Equipment & Tech

TULSA, Okla. — Optronics International, a manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty LED vehicle lighting, said it will be displaying the industry’s first stop, tail, turn lamps with integrated graphics at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show in Atlanta October 28-31. The new lamps merge brand identities into the lighting design, juxtaposing a smooth GloLight lens appearance against a more traditional LED pattern, Optronics said. According to Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics International, GloLight technology allows Optronics to consolidate even complex graphics into the functional operation of the lamps. The new lamp’s traditional LED-style lens pattern surrounds the logo graphic in the middle of the lamp. The GloLight logo portion of the lamp illuminates when operating in its standard function as a tail lamp, and when the lamp’s turn signal or brake functions are in operation, all portions of the LED lamp brighten. “This is an industry first and a novel use for our GloLight technology,” Johnson said. “Logos and branding have been widely incorporated into conspicuity tape for decades, so the migration to lighting is a logical one.” Marketing professionals also recognize that the four-inch round and six-inch oval lighting formats are among the most noticeable features on any vehicle. “Whether you’re consciously aware of it, if you’re driving behind a commercial vehicle, particularly at night, you’re constantly monitoring its tail lights,” Johnson said. Optronics employed its 3-D printing capabilities in preparing prototypes for the manufacturers. The company also worked with a number of OEMs during the development of the lamp, including Vanguard National Trailer Corporation and Miller Industries. The LED lamps offer users a broad level of creative design flexibility for those responsible for a company’s branding, because the GloLight technology can be used in both red and white or a combination of both. Lens striations can also be used to achieve unique and complementary visual effects. Optronics products are available in the U.S. and Canada through the company’s extensive distribution network of more than 20,000 convenient distribution locations. Users can access individual Optronics distributor websites by simply clicking on their logo icons. For information on international sales and distribution of Optronics products, please contact Dorian Drake at +1 914-697-9800 or visit http://doriandrake.com.    

WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Hendrickson has launched the online digital Truck Suspension Systems Parts Catalog. The new Truck Parts Catalog with interactive navigation can be browsed online at Hendrickson Parts.com under header of Digital Parts Catalogs. The digital parts catalog is instantly accessible through any mobile or desktop device and does not require additional downloads or apps. “The new digital catalog offers several different ways to navigate through the document to view information quickly and efficiently,” said David McCleave, director of aftermarket for Hendrickson. “You can search by part number or name, or you can click on the table of contents to reach your desired destination. Zoom in or out easily and the text and images stay sharp and clear.” Another great feature is the ability to make side notes from the bottom toolbar. McCleave said the notes are specific to the user and they remain available when returning return using the same device. McCleave said as a commitment to delivering the highest level of customer service, Hendrickson is continuously improving parts information accessibility for efficient, easy reference. Digital parts catalogs for trailer, auxiliary axle and bumper and trim divisions will also be released in the coming months. For additional information or to order a Hendrickson Genuine Parts catalog, visit the Literature Request Form page at www.hendrickson-intl.com/Litform or contact Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems, 800 South Frontage Road, Woodridge, Illinois, 60517-4904 or call 866-755-5968.      

BRANCHBURG, N.J. — Kinedyne, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of cargo control technologies, including cargo securement, capacity and access solutions for the transportation industry, has introduced newly designed and engineered winches. The new winches have a working load limit (WLL) of 6,670 pounds, more than 20 percent greater than the current industry standard of 5,500 pounds, and consistent with the 6,670-pound WLL of its RHINO MAX and K-FORCE winch straps. The move to the greater WLL means more secure loads, lower damage claims and other benefits, according to Bob Dissinger, director of U.S. sales for Kinedyne. Working as a load securement system, Kinedyne’s new winches and straps provide a greater WLL than many chain and binder systems, Dissinger said. The company offers a wide variety of weld-on, portable, sliding, double “L” sliding and combination winch styles to ensure that the appropriate winch is available for each application. “With the addition of our newly engineered winch designs, Kinedyne now offers a range of integrated cargo securement systems, all with an industry-leading WLL,” Dissinger said. “In addition to making our winch offering stronger and more durable, we’ve reduced their weight by an average of 22 percent, making them easier to handle, and we’ve added a new “Thumb Saver” pawl that is simpler to operate, even with gloved hands.” All of Kinedyne’s three-bar winches have also been redesigned and feature the new “Thumb Saver” thumb pawl and increased spacing between bars from 0.75 inches to 1.13 inches. The unique three-bar winch reel design allows for easy strap insertion, even when slots have ice buildup. “Kinedyne has engineered each new winch frame using heat-treated carbon steel, and the design includes a single piece rolled, heat-treated, split-mandrel with a welded cap and a forged steel thumb pawl,” Dissinger said. “Most of Kinedyne’s popular winches have been converted to the new design, which features a black matte powder-coated finish.” The new mandrel retains its optimized web-slot radius, which minimizes cutting and abrasion on webbing, thus extending its life. The material and design are also resistant to “egging,” or the elongation of the mandrel cap hole, which helps improve operator safety when using a winch bar. Dissinger said Kinedyne engineers its winch components by attaching them to the frame using robotic welders to ensure manufacturing consistency. In addition, the manufacturing month and year are permanently stamped on each winch frame. Slider winch frame thicknesses have been decreased to seven millimeters, reducing their weight by 19 percent. While weld-on winch frame thicknesses remain at 8 millimeters, their weights have still been reduced by 25 percent, resulting in increased strength for both. “We set a new industry standard for weight capacity with the introduction of our RHINO MAX and K-FORCE cargo securement straps in 2018,” Dissinger said. “With the introduction of our new winches, we’ve created a stronger, lighter-weight system that’s more durable, easier to operate and that fits a wide variety of cargo securement applications.” For more information, call Kinedyne’s customer service department at 800-848-6057 in the United States, 800-268-3530 in Canada and 011-5255-53184844 in Mexico.    

ATLANTA — Power management company Eaton Wednesday said its eMobility business will launch an all-new 4-speed transmission for heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles to meet growing demand in a number of segments, including pickup and delivery and port drayage in North America, China and Europe. The new transmission, designed for Class 7 and Class 8 commercial vehicles, is currently in the testing phase with major OEMs and is set to debut in 2022. The announcement was made at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show here. The transmission is the latest addition to Eaton’s growing eMobility portfolio of electrified vehicle (EV) transmissions and other componentry, which also includes medium-duty 2- and 4-speed models that are also currently in production with several OEMs, according to Scott Adams, senior vice president, eMobility. “Electric trucks and buses need to be able to go up hills and run at highway speeds when they are fully loaded.,” Adams said. “Our solution is to expand the range of the motor by adding an EV transmission. With this addition, the vehicle can perform well on hills and efficiently at highway speeds with a smaller, less costly motor.” Adams said the heavy-duty 4-speed EV transmission solves the primary issue related to single-speed drives: contradictory requirements for high efficiency at top speeds and increased torque at launch and low speeds. Fine-pitch helical gears ensure a smooth, low-noise operation, while the Eaton Transmission Control Unit’s shifting strategy is designed for fast gear changes and maximum efficiency, which extend range and battery life, he said. “The transmission is based on traditional, robust and efficient lay shaft architecture typical of AMTs but is designed specifically for electric commercial vehicle applications,” Adams said. “Unlike traditional commercial vehicle transmissions, Eaton’s 4-speed EV gearbox does not have a clutch, and shifts are synchronized using the traction motor. It also operates at higher speeds than its traditional internal combustion gearbox counterparts, and gears are optimized for typical electric motor performance and power curves for maximum efficiency.” By providing higher output speed capability and torque range than a direct-drive system, the transmission enables the usage of a smaller, lighter electric motor for large commercial vehicles, which cuts down on the cost, a major buying point for commercial EV operators, Adams said. Eaton is a power management company with 2018 sales of $21.6 billion. Eaton has approximately 100,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.Eaton.com.      

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — WABCO Holdings, a global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies designed to improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, Thursday said it has launched the WABCO Service Partner (WSP) program in North America. Through this initiative, the company will certify vehicle service facilities that meet WABCO’s stringent technical and safety standards in the maintenance and repair of commercial vehicles. This launch represents an enhancement to the company’s aftermarket support offering, which was introduced at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) earlier this year. The WSP program creates a network of certified service facilities that have undergone specialized training by WABCO technical experts to attain extensive knowledge of the company’s products and services. Certified WSPs provide service, repair or replacement of WABCO’s suite of products for trucks, trailers, off-road equipment and other vehicles including buses and RVs. “To become a WABCO Service Partner, a facility must excel in all areas of training and safety standards and be a proven industry leader in the work they do,” said Abe Aon, business leader, North America aftersales, service, support. “Customers can rest assured that if service is done by a WSP, it is done by a highly trained, WABCO-endorsed provider.” Aon said the WSP program’s goal is to increase uptime for its customers, getting them back on the road as quickly as possible, and providing peace of mind that the service was done by a certified facility. All WSPs have access to WABCO Customer Care Center and expedited warranty claims handling to provide customers with quick and reliable service. Michigan CAT, based in Novi, Michigan, is the first U.S.-based WSP in North America under this new program. Michigan CAT is a unit of the MacAllister Machinery Co. of Indianapolis. Both companies are Caterpillar Inc. dealers. Michigan CAT has operations in eight Michigan cities and specializes in selling and servicing construction, off-highway and agricultural equipment, used trucks and trailers and fleet management solutions. “We are pleased to welcome Michigan CAT as our first WABCO Service Partner,” said Aon. “By combining their commitment to service with their in-depth knowledge of WABCO products and services, Michigan CAT ensures a first-rate customer experience and the relationship will be excellent for us for the long term.” WABCO expects to soon finalize the certification of two additional service providers and has begun accepting applications for additional shops that meet WABCO’s requirements to join the growing network. The goal is to expand the program to include more than 100 new WSPs by the end of 2020. WABCO currently has over 3,100 WSPs globally, with the highest concentration in Europe.    

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. — Jacobs Vehicle Systems, a worldwide manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engine retarding systems and valve actuation systems, recently celebrated the delivery of its 8 millionth engine brake. This milestone delivery comes less than two years after Jacobs shipped its seven millionth brake, and nearly 60 years after the company’s first engine brake, invented by Clessie Cummins, was introduced to the trucking industry by Jacobs. Since the first engine brake was produced, it took Jacobs 31 years to sell its first million engine brakes, which was initially an aftermarket product and sold exclusively in North America. İn the late 1980s trucking industry interest in the product began to increase significantly and a shift was made to OEM factory installations, according to Steve Ernest, vice president, engineering and business development, who said geographic expansion soon followed and today Jacobs is selling and delivering engine brakes from its locations in North America, China, and Europe to more than 30 customers with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. “This delivery is a fantastic achievement and is a testament to the success our customers have enjoyed around the world with Jacobs’ components,” Ernest said. “The next millionth brake shouldn’t be far off as we continue to find new solutions and technologies that will not only continue to enhance braking performance but also help our customers find new and effective ways to improve fuel consumption and reduce harmful emissions.” Jacobs Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut where is has a design, testing, and manufacturing facility, with support sites in Europe, Japan, and India as well as manufacturing facilities in Suzhou, China, and Brno, Czech Republic. For more information, visit www.jakebrake.com  

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR is reporting preliminary trailer orders for September at 19,000 units, the highest since February. Trailer order activity rebounded from the recent doldrums as some fleets began placing orders for 2020.  Orders were up 81% month-over-month but minus 66% year-over-year. September’s net orders could have been even higher but were negatively affected by fleet cancellations of excess 2019 orders. Trailer production should remain sturdy in September but somewhat off recent months with backlogs expected to drop for the ninth consecutive month, FTR said, noting that trailer orders for the past 12 months now total 264,000 units. “This is a decent order amount for September. It indicates fleets are somewhat optimistic about 2020,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. Orders should rise to healthy levels in October, as more large fleets place their 2020 orders. The increase in September orders signals the trailer market is becoming much more stable and should be settling into historic order patterns, after a turbulent couple of years. “Trailer sales are expected to dip in 2020 after hitting record volumes in 2019. However, the forecast is still for a solid year based on moderate economic and freight growth, which should provide fleets with enough profits to buy new equipment.”

SAN DIEGO — Netradyne, a provider of artificial intelligence (AI) technology focusing on driver and fleet safety, said Friday its vision-based safety platform, Driveri, has improved stop sign compliance by 55% across its customer base, with some fleets improving over 90%. The company analyzed their last 10 million stop sign observations to show a 61% improvement for non-stop events and 51% improvement for rolling stops. Driveri utilizes AI to capture every minute of every driving day to visually recognize and analyze driving events, enabling fleets to not just measure violations, but overall compliance. To date, the system has recorded over 900 million minutes and 350 million miles of driving, “seeing” events that legacy “trigger-based” systems would not, including stop sign violations that are rarely inertial-based. Adam Kahn, president of fleet for Netradyne, said improving stop sign safety is especially important knowing that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37 percent of vehicle-related fatalities are from intersections with 15% of these fatalities resulting from stop sign violations. “The very fact that this improvement can be recorded illustrates the power of AI within our industry,” Kahn said. “Just a few years ago, things like rolling stops would have not been captured. Today, our intuitive, deep-learning, vision-based technology allows us to highlight your drivers’ great driving while gaining visibility into other incidents with full context for more productive conversations between fleet managers and drivers.” Driveri provides fleet managers with a comprehensive view of drivers’ activity through a blend of real-time positive driving notifications and best practice identification, Kahn said. “This combination of supportive comments along with constructive feedback about risky driving behavior engages drivers in a balanced way that promotes collaborative relationships and ultimately, as the data has shown, safer drivers,” he said. To learn more about Netradyne and its mapping abilities visit www.netradyne.com.    

WASHINGTON — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that could eventually lead to camera-based rear visibility systems, commonly referred to as camera monitoring systems (CMS) as an alternative to inside and outside rearview mirrors. The federal motor vehicle safety standard currently requires that vehicles be equipped with rearview mirrors to provide drivers with a view of objects that are to their side or to their side and rear. In a notice published in the Federal Register Thursday, NHTSA said the ANPRM responds to two rulemaking petitions: one pertaining to light vehicles from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Tesla and one from Daimler Trucks North America relating to heavy vehicles. The agency said the ANPRM builds on the agency’s prior efforts to obtain supporting technical information, data, and analysis on CMS so that the agency can determine whether these systems can provide the same level of safety as the rearview mirrors currently required under federal regulations. There is already some development underway in the CMS arena. Last December, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted an exemption requested by Stoneridge Inc., allowing its MirrorEye CMS to be installed as an alternative to conventional rear-vision mirrors. The exemption applies solely to Stoneridge’s MirrorEye system, making it the only CMS that allows for complete removal of traditional mirrors in the United States, Stonebridge said in a news release. In issuing the ANPRM Thursday, NHTSA acknowledged that part of its responsibility in carrying out its safety mission is not only to develop and set new safety standards for new motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, but also to modify existing standards, as appropriate, to respond to changing circumstances such as the introduction of new technologies. “Examples of previous technological transitions that triggered the need to adapt and/or replace requirements in federal safety regulations include the replacing of analog dashboards by digital ones, the replacing of mechanical control systems by electronic ones, and the first production of electric vehicles in appreciable numbers,” the Federal Register notice said. The agency said it was publishing the ANPRM to gather information and receive feedback to enable the agency to decide whether (and if so, how) to propose amending federal regulations on rear visibility to permit camera-based systems as an alternative compliance option in lieu of outside rearview mirrors or in lieu of all rearview mirrors, both inside and outside ones. Specifically, NHTSA said, it hoped the ANPRM, through the public comment process, will provide the agency with additional safety-related research and data to support a potential future rulemaking on this subject. NHTSA said it was asking for information based on 21 questions among the following seven categories: Existing industry standards System field of view and related test procedures Image quality and related test procedures Rearview image display type related human factors Side rearview image display locations, driver acclimation and related test procedures Camera durability, reliability and related test procedures System availability when vehicle ignition is off The ANPRM can be found at https://federalregister.gov/d/2019-22036, and on govinfo.gov The deadline for public comments is December 9. To comment online, go to www.regulations.gov, follow the instruction on the site using docket number NHTSA–2018–0021.

LOS ANGELES — Anheuser-Busch, BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and ENGIE Services U.S. (ENGIE) said Tuesday that Anheuser-Busch will be deploying 21 BYD battery electric trucks in their California fleet as part of a state project to showcase economically and environmentally sustainable warehousing and distribution technology. This is a landmark achievement as the largest Class 8 electric truck deployment in North America. ‘The Zero Emission Beverage Handling and Distribution at Scale’ project will showcase BYD’s second generation 8TT Class 8 electric trucks at four Anheuser-Busch distribution facilities across southern California: Sylmar, Riverside, Pomona and Carson. As part of the project, a southern California-based team from ENGIE will lead the design and installation of charging infrastructure at all four facilities. ENGIE will also be installing and commissioning a 958.5 kW solar array at the Carson site, which will generate zero-emissions power to offset the use of conventional energy in the charging process, further reducing emissions and resource consumption. “At Anheuser-Busch, we are committed to leading our industry toward a more sustainable future by reducing our carbon emissions across our value chain by 25% by 2025,” said Angie Slaughter, vice president of sustainability procurement at Anheuser-Busch. “The transport industry is one that is prime for innovative solutions and we are excited to continue driving progress towards a zero-emission fleet through this partnership.” To facilitate the project, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) awarded funds to the CTE, a nonprofit in the zero-emission vehicle industry, who will be responsible for project oversight, development, management and reporting during this deployment. CTE will also provide technical support, risk analysis and mitigation strategies, permitting, equipment and station deployment, training and assistance with commissioning. The project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities. The project is expected to result in emissions reductions of 910 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking almost 200 passenger vehicles off of the road. CARB anticipates the project will be replicated statewide. “With this exciting project, Anheuser-Busch is providing a real-world demonstration of the future for moving goods and products throughout California,” said Richard Corey, executive officer at CARB. “I congratulate all the companies partnering on this impressive effort for embracing zero-emission trucks, and showing other businesses a zero-emissions solution to moving goods and cargo that cleans the air, protects our children’s health, and fights climate change.” “This project represents a huge step forward in integrating clean energy and clean transportation to realize the full environmental benefits of battery electric vehicles,” said Joel Donham, an Engineering Consultant at CTE. “CTE commends ARB, the CCI program, and all the project partners for their leadership in an effort to demonstrate the viability, benefits, and scalability of holistic energy and transportation systems.” As part of the initial validation, Anheuser-Busch put the BYD 8TT through extensive testing on range, acceleration, gradeability, charging speed and more. The truck exceeded the requirements of Anheuser-Busch and received enthusiastic feedback from drivers, clearing the path to this large-scale deployment. “We’re honored to be part of this major milestone demonstrating the operational, economic, and environmental sustainability benefits of our zero-emission trucks,” said John Gerra, BYD director of business development, electric trucks. “BYD trucks are out there right now working hard every day throughout California.” The project includes equipment testing, a one-year demonstration period, data collection, and associated reporting. CTE anticipates the trucks to begin operation near the end of 2019 with full project completion in early 2021.

SAN ANTONIO — In the early 1990s, Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.) produced the first automatic tire inflation system for commercial vehicles. In September 2019 the company produced the 1.5 millionth system at its facility in San Antonio. The milestone was announced during the recent 2019 Meritor/P.S.I. Fleet Technology Event. P.S.I. entered into a distribution partnership with Meritor 21 years ago to market its automatic tire inflation system as the Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) in North America. Since that time, MTIS has established itself as the system of choice at a majority of the leading private and for-hire fleets, according to Tim Musgrave, president and CEO. In 2016, P.S.I. moved into a new facility that doubled its footprint in San Antonio and added needed capacity to meet the growing global demand for their product. At the completion of facility tour during the fleet technology event, Musgrave revealed the 1.5 million milestone as a congratulatory banner was raised above the production floor. Musgrave was quick to recognize the efforts of the employees in San Antonio in reaching this milestone. “I personally want to thank each of the individuals that work for P.S.I. in every department across the company,” he said. “Everyone has contributed to keeping us focused on meeting the quality and volume demands for our product.  We also appreciate the support that the Meritor partnership has afforded us in building our overwhelming share of the North American ATIS market” Production team members from each of the production cells provided the facility tour for the guests. Mike McIver, vice president of manufacturing, said “our team members are the true highlight of the tour.  They are excited to share their commitment to our product and our customers.  They are the reason for our success. P.S.I exports to 45 countries, including China, India, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe. For more information about Pressure Systems International visit www.psitireinflation.com.  

GREENVILLE, S.C.  — Michelin North America on October 1 launched the MICHELIN X Line Energy D+ tire, its new ultra-low rolling resistance dual-drive line-haul tire, to the North American replacement market. The tire was developed through an advanced-engineering project over three years with the objective of reducing the fuel consumption of Freightliner’s next-generation Cascadia Class 8 heavy-duty trucks and yielded a product with the lowest rolling resistance offered by Michelin in a dual-fitment drive tire, according to Adam Murphy, vice president B2B marketing for Michelin North America. “The MICHELIN X Line Energy D+ sets a new standard for Michelin,” Murphy said. “With about 35 percent of vehicle fuel consumption attributed to overcoming tire rolling resistance, this tire delivers both fuel savings while providing exceptional traction for driver confidence.” As Michelin’s most fuel-efficient drive tire for long-haul applications, the MICHELIN X Line Energy D+ tire 275/80R22.5 size is designed for fleets looking to save hundreds of dollars in fuel spend with an estimated annual fuel savings of $725, Murphy said, adding that the new tire meets SmartWay requirements and is greenhouse-gas 2 regulation and CARB compliant. The X Line Energy D+ features a tread compound designed for exceptional fuel efficiency, Murphy said. The Infini-Coil technology wraps 1/8 mile of steel cable around the durable casing to eliminate casing growth and ensure a consistent footprint and even wear. The casing is designed with high-tensile-strength steel belts capable of supporting multiple retreads. With the ability to get a tractor up and running 35% faster than a leading competitive tire, Murphy said the X Line Energy D+ incorporates interlocking, edge-biting tread sipes and regenerative tread grooves designed to provide superior grip and traction throughout the life of the tire. Interlocking siping and regenerating features are designed to provide biting edges throughout tread life. “Providing maximum retreadability and a casing designed for endurance, the X Line Energy D+ comes with the 7/7/3 manufacturer’s limited casing warranty,” Murphy said. “This includes coverage against defects in workmanship and materials for 700,000 miles, seven years or three retreads from the date of manufacture when retreaded by an authorized Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) dealer. The tire is available in the United States and Canada.

FINDLAY, Ohio — Cooper Tire’s Roadmaster brand has a new tire in its commercial long-haul lineup – the Roadmaster RM832 EM steer tire. The new tire is SmartWay verified and blends excellent fuel efficiency with long miles to removal due to 18/32nds of tread depth, as well as an improved tread design and advanced rubber compound. According to Gary Schroeder, executive director of Cooper’s global truck and bus tire business, the Roadmaster RM832 EM offers small fleets and owner-operators performance well beyond its price point. “The Roadmaster RM832 EM underwent extensive commercial testing prior to launch,” Schroeder said. “We completely revamped our prior-generation Roadmaster steer tire, giving the new Roadmaster RM832 EM a wider footprint and a redesigned tread pattern to help ensure even wear. In addition, we incorporated second-generation Energy Max compounding, which results in excellent fuel economy.” While the Roadmaster RM832 EM’s wide footprint helps better distribute weight, Schroeder said a newly designed decoupling groove further enhances even wear by minimizing shoulder wear. “Uniform wear, combined with the tire’s four-belt high tensile steel casing, separates the RM832 EM from other tires at its price point. Like all of our Roadmaster tires, the ultimate value is long miles to removal coupled with retreadability, and that’s where our highly engineered casings come into play,” he said. The new Roadmaster steer tire comes with a six-year, two-retread warranty, and is available in seven sizes: 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 11R24.5 in Load Range G or H, plus in 285/75R24.5 (Load Range H). Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper’s headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design operations within its family of companies located in more than one dozen countries around the world. For more information on Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.  

ATHENS, Ga. — Carrier Transicold said late last month that its new Vector 1550 domestic intermodal refrigeration system features a thin profile enabling greater capacity utilization within a standard 53-foot North American intermodal container. As a result, up to 7% more cargo can be carried for greater shipping efficiency over rail and highway. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. “With the Vector 1550 unit, Carrier Transicold engineered a space-efficient transport refrigeration system that fits within a trim envelope that is a third thinner than a traditional transport refrigeration unit in the U.S.,” said Patrick McDonald, trailer product manager, Carrier Transicold. McDonald said the Vector 1550 unit allows a domestic intermodal refrigerated container to accommodate an extra row of pallets, resulting in cube loads similar to 53-foot over-the-road trailers. The thin-profile Vector 1550 unit also reduces total weight by as much as 570 pounds compared to competitive standard-size refrigeration systems, and by 200 pounds compared to competitive slim-profile designs. “Compared to its competitive counterpart, the Vector 1550 unit is thinner and lighter, while also being a high-efficiency performer with lower engine run speeds producing as much as 27% more cooling per hour per RPM,” McDonald said. As part of Carrier Transicold’s Vector family, the Vector 1550 unit takes advantage of E-Drive technology. Unlike conventional mechanical transport refrigeration units, those with E-Drive technology use a high-output generator direct-coupled to a diesel engine to power a uniquely all-electric refrigeration system. Using intelligent controls, the system can automatically turn on and off individual components, such as the compressor and fans, running only what it needs, precisely when needed. As a result, components run fewer hours and last longer than traditional counterparts. McDonald said the simplified, clean refrigeration architecture eliminates most of the serviceable items found in conventional mechanical transport refrigeration systems – traditional parts, such as vibrasorbers, clutches, shaft seals, alternators, drive belts and pulleys that require routine maintenance. As with other units in Carrier Transicold’s Vector platform, the Vector 1550 unit offers integrated electric standby, enabling the unit to be plugged into a power source when parked. “This eliminates emissions and noise from the refrigeration unit engine, conserves fuel and reduces operating costs,” McDonald said. “The Vector system provides the unit’s full rated refrigeration capacity when on standby, unlike some add-on standby systems that add weight and complexity, without delivering full capacity. The Vector 1550 system also can be coupled with Carrier Transicold’s eSolutions telematics system for remote monitoring of system operation and container temperatures, generation of automatic “proof of temperature” compliance reports to maintain food safety standards, and providing enhanced control features, such as remote software updates and data downloads. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com.    

TAMPA, Fla. — As Transflo continues to grow its digital workflow platform for commercial truck fleets and drivers, the company now offers the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8-inch 32GB LTE tablet compatible with the Transflo Mobile+ app and all Transflo products and services, including the industry’s leading electronic logging device (ELD) for mobile platforms. Drivers can easily access information including electronic records of duty status on the Galaxy’s clear, bright 8-inch touch display, and its LTE connectivity ensures seamless cloud integration and compliance with U.S. FMCSA regulations for wireless transfers of hours-of-service data. “The Samsung Galaxy Tab A running the Transflo Mobile+ app is the perfect solution for anyone currently using our ELD or who is about to transition to one,” said Vice President of Product and Innovation Doug Schrier. “It’s the only device that fleets and drivers need to manage a mobile workflow and get more done, anywhere and everywhere the job takes them.” Schrier said the Samsung Galaxy Tab A uses the Android operating system, has 32GB internal storage, dual cameras (for document scanning), and a 1.4GHz quad-core processor for a combination of fast performance and power efficiency. Transflo also offers a range of mounting and charging options to keep the device powered up and secure inside the cab. Developed specifically for professional drivers, Schrier said the Transflo Mobile+ app allows users to manage all their work from a single mobile app on one device. Additionally, Transflo’s ELD bundles offer complete fleet solutions that integrate with the mobile app and include: document scanning; integrated GPS-based navigation; weigh station bypass technology; two-way messaging; and services for finding fuel, truck scales, and other essential services. Transflo offers the Samsung Galaxy Tab A with data plans through AT&T and T-Mobile. For more information about tablets and Transflo’s ELD bundles, please visit transflo.com.        

FALCONER, N.Y. – Truck-Lite Co., LLC, a worldwide leader in LED lighting, telematics, engine protection, safety and visibility systems, has integrated Pressure Systems International (PSI) automatic tire inflation and tire pressure monitoring systems data into the Road Ready system via its SmartBridge Integrator (SBI). Released in 2018, the SBI bridges OE trailer systems with the Road Ready network, which communicates crucial trailer data to a fleet dispatcher and provides greater insight into a trailer environment. The recent integration with PSI allows any fleet to access critical tire data and avoid downtime by taking preventive action. “Working with PSI to develop this technology brings us a step closer to a smart-trailer reality,” said Rob Richard, general manager of Truck-Lite’s Road Ready division. “We look forward to continued collaboration with PSI to deliver even more enhanced data to fleets.” The SBI will transmit data from both the PSI Trailer ATIS and TireView TPMS, which work together to provide critical data regarding tire health. The integration with Road Ready makes this data available to a fleet’s back office through the Road Ready user interface. “Our ATIS and TPMS solutions allow fleets to improve uptime and lower CSA scores while simultaneously allowing the driver to focus on driving and optimizing their hours of service (HOS),” said Jonathan Gravell, vice president of business development for PSI. “Integrating PSI systems into Road Ready helps fleets to drive down operating costs and diagnose issues before they become real problems.” The Road Ready system by Truck-Lite is the leading wireless, multi-functional trailer monitoring network and is easily customizable for any fleet requirement. With its suite of wireless sensors and the largest number of OE trailer system and fleet software integrations, Road Ready provides the most comprehensive and inclusive fleet telematics solution available. For more information, visit www.roadreadysystem.com.  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software has created the AI Truck Racing League (AITRL), a new organization focused on advancing the understanding of Machine Learning technology in the transportation industry. “Machine Learning is not yet widely understood by many, but to help companies gain a better understanding, we have set up a fun racing simulation as a way for companies to learn and participate. At McLeod Software, we realize Machine Learning is the future happening now. That is why we have created the AI Truck Racing League and the McLeod Software Racing Team,” said Vice President of Special Projects Ken Craig. AITRL’s open platform enables member-racing teams to use industry standard cutting edge AI technologies. Developers can train, evaluate and tune their AI models using either Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Reinforcement Learning or any combination thereof. Virtual world simulation will be done on AITRL’s website or locally at the racing team’s office. Teams will be able to select virtual trucks to race in the 3D simulator on tracks inspired by famous raceways. Each track will bring new challenges that the AI models need to conquer as they prepare for the AITRL Championship Cup. Craig said the company invites transportation companies and allied suppliers to experience the excitement of racing mixed with the thrill of teaching an inanimate object how to think. Each member of AITRL will have their own intra-company team which will train virtual trucks as they hone their AI models. Each member team will produce a champion by racing their virtually trained trucks on a virtual track with a 1/18 scale semi-truck. These champions will represent their member team in inter-company competitions and compete for the AITRL League Cup. “We look forward to working with this great group of companies to advance the goal of understanding how Machine Learning will become both practical and efficient for transportation companies,” Craig said. “We work continuously to ensure that McLeod customers sustain a competitive advantage, and have full access to important technologies, developed by McLeod Software or our Partners. We believe our creation of AITRL as a learning tool is important for this reason, and it will be fun to see which company lifts the AITRL Champions Cup at the end of the inaugural season.” Initial entrants fielding a racing team for the AITRL include Kingsgate Logistics, SONAR, Decker Truck Lines, and Echo Global Logistics. To learn more about the AI Truck Racing League and how you can participate, please visit www.AITRL.org. McLeod Software is a provider of transportation and logistics ERP solutions. The company’s LoadMaster and PowerBroker products include CRM, dispatch operations, EDI, accounting, billing and settlements, carrier, driver and trip management, business process automation, visual workflow management, and document management systems, all specifically developed for trucking. For more information about McLeod visit at www.McLeodSoftware.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS), what the company describes as a world-class technical innovation, is an ultra-responsive steering system designed to lessen steering force up to 85%, helping reduce driver fatigue and increase road safety. VDS will be available as an option in the Volvo VNL and VNR models in early 2020. “Drivers are the trucking industry’s biggest assets, and opportunities to increase driver recruitment and retention are top-of-mind for our customers,” said Chris Stadler, product marketing manager, Volvo Trucks North America. “Providing state-of-the-art features that improve drivers’ physical working conditions and comfort is an important aspect of driver satisfaction, as well as increasing overall productivity and road safety.” VDS is an active steering system that features an electric motor mounted on top of the hydraulic steering gear. Input from multiple vehicle sensors, at over 2,000 times per second, determine the appropriate steering wheel response. The system continuously monitors drivers’ actions, environmental factors and road conditions faster than the blink of an eye. The motor provides additional torque when needed to keep the truck safely on the road. This supports driver reactions with greater control and less abrupt maneuvering, Stadler said. First launched by Volvo Trucks in Europe, VDS is ideal for diverse and changing terrains and automatically adjusts to handle any roadway condition. From rough roads to tight maneuvers in urban environments, VDS can help drivers navigate unexpected situations such as pot holes and rapid tire deflations, providing up to nine ft.-lb. of torque in the steering column. Stadler said key VDS features include: Vehicle Stability Control leads to increased directional stability on the highway, which offers a more relaxed and safe driving experience with full control at all speeds. Return-to-Center, or Zero Return enables the steering wheel to return to the center position when the vehicle is in motion, making it easier to reverse the vehicle and maneuver in tight areas. Dampening allows the steering system to filter inputs from the road surface and, based on feedback from multiple sensors, helps improve handling and vehicle stability. Lead/Pull Compensation provides a torque offset within the steering system to compensate for crowned roads, steady crosswinds and other short-term conditions that can affect handling. With more controlled steering, VDS helps reduce operational fatigue by filtering road vibration and noise through the steering wheel, Stadler said, adding that repetitive motions because of varying roadway conditions and maneuvering actions could cause physical discomfort, which can be lessened when using this system. In fact, testing has shown that VDS has the potential to cut muscular strain by up to 30% and for some specific motions, strain can be reduced up to 70%. “Volvo Trucks’ new feature brings value and support to our customers and professional drivers,” Stadler said. “With the VDS system, we see increased productivity for our customers and decreased fatigue for drivers. In addition, it contributes to improved stability and control of the vehicle, thereby increasing road safety.”            

PORTLAND, Ore. — Production of the Freightliner Cascadia with enhanced safety and aerodynamic solutions has begun. A Daimler Trucks North America official said the new truck provides customers with a vehicle that is safer, more fuel efficient and offers a better driver experience than ever before. Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components, said Detroit Assurance 5.0 is now standard with Freightliner Cascadias powered by Detroit engines. He said this proprietary radar and camera fused system features standard active safety and advanced driver assistance technologies designed to keep drivers, other motorists and pedestrians safe, including: Adaptive Cruise Control to 0 MPH: Automatically decelerates and accelerates to maintain a safe following distance. In stop-and-go-traffic, if the vehicle in front stops, the truck will also come to a stop and hold indefinitely. If the vehicle ahead moves in less than two seconds, the truck will resume moving at a safe following distance. Active Brake Assist 5.0 – Full Braking on Moving Pedestrian: When a moving pedestrian enters the truck’s path, Detroit Assurance 5.0 applies input from the radar and camera sensors to warn the driver using visual and audible warnings simultaneously with partial emergency braking. If the driver doesn’t act, full emergency braking brings the truck to a complete stop. Additionally, new standard features with Detroit Assurance 5.0 include automatic wipers/headlamps, Intelligent High Beam, and traffic sign display. Gedert said Side Guard Assist is an optional feature available with Detroit Assurance 5.0 that detects objects, including pedestrians and cyclists, in the passenger-side blind spot along the full length of the tractor and trailer. “Helping keep motorists and pedestrians safe is our top priority, and the advanced technologies and groundbreaking innovations of Detroit Assurance 5.0 can help mitigate collisions and reduce unplanned expenses and downtime for our customers,” Gedert said. “Detroit Assurance 5.0 illustrates our commitment to increasing safety for everyone on the road.” Active Lane Assist, an optional feature available in early 2020, consists of Lane Departure Protection and Lane Keep Assist. With Lane Departure Protection, if the truck begins to drift from its lane without the turn signal activated, a rumble sound, along with a visual warning, will alert the driver. The system will then counter steer the truck back into its lane. When Adaptive Cruise Control is enabled, Lane Keep Assist uses micro-steering movements to keep the new Cascadia centered in its detected lane. With the addition of lateral steering assist offered by the optional Active Lane Assist feature, in combination with Adaptive Cruise Control, Freightliner and Detroit will begin delivering the first production SAE Level 2 automated truck in North America. Gedert  said enhancements to all three aerodynamic packages for the Cascadia further improve the Cascadia’s industry-leading fuel performance. The Standard package now includes A-pillar deflectors, tow hook covers and side extender seals. The Aero package adds enhanced chassis fairing skirts and the AeroX package features an optimized low ground clearance bumper, optimized roof deflector, optimized drive wheel fairings and front wheel well closeouts. Additional aerodynamic options available include the industry first Aerodynamic Height Control, which electronically lowers the suspension height one inch at 55 miles per hour to optimize airflow over and under the front of the truck and reduce drag. Michelin X Line D+ Energy tires, developed in collaboration with Michelin and exclusive to the Cascadia, are also available and reduce rolling resistance in 6×4 applications. All of the new aerodynamic features available on Cascadia provide up to a five percent increase in fuel efficiency over the current model. “Our new aerodynamic options demonstrate our dedication to helping our customers achieve the best possible performance from their trucks,” Gedert said. “Freightliner continues to set the bar higher when it comes to designing features that provide better performance and enhanced efficiency.” Critical to the Cascadia’s performance is the Integrated Detroit Powertrain. The powerful combination of either Detroit DD15 or DD13 engines, the Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission, and Detroit axles seamlessly works together to maximize performance. A key update for the Cascadia from Detroit is Intelligent Powertrain Management 6 (IPM6), which comes standard with the DT12. Like earlier IPM technology, IPM6 integrates pre-loaded terrain maps and GPS into engine and transmission functions to know the route ahead and uses the truck’s kinetic energy to automatically adjust to its surroundings by reducing braking power and making transmission and engine adjustments. With the introduction of IPM6, map coverage of existing major highways and interstates has increased by 35%. Gedert  said another benefit of the powerful combination of Cascadia and Detroit designed to improve uptime is the Cascadia Maintenance System. This onboard monitoring system computes optimal maintenance intervals based on actual operating conditions of the vehicle. The system utilizes oil temperature data and other inputs to more accurately determine oil change intervals, and it improves additional service recommendations based on engine and transmission load data.    

FREMONT, Calif. — Azuga, a provider of connected vehicle and fleet technologies, Wednesday launched Azuga SafetyCam, a proprietary WiFi-enabled, dash-mounted monitoring solution rounds out the company’s portfolio designed to monitor and improve driver behavior, reduce risk and ultimately lower costs related to driving incidents. his coupled with the launch of its virtual coaching system, Azuga Coach, reflects the company’s commitment to keeping fleet drivers safe and insurance premiums down for their companies, according to Ananth Rani, CEO and co-founder of Azuga. Azuga SafetyCam is designed with high-definition, 1080p road-facing and driver-facing cameras that record evidence in the event of an accident, offering immediate proof of an accident’s cause and who is at fault during the insurance claims process. With Azuga SafetyCam, fleet-based businesses can rest assured knowing that they have the technology needed for liability protection that can make the difference between an insurance pay-out or a denied claim, Rani said. “According to the American Trucking Association, 70% of all accidents are not the fault of the commercial driver, yet in most cases, the company is deemed at fault. With Azuga SafetyCam, businesses and their insurance providers benefit from having a first-hand perspective into incident specifics, which helps in identifying who is at fault, during an accident or traffic violation,” he said. “With an already proven track record of reducing accident frequency and severity by 50%, we can now deliver a solution which can exonerate drivers, further reduce insurance premiums and ensure that business operations can get back to normal.” Rani said along with assessing accidents after they happen, Azuga SafetyCam can be used to identify and reduce unsafe driving behaviors before accidents ever occur. While Azuga SafetyCam is continuously recording vehicle trips, it can automatically detect at-risk driving behaviors and will upload video before and after they occur, such as hard braking, sudden acceleration or hard cornering, by leveraging intelligence gathered from Azuga Fleet’s GPS telematics solution. Fleet managers can then review these video clips to proactively identify poor driving habits and use them as real-life examples when coaching drivers to curb bad driving behaviors. In addition to the launch of SafetyCam, Azuga is expanding its safety platform by partnering with Driving Dynamics to launch Azuga Coach, an online video-based training tool for its customers. Azuga Coach integrates Driving Dynamics’ award-winning DrivActiv eLearning™ training suite into Azuga’s telematics platform, where drivers will be assigned targeted online training videos based on their individual driving scores. “With the launch of Azuga SafetyCam and the debut of Azuga Coach, fleets can tap into the power of video to improve driver safety behind the wheel, which ultimately helps fleet-based businesses protect their bottom line and ensure safe operations throughout the communities in which they serve,” added Tom Erdman, executive vice president of business development and insurance telematics at Azuga. The Azuga SafetyCam dual-facing video camera can be bundled into existing contracts free of charge or purchased without a contract for $99, plus monthly service fees. Visit http://www.azuga.com to set up a demo for Azuga SafetyCam or to learn more about Azuga’s video-enabled safety solutions.