4 Gen Logistics, a family-owned drayage company in Southern California, deployed 41 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to haul freight throughout the Inland Empire, and between the Port of Long Beach and distribution warehouses in the region, Volvo announced. The company decided to scale its zero-emission fleet after gaining experience with battery-electric trucks by utilizing a Volvo VNR Electric truck that was deployed as part of the Volvo LIGHTS project in 2022. Volvo Financial Services provided funding support for 4 Gen Logistics’ scaled Volvo VNR Electric fleet. “We commend the Dunc ..read more

It’s already enough of a headache to have to send a truck in for maintenance—pulling a truck from its route for an extended period of time is, of course, not a good recipe for making money with that truck. But if the shop doesn’t have the right part when the truck gets there? That headache gets upgraded to a migraine. If your fleet runs its own shop, it’s important to stay on top of your inventory levels—tracking how much of each part you have, how frequently they are typically used and when it’s time to order new parts. Many shops now are finding that the easiest way to do this is by investin ..read more

In this video, Jason Stahl discusses U-POL’s RAPTOR product line with Kevin Lewis and Mark Thomas. This detailed exploration covers the complete range of RAPTOR coatings, from their 2K bedliner systems to new packaging innovations. Kevin Lewis gives us a comprehensive overview of RAPTOR’s range, highlighting its durability and flexibility. He explains how RAPTOR can be used as a truck bedliner or an exterior protective coating, available in both black and tintable formulas. He also unveils new packaging changes that make it easier to use and store RAPTOR, whether you’re applying large volumes ..read more

Cal Ganda’s path from Zimbabwe to leading aftermarket distribution at Continental’s ContiTech Group is a testament to seizing opportunities and embracing change. Arriving in the U.S. in 1998 for university, he ventured into food manufacturing post-graduation before diving into consulting. A chance encounter with Continental during a consulting project in Mexico led Cal to discover an opportunity in tire assembly supervision in Charlotte. This marked the beginning of his journey with Continental, where he embraced various roles, from tire assembly to logistics and process engineering ..read more

According to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, nearly one out of five commercial vehicles inspected during last year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck were taken off the road. Bendix adds that issues with brake systems, service brakes and tires accounted for more than half of all the out-of-service vehicle violations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The CVSA International Roadcheck 2024 inspection blitz is coming up May 14-16. Bendix offers tips to help fleets and owner-operators prepare. Bendix tells us findings from the 2023 International Roadcheck show ..read more

In a new report, Commercial Truck Trader (CTT) offers insight into today’s average truck buyer, from demographics, to shopping preferences and market outlook. By analyzing its marketplace data and consumer surveys, CTT says it gained a deeper understanding of current consumer demographics. Here’s what the results revealed. Who is today’s truck average buyer? Business professionals remain the most common buyer type, according to CTT, yet 30% of people buy commercial trucks for personal use. The company says purchases of commercial trucks for personal purposes have been growing signifi ..read more

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to will make automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029. NHTSA said that it expects this safety standard to significantly reduce rear-end and pedestrian crashes, adding that making this safety feature standard, rather than a luxury, is part of the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the crisis of deaths on our roads. In June 2023, NHT ..read more

Daimler Trucks has announced an autonomous Freightliner eCascadia technology demonstrator, combining battery electric drive and integrated autonomous driving technology into one truck. The truck is based on a production BEV Freightliner eCascadia and is equipped with autonomous driving software from Torc Robotics and Level 4 sensor and compute technology. Daimler Truck says this will eventually enable Level 4 autonomous driving. Daimler Truck says the autonomous vehicle has the potential to evolve into a modular, scalable platform that is propulsion-agnostic for flexible use in different truck ..read more

In recent years, the trucking industry has seen a significant rise in nuclear verdicts—judgments where damages exceed $10 million. These verdicts can have catastrophic effects on fleet businesses, not only in financial terms but also in terms of reputation and operational viability. The threat of such outcomes makes the choice of equipment, such as trailer lighting systems, more than a matter of compliance or efficiency; it’s a strategic decision critical to the very survival of a fleet. Navigating the high stakes of legal challenges One of my fleet customers gave me feedback that when they go ..read more

Eaton’s heavy-duty four-speed electrified truck transmission was named a 2024 Automotive News PACEpilot Innovation to Watch at an awards ceremony on April 29. Eaton said its EV transmission provides superior performance on grades and acceleration for electric commercial vehicles with flexible gear ratios. The four-speed transmission for heavy-duty applications is designed to improve system efficiency, enabling longer vehicle range and battery life, Eaton said. The fourth annual PACEpilot program was presented by Automotive News. The recognition acknowledges post-pilot, pre-commercial innovatio ..read more