Cummins Fleetguard wins truck writers award

TAMPA, Fla. — North American trucking journalists have awarded Cummins Filtration’s Fleetguard line of fuel and oil filters as the top Technical Achievement for 2006.

The ceremony, presented by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), took place this week at the annual Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in Tampa, Fla.

The TAA trophy itself was presented to Cummins Filtration’s national accounts manager Mark Hassel and product design leader Jeff Sharp.

Created in 1988, TWNA is a professional organization whose membership is composed of writers, editors, public relations specialists, marketing personnel and others involved in the business of creating or producing information related to the world of trucking.

The very first TAA honor was presented in 1991 to Grote Industries. Since receiving the inaugural award, Grote has generously sponsored the trophy.

To be eligible, a product or service has to clearly exhibit technical innovation, have a wide applicability in the trucking industry, offer significant benefits and be widely available. While complete vehicles are not eligible, components and systems are.

Rising above a field of more than two dozen candidates, the Fleetguard “User Friendly Filters” employ a shape that was reconfigured to allow filters to sit upright without tipping. Instead of metal, the body is reinforced nylon, so it won’t dent or rust. The filters install easily by hand and are removable with any standard half-inch drive ratchet. Accidental cross threading may ruin the filter, but never the engine.

The “Super 6” finalists for the award were Cummins Filtration’s Fleetguard, Dana’s Directed Oil Differential Technology, Eaton Fuller’s UltraShift LEP transmission, Freightliner Group’s Rack & Pinion Steering, Lexidine’s Digital Event Recorder, and Michelin’s Anti Splash Tire Technology.