Designers Consult Truckers to Create the Interior of the LoneStar Truck

The aerodynamic shape and polished chrome of the LoneStar by International Trucks looks impressive from the outside, but all the sleek metal means little if it lacks driver comfort.

To create the unique interior of the LoneStar, Wired.com reports Navistar turned to Carnegie Mellon University professors and design experts Peter Boatwright and John Cagan.

According to the story, Boatwright and Cagan consulted industry experts, the truck drivers themselves, on the living space of the LoneStar. They discovered truckers like to modify their cabs to be more like home and divide the space between where they drive and where they live.

The result was a truck interior that offers luxuries ranging from an 11 speaker stereo to real hardwood floors. Truckers have been so enthusiastic about the LoneStar that some have even tattooed the truck’s image on their arms.

Photo Credit: International Trucks
Source: Wired.com

Idle-Reduction Systems For Trucks Eligible For Tax Break

Truckinginfo.com reports on the EPA’s 12 percent federal excise tax for auxiliary power units and other idle reduction systems.

The Truckinginfo.com story offers a link to the official EPA website that lists approved systems.

The EPA exemption also applies to sales and installation of idle-reducing systems since Oct. 4, 2008.

According to the EPA site, Motor carriers must ensure that all devices installed on Commercial Motor Vehicles conform to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Source: Truckinginfo.com and EPA.gov

Hino Trucks Receives Second J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Award for 2008

The Hino Trucks home page recently reported that Hino has ranked highest among conventional medium-duty truck engines in a 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Study.

According to the homepage, Hino Trucks achieved top accolades in the 2008 Medium-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission Customer Satisfaction StudySM which was developed to provide manufacturers with a comprehensive and objective measure of customer satisfaction with products and dealer service specific to medium-duty engine and transmission performance.

Hino Trucks performed consistently well across the board in each of the four criteria that the J.D. Power and Associates study uses to determine overall engine satisfaction – engine performance, engine quality, engine warranty and cost of engine ownership. Hino Trucks outperformed its competitors particularly in engine quality and engine warranty.

“Hino Trucks is recognized worldwide as one of the leading innovators in engine design. These awards underscore our commitment to provide outstanding engineering, manufacturing and service support,” said Glenn Ellis, Vice President, Marketing and Dealer Operations for Hino Trucks. “For 25 years, Hino Trucks has built strong owner loyalty and driver satisfaction with a reputation for producing high quality medium-duty trucks in the United States. We will continue to develop and maintain innovative engine technologies to meet our customers needs of fuel economy performance and power,“said Ellis.

Source: Hino Trucks

RESOURCES

• Hino Trucks Home page
• Hino Trucks on Commercial Truck Trader
  

Cummins Reaffirms Readiness For EPA 2010 Regulations

Cummins Inc. recently reaffirmed that its entire on-highway product range, including its industry-leading ISX, will be ready to meet the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for the North American market beginning in 2010.

According to Cummins, the breadth of Cummins 2010 product offerings demonstrates Cummins commitment to its customers as well as to the environment.

Cummins adds that customers’ concerns for economic solutions and satisfying environmental regulation will be the hallmark of Cummins product line. Cummins will offer a range of engines from the 6.7 liter ISB to 15 liter ISX, delivering best-in-class fuel economy and performance while complying with the EPA’s newest and most stringent emissions standards.

Source: Cummins Inc.

Volvo Trucks North America Offers Safety Award

Volvo Trucks North America recently announced the “Volvo Trucks Safety Award”, with $25,000 each to two fleets with the best driving records in 2008. The money is awarded to help fund additional safety activities at the winning fleets.

“Safety is Volvo Trucks’ bedrock value,” said Scott Kress, senior vice president – sales & marketing. “It has been our number one priority since the very founding of Volvo more than 80 years ago and it guides virtually all product decisions we make. Many of our customers share this passion and invest their time and resources to achieve safe operations in their fleets. The Volvo Trucks Safety Award is a way to recognize fleets with truly superior safety programs and records, and to encourage others to emulate them.”

“Instituting this award program continues Volvo Trucks’ commitment to making highways safer, whether through our sponsorship of America’s Road Team or by making active safety systems such as Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology (VEST) standard on our trucks,” Kress said.

The Volvo Trucks Safety Award is open to all U.S. and Canadian fleets operating at least five Class 8 units. Fleets will be ranked by their accident frequency rates, using the U.S. Department of Transportation definition of a “recordable accident.” Entrants will also be judged on their accident prevention activities. The deadline for entry is June 30, 2009. The winners of the award will be announced in Fall 2009.

The two grand prizes will be awarded to the fleets with the best records in two divisions based on annual vehicle miles traveled: less than 10 million miles and over 10 million miles. Complete rules and entry forms are at www.volvotruckssafetyaward.com.

Source: Volvo Trucks North America

Navistar and Ford Motor Company Reach New Business Agreement

Navistar International Corporation recently announced an agreement with Ford Motor Company to restructure their ongoing business relationship and settle all existing litigation between the companies.

Navistar reports as a result of the agreement, the companies will end their current diesel engine supply agreement effective Dec. 31, 2009. However, the companies will continue to collaborate on a range of initiatives, including their existing Blue Diamond Truck and Parts joint ventures. Navistar will acquire additional equity in the Blue Diamond joint ventures, which will continue to offer dealers and customers F-650 and F-750 medium duty trucks, as well as parts support for a variety of Ford products, including Ford's PowerStroke Diesel-equipped trucks.

“Navistar and Ford benefitted from a successful partnership that provided value to both companies for nearly three decades. However, it’s in our best interests to resolve our conflict and continue our relationship with each other in other areas,” said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The next phase of our relationship is consistent with Navistar’s strategy to diversify our customer base, while continuing to provide value to both companies through our existing joint ventures and our supply agreement in South America.”

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Navistar that we believe is in the best interest of both companies," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "This agreement comprehensively addresses our business relationship with Navistar and will help both companies focus on meeting the needs of our current and future truck customers."

Source: Navistar

ZeroTruck Offers A Glimpse Of Future Electric Trucks

Will there ever be a day where trucks plug-in rather than fill up before hitting the road? How long till electric trucks are the standard workhorse for hauling freight and heavy loads?

Photo Credit: Electroides

Green Inc. blog from the New York Times features a story on Electrorides, Inc., a company that recently demonstrated ZeroTruck: a delivery truck powered by a 100-kilowatt motor with 134 horsepower. The juice for the electric motor comes from lithium-ion batteries, carrying enough charge to power a typical home for three weeks.

Photo Credit: Electroides

Source: Green Inc. and Electrorides, Inc.

Navistar Launches Campaign To Clarify 2010 Emissions Technologies Issues

Navistar Inc., the maker of International brand commercial vehicles and MaxxForce brand diesel engines, recently launched an education campaign aimed at clarifying the issues surrounding 2010 emissions technologies.


Image Source: Navistar


According to Navistar, its “MaxxForce 2010” campaign – including customer seminars, public Webinars and trade advertising – addresses the fuel economy, cost-of-ownership and operational impacts of the competing approaches to NOx-reduction technology paths.

For 2010, suppliers of diesel-powered heavy commercial vehicles – save one – plan to offer North American customers all-new, add-on after-treatment systems using SCR (selective catalytic reduction) in addition to EGR (exhaust gas recirculation). The lone exception is Navistar, which will continue to use an in-cylinder solution utilizing advanced EGR, without additional after-treatment, on its MaxxForce-powered International brand vehicles, IC Bus brand school buses and Workhorse brand RV chassis

“Because we’re the only truck and engine maker that can offer a solution without complex after-treatment, we need to be aggressive in giving the industry all the facts,” said Jack Allen, president of Navistar’s North American Truck Group. Recent industry surveys show that fleet managers and truckers are not clear on the options for 2010 or the relative merits of competing emissions-reduction technologies. “Our MaxxForce 2010 education campaign will help customers understand that the best solution for 2010 does not require additional after-treatment, and only Navistar offers that option,” Allen said.

Source: Navistar

Kenworth Extends $1,500 Rebate To OOIDA Members on Qualifying New Sleeper Truck Purchases Through 2009

Kenworth Truck Company announced today an extension through 2009 of its successful rebate program with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

According to Kenworth.com,originally introduced seven years ago, the program offers a $1,500 rebate to OOIDA members on qualifying purchases of new Kenworth sleeper trucks. Kenworth trucks eligible include the Kenworth T660, T800 and W900 models with 72” AeroCab® or 86” Studio AeroCab sleeper, and the T2000 model with 75” AERODYNE sleeper. Buyers must show their OOIDA membership card to their Kenworth dealer at time of purchase in 2009.

“We appreciate owners-operators and their loyalty to The World’s Best® trucks,” said Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales. “In cooperation with OOIDA, Kenworth is pleased to extend this popular program and offer a $1,500 rebate in 2009.”

Moore noted that Kenworth is the recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Over the Road Segment Class 8 trucks” for the past four years.

Photo and Story Source: Kenworth.com

Eaton Sells VORAD System To Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Eaton Corporation has announced it has sold its VORAD (Vehicle On-Board Radar)system to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.

According to Eaton.com, Eaton’s Roadranger Marketing organization has entered into an agreement with Bendix to continue to market and support the VORAD system in the North American marketplace.

The VORAD system is a radar-based collision warning system used by commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, major trucking fleets and specialty vehicle manufacturers.

VORAD stands for "Vehicle On-board RADar" and is a collision Warning System that helps drivers take evasive action before accidents happen. Roadranger's site describes it as "like having a safety director riding with you every day."

Capabilities of VORAD include keeping drivers aware of safe following intervals, warning of potential hazards ahead (such as a stopped or slow-moving vehicle), and helping a truck driver "see" through fog, snow, dust and rain.

Source: Eaton.com

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