Recent safety recommendation by the federal government states that impact guard mounted on the rear of the truck should be listed as an item to be inspected annually. Utility agrees with this recommendation and strongly encourages commercial operators to consider retrofitting a bumper that is 7 inches in overall depth. This size would be more than sufficient to meet all current and future safety requirements. The company is offering a discount in hope that price reduction would be an incentive for the retrofit.

Key Takeaways:

• Utility Trailer Manufacturing announced that its dry vans, refrigerated vans, and flatbeds produced after 2002 can be retrofitted with Utility’s standard 7-inch-deep horizontal rear underride guard.
• Utility said it strongly recommends replacing any underride guards found defective with its 7-inch-deep horizontal bumper in order to exceed all rear trailer guard safety regulations.
• It's often called an “ICC bumper,” a holdover from the simple rear horizontal bars first required by the old Interstate Commerce Commission in 1952.

“Utility will discount the new bumpers as an incentive to replace the old underride guards.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10135606/utility-implements-standard-7-rear-impact-guard-on-all-trailer-models

The opportunities for truck body customizations are endless. Even the most demanding customers can find a shop that will meet all the requirements. The job will be easier to do if you provide as much information about the truck as possible. Custom builder would want to know the history of the truck and main issues your fleet is facing. In order to design a solution that will score high on safety, ensure that builder knows the application in which the truck is going to be used.

Key Takeaways:

• Buyers that can describe the history of their fleets and trucks will have an easier time with future fleet management.
• A good manufacturer must ask all the right questions to truly understand what the buyer needs, and the buyer must be able to answer those questions as thoroughly as they can.
• Body buyers and managers understand what their operations and drivers need to be efficient. Come prepared with an idea of what your fleet will need, and the internal sales team can help guide you.

“The vehicle chassis you purchase and send to your builder also establishes design needs for the truck body.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10136079/5-important-details-to-provide-your-commercial-truck-body-builder

Pilot Company and Southern Tire have signed an agreement that will product an alliance strategically positioning both companies as major players in fleet maintenance sector. The new venture will combine the expertise of tire distributor and installer with nationwide presence of Pilot’s truck stops and service areas, which spans over 750 locations. As a result, fleet operators will see higher efficiency through reduction of downtime, with significantly improved drivers’ experience and convenience. Over 100 new centers are planned to be built by the summer of 2022.

Key Takeaways:

• Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J will combine the strengths and conveniences of Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers with the tire and maintenance expertise of Southern Tire Mart.
• Despite the abundance of training material and step-by-step instructions provided by wheel component suppliers, industry associations and others, wheels continue coming off trucks.
• Bearing-related wheel-end failures are often caused by over- or under-tightened bearings or lack of lubrication.

“Southern Tire Mart and Pilot Company recently reached an agreement to create a new, strategic alliance called Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10134274/southern-tire-mart-and-pilot-flying-j-ink-tire-maintenance-business-alliance

We all know how important it is to keep your vehicle well lubricated at all times and there are two different types of oil that can help you to achieve this. Synthetic oil and partially synthetic oil. The difference between synthetic oil and traditional oil is that you can use this to up your performance, it also degrades slower so you won't need to fill up with oil as often. The partially synthetic oil does have some benefits but won't be as good long term.

Key Takeaways:

• Fully synthetic oils are distilled which allows them to degrade at a slower rate and lead to better performance.
• Fully synthetic oil has fewer impurities, it better protects your engine and it also reaches it's destination quicker.
• Semi-synthetic oil has benefits such as better fuel economy, better price and better engine defense when it comes to heavy loads and high temperatures.

“Fully synthetic oils are necessary in newer vehicles with turbocharged engines as they operate at much higher temperature than standard engines.”

Read more: https://www.carcility.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-semi-synthetic-and-fully-synthetic-vehicles/

You now have trucks that are capable of much more than they were ever used to being capable of on their own. Trucks aren't driverless and likely won't be for a while, so there is always a driver to do all of those little things that an automated vehicle cannot do on its own. When it comes to inspections, vehicles will still need to be inspected even with the automated things in place for all those things that aren't automated.

Key Takeaways:

• Because its an emerging issue, how to deal with the advent of autonomous trucks, remains problematic. For example, legislation may have not even been thought of yet for certain circumstances.
• What the protocol for dealing with a vehicle minus a driver is yet to be finalized.
• An enhanced and more thorough pre-trip review may be one way to deal with the evolving possibility of driverless trucks.

“Asked for his thoughts on how CVSA and the overall enforcement community is viewing the advent of highly automated and eventually fully automated (aka autonomous or “driverless”) trucks, Schaefer told HDT Talks Trucking that “it’s a very fluid discussion. We established some recommendations for policy at the end of 2019. They're evolving. So, what we recommend might be a little different in the near future.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10133741/how-truck-automation-may-change-roadside-inspections

The California truck company known as Dependable Highway Express, is going for a more sustainable future as part of its core mission going forward. To that end, the company has taken big steps to improve its profile vis a vis climate and air quality measures. Part of this initiative has included taking on two new Volvo electric trucks. With the successful inclusion of the two vehicles into the DHS fleet, the company has signed an agreement to take on 10 more such vehicles in 2022. Meanwhile, the company's strong commitment to environmentally friendly energy and sustainability is continuing very much on point. To wit, the company has added Class 8 trucks, batter-electric yard trucks and charging equipment to their infrastructure. The charging equipment services fleet needs and company employee vehicle needs as well. Solar panels and energy storing options have also been added to the company's receiving facility. Much of this lauded move to sustainability falls under the management of the Volvo Lights project. This is a tandem project instituted between Volvo Truck and South Coast Air Management Quality District, as well as a host of like-minded organizations. The goal has been to introduce these electric trucks into the market at scale.

Key Takeaways:

• Dependable Highway Express has been turning to sustainability efforts as they've been trying out two new Volvo electric trucks since last September.
• The South Californian carrier has plans to purchase ten more Volvo trucks by 2022.
• A statement from Volvo claims that their partnership with DHE has been pivotal to the success of the Volvo LIGHTS project.

“Through the Volvo LIGHTS project, DHE introduced Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks, battery-electric yard trucks and forklifts, charging infrastructure for fleet vehicles and employees’ personal vehicles, as well as solar panels and onsite energy storage at its shipping and receiving facility in Ontario, California.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10134739/southern-california-fleet-turns-to-volvo-to-electrify-its-fleet-operations

Kenworth is now offering their W990 with an optional Kenworth AG130 front air suspension which will bring this heavy weight titan into a new class capable of supporting 13,200 pounds. The new suspension is special proprietary technology that will allow for faster repairs and a more comfortable drive. This new suspension is available on the T680 and T880 models as well. This is a welcomed move forward for the Classic truck and Kenworth customers should be quite pleased.

Key Takeaways:

• As of mid-month January of 2021, the Kenworth Company has optimized its W990 with availability of the AG130 front air suspension option, rated at 13,200 pounds.
• The W990 is the Kenworth bread and butter vehicle, it's most classic truck design. The model features 131.5 inches from bumper to back of cab.
• Besides gracing the iconic W990 model, the new front air suspension option will also be available in the Kenworth T680 and the Kenworth T880 units.

“Kenworth said in a news release that its proprietary AG130 front air suspension uses an innovative design and high-performance components to provide serviceability while reducing the total cost of maintenance and ownership.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10134822/kenworth-adds-ag130-front-air-suspension-option-for-w990-model-trucks

Colorado's famed Pike's Peak, which was named for a military explorer in 1908, is a grueling piece of natural architecture which has been a proving ground for even the staunchest of motor vehicles. With the advent of the emerging automotive industry arrived a need to best one another in proving the to have the best vehicle endurance. A trek up Pike's Peak was the approved venue for such quests to prove vehicle endurance and capability. The long and winding path includes more than a hundred turns. Because of the length, drivers often must expect differences, sometimes amounting to extremes, in weather change, as they mount to greater elevations. This natural test-ground for automotive worth has stood the test of time as the gold standard of how strong a vehicle can claim to be. Of late, two new trucks have endured the challenge to prove that sustainable and zero-emission vehicles are just as capable of rugged terrain as the next truck. The Paccar Company threw its hat into the ring with its Kenworth truck, likewise Peterbilt has put forth its own sustainable model. Both vehicles are victoriously claiming that their sustainable model is the first of its type to make it to the apex of the peak.

Key Takeaways:

• An army explorer by the name of Zebulon Pike founded the highest peak in the south part of the Rocky Mountains.
• Originally Zebulon named it Zebulon's Mountain but everyone call's it Pike's Peak because it's simple.
• To get to the top drivers must make 156 tough turns and drive through tough weather conditions many times even when it starts out sunny.

“A carriage road to the summit of the mountain was the perfect place for manufacturers and drivers alike to showcase their technology, durability and skills on a tough, 12-mile course that begins at 9,390 feet elevation and finishes at 14,115 feet.”

Read more: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10134825/electric-trucks-and-hydrogen-fuel-cells-conquer-pikes-peak