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How deep a commitment to climate change?

By David A. Kolman - Monday August 27, 2012

The debate over climate change is one rattlesnake I don’t like to step in front of. However, I feel compelled to quick step across this rattlesnake’s path after sitting in on the Corporate Climate Summit 2012, held recently in Miami, FL. The summit is a dialogue and information exchange among companies about addressing climate protection and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from corporate value chain activities. What I found surprising is that at the summit, attendees were offered bottled water and hard copies of handout materials. Don’t both of these products produce GHG emissions during their production? Just an observation.
Ever gone above 100 mph is a road tractor?

By David A. Kolman - Monday August 20, 2012

It is very rare to get to get a chance to go as fast as possible in a big rig and not have to worry about other traffic or Johnny Law pulling you over and writing you up for speeding. Well, I got that atypical opportunity at a recent Meritor Wabco Vehicle Control Systems hands-on technology event. The event, which took place last week at the Ford Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, MI, showcased the company’s integrated safety and efficiency technology. Highlights from the event included: - The launch of Meritor Wabco’s next generation OnGuard collision safety system that features major industry advancements in radar-based technology, integrating collision warning, adaptive cruise control with active braking and collision...
Behind the wheel of the 2014 Cascadia Revolution

By David A. Kolman - Monday August 13, 2012

I was among a very select group of CDL truck journalists who had the opportunity last week to put Freightliner Trucks’ new 2014 Cascadia Evolution through its fuel-efficient paces. In the recently completed Evolution of Efficiency Tour - a cross-country, side-by-side comparison with an EPA 2010-compliant, similarly spec’d Freightliner Cascadia, the new 2014 model delivered up to 7 percent in fuel savings. The 2014 tractor features some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancements in the industry, I was told by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) officials. (Freightliner is part of the DTNA’s family of brands.) The 2014 Cascadia Evolution, which goes into limited production early next year, is powered by a newly designed...
How does a fleet get the most life out of its tires?

By David A. Kolman - Monday August 6, 2012

Tires are the number one maintenance cost for truck fleets. It is well known that maintaining proper tire pressure, observing tire and vehicle load limits, avoiding road hazards and inspecting tires for cuts, slashes and other irregularities are the most important measures to take to avoid tire failure. Drivers play an important part in proper tire maintenance, yet all too often they do keep attention to it. Do you know why? In a presentation to this year’s Annual Fleet Technologies Event, hosted by Meritor and Pressure Systems International (PSI), PSI executive vice president Frank Sonzala noted these reasons: - Lack of driver attention 58 percent. - Drivers don’t think it’s their job 52 percent. - Lack of driver...
Top 10 federal safety violations

By David A. Kolman - Monday July 30, 2012

Every year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Safety Council partner to reveal OSHA's top 10 most commonly cited violations. This latest list, for Fiscal Year 2011, did not deviate significantly from the top 10 violations from previous years. A violation is where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard The most cited violations for FY 2011 were: 1. Fall protection, 7,139 violations (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1926.501). 2. Scaffolding, 7,069 violations (CFR 1926.451). 3. Hazard communications, 6,538 violations (CFR 1910.1200). 4. Respiratory protection, 3,944...
Navistar’s emissions strategy shift

By David A. Kolman - Saturday July 28, 2012

You may have heard that truck and engine maker Navistar International has said it will change its decade-long approach to pollution control in its diesel engines, mixing its practices with that of its competitors to meet 2010 federal emission standards. Navistar will use urea with its new technology, In-Cylinder Technology Plus, to further reduce smog-causing nitrogen oxide from its heavy duty diesel engines. The new engines, which Navistar said are also expected to meet 2014 and 2017 greenhouse gas standards, are expected to reach the market in early 2013. Veteran truck journalist, and my good friend, Steve Sturgess in a recent blog wrote a thought-provoking piece on this matter. It’s well worth your time to give it a...
Test driving natural gas vehicles

By David A. Kolman - Monday July 23, 2012

I was among a select group of truck journalists invited to the Paccar Technical Center in Mount Vernon, WA, to gets "hands on" with a variety of Kenworth trucks powered by natural gas - both compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG). Paccar is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of premium light, medium and heavy duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. The engines in the Kenworth trucks included a Cummins Westport ISL G, rated at 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque; Westport GX 15-liter rated at 450 hp and 1,650 lb-ft of torque and the new Cummins Westport ISX G rated at 400 hp and 1,450 lb-ft of torque. The 12-liter ISX12 G is a larger-displacement heavy duty natural gas...
Fundamental rules for career success

By David A. Kolman - Monday July 9, 2012

I was visiting with some colleagues the other day and one of them asked me: “Read any good books lately?” “As a matter of fact,” I piped up, “I just finished a very interesting book and I highly recommend reading it.” The book is What a Job is Worth: How To Come Out on Top , written by Sylvester Stevenson. Aside from being enlightening and educational, it provides some sharp insight into surviving and thriving in the business world. Stevenson is a veteran sales and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience in the world of business. In his book, he shares the lessons he has learned to help others put the business world into perspective, set realistic expectations and understand the evolution of a...
Vehicles keep getting smarter

By David A. Kolman - Monday July 2, 2012

I recall someone once told me: “Technology has the shelf life of a banana.” That certainly is true in the field of automotive technology. A recent development comes from the Honda Motor Co. of Japan. It announced the development of the world’s first technology to detect the potential for traffic congestion and determine whether the driving pattern of the vehicle is likely to create traffic jams. Talk about putting technology to work. The acceleration and deceleration behavior of one vehicle influences the traffic pattern of trailing vehicles and can trigger the traffic congestion. In conjunction with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, Honda conducted experimental on-road...
What would you do when behind the wheel of a self-driving vehicle?

By David A. Kolman - Monday June 25, 2012

How would people behave if they were behind the wheel of one of the self-driving vehicles that could be available by mid-decade? General Motors and its research partners recently tried to find out by studying how non-driving activities influence driver behavior in self-steering, semi-autonomous vehicles. One key finding is that driver attentiveness can be improved through advanced driver assistance and safety features. “Drivers are already engaging in risky behavior and are likely to continue doing so given the prevalence of smartphones and other portable electronics, so why not make it safer for them and the people around them,” said Dr. Eddy Llaneras, principal investigator at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute...