Equipment

About Equipment News...

Commercial freight transportation is a machine-based business. Highly technical equipment and advanced engineering are at the center of supply chain and require constant innovation. Transport Topics equipment coverage focuses on the machines and other physical assets that make delivery possible. It looks closely at available truck, trailer, and chassis models, developments in the engineering space, and maintenance innovations and best practices. 

Business, Technology, Equipment

Don't Skirt Proper Maintenance on Trailer Aero Devices, Experts Say

Trailer side skirts and various types of air deflectors, which are intended to boost a tractor-trailer’s aerodynamic efficiency, will save motor carriers more fuel with frequent inspections and proper repairs.

John Baxter | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018

Daily Briefings from Transport Topics

Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.

Government, Technology, Equipment

Seeking Alternative Solutions to Salt

A huge swath of the United States lies ­within the “salt belt,” which is the states that use large amounts of salt during the winter to control snow and ice on roadways. These states primarily are located in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest portions of the country.

Katie Pyzyk | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Fuel

Tire Monitoring and Inflation Systems Can Lead to Fuel Savings, Longer Tire Life

Tire failures remain the No. 1 reason for roadside assistance calls. And most tire-related problems come from underinflation as a result of leaks, punctures or just poor maintenance programs.

Steve Sturgess | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment

Preventive Maintenance Helps Stop Rust Due to Road Salt

Winter weather brings one of the trucking industry’s greatest simultaneous friends and foes: road salt. Salt prevents and melts ice, making road surfaces safer for travel, but it also significantly speeds corrosion of a truck.

Katie Pyzyk | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Tinkering Toward Improved Truck Safety Technology

Advances in technology are happening everyday and trucking is staying on top of the developments, Fran Matso Lysiak writes.

Fran Matso Lysiak | Features Editor
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

Investigating Thermal Event Causes Is Crucial, Experts Say

No fleet or truck driver wants to experience a thermal event, but if a fire occurs, those in the industry said it is crucial to find out why it happened.

Mindy Long | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Fuel, Top 100

Here Comes the Sun

As truck makers prepare to test and introduce Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen-electric trucks in the next 12 to 24 months, one must wonder why only a very small number of truck operators have adopted clean solar technology.

Phil Romba | Contributing Writer
November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Top 100

Thwarting Thermal Events

Fires in tractor-trailers, often referred to as thermal events, can result in significant damage to equipment as well as cargo, but despite an ongoing focus on preventing them, the number of incidents doesn’t appear to be dropping.

Mindy Long | Special to Transport Topics
November 9, 2018
Equipment, Safety, Autonomous

Collision Mitigation Advances

Collision mitigation systems for trucks are becoming increasingly popular as they offer enhanced safety features, register fewer false activations and set the stage for increasing autonomous capabilities.

November 9, 2018
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety

The Analytical Dilemma

Does “old school” detective work still have a part in fleet maintenance programs today? TMC Technical Director Jack Legler gives his answer.

Jack Legler | Technical Director, Technology & Maintenance Council
November 9, 2018