John G Smith

Event to show how to run on less

NEW YORK, NY - Seven fleets that collectively operate about 11,000 power units and 26,000 trailers have signed on to participate in Run on Less - a fuel-efficiency demonstration that runs September 6-28 and wraps up at the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, Georgia.The event is being run by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, which has already developed a library of "confidence reports" that quantify the benefits realized through different fuel-saving technologies.

Board identifies causes of Quebec crash

MONTREAL, QC - A chain of events - including tight following distances and the unexpected application of another truck's emergency brakes -- ultimately led to the death of a truck driver on the Metropolitan Expressway, Quebec's workplace health and safety board has determined. Gilbert Prince, a driver with Enterprise Gestion Georges and Robert, died at the scene of the August 9 collision on Route A40. Smoke from the resulting fire was reportedly seen as much as 30 kilometers away. It all began when a Bombardier fuel truck stopped unexpectedly on Lajeunesse Street, according to Commission des norms, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). The cube van that was following it was able to stop in time, but a Givesco flatbed to its rear ended up hitting the back of the cube van. Prince's fuel tanker collided with those.

Daimler, WABCO sign AMT deal

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Daimler Trucks has extended a supply agreement with WABCO for heavy-duty Automated Manual Transmission controls in North America, Europe, Japan and South America. Domestically, that affects Freightliner and Western Star brands.

Severe-service Firestone tire

The new Firestone FS818 wide-base, all-position radial truck tire from Bridgestone is designed for the severe-service environments that come with on- and off-highway use.

Disc brakes for International LT

International is making air disc brakes standard on all axles for all models of the International LT series.

Toss and tie your straps

Ever need to sling a strap or chain over a load? Ancra says it has a safer and easier approach in the form of the new Toss 'N Tie.

UPS introduces November, December surcharges in U.S.

ATLANTA, GA – UPS has announced a new peak charge that will be applied during selected weeks in November and December for U.S. residential, large packages, and packages over maximum…

ELD’s, “jobs for life” among legal concerns for fleets

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - Canadian fleets face several new legal challenges this year in the face of plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, as well as a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that could offer federally regulated drivers a job for life, an industry lawyer says. Heather Devine, a partner with Isaacs and Company, points to the pending U.S. mandate for Electronic Logging Devices as an example. That applies to cross-border drivers as of December 18. But during a presentation to the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada she said the devices could become one of the bargaining chips in trade negotiations. "I've heard that there are those discussions," she warned, referring to talk of a future Canadian mandate that mirrors rules in the U.S. "It's coming." The recent Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada ruling by the Supreme Court, meanwhile, ...

Cummins commits to electrification and more

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Cummins is pledging to launch a fully electrified powertrain in 2019, and a range-extended electric powertrain in 2020. But senior executives stress that these rollouts will be for urban transit vehicles, and that electrified long-haul trucks are still years from reality. "We are not just a diesel engine company," proclaimed Chief Executive Officer Tom Linebarger, during a Wednesday conference call. "Technology is what we do. Innovation is what we do." An internal electrification business group is combining Cummins expertise with selected partners, as they collectively develop power storage, related electronics, and traction motors.

Plan for the worst collisions, loss control specialist says

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - Roads and highways can be a dangerous place. The World Health Organization says there were about 1.25 million road traffic fatalities around the world in 2013, notes David Gaskin, a loss control specialist with Aviva Canada. Canada records about six such fatalities per 100,000 people.

Leverage the power of data: speaker

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - Data can be a powerful tool for fleet managers, but there is still a role for gut feel and intuition when realizing the insights made possible through analytics, a speaker told the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada's annual convention.

PMTC honors highlight annual event

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) honored fleets, drivers and retirees alike on Thursday, in a series of awards handed out during the first day of its annual conference.

Private fleet practices differ across border: survey

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - Private fleets have much in common, but there are some distinct differences between those that operate in Canada or the U.S., according to new benchmarking research conducted for the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC).

Autonomous questions not limited to tech

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The questions surrounding autonomous vehicles are not limited to how such technology would actually work, and Rick Geller has identified a long list of related issues that have yet to be addressed.

Harrison named PMTC chairman

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada has named its 2017-18 board of directors, with John Harrison of CPC Logistics Canada serving as chairman.