Daimler Trucks’ Inspiration

LAS VEGAS -- What happens in Las Vegas is supposed to stay in Las Vegas, but that certainly not the case with Daimler Trucks' recently introduced Inspiration Truck. It's the autonomous commercial vehicle that has taken the world by storm. Literally. Daimler Trucks invited more than 200 journalists from four continents to cover the event, and stories have appeared in over 500 newspapers and on TV news shows all over the globe. Today's Trucking was there too, of course. And we had our chance to ride in the truck. We were not allowed to drive it at this event because it requires some driver certification, which there wasn't time to procure. We did come back from the launch event with this video of our test drive, with Equipment Editor Jim Park in the right-hand seat.

A Glimpse into a “Super Truck” Future

How efficient can trucks really get? The answer may lie in the U.S. Department of Energy's SuperTruck program.

Detroit Assurance

Detroit Assurance is the name of a new safety system from Daimler Trucks North America. It's designed to minimize the potential damage in a rear-end collision by slowing the truck before the crash occurs.

Dana’s Dual Range Disconnect

First revealed at the Mid-America Trucking Show in March, Dana's Dual Range Disconnect drive axle system offers the fuel savings benefit of a downsped 6x2 drivetrain and the performance benefits of conventional 6x4 setup with a mid-range axle ratio. The key word here is disconnect. While running at speeds up to about 54 mph, the system functions as a 6x4 with torque going to all four wheels for optimum traction. It also runs at a 3.10:1 ratio for better performance and startability. Above 54 mph, the interaxle driveshaft disengages, leaving the driving to only the forward drive axle. Interestingly, the axle ratio of the forward axle is 2.26:1, which lowers engine rpm and in effect creates a downsped drive train. The benefit, of course, is better fuel economy resulting from a 300-400 rpm drop in engine speed.

Driving Impressions of Cat’s CT680L

In this Focus On episode, Jim Park will Focus On his impressions of Caterpillar's CT680L's driving experience. Specifically, he highlights the various driver amenities and cab features that reduce cab noise and make the driving experience pleasant.

Performance Evaluation of Cat’s CT680L

This video showcases the driving experience by highlighting various driver amenities and cab features that reduce cab noise and make the driving experience pleasant.

Volvo’s Adaptive Gearing

Volvo Trucks has put a new spin on an old powertrain management strategy; by locking out top gear on its I-Shift overdrive transmission, drivers can pull loads efficiently in 11th gear (direct drive) and still get the performance they want. When running empty, sensors in the transmission and the suspension sense the lower weight and unlock 12th gear, which is overdrive. The truck can cruise home in at a very low engine speed at a higher road speed. This video explains how Adaptive Gearing works and features more excerpts from an interview with Gene Brice, co-owner of Idaho Milk Transport. Adaptive Gearing is ideally suited to tank fleets that run about half their miles empty, and when you hear Brice's fuel economy with this system, you'll be asking if it can work for you too. And don't forget to check out our Focus On report on Volvo's Adaptive Loading system to see what it has to offer.

Volvo’s Adaptive Loading

Volvo Trucks offers a very unique 6x2 tractor platform, where the rear axle does the driving while the forward axle in the tandem group goes along for the ride. Sometimes called a "pusher" or "dead axle," this axle is anything but dead.

Vnomics’ True Fuel Part Two: Good Jim

PITTSFORD, NY — Since you can’t physically sit beside your drivers all day, observing and coaching their driving habits and performance, some sort of monitoring tool can be…

Vnomics’ True Fuel Part One: Bad Jim

PITTSFORD, NY -- Since you can't physically sit beside your drivers all day, observing and coaching their driving habits and performance, some sort of monitoring tool can be quite useful. However, if drivers see such devices as annoying or impeding their ability to drive the truck, they won't happily accept the intrusion.

Cummins X15 Pt 3: Performance Series

When Cummins first began hinting about changes to its 2017 engine line up, the company said it would deliver engines to suit every segment of the market, from the…

SPECIAL! Kenworth T880 Test Drive in 360° Panorama Video

MARSHALL, MI -- What could be better than a test drive video of a spanking new T880 on some really rough terrain? A total 360-degree panorama video, of course. You choose the view; just click, hold and drag the mouse to change the camera angle. Check out this Kenworth T800 dump with an Ohio spec, loaded to 90,000 lb gross vehicle weight working its way up and down 20 percent grades at the Eaton Corp. Truck Proving Grounds in Marshall, MI. Equipment Editor Jim Park pilots the truck through a test course showing off the pulling power of the Paccar MX-11 engine, the shifting prowess of the Eaton UltraShift Plus 8-LL transmission and the gravel-gripping traction of the Hendrickson HMX 460 rear suspension.

Cummins X15 Pt 2: Efficiency Series

Nearly 20 years after Cummins launched ISX, the 2017 version of the engine brings new technology and engineering advancements to market that deliver better performance, better efficiency and lower cost of ownership.

TRW’s Smart Power Steering

TORONTO – TRW Automotive revealed a new commercial steering technology at the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show. Called ReAX, it merges the company’s proven and popular hydraulic power steering…

Cummins X15 Pt 1: An Overview

COLUMBUS, IN -- As engine platforms go, Cummins' ISX has to be considered slightly remarkable. It was introduced in 1998, although the program that brought the engine to life began in 1994. It survived the transition to EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and then to SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) aftertreatment. Several other engines did not. And it's still very much alive and kicking today. We spent a day test driving a couple of production-intent versions of the 2017 X15 (as it's now known), and a current ISX15 for comparison.