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Companies like Fitzgerald Glider Kits lobbied for this particular loophole, which allows them to ignore the 300-truck cap at least until the very end of 2019. President Donald Trump met with the CEO of the company if he was campaigning in 2016, and after that after taking office,

All these"glider trucks" use recycled engines constructed before new technologies reduced the discharge of harmful particulates that pollute the atmosphere. These trucks emit as much as 55 times the Number of pollutants as trucks using modern engines,

Former EPA secretary Scott Pruitt dealt a final blow to clean air initiatives prior to resigning Friday, implementing a loophole that will permit the creation of tens of thousands of diesel freight trucks with large emissions. The decision effectively undoes that an Obama government move that intended to cap generation of those trucks at 300 per year, beginning this year.

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Truckers have to be on constant lookout for new rules which may affect them since they drive from one location to another. fresh-off legislative activity across the nation, July is among the primary weeks to get new legislation to take effect. Following are a few noteworthy legislation.

South Dakota
Starting the first of the month, CDL applicants are allowed three attempts to pass the CDL examination. The new law requires the three attempts to be taken within six months.

Another new law permits truck drivers to provide an electronic copy of their operator’s license upon request by law enforcement.

Mississippi
The state already requires vehicles driving slower than the normal speed of traffic to stay in the right lane of multi lane highways. Vehicles are allowed to merge left to overtake and pass slower moving traffic.

As of July 1, a new law permits police to ticket travelers lingering in the far left lanes of multi lane highways. The change expands the state’s rule to require travelers to stay to the right except when overtaking or passing another vehicle. Also, drivers would be exempt if they are in the left lane to turn or exit. Violators could face fines between $5 and $50.

West Virginia
A new law in West Virginia requires the state’s Division of Highways to study the feasibility of implementing a comprehensive sponsorship program for rest areas, welcome centers and roads. If a program is deemed feasible, the agency would begin implementation.

Idaho
One new law in Idaho is intended to keep vehicles out of the far-left lane for “an unreasonable amount of time.”

State law already prohibits impeding the “normal and reasonable movement of traffic” with slow driving. Effective July 1, the new rule covers impeding “the flow of other traffic traveling at a lawful rate of speed.” Essentially, slow drivers in the far-left lane are forbidden to impede other drivers traveling the speed limit. Violators could face $90 citations.

A separate new law permits drivers who strike wildlife to humanely kill the animal at the roadside if the injury is fatal. Law enforcement no longer must be on the scene to take action.

Indiana

As of July 1, truck platoons are also exempted from the state’s 300-foot following distance rule for large vehicles.

In addition, fire departments throughout the state are allowed to test vehicular carbon monoxide levels upon request of the vehicle owner or assigned driver.

The California Secretary of State has declared the group got the required 585,000 valid signatures to qualify the repeal question for its November 2018 statewide ballot.

Some Republicans say that the tax and fee increases place a lot of strain on middle and lower class residents. They include that past fuel tax earnings have gone for other applications -- a trend they anticipate to continue.

As of Nov. 1, 2017, the new law raised the diesel tax by 20 cents and raised the gasoline tax by 12 cents. Other vehicle fees in the deal moved upwards Jan. 1, for example an increase from 4 percent to 5.75% in sales tax applied to diesel purchases.

Senate Bill 1 passed the Democrat-led statehouse with no vote to spare.

Voters in California this fall will probably get the final word on whether they wish to maintain auto tax and fee increases imposed annually.

The further taxes and fees don't end there. Another 7.5-cent gas tax increase is scheduled to occur in July 2019.

Since last fall, a Republican-led group worked to obtain signatures as part of a ballot initiative to repeal the fee and tax increases.

All fee and tax prices will also be indexed to inflation to allow for gains in future decades.

The Democratic Party has stated the tax and fee increases are necessary to address a $130 billion backlog in deferred in road maintenance. He's defiant about the repeal effort.

Connecticut’s diesel tax rate is headed up. The state’s 41.7-cent rate has increased by 2.2 cents to 43.9 cents per gallon.

Maryland’s fuel tax rates will be raised by 1.5 cents due to a five-year-old inflation indexing law. The gas tax will be set at 35.3 cents while the diesel rate will become 36.05 cents.

Vermont motorists also are paying more in gas taxes. The state’s tax rate is up 0.42 cents to 31.14 cents because of a rule linking the tax to the price of gas and an increase in gas prices.

The state’s 32-cent diesel rate is unchanged.

Tennessee state’s 25.4-cent gas rate and 22.4-cent diesel rate are being raised for the second time in as many years. The gas tax is up 1 cent from a year ago to 26.4 cents per gallon and the diesel tax is up three cents to 25.4 cents.

Oklahoma state’s 17-cents-per-gallon gas tax and the 14-cent diesel rate have remained unchanged since 1987.

South Carolina is increasing the state’s 18.75-cent diesel and gas rates by 2 cents. The change to 20.75 cents follows a 2017 state law to impose increases of 2 cents annually through 2022. At that time, the tax rate will top out at 28.75 cents.

The state Department of Transportation expects to collect about $230 million in the upcoming year. When fully implemented, the tax is estimated to raise more than $600 million annually.

Indiana’s fuel tax rates also are on the rise. A 2017 state law increased the gas and diesel rates by 10 cents to 28 cents. Tax rates were also indexed on an annual basis through 2024. Annual adjustments are capped at one penny.

Iowa state's 32.5-cent diesel rate will remain the same for the fifth straight year. The gas tax, however, is headed up by 0.2 cents to 30.7 cents.

The rates are based on a fuel distribution percentage formula.

Nebraska is cutting its 28.4-cent gas rate and 27.8-cent diesel rate by 0.4 cents per gallon each. The changes to 28 cents and 27.4 cents are due to a law linking the state rates to the price of fuel.

The state tax is made up of three components: the variable tax, fixed tax and wholesale tax. The variable and wholesale rates are adjusted twice annually. A separate petroleum release remedial action fee is not included in the state tax rates.

The fractional dip in the state’s tax rates is a result of continued low fuel prices and a six-month adjustment in the wholesale tax rate.

This week’s change follows an increase of 1.5 cents on Jan. 1. An additional increase of 1.5 cents is set for next January. At that time, the third of three annual increases will take effect.

KIRKLAND, Wash., June 28, 2018 – The Kenworth T680 on-highway flagship is now standard with Bendix^® ADB22X™ front and rear air disc brakes.

The pairing is a result of Kenworth now offering Bendix ADB22X rear air disc brakes as standard. The Bendix ADB22X front air disc brakes have been standard for several years.

Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes offer superior braking performance, shorter stopping distances, enhanced safety, light weight and lower overall maintenance costs. The two-pin floating caliper design provides consistent force distribution. The design also significantly reduces brake fade with no degradation of stopping power, according to Bendix.

“Fleets and truck operators purchasing new Kenworth T680s can benefit from the superior performance, automotive-like feel, lightweight design, and ease of maintenance offered by Bendix ADB22X front and rear air disc brakes. These brakes also exceed the federal government’s RSD (reduced stopping distance) requirements for enhanced safety, offer extended brake change intervals, and provide weight reduction,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.

For more information about Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes, contact your Kenworth dealer or visit Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake at www.foundationbrakes.com.

 

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced today that Penske Truck Leasing and NFI have agreed to partner in operating the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet of eCascadia™ heavy-duty trucks and eM2 106 medium-duty trucks.

The move is the next phase of a co-creation process that DTNA is utilizing to actively involve customers in the development of commercial electric vehicles to meet the most valid target applications. Starting late this year, Penske will begin taking delivery of 10 eCascadias and 10 eM2s for use in California and the Pacific Northwest, while 10 eCascadias will begin being delivered to NFI for drayage activities from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to warehouses in California’s Inland Empire. Additionally, DTNA plans to operate electric trucks within its own Product Validation Engineering (PVE) test fleet in Oregon to further expedite research and development of the technology. 

“Freightliner is excited to be working with Penske and NFI on this critical learning process as we further develop and refine our commercial electric vehicle technology. Running multiple trucks in real-world applications will provide better insights for our engineers into the requirements of integrating electric commercial vehicles into fleet operations,” said Roger Nielsen, president and chief executive officer of DTNA. “We are partnering with these two customers for this phase of the co-creation process because they have use cases that closely fit the target applications we have identified. Both Penske and NFI are forward-thinking partners eager to take on the challenge, effort and investment that will be required during this important development phase.”

In preparation for the 2021 start of production, DTNA announces the Electric Vehicle Council today. The council will prepare customers, with viable use cases, in evaluating and integrating commercial electric vehicle solutions into their operations. Technical learnings from the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet and test fleet will be shared with the customer base in this forum. As testing progresses, the DTNA Electric Vehicle Council will discuss planned product offerings to gather candid feedback as the OEM moves towards commercialization of electrified trucks. Through the EV Council, DTNA will work hand in hand with customers, establishing the necessary charging infrastructure, vehicle deployment and service support. DTNA plans to offer customers consulting services to assist with site selection based on truck applications, available government incentives, infrastructure deployment and route identification as part of a preliminary review prior to commercial electric vehicle business proposals. 

“The DTNA approach to bring commercial electric vehicles to market is holistic. With the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet, we will be working, hands on with Penske and NFI. As a separate part of a co-creation process we will also launch the EV Council that emphasizes shared learning before we begin series vehicle production,” said Richard Howard, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Freightliner Trucks. “While heavy-duty electric vehicles present the greatest engineering challenges, we’re committed to a process that leads to series production vehicles that are safe, reliable and efficient. We don’t compromise on this key component of the Freightliner brand legacy. We’ve been successfully mass producing durable commercial vehicles for decades that stand up to the rigors of the road. Electric commercial vehicles present a real opportunity to reduce emissions and enhance our customers’ bottom lines through improved uptime and lower operating costs.” 

“Penske is committed to bringing the most effective commercial vehicle technologies to our customers,” said Brian Hard, President and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing. “We have had a long, collaborative relationship working with Daimler and its Freightliner brand. We are encouraged by the progress Daimler has made with their electric vehicle platforms for heavy-duty and medium-duty applications. We look forward to our continued cooperation and co-creation with Daimler on these electric vehicles as we operate them within our expansive logistics, truck leasing and rental fleets.”

“Innovation is what moves the world and business forward. At NFI, we value collaborating with other companies that share our commitment to developing new and better products and processes for our industry and the communities in which we operate. The eCascadia is just that," said Sid Brown, CEO of NFI. "Freightliner is known for bringing practical, transformative solutions to market. We’re proud to partner with them in development of the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet. We fully expect it to be successful and a significant benefit to an untold number of people and communities.”

At start of series production, the eCascadia will have up to 730 peak horsepower. The batteries provide 550 Kwh usable capacity, a range of up to 250 miles and have the ability to charge up to 80 percent (providing a range of 200 miles) in about 90 minutes. The Class 8 tractor is designed for local and regional distribution and drayage. The eM2 truck will initially have up to 480 peak horsepower. The batteries provide 325 Kwh of usable capacity, a range of up to 230 miles and have the ability to charge up to 80 percent (providing a range of 184 miles) in about 60 minutes. The eM2 is Freightliner’s electrified solution for local distribution, pickup and delivery, food and beverage delivery, and last-mile logistics applications. The Freightliner eCascadia with 80,000 lb. gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and eM2 with 26,000 lb. GCWR are part of Daimler Trucks’ global electrified truck initiative. 

The announcement comes as DTNA explores proprietary solutions to meet the most promising target applications for electrified commercial vehicles. The eCascadia and eM2 join the Thomas Built Buses all-electric Saf-T-Liner® C2 JouleyTM school bus and the FUSO eCanter to establish Daimler Trucks as the leader in North America with the widest range of commercial electric vehicle models on the road. 

Volvo Trucks North America, together with FedEx and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, used advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technology to conduct on-highway truck platooning as part of ongoing research collaboration.

 

Volvo Trucks North America announced today the successful on-highway demonstration of its truck platooning technology. The company has been working closely with FedEx and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) to expand on-highway operations of Volvo’s Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) in the United States on N.C. 540, the Triangle Expressway. This marks the first public on-highway showcase of platooning technology between a major truck manufacturer and a transportation company in the U.S.

 

“Volvo Trucks has long supported platooning because it benefits freight companies and professional drivers alike through safer, more fuel-efficient operations,” said Per Carlsson, Acting President of Volvo Trucks North America. “We continue preparing for deployment of trucks with greater vehicle-to-vehicle communication capabilities that support higher levels of ADAS. We know these technologies will be part of our future, but exact timing depends on many things, namely regulations, infrastructure, safety standards, and market demand.” 

 

The “platoon” consisted of three trained, professional truck drivers in Volvo VNL tractors, each pulling double 28-foot trailers. Through CACC, a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology, the tractors and trailers remained in constant communication. The tractors and trailers traveled at speeds of up to 62 mph while keeping a time gap of 1.5 seconds, maintaining a closer distance than what is typical for on-highway tractors. Staged and unplanned vehicle cut-ins demonstrated how the technology handles common traffic situations.

 

“Volvo’s V2V technology is based on Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), which has proven its capability to perform well in the V2V environment," said Keith Brandis Volvo Trucks North America vice president for product planning. “Dedicated bandwidth within the 5.9GHz spectrum is critical for the successful deployment of V2V application, like truck platooning.”

 

Today’s demonstartion is the result of an ongoing research collaboration. Since April 2018, three Volvo VNL tractors have been paired with various combinations of FedEx trailers to simulate real-world routes and trailer loads while traveling on N.C. 540. The potential benefits of platooning that are being studied during this collaborative research include faster responses to hard braking while maintaining safety and fuel efficiency.

 “FedEx was built on innovation and it continues to be an integral part of the FedEx culture and business strategy,” said Gloria Boyland, Corporate Vice President, Operations and Service Support, FedEx Corporation. “We are pleased to collaborate with Volvo Trucks and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to learn more about how platooning technology can benefit our team members while improving fuel efficiency for our fleet.”

 

The vehicle-to-vehicle communication system helps reduce the reaction time for braking and enables vehicles to follow closer, automatically matching each other’s speed and braking. The advanced technology is meant to serve as an aid – not a replacement – for skilled professional truck drivers.

 

When trucks can drive closely behind one another, fuel efficiency is improved as a result of reduced drag. Drag accounts for up to 25 percent of a truck’s total fuel consumption, and the closer the trucks drive to each other, the greater the fuel-saving potential. Reducing the traveling distance between vehicles also allows for greater highway utilization, helping alleviate traffic congestion.

 

“This collaboration demonstrates the Turnpike Authority’s commitment to invest in the safety of customers with state of the art technology that could become an invaluable tool for transportation,” said NCTA Executive Director Beau Memory. “With some of the most advanced roadways in the nation, the Turnpike Authority wants all drivers to have every tool and technological advancement necessary to reach their destination safely and efficiently.”

 

N.C. 540, due to its proximity to Volvo Trucks’ North American headquarters and its designation as a proving ground for advanced vehicle technology, is an excellent demonstration site for the Volvo platooning technology, providing invaluable insights for all parties involved in this process. N.C. 540 is one of 10 locations around the country that the U.S. Department of Transportation has designated for demonstrating advanced vehicle technologies, like platooning, through research initiatives such as this one.

Peter Voorhoeve, currently the President and CEO of Volvo Group Australia, has been named President of Volvo Trucks North America, effective Sept. 1, 2018.  He succeeds Göran Nyberg, who left the company in April; Per Carlsson will continue to serve as acting President until Sept. 1

.

Peter Voorhoeve has led Volvo Group Australia since 2013, prior to which he held several senior management positions in the areas of aftermarket support, supply chain management and parts logistics during his nearly 20 years with the Volvo Group.

Originally from the Netherlands, Voorhoeve holds an M.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science from the University of Technology in Eindhoven.  He will be headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, and will report to Volvo Trucks President Claes Nilsson.

“Peter Voorhoeve is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of success,” Nilsson said.  “His drive and intense focus on customer satisfaction will help us build on the success of the exciting new products and services we’ve recently introduced to the important North American market.”

 

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