Bose Corporation Unveils Seat To Protect Against Road-Induced Shocks and Vibration

New seat measures cab motions to counteract road disturbances

By John Baxter

Bost introduced a new seat for truck cabs that electronically measures road surfaces to offer resistance to shocks and vibrations.

Bose Corporation, a maker of premium sound systems, has introduced a suspension seat for truck drivers that actively responds to electronically measured cab motions to stabilize the seat as never before possible.

The Bose Ride system replaces a conventional air ride truck seat with a Bose suspension base and integrated, custom designed seat top. It provides over-the-road truckers with what the company describes as “an unprecedented level of protection from road-induced shocks and vibration.”

During the Jan. 27 announcement at Framingham, Mass., where the company is based, officials declined to give the product’s price or say which seat maker is providing the seat top.

The heart of the system is a high-powered linear actuator capable of countering the forces on the seat caused by road disturbances. It includes other components such as sensors, as well as an amplifier that energizes the actuator to counteract road disturbances before they ever reach the driver. It works on a principle similar to noise-canceling microphones, and draws less than 50 watts of power.

The system is compatible with most makes and models of heavy trucks, and can be installed by a trained mechanic in less than two hours.

It will be available on a build-to-order basis for large fleets in March, and will be sold to owner-operators following fleet availability.

Custom “Mountain Specs” Take Colorado Rigs To The Top

Kenworth T800s and T660s Offer Mountain Climbing Truck Fleet Reliability and Durability

DENVER, Colo., Jan. 26, 2010 – For nine years, Colorado native Victor Domenico was hitting the Colorado ski slopes five days a week. But, instead of guiding his skis through the tough terrain, he was piloting a big rig delivering grocery items to stores dotting ski resorts throughout Colorado.

To get there, he would often navigate two-lane roads ascending up to nearly 12,000 feet in elevation through routes that go by the name of Loveland Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass.

“It’s not easy trucking, and not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure,” said Domenico. “You have to stay mentally focused at all times and be prepared for all types of weather conditions. And you have to deliver in tight delivery areas in tight time frames.”

Domenico was so adept at delivering in the mountains that he established his own trucking company in 2000, and started his fleet with two Kenworth T800s.

Success was quick to follow as his contract with a grocery store chain expanded to 17 locations within a 300-mile radius of Denver.

Today, the Domenico Transportation fleet of 32 Kenworth T800s and three Kenworth T660s is well established in the Colorado hills as a premier contract carrier known for its reliability and can-do attitude. It also delivers flowers and other goods throughout neighboring states and into the Dakotas.

“I can attribute much of our success to the fact that I was a driver for so many years. I know what our drivers encounter and what it takes, from a vehicle standpoint, to get the job done safely,” said Domenico.

“To be successful, customers rely on us to get there when we say we’ll get there. We need committed drivers and reliably built trucks. We also need a maintenance shop that will keep our trucks running in optimum condition.  My brother, Jack Domenico, heads that part of our operation.”

Downtime is virtually non-existent for Domenico’s fleet. He operates a slip-seat operation where his newest Kenworth trucks put on between 180,000 to 220,000 miles per year.

“They’re running 20 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Domenico, who purchased his trucks through MHC Kenworth – Denver. “Our older trucks, including my original Kenworth T800, still put on about 100,000 miles a year.

“In fact, that first T800 has well over 1 million miles under the hood and you’d be hard pressed to tell this truck from a 3-year old truck. That’s one of the many good things about Kenworths – the trucks are so well made that they stay looking good and performing well beyond what you might expect.  People ask me why I don’t have a shorter trade cycle than 8 or 9 years.  I tell them I would – if my trucks didn’t hold up – but Kenworths do.”

To keep vehicle performance high, Domenico has his “mountain specs” nailed down.  “Our specs do evolve as new technology comes into the market,” he said. “When disc brakes first became available, we were quick to jump on board.  Our trucks stop on a dime and no water or corrosion can get inside the brakes since they’re sealed. And, the brakes last – we have some with close to 400,000 miles on them and they still don’t need replacing.”

Domenico believes the use of stability control systems, wide base tires, auto shift transmissions and Kenworth AG400 suspensions help his vehicle’s tires maintain traction with the road.

“The auto shift transmission we use plays a two-fold role,” he said. “First, it offers smooth acceleration, and then it provides a positive footprint on snow and ice when shifting gears. If you miss a gear with a manual transmission, you can have trouble making it up hills. Plus, the automatic means both hands are on the steering wheel.”

To maximize road traction even further, Domenico has sanders located in front of the drive tires. Twin 150-pound tanks house sand and with a push of a button, sand is released in front of the drive tires.

“The system works great, especially when coming to a stop,” said Domenico.  “It gives our drivers added confidence and the ability to maintain a good grip on the road. Plus it saves countless hours putting on and removing chains.”

While the Kenworth T800s and T660s perform well in winter conditions, the trucks also get outstanding fuel economy. “Our fleet average is a bit over 6 mpg, but our top driver is getting slightly over 7 mpg,” said Domenico. “We’re constantly going up and down 6- to 8 percent grades, so we feel very good about our performance. And, with the T800’s set-back front axle, maneuverability is excellent at loading docks.  Many of the stores are located right next to ski resorts, so space is at a premium.  That means you’ve got to have a sharp turning rig or your drivers will get frustrated making three-point turns.”

Driver turnover isn’t a problem for Domenico: “We spec these trucks right when it comes to driver comfort,” he said. “Each truck has leather seats with seat warmers and is equipped with 38- and 62-inch AeroCab(R) sleepers, which are used in emergencies or when bad weather causes delays.  Plus our latest trucks feature the Kenworth GPS navigation system. That’s a great help to our newer drivers.”

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwire – January 26, 2010) – Washington, D.C. area residents and government and agency officials will be introduced to the working cutaway prototype of the Scuderi Engine (www.ScuderiEngine.com) at this week’s 2010 Washington Auto Show (www.washingtonautoshow.com), to be held January 26-31 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall A.

The Scuderi Engine employs a new and proven thermodynamic process known as the Scuderi Cycle. Many believe this new technology could be the biggest advancement in internal combustion engines since the Otto cycle over 130 years ago. The Scuderi Engine is a split-cycle design that separates the four strokes of a conventional engine over two paired cylinders. One does intake/compression while the other does power/exhaust.

Using a unique combustion process known as firing after top dead center, the Scuderi Engine has better power, higher efficiency and lower emissions than a conventional engine.

In addition, by adding an air storage tank connected between the paired cylinders, the Scuderi Engine can be converted into an air-hybrid engine. Air-hybrids recapture energy normally lost during braking — as does an electric hybrid — except air-hybrids use compressed air instead of electric batteries to store energy.

Engineers from Scuderi Group will discuss preliminary studies that show significant advantages of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid over the performance and cost of electric hybrids. One of the most significant advantages is the Scuderi Air-Hybrid’s ability to store and release energy more efficiently. It takes a long time to charge electric batteries, which use up that energy very quickly when driving the vehicle off the battery.

In a Scuderi Air-Hybrid, which uses compressed air instead of electricity, energy can be stored very quickly. And by feeding the compressed air into the combustion process of the Scuderi Engine, the stored energy is used much more efficiently.

Another very significant advantage is the cost and weight of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid compared to electric hybrids. Electric hybrids require two separate drive systems. One is the internal combustion engine; the other consists of batteries, electric motors and their controls. This adds significant weight and cost to the vehicle, on the order of 400 to 500 pounds and $3000 to $4000 per vehicle. The Scuderi Air-Hybrid requires only the addition of an air tank and some controls. The cost is only a few hundred dollars and the weight is about one-tenth that of an electric system.

“A vehicle driven with a Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine could run significantly longer on the energy stored in the air tank than an electric hybrid can operate off its battery,” said Sal Scuderi, President, Scuderi Group. “If preliminary test results continue to be validated, a Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine would potentially be the most efficient hybrid system to date, and it would be available for a fraction of the cost of an electric hybrid system.”

The Scuderi Engine is currently in development at independent laboratory Southwest Research Institute. For more information on the Scuderi Engine, visit www.ScuderiEngine.com.

Intruductory Video

About Scuderi Group

Based in West Springfield, Mass., USA, with offices in Frankfurt, Germany, Scuderi Group, LLC is a research and development company focused on proliferating its technology through R&D and licensing. Its revolutionary Scuderi Cycle technology, when fully developed, is expected to be the most significant improvement in internal combustion engine efficiency in over 130 years. Scuderi Group’s global patent portfolio contains more than 200 patents including 72 issued in more than 50 countries. For more information call 1-413-439-0343 or visit www.ScuderiEngine.com.

2nd Annual Bobby Lindamood Memorial Truck Show

The 2nd Annual Bobby Lindamood Memorial Truck Show will be held at Cabela’s Ft.Worth, TX, store, Oct. 1-3. For more information contact either Bo Trout (734-323-3397) or Jake Lindamood (214-384-0802).

Fiberglass Fenders Bring New Flare

Fiber Fenders new fiberglass fenders bring good looks with easy repair

Danny’s Custom Truck Fenders, the largest Canadian manufacturer of Class 8 fibreglass truck fenders and accessories is launching the new year with a new name, new look and a new series of fenders.

Fiber Fenders has debuted a new name and a new line of fiberglass fender products.

The company will now be operating as Fiber Fenders, and its completely new website detailing its extensive line of products can be viewed at www.fiberfenders.ca. 

“The new name is representative of exactly what we do, and we felt it was a needed change as we expand our network of dealers into Western Canada and the United States,” said Danny Campbell, president. 

The company currently has over 40 dealers throughout Atlantic Canada and scattered parts of the west.  The company’s growth plans also include securing more dealers in the United States.

The company is excited to be launching the year with a new series of lightweight fenders: the Standard Series. These fenders are the first of their kind on the market. They are styled to look exactly like traditional metal fenders, priced competitively to them and can be painted and repaired. Additionally, the average weight of a these fenders is only 11 pounds.

“Being a practical alternative to metal, this new series of fender is widening our customer base. Traditionally, the fibreglass available in the market is larger and higher priced. Now fibreglass is a viable option for fleet owners and the more price-conscience buyer,” said Angela Campbell, general manager. The Fiber Fender Designer Series is the company’s traditional niche line with its five ply construction and extensive tire coverage, for the driver who wants a sleek, custom look.

The driving force in getting the Standard Series to market and delivering on the company’s ambitious growth strategy is the company’s newly hired sales manager, Bud Breau.

Breau is a veteran in the transportation equipment sector, with over 30 years of experience. He is well known to many in the industry and is looking forward to seeing all of his colleagues in the coming months.

“Securing Bud as the leader of our sales team has been a real win for us. He knows the market extensively, and his sales skills are unmatched,” Campbell said.

Fiber Fenders, based in Souris, Canada, is a manufacturer of fibreglass fenders and accessories for the transportation industry. It is owned and operated by Danny Campbell, a lifelong truck driver, and his daughter Angela Campbell. For dealer enquiries contact Bud Breau at (506) 878-1962 or bud@fiberfenders.ca. For all other enquiries contact Angela Campbell at (902) 626-5431 or angela@fiberfenders.ca  

SPEC YOUR OWN CUSTOM PETERBILT 389

Rolling glider kits coming soon from First Class Services

By Todd Dills  (Updated 1/20/10)

Want a new Peterbilt 389  with a few custom touches of your own choosing but with a pre-2007 engine and drivetrain? Kentucky’s First Class Services custom shop is preparing the roll-out of custom-built “rolling glider kits.”

Company president Randy Stroup says their customized gliders will allow owner-operators  and fleets “to go out and buy an ’06 engine and transmission and build current production model 389. It’s not a tricked-out deal, but it delivers some awesome options to these owner-operators and fleet owners.”

The rolling glider kits will realize a substantial savings over the cost of a new truck, and with First Class performing the build, “you can order it just the way you want it,” Stroup says. “We’ll have different color paint schemes on them” – and a lot more, to be sure.

They’re focusing specifically on the Peterbilt 389 for these, and  currently have one finished, which they slipped in to show at Mid-America and have another near completion in their shop. Stroup says both gliders have a 48-inch sleeper and a 280-inch wheelbase.

Undoubtedly they will be showing off their new offerings at the major truck shows in 2010. And we’ll keep an eye out as well so we can show you what the second customized “glider” looks like when it’s finished.  If you want to learn more, visit http://firstclassservices.com.

ANN ARBOR, MI–(Marketwire – January 19, 2010) – Con-way Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), today launched a major network re-engineering that will cut transit times by one day to 460 U.S. destinations, while decreasing the company’s carbon footprint.

The initiative will also lead to reduced re-handling and fewer service exceptions, improved on-time delivery and a more efficient operation. Major lanes affected include those between Southern Texas and the Northeast, Chicago and Southern Florida, and Chicago and Southern Texas.

“At Con-way Freight, we’re always looking for ways to improve service performance for our customers and lessen our impact on the environment,”  said Greg Lehmkuhl, executive vice president of operations, Con-way Freight.

“Now, advanced technology has enabled us to continuously evaluate ways to move freight more efficiently and directly from origin to destination, reducing miles, handling and fuel consumption along the way,” he says.

“This network re-engineering will reduce transit times for our customers, while helping them control inventory, manage supply chain costs and ultimately get product to market faster.”

Since the launch of an enterprisewide sustainability initiative in early 2008 by parent company Con-way Inc., Con-way Freight has been continually identifying and adopting practices and technologies to improve service and operating efficiency while reducing carbon emissions.

Today’s network re-engineering initiative improves density over the shortest, most direct routes and will allow Con-way Freight to reduce total operating miles per year by 16.6 million. The move will enable the company to conserve a projected 2.6 million gallons of diesel fuel annually, eliminating approximately 58.6 million pounds of carbon emissions from the environment, which is equal to removing more than 5,200 automobiles from America’s highways.

Previously, Con-way Freight implemented several other operating refinements which have led to sustainability benefits. In early 2008, the company turned back the engine speed governors of its trucking fleet from 65 to 62 mph.

This action reduced diesel fuel consumption by nearly 3.2 million gallons annually while removing approximately 71 million pounds of carbon emissions from the environment — the equivalent to taking some 6,400 automobiles off the nation’s roads.

Additionally, an earlier network re-engineering initiative implemented in late 2008 achieved operating efficiencies and service and sustainability benefits, reducing total miles driven annually by more than 31 million. The reduced miles equated to a reduction in carbon emissions of more than 100 million pounds, which would equate to the removal of more than 9,900 cars from the U.S. road system.

To create the network re-engineering announced today, a cross-functional team used advanced simulation modeling technologies and business intelligence tools to pinpoint opportunities to maximize service performance, efficiency and asset utilization. In the Northeast to Southern Texas lanes, for example, the team engineered network changes to yield a 20 percent reduction in handling and a decrease in transit times from four to three days, a 25 percent improvement.

“The changes made possible through our predictive modeling technology are part of a long-term approach to continuous improvement and optimized network design that maximizes the use of our existing infrastructure,” said Lehmkuhl. “We’ve been a proven and stable carrier for customers for more than 25 years now, and today’s re-engineering will help us continue that tradition and our mission to provide the best LTL service in the marketplace.

“Our sustainability efforts are real, too. To be able to say we’ve taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint equivalent to removing more than 21,000 automobiles from the road is an added benefit to the core business advantages.”

For the past three years, Con-way Freight has continued a strategic evolution, implementing several major strategies aimed at improving service performance, enhancing shareholder value and strengthening its industry competitiveness.

In addition to network improvements, they include changing to a unified operating model after consolidation of its regional management structure and the adoption of the Lean Six Sigma quality management system for systemwide process improvement.

Follow the company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Con_way_.

TRUCKING FOR BLOOD

A Family Affair Working Class Truck Show, Feb. 2o-21 at the Ocala Jai-Alai (Ocala, FL) benefits Life South Community Blood Centers. Blood donors welcome!

Two full days of non-stop entertainment.  Raffles, food, fun and prizes. People’s Choice Award winner receives custom-built model replica of their truck; 16 categories to enter.

For more information, or to pre-register your truck, call: (352) 653-8248 0r (352) 875-6649. Give blood, save lives.

Aggregate Hauler Bags Big Katrina Reconstruction Work And New KWs

Louisiana Aggregate Hauler Depends on Kenworth W900S for Reliability, Quality Image

WESTWEGO, La., Jan. 18, 2010 – While southeastern Louisiana continues rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, aggregate hauler Jay’s Trucking, in Westwego, La., has accelerated its purchases of Kenworth trucks while phasing out less durable brands in its fleet.

As a primary hauler on many big construction projects, Jay’s Trucking has built a solid reputation for dependability on the jobsite where reliability and uptime are critical.

To help maintain the company’s hard-earned status among primary contractors, Jay’s owner A.J. Phillip Jr. purchased 15 new Kenworth trucks in 2008.

“We had the first W900S trucks in New Orleans, all with automatic transmissions,” said Phillip, who spec’d his Kenworth W900S tri-axle dumps with set-forward axles, Hendrickson HMX suspensions, Cummins ISM 385-hp engines and Allison transmissions.

“The tri-axles allow Jay’s trucks to gross out at 67,000 lbs. and maximize payloads,” said Bryan Bruno, sales manager for Kenworth of South Louisiana, who helped spec the trucks.

To pull Jay’s larger trailer dumps, Phillip prefers the Kenworth W900L with Cummins ISX 475-hp engine, Kenworth AG400 suspension, and 13- and 10-speed transmissions. “The trailer trucks gross out at 88,000 lbs. pulling 30-foot tri-axle aluminum trailers,” said Bruno. “Tri-axles are pretty much all haulers use in this part of the country.”

Since 2005, construction in and around New Orleans has been ongoing — from shoring up levees to reconstructing major roadways such as the twin spans on U.S. Interstate 10 that were wiped out during the storm. With so much construction going on, Phillip said the most important thing he needs from his dump trucks is day-in and day-out reliability.

Currently, Jay’s Trucking is working on two giant construction projects: the Huey P. Long Bridge widening project, and a huge pumping station being built by the Kiewit Construction Company. Between all the construction and federal response that has come to New Orleans as a result of Katrina, Jay’s growing fleet of 24 trucks stays extremely busy. With trucks on the road from dawn till dusk, Phillip puts a premium on the quality image that his equipment and drivers project to the community.

“We have an image to uphold,” he said. “When we go to a jobsite, I want our trucks to look good because they represent the type of work we provide. When a customer needs us, we show up on time. We don’t break down and that’s why we’re successful.

“It’s also why we operate Kenworth trucks,” he continues. “They’re extremely reliable and Kenworth of South Louisiana takes care of us day or night. If we have an issue of any kind, my dealer jumps right on it and it’s taken care of right now. Kenworth service is second to none. That makes all the difference to us.”