The Phillips Industries EC47 cross-compatible trailer connector is the winner of the 33rd Jim Winsor Technical Achievement Award, bestowed by a committee of truck writers at the American Trucking Association's Technology and Maintenance Council in New Orleans.
The EC47 combines a standard J560 seven-pin connector with additional ports to transmit signals from trailer sensors and send data to the cab such as wheel end temperatures, tire pressures and images from rear-facing cameras. The new connector replaces a second cable some operators used.
"The EC47 is the latest example of products and services that have won the award since we gave out the first one, for a red LED tail light, in 1991," says Tom Berg, chairman of the committee of journalists that decided the prize. "All have shown advanced engineering that offers practical benefits to commercial truck owners and operators."
The connector was one of three finalists for the award. The others were Aperia's Halo Trailer Connect and Fontaine's Smart Fifth Wheel.
Members of the committee are trucking industry trade press in Canada and the United States. They are Berg, Land Line and Construction Equipment; John Baxter, freelance writer; Jason Cannon, Commercial Carrier Journal; Seth Clevenger and Michael Freeze, Transport Topics; Beth Colvin, Trucks, Parts, Service; Josh Fisher, Fleet Owner; James Menzies, Today's Trucking and Trucknews; Jason Morgan, Fleet Equipment; and Jim Park and Jack Roberts, Heavy Duty Trucking.
The award is named for Jim Winsor, an editor who covered trucks and trucking and was active in TMC and its predecessor organization. Winsor died in 2015. The award is sponsored by Susan Fall of LaunchIt Public Relations.
