A yearlong federal field test of 150 Class 8 tractorÂ-trailers equipped with collision avoidance systems had no rear-Âend crashes, a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study revealed.
June 20, 2016Business, Equipment, Autonomous
May Truck Sales Fall 19.5%
U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in May dropped 19.5% as the downturn rolled on for a sixth consecutive month and still has not hit bottom, analysts said.
June 20, 2016Editorial, Business, Safety, Government, Technology, Equipment
Editorial: Collision Technology Proves Its Worth
Let us pause for a moment and consider the number zero. As in, during a recent test, 150 heavy-duty tractors racked up 3 million U.S. highway miles and there were zero rear-end collisions.
June 20, 2016Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety
Collision Avoidance Systems Succeed in NHTSA Field Test
Equipment, Business, Fuel
Gearing Up for New Engine Oils
The heavy-duty engine oil specification that has been used for about 10 years is set to be replaced by two new ones: CK-4 and FA-4. The pair have been enhanced to withstand the rigors of lubricating hotter-running diesel engines and boost fuel efficiency better than the current offering, known as CJ-4 and marketed under many brands.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Safety
Safety Systems Start With Anti-lock Brakes
Sales of active safety systems are rising and, as of next summer, the first versions will become mandatory on new U.S. heavy-duty tractors. Two of the largest suppliers to truck makers keep making the systems more capable, but no matter how sophisticated they get, they all start with anti-lock brakes.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Fuel
Energy Efficiency at Facilities Brings Sizable Savings to Fleets, OEMs
Efficiency improvements and energy-reduction strategies at trucking facilities are saving fleets and original equipment manufacturers money and time. Even minor changes — such as conversion from older, high-intensity-discharge (HID) lights to skylights or to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in offices and break rooms — result in lower electric bills, increased visibility and greater employee satisfaction, facility managers said.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Business
Gauging an Engine’s Life Expectancy Starts with B-Life Rating
Engine makers are providing customers a gauge to help them determine how dependable and durable an engine is supposed to be, called a B-life rating. It’s regarded as the industry standard for measuring the life expectancy of an engine, but the figures are sometimes misunderstood.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Business, Fuel
New Engine Oils Coming in December
Two new types of engine oils are coming to market Dec. 1. The heavy-duty oil specification that has been used for nearly a decade will be replaced by CK-4 and FA-4, and this crucial development is one of the cover stories in this issue of Equipment & Maintenance Update.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Government, Business
IRS Proposal Could Rewrite Rules on How Certain Equipment Is Taxed
Determination of whether a truck will be used for on- or off-highway duty is central to a proposal from the Internal Revenue Service that could rewrite the rules on how certain equipment is taxed.
June 17, 2016Equipment, Business, Fuel
48-Volt Electrical System Could Revolutionize Heavy-Duty Trucks
Industry exhibitions of trucking technology would not be the same without trucks showcasing components, systems and features intended to hit the road in the future. Some examples of future componentry come to market quickly, others never make it into production. Meanwhile, others represent demonstrations of technology that might be integrated into Class 8 trucks decades down the road.
June 17, 2016