Following are news and announcements made last month during the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas:
Longer Lasting Michelin XDA5 Tires
Michelin’s new commercial truck tire, the Michelin XDA5, has been engineered using Michelin Durable Technologies to increase the tire’s service life by 30 percent or more, while maintaining performance.
Michelin is marking the XDA5 tire’s entrance into the marketplace with a guarantee that the tire will outlast the drive tire it replaces by at least 30 percent. If the tire does not achieve a minimum of 30 percent increased service life, Michelin will credit double the amount of the price difference between the XDA5 tire and the tire it replaced. Details regarding the guarantee program are available at www.michelintruck.com.
Michelin uses design and manufacturing techniques to mold the tread of the XDA5 tire in three dimensions. As the tire wears, the tread reveals new grooves and tread blocks effectively giving the tire a second life – self-regenerating to improve wet, worn traction. The regenerating tread design keeps the tire in service longer before retreading, providing 30 percent improvement in tread life over all drive tires that are commercially available.
Hendrickson Invests In Future Products, Growth
Hendrickson announced several investments it is making in product development and production capabilities.
According to the company, it will invest heavily in engineering and validation tools to bring integrated truck and trailer suspension systems to market. The systems will provide customers with weight savings, longer tire life and higher resale value.
Hendrickson’s Truck Systems Group is adding 20,700 square feet of testing area, for a total of 37,700 square feet. The expansion will take place during the next two years and will be used for validating front and rear axle suspension systems.
The company is also adding one and expanding two assembly lines at its Lebanon, Ky., manufacturing plant. Upgrades will include greater use of robotics and a high-definition plasma-cutting machine.
Ergonomic Shell Rotella Packaging
Shell announced that a fully synthetic CJ-4 oil will be introduced this year and that new packaging for Rotella products will appear on shelves in September.
A new bottle for Shell Rotella T motor oil features a top handle for easier carrying and a side handle for easier pouring. The company says the new bottle is more environmentally friendly in that it is made with less plastic and no longer includes a foil seal, making it more convenient to recycle.
Also coming in September is a new 3-in-1 case which offers three one gallon bottles in one case for easier pickup and handling, as well as storage.
Kenworth Sweeps J.D. Power and Associates Awards
Kenworth announced it is the first truck manufacturer to sweep all three major categories in the annual J.D. Power and Associates Heavy Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study.
Kenworth achieved the highest ranking in customer satisfaction among Class 8 truck owners in the Over the Road, Pickup and Delivery and Vocational Segments.
This is the third consecutive year Kenworth received both the Over the Road and Pickup and Delivery awards and at least three of the four Heavy Duty awards bestowed annually. Kenworth now boasts 11 Heavy Duty awards, which is tops among truck manufacturers.
Peterbilt To Launch Medium-duty Hybrids In March
Peterbilt Motors Company announced it will begin full production of its medium-duty hybrid electric vehicles in March 2008 and will offer heavy-duty hybrids for vocational and on-highway use in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
The company delivered its first medium-duty hybrid vehicles – two Model 335 hybrids – this month to San Marcos, Texas-based McCoy’s Building Supply.
In addition to the Model 335 hybrid for stationary power takeoff applications, Peterbilt will offer the Model 330 hybrid for pick-up and delivery applications in March 2008.
