John G Smith

Ontario driver training schools warned

TORONTO, ON - Ontario's private career colleges have received a stern warning from the ministry that oversees them, after complaints that some schools are trying to bypass newly introduced mandatory training for commercial drivers. The Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) program was introduced by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation on July 1, and sets a minimum of 103.5 hours of training for anyone looking to earn a Class A licence. It's the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce such a standard. In a memo obtained by Today's Trucking, the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development says it has heard some schools may not be complying with approved training programs and conditions. The issue includes programs designed to upgrade BZ or DZ licence holders to AZ licences, or simple hourly lessons.

Printed to Go: 3D printing will transform your access to truck parts

Distribution centers and jobbers couldn't possibly afford to stock every single part that a truck owner might need at a given point in time. The massive inventory would tie up far too much space and capital. The best they can do is play a numbers game, focusing on parts used in the widest volume of vehicles, and trying to limit investments in the components that are likely to gather dust on a storage rack.

Quebec platooning tests underway

MONTREAL, QC - PIT Group, the research and engineering arm of FPInnovations, is in the midst of Transport Canada's truck platooning tests that run from July 24 to August 18 at the Motor Vehicle Test Center in Blainville, Quebec.

Class D renewal requirements to tighten

TORONTO, ON -- Ontario is preparing to tighten the requirements to renew Class D licences, bringing medicals and knowledge and vision tests in line with other commercial classes, the Ontario Trucking Association reports. The changes would be effective July 1, 2018.

Navistar ending medium-duty engine production

LISLE, IL - Navistar will stop producing medium-duty engines at its plant in Melrose Park, Illinois, beginning in the second quarter of its 2018 fiscal year. Most of the proprietary engines made in Melrose Park are nine- and 10-liter models for Class 6 and 7 trucks. Navistar reintroduced the option of a 6.7-liter Cummins engine in 2013, followed last year with the option of a nine-liter Cummins. Cummins engines for Class 6 and 7 trucks are produced in Indiana and North Carolina, while Navistar makes big-bore engines for Class 8 trucks in Alabama.

Daimler “prints” first metal truck part

STUTTGART, GERMANY - Engineers working for Daimler's European truck brand, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, have successfully used a 3D printer to create a metal thermostat cover - proving a process that could reshape the way spare metal parts are produced and distributed. With the potential of decentralizing production, 3D printing could improve parts availability, shorten delivery times, and reduce warehousing and distribution costs, the company notes. Daimler's brands in North America include Freightliner and Western Star. "With the introduction of 3D metal printing technology, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is reasserting its pioneering role among global commercial vehicle manufacturers," said Andreas Deuschle, head of marketing and operations - customer services and parts with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. "We ensure the same functionality, reliability, durability and cost-effectiveness with 3D metal parts as we do with conventionally produced parts."

Noregon updates JPRO software

Noregon has updated the JPRO Professional software launched earlier this year.

CarriersEdge focuses on distractions

CarriersEdge, which already offers a library of more than 70 online safety and compliance courses, has introduced a new program that focuses on distracted driving.

Class 8 sales continue rebound: FTR

BLOOMINGTON, IN - North America's Class 8 truck orders continue to improve, reaching 18,300 units in July - up 5% over the previous month and 79% above numbers seen a year ago.

Videos dive into new Volvo VNR

TORONTO, ON - Today's Trucking has unveiled three new videos exploring Volvo's new VNR regional tractor, with equipment editor Jim Park taking the wheel.

Sine wave inverters

Xantrex is introducing new power sources in the form of 1,000- or 2,000-watt Freedom X sine wave inverters, and their Freedom XC counterpart that comes with a built-in three-stage battery charger.

Extended tarp system warranty

Pioneer has introduced a five-year warranty on new models of its Rack 'n Pinion tarping system.

Floor mats for Western Stars

Minimizer is maximizing the protection for floors in Western Star trucks, with a series of custom-molded floor mats that fit 2016-18 model years.

Tech is your co-pilot. What’s changed?

SCHAUMBURG, IL - Advanced driver assistance systems like the ones that sound an alarm if you're tailgating -- or even apply vehicle brakes automatically -- are proving themselves to be more than a novelty. Schneider has already equipped 12,000 of its trucks with autonomous emergency braking systems that will act if a crash seems imminent. Related collisions have now dropped by 69% and their severity has plunged 95%, says Thomas DiSalvi, the fleet's vice president - safety and loss prevention. "This is ready for prime time." The underlying technologies have clearly come a long way, according to participants in a roundtable hosted this week by the U.S. National Safety Council.

Work Truck Show back for 2018-19

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - The Work Truck Show and Green Truck Summit will return to their early March timeslots in 2018 and 2019, organizers at NTEA report.