The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/221397
"When they open the enlarged Panama Canal next year, there will be consequences for sleepers." – Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks (as well as one that will burn dimethyl ether), but for now it and other builders rely on Cummins Westport for natural gas engines for some of their truck models. These include the 8.9-liter ISL G and the 11.9-liter ISX12 G. The 12 G engine, which just became available this year, is attracting interest from many operators who need more power and torque than the ISL can muster. "There's a lot of interest in the natural gas platform with the ISX12 G," says Kurt Swihart, marketing director at Kenworth Truck. "As fueling infrastructure around the U.S. develops, gas will become a lot more feasible in a wider range of applications." Kenworth and Peterbilt also offer Westport Innovations' dual-fuel 15L. But Westport is dropping the 15L due to low sales volume and the relatively high cost of refitting Cummins cylinder blocks with dual-fuel heads and fuel systems. That will leave a gap in natural gas power for operators hauling heavy loads in mountainous terrain, at least until Cummins has its 14.9-liter gas engine ready in a couple of years. Like the ISL and ISX12 gas engines, the 15G will use spark ignition. Disc brakes taking hold Air disc brakes have been very slow to gain favor with North American truck operators since first introduced in the 1970s. High cost, extra weight and durability problems doomed early products. However, younger managers who didn't experience those problems are embracing the latest ADBs because they perform well and are easier to maintain than traditional drum brakes, OEMs say. Although they're not needed to meet the shorter stopping distances required of heavy tractors, discs are standard on many truck models, sometimes on front axles with drums at the rear, and sometimes with discs all around. Often there's a delete option, which saves some purchasing money but at the cost of higher maintenance costs over time. And some fleet executives have begun buying discs as a driver recruiting tool. Discs have a better pedal feel and greater stability, attributes noted and appreciated by drivers, they say. keting. "Premium equipment that provides drivers with a superior operating environment and, for over-the-road drivers, an off-duty area with numerous amenities, help maximize driver satisfaction and productivity." New regulations limiting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were not listed by any of the OEMs as a major concern, though certifying their engines for compliance is expensive and some customers must be convinced to buy the right kind of equipment. Cutting GHG emissions reductions also cuts fuel use, which saves customers money. Builders have been working on higher fuel economy, and truck operators have been demanding it, for years. OEM executives say the new regs, set to take effect in January, will not prevent customers from getting the vehicles they need to do their hauling jobs efficiently. More on this in next month's HDT. ■ SIMPLY SMARTER THINKING. SIMPLY SMARTER DECISION. X4™ Tier 4 trailer systems from Carrier. Remarkable efficiency. Outstanding reliability. Simply smarter choice. Nicer, cleaner & more efficient equipment Except in business downturns, drivers have been an important consideration in truck-buying decisions. With a more severe shortage said to be looming due to retirement of many old-timers and the reluctance of younger people to enter the industry, drivers become more vital. "The American Trucking Associations estimates the driver shortage at 20,000 available jobs and predicts that shortfall to grow to a quarter of a million jobs over the next decade," says Todd Acker, Peterbilt's director of marwww.truckinginfo.com www.carrier.com/ecoforward ©2013 Carrier Corporation. Circle 207 on Reader Action Card DECEMBER 2013 • HDT 55