Equipment & Tech Archives

Trimble launches dispatch advisor to optimize load matching for carriers

The Trucker News Staff - April 20, 2020

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Trimble last week launched its new Dispatch Advisor, an optimized dispatch solution for the transportation industry that prescriptively suggests matches between loads, drivers and equipment. Through Trimble Dispatch Advisor, carriers can identify and select the best loads to increase on-time delivery, reduce empty miles and improve driver utilization. Trimble Dispatch Advisor reviews all available matches using a variety of variables, including location, driver hours-of-service data, time windows and more, such as the effects of selecting a specific load on future orders. The system then recommends a primary match, along with reasons for the recommendation. Additional matches are also suggested, including an estimated impact to the company should they choose any of the other options rather than the first or primary match. “With Trimble Dispatch Advisor, our goal is to provide the right match the first time around,” said Chris Orban, vice president of data science for Trimble Transportation. “The platform saves the load planner time by quickly analyzing a vast amount of data from multiple systems — considering all the possible matches and offering an optimal solution and alternatives — so the planner can be informed in selecting the right choice for their fleet.” Load planners have the final review and assignment of the match, providing the opportunity for human intervention. This allows planners to streamline common loads and focus on exceptions, reducing time loss and increasing accuracy. Additionally, the system’s automation is balanced by human interaction, allowing dispatchers to assign loads based on human elements such as a driver’s need to return home by a specific date or time. “Trimble Dispatch Advisor continues our work to revolutionize the way the world moves freight, bringing decades of experience working with leading carriers to make their operations more efficient,” Orban said. “By pairing automated decision support with human intervention from the dispatcher, Trimble Dispatch Advisor provides strong guidance and efficiency with effective load optimization, all backed by a focus on and relationship with drivers.” The solution is available as an add-on module within Trimble Innovative, TMW.Suite and TruckMate transportation-management systems (TMS). It is integrated with the existing dispatch screen, eliminating the need to switch between tools or applications to access the solution.

Drivewyze app expands rest-area notifications to include more states

The Trucker News Staff - April 17, 2020

DALLAS — While the evolving impact of the COVID-19 crises on state’s rest-area operations has created confusion over which sites remain open for truckers, the need for drivers to find safe parking hasn’t subsided. “Not knowing where drivers will find available parking at the end of each day continues to be a challenge and a stressor for truckers,” said Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. In response to this need, Drivewyze has expanded its temporary rest-area parking notifications to include Arizona, Virginia and Ohio. “Drivers are busy driving and don’t have time to keep track of changing open/close statuses at traditional parking areas,” Heath said. “This problem is exacerbated when you add temporary parking sites to the equation. New temporary parking is welcome, but how do drivers know where those are on a timely basis?” Arizona recently opened two temporary sites, and Virginia is now allowing long-term parking at 10 weigh stations. The Ohio state DOT has asked Drivewyze to provide messaging to truckers as an extension of the state’s decision to keep all rest areas open, patrolled and safe. According to Heath, Drivewyze leveraged its GPS-based safety-notification service to help drivers in these three states. “We volunteered to map out all the sites in these effected states and put our technology to work,” he said. “Truckers now receive an automated heads-up notification with open/close status 25 miles and 5 miles prior to the rest areas in Arizona and weigh stations in Virginia. In Ohio, the notification that all sites are open goes out when a trucker crosses the state line. The goal is to give drivers in all three states a sense of relief in knowing where they can park. “This work was done in conjunction with our state DOT partners,” Heath continued. “We saw it as a joint mission to help drivers, and the alerts will continue as long as COVID-19 is impacting parking. We will add states and sites as circumstances change. It’s truly a liquid situation.” In addition to the three new states added, Drivewyze provides temporary parking notifications for Pennsylvania and Florida. Notifications are available and free to carriers subscribed to the Drivewyze safety-notifications service. The notification format will be familiar to drivers who already receive similar Drivewyze safety notifications. Both the Drivewyze PreClear weigh-station bypass service, and the Drivewyze safety-notifications service are available to carriers on supported ELDs and other in-cab devices, through the Drivewyze partner network. Subscribers interested in deploying the Drivewyze safety-notifications service, and rest-area alerts should contact their ELD or in-cab device provide or Drivewyze customer service.

FTR reports trailer orders are down 55% from March 2019

The Trucker News Staff - April 16, 2020

Bloomington, Ind. – FTR reports preliminary trailer orders for March continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, falling 54% from an already depressed February to 6,500 units for the month. Orders were down 55% from March 2019. Totals in March were particularly weak for dry vans with some large fleets canceling orders that were spread out over the remainder of the year. Flatbed orders were also tepid, as the manufacturing sector of the economy was partially shut down in March. Refrigerated van orders fell, but not to the same degree as other segments. Trailer orders for the past 12 months now total 177,000 units. Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles, commented, “The trailer market is mirroring the Class 8 side, as fleets are extremely cautious due to the anxiety about the virus. The orders placed in March are for units that are perceived to be absolutely necessary for relatively short-term needs. Fleets will also delay replacing older trailers until the economic situation stabilizes. Orders did exceed last June’s 5,600 total when some large fleets canceled dry van orders as the freight market cooled. “It is expected there will be some over-capacity in the short-term due to the enormous number of new trailers that entered the market in the last three years. Some of those trailers will sit idle during this rough economic downturn. They will go back into service gradually as things recover. However, this will limit new trailer demand for a while. This is a severe wait-and-see situation with a potentially long wait period. Expect orders to track around the 10,000-unit mark for a few months as a result.”

Dynasys unveils 3 new APU products, including update to Gen 2K

The Trucker News Staff - April 15, 2020

ALLIANCE, Neb. – Dynasys, a division of Perrin Manufacturing, has released three new APU products, Dynasys Gen 3K, Dynasys EIS and Dynasys 8kW. All three made-in-America products were unveiled within one year of the firms’ acquisition by Platform Capital. The Dynasys Gen 3K is the highly anticipated update to the Gen 2K. Popular with owner-operators and fleets alike, the Gen 2K is already known for its powerful cooling capabilities, a 6kW generator head and fuel savings of one gallon per hour while idling. Gen 3K’s modern controller affords complete in-cab control over power and environmental conditions and is also available as a 6kW generator style unit. The new Dynasys EIS features an automotive-style HVAC. “EIS” stands for Economic Inverter System, reflective of a fuel efficient and low-maintenance design. The Dynasys EIS unit is designed as an option for fleets ranging from 10 to 10,000 tractor trailers. Dynasys 8kW is a generator-only unit delivering 8 Kilowatts of power. Developed for the specialty truck manufacturer and fleet, the Dynasys 8kW creates a system for each tractor to power any unit from a roof-mount air conditioner to an in-cab water heater. This unit features a direct drive generator that eliminates belt-drive failures and delivers a high volume of power with reduced maintenance issues. “Our customers and dealers have shared what the industry needs and we have delivered,” stated Pat Crowley, vice president of engineering for Perrin Manufacturing/Dynasys. “We have been very impressed with the quality and diversity of Dynasys’ new product line,” stated Eric Walls, president of ELW Company, a Dynasys Dealer. “A large portion of our APU business revolves around expeditor type trucks and Dynasys’ 8kW and 6kW generator APU units fill a massive void for this segment of the trucking industry.”

Veccram debuts multifunctional app for truck drivers with roadside assistance, free driver GPS

The Trucker News Staff - April 14, 2020

HOUSTON — Veccram recently launched its proprietary roadside assistance and GPS app for truck drivers working in the continental U.S. With just a single download for Android or iPhone, Veccram offers free GPS and access to fully vetted roadside-assistance companies, any day or time, covering some of the largest cities in the country. Created by a trucker for truckers, Veccram helps drivers keep their most important asset — their truck — safe and delivers peace of mind with the speed and convenience of a smartphone app. “I‘ve been a driver and diesel mechanic for many years,” said Ronald Wilson, president of Veccram. “So I can honestly say I know how frustrating it is to stand on the side of the road during a breakdown and wonder when help will come. Veccram has been in testing and development for a long time, because I wanted to make absolutely certain that it was perfect before we launched. And now it is. Veccram offers fast, real-time roadside assistance, 24/7 365, with absolutely no monthly membership fee. And we‘ve included free GPS when you sign up, both as a convenience to our members and as a big thank-you for trusting Veccram with your truck‘s health. We know how important that truck is to your livelihood.” Built and programmed for both semi and dually trucks, Veccram Roadside Assistance and GPS requires no Internet connection and comes complete with lane assist and a built-in speed-limit display. Using Veccram is easy: Drivers download the app to their smartphone through either Google Play or the Apple App Store. In case of a breakdown or need for roadside assistance, drivers simply enable their current location to see the service providers located near them. Drivers can contact the nearest service provider of their choice directly through the app. The provider will then send an estimated service time based on the driver’s specific service requirement. Drivers wait for assistance to arrive. Because the providers are local, total wait time is guaranteed to be less than one hour — usually no more than 30 minutes. All providers are fully screened and vetted. After receiving mechanical services, drivers pay the provider. Payment can occur through the app or in person to the provider. Veccram is constantly growing and is already available in eight states and dozens of major cities, including Tampa, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and more.

Using Bestpass for toll management

The Trucker News Staff - April 14, 2020

Hi, this is David Compton with The Trucker News Channel. I’m here with Michael from Bestpass. Michael, welcome to the show. Bestpass: Thank you, David. David Compton: So tell me a little bit about Bestpass. What do you guys do? Bestpass: Well, what Bestpass specializes is toll management. We consolidate all the tolls across the United States, over 40 different tolling authorities into one consolidated source of invoice, payment, and the whole nine yards. We minimize the devices that are associated with the actual tractor. There’s companies out there that may have five or six transponders across the window. We could do it all into one device or we could customize it to the region that that trucking company is traveling. Bestpass: And then we pride ourselves on our customer service team. We made a customer service team, so we represent our customers with the tolling authorities, making our customers more efficient, so they don’t have to worry about dialing the phone and talking to a tolling authority. We represent them and we do it very well. David Compton: So any new innovations you guys are launching? Bestpass: Yeah. Basically today, there’s a press release that’s going out. The biggest thing with the change in the tolling authority, is there’s more open road tolling. They’re getting rid of the toll booths. So with that, there’s more and more violation issues out there. So what we’re doing now is not only is a backup for the tractors, adding the license plate with the trailers, so by doing this this helps prevent the violations from happening. So we call it a Toll Violation Avoidance Program. David Compton: Very cool. So this is, I’m assuming that it’s a pretty competitive space. What really separates Bestpass from its competition? Is there one or two things that you could really nail it down and say, “This is where we beat our competition?” Bestpass: Basically, it’s on the toll side. No one does toll like Bestpass. I’m very proud of what we built at Bestpass. Maybe a little bit of bias. But when other people compare us to our competitors, we seem to come out on top. But our competitors do certain things better than we do, like weigh station bypass. We just link it into our services, we don’t really manage that. We’re just the toll people. David Compton: Got it. So when it comes to technology, sometimes human nature is, “Oh my gosh, is this difficult to install?” Tell me about it. How do I put Bestpass in? Can I do it myself? Do I have to go somewhere? Bestpass: Depending on the size of the trucking company, from the owner operators to the small and medium-sized companies, it’s really not that big of a lift. But when you’re talking about the mega companies, anything over a thousand vehicles, yes, change out the transponders, put our device in there, it becomes a little bit of a hassle. Bestpass: But what Bestpass has done, is that we, I don’t want to say hold their hands, but we walk them through the whole process. We built a implementation team, so it goes from sales to implementation. Implementation now sets up the account, make sure the ordering is all ready, then it changes over to our fulfillment team, and that’s where they actually ship the devices. We’re side-by-side with our customer all the way through that process, which I don’t think our competitors do that. David Compton: Very cool. How do our viewers find out more about Bestpass? Bestpass: You can go onto bestpass.com. Everything’s there, from the type of transponders to our coverage area, and everything that we do with our news, the press releases are all. David Compton: All right, very nice. Everybody, that’s bestpass.com. This is David Compton with The Trucker News Channel. Back to you in the studio.

Carrier Transicold launches new solar-power system for trailer refrigeration with greater charging efficiency

The Trucker News Staff - April 13, 2020

ATHENS, Ga. — Optimized to deliver more power faster, Carrier Transicold’s newest solar-charging system for transport-refrigeration-unit (TRU) batteries features an innovative design that conveniently fits on top of the transport refrigeration unit TRU. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. The new TRU-Mount Solar Charging System delivers 2.0-amp power delivery by combining ultrapure silicon cells with a high-performance charge controller. “With a significantly smaller footprint than our prior solar panels, the new system provides up to 18% greater power delivery for faster, more complete charging of a 12-volt TRU battery, helping ensure uninterrupted performance,” said Jason Forman, associate director of sales and marketing, performance parts, Carrier Transicold. Solar panels are being widely adopted by refrigerated haulers to help offset battery draws from ancillary devices such as fuel-level sensors, interior trailer lighting and telematics systems. During periods when the TRU is not running, such power draws can potentially drain the battery too low to start the TRU engine, resulting in a service callout or battery replacement. Solar panels can also help conserve fuel by minimizing the need to run the TRU engine to charge the battery. The innovative panel design provides a custom fit on the narrow, curved top surface of Carrier Transicold X4- and X2-series trailer refrigeration units and Vector 8000- and 6000-series units. The charge controller is integral to the panel, which simplifies installation. “The location of the TRU-Mount panel has multiple advantages,” Forman said. “The lower positioning on the TRU makes it less susceptible to overhead scrapes that can affect trailer-top-mounted panels. Unlike some competitive units, Carrier’s TRU-Mount system is not suspended over the exhaust path, helping to avoid efficiency losses that occur when solar cells are exposed to high temperatures. The system also conveniently stays with the TRU if the TRU is removed and reinstalled on another trailer.” The panel uses three engineered layers to maximize strength and efficiency. The light-trapping upper layer is scratch-, impact- and weather-resistant. The middle layer is composed of uncut monocrystalline cells that maximize output and minimize power loss from intermittent shading. The copper bottom layer serves as a heat sink that keeps the panel cooler for greater efficiency.

McLeod announces new digital freight matching web service for PowerBroker

The Trucker News Staff - April 10, 2020

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – McLeod Software has introduced a new digital freight matching (DFM) web service API for its PowerBroker TMS product. This web service allows McLeod customers to integrate third party providers of available freight and capacity matching solutions into their brokerage operations. The newly published API web service for DFM in PowerBroker gives companies with freight and capacity matching services or products the ability to write and test their own integration solutions for PowerBroker. McLeod’s PowerBroker already supports direct integration with several DFM products in the marketplace that allow their customers to take advantage of the business process automation that these companies provide. The new DFM web service API provides a connection from the third party DFM solution directly to the McLeod PowerBroker application though a secure and configurable set of web service end points specifically designed for freight matching functions. These service endpoints give vendors the ability to receive notifications on newly added or updated available shipments, to validate the qualification status of a given carrier based on PowerBroker’s business rules, to send capacity information on available equipment in a given area, to “cover” the load with a qualified carrier that will trigger an automated carrier rate confirmation, and to send a counteroffer on behalf of a qualified carrier for an available load. “The release of this service achieves two primary goals,” said Robert Brothers, vice president of product development, “The first is to provide the greatest flexibility for our PowerBroker customers to choose the 3rd party freight matching solutions that help their business be more efficient in locating and transacting with capacity matching solutions. Secondly, we designed this to give control of security and shared data elements to our customers, the PowerBroker system user. Sometimes the external service interfaces available in the market do not allow a brokerage company to know or limit the amount of information that is shared outside their system. The McLeod DFM API changes that model, because the service is configurable with respect to the data that is retrieved by the external system supplier or service vendor.” McLeod Software will have a certification program for vendors to become eligible to use and support the DFM service in PowerBroker. The certification process will provide these integration partners with a sandbox environment that includes simulated data for development and testing. Companies who offer DFM services and want more information on participating in the McLeod Software DFM API certification program, or the licensing of this service, should email [email protected].

Utility Trailer earns IIHS award for new standard underride guard

The Trucker News Staff - April 8, 2020

ARLINGTON, Va. — A new rear underride guard from Utility Trailer has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ToughGuard award. The new guard comes standard on all dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds manufactured after December 2019. Trailers from Utility, one of the largest trailer manufacturers in North America, have previously qualified for the award only when equipped with an optional auxiliary vertical bumper available for dry vans and refrigerated vans. Utility designed its new guard to decrease weight and protect the horizontal portion of the guard from damage that can occur during loading and unloading. Rear underride guards are metal bumpers that hang from the backs of semitrailers to prevent underride in a rear impact. Underride occurs when a passenger vehicle slides under a larger vehicle during a crash. This typically causes severe intrusion into the passenger vehicle’s occupant space and is often deadly. IIHS introduced the ToughGuard award in 2017 for trailers with guards that prevent underride in all three of the institute’s rear underride tests — full-width, 50% overlap and 30% overlap. In each test, a typical midsize car travels at 35 mph toward the back of a parked semitrailer. In the full-width test, the car strikes the center of the guard head-on. In the 50% overlap, half of the car’s front end strikes the guard. In the 30% overlap, the toughest evaluation, 30% of the car’s front strikes the corner of the trailer.

Drivewyze app expands rest-area alerts to Florida, helps truckers find places to park

The Trucker News Staff - April 8, 2020

DALLAS — With Florida joining Pennsylvania in suspending parking at select rest areas, Drivewyze has announced it is providing “open and closed” alerts for Florida’s 65 rest areas and welcome centers. The Florida alerts join the Pennsylvania rest-area alerts that went live March 24. Drivewyze safety-notification alerts are available and free to carriers who subscribe to the Drivewyze PreClear weigh-station bypass service. “Working with the support of the Florida Department of Transportation, we want truckers to know which areas are open and which are closed. Five out of the state’s 65 rest areas are currently not open to truck parking,” said Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. “What’s happening with states and rest areas is a very fluid situation due to COVID-19. We wanted to do our part, so we volunteered our help in alerting drivers to what’s open and what’s closed, so they can plan accordingly,” he continued. “Driver safety and safe parking options is critical to truckers — they’re our No. 1 asset in the supply chain. They need all our support.” The rest-area notifications will be displayed for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency as long as rest area parking is limited. The notification format will be familiar to drivers who already receive Drivewyze safety notifications. As in Pennsylvania, notifications in Florida will be sent at strategic locations along the route — about 25 miles out, then again at roughly 5 miles out. Both the Drivewyze PreClear weigh-station bypass application, and the Drivewyze safety-notifications service, are available to carriers on supported ELDs and other in-cab devices, through the Drivewyze partner network. Subscribers interested in deploying the Drivewyze safety-notifications service, including Florida and Pennsylvania rest-area alerts, should contact their ELD or in-cab device provider, or their Drivewyze Customer Success Manager.

Cummins, DuPont partner to use filter technology to supply critical material for N95 respirator masks

The Trucker News Staff - April 7, 2020

COLUMBUS, Ind. — As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, Cummins Inc. and DuPont are helping address the nation’s shortage of N95 respirator masks. Cummins’ NanoNet and NanoForce Media technology, which uses DuPont’s Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT), can typically be found in air, fuel and lube filtration products used in heavy-duty diesel engines to prevent long-term engine wear, but also can be used in the N95 respirator masks worn by healthcare professionals to filter harmful airborne particles that can spread COVID-19. The need for N95 masks has skyrocketed in recent weeks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the world’s leading mask manufacturers are in need of the critical materials to assemble the mask and are struggling to meet demand. “Cummins is re-evaluating our supply base and manufacturing capabilities to identify how we can support our health care professionals who rely on critical personal protective equipment to do their jobs,” said Amy Davis, vice president of Cummins Filtration. “Our NanoNet Media can fill a key supply void and help address the mask shortage facing the United States and other countries around the world.” The first mask prototypes using Cummins’ donated media were assembled by University of Minnesota teams in March as part of an initiative to provide masks to M Health Fairview and other Minneapolis-based healthcare systems. As the COVID-19 outbreak escalated, the University of Minnesota realized the supply of N95 masks to protect health care workers would potentially run out in a matter of weeks. To address this challenge, a team of designers, engineers, chemists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and apparel and clothing experts from the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Engineering in Medicine; Medical School; College of Design; College of Science and Engineering; and Center for Filtration Research Consortium (CFR) came together to address this projected shortage of critical personal protective equipment. “The first thing we recognized from our experts in the Center for Filtration Research, who work directly with Cummins, is that not all filtration materials are created equal and that the Cummins material is an excellent alternative,” said Jakub Tolar, campus health officer and medical school dean at the University of Minnesota. “We are tremendously grateful for the generous donation from Cummins of their filtration materials toward our mask effort. Since the arrival of the filtration media we have been able to make rapid progress, and we now believe we have several viable mask options, including both a disposable and re-usable option. These designs show real promise in keeping our health care workers safe should standard medical supplies of N95 masks no longer be available,” continued Tolar. The project also aims to provide open-source instructions that other health care systems and groups can use to create their own respirator masks. While DuPont’s innovative and unique Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT) is typically integrated with Cummins’ synthetic fibers to protect sensitive engine components, it has multiple other applications that can include filtration media used in N95 respirator masks. DuPont’s Hybrid Membrane Technology goes beyond the limits of traditional semi-porous or nonwoven membranes for air and liquid filtration. Made using a proprietary spinning process, the hybrid technology materials are comprised of continuous sub-micron fibers. The end result is a “membrane-like” sheet structure that balances breathability and high filtration efficiency of particulates. “We are proud to make our advanced technology available to help protect more caregivers on the front lines of this global health crisis,” said HP Nanda, global vice president and general manager for DuPont Water Solutions. “We thank our partner Cummins for transitioning the use of its production line to help address the global shortage of N95 mask materials, and we thank the experts at the University of Minnesota for their leadership in testing and designing several mask options for the benefit of many health care systems. By working together — and innovating new applications of existing technologies and materials — we hope to slow the spread of this terrible virus.” The N95 designation means arespirator can block at least 95 percent of particles from entering the wearer’s nose and mouth. When Cummins’ NanoNet Media was tested using an industry standard testing method, it exceeded the performance requirements for N95 designation. Cummins’ manufacturing facilities have since provided media samples to mask manufacturers across the globe to test its effectiveness. While products featuring Cummins’ media will need to be vetted and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the company is preparing to do its part to help relieve the burden facing the health care industry. “We’re working as quickly as possible with health care regulators and other partners to help certify products with our materials, and prepare our manufacturing facilities to meet demand,” said Davis. Mask manufacturers interested in learning more about Cummins’ media technology can visit cumminsfiltration.com/respiratormedia.

Trucker’s invention could be answer to many icing situations leading to jackknifed rigs

Kris Rutherford - April 1, 2020

CHICAGO — “Jackknifing” is a trucking-related term most nontruckers understand. Many have passed the scene of an accident involving a jackknifed trailer during their travels. Unfortunately, jackknifing is a relatively common cause of accidents involving tractor-trailers, and drivers must remain alert and at the ready to handle a potential jackknifing situation. Keeping their rigs upright and on the road, and avoiding collisions with other vehicles, is something drivers may be able to read about, but it takes experience at the wheel to truly understand. Today, thanks to a former OTR driver, a proactive method helping to prevent jackknifing situations is now on the market. Bob Allen, a driver with 38 years of experience who now works for the City of Chicago, spent years thinking about a method to prevent brake lines from freezing. In 2013 he invented a prototype, and his invention, “The Brake Releaser,” manufactured by Milton Industries, hit the market late last year. “There’s a lot of reasons a tractor-trailer can jackknife,” Allen told The Trucker. “Most often, the brake shoes aren’t adjusted properly. But a trailer with frozen brakes is also common.” The Brake Releaser is designed to prevent frozen brake situations. Allen’s story began about 30 years ago. As a 28-year-old with seven years of driving experience already under his belt, Allen experienced a near-miss in a winter storm north of Indianapolis. “The weather conditions were a virtual whiteout,” Allen said. “Through the snow, I saw what I thought was another rig jackknifing alongside my truck.” Allen acted quickly, accelerating to move out of the other rig’s unpredictable path. After driving clear of the perceived threat, he realized the “other rig” was not another rig at all — instead, it was his own trailer on the verge of passing his tractor. Allen had narrowly escaped jackknifing his own rig and slamming into an Indiana State Trooper’s vehicle. Allen pulled his rig over. Using a time-proven but time-consuming method drivers still use today, he warmed his frozen trailer-brake system with a torch, using a hammer to release the brakes. Considering the weather conditions, working on the side of the road and getting the brakes to release was not only difficult but also dangerous. That experience in the bitter cold of a Midwest winter provided the inspiration Bob Allen needed. Knowing that frozen brakes were what caused his trailer to jackknife, Allen thought hard about ways to keep brake fluid and components from freezing or thickening in cold weather. He recognized moisture as a braking system’s worst enemy, especially in freezing conditions. Hammers, torches and possibly de-icing fluid were useful after a driver recognized an icing situation, but safety called for something to prevent brakes from freezing in the first place. Allen sought a proactive solution. “It really didn’t take a lot of time to figure it out,” he said. “I had the idea in my mind quite a few years, but I never had the money to pursue it.” In 2013, Allen created a prototype device that allowed a driver to inject a de-icing solution into a trailer’s brake system, either upon realizing moisture is in the system or in preparation for the truck to operate in extremely cold conditions. It took several years, but after several drivers proved the worth of Allen’s prototype, he happened to meet someone who was interested in manufacturing and marketing the device. “It was a true case of being in the right place at the right time,” Allen said. “I’d met the former CEO of Milton Industries through a friend, and he encouraged the new CEO to look at my device,” Allen said. “He was very interested. My prototype was even the same color as the Milton Industries logo.” In short order, Milton Industries and Allen signed a long-term licensing agreement. The company has secured patents on the device in the U.S. and Canada and has applied for a patent in Europe. Milton placed the device on the market last November, just in time for winter. “The Brake Releaser,” the name Milton Industries gave the device, is a small reservoir attached to the trailer emergency gladhand line and the tractor service hose. Holding about 8 ounces of de-icing fluid, the driver can easily access the reservoir, fill it, and after replacing the cap, turn a valve to let the fluid enter the brake system. A “chirping” noise will indicate the fluid is flowing. Before The Brake Releaser, if a driver wanted to pretreat a trailer’s brake line with fluid, it meant pouring de-icer into the narrow inlet of the emergency line and then holding the line as high as possible. Gravity would — hopefully — pull the fluid into the brake system. Often, more of the flammable fluid poured onto the driver and the ground than into the brake line. “The Brake Releaser is not something a driver should use after realizing the brakes have nearly frozen,” Allen said. “If I know the temperature is going to be at or below freezing where I’m driving, I’ll pretreat in the morning and be set for 24 hours.” The device is not designed to be permanently installed; in fact, a safety mechanism prevents the truck from moving with The Brake Releaser attached. The device is a safe and proactive way to help drivers prevent freezing before it happens. Servicing a tractor-trailer braking system before driving takes only a couple of minutes. According to Milton Industries’ website, The Brake Releaser is designed as a backup to the truck cab’s heater. When the heater malfunctions, or when temperatures are so low the heater is ineffective, a driver can use The Brake Releaser as an alternative to the “torch and hammer” method. The Brake Releaser can handle air-line pressures up to 300 psi and prevent freezing of brake components in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. At a retail price of $349, Milton Industries states The Brake Releaser will easily pay for itself in a single winter, citing the costs of calling a technician, paying travel costs, and time and labor expenses to thaw a frozen brake component. The product inventor echoes Milton Industries’ marketing efforts. “The product is geared more for independent drivers,” Allen said. “If a driver breaks down, it could be a three- or four-hour wait to get a service call, plus the cost of service.” Allen is attempting to convince the State of Illinois to mandate that the device be required for all trucks compatible with The Brake Releaser. Likewise, Milton Industries is in the process of becoming an approved vendor with the U.S. military. In the first few months, Allen said, sales have gone well. As for the future, Allen said he has a few other inventions in mind to improve the truck-driving experience. But for now, he is concentrating on helping Milton Industries turn The Brake Releaser into a widely used and profitable product. When that happens, Allen has ideas for his portion of the profits. “I want to build churches,” he said. “The reality of it is that this is God’s work anyway. I’ve been thinking of it all this time, and no one else has come up with the idea, so He gave it to me for a reason. I think building some churches and helping people is a good thing to do.”

Volvo Trucks partners with Fontaine Modification to offer reduced-height VAH 300 day cab

The Trucker News Staff - April 1, 2020

The Volvo Auto Hauler (VAH) 300, Volvo Trucks’ signature day cab in the North American market, is now available for order at an unladen 94.5-inch height. This reduced-height cab option is currently the lowest in the industry by 1.5 inches, offering auto haulers versatility for local and regional automobile-transport applications. “At Volvo Trucks, we pride ourselves on building strong partnerships to solve our customers’ business needs,” said John Felder, product marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America. “Through extensive research, testing and engineering in collaboration with Fontaine Modification, the new VAH 300 model with a 94.5-inch height represents a new standard of excellence for trucks in the highly specialized auto-hauler market.” Over the last 10 years, the height of vehicles hauled has significantly increased as the demand for more SUVs versus sedans rises. As a result, auto haulers are now in need of a solution that maximizes freight capacity while also delivering optimal efficiency. The lower overall height of the VAH 300 offers the flexibility to position a larger vehicle over the truck’s cab to maximize payload. A clean top-of-frame behind the cab also allows for easier body mounting and trailer hookup. “At Fontaine, we are proud of our recent changes that will provide about 3 more critical inches of room for hauling larger vehicles above the VAH 300 day cab,” said Paul Kokalis, president of Fontaine Modification Company. “We’re pleased to help Volvo Trucks deliver this best-in-class, reduced-height cab option to meet the demands of the North American auto hauler market.” In addition to this new model, Fontaine also modifies a full range of Volvo Trucks models to service the needs of all customers for any auto hauling application or load size, including these models: VAH 300 (available as Fontaine model 94 or 97); VAH 400 (available as Fontaine model 97 or 102); and VAH 600 (available as Fontaine model 97 or 102). Consistent with the rest of the VAH family, the new reduced-height VAH 300 model features deep-drop front axles and low-height Volvo Air Ride rear suspensions. The model is available with Volvo‘s D11 and D13 engines. The D11 features 325 to 425 hp and 1250 to 1550 lb.-ft. of torque, while the D13 features 405 to 500 hp and 1450 to 1850 lb.-ft. of torque. The Volvo VAH 300 is also available with the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission.

Daimler Dealer Network expanding capacity with 700 additional service bays

The Trucker News Staff - March 31, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. – Daimler Trucks North America LLC’s (DTNA) dealer network is building or remodeling more than 40 locations across 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces to add 700 more service bays in 2020. “This expansion represents an investment by DTNA’s dealer partners toward a mutual commitment to a 24-hour or less repair turnaround,” said Kevin Bangston, general manager of dealer network development. “The need of our customers for maximum uptime has never been more apparent than it is in today’s environment. They are what makes the complex logistics and supply chain of our global economy work. When our customers do need service, DTNA and our dealers are committed to getting them back on the road as quickly as possible.” The new service bays will increase potential network capacity by up to 3.5 million service hours per year and are being added where the customer need is greatest. 300 new service bays will be added in the Southeast and 90 additional bays will be added at a single Texas location alone. U.S. cities with significantly expanding service capacity include Nashville; Kansas City; South Bend, Ind.; and Columbus, Ohio. Canadian dealers are adding service capacity as well. In Winnipeg, a new 30-plus bay facility is currently under construction while a Montreal location with 20 service bays is expected to open by the end of the year.

Trucker Tools launches initiatives to help freight brokers, truckers overcome operating challenges

The Trucker News Staff - March 27, 2020

RESTON, Va. – Trucker Tools , which provides real-time shipment visibility, trip planning, freight-matching and automated booking tools for freight brokers and truckload carriers, has announced two initiatives designed to help brokers and truckers overcome the unprecedented challenges of sourcing, securing and managing transportation operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has launched two initiatives, effective Friday, March 27: Waiver of overage fees and enabling unlimited use of the Trucker Tool platform for real-time visibility of truckload shipments in transit, as well as when and where trucks are available for their next load. The fee waiver is in effect for 60 days and applies to current and new customers. A new, COVID-19 section of the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App, serving as a clearinghouse for information, resources and other support services to help truckload providers manage the challenges of operating safely and successfully in the current pandemic environment. Nearly 900,000 independent owner-operators and some 130,000 small-fleet operators utilize Trucker Tools’ mobile driver app. “Shippers have heightened interest in the safe and secure transit of their goods – and meeting critical on-time delivery deadlines,” said Prasad Gollapalli, founder and chief executive of Trucker Tools. The company, he noted, has seen a nearly 25 percent increase in loads tracked on its platform this month. The Trucker Tools real-time visibility platform is 100% GPS-based and provides precise shipment location information on-demand, to a smartphone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer. It’s integrated with the Trucker Tools mobile driver app and provides automated, continual updates of truck location and a visual display of the route from origin to destination. Truck locations are updated every five minutes using the GPS technology native to the trucker’s smart phone. The impact of COVID-19 has cut staffing levels and reduced hours at loading and receiving docks, creating additional challenges for truck scheduling and transit times. “It’s a difficult time for everyone, from health care workers on the front lines, to brokers working from home arranging shipment of urgent goods, and truckers trying to make pickups or deliveries where access to shipper locations is changing daily,” Gollapalli said. “Automated, real-time shipment tracking removes the burden of having to call the truck to see if they’re available or to get shipment status updates. Our platform also alerts truckers to changes in shipper requirements, special instructions or protocols, so they can manage for delays or reroutes.” The principal objective, Gollapalli emphasized, is to “provide tools for brokers and shippers to stay connected with critical capacity, and help drivers stay safe, keep shippers informed and navigate these difficult times successfully so the nation’s need for reliable transportation of urgent supplies continues to be met.” He added. For more information, visit truckertools.com.

Several Peterbilt models recalled because of increased risk of fire

The Trucker News Staff - March 27, 2020

BELLEVUE, Wa. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that more than 35,000 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 models are affected by a manufacturer recall concerning an increased risk of fire. PACCAR has recalled certain models of these trucks that were produced from 2015 to 2020 and are equipped with a left-hand under-hood jumper terminal. The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left-front suspension spring, which could result in an electrical short circuit that can increase the risk of a fire. Owners will be notified of the recall, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 1. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220; reference PACCAR’s recall number 20PBA. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.

Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Centers offer free DOT inspections

The Trucker News Staff - March 26, 2020

AKRON, Ohio — In response to the economic impact from COVID-19 and to help keep fleets on the road to deliver essential products, Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Centers are offering free Department of Transportation (DOT) inspections, a value up to $120. These government-mandated inspections include a full review of the tractor and trailer, including brake systems, tires and wheels, exhaust systems, lighting and more. Additionally, in states that have issued “stay-at-home” or similar nonessential business-closure orders in response to the pandemic, Goodyear CTSC locations nationwide are expected to remain open to meet critical tire and service needs. “Goodyear is dedicated to meeting tire and service needs for the many hardworking professional drivers, first responders and other essential workers who are making countless sacrifices to protect public health and safety and deliver needed goods during these difficult times,” said Frank Payne, director of Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Centers. “With the health and well-being of our customers and associates top of mind, we are taking a number of precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at all of our centers so we can remain open and keep vehicles on the road.” For more information or to find the nearest location, visit www.goodyearctsc.com/offers or call 1-800-345-8229.

International Roadcheck postponed due to public health, safety concerns

The Trucker News Staff - March 25, 2020

GREENBELT, Md. — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced that this year’s International Roadcheck will be postponed. The annual event was originally scheduled for May 5-7, but growing public-health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted CVSA to delay the event. CVSA announced in a press release on Wednesday, March 25, that it has decided to postpone the high-visibility, high-volume inspection and regulatory enforcement event until later in the year, adding that the Alliance will monitor the status of the pandemic and “appropriately select the new dates when it’s reasonable to do so.” Once the rescheduled dates have been selected, CVSA will notify the commercial motor vehicle enforcement community, the motor carrier industry, the press and the public. “International Roadcheck has run on schedule for the past 32 years, so its postponement was thoroughly and thoughtfully discussed before we made this decision, but it wasn’t a difficult decision to make,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis of the Delaware State Police. “This experience is unprecedented in our modern society, and we need to do all that we can to help stop the spread of this global pandemic.” Even though International Roadcheck has been postponed, CVSA reminds drivers that roadside safety inspections and traffic enforcement will continue to be conducted every day, with enforcement personnel following their departmental health and safety policies and procedures, as appropriate. “As we urgently respond to this time-sensitive crisis, we must remain diligent and committed to ensuring that the commercial motor vehicles and drivers providing essential goods and services to our communities are following motor carrier safety regulations,” said Samis. “Safety doesn’t take a break. It is always our top priority.” At this time, International Roadcheck is the only public enforcement initiative that has been postponed. Operation Safe Driver Week is still scheduled for July 12-18, and Brake Safety Week is still set for Aug. 23-29. For more information, visit cvsa.org.

Saving fuel with Rocketail

The Trucker News Staff - March 23, 2020

David: Hi, this is Dave Compton with the Trucker News Channel. Joining me today is Daniel from Rocketail. Daniel, welcome to the show. Daniel: Thanks very much. Glad to be here. David: So I’m familiar with Rocketail and it’s a great product, but it’s been a year since I’ve talked to you. So what makes the product special? What makes it unique? What’s new? Daniel: Okay, so in order for a tail end solution to work and to be economically viable for the owner operator, what we say is you have to solve the three D’s, and you have to solve all three. You have to be certified and proven to reduce drag. You have to have an auto deploy technology that does not require any effort on the part of the driver so you’re 100% deployed all the time. And your product can’t cause damage. And what you realize is the wing extends into the wake. You back into closed loading bay doors, you back into fences, you back into other trailers, you cannot cause damage. David: Right. Daniel: And you have to do all three. So Rocketail, our new Rocketail XR system does just that. It reduces drag and has been certified by MVT to save 3.58 gallons per thousand miles driven and 11.12 gallons in a package solution. We have an auto deploy technology so the driver only opens and closes the doors and never has to touch anything. And the key with our new XR system is a technology we’ve invented called Automatic Collision Retraction. So when the trailer backs into a fence or backs into a loading bay or another trailer, we’ve designed our wings so that they automatically retract and rebound, which eliminates the risk of damage. So if you back two trailers like this, it’s going to close. David: Very, very cool. So I know for me, when I look at add on equipment, it’s how much hassle do I have to go through? Can I do it myself? Do I have to have somebody else do it? Tell me about this. How easy is it to install? Daniel: Well, first of all, it takes two men about a half an hour to install it. And we’ve designed this out of all industrial gate components with only four hinges, four touchpoints. So this is a product that is designed to be bulletproof, is designed to last the life of the trailer and designed to last the life of the trailer with very, very little maintenance and very, very little damage. And our whole objective here is to deliver a profitable solution without standing return on investment. David: Very cool. So if our viewers want to find out more about Rocketail, where do they go? Daniel: www.rocketail.com. David: That makes sense. All right, everybody, this is Rocketail and this is David Compton with the Trucker News Channel. Back to you in the studio.

Geowiz ELD update offers new features, support for FMCSA’s emergency HOS waiver

The Trucker News Staff - March 19, 2020

LAKELAND, Fla. — GeoSpace Labs has released Version 5.0 of its Geowiz ELD (electronic logging device) suite, offering support for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) emergency declaration 2020-002, which was issued March 13. ELDs are legally required for most motor carriers. These devices track and report the activity of the power unit to law enforcement to ensure compliance with federally mandated safety regulations for drivers and fleets. GeoSpace Lab’s Geowiz ELD versions 5.0 and higher capture J1939 engine diagnostics, including more than 60 real-time data points and more than 3,800 suspect warning items; provide detailed emissions data for green tracking and compliance; and include modes for motor carriers working in direct support of relief efforts related to COVID-19. “We were at the end of our QA process on 5.0 when the FMCSA announced the emergency declaration and were lucky enough to be able to include it in this planned release,” said David Lady, CEO of GeoSpace Labs. “This emergency feature adds the ability to enter an exempt mode when hauling under the COVID-19 2020-002 emergency conditions, which will allow motor carriers to benefit from the installed technology while quickly moving to focus on important relief efforts and helping to successfully address this emergency,” he continued. GeoSpace has released the 5.0 update into all of its ELD systems at no cost, and the update is available immediately. “Having ELD technology properly configured eliminates barriers to relief efforts while at the same time continues to build ongoing trust between law enforcement personnel and motor carrier drivers,” Lady concluded.