Equipment & Tech

TULSA, Okla. — Optronics International, a manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty LED vehicle lighting, announced it has completed its acquisition of Texas-based USA Harness, Inc. A supplier of trailer harnesses and electronic control systems, USA Harness serves the transportation industry with connection systems including the USA-PLUS Sealed Modular Wiring Harness and the patented USA-PLUS Modular Connection System. The USA-PLUS Modular Connection System has been tested and performed at three times the industry standard. With the acquisition, Optronics is one of few manufacturers serving the light-, medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle industry with both lighting and harness technologies. “In less than a decade, Optronics has dramatically changed the competitive landscape in commercial vehicle lighting with its focus on technological innovation, broader options and greater value, and we’re about to do the same with harnesses,” Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics International, said. Optronics is a harness manufacturer on three continents. Coupled with this international experience, USA Harness will position Optronics to hit the ground running in North America. “We have watched Optronics’ exponential growth over the years and have engineered more and more harness systems for use exclusively with their lighting,” said Debby Thompson, interim president of USA Harness. “Though we’ll continue to produce harness systems that interface with all major lighting manufacturers, we’re excited to now be able to offer a fully integrated modular power delivery and lighting solution.” Optronics is committed to global manufacturing, and according to company officials, the acquisition of USA Harness increases the company’s supply-chain capabilities. “Just like the OEMs we serve, we’re going to manufacture harness and lighting systems wherever it makes the most sense,” Johnson said. With their blended experience, Optronics and USA Harness will focus on selling integrated modular lighting and harness systems on a global basis. Targeted manufacturers include those making heavy-duty dry van, reefer, tank, car haul and flatbed trailers, as well as those making light- to medium-duty trailers. Heavy-duty truck and body manufacturers will also be a focus, as will heavy-duty off-highway vehicles, armored couriers and other specialized vocational equipment manufacturers.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software has released version 20.1 of its LoadMaster Enterprise and PowerBroker software solutions. With the release of Version 20.1, McLeod has introduced a new customer management screen that provides the customer service representatives with a new role-based cockpit environment that puts everything they need in one place, eliminating the need to leave that single view for most of their daily work. This new easy-to-view, all-in-one-place environment will help CSR’s be more productive, as they work to make decisions and make changes to orders, according to Kristan Hill, marketing manager. The new environment provides a dashboard view with access to board statistics, market rates and dispatch information, all of which is vital to helping the CSR make faster decisions with a complete view of company requirements. Hill said profiles could be created to filter information for more specific user views the individual CSR needs based on customers, regions, order status, order types, inbound and outbound destination. Multiple profiles can be readily available to the CSR, which are displayed in a multi-tab format in the new customer service management screen. “The new environment also displays the individual movements for each order to provide the CSR with a complete view of their workload with order and movement status information,” Hill said. “It also shows the movement’s stop with detail information, so users don’t have to navigate to another screen. Tracking, service incidents, appointment detail, OS&D are all visible on one screen.” McLeod Software’s Cloud IQ is a McLeod hosted, cloud-based version of the McLeod IQ analytics product that customers can deploy quickly without the investment in hardware and infrastructure. The Cloud IQ Business Intelligence solution provides broad insight by giving visual analysis along with the ability to drill down and understand what is behind the numbers. Using Microsoft’s Power BI, Excel, or Reporting Services (SSRS) to access the Cloud IQ model, companies can be up and running in a matter of days with a full suite of standard reports and dashboards, Hill said. With the release of PowerBroker Version 20.1, McLeod Software is introducing the new carrier app to help brokers get the best carriers and the best drivers covering their loads. The McLeod carrier app delivers a broader set of capabilities for Digital Freight Matching than other apps in the marketplace that actually just provide load tracking. It also gives users the ability to offer and cover loads through a secure connection to the PowerBroker system,” Hill said. This means that logistics companies using PowerBroker can now deploy some of the same capabilities widely touted by the “digital brokers,” who seek to engage carriers looking for loads through their mobile app, she said. The McLeod carrier app helps to establish better communication between a carrier driver, the carrier back office team, and the broker. “Brokers can send order offers directly to carrier administration or carrier drivers from PowerBroker,” Hill said. “Carrier drivers can view, accept, counter, or decline load offers directly from the mobile app. Brokers using McLeod’s rapid alert notification system (RANS) can be alerted immediately of driver load acceptance, and send load confirmations seamlessly back to the driver or their home office. Streamlining the process gets loads covered faster. The McLeod carrier app is designed so that carrier drivers can view and respond to mobile messages with the broker’s dispatch, interact with free form messages via the app, receive important documents, such as permits, and add call-ins to update arrival times. Hill said one way brokers can differentiate themselves is with their carrier base is by helping those carriers deal with the greatest capacity thief in our industry, detention. Carrier drivers that provide tracking can allow PowerBroker users to take advantage of capabilities like symphony mobile communications, to visually see all carriers with loads and their progress. But the real payback is probably in the ability to use Symphony along with McLeod’s Detention management module. “By knowing a carrier’s arrival and departure information, PowerBroker customers can use the Detention Management module to more accurately track, warn shippers of detention, and bill detention charges on behalf of the carriers, thus working for them with a fully automated process,” Hill said. For more information, visit www.McLeodSoftware.com.    

LAKELAND, Fla. – GeoSpace Labs has announced the general availability of the Official Florida Intrastate FMCSA Registered Electronic Logging Device (ELD). This tool is an easy-to-use, low-cost means for drivers and companies to comply with the Florida FS 316.302 regulation and the January 1, 2020 requirement. “Florida recently adopted the FCMSA’s regulations for using electronic logging devices to report on a truck’s compliance with the intrastate hours of service rules,” noted GeoSpace Labs CEO David Lady. “If this sounds new, it is. Florida is only the second state after Texas to require commercial truck drivers to comply with reporting requirements for travel solely within the state’s boundaries.” What are these rules? There are four. Driver may drive 12 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. What This Means:A driver can drive for 12 straight hours (i.e Miami to Pensacola) after they have had 10 hours of rest. Driver may not drive after 16th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. What This Means:A person cannot work more than 16 straight hours, even if they have not driven the maximum 12 hours allowed. The 16 hours includes all drive time and any stops for lunch or bathroom breaks. Driver may not drive after 70/80 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. 34 consecutive hours off constitutes end of 7/8 day period. What This Means:A driver is allowed to work for 70 hours over a 7 day period or 80 hours over an 8 day period if they also comply with the other hours of service rules regarding drive time. After the 70- or 80-hour mark, a driver must have 34 hours off duty to reset the 70 or 80 hour work window. Drivers who do not exceed a 150 air mile radius and no placarded hazardous materials are exempt from maintaining a log book. Drivers not released from duty within 12 hours must document driving time. What This Means:Drivers who travel within 150 air miles (about 172 statute), do not carry hazardous materials, and operate less than 12 straight hours are not required to maintain a log book. The Florida ELD is especially designed to manage the intrastate rules and has special tools just for Florida. It is priced at roughly half the cost of traditional ELD systems at $10 per month because of the specific limited Florida scope. More information about the Florida Intrastate rules, and the Florida ELD product can be found at the Florida ELD website (https://flaeld.com).

Rochelle Park, N.J. — ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has announced the availability of a new in-cab fleet management solution that leverages powerful mobile technology from Samsung Electronics America. This combines ORBCOMM’s Electronic Logging Device (ELD) and reporting and analytics from its FleetManager platform with Samsung tablets, enabling fleets to build a scalable productivity hub and a connected driver ecosystem that can help retain drivers, boost customer satisfaction through better service and reduce costs with improved asset and resource utilization. “Together with Samsung, we are providing fleet managers with the comprehensive tools they need to improve the driving experience, increase customer satisfaction and reduce IT risks and admin costs,” said Chris MacDonald, ORBCOMM’s senior vice president and general manager, Americas. The truck management solution is available on Samsung’s ruggedized Galaxy Tab Active2 and Galaxy Tab A 8.0 tablets, which are secured with Samsung Knox, the company’s defense-grade enterprise mobile security platform, to safeguard fleet data. By converging internal or third-party, Android-based productivity and efficiency applications with a tablet, fleets can connect their drivers, schedules, assets, back-office and customers seamlessly through one in-cab screen. The easy-to-use Samsung tablets help drivers track orders, capture signatures and take notes through fast data processing and high-resolution cameras for optimal efficiency. “Samsung’s B2B tablet solutions are designed to be versatile and customizable to solve the evolving business needs of today’s organizations,” said Taher Behbehani, head of B2B mobile, Samsung Electronics America. “Through collaboration with ORBCOMM, this new truck management solution is easy to deploy and use, helping driving fleets stay connected to maximize efficiency, productivity and security across operations.” For more information on ORBCOMM’s ELD solution powered by Samsung, visit https://www.orbcomm.com/en/hardware/devices/tablets/samsung.

Riverside, Mo. – Rolling Strong, the provider of driver wellness programs for transportation companies and their drivers, as well as owner-operators, recently announced a partnership with AllTrails, home to the largest collection of hand curated trail guides. The collaboration will bring extensive trail maps, data and content to users of the Rolling Strong app, helping connect drivers to the outdoors. “With the AllTrails app, truck drivers using Rolling Strong will have information on trails based on their GPS location at their fingertips,” said Stephen Kane, president of Rolling Strong. “Whether your preference is to walk, run, hike or ride a bike, AllTrails is a highly valuable tool for using trail systems throughout the U.S. to engage in healthy exercise while on the road.” The AllTrails app features maps of more than 100,000 trails that can be filtered by activity, length and difficulty level. Each trail map includes ratings based on reviews by the brand’s community of over 11 million hikers, mountain bikers and runners. Users can find trails based on location, get driving directions to the trail head, keep lists of trails to explore, record walks, runs, hikes and bike rides, and upload pictures and notes. Rolling Strong drivers can now download AllTrails via a link in the Rolling Strong health and wellness app to get out and start exploring. AllTrails is also providing Rolling Strong AllTrails Pro accounts as part of its gamification experience for achieving health objectives and making better lifestyle choices. The Pro accounts provides access to fully detailed downloadable trail maps for offline use, and real-time overlays, including satellite weather. It also features a real-time tracker that helps trail-goers share trip details such as planned start/finish times, a map of planned routes, send status updates to designated contacts, and stay on course with off-route notifications.

ELYRIA, Ohio – Commercial vehicle braking systems are vital to driver and highway safety year-round, but especially in the winter, when road and weather conditions across North America make it even more imperative to have properly maintained components at the wheel-ends. This installment of the Bendix Tech Tips Series focuses on preventive maintenance practices to keep brakes in good working condition when cold, snow, and ice are the order of the day. Preventive maintenance practices to keep brakes in good working condition when driving in cold, snow, and ice can have a huge impact on road safety. “Safety systems like full stability and collision mitigation can be valuable on winter roads, but they perform at their best only when the brakes at the wheel-ends are also in peak condition to deliver stopping power,” said Keith McComsey, director of marketing and customer solutions, Wheel-End, at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. “The right preventive maintenance practices can make all the difference.” Take a Good Look  Inspect air brake chamber housings for damage or corrosion and ensure that dust plugs are properly installed and seated. On air-disc-braked wheel-ends, check for cuts or tears on the protective boots. “What you’re looking for here is anything that could allow corrosive materials to take hold,” McComsey explained. “Not just water, but things like harsh chemicals used to treat winter roads. Excessive corrosion of the chamber can lead to failure of the housing and ripped, or punctured boots can allow contaminants and moisture to get into an air disc brake caliper, causing corrosion and long-term damage.” Air disc brake guide pins should also be inspected for slidability, and the shear adaptor cover needs to be in place and fully seated. Preparing air disc brakes for winter weather also means checking that the pads move freely in the carrier – if not, remove them and clean the carrier surface with a wire brush – and making sure the brake moves freely on its guidance system, which should be replaced if movement is restricted. Lessons in Lubrication  Effective lubrication is key in combating winter corrosion, particularly when it comes to automatic slack adjusters (ASA), according to McComsey. “When you force new lubricant into an ASA, you’re achieving two goals,” he said. “First, you’re purging the old grease, along with any water or contaminants that found their way in; and second, you’re protecting the adjuster’s internal gear sets, clutches, and other components from wear.” Lubricating an ASA is simple, requiring a technician to just locate the adjuster’s grease fitting, attach the hose from a grease gun, and inject new grease until old grease is forced through the release opening. (The release location varies depending on the ASA make and model.) The process should take less than a minute per adjuster. Slack adjusters that don’t receive regular greasing may not maintain the correct brake stroke and provide optimal stopping power, which has a direct impact on safety. Clevis pin connections, cam tubes, shafts, and bushings should also be lubricated to keep winter moisture at bay and prevent corrosion. “Truck drivers have a lot to watch out for when they’re out on the roads in winter,” McComsey said. “The right wheel-end practices in the shop can help deliver peace of mind when it comes to their brakes.”  

MANKATO, Minn. — To meet the growing needs of local truck fleets, owner operators and those traveling through Minnesota, Rihm Kenworth has opened a new 28,000 square-foot full-service and leasing facility in Mankato. The facility is located approximately 80 miles southwest of Minneapolis, at the intersection of two major trucking routes, U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 169. Rihm Kenworth – Mankato features a 10,000 square-foot service department, 12 service bays, a wash bay, and a 6,800 square-foot parts department that includes a 2,300 square-foot visual display. There also is a 6,000 square-foot parts warehouse. The dealership sits on a 3.5-acre site, allowing for plenty of room for drivers to maneuver and park their trucks. Parts, service, and sales are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The address is 2401 9th Avenue in Mankato. The phone number is 507-550-3800. At Rihm Kenworth – Mankato, truck fleets and operators can purchase from Kenworth’s comprehensive product lineup of on-highway, vocational and medium duty trucks. In addition to parts, service and truck sales, the dealership offers PACCAR Leasing (PacLease) services such as customized full-service leasing programs and truck rentals; and PACCAR Financial support through flexible retail loans and leases for the transportation industry.      

ORLANDO, Fla. — Design Interactive, a family owned and operated provider of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training solutions for fleet maintenance personnel, vendors and OEMs, has released Remote Collaboration Video Calling (RCVC). Used with AUGMENTOR, Design Interactive’s training solution for fleet maintenance personnel, RCVC connects technicians to expert sources and access to procedures in real time. “With our Remote Collaboration Video Calling, technicians now have the ability when they are working on a truck to contact other technicians or experts and simultaneously see the procedures they need to execute in real time,” said Matt Johnston, division head, Commercial Solutions at Design Interactive. “With this new capability, the AUGMENTOR platform becomes a highly interactive device that speeds up the technician’s ability to solve a problem or complete a repair correctly.” With RCVC technicians are instantly connected to several sources. From other technicians, managers and training personnel, techs now have access to procedures, OEM and/or manufacturer’s technical center.  Also, while on a call, technicians can access procedures they need to execute repairs in real time. Johnston said for suppliers gone are the days where you physically need to go to a facility to solve a problem. “Remote Collaboration Video Calling can be used to provide training modules, and document advice,” he said. “Enterprises can also use the system to manage multiple calls or to follow up if call volume is high. Utilizing augmented reality, video- and computer-based technologies, technicians can be effectively trained regardless of their environment.  Allowing for consistent training as well as shorter repair and diagnostic times.” AUGMENTOR also features a web portal for creating, editing and distributing training modules to Android, iOS, and the HoloLens quickly and effectively across multiple locations. The new Remote Collaboration Video Calling feature for AUGMENTOR is now available on mobile devices and in the AUGMENTOR web portal, and a version for HoloLens headsets will be released in the in first quarter of 2020.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Yokohama Tire’s latest regional-haul trailer tire, the 114R Ultra Wide-Base (UWB), is ready for duty. The SmartWay-verified 114R – the successor to RY407 – is available now in size 445/50R22.5. An additional size – 455/50/22.5 – will be offered in the first quarter of 2020. “The 114R UWB is specifically designed to meet the demands of high-scrub operations,” said Tom Clauer, Yokohama’s senior manager of commercial and OTR product planning. “It features superior cut and chip resistance, extended tread life and is optimized for fuel efficiency.” Other benefits of the 114R as listed by Clauer include: Long-lasting performance: The 16/32-inch deep groove depth provides extra-long tread life. Also, Yokohama’s zero-degree belt – a cornerstone to its highly durable and retreadable casing – creates a consistently stable footprint for long, even wear. Durable construction: Yokohama’s advanced compound offers cut and chip resistance without sacrificing rolling resistance or wear performance. Plus, funnel-shaped step grooves prevent stones and other debris from reaching the bottom of the grooves, where casing damage can often occur. Outstanding fuel-efficiency: Ground contact pressure is uniformly distributed, which results in greater stability, flawless tracking and improved fuel efficiency. For more details on the 114R and all of Yokohama’s commercial tires, visit www.yokohamatruck.com.  

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Advantage PressurePro Thursday released its Fleet TPMS app. Leveraging PressurePro’s FX technology, and building upon its previously released and feature-rich consumer app, the launch of Fleet TPMS empowers fleet users to deliver real time tire performance monitoring for drivers and haulers of many types direct to existing smart devices, according to Edward Lutski, PressurePro’s director of technology. Additionally, the launch of Fleet TPMS also enables a critical link for fleets to PressurePro’s Connect tire management platform, unleashing unmatched visibility and control of your tire management practices, he said. Featuring 24/7 tire monitoring, five unique pressure/temperature alerts and local notifications for maximized coverage and safety, Fleet TPMS also offers fully configurable layouts and vehicle naming and storage, enabling complete customization and easy toggling between multiple trailers/units. Further, a rolling performance history log enables users to gain immediate access to recent tire performance data. “While a powerful monitoring tool on its own, Fleet TPMS becomes even stronger when used as a link to provide data flow through our comprehensive software platform Connect,” Lutsko said. “When combined, customers unlock advanced monitoring tools to gain detailed and actionable tire performance insights across their entire fleet, giving them unmatched control of their tire management practices.” When paired with PressurePro Connect, users also unlock email alerting capabilities, exportable tire performance history, automated tire performance trend analysis, and an easy to use dashboard that features prioritized data and actionable items, Lutsko said. “As we have for the last 28 years, PressurePro continues to push the innovation of our market to provide maximized safety and savings for to every road our customers travel,” said Jason Zaroor, PressurePro’s president and CEO. “With the release of Fleet TPMS, and especially when paired with our Connect platform, we’re now able to provide a cost effective solution that provides complete visibility of ever tire in your fleet; in-cab to drivers, in the field to managers or to your office for controllers.” Learn more about their full line of stand-alone and integrated TPMS options at www.pressurepro.us.  8

FENTON, Mich. — Webasto, one of the top 100 global automotive suppliers, continues to stake a claim in the rapidly expanding e-mobility segment of the commercial vehicle and automotive marketplace. The company exhibited elements of a new modular battery system, thermal management and charging solutions in Ford Motor Co.’s booth recently at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Webasto won Ford’s 2019 Best of Show Stand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design for Mustang Lithium, a one-off battery electric prototype with 1,000 ft-lbs of torque and over 900 horsepower. Use of the elements ranges from passenger cars to Class 8 trucks. “Webasto first entered the electric vehicle market in 2014 with the high voltage heater, as part of its strategic plan to serve its OEM customers as they moved more decisively into the e-mobility space,” said Mark Denny, president and CEO of Webasto Customized Solutions in North America. “Our expansion into battery systems, battery testing equipment, thermal management and charging systems means that both small and large manufacturers now have a respected supplier with decades of experience working within the complex vehicle manufacturing environment, as well as with dealers across North America, Europe and China.” The Webasto CV standard battery system is designed for total scalability and configuration flexibility, Denny said. Each battery pack has 35 kWh of energy and up to 10 packs can be used for a combined 350 kWh. With 400V and 800V versions available, the system can be easily configured via the vehicle interface box (VIB), which is the master battery management system and power distribution unit. It is truly a plug-and-play system that reduces development time and cost for the vehicle manufacturer. Within the battery pack, the self-contained modules also include desiccant cartridges that reduce condensation, integrated thermal runaway detection sensors and state-of-the-art pressure equalization monitors for added safety. Their compact, energy-dense format makes the battery packs easy for engineers to configure for use on virtually any vehicle platform, Denny said Using the Mustang Lithium to show their capabilities of both designing custom energy storage solutions and supplying off-the-shelf standard battery packs, Webasto set the stage for today’s revelation that its commercial vehicle (CV) Standard Battery System is available in North America. With this modular battery system, Webasto meets the requirements of several commercial vehicle manufacturers to have a cost-efficient solution even for small quantities Conditioning the battery is essential for battery life and health. Webasto offers both off-the-shelf solutions for the CV Standard Battery and custom developments for OEM projects. Using both active and passive cooling, electric fluid heating and heat pump configurations, the Webasto thermal management keeps battery systems in optimum operating temperature which have a positive effect on performance and range. At the Mustang Lithium display, Webasto also featured its TurboDX Level-2 charging station. The charging unit that was shown connected to the Mustang Lithium is compatible with both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, and perfect for home, business and multi-unit dwelling applications. The Webasto charging solution features a slim, compact design, a durable aluminum rear enclosure and a quick-read charging status indicator. Webasto also offers the TurboCord portable vehicle charger. The TurboCord lets users take their charger with them wherever they go. It can be plugged directly into any standard 120-volt electrical outlet, or even a 240V outlet for quicker charge times, allowing total charging flexibility and freedom. “With the introduction of our new modular battery system, thermal management and charging technologies, Webasto has demonstrated its commitment to vertically integrate itself within the North American commercial vehicle and automotive e-mobility marketplace,” Denny said.

SAN ANTONIO — Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.) is offering extended warranty on its automatic tire inflation system (ATIS) from five to seven years when the system is used in combination with SKF’s Trouble-Free Operation (TFO) System. The SKF TFO platform provides OEMs and fleets with unsurpassed flexibility in specifying conventional long-life wheel ends, regardless of the axle and suspension provider, according to Tom Smego, director of OEM sales. P.S.I. and SKF have worked together to provide the best warranties available in the trailer market by combining their wheel end and automatic tire inflation products. Smego said, adding that unlike other solutions, the SKF TFO platform provides OEMs with the opportunity to source components as they do today, without requiring unique sourcing and assembly processes. “SKF is a global leader in wheel end technology, and we are pleased to work cooperatively with them in developing an option for fleets that demand ATIS and long-life wheel ends with compatible warranties,” said Steve Miller, P.S.I.’s vice president of engineering. The SKF TFO platform is available through most trailer OEMs.  When the SKF TFO-7 wheel-end configuration is specified for use with the P.S.I. ATIS, P.S.I. will automatically extend its parts coverage to seven years. “Fleets no longer need to feel forced into a particular wheel end solution.  And more importantly, they know that when combining P.S.I. and SKF, they don’t have to play referee when they need to sort out warranty concerns,” Smego said. The P.S.I. automatic tire inflation system comes standard with the patented ThermALERT wheel-end high-temperature warning system. Miller said the ThermALERT feature has proven to be a highly reliable and cost-effective way to warn of a pending wheel-end thermal event.  Since its introduction in 2006, it has become a standard with many fleets. “Wheel end thermal events are a major focus in the industry.  Having a burned-up wheel end will not only cost significant money from the repair standpoint, but the potential for extensive collateral damage is high,” Miller said. P.S.I. is a privately held company and exports to 45 countries including China, India, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe.  P.S.I. is an ISO 9001 Quality Management certified.  For more information about Pressure Systems International visit www.psitireinflation.com.