Fleets Report New-Engine Tests Show Reasonable Durability

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EW YORK — Experiments by three truckload carriers revealed that post-October 2002 diesel engines have been reasonably durable and that traditional trade cycles for rolling stock work well, their executives said.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Swift Transportation Co., the second- and third-largest truckload carriers behind Schneider National Inc., both said the lower-emissions power plants had not caused significant maintenance problems.

Covenant Transport Inc. agreed with that, and said that after trying to lengthen its equipment trade cycles, in-creased costs convinced it to return to its former practices.

Swift Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerry Moyes said, “The good news is that maintenance costs are about where we projected them.” However, Moyes also said that the Cummins Inc. and Detroit Diesel Corp. engines cost Swift an extra $5,000 to $6,000 each to buy.

For the full story, see the May 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.