Auxiliary power units allow truck drivers to have climate control for their sleepers and electricity for hotel loads without needing to idle the tractor engine, but fleets that elect to add APUs to the cab must decide how those APUs will be powered — by a small diesel engine or by batteries.
January 19, 2018EMU
APUs: Diesel or Electric?

Some Small Carriers Embrace Glider Kits to Avoid Costs of Emissions Systems

Like some other small trucking firms, Old Forge Services of Mogadore, Ohio, has turned to glider kits to reduce maintenance expenses and downtime.
January 19, 2018Industry Eyes E-Axles

Tesla’s announcement in November that it will produce an all-electric Class 8 tractor by 2019 helped highlight the potential for electric power in commercial trucking. But while Tesla and others are electrifying the entire truck, some companies are focusing on the axles.
January 19, 2018Truck Safety: Human and Equipment Factors
The intersection of the human and equipment-related elements of truck safety is reflected in the two cover stories in this issue of Equipment & Maintenance Update.
July 24, 2017More Fleets Turn to EC Transmissions
In less than five years, electronically controlled, or EC, transmissions have gone from a “maybe” option for a few fleets to the majority spec in new trucks.
August 12, 2016Truck Techs Keeping Busy With Aftertreatment Issues
In the wake of federal clean-air mandates in 2007 and 2010, maintenance technicians are working furiously to keep the aftertreatment systems of their fleets’ trucks operating.
August 12, 2016Low Material, Commodity Prices Not Translating Into Discounts for Truck, Component Buyers
If fleets were expecting to see lower prices for trucks, trailers and components as the cost of raw materials continued their downward trajectory, they may be waiting for some time if comments from industry executives are accurate.
April 17, 201611-,12-Liter Engines Growing Up
Not that long ago, the mindset of many fleet operators was to get as much muscle power in engines as they wanted or could afford. That often meant 15-liter engines that could deliver a whole lot of horsepower. But times have changed.
April 15, 2016Introducing New Vehicle Specs Hinges on Successful Pilot Review
Truck equipment and technology continue to become more complex with every model change. That’s why smart fleet managers involved in buying trucks find it critical to build one truck to a particular specification and perform a pilot review of the new equipment to verify it is built as ordered and to confirm its quality.
April 15, 2016Staying Safe While Inflating Truck Tires
Safety guidelines for inflating truck tires have been in place for decades, but fleets, service providers and tire makers say those best practices are no less important today for keeping technicians and drivers out of harm’s way.
April 15, 2016