A new report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) says the trucking industry’s technician shortage is becoming an even greater challenge as fleets adopt a wider mix of diesel, natural gas, battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks.

Samsara found that for some fleets, maintenance can account for roughly 10% of operating costs, yet deciding which repairs deserve immediate attention still heavily depends on experience, service manuals and a technician’s judgment.

When a driver starts a shift, he or she needs weather updates, traffic conditions and job-site information to complete the job successfully. Along the way, dispatch might need to communicate a route change, while the safety department looks at the reports back in the office to figure out who needs to be coached before the next preventable crash.

Fleet operators can track tractors, trailers and equipment with increasing precision, but shipments themselves often remain largely invisible once they leave the dock, as visibility often drops to a few simple barcode scans and estimated arrival time notifications and updates.

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) is increasing the use of recycled and renewable materials in its newest heavy-duty truck models, introducing more sustainable components in the new Volvo VNL and VNR while laying the groundwork for additional recycled content in future production.

Truckstop has introduced two new tools aimed at helping freight brokers move loads more efficiently while improving carrier vetting and risk management.

SAF-Holland has expanded its CBXA AeroBeam fixed-frame trailer suspension lineup with the introduction of the CBXAS25 and CBXAS30 models.

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