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John G Smith
John G. Smith is the editorial director of Newcom Media's trucking and supply chain publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, TruckTech, Transport Routier, and Road Today. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.
New engine oil categories making the grade
SANTA BARBARA, CA - A new generation of engine oils is in the North American market, passing a battery of tests developed for specific engine brands. But the work of convincing buyers about related features and benefits continues. The transition from CJ-4 to CK-4 and fuel-efficient FA-4 categories has essentially been seamless, says Dan Arcy, Shell Lubricants' global OEM technical manager, referring to formulas that were officially released in December. The chemistry was driven by ongoing calls for longer drain intervals, better fuel economy, lower emissions, and increasing horsepower, after all. And these are hardly the engine oils that have flowed through pumps in years gone by. Oxidation stability had to improve to handle higher under-hood temperatures. When oil oxidizes, it becomes acidic and thickens, Arcy explained during a media briefing in California this week. At the very least, that shortens potential oil drain intervals.
Volvo’s vision automated, electrified, connected
WASHINGTON, DC - Change is said to be one of the certainties in life, and Volvo Trucks is preparing for a future that is electrified, automated, and connected. But the company doesn't expect fully autonomous or electric linehaul trucks anytime soon. "It's a time of revolution when it comes to engineering and technologies," Chief Technology Officer Lars Stenqvist said during a media roundtable in Washington, DC. "This is the most fascinating and challenging era ever." While Volvo expects electric trucks to emerge, the company's electrification strategy is focusing on applications like ports, urban centers, and construction rather than the open road.
Traffic Unjammed: Off-peak deliveries can make a difference
Suppose they had a rush hour and nobody came. As strange as the concept sounds, this essentially describes the ultimate goal of off-peak deliveries - the route planning strategy that schedules shipments at times when there is less traffic on the road. There are significant savings to be realized by those who embrace the idea.
Class 8 truck sales continue surge
BLOOMINGTON, IN - North American Class 8 truck orders this August were 50% better than a year ago, and 14% above July totals, analysts at FTR report. "Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May's 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year. Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4," said Don Ake, FTR's vice president of commercial vehicles. The numbers are in keeping with expectations and should help to fill remaining 2017 build slots, FTR concludes. It's the best August order performance since 2014. In the past 12 months, North American Class 8 orders have reached 231,000 units.
Suspension air control
Reyco Granning's AirMaster incorporates an electronic height control system for R Series suspensions in medium-duty Ford, Dodge and GM trucks. It can also be used as a compact, standalone suspension air control system for vehicles equipped with hydraulic brakes and no onboard air compressor.