Tag: heavy haulers: Page 4

Class 7-8

Paccar 12-speed transmission now standard on Kenworth T680

The 12-speed Paccar Automated Transmission and its right-hand column-mounted shifter are now standard on linehaul and regional haul applications of Kenworth’s T680. The column-mounted shifter places gear selection and engine brake controls at the driver’s fingertips for better ergonomics, comfort and overall performance. This placement also frees up dash space by eliminating engine brake control […]

January 2, 2018

Class 7-8

Diesel mechanic ponders what Tesla Semi means for his future, goes viral

While electric trucks and vans are generating a lot of headlines lately, they’re still a long, long way from running internal combustion engines out of the market. In the interim, there are mechanics out there wondering what their future might look like in a world of electric powertrains. For instance, a semi mechanic recently posted […]

December 15, 2017

Safety & Compliance

With time running out on ELD deadline, some are in a panic

On Monday, December 18, the drivers of many if not most heavy duty commercial vehicles will be required to have a functional electronic logging device (ELD) with them in the cabs of their trucks. It’s not like they weren’t warned. The ELD mandate from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been years in the […]

December 12, 2017

Class 7-8

How much will Tesla’s electric Semi save on operating costs over diesel?

By Max Heine How would you like to get an extra dollar for every five miles you drive? That’s one of many notable promises made by Tesla Motors at the unveiling of the electric Tesla Semi. The boast gets at the heart of what owner-operators care the most about: Would this equipment save me serious […]

December 4, 2017

Class 7-8

The Nikola Zero is a 550-hp electric UTV informing development of the company’s semi truck

Nikola Motor Company (NMC) has positioned itself to rival electric auto-maker Tesla for the crown of trucking’s King of Alternative Power, but much like Elon Musk and his various side businesses, Nikola founder Trevor Milton has also diversified his team’s talents. Next year, NMC will debut its Nikola Zero utility vehicle (UTV), targeting military applications […]

November 29, 2017

Class 7-8

Test Drive: New Mack Pinnacle boasts redesigned cab, racing-inspired steering wheel

The debut of Mack’s new Anthem tractor in August meant some fairly significant changes for the company’s Pinnacle model. For the coming year, Pinnacle axle forward models will get all-new interiors and LED headlights, along with a new grille that mirrors the look of Anthem. Mack surveyed thousands of drivers about their preferences, and used that […]

November 28, 2017

Class 7-8

Searching for Tesla’s place in trucking from behind the wheel of a Model S

If there was a polar opposite of a tractor trailer, Tesla‘s Model S just might be it. The sporty sedan is limited to whatever cargo capacity five people can wedge into its front storage compartment – the “frunk” – and the traditional rear trunk compartment. But, as I made my way to Los Angeles this […]

November 20, 2017

Class 7-8

Tesla unveils electric semi: 500 mile range, ‘racecar’ cab, and ‘impossible to jackknife’

With a style more fitting of Star Wars than Smokey and the Bandit, Tesla’s electric semi made its twice-delayed debut Thursday in Hawthorne, Calif., the home Tesla Motors’ design center and company founder Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket factory. Promising a range of up to 500 miles at maximum weight and highway speed, the company says the Tesla […]

November 17, 2017

Class 7-8

Test Drive: Volvo’s redesigned VNL long-haul tractor

For more than 20 years, Volvo’s VNL has been the torchbearer of the company’s U.S. truck catalog. Not only is it the historical leader in order volume, the long-haul tractor has served as a rolling proving ground for innovations that ultimately have found their way to many of Volvo’s trucks. The VNL gets a […]

October 18, 2017

Class 7-8

Cummins unveils Aeos electric tractor concept powered by lighter, longer-lasting battery

Tesla may steal all the headlines but Cummins recently stole some of the Silicon Valley automaker’s thunder with the debut of its electric powertrain concept tractor. The Aeos Electric Commercial Vehicle Demonstrator, designed and built in collaboration with Roush, features a state-of-the art battery pack that is lighter and more dense, allowing it to hold […]

September 15, 2017

Class 7-8

Tesla delays unveiling of electric semi truck until October

Tesla has delayed the unveiling of its all-electric semi. According to a Tweet posted today by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the heavy-duty truck will be unveiled late next month. Musk had said in April that the truck would be revealed in late September. No explanation was given as to why the unveiling was postponed. Musk’s […]

September 15, 2017

Class 7-8

Tesla’s electric semi reportedly has 200-300 mile range

Tesla’s all-electric tractor-trailer, which is set to debut this month, reportedly has a range of about 200 to 300 miles. That kind of range, combined with the truck’s sleeper-less day cab design, makes it more of a regional hauler than a cross-country tractor, according to a Reuters report. Reuters’ source on the story, Ryder Chief […]

September 6, 2017