully electric commercial vehicles with the goal of achieving cost-effective mass production. While working to develop its own fully electric vehicle, TrovaCV will also offer its industrial model and manufacturing capability to other commercial vehicle OEMs. “This is an exciting time as the electric commercial vehicle market is being reshaped,” said Collignon, founder and CEO of TrovaCV. “While technology and innovation have made it possible to convert fuel-powered commercial vehicles into electric vehicles, we haven’t seen a production model capable of producing the required volume of fully electric commercial vehicles to meet the demand,” he continued. “We believe that our engineering approach will offer OEMs the opportunity to build a higher volume of electric vehicles at a lower cost. At the same time, we will utilize our chassis design experience to achieve a complete EV build design from the ground up.” TrovaCV is located in a business-incubation center in Fairlawn, Virginia, and has received support from the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “The technology and advanced manufacturing talents in (Pulaski) county and throughout the region continue to attract and support innovative companies like TrovaCV,” said Jonathan Sweet, county administrator for Pulaski County, Virginia. “We are excited to have TrovaCV as the newest member of our business community, and we are committed to helping them grow their operations and achieving their goals here in Pulaski County.” Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said he believes TrovaCV will help strengthen the state’s position as one of the nation’s premier locations for innovative vehicle design. “We are excited that Trova Commercial Vehicles will launch its innovative start-up in Pulaski County,” Ball said. “This new company will be a strong addition to the booming automotive cluster in the New River Valley, bringing automotive expertise to the niche market of electric commercial truck design and manufacturing,” he continued. “TrovaCV will benefit from the region’s world-class manufacturing workforce and infrastructure that contribute to Virginia’s position as a leader in the automotive industry, and we look forward to its future success.” Collignon has more than 30 years international experience in the commercial vehicle industry with General Motors and the Volvo Group. Before launching TrovaCV, he served as senior vice president of operations for the Americas for Volvo Trucks, where he led a strategic initiative to develop and manufacture the new Mack medium duty truck platform. During his career, Collignon has incubated several companies and held board positions in economic and industry federations. In 2007, he was instrumental in making the Volvo plant in Ghent, Belgium, the first carbon dioxide neutral automotive plant in the world. He has extensive experience in end-to-end value chain management, customer relationship management, product development and operations.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — July net U.S. trailer orders of 18,851 units were a significant improvement, up 40% from June’s uptick and well above July 2019’s level (up 80%). Before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 20,000 units were up 26% versus June and 44% better year over year, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailer Report. “The industry continues to climb from the COVID-generated historic low order volume posted in April,” said Frank Maly, director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research at ACT Research. “At this time last year, however, fleets were in a freight volume and rate-driven investment retrenchment that continued through last September/October.” ACT’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders and factory shipments. “Our conversations this month indicate that a change in fleet attitudes began to occur in mid-June, when they began to investigate availability and pricing,” Maly said. “Discussions following the July 4 holiday break shifted toward active negotiations and order placement,” he continued. “An interesting dichotomy for the industry was occurring at that time: As OEMs extended holiday downtime, fleets began to make investment commitments, with larger fleets leading the way and trailer order strength concentrated in the dry van segment.” While the nation’s net trailer orders showed definite improvement, ACT’s analysis of U.S. trailer production showed scattered rebounds and predicted a lower replacement demand. According to this quarter’s issue of ACT’s Trailer Components Report, analysis of the last decade of trailer production shows that the industry opened the year at an average production pace until the shelter-in-place lockdowns began late in the first quarter of 2020. “Although a widespread shutdown of production of both commercial trucks and autos occurred as part of the overall Q2 societal lockdowns, the commercial trailer segment continued to operate, albeit at lower rates,” Maly noted. “After remaining barely positive in April, a soft gain in net orders occurred in May. That was followed by better demand in both June and July; those months exceeded previous year levels.” ACT’s U.S. New Trailer Components and Materials Forecast provides those in the trailer production supply chain, as well as those who invest in said suppliers and commodities, with forecast quantities of components and raw materials required to support the trailer forecast for the coming five years. It includes near-term quarterly predictions for two years, while the latter three years of the forecast are shown in annual details. Additionally, analysis is segmented into two categories — those needed for the structural composition of new trailers and those used in the production of undercarriage assembly. “Despite better order trends, adjustments to production as we moved into summer were a foregone conclusion; the only question was timing,” Maly said, adding that scheduled holiday shutdowns in July allowed OEMS to extend planned downtime in response to low order volume. “The recent order rebound is extremely dry van-centric, so OEMs and component and material suppliers in the dry van and reefer markets will be less impacted than those in the vocational trailer segments,” he stated. “From a timing standpoint, most of the recent order rebound will be more impactful to late Q3 and Q4 volumes.” When asked about future trailer production, Maly said he believes that in addition to COVID-19, other factors will continue to impact trailer volumes during the coming years. “The surge of trailer acquisitions in 2017-19 has increased trailers in operation, decreased average life of trailers in use, and more than caught up with delayed replacement of older units,” he explained. “In addition to the market impact of an economy crawling from the worst quarterly performance in history, replacement volumes will also be lower than in recent years.”

GREENBELT, Md. — Sunday, Aug. 23, kicks off the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual Brake Safety Week. During the weeklong event, law-enforcement officials will conduct inspections on commercial motor vehicles. Commercial vehicles that have critical out-of-service brake violations or other critical vehicle out-of-service inspection item violations will be restricted from traveling until the violations are corrected. Vehicles that pass eligible inspections may qualify for a passed-inspection CVSA decal. Brake Safety Week is part of law enforcement’s effort to reduce brake-related crashes by conducting roadside inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways. Checking brake-system components is always part of the roadside inspection process; however, inspectors will be paying special attention to brake hoses/tubing during this year’s Brake Safety Week to highlight the importance of those components to a vehicle’s mechanical fitness and safety. “Safety is always our top priority and it’s our mission to ensure the vehicles on our roadways have met all safety standards and regulations,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “This is especially important as we rally behind truck drivers as they transport essential goods during this public health crisis. We need to do everything we can to ensure that the vehicles truck drivers are driving are as safe as possible.” To help carriers and fleet managers make sure drivers are ready for inspection, EROAD, a global provider of fleet management, electronic tax reporting and ELD compliance solutions, offers the following checklist: Drivers must have license, authority number, registration and RODS ready for inspection. Ensure preventive maintenance is current. Examine all brake shoes and drums. Inspect air systems to ensure they are not contaminated with oil or other fluids. Make certain low air warnings are working. Check low air signals and listen for leaks. Walk around trucks to check for leaks or loose hoses. Check for cracks on air disc brake rotors. Inspect brake friction (linings for thickness, any cracks, any visible wear). During CVSA’s 2019 International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative, brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for 45.1% of all out-of-service conditions. That’s more than any other vehicle violation category. In addition, during last year’s Brake Safety Week, 13.5% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected had brake-related vehicle inspection item violations and were placed out of service. “Brakes are one of the most important systems in a vehicle,” Samis said. “Failure of any component of a brake system could be catastrophic. Routine brake system inspections and component replacement are vital to the safety of commercial motor vehicles.”

FORT MILL, S.C — With the opening of a new sales center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, SelecTrucks, a North American retailer of used trucks, now has 30 locations in its network. SelecTrucks of Winnipeg, at 45 Bergen Cutoff Road, is the fourth SelecTrucks center to open this year and is the second SelecTrucks center in Canada. SelecTrucks of Winnipeg is part of the Transolutions Truck Centres group of companies. “Transolutions Truck Centres has a long-standing relationship with Daimler Trucks North America, and we’re excited to expand our partnership,” said Itamar Levine, vice president and general manager of Transolutions Truck Centres. “Our commitment to providing a premium customer experience aligns perfectly with the values of SelecTrucks. Our staff serve as knowledgeable advisors dedicated to helping customers find the right pre-owned trucks and financing for their unique business needs.” The 85,000-square-foot facility offers a large selection of used trucks, industry-leading, comprehensive warranty packages, flexible financing terms and business support. In addition, the dealership features a 10-bay express assessment and rapid repair shop, a 24-bay state-of-the-art main service department shop, a 14,000-square-foot parts warehouse and an indoor sales showroom. “All of our SelecTrucks team members have a passion for providing unparalleled value to our customers and helping them achieve their business goals, and the team at SelecTrucks of Winnipeg is driven to help its customers succeed,” said Mary Aufdemberg, president and general manager of Daimler Trucks remarketing. We’re thrilled to welcome Transolutions Truck Centres as the newest member of our growing SelecTrucks network in Canada.” For more information about the Winnipeg sales center, click here.

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Navistar has selected a facility in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to house the company’s NEXT eMobility Solutions business unit. The site, which is about 30 miles north of Detroit, will serve as the technical lead location for NEXT and will include design, engineering and analysis of all Navistar’s electric vehicles and batteries. “We are very happy to announce the new home for NEXT in Rochester Hills,” said Gary Horvat, vice president of eMobility for Navistar. “We look forward to joining this community as we create what will be the epicenter of everything that we do in electrification.” The 19,000-square-foot facility, at 1885 Enterprise Drive, will have about 50 highly skilled employees, all focused on eMobility-specific engineering roles covering areas such as high voltage systems, batteries, power electronics, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric vehicle hardware and software integration. The company is now in the process of filling positions and will be moving into the facility over the next several months while following current health and safety standards. Currently, NEXT employees are based at Navistar’s corporate headquarters in Lisle, Illinois. NEXT is Navistar’s eMobility solutions business unit and is focused on delivering customized electrification solutions in the truck and school bus markets through its “4 Cs” approach — consulting, charging, construction and connecting. For more information about NEXT, click here.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Kenworth assembly plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, recently received two prestigious 2020 Manufacturing Leadership Awards in the Operational Excellence category for its successful SMART Tool Error Proofing System and Cab Trim Finish Line projects. The awards were presented by the Manufacturing Leadership Council of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). “These two prestigious NAM Manufacturing Leadership awards for operational excellence are a special tribute to the employees at Kenworth Chillicothe,” said Judy McTigue, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for operations. “All of our employees are dedicated to achieving enhanced quality and productivity with the goal of providing ‘The World’s Best’ trucks to our customers.” The SMART Tool Error Proofing System project implemented a process-verification system that further enhanced torque-tightening quality and increased efficiency by automating the tightening process throughout the plant. The Chillicothe team used Design for Six Sigma methodologies and a collaborative effort with its partner, ARC Solutions Technology, to design custom software adapters capable of removing error from the fastening process using the existing Kenworth infrastructure. Direct-current (DC) tools now are used in tandem with process verification to scan a chassis, pull the chassis specifications and populate the recipe of sockets, torque numbers and bolt locations needed for the operator to tighten the fasteners. The collaboration resulted in a system that increases repeatability and reduces the opportunity for incorrect variation by automating the decision-making requirements for each chassis. The Cab Trim Finish Line project was undertaken to ensure “first-time-right” quality. The addition of a finish line at the end of Cab Trim and prior to the cab being set on the chassis enables enhanced functional and quality verifications on the Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 models. The Chillicothe team held extensive workshops to develop a plan for best use of the available space, using Six Sigma and Project Management tools to meet the high-quality expectations for cabs, sleepers and hoods leaving the department. The plant’s rearrangement began in the second quarter of 2019, and the new Cab Trim Finish Line began providing benefits to the plant in September of last year. The trim, paint, material handling and mainline departments achieved significant enhancements in safety, quality, cost and delivery as a result of this project. “Our manufacturing, engineering and quality teams constantly explore and implement continuous initiatives to our world class manufacturing processes,” said Rod Spencer, plant manager for Kenworth Chillicothe. “The goal is to deliver an even better Kenworth truck that will provide years of productive service for fleets and truck operators.” Kenworth’s plants in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Renton, Washington, both have earned the International Standards Organization (ISO) 14001:2015 certification for effective environmental management systems established to help build Class 8 trucks in an environmentally sustainable manner. Kenworth’s medium-duty products are produced at the PACCAR Ste. Thérèse, Quebec, manufacturing facility, which also holds ISO 14001:2015 status.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Electrify America, the largest open direct current (DC) fast-charging network in the U.S., today announced it will work with Love’s Travel Stops, a nationwide travel-stop network, to bring public ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to seven locations in six U.S. states. Five of the seven charging locations, located in Florida, New Mexico (two sites), Oklahoma and Utah, are already open for service. The remaining two, in Arizona and New York State, will be available for public use by early 2021. Together, the seven sites offer a total of 28 EV chargers. The most recent Love’s station opening in Salina, Utah, helped complete a cross-country route of Electrify America chargers spanning from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. “As we continue building charging stations at accessible sites, Love’s Travel Stops was a perfect fit because of its convenient locations near major highways,” said Rachel Moses, senior manager for site acquisition, development and strategy at Electrify America. “Providing EV drivers with the opportunity to charge their vehicles at Love’s locations will help instill confidence for longer interstate trips, and can encourage more consumers to consider making the switch to electric.” Depending on the location, Love’s customers will have access to chargers ranging in power from 150 kilowatt (kW) to 350 kW. Electric vehicles capable of accepting a 350 kW charge can add up to 20 miles of range per minute, helping alleviate the “range anxiety” many consumers associate with EV road trips. “Our goal is to provide all drivers with safe, convenient places to stop and refuel — and that includes the growing number of electric vehicle drivers,” said Frank Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “We’re committed to initiatives and solutions that reduce emissions, and excited to add EV charging stations at our locations.” Electrify America charging station locations at Love’s include the following: Now open at Love’s Travel Stops: Florida: 45000 U.S. Highway 27, Davenport, Florida; New Mexico: 1900 S. Mountain Road, Tucumcari, New Mexico; New Mexico: 1028 N.M. Highway 156, Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Oklahoma: 901 N. Sheb Wooley Ave., Erick, Oklahoma; and Utah: 1915 S. State St., Salina, Utah. Coming soon to Love’s Travel Stops: Arizona: 760 S. Quartzsite Ave., Quartzsite, Arizona and New York: 2 Industrial Park Drive, Binghamton, New York. To find out if a station near you is open and for a full list of Electrify America station locations, click here.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook, forecasts for 2020 were marked up across the board in August. The report cites the uptick as a result of a robust “perfect storm” of positives in late spring and summer. Many of these “positives” were set in motion by the federal government’s and the Federal Reserve’s massive stimulus responses, as well as by the trucking industry’s jettisoning of drivers in April. “On top of the continued steady roll out of good economic numbers, the sustained rally in spot rates was a key factor in this month’s forecast markup,” said ACT President and Senior Analyst Kenny Vieth, pointing to the U.S. transportation industry. “That said, parked capacity is likely to weigh on the market as those units are redeployed throughout 2021,” he noted. ACT’s North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook report forecasts the future of the industry, looking at the next one to five years, with the objective of giving OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and investment firms the information needed to plan accordingly for the future. The report provides a complete overview of the North American markets, and takes a deep dive into relevant, current market activity to highlight orders, production and backlogs, shedding light on the forecast. Information included in the report covers forecasts and current market conditions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks/tractors; trailers; the macroeconomies of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; publicly traded carrier information; oil and fuel price impacts; freight and intermodal considerations; and regulatory environment impacts. Regarding NA commercial vehicle demand, Vieth commented, “Another factor in the 2020 forecast mark-up is not just the revival in order strength, but the very front-end-loaded nature of June’s orders and very strong near-term backlog filling,” Vieth said regarding commercial vehicle demand in North America. “Even in the face of significant parked capacity, a case can be made for a steady, if modest, Class 8 market rebound from here.” Based on continued increases in build in the face of already high inventories, Vieth said, “Classes 5-7 OEMs appear to be betting on business and consumers’ resilience.”

PORTLAND, Ore. — Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) recently announced the winners of this year’s Technician Skills Competition, which was held in a virtual format because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kyle Siebert, Northwest Trucks Inc., Palatine, Illinois, is the winner of the vehicle category; and Ryan Picken, Metro Freightliner Hamilton Inc., Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada won the engine category. The winners will receive a diagnostic laptop, electrical tools, branded items and select merchandise of their choice for their entire shop. The annual competition tests the abilities of technicians from Freightliner and Western Star dealerships, as well as and Detroit distributors, in the U.S. and Canada to diagnose and repair a variety of DTNA’s vehicle and engine products. There were 1,073 participants in this year’s competition, with a group of 28 finalists. This year’s competition began with a written exam in June and culminated with the virtual “hands-on” round, with finalists completing the challenges at their respective locations. The judges — based in Portland, Oregon; Detroit, Michigan; and Cleveland, North Carolina — walked the finalists through different stations, where the competitors were evaluated on how accurately they were able to troubleshoot problems. “It required a lot of creativity to translate what normally would have been a hands-on and in-person event into a virtual competition,” said Mike Mallett, training programs manager for DTNA. “Because the technicians had to verbalize their rationale for all proposed actions, the virtual format afforded the judges fantastic insight into the diagnostics and troubleshooting approaches of those competing,” he continued. “Congratulations to Kyle and Ryan for winning this year’s competition, and thank you to all of our engine and vehicle technicians who continually provide our customers with the highest level of efficiency and expertise to maximize uptime.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software has completely re-engineered its LoadMaster Enterprise and PowerBroker software, the company announced today (Aug. 17). The Version 20.2 updates provide new capabilities for both software systems, including new internet portals that promise customers “a whole new experience,” according to a statement released by McLeod. The new portals are designed to help McLeod customers create a better branded internet presence for their company, and more importantly, create a better experience for their customers, carriers, and drivers. Customer portal: The new customer portal provides the carrier’s or broker’s customer with real-time access to all of their load information 24/7. The new portal provides customers with assigned logins that ensure secure access to orders as well as delivered and in-transit shipments. In addition, a variety of display options enhance customers’ experience and response time, and the portals give customers the ability to easily download document images with retrieval options. Map views are available on orders displaying plotted mobile comm positions or positions from call-in records. The visibility of orders reduces the need for calls and emails into the carrier or broker’s dispatch for ETAs and “Where’s my truck?” calls. Driver portal: With the new driver portal for carriers running McLeod’s LoadMaster dispatch system, drivers receive a secure login for instant access to settlement and pay information. If a carrier elects to use the LoadMaster Driver Choice module, drivers have immediate access to available matched loads that fit their choices in a predefined profile — a feature that can be especially useful for fleets with significant numbers of owner-operators. Carriers can more easily match drivers with the loads they want to haul and let them choose the load that best fits what’s important to them. Carrier portal: The PowerBroker carrier portal allows a broker’s carriers to access loads that have been offered and current load information and offers flexible search options. Carriers have secure access to available and delivered loads to provide tracking, trip documents and call-in information. Brokers can get paid faster by providing carriers and owner-operators with secure access to input information needed to complete billing. Visual indicators throughout the screens help carriers and owner-operators easily add shipping-related documents by uploading images directly to their loads, where the images will automatically be indexed to support billing. The portal also provides drag-and-drop capability for images for added convenience. Factoring portal: For brokers and carriers that work with factoring companies, McLeod’s factoring company portal provides a new, contemporary tool that allows them to quickly find the status of movements and reduce the number of phone calls needed. Factoring companies have a clear, concise view in a payment pipeline for all carriers or brokers. Factoring clerks now have easy access to check the status of movements that have been paid or pending, in progress or delivered, and pay information, such as line haul and other pay records, including advances to better understand the overall net pay for each movement. This portal provides the ability to add images for documentation, speeding up the settlement process. Location portal: McLeod’s new location portal provides a tool for carriers and brokers to give the shipping companies’ staff at a specific location a physical shipping site, warehouse or terminal, with visibility to loads coming into and going out of the location. Other enhancements include streamlining the recruiting and driver-application process, a new multicurrency system, new capabilities for McLeod’s electronic data interchange modules (EDIs), new market-insight view features and more. For more information and new features, visit www.mcleodsoftware.com.