Following are news and announcements made in late August during the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas:
Volvo Unveils Fuelwatch Program Volvo Trucks North
America has unveiled its Fuelwatch initiative to help customers achieve maximum fuel economy.
As part of the new program, which pairs truck technology with operator performance, Volvo will have driver trainers in all sales regions to work directly with fleets. “Based on Volvo’s experience, customers who fully utilize the Fuelwatch tools and techniques can significantly lower their operating costs, by addressing the critical areas that affect fuel economy,” said Scott Kress, Volvo senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The Fuelwatch initiative has four major elements:
- Before the truck, is built its components and design are matched to its intended application. Customers work with a Volvo Truck dealer and Volvo’s Predictor software tool.
- Fuelwatch helps Volvo customers keep up with scheduled preventive maintenance. Lack of proper attention to wheel alignment, as well as fuel and cooling systems, can each reduce fuel efficiency up to 3 percent, while air-system losses can result in a 4-percent hit. Tire pressure sensors and the ability to reprogram engine power ratings also contribute to better fuel economy.
- Volvo Link and Sentry allow fleet managers to monitor and adjust critical functions of the truck. All customers gain uptime support through Sentry’s access to Volvo Action Service, a 24/7 roadside assistance program.
- Volvo’s Performance Guide is a ride-along “coach” that tells the driver how to operate the engine for maximum fuel economy. In the Driver Instrument Display, it advises the driver on correct RPM, acceleration and using the engine’s “sweet spot.”
New Laptop Holder Fits Any Truck
CyberTrucker introduced its Universal Workstation Laptop Stand that will fit in any truck, car, pickup, van, SUV or RV. The laptop stand installs with a single existing seat bolt in less than five minutes; and it can be transferred in seconds to any other vehicle.
CyberTrucker also has redesigned its Trucker’s Workstation Laptop Stand. Made exclusively for big rigs, the Workstation is now available in a black powder-coated finish. The dual cooling fans are powered from the laptop with a USB connection instead of plugging into a cigarette lighter. In addition, a Quick Release Lever permits easy installation or removal of the cradle in less than three seconds.
Bully Dog Boosts Power, Efficiency
Bully Dog Technologies has developed a downloader for trucks with Cummins ISM and ISX, Detroit Series 60 DDEC IV and V and Caterpillar C13 and C15 engines.
The Power Pup Big Rig downloaders feature two tuning options. The Economy Tune is designed to provide maximum fuel efficiency and a small power increase. The Economy with Power Tune produces approximately 15 percent more power to the wheels while also providing increased fuel economy during cruise and low-engine load periods. These features are the result of creating a more thorough, more efficient burn within the engine, according to the company.
Tire Monitor System Alerts Driver
Doran Manufacturing’s 360H tire pressure monitoring system provides at-a-glance status updates on a monitor in the cab. This system monitors up to 36 tires for truck, tractor and trailer applications with wireless tire-pressure sensors that are screwed on to the valve stems. The driver is alerted through multiple alarm types (audible, location, pressure and warning symbol) and by a new “Fast Leak” alarm to address low tire-pressure problems and reduce costly breakdowns and repairs.
Installation takes about an hour per truck/trailer, the company says. The cab monitor includes a digital LCD screen with backlit display and comes equipped with four-way navigational buttons. Spin-welded, heavy-duty truck-tested, wireless tire pressure sensors are corrosion resistant.
Additionally, a “sleep” mode monitors tire pressures at all times but withholds potential warnings until the driver turns the ignition on.
Michelin Unveils X One XDN 2
Michelin has launched its new X One XDN 2 tire. Don Baldwin, product marketing manager for Michelin, said the X One XDN 2 is the first X One tire in North America to utilize multiple Michelin Durable Technologies (MDT).
“This tire takes the traditional compromise between traction, long life and fuel efficiency, and throws it out the window,” added Marc Laferriere, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “By utilizing two different Michelin Durable Technologies, the X One XDN2 tire delivers significantly increased tire life and exceptional, uncompromised traction, complementing the significant fuel-efficiency gains of a Michelin X One wide single tire.”
Baldwin said the X One XDN2 tire delivers fuel efficiency levels approaching Michelin’s most fuel-efficient truck tire – the X One XDA tire. “Through MDT, the X One XDN2 tire is able to reduce the number of flexing sidewalls from four to two when replacing dual tires,” Baldwin explained. “That significantly lowers rolling resistance – 15 percent lower than its dual XDN2 tire counterpart.”
Mack Offers Bendix Air Disc Brakes
Mack now offers Bendix ADB22X heavy-duty air disc brakes on its Pinnacle Axle Forward and Pinnacle Axle Back trucks in 12,000 pound front and 40,000 pound rear supplier axle configurations. The brakes will be one of a trio of Bendix vehicle systems included on Pinnacle models, along with Bendix adaptive cruise control and vehicle stability (anti-rollover) systems.
Compared to conventional drum brake systems, says Jerry Warmkessel, highway products marketing manager for Mack, air disc brakes offer fleets and drivers a wide range of advantages and will become a more attractive option when the next generation of drum brake standards come into effect in 2010.
Currently, Warmkessel says, air disc brakes weigh approximately 11 pounds more than drum brakes in some configurations, but in future air disc systems will be as much as 150 pounds lighter than drum brakes.
“The fact is,” Warmkessel notes, “the faster a truck is going, the better air disc brakes work. At 65 mph, conventional drum brakes offer truck-stopping distances from 255 to 292 feet. Air disc brakes stop the truck between 185 to 210 feet. At 75 mph, drum brakes will stop a truck in 450 to 518 feet. Air disc brakes will stop the truck in 305 to 325 feet.”
Western Star, DD15 Together
Western Star announced that the Detroit Diesel 15 engine now is available in some of its tractors. Introduced late last year, the DD15 features best-in-class fuel economy and exceptional torque response, and the truck maker says the engine will “provide outstanding horsepower and improved torque performance for targeted Western Star vocational market segments.”
The DD15 also will launch a Western Star truck up to 90 percent peak torque in 1.5 seconds because of its simple and reliable turbocharger, the company says.
The DD15 delivers up to 5 percent better fuel economy than the Detroit Series 60 engine, the truck maker says, largely due to its compounding technology and Amplified Common Rail Fuel System. Turbo compounding, which turns wasted exhaust gas into useable power producing up to 50 bonus horsepower without sacrificing fuel economy, is available only in the DD15, and the ACRS system teams up with the DDEC VI electronics to create an optimized combustion event resulting in a quiet, refined operation.
Western Star also announced the availability of a new day-cab conversion kit that allows owners to convert their Stratosphere sleepers into day cabs while maintaining the tractor’s distinctive look.
