INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Reading Truck Group is no stranger to the work truck industry. The iconic READING-etched tailgate on Reading service bodies can be seen on just about any worksite or utility fleet and on any interstate or […] More

Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Since the pandemic, some of those businesses have turned mobile. We’ve seen the evolution of bringing services and goods to customers, and those businesses need mobile power. For […] More

Often your fleet vehicles are the first point of contact your business has with the general public. With that said, when someone sees your fleet vehicles, what do you think they see? Do they see […] More

Winterization. It’s the process that ensures fleets are ready for the frigid temperatures ahead. The process includes routine maintenance, but there are other considerations to note as well. What kind of engine oil should you […] More

This month is all about alternative fuels, and here to start us off is Mike Lefever of the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee (CCAC). CCAC invests in ethanol, a cleaner-burning fuel made from grain corn. Mike […] More

When John Berardino bought OHA Heating and Air, he saw potential to grow the company. John knew that growing the team and adding technology would be key to its success, which led to a 10x […] More

These days, tires are more than the rubber that meets the road. Tire technology is constantly changing and innovating. And if there’s one RULE TO ALWAYS FOLLOW, IT’S TO MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLE HAS GOOD […] More

Do you own a diesel repair shop? Are you struggling to keep all your operations, technicians, and jobs organized? Maybe it’s time you employ a maintenance repair software solution to help keep track of things. […] More

Are you looking to get into the LANDSCAPING business? Have you recently started your business and gearing up for growth? Or are you a seasoned landscaper, ready to expand even more or simply looking for […] More

Driver safety is one of the most important responsibilities of a fleet manager or fleet owner. With that in mind, if there were simple steps you could take as a fleet manager/owner that would prevent […] More

When it comes to the safety of fleet vehicles and especially fleet drivers, a fleet owner can never have too many safety measures in place. One company, PRECO Electronics, combines camera technology as well as […] More

A lot has happened in 2020. First a pandemic, then a record-breaking hurricane season. Now with the hustle and bustle of the holidays as well as a vaccine to ship across the nation, what kind […] More

A 2016 Equipment Theft Report from the National Equipment Register (NER) and the National Insurance Crime Bureau states more than 121,000 equipment thefts were reported in the NER database alone for a single year. Don’t […] More

Last month we discussed telematics systems. This time let’s focus on technology for last-mile delivery logistics. We’re bringing insights from Brian Larwig of Trimble MAPS. If Trimble sounds familiar, it should. You read about the […] More

“What’s new in telematics?” is a question you could ask at least once a week and receive a different answer. This month we’re bringing updates from Teletrac Navman. The company recently released its AI-driven platform, […] More

Are you one who waits until the last minute to prepare your vehicles for the winter? Do you find yourself pouring in antifreeze and new oils the night before or the morning of the first […] More

After you picked the perfect pickup for your job, were you ever overwhelmed at the possibilities of the kinds of service body upfits you could get? On the flipside of that, have you ever found […] More

As restrictions are lifted across most states and with warm weather upon us, it is important for truck drivers to consider proper management of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in most diesel-powered trucks. Jeffrey Harmening […] More

There are many unanswered questions surrounding our current global situation. Our civilization relies on the trucking industry now more than ever to ensure hospitals get necessary supplies, civilians have plenty to choose from on the […] More

Whether we’d like to admit it, mobile phones are an important part of our personal and professional lives. From communication with loved ones, customers, and employees to reading news and performing transactions, we would be […] More

Owners of construction companies and other cyclical businesses know the struggles of downtime. There are few projects going on and little money coming in, yet all your bills must be paid and trucks should be […] More

Last year we gave you an overview and a first look at AMPLY, a company that simplifies the charging process for electric-powered fleet vehicles. A lot has happened with this company since we last chatted […] More

If your fleet is required to document a driver’s hours of service, you should already have each fleet vehicle equipped with an electronic logging device (ELD). With the rise of telematics and fleet tracking in […] More

Last month’s issue contained the fourth and final installment of the Driver Coaching series from SmartDrive. SmartDrive’s program features many ways to improve your drivers’ skills, has the ability to save your fleet thousands if […] More

What does the future hold for our industry? Is it all electric? Is it automated? Will trucks fly, or will drones take over the industry? No one knows the answer, but Wally Stegall, technical fellow […] More

THE CHEVY SILVERADO HD IS PLOW READY One of the most important aspects of everyday life during winter in the North is snow plow service. Without snow plow drivers, commuters would have difficulty getting to […] More

This month we’re talking about green fleets and alternative fuels. Money saved on fuel and gas mileage are often the focus of green fleets, but let’s talk about something broader. What happens when you need […] More

It’s likely that a major part of your daily operations is towing. Whether it’s a trailer or equipment, work vehicles are often hitched to something. If you’re constantly hooking and unhooking your vehicles to trailers […] More

How are the heat and air systems working in your cargo vans and equipment? Are your engines idling to keep up with the demand for more heat in the dead of winter? Are your employees […] More

A trusted name in the industry, Peterbilt trucks pull cargo, equipment, deliveries, etc. Peterbilt owners trust the brand for reliability and capability. But what is it exactly that keeps Peterbilt customers coming back for more? […] More

In a connected world, technology companies are joining forces to deliver end-to-end connected customer experiences—especially in areas of fleet ownership and management. These partnerships allow fleet owners to better manage the servicing and repair of […] More

Loading and unloading work equipment can be a major headache, especially when the load is heavy. When trailers tip downward forcing a load to travel uphill, you can bet on a difficult and dangerous loading. […] More

AMPLY POWER SIMPLIFIES ELECTRIC VEHICLE INTEGRATION Electrical vehicles are popping up all over the roads, even in fleet vehicles. If you’ve considered converting your fleet, chances are you’ve wondered how you’d keep your vehicles charged […] More

Battery power is often essential for work truck operators to get their work done, but the load a truck battery takes on a daily basis can be quite extensive. One company, Go Power!, found the […] More

ARE YOU USING YOUR TELEMATICS SYSTEM TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL? Teletrac Navman, a global software-as-a-service provider leveraging location-based technology for GPS tracking solutions, announced findings from its “Telematics Benchmark Report: US Edition.” The survey features […] More

In the work truck industry, businesses depend on trucks and vans to keep operations running. A truck or van with no fuel is useless in most businesses. But when it comes to fueling a fleet, […] More

For a company that provides dealerships with insights to customer connections, inventory management, and ways to increase profits, Work Truck Solutions understands that relationships and knowing your customers goes a long way. Tony Solano, vice […] More

It’s easy for important information to get lost from truck to office, 1s to look like 7s, names misspelled, and directions inaccurate when using a paper-based system. Is your company one of the many still […] More

From strictly workhorses to luxurious personal vehicles, many drivers choose diesel. Diesel engines have changed significantly over the years, and with changes to the engine come changes to maintenance and application. Technical director, Roger Dale […] More

With so many different telematics systems to choose from, it’s difficult to know which one is the best for your fleet. Each has its own benefits, and some are specific to certain applications. So, which […] More

Every issue we print discusses a different telematics system—each with its own line of benefits and ease of use. It wouldn’t make sense to try them all to decide which is best, so we’re here […] More

KARY SCHAEFER MWS: FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, GOING AS FAR AS CREATING A TRUCK BASED ON CUSTOMER FEEDBACK (NEW Cascadia) AND YOUR VISITS TO CUSTOMERS AND DEALERS ON A BI-WEEKLY […] More

BARRY STEEL The work truck industry as a whole is constantly on the prowl for efficiency. What saves a fleet time, money, or both is worth looking into, and HUBB Filters understands. HUBB’s executive vice […] More

JEFF ROBINSON There is no denying the serious changes needed to improve the country’s infrastructure. Jeff Robinson, senior director of the 21st Century Transportation Campaign at US PIRG, shares his insight on a few solutions […] More

LATRES JARRETT When it comes to work trucks, tires are top of mind. As a fleet owner, you know the price of replacing tires is a major expense. What are the alternatives? How can a […] More

PACCAR Leasing Company (PacLease) is one of the fastest-growing commercial truck leasing companies in the transportation industry. Founded in 1980, PacLease has both company-owned and independent leasing centers across the US and Canada. The company […] More

The 2018 Isuzu FTR is a medium-duty, low-cab-forward, four-cylinder diesel truck geared for easy and efficient urban pickups, last mile deliveries, and much more. The Class 6 vehicle is suited for various applications, including dry […] More

No template truck or van body exists for any given business category. In fact, success for the manufacturer and the customer is found when the design is guided by market research, and a thorough needs […] More

We discuss telematics a lot, which should be indicative of how integral it is to the fleet industry. Telematics has moved on from the standard GPS tracking—which is generally still a part of the overall […] More

In the work truck fleet industry, downtime means losing money. But, it takes a lot to power a reliable work truck—specifically, a capable engine. Well, good news. There are two new engines on the block. […] More

Technology really is pretty brilliant, right? With the click of a button—or tap of a finger—we can find out impossible amounts of information pretty much anywhere, any when. Technology is to the fleet industry what […] More

There’s nothing quite as satisfactory as saving money—especially when you have a whole fleet to worry about. Switching to propane autogas can save you money in multiple ways, including downtime and maintenance costs. This alternative […] More

Keeping track of fleet vehicles is only part of the battle for fleet managers. We’ve all heard near-endless talk of telematics. It’s just a part of everyday business, assisting with tracking, maintenance, driver safety, etc. […] More

We often discuss the benefits of having GPS tracking solutions or maintenance and uptime solutions, but are there downsides to employing the latest solutions that need to be taken into account? By implementing multiple solutions, […] More

In the South, winter transport paraphernalia—specifically tire chains—just isn’t something we think about (or stock in our auto parts stores). But, in some of the rest of the country, icy roads can cause quite a […] More

November’s Industry Insight is taking another look at what’s going on in the world of transmission manufacturing. This portion of the industry is essential when it comes to meeting the varying demands of fleet owners, […] More

DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF TRANSMISSION INNOVATION IN THE EVER-EVOLVING WORK TRUCK INDUSTRY From CGI engine blocks to the new CK-4 and FA-4 oils, the work truck industry is executing changes for increased safety, productivity, and […] More

TURNING BIG DATA INTO ACTIONABLE INFORMATION Big Data has become a buzzword in business management, but it’s much more than a vague concept or idea. Big Data can be of big help to fleet managers […] More

The industry is booming for telematics services, from single-focus companies to OEM inclusion of telematics systems from the line to the lot. Telematics software is great for everything from mandate compliance to safety, maintenance to […] More

The big buzzword right now is “emissions:” emissions regulations, meeting emissions standards, lowering emissions, emissions reducing technology. I could go on, but I won’t. It seems as though ever year, emissions standards become stricter. But, […] More

Some rules are meant to be followed, some bent, and some broken. There are times, however, when adding or changing rules and regulations lead a company to push the boundaries of innovation to make not […] More

A majority of us probably have specific assumptions or images in our head of “the future”—perhaps as depicted in Star Trek or the Terminator franchise—but if concepts such as 3D organ printing and genetic splicing […] More

There’s something to be said about a manufacturer that provides vehicles for our deployed troops. During a time when the military quickly needed a durable, safer alternative to the Humvee, International’s WorkStar spawned the MRAP, […] More

Fleet managers know the importance of uptime and proper upfitting. Your truck needs to be able to perform how you need it to, when you need it to. At International, those attributes are at the […] More

Liz Eller, Lytx senior manager, product marketing, discusses driving accidents in the industry and Lytx’s solution: The ActiveVision Service One of the best ways to hemorrhage money in the industry is through vehicle accidents. While […] More

Fuel prices have been spiraling downward—with the exception of a short-lived spring spike—for months now. Oil overproduction and other factors have played into the cheapest prices in years for the end-user. Of course, there are […] More