John G Smith
John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - content and design, and previously served as the editorial director of Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist began covering the trucking industry in 1995.
DAF adds to Europe’s electric trucks
EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands -- DAF Trucks, Paccar’s European counterpart to Peterbilt and Kenworth, has unveiled its first series of CF Electric trucks – adding to the battery-powered nameplates on the other side of the Atlantic. The 4x2 tractor is developed for urban distribution applications. It’s based on the company’s DAF model, with a 210-kW electric motor at the heart of the powertrain. Power is stored in a 170 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, offering a range of about 100 km, which the company says is appropriate for high-volume distribution applications. Torque reaches up to 1,475 lb-ft. Quick charges can be completed in 30 minutes, while full charges are possible in 1.5 hours. The trucks for field tests will be manufactured by DAF, and the full electric installation will be completed by VDL Groep.
Trucking industry delivers for Humboldt survivor
CALGARY, Alta. – Connecticut and Saskatchewan are more than 30 hours apart by truck, but news of the collision that killed 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos hit close to home for Chris Pisani. The Pisanis are a hockey family as well. They have climbed aboard countless buses just like the one that collided with the tractor-trailer on a prairie highway. After watching an interview with Ryan Straschnitzki, one of the 13 crash survivors, he wanted to help. And he wondered – maybe the used motorized wheelchair that had come into his hands could be put to good use.
Kenworth unveils Dana axle options
Kenworth has added three Dana Spicer axles to K270 and K370 medium-duty cabovers. The truck models are now available with the Dana Spicer S140 Series of single-reduction, single-drive axles, with gross axle weight ratings from 16,000 to 21,000 lb. The two S140 Series axles feature a ratio coverage from 3.31 to 6.50, and standard R Series spindles.
Can the hot trucking market continue?
NEWPORT, R.I. – It is a good time to be in trucking in the U.S. The economy is strong, freight needs to move, and rates are on the rise. Eric Starks, the chairman and CEO of FTR, pointed to several indicators during a business symposium for Volvo dealers and customers. The ATA Tonnage Index and FTR Loadings Index, which track absolute freight levels, are both trending upward. The flatbed market in particular has been going “crazy”, in part because of increasing demand to move pipe and fracking sand, the latter of which is moved in boxes, he said. “It’s eating up a huge amount of capacity.” Everything from consumer spending to home sales are adding to the demand.
Volvo building share in hot truck market
NEWPORT, R.I. – Per Carlsson has been here before. The global senior vice-president of Volvo Trucks’ strategy and transformation office was president of Volvo Trucks North America from 2008-09, and now he finds himself serving as interim president to fill a role vacated by Goran Nyberg, who has taken a senior position at Volkswagen’s MAN Truck and Bus business unit.
