While truck manufacturers make advances in battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology, they also are making fuel efficiency and aerodynamic improvements to their diesel offerings that will form the backbone of the trucking industry for years to come.

Increasingly stringent emissions regulations over the past few decades have driven a steady cadence of changes to diesel engine architecture and heavy-duty truck design.

Amid a challenging landscape of supply chain issues, manufacturers are extending the lives of trailers using products such as composite materials and galvanized elements.

A D.C. court of appeals ruling exempts trailers from federal greenhouse gas and fuel-­efficiency rules, but California mandates will create the same technology standards for many fleets, while others are adopting the technology because of the economic case for it.

The trailer industry was forced to make further production cuts and alter manufacturing processes as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Like many other carriers, Bowerman Trucking in Searcy, Ark., has experienced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but one group has made things easier: its creditors.

Motor carriers consider many factors — and come to different conclusions — as they evaluate wide-base tires versus standard duals for their tractors and trailers.

Predictive maintenance is still in its early stages, and questions about warranties and other issues must be answered before a widespread shift in industry practices can occur.

After two decades of use in Europe, electronic braking systems will make significant inroads in the North American commercial vehicle market in the coming years to support the development of driver-assist technology and electric trucks, some industry experts said.

Building positive relationships with dealers and independent maintenance shops is one of the keys to successfully maintaining complex engine exhaust aftertreatment systems, according to several fleet representatives.