Thursday, August 21st, 2008
The word “truck” comes from the Greek “trochos”, meaning “wheel.” The big wheels of wagons were called trucks. A truck is a large vehicle used for transporting bulk goods, materials, or equipment. When the gasoline-engine driven trucks came into fashion, these were called “motor trucks.” A small vehicle with an open back is called “utility vehicle” or a pick-up and the word “truck” is reserved for larger vehicles. Almost all trucks share a common construction: they are made of a chassis, a cab, an area for placing cargo or equipment, axles, suspension and wheels, an engine and a drivetrain. Pneumatic, hydraulic, water, and electrical systems may also be identified. They are complex machines. Many also tow one or more trailers or semi-trailers.
Trucks can use all sorts of engines. Small trucks such as SUVs or pickups, and even light medium-duty commercial trucks will use gasoline engines. Most heavier trucks use four stroke turbo intercooler diesel engines, although there are alternatives. Huge off-highway trucks use locomotive-type of engines. North American manufactured highway trucks almost always use an engine built by a third party, such as CAT, Cummins, or Detroit Diesel. The only exceptions to this are Volvo WG64 Trucks and Mack Trucks, which are available with Volvo and Mack diesel engines, respectively, and Freightliner, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, which are available with Mercedes-Benz and Detroit Diesel engines. Trucks and busses built by the Navistar International can also contain International engines.
Small trucks use the same type of transmissions as almost all cars which have either an automatic transmission or a manual transmission with synchronisers. Bigger trucks often use manual transmissions without synchronisers which have less bulk and weight although synchromesh transmissions are used in larger trucks as well. Double clutching allows the driver to control the engine and transmission revolutions to synchronize, so that a smooth shift can be made. The so called skip changing is also widely used, in principle operation is the same but it requires neutral be held slightly longer than single gearchange. Automatic and semi-automatic transmissions for heavy trucks are becoming more and more common, due to advances both in transmission and engine power. Quality among all heavy duty trucks manufacturers in general is improving, however industry insiders will testify that the industry has a long way to go before they achieve the quality levels reached by automobile manufacturers.
Posted in Commercial truck, Mack commercial trucks, Volvo commercial trucks | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Peterbilt
Better low-beam performance
Peterbilt’s new Model 367 and Model 365 used trucks feature a new lighting system with 50 percent greater low-beam performance and 600 percent longer bulb life in a corrosion-resistant package, the company says. The Model of Peterbilt 367 is available in a heavy-haul configuration that features a high - capacity cooling system. Both models have a new bumper that is able to accommodate both a center hook configuration and a dual, removable pin configuration that meet TMC towing requirements. The trucks are available in up to 485 horsepower. Manual, automated, and automatic transmissions and a heavy-duty suspension. Some trucks never go out of style. The 365 arguably tops the list, making it a leader in resale.
Volvo
Tracks, communicates productivity
The Volvo Link Sentry onboard vehicle monitoring and communications system from Volvo Trucks and communicates key productivity and performance information each week for individual trucks. Some of the data reported include the following: fuel used; distance traveled and miles per gallon based on RPM, operations above or below preset roads speeds are tracked, and the truck owner can control these limits from the Internet; cruise control; idle time and fuel consumed; total fuel used for the week; low battery voltage; diesel particulate filter status; and diagnostic code summary. Each fleet’s information is kept on a secure Web site. This feature, which will be standard on all of the company’s trucks.
Kenworth W900L
Unmistakable Presence
The Kenworth W900L technically doesn’t have the biggest hood in the industry, but it looks like it does. The 86-inch, top-of-the-line studio apartment behind the cab makes the entire truck appear to be more than the sum of its parts; inside, the sleeper leaves very little to wish for. Kenworth is making the new hood available as a retrofit item for customers currently operating W900Ls with a curved windshield. These hoods are fabricated with Metton(r) liquid molding resin (LMR) from Metton America. Kenworth has built its reputation on durability and performance. Kenworth emphasizes high-tech options. The infrared night-vision system helps you perceive potential hazards as far as three to five times the length of headlight beams.
Posted in Kenworth commercial trucks, Peterbilt commercial truck, Volvo commercial trucks, used Volvo Commercial Truck | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
With rollovers responsible for more than half of the fatalities in large commercial trucks, concerned fire chiefs are equipping their apparatus with RollTek side roll protection. With the assistance of LifeGuard Technologies, we’ve made one of the safest cab designs in the industry even safer. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, motor vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters, just behind heart attacks. In 1984 Emergency 1 pumper, Detroit diesel, Felsted automatic transmission, Hale 1,250 gpm pump, 1,692 hours, 37,020# GVW, rear hose reel, water cannon. The RollTek technology in our Quest chassis helps reduce the threat of a fatal injury if a rollover occurs.
Over the course of designing and integrating RollTek into E-ONE custom apparatus, LifeGuard Technologies engineers put each truck model through a series of rigorous static and dynamic physical tests. E-ONE can help finance new vehicles through the industry’s only in-house leasing program. When considering the purchase of a fire rescue vehicle, remember E-ONE is the only manufacturer that can build an innovative, quality vehicle exactly to specifications, with guaranteed quick delivery and after-sale service. E-ONE commercial trucks has grown to become an industry leader in just a few decades. Innovation has been the company’s driving force and continues to be the impetus behind its pursuit of new technologies.
RollTek provides an added enhancement to E-ONE’s suite of safety technologies and design features which are focused on improving the safety of firefighters and citizens in the community when fire vehicles are responding to a call. LifeGuard Technologies is the world leader in Commercial truck. Today, LifeGuard Technologies works alongside heavy duty commercial truck and equipment manufacturers around the world delivering advanced occupant protection that specifically addresses the unique safety needs of professional drivers and operators working in the most demanding conditions.
Posted in Commercial truck, International commercial Truck, Kenworth commercial trucks, Mack commercial trucks, Ottawa commercial truck, Peterbilt commercial truck, Volvo commercial trucks, used Volvo Commercial Truck, used commercial | No Comments »
