Return to flip book view
WWW.MWSMAG.COMDIGITAL EDITIONFEBRUARY 2022
visit us at sageoilvac.com
FEBRUARY 2022WWW.MWSMAG.COMMEDIUM-DUTY SHOWCASE: 2022 RAM CHASSIS CAB: BEYOND CAPABLETHE 3G SUNSETAN ELD UPDATETHE TELEMATICS AND FLEET MANAGEMENT ISSUETHEWHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?MANAGEMENT COMPANY VS. MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter (@mwsmag), Facebook (www.facebook.com/modernworktruck), and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/modern-work-truck-solutions).INDUSTRY NEWS ................................ INDUSTRY INSIGHT ........................... PRODUCT SHOWCASE ...................... IN EVERY ISSUEXL FLEET ELECTRIFIEDRAM UPFITPowerful and versatile Ram pickup is now available with an XL Fleet hybrid electric drive solution, proven to improve fuel efficiency and decrease CO2 emissions without disrupting performance.www.xlfleet.comINSIDE THIS ISSUEFEBRUARY 2022 VOL-7 NO-244LIGHT-DUTYUSE SAFETY TECH COACH SAFE DRIVERSWORK TRUCK WEEK PREVIEW .......... RAM CHASSIS CAB BEYOND CAPABLE18MEDIUM-DUTYFEBRUARY 2022WWW.MWSMAG.COMMEDIUM-DUTY SHOWCASE: 2022 RAM CHASSIS CAB: BEYOND JUST CAPABLETHE 3G SUNSETAN ELD UPDATETHE TELEMATICS AND FLEET MANAGEMENT ISSUETHEWHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?MANAGEMENT COMPANY VS. MANAGEMENT SOFTWAREDIESEL TIPS FOR COLD WEATHERHEAVY-DUTY52SHOWCASECOVER STORIESTECHNOLOGYWHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU? .....................36Management company vs management softwareTECHNOLOGYTHE 3G SUNSET .............48An ELD updateTHE TELEMATICS AND FLEET MANAGEMENT ISSUETHE
OPERATIONS THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION MARKET ...................................................24 These trends could affect operationsOPERATIONS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DEMAND IS RISING, AND SO ARE PRICES .............................................................28 The hunt for a commercial vehicle OPERATIONS TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF CRANES AND MECHANIC TRUCKS ....................................................... 32 Iowa Mold Tooling Co.’s jobsite solutionTECHNOLOGY ALL-IN-ONE FLEET MANAGEMENT ........................................ 40 . A chat with Spireon on its FleetLocate platform for all vehicles and assetsWelcome to February, the month of love! Why don’t you show your fleet drivers and fleet vehicles some love this month in the form of a safer, more maintained fleet with the help of telematics and fleet management systems—the focus of this month’s issue. Check out the piece on Teletrac Navman’s safety solutions on page 44, and read about what will better benefit your fleet—a fleet management company or a fleet management system—on page 36. We’ve also got pieces on what’s currently happening in the industry. Read about the state of the transportation market (page 24), commercial vehicle demand (page 28), and the oncoming 3G sunset (page 48) to help you prepare for what’s next. Finally, NTEA’s Work Truck Week is upon us (March 8-11 in Indianapolis), and we want to help you prepare with a show preview on page 56. If you go to the show, be sure to stop by our booth (#5955) and say hello. Enjoy the issue, and see you in Indy!Jade Brasher EditorEDITOR’S NOTE24www.mwsmag.com P.O. Box 660197 Birmingham, Alabama 35266DONNA CAMPBELL Editor in Chiefdonna@mwsmag.com JADE BRASHER Editorjade@mwsmag.comRANDY MOON Associate Publisher randym@mwsmag.comVAL CARRIER Media Consultantval@mwsmag.comGARY BARKER Media Consultantgary@mwsmag.comTIM O’HARA Media Consultanttim.ohara@mwsmag.comLISA AVERY Art Director lisa@mwsmag.comSETH SAUNDERS Digital Media SpecialistINGRID BERKY Office ManagerNo part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage-and-retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. The views expressed by those not on the staff of Modern WorkTruck Solutions, or who are not specifically employed by Highlands Publications are purely their own. All Industry News material has either been submitted by the subject company or pulled directly from its corporate website, which is assumed to be cleared for release. Comments and submissions are welcome, and can be submitted to jade@mwsmag.com.SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES OR CHANGES CALL:205.380.2048CHRIS GARMONCFO DONNA CAMPBELLVP, Editorialwww.highlandspublications.com 312 Lorna Square Birmingham, AL 35216866.251.1777TIM GARMONCEORUSSELL HADDOCKPresidentTONYA BROWNINGVice President28Talk soon! Jade40
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 20228INDUSTRY NEWSTOMTOM AND WEBFLEET SOLUTIONS COLLABORATE FOR FLEETSWebfleet Solutions partnered with TomTom (TOM2) to launch the WEBFLEET Work App and TomTom Go Fleet App into the market. The companies combined their expertise to create a single source for fleet managers and drivers to address the challenges they face every day, including route compliance, on-time deliveries, and safety concerns. WEBFLEET Work App empowers professional drivers to get their jobs done easily and efficiently with nothing more than their Android mobile devices. Fleet managers and their drivers have access to a wide range of workforce management features without the need for any additional hardware. This includes locating vehicles, logging working times, registering drivers, setting trip modes, managing orders and schedules, and staying in touch with the back office via two-way communication. For more, visit www.webfleet.com.WITH NEW HEADQUARTERS, NEW WEBSITE, AND MOREOptronics International kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration announcing the move of its North American headquarters to a new 200,000-sq-ft facility on a 17-acre campus. Accompanying the announcement was the introduction of a new 50th anniversary logo and a newly revised corporate website. Optronics will present details of the new facility, logo, website, and other developments to the industry at booth #5191 during NTEA Work Truck Week 2022, March 8–11, 2022. Optronics will also introduce a revised Optronics USA Harness logo. The new logo includes a representation of the company’s Glo-Light lamp as a central feature. Additionally, Optronics’ website makes it easy to select and filter information on more than 3,000 lighting and harness product offerings. The site also includes a 360-degree product-viewing feature to closely examine products from all angles while accessing product data. For more, visit www.optronicsinc.com. Peterbilt Motors Company added all-new PACCAR TX-18 and TX-18 Pro automated transmissions to its family of PACCAR TX transmissions. The TX-18 Transmission is available in Peterbilt Models 567, 389, and 579 equipped with PACCAR MX engines. Built from the ground up, the PACCAR TX-18 provides excellent productivity, efficiency, and uptime for a superior driver experience. Peterbilt designed the TX-18 to work exclusively with the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. It is the workhorse for a variety of vocational applications including heavy haul, dump truck, and cranes. The combination of the TX-18 transmission and the MX
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202210INDUSTRY NEWSengine provides up to 1,850 lb-ft of torque and is rated up to 140,000-lb GCWR. For more, visit www.peterbilt.com. INTERNAL COMBUSTION POWERTRAINCummins Inc. announced the expansion of its powertrain platforms, leveraging a range of lower carbon fuel types. As the industry’s first unified, fuel-agnostic engines, these platforms will use engine blocks and core components that share common architectures. They will also be optimized for different low-carbon fuel types.These new fuel-agnostic engine platforms will feature a series of engine versions derived from a common base engine. Therefore, they have a high degree of parts commonality. Below the head gasket of each engine will largely have similar components; above the head gasket will have different components for different fuel types. Each engine version will operate using a different, single fuel. For more, visit www.cummins.com. STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE VMAC earned the Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence (OSSE) Certificate of Recognition (COR), certified through the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of British Columbia, with cooperation from WorkSafeBC. This achievement highlights VMAC’s commitment to the health and safety of its coworkers and its focus on helping eliminate serious workplace injuries within the manufacturing sector. For more, visit www.vmacair.com. LThe Shyft Group will reveal its electric delivery vehicle on its purpose-built Class 3 EV chassis at Work Truck Week. Using the company’s Work-Driven Design® process, the purpose-built delivery van will deliver optimal driver ergonomics and user experience. Vehicle prototypes are expected to reach customers for testing in the coming months with production expected to begin by mid-2023. Shyft also helps customers in the transition to electric vehicle fleet management by providing a portable power cube. The Shyft Group will also feature the power cube at the show.Shyft’s proprietary battery-powered chassis features customizable length and wheelbase, making it well-suited to serve a wide range of medium-duty trucks. The chassis’ modular design will accommodate multiple GVWR classifications, based on build-out and usage. The lithium-ion battery packs provide an approximate range of 150 to 175 miles; there is an opportunity to enhance range through expanded battery options. Highly configurable, the all-electric chassis adapts to last-mile delivery, work truck, mass transit, recreational vehicle, and other emerging EV markets. For more, visit www.theshyftgroup.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202212INDUSTRY NEWSINFUSE CASH FOR OPERATIONAL NEEDSFleet Advantage’s innovative Sale-Leaseback program was mobilized early in the pandemic to help organizations infuse cash into their operations. Today fleets leverage the program to help fleets use cash for driver bonus and retention initiatives. The company’s Sale-Leaseback program allows organizations to select the assets from their fleet that are older models. Fleet Advantage will purchase those assets and lease them back to the fleet for an interim period until they place an order and transition to new equipment when available. Using a Sale-Leaseback can satisfy short-term needs without damaging long-term procurement goals due to build slot limitations. For more, visit www.fleetadvantage.com. NTEA amps up news around electrification and advanced technologies at Work Truck Week 2022, announcing 19 vehicles available in Ride & Drive, adding a Green Truck Summit session on electric vehicle upfitting, as well as sharing that General Motors and Chevrolet will showcase the first-ever 2024 Silverado EV all-electric pickup truck on the Work Truck Show exhibit floor. During the Work Truck Week Ride & Drive (March 9-10), attendees can experience 19 commercial vehicles with the latest advanced technologies, sustainability offerings, and alternative fuel applications. Participating companies include: Kenworth, Peterbilt, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Workhorse, XL Fleet, and more. A new general session, Upfitting Electric Vehicles: Work Truck Industry Challenges and Opportunities, has been added to Green Truck Summit. For more, visit www.worktruckweek.com. CTECH LAUNCHES REDEVELOPED WEBSITECTech Manufacturing announced the launch of a completely redeveloped website. CTech designed the new online experience from the ground up to provide new purchasing options to prospective customers. It will also serve as a platform for new and upcoming web-based custom storage shopping tools. The new website introduces a wide range of engaging new features including: a dedicated online storefront with expanded eCommerce catalog; streamlined product information structure; personal account management function; and a “Shop by Industry” feature. The redeveloped site also features groundbreaking tools, which allow users to build their own custom cabinets without leaving the comfort of home or office. Further, customers can start building from scratch or choose a pre-configured option from the storefront to get started. For more, visit www.ctechmanufacturing.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202214INDUSTRY INSIGHTAQBRICE ADAMSONMobility Solutions from Enterprise Fleet Management MWS: ENTERPRISE IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME ACROSS CAR RENTALS. WHEN DID THE FLEET MANAGEMENT? DESCRIBE ITS SUCCESS.ADAMSON: Enterprise started as a leasing company and branched into rental back in 1957. In the 1990s, we found a niche within fleet management. Since then, we’ve experienced organic growth, and our vehicle count is over 500,000 vehicles with 10,000 clients in the US and Canada. We have recently been named the largest fleet management company in the US, and our growth continues even despite the current challenging environment due to the pandemic.In the early days of the pandemic, business owners were unsure of the pandemic’s impact on their customers, employees, and business as a whole. Thankfully almost all our clients are in essential services, and their businesses recovered quickly. Through the pandemic, these businesses have grown and become even more robust as the pandemic lingers on. Their need for vehicles is unprecedented; we’ve never seen demand for vehicles as we have right now. We’re not able to get the number of vehicles that our clients want due to the supply chain.I think about how the pandemic has impacted Enterprise as it relates to our clients, but then also our employees. I’m thankful for the flexibility our employees have shown over the course of the pandemic. We were able to equip them to work from home and have since maintained a work-from-home environment, and business has done well. Our employees have been flexible and resilient during these challenging times.MWS: WHAT SETS ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT APART FROM OTHER FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES?ADAMSON: The core is the affiliation with Enterprise Holdings, a leading provider of mobility solutions. Through that affiliation, we’re able to leverage a comprehensive portfolio of transportation solutions. In addition to corporate fleet management, we have car rental and carsharing services, truck rental, retail car sales, and a vehicle-subscription service. So no matter what transportation challenges our customers face, we have an innovative solution to meet their needs. NATIONAL SOLUTIONS WITH A PERSONAL APPROACH
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 15We also have access to the Enterprise Holdings resale channel who are some of the best at selling their own vehicles, and they provide that same service for our clients. Another benefit is that we’re local. Enterprise Fleet Management has offices all over North America. Being local allows us to provide hands-on account management. We have Client Strategy Managers that are in every major market that meet directly with our clients to make recommendations to help fleets run more efficiently and help our clients focused on what they do best. In addition, because of the affiliation with Enterprise Holdings, most of our employees come from the car rental business and have a background in fleet management and what it takes to successfully run a business. We hire account executives from rental branch management positions who have experience managing their own rental fleet. This allows us to offer intuitive recommendations based on what we know will work for the client. That is a huge differentiator for us.Lastly, we also offer expertise that covers the entire life cycle of a vehicle including acquisition, registration, maintenance, use reporting, fuel card programs, etc. This experience helps us provide exceptional fleet management service.MWS: ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT IS BEST SUITED FOR ADAMSON: We are a full-service fleet management business for companies, government agencies, and organizations with small- to medium-sized fleets of 20 vehicles or more. We help businesses create savings, safety, and drive business growth by optimizing the value of their fleet. With hands-on management, award-winning technology, and the infrastructure and expertise of Enterprise, we show organizations how far an exceptional fleet program can take them.MWS: HOW CAN ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES BE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR DIFFERENT FLEETS?ADAMSON: We work specifically with each company to identify their vehicle needs and make recommendations based on their fleet profile leveraging all our fleet services. We ask for specific information from our clients about their fleet vehicles: the use of the vehicle, its towing capacity, aftermarket customizations, and its build. We want to make sure specific vehicles for specific purposes can do a specific job. Clients might have overly capable vehicles that waste money and discover a smaller vehicle could make more sense for the job. Some clients might also have vehicles that
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202216INDUSTRY INSIGHTthey are overworking, leading to more maintenance issues, safety-related issues, and downtime. We consult with our clients about every vehicle to make sure it’s best suited for their business. This hands-on service we provide through our Client Strategy Managers is a real differentiator for our business. For another example, sometimes people need vehicles for one season, and it might not make sense to lease a vehicle for four years when the business is seasonal. Instead, it might make sense to rent trucks for seasonal-based businesses. Another example comes from working with local governments. One county in California experienced high maintenance and repair costs for aging vehicles, making it difficult to keep up with the needs of the county. However, the county didn’t have the capital available to purchase new vehicles. We helped them explore alternative solutions, and we helped with maintenance expenses using our preferred maintenance and repair shops to help their fleet become better maintained. With these solutions, the county expects to save $2 million through their fleet program with us. Additionally in 2018, they received an award from the California State Association of Counties (CSAV) recognizing their innovative and cost-effective partnership with us.MWS: WHAT’S COMING FROM ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE?ADAMSON: A couple of things come to mind. There’s a lot of growth opportunity in this industry, and much of the market is still untapped. A high priority for us long-term is to focus on bringing in even more clients to fleet management who may not use our services today. And this has been realized over a long period of time. Back in 1993 when we evolved from a leasing company to a fleet management company, we had 30,000 vehicles, and now we have over half a million vehicles. We continue to grow even in these challenging times. Most of that growth has come from turning non-users of fleet management into users of fleet management. Secondly concerning electric vehicles (EVs), we’re working with Enterprise Holdings to identify the right times and opportunities to make recommendations to our clients to migrate over to EVs. We’ll help them understand when it makes sense to migrate a majority of their fleet, a portion of their fleet, or the whole fleet to EVs. Lastly, we’re always evaluating and investing in the latest and greatest technologies to offer them to our customers to help meet their goals. We’ve already invested tens of millions of dollars in our IT solutions over the last several years to deliver the best client experience. We’re excited to continue to enhance our capabilities. We’re listening to our clients through a client advisory board asking how they’d like to see technology evolve and how we can continue to support them. The client advisory board is made of large and small fleets, government fleets, private fleets, and family business fleets. We want to make sure we’re understanding what clients of all types want and how we can support them.MWS: ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS?ADAMSON: I’m excited about the future of the industry and helping our clients overcome challenges. Helping our clients navigate challenges in real time has been difficult but also rewarding. We want clients to give us their complicated situations and let us help them solve it so they can focus on what they do best.FOR MORE INFORMATIONEnterprise Fleet Management currently partners with Geotab, giving Brice Adamson working behind the scenes at Enterprise Fleet Management
NAFA I & E BOOTH 1805 sales@rgrauto.com | i-sticker.us | 833.747.2886
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202218MEDIUM-DUTY WORKTRUCK SHOWCASEMEDIUM-DUTY WORKTRUCK SHOWCASE
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 19BEYOND CAPABLE2022 Ram Chassis Cab
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202220Whether it’s work in the city, the construction zone, the farm, or the quarry, Ram Trucks’ 2022 Chassis Cab is ready for a challenge. It’s equipped with enough power and technology to get the job done efficiently and safely.JOB-CAPABLEDepending on the needs of the job—be it occasional or frequent towing or service upfits—Ram made sure the chassis cab could handle it.The Ram Chassis Cab is available with two engines: the 6.7-L Cummins Turbo diesel I6 engine and the 6.4-L Hemi V8 engine. The 6.7-L Cummins engine—available across the lineup—is lightweight and offers 800 lb-ft of torque with 360 hp in the 4500 and 5500 models. It gives owners a maximum trailering weight of 35,220 lbs and a maximum GCWR of 43,000 lbs in the 5500 models. The 6.4-L Hemi V8, the standard engine for the 2022 Ram Chassis Cab, uses Fuel Saver Technology and variable-cam timing. It offers a maximum torque of 429 lb-ft, a maximum of 410 hp (3500 models), 21,540-lb maximum trailering (4500 models), and a maximum GCWR of 28,500 lbs (4500/5500 models).Both engines pair with either an electronically controlled Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission, optimized for towing capability with software control for seamless shifting and Power Take-off (PTO) capability, or a standard Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission. Speaking of PTOs, the transmission offers access to the PTO from either the right or left side of the engine. Further, the Cummins engine offers two PTO speeds with its Split-Shaft mode.Additionally, for those who intend to haul with their Ram Chassis Cab, Ram has worked to make the job easier. The 2022 MEDIUM-DUTY WORKTRUCK SHOWCASE
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 21
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202222Chassis Cab features a Trailer 360-degree Surround View Camera to improve visibility. The truck also features Trailer Reverse Guidance that displays both sides of the truck and trailer to ensure accurate hitching position. And upfitted cabs aren’t excluded in this offering. Ram offers a loose-shipped rearview camera for installation. If that wasn’t enough to ensure a supreme tow experience, the folks at Ram also integrated a Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring system that offers operators a look into their trailer’s status with live pressure readings for up to four different trailers with up to 12 tires per trailer.RAM EFFICIENCY Capability is important, but saving money and time has become increasingly important to fleets. To make work more efficient, Ram equipped its Chassis Cab with an available engine shutdown. The shutdown timer automatically turns off the engine or Power Take-off after 5 minutes of idling. The truck also features Active Air Grille Shutters that adapt to load, speed, and engine temperature. This adaptability reduces aerodynamic drag and provides optimum engine cooling. Both of these features help create a more economical vehicle.Ram also has an integrated telematics system dropping this spring. The system will allow business owners to access data about their vehicles, drivers, productivity, efficiency, and more, which will help improve fleet operations overall.BEYOND POWERWe’ve covered the Ram Chassis Cab’s power and PTO capabilities, but sometimes work requires more than raw power and the ability to install a PTO. The 2022 Ram Chassis Cab features an available dual alternator system. The system has a maximum output of 440 amps for auxiliary equipment. But what’s the point of the power if there isn’t an efficient way to access it? The Ram Chassis Cab features an integrated switch bank with six auxiliary switches. Then, to ensure the truck is fueled for the job, owners have options for a 74-gallon dual fuel tank, which consists of a 52-gallon rear-mounted tank and a 22-gallon fuel tank. There’s also the option of using the 52-gallon tank or the 22-gallon tank alone. These options are great when customizing for a fleet’s range as well as the upfit it will receive.And when it comes to upfits, the Chassis Cab is ready. Ram designed the Chassis Cab to make upfits simple. The upfit-ready frame features straight, flat rails. It’s available in standard frame cab axle lengths. Frame mounting holes are also pre-drilled, which simplifies upfits while maintaining the integrity of the frame.UPSCALE INTERIORThe 2022 Ram Chassis Cab is capable and efficient. But is it something a fleet driver will enjoy? Will the fleet owner be proud to use it to carry their clients out to lunch? We think so. The inside of the truck is loaded with technology, and depending on the trim, it’s also loaded with luxurious features.When traveling the road with a trailer in Tow Mode, the Ram Chassis Cab has visibility covered. With an available camera mounted to the trailer or upfit, the Chassis Cab’s rearview mirror can digitally display unobstructed views beyond the trailer, giving the driver assurance of what’s behind them.Further, the Chassis Cab displays pages for different driving modes in MEDIUM-DUTY WORKTRUCK SHOWCASE
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 23its digital cluster. For example, the Off-Road page displays pitch and roll as well as traction control, gear shifting, and more.Aside from optimized digital cluster features, the 2022 Chassis Cab also receives some new connectivity and entertainment features. The Chassis Cab gets updated navigation and a 270-degree Surround View Camera for full views of the truck when trailering. The Chassis Cab also features a wireless charging pad in the center console. It also includes nine USB ports with Type A and Type C compatibility and a Type A port in the armrest—this is sure to keep any work crew charged up and ready to go!For equipment and personal storage, the 2022 Ram Chassis Cab delivers. There are two glove compartments, an upper and lower, to store items for easy access. The lower glove compartment locks for additional security on the jobsite. Speaking of security, the center console is large enough to hold a 15-inch laptop or standard-sized folders. The console also houses a cell phone or tablet docking area, a three-position sliding cup holder tray, and the aforementioned wireless charging pad. And rounding up the interior storage space is the rear under seat storage in the Crew Cab.DRIVE SAFELYBut even with all of these features and power, driver safety is of the utmost importance. The Chassis Cab’s suite of safety technology includes a forward collision warning that is available with automatic emergency braking for both the truck and trailer, LaneSense lane departure warning with Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, and ParkSense front and rear park assist. Although safety systems should not replace the undivided attention of the driver, they are great for bringing a driver’s attention back to the road in case their mind drifts.Additionally, the 2022 Ram Chassis Cab features adaptive LED headlights that light up the road and can also turn up to 15 degrees to help illuminate the path ahead. This feature is great for rural driving with the absence of street lights and other vehicles to help light the road.The 2022 Ram Chassis Cab has the goods: from technology to power to storage to optional work truck features, the Chassis Cab goes beyond just capable.FOR MORE INFORMATIONFind out more about the 2022 Ram Chassis Cab, visit www.ramtrucks.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202224OPERATIONS
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 25The last two years have aimed a spotlight on the trucking industry and made the general population more aware of just how important and essential truck drivers are—more than ever before. With that heightened awareness comes a list of new concerns and issues such as labor shortages, parts shortages, and health issues. These issues should be taken seriously, with industry stakeholders working tirelessly to address them and come up with new ways to adapt to the circumstances of today. New technologies and new ways of thinking are key to finding efficiencies and optimizing operations. The transportation industry has always been dynamic, but the past two years have created a “perfect storm” of challenges—which in turn creates great opportunity for growth and improvement. Here is a look at a few trends that will likely impact operations in 2022 and beyond. LABOR SHORTAGESLabor shortages caused by the pandemic have been widespread, from retail employees to port associates, rail workers, and maintenance technicians, but most impactful to our industry is the shortage of truck drivers and CDL-holders. Companies of all sizes in nearly every industry have been forced to find new ways to keep up with demand, even when they may not have enough employees, which in turn puts a bigger squeeze on the employees they do have left. Months upon months of overtime and additional pressure will take a toll on drivers.DRIVER USEIn certain areas and markets there is indeed a shortage of drivers available, but in many markets we’re seeing the highest number of new drivers in years. In the places where carriers are quite strong and rates are high, new drivers are joining and further fragmenting the market by joining as owner-operators or micro-fleets. The problem then becomes, how do we coordinate these new drivers with shippers that are in need in an efficient way? A big opportunity in the area of driver use is onboarding drivers and shippers to a common platform, appropriately sharing information while respecting data privacy in order to get more out of the available driver hours. Drivers are, on average, only using about seven of their 11-hour clock in the truckload space. But if we could get more drivers to use even nine or 10 of those hours, that could result in a huge bump in overall use.MAINTENANCE CRUNCHIt is of utmost importance to keep your vehicle running—when you have a large fleet you often have the potential to swap out a truck, but as an owner-operator or small fleet, if your truck is down, you could be out of a job for weeks. Unfortunately, it can be hard to predict when you might need maintenance, and even worse, when the part or fluid you need might be available. We’ve seen shortages around DEF fluid, brake chambers, and many different sensors, among other things. Required resources and critical parts are hard to source right now, and we’re probably looking at another year and a half of supply tightness.CONSTRUCTION DEMANDConstruction transportation demand is expected to persist for many years. Residential construction and the number of new homes built over the past two decades have lagged behind historic levels, and it’s safe to assume there’s anticipated demand for tens of millions of new housing units over the coming years. We’ll continue to experience great demand for capacity in this area moving forward.Along with the construction demand comes a labor war between drivers and construction workers, as well as a wage war, competing with the new The Ups and Downs of The Current Transportation MarketTHESE TRENDS COULD AFFECT OPERATIONS By Pete Covach
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202226OPERATIONSinfrastructure money that is now being allocated. Ultimately, this will be reflected back to the customer, but for now, trucking companies and drivers are seeing that inflationary pressure—rates are rising and eroding the margins. It’s critical for owner-operators to watch out for basic cost controls and stay laser focused on keeping their costs down.BE COST CONSCIOUS There will always be a tension between the general population and the driver community about a supposed driver shortage versus a driver payment issue, but to end on a positive, driver pay has significantly risen in the last two years and risen far above the inflationary index. This is great news, but also the time to be vigilant on cost and maintaining your margin in order to be successful and profitable. And drivers need to constantly demand those rates to maintain their margin, as that’s how they will stay ahead in this wild market. The great news is, there will be a very strong demand for transportation in 2022, which is always a positive.OPPORTUNITY AHEADWhile we’re facing a multitude of challenges right now, there’s also a huge amount of opportunity in the transportation industry. In the long term, a lot of the infrastructure funds will directly address specific areas in the transportation network that have been known bottlenecks. Funding over the next two to five years should relieve congestion on the road networks because of the infrastructure funding. In the short term, we’re looking at freight everywhere. And in a market where you have all the opportunity, it’s a really good time to think about where your core business is. You can be more selective and find a better sweet spot and patterns to create some repetition to have more predictability in the freight you’re running. That gives you opportunity for profitable runs and minimization of the cost variability in that normal network.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pete Covach is the industry
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202228OPERATIONSCommercial Vehicle Demand is Rising, and So are PricesTHE HUNT FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 29Those who were in the market for commercial vehicles (or any vehicle, for that matter) in 2021 saw the rise in price at the dealership. One might have heard about the shortage of new vehicles, and perhaps industry peers were seen at dealerships shopping for a new commercial vehicle, as well. Those that couldn’t find a new vehicle might have decided to opt for a used vehicle, only to find the price for a used vehicle to be comparable to a brand new one. According to data, those who found themselves in the scenarios listed weren’t in the minority. They weren’t isolated incidents, and they weren’t just on occasion. NUMBERS TALKWork Truck Solutions, a technology-based platform for the commercial vehicle industry, released its 2021 analysis of the commercial vehicle market and forecast for 2022. The data was collected on a nationwide scale. Work Truck Solutions found that, “Although 2021’s commercial vehicle (CV) inventory mirrored the automotive industry vehicle production slowdown, overall commercial vehicle sales for the year were up more than 11% over 2020.”The data collected also indicated an increasing demand for certain types of upfitted vehicles. Work Truck Solutions found that the demand for service bodies (used by the largest number of vocations) remained high, while demand for dry freight and refrigerated vehicles saw gains of 275% and 200%. And as if the demand versus inventory for pickups wasn’t at an imbalance already, the shortage of cargo vans pushed van buyers to seek out other final-mile solutions in pickup trucks, flatbeds, and passenger wagons. To put the demand for delivery vehicles into perspective, Work Truck Solutions’ data showed an increase of a whopping 1,100% for the online search of delivery vehicles ranging from first mile to middle mile to final mile.Data also found that in 2021, list prices for new work trucks increased more than 13%, and new van prices rose more than 18%. In 2021, the price of used vans averaged $40,000 compared to $33,000 in 2020, and the price of used work trucks increased an average of over 40%.2022 PREDICTIONSWork Truck Solutions CEO Kathryn Schifferle predicts the demand for vans will continue to grow for 2022 along with the increase in refrigerated vans and box trucks. Additionally, the industry saw an increase in 2021 for less-conventional cases such as
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202230OPERATIONS“secure transport,” used in cannabis delivery with an increase in demand of 283%. Schifferle expects this market to continue growing in 2022.Schifferle and the team at Work Truck Solutions has also observed a rush to provide mobile maintenance services, which requires specialized vehicles for both fleet and home maintenance needs. As a result, the team and Schifferle expect this to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial vehicle industry in 2022. Finally, the team at Work Truck Solutions and Schifferle also expect to see commercial vehicle prices (both used and new) to maintain higher averages through 2022. With the rise in demand of services, commercial vehicle values will hold because businesses cannot delay their commercial vehicle purchases.ONLINE SEARCHAlthough finding the perfect used work truck has become a tough task due to supply and demand, some companies are exploring ways to ensure customers find exactly what they need through online shops and databases. As online vehicle-selling platforms such as Carvana and Vroom have taken the consumer market by storm, Work Truck Solutions got on board in November 2019 with its online marketplace, Comvoy.com.Work Truck Solutions designed Comvoy specifically for the work truck market. The platform allows customers to search vehicles by make and model, but also by body style, body manufacturer, add-ons, and more.General Motors also recently announced its online vehicle-selling platform, CarBravo. Modern WorkTruck Solutions reached out to Work Truck Solutions for a comment on the news and what this means for work truck fleet owners in the market for a vehicle.“GM is smart; the theme in today's environment should be that it's so important to give buyers as many channels as possible to find their vehicle,” Schifferle says. “This is even more true for commercial buyers for whom locating the right commercial vehicle is critical to keeping their business operating—and it's especially challenging for them with their unique use cases to find the right upfitted vehicle in the current environment.”SMART SHOPPINGHaving as many shopping options as possible is a plus in this market, especially when supply is low. But an overabundance of data doesn’t make the search any easier.“Yes, for commercial buyers it's not just having as many channels as possible to find their (commercial vehicle), but finding as much absolutely accurate configuration information on each of the vehicles that is critical—otherwise the time spent searching and grinding and asking and clarifying and guessing is untenable,” Schifferle says.If Work Truck Solutions’ predictions for the coming year are correct, demand for work trucks will continue to climb. Those in the market for a used work truck should take every opportunity to shorten their search and purchase a vehicle as soon as the right one becomes available. Work Truck Solutions and Comvoy could greatly simplify this process.“Work Truck Solutions has the requisite searchable, accurate, configuration data and currently power four unique types of channels that help buyers: dealership sites, upfitter locators, OEM branded sites, and our national marketplace—Comvoy,” Schifferle says. “Take a look at any of those sites powered by Work Truck Solutions and you immediately see the power of accurate configuration information and understand why it is so important to know exactly what each vehicle is, where it is, and how it can be accessible. That's what we do.”FOR MORE INFORMATIONdesigned to help commercial vehicle buyers. The company was founded to help commercial vehicle buyers their business. Find out more about Commercial vehicle values will hold because businesses cannot delay their commercial vehicle purchases.”“
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202232OPERATIONSDay-to-day, it’s virtually impossible to have control over everything—but on the jobsite, control is key for safety, efficiency, and overall uptime. This increase in demand for optimized productivity has driven a need for expanded work truck control system capabilities. Not only do these systems need to be intuitive to an operator, they should also be equipped with the proper cab and compartment controls, a wireless remote control, diagnostics, and more.Thanks to technological advancements and optimized functionalities, operators can have complete control over their cranes and mechanic trucks with the IMT® CMD.CTRL™ system that combines strong, reliable hardware with flexible, intuitive software.CUSTOMER CENTRIC “IMT knew it wanted to bring new innovation to our product line and also build a robust and futuristic platform for our control system,” says Tom Wallace, sales manager at IMT. “We used our Voice of the Customer platform to interview our distributors and customers to identify pain points. It came down to needing new and Take Complete Control of Cranes and Mechanic TrucksIOWA MOLD TOOLING CO.'S JOBSITE SOLUTION
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 33more efficient ways to do their tasks when they're in the field, and they wanted up-to-date technology.”Once the IMT team narrowed down the problem they wanted to solve, they began a robust new product development stage gate process. A cross-functional group including sales, production, engineering, marketing, and purchasing came together, and the CMD.CTRL product began to take shape. Engineering worked to fine-tune the design that incorporated features from customer input that would be functional and practical in real-world applications. From there, the CMD.CTRL system underwent extensive internal and external testing to ensure the technology could stand up to the rugged demands of a typical jobsite before finally moving into field testing. “We asked our customer to take this product out into the field and really put it through its paces,” Wallace says. “We, again, took their feedback after working with the product and tweaked the final design to ensure it is addressing real customer needs.”Now that IMT had a tested, customer-approved solution, the CMD.CTRL system hit production and was ready to reach a broader audience. SAFETY & EFFICIENCYThe IMT team and its customers agree that one of the biggest benefits of the CMD.CTRL system is the focus on safety and efficiency it brings. Now, users are able to run stabilizers from the remote and have a clear view of what's around them when deploying the stabilizers. “I don't think I would be able to do my job effectively without our new CMD.CTRL system,” says Will Hall of Custom Truck One Source. “If I'm lifting something that's 20 or 30 ft away from the actual truck itself, having that remote is vital to my job. I’m able to watch the load and see what the load is doing. It's just a great way to work rather than having a spotter.”With the CMD.CTRL system, users also don’t have to walk back to their truck every time they want to turn something on or turn something off.“Being able to turn on a compressor or engage a PTO right from the remote is going to prevent our customers from having to climb off whatever piece of equipment they're on and save them time,” Wallace says. ENDLESS CUSTOMIZATION The IMT CMD.CTRL system can be easily adjusted from its default setting making it an ideal component for work
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202234OPERATIONStrucks, which are designed to take on many different applications. “Take lighting for example,” Wallace begins. “The IMT service bodies and cranes are used in just so many different applications. Some trucks are left out in the field, some trucks go home every night. Being able to go in and easily program different lighting setups is a great feature to ensure we’re accommodating every environment our customers are in.”MORE FEATURES & CONTROLIn addition to the safety features and customization options, below are the defining attributes of the CMD.CTRL system that are helping operators be more productive. Multi-cab Control SwitchThe multi-cab control switch gives operators access to three different modes of operation to control floodlights: search, reverse, and work mode. Search mode is used when an operator is pulling up to a jobsite and looking to find the piece of equipment.CMD.CTRL Master Control PanelThe new CMD.CTRL master control panel is in the right rear crane compartment. Just as you can use the remote control, you can also use all functions of the Dominator mechanic truck’s body within the master control panel. With the new system comes new capabilities. New to this system is the ability to do what’s called crane recovery. In the absence of the remote control, or if the remote becomes damaged and you still need to use or store your crane, you can use crane recovery mode and the directional arrows to control it. In this mode, all flow is reduced by 50%, which allows for smooth movement and safe operation. Another new feature is engaging the PTO and the compressor within the vehicle functions section. In the old system, you were only able to turn your compressor on and off via the remote. Now, it can be activated via both the remote control and the master control panel.IMT has incorporated engineered redundancies in the system to allow it to function even if a remote is lost or damaged. “Users can still use key system functions like their compressor if they’ve misplaced their remote,” Wallace says. “Sometimes our customers are out in the field and may be 50 miles out in the middle of nowhere. If something were to happen to the remote, that redundancy allows them to finish that job in the field 50 miles from home, get their crane stored safely, and get back home where they can replace their batteries or repair their remote.”CMD.CTRL DiagnosticsThe upgraded CMD.CTRL unit has a diagnostics section. This gives you the ability to see inputs, outputs, crane fault codes, and more—empowering you to quickly and efficiently diagnose issues to maintain optimal uptime.Improved Toggle Switch Design For the remote itself, the IMT team spent a lot of time focusing on making the design more ergonomic. The location of the batteries changed to take weight away from the device. The toggle switches have also been moved closer together to make it easy to use with one hand. FULL CIRCLE FEEDBACKThe work the IMT team did to incorporate as much customer feedback as possible into the CMD.CTRL product has gone a long way in helping end-users boost productivity and do their jobs better. The results are hard to argue with. “I would definitely recommend it,” Hall says. “I would say, overall, it's a smooth and easy unit to use when compared to other brands or manufacturers that I've used before this one. I would recommend it 10 out of 10 times.”FOR MORE INFORMATION Find out more about the IMT CMD.CTRL, visit www.imt.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202236TECHNOLOGYFleet management can be complex, and the prior notion was to outsource tasks and decisions. Some of the reasons included a lack of expertise in-house, the size of the fleet, the type of fleet, and potential cost savings.Large fleet management companies (FMCs) advocated that they could manage your fleet better than your organization could. However, by outsourcing fleet management, you are at the mercy of the FMC’s decisions, and you can lose the in-house knowledge (and data) to challenge the decisions being made on your behalf.On the surface, outsourcing your fleet management may relieve short- term pain but may end up costing you more in the long run.SOFTWARE SOLUTIONThe services FMCs offer can now be handled by fleet management software at a much lower cost. With fleet management software, you can effectively manage your fleet in-house and have direct access to important fuel, telematics, and maintenance data through easy-to-use software integrations.These integrations also improve your fleet operations by significantly reducing the amount of manual data entry that needs to be done. Your data should not be held hostage and should always be accessible in real time.Fleet Management Company vs. Fleet Management Software WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU? By Greg Mattes
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 37If you haven’t already, now is the time to evaluate how you manage your fleet and prepare for the future of fleet management.REAL-TIME DATA ACCESSOftentimes, FMCs provide you monthly or quarterly reports on how your fleet performs. These reports are often high level and lack necessary details. They are really just a report of things that have happened in the past.This information then gets shared by email or in a meeting with leadership at an organization. This process does not allow for proactive fleet management or any type of collaboration within an organization.Today, an FMC will tell you they are proactively managing your fleet. They do this through a call center that makes decisions on your behalf. For example, an FMC will often try to save you money and may choose the cheapest tires to put on your vehicle. These cheaper tires will most likely need to be replaced sooner, costing the fleet more in tires over the life of the vehicle.With real-time access to your data, your organization can collaborate, make decisions, track why a decision was made, and learn from those decisions.By having all the details about your fleet in one place, you can use that data for exception management, benchmark how each vehicle is performing against other vehicles in the fleet, and help someone who is not an industry expert make data-driven decisions.Why would you let someone else make decisions for you on one of the largest expenses your business has, managing your fleet?APIIn layman’s terms, an API (application programming interface) allows a piece of software to interact with another piece of software. A common use case for an API would be to push your fleet data into another system (like an ERP or accounting system) or pull data into your fleet software.Are you getting a weekly or monthly data dump from an FMC and having to build processes to import that data? Using an API integration would prevent this.SYSTEM INTEGRATIONSReal-time access to your fleet data can be very valuable, and while capturing this may seem like a monumental task, it’s fairly simple. Proper fleet management software can integrate with other products, giving you
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202238TECHNOLOGYa single place to get all of the information about your fleet.Integrations can also eliminate manual data entry, which saves time and money. Some of the most popular integrations are GPS, telematics, fleet fuel cards, recalls, and maintenance shops. One of the most valuable integrations for any fleet is a maintenance shop integration. This allows a fleet to automatically pull service record data from companies like Firestone, Tires Plus, Monro, Pep Boys, and independent shops into their fleet software with line item level details. Viewing real-time maintenance data helps you make the right decisions sooner and ultimately lowers total cost of ownership. A maintenance shop integration also allows you to keep up with preventive maintenance compliance, have fine-grained control of repairs, and reduce downtime for drivers.Integrating a telematics solution with fleet management software is a great way to improve visibility and optimize daily workflows. With telematics, you are able to automate fleet maintenance processes and improve efficiency. Some benefits of telematics include preventive maintenance alerts, the ability to track asset health, and eliminating communication delays and duplicate data entry. The list of integrations will grow over time as we see vehicle connectivity grow. Here are a few examples: • Embedded telematics on most new vehicles• Emerging connected tires technology • Predictive analytics • Vehicle inspections enhanced by artificial intelligenceWhy wait to take advantage of your data?ACCESS & AUTOMATIONMobility and convenience are two critical components today. Since fleets are mobile by nature, it only makes sense that the way you manage your fleet should also be mobile based. Having the ability to access and update information from anywhere is a true difference maker that technology offers fleets.For example, a driver vehicle inspections report (DVIR) completed on a smartphone instead of paper provides a better experience for a fleet driver and operational efficiencies for the company.Performing a vehicle inspection on a smartphone saves time because vehicle information can be pre-populated rather than manually entered every time.Letting the fleet driver take photos and add notes is an easy way to communicate issues without having to go back to the office to drop off paper logs and explain where the issues lie.This also eliminates manual data entry, providing time savings for the company and giving the fleet manager immediate access to the inspections to ensure the company vehicles are safe on the road.When you add the fact that you can automate workflows, be alerted when an issue is found on a vehicle, and track that issue all the way to a verified resolution, mobile inspections become a very powerful tool for a fleet.The list of benefits of having mobile access to fleet information is long, but one of the largest benefits surrounds driver satisfaction. Today, finding and keeping quality drivers can be challenging for many businesses with fleets, so why not use mobile tools to help keep your fleet drivers happy?For example, giving drivers easy access to a shop directory to locate a shop and get service performed makes their job easier and will make sure their vehicle maintenance stays current, preventing a breakdown and saving the company money in the long run.TRANSPARENCY Technology continues to advance many industries, and fleet management is no exception. Old business models will be no longer relevant in the near future, mainly driven by customer demand for transparency around fleet costs and real-time access to data. This truly is an exciting time to be in the fleet industry.ABOUT THE AUTHOR space for over 18 years. Working with Advance Auto Parts and he has spent thousands of hours leverage technology to improve their term roadmap and long-term vision in a world of new technology and the
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202240TECHNOLOGYAll-in-one Fleet ManagementA CHAT WITH SPIREON ON ITS FLEETLOCATE PLATFORM FOR ALL VEHICLES AND ASSETSModern WorkTruck Solutions chatted with the Spireon team to get more insight into Spireon’s fleet management products. Read on to learn more.
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 41AQABOUT SPIREON?Spireon, Inc. is North America’s largest device independent telematics company, with 20 years of experience providing businesses and consumers with powerful insights to track, manage, and protect their vehicles and assets. We serve a multitude of markets across the transportation and automotive sectors including trailer and asset, fleet, franchise dealers, vehicle finance, rental car, and consumer. Our devices are supported by our award-winning NSpire® platform, which currently supports nearly 3.5 million active subscribers across the company’s growing suite of products. SPIREON OFFER?Spireon offers solutions for franchise car dealers, such as the MyDealer retention tool in Spireon’s LoJack platform. The company also offers solutions for buy-here-pay-here auto dealerships, such as tools in the GoldStar platform to encourage prompt payments, recover vehicles if necessary, avoid fraud risk, and more. Spireon offers solutions for fleet managers with its FleetLocate platform, offering fleet tracking and GPS solutions that increase safety and reduce costs. The fleet management tools help fleets specifically with driver safety, to maximize fuel efficiency, increase driver productivity, and more. Finally, Spireon’s solutions for trailer and asset managers help improve trailer usage, reduce trailer detention time and dwell time, improve driver satisfaction, maximize ROI with managed services, and more—all within FleetLocate.All of these solutions run on Spireon’s NSpire platform. The NSpire platform provides cloud-based, secure, real-time data management and transaction processing environment, supporting more than the aforementioned 3.5 million customers and 3.5 billion data events on a monthly basis. The NSpire platform delivers information from data sourced from Spireon devices, onboard telematics, or other partner devices to offer vehicle intelligence data.WHAT IS FLEETLOCATE?FleetLocate is a fleet management solution that helps get the most out of drivers, assets, and vehicles. From ELD compliance to GPS tracking, FleetLocate puts data in the hands of fleet managers to help improve productivity and profitability.The FleetLocate solution offers FL360 for GPS tracking of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. FleetLocate also offers an AI dashcam, CamCoach, that coaches drivers on the go. CamCoach gives fleet managers access to video recordings, views of distracted driving events, and more. FleetLocate’s Flex Suite, the trailer and asset tracking solution, is offered in two ways: FL Flex 2 TT for trailers, and FL Flex 2 EQ for construction equipment.FLEETLOCATE PRODUCT LINE DESIGNED FOR?Spireon’s FleetLocate product lines are designed for mixed fleets and assets. Whether it’s a small business or large commercial operator, we have products to support all vehicle types, as well as asset types including dry vans, containers, chassis, flatbeds, tankers, reefers, and even converter dollies.We pride ourselves on staying ahead of the industry with technology innovation. In 2018, we introduced the industry’s first modular trailer tracking device, the FL Flex. We saw that one tracker didn’t fit all use cases and led the way in giving customers
ultimate flexibility. This allowed our customers to start small, save money, and add more capabilities as their business needs changed.Today, this product has developed into its second generation. The product portfolio covers all install types and allow us to support fleets with all assets, equipment, trailers, reefers, tankers, chassis, flatbeds, and more.Our modular tracking devices can be paired with different accessories and trailer components including a variety of sensors such as: solar panel, one-way temp probe, ATIS/TPMS (PSI) integration, liftgate battery monitoring, door sensor, and cargo sensor.WHAT’S NEW WITH THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE FLEX SUITE?This second generation of devices is faster to install, includes more power options, is wireless sensor-capable, and even comes with an integrated cargo sensor option. Options are available to allow the devices to be installed in as little as 10 minutes on empty or loaded trailers, making customization easier and faster than before.THE INTELLISCAN CARGO SENSOR IS OFFERED WITH THE FLEX SUITE. WHAT IS INTELLISCAN?Spireon is currently offering limited availability to our next generation IntelliScan. This new volumetric-capable sensor enables trailer managers to see not only if the trailer is loaded or unloaded with 99% accuracy, but what percent of trailer floor space is still available for loading. This enables better optimization of trailer floor space, increases backhaul opportunities, and improves trailer use. It is mounted in the rear of the trailer allowing maximum visibility to the interior when loaded nose to rear providing images of an entire 53-ft trailer. It allows fleet managers to not only see if the trailer is loaded or empty, but gives them the ability to use the images and remaining floor space reporting to train dock workers on loading best practices.HOW DOES THIS TECHNOLOnce our GPS tracking devices and any applicable sensors are installed on a customer’s vehicle/asset, the devices transmit data through reliable carrier networks back to our NSpire platform. From there, the data is processed and translated into consumable reports and alerts that customers can access via our cloud-based UI or mobile applications.WHAT ELSE IS OFFERED IN THE FLEX SUITE?The FleetLocate Flex Suite allows fleet managers and customers to customize their management solutions based on their specific needs. Multiple different smart sensor add-ons are available in the Flex Suite to help ensure all needs are met. These add-ons include: ATIS/TPMS sensors, liftgate battery monitoring, door sensor, cargo sensor, one-way temperature probe, and solar panels. No matter your needs, Spireon’s FleetLocate has a solution. MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202242TECHNOLOGYFOR MORE INFORMATIONFind out more about FleetLocate
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202244TECHNOLOGYRoad fatalities are at an all-time high these days. Mayank Sharma, the head of global product management at Teletrac Navman, says this is due to the fact that travel has increased as well as the amount of distractions a driver has at their disposal at any given time. These distractions include smartphones and even technology within a vehicle that takes attention away from the road. FLEET CONCERNSFleet managers should be concerned about this fact for more reasons than they might realize. The obvious reason fleet managers should be concerned is, of course, the lives and safety of their drivers. From a business perspective, fleet managers and fleet owners should strive to provide a safe environment for their employees. In a safe environment, not only are employees’ chances of an accident fewer, but the employee also feels valued by the company.On a more objective level, Sharma says providing a safe environment for employees boils down to finances. Accidents are expensive for fleet businesses. Aside from the cost of the accident itself, when the vehicle involved undergoes maintenance, the fleet company must adjust to its downtime, which could mean forfeiting business.Finally, Sharma says fleet owners and managers should make safety a priority because the company’s brand, or reputation, is at stake. When drivers travel within the community, they are the face of the business. It’s important that they drive safely, avoid accidents, and accurately reflect the values of the business they represent.So what can fleet owners and managers do to ensure the safety of their drivers?Using Technology to Decrease FatalitiesCOACHING DRIVERS TO SAFETYlight-duty feature
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 45 Teletrac Navman offers fleet managers a look into specific incidents. Fleet managers can search for speed events, harsh braking, and more to gain an idea of the safety of their fleet. Teletrac Navman offers a safety analytics dashboard to fleet managers using its platform. This helps fleet managers see specific areas where a driver could benefit from coaching.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202246TECHNOLOGYTALK ABOUT ITFirst and foremost, never underestimate the value of an open conversation. Sharma says having an open, honest conversation with drivers about safe driving behaviors can help build trust with the driver while also highlighting their responsibilities and obligations representing the company behind the wheel.Later, in-cab technology can help implement the strategies and directives discussed in the conversation. With technology solutions, such as Teletrac Navman, fleet managers can see a certain driver’s specific behaviors and coach the driver on where they can improve. Further, adding GPS technologies and dash cameras also provide resources to offer objective insight to fleet managers to help them have those conversations.DRIVER’S RESPONSIBILITY When it comes down to it, the fleet’s safety is dependent on the driver—after all, no matter how many coaching sessions the fleet offers, it’s ultimately the driver who makes the decisions behind the wheel. To ensure a safe driving experience, some telematics systems offer a driver version of the platform. Teletrac Navman offers a driver safety scorecard that shows the driver how well they are driving. For instance, if a driver drives too fast, their score dips. This driver platform also allows drivers to compare their performance with their peers. There is also an educational component to the platform showing the driver where they can improve and what behaviors to change to gain a better score. With these systems in place, drivers will be more aware of their driving behaviors. With Teletrac Navman, fleet managers can recall trips of any driver and view a time-stamped Trip Summary that details events such as speeding, harsh acceleration, and much more.
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 47ACCIDENT PROOFINGUnfortunately, even if a fleet employees the safest drivers it can find, accidents are still a possibility when other drivers share the road. Sharma says Teletrac Navman has become increasingly focused on the use of visual data from integrated cameras. This allows fleet managers to dig deeper into road incidents and gain context into why events unfolded as they did. Whether the accident was or wasn’t the fault of the driver, the fleet manager can take the appropriate action knowing fully what occurred. Additionally, a telematics system can help prevent accidents from the get-go. Teletrac Navman, although capable of providing insight into why an accident happened, is more concerned with preventing accidents altogether. Using AI algorithms Teletrac Navman developed, as well as through partnerships, the platform looks through data to discover accident trends and coach drivers in hopes to eliminate them as much as possible.Although telematics systems and data can be a great tool to prevent accidents and keep drivers safe, telematics and data can only do so much. Sharma says driver coaching is the key—and absolutely crucial—to bringing down the number of fatalities. He says data collected through these systems and cameras is only useful when used to coach drivers. Teletrac Navman offers a safety analytics dashboard to fleet managers using its platform, which helps fleet managers see specific areas to coach their drivers.FUTURE TECHNOLOGYSharma says Teletrac Navman’s goal is to eventually get to a zero-fatality future by meeting the needs of its customers today and providing information to coach their drivers to become the safest on the road. Teletrac Navman is working to bring more dashcams and different types of video data to the table for its customers. It’s also working to improve preventive maintenance for its customers’ vehicles and assets. And finally, it continues its work to help ensure coaching conversations between fleet managers and drivers are taking place with tools to improve the conversation such as scorecards and fleet manager dashboards.The road to zero-fatalities is long and winding, but decreasing the likelihood of even one accident makes it worth it.FOR MORE INFORMATION visit www.teletracnavman.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202248TECHNOLOGYTelematics devices, including GPS and ELDs, help fleet owners in their fleet management programs by providing information, such as engine idling, route planning, maintenance planning, driver behavior, and more. A vehicle's engine can be monitored with telematics devices to see if it is running and moving, determine how many miles have been driven, and determine the number of hours the engine has been operating. In 2016, FMCSA passed the ELD mandate, which required motor carriers and drivers to keep records of duty under the hours-of-service regulations to implement electronic records. All motor carriers and drivers subject to the ELD rule must use an ELD by the compliance date of December 18, 2017. ELDs were introduced to help create a safer work environment for truck drivers. ELDs also make it easier to accurately track, manage, and share records of duty status information. Additionally, ELDs synchronize with a truck’s engine to automatically record driving time for more accurate hours of service (HOS) recording. Using ELDs, drivers spend much less time on paperwork and more driving. BENEFITSAn ELD will provide more than compliance data, and fleet owners can use this information to reduce fuel costs by monitoring engine idling and improving route planning. Tracking how much time a driver spends idling allows managers to focus on improvements in 3G Sunset, Data Overload, and Improving OperationsAN ELD UPDATE
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 49this area, saving thousands of dollars each month by reducing fuel waste.Digital maintenance planning tools also enable the business to increase vehicle uptime. ELDs connect to the vehicle’s diagnostic port, actively monitoring fault codes. Keep ahead of maintenance issues by monitoring the engine in real time. Historical reports lead to precautionary measures that can be taken when necessary, leading to better-maintained vehicles. Additionally, ELD and telematics devices can be incorporated into route optimization tools, enabling route planning to include traffic patterns and the location of stops. These devices let dispatchers send routes directly to drivers and even update them mid-route if and when an emergency or last-second job arises. Route optimization solutions provide dispatchers and office staff with real-time maps and the locations of all vehicles and assets, reducing the need to call or text drivers. Most of these tracking devices have a "closest to" feature that allows fleet managers to plug in an address and see which drivers are closest to a certain location. Route optimization software also enables direct messaging to drivers' smartphones. Alerts notify managers when the driver leaves their jobsite and heads to their next location, allowing managers to send accurate ETAs to customers. ELDs track driving behaviors, such as hard braking, accelerating too fast, and turning corners too quickly. Once fleet managers know how drivers are driving, they can debrief them on what happened and help them improve. When drivers become aware of poor habits, they are less likely to continue them, leading to better driving records and fewer accidents. IMPROVE ASSET USEAsset management can be tricky when fine-tuning a fleet of trucks. Transportation managers need to be vigilant, continuously analyzing and assessing the business model to stay on top of changes. They also need the right tools to inform their business decisions, fine-tune the mix of truck assets, minimize the overall cost of operations, and drive profitability.Telematics, ELDs, and GPS devices track trucks and loads and display these on digital maps. Dispatchers can see what drivers can retrieve a return load to avoid traveling with an empty truck. Using telematics devices can improve asset use and bottom-line profitability. The industry average drive time in an 11-hour on-duty shift is 6.5 hours. Decreasing idling at stops, loading/unloading times, and required paperwork adds driving hours to the day, making it possible for drivers to increase efficiency. DATA OVERLOADVirtually every piece of technology-generated data—from ELDs, telematics devices, cameras, and other safety products—can be collected, analyzed, and used to improve operations, identify trends, discover bottlenecks, and make informed decisions. But many work truck companies are drowning in data overload. When used correctly, the data helps trucking companies begin to see trends they may not have noticed otherwise.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202250TECHNOLOGYFor those who want to integrate data onto "a single pane of glass," make sure ELD and TMS data streams are seamlessly integrated—creating a one-stop-shop for data. With the correct integration, key performance indicator (KPI) metrics can even be displayed.Prioritize what to do with data. Start with small, measurable action items once data is better organized and consolidated. For example, start with revenue per mile/week and safety violations per month. Eventually, the goal will be to reduce data and make it more accessible, such as incorporating accounting, billing, Hours-of-Service, driver settlements, and TMS data all together on one screen. Once data has been gathered, think ahead about how to create a more holistic view of fleet operations. CONSIDERATIONS Some ELDs use cellular networks to relay information to smartphones and tablets. For vehicles in remote areas, consider whether the locations they travel have good cell coverage. ELDs operate as stand-alone units while others connect to a system that can monitor a large fleet of vehicles. When buying an ELD, it must be certified compliant and listed on FMCSA’s website. Approximately 70% of trucking companies in Canada also send trucks in and out of the US. It's important to know that not all ELDs that work in the US will work in Canada. If transporting loads or sending work trucks cross-border, choose an ELD that operates in both countries. Some businesses have even had to switch to a different provider. While conducting due diligence to upgrade telematics and ELDs, make sure any new provider plays well with other technology stack and assets used in the fleet. Can a new device monitor HOS restrictions? Maybe consider another TMS or choose one that plays well with a wide variety of devices. The good news is that systems out there, like the Axele TMS, integrate with both types of ELDs, making it easier to manage a fragmented fleet. The Axele TMS connects to multiple devices.3G SUNSET & ELDSMost mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks that support ELDs and telematics devices soon. The sunset is happening to make room for more advanced network services, such as 4G and 5G. As a result, many ELDs will not be supported. Any ELD that requires 3G cellular connectivity will no longer comply once the sunset dates occur. The announced sunset dates will happen per the following: • AT&T 3G: February 22, 2022• Sprint 3G (T-Mobile): March 31, 2022• Sprint LTE (T-Mobile): June 30, 2022• T-Mobile 3G: July 1, 2022• Verizon 3G: December 31, 2022Many of these providers have upgrades and replacement plans in place. Make sure to act as soon as possible to avoid compliance issues. There are plenty more reasons to think now about transitioning. Chip shortages create long lead times for new devices. And there’s obsolescence dead ahead: Those with older phones, or basic “feature” phones, will no longer be able to use them. In addition, millions of vehicles with 3G systems will no longer run alarms, security cameras, and other devices.Technology ranging from TMS, mobile apps, and telematics can be the right solution for the driver shortage because it improves your operations' efficiency and productivity.FOR MORE INFORMATION Find out more about ELD and network and play well with others, visit www.axele.com. SOCIAL CLIMBINGADVERTISERS MWS SOCIAL MARKETING CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS:• INCREASEbrandawareness• BOOSTinboundtraffic• BECOMEanindustryauthority• IMPROVEwebsearchrankings• RAISEconversionrates
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 51ATTENTION WORK FLEETSOF 150+ VEHICLES1. Are you a eet manager or directly involved in eet decision-making?2. Do you have any needs for products or solutions that will help your eet run more eciently and safely?If you answered “YES” to both questions,e Work Fleet Forum invites you to beour guest at NO COST TO YOU! We cover100% of your airfare, hotel and meals.CONNECT with the best ideas, the newest solutions and the brightest minds all in one location.LEARN about new products and solutions with private demos and small presentations. You can even customize your event based on who you’d like to meet with.NETWORK with other top eet managers in a relaxed and productive setting at the beautiful Sawgrass Marriott. You’ll add to what - and who - you know in the eet industry. e Work Fleet Forum is for those who run hard-working eets. It’s designed to be more productive, more valuable, more fun and just for eet leaders like you. Organized by Eaton Hall Exhibitions OCT 24-262022Register Today!(800) 746-9646 www.workfleetforum.comanthony@eatonhall.comLimited Vendor Opportunities Still Availablee Sawgrass Marriot • Jacksonville Beach, FL
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202252MAINTENANCEWinter weather can be tough on diesel fleets, resulting in costly downtime and lost profits. Common cold weather culprits include battery issues, poor cold starts, loss of fuel economy, diesel fuel gelling, and clogged fuel lines. Here are a few cost-effective, preventive maintenance tips to keep your fleet operational in inclement cold weather. PREVENT GELLINGDiesel fuel can start to gel at 32 degrees F. Gelled fuel will not just ruin your fuel economy, but it could leave you stranded on the side of the road with a fuel-starved engine and plugged fuel filter. Using an anti-gel fuel additive, like Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Winter Anti-gel, will not only prevent your fuel from gelling, but it will also stabilize your fuel and provide a needed cetane boost for improved fuel economy. Why is an anti-gel important? Once your vehicle has been exposed to frigid cold temperatures, the fuel lines and fuel filter can become clogged by the crystalizing diesel fuel. Diesel is comprised of straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons, also called paraffin waxes, that become solid around 17.5 degrees for #2 Diesel. The amount of paraffin wax diesel contains depends on the kind of crude oil used to produce the diesel fuel and the process used to manufacture it. So, what if your truck’s diesel fuel has already gelled? A deicer, like Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Winter Rescue can help. Diesel Winter Rescue is a fully formulated emergency product that contains a military-grade deicer and lubricity additive. It quickly re-liquefies gelled fuel and deices frozen fuel filters to restore the power and flow of fuel to the engine.Cold Weather Diesel TipsFROM LUBRICATION SPECIALTIESGELLLED FUEL FILTER heavy-duty feature
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 53SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTSUsing a synthetic lubricant can be a game-changer for your diesel engine. Synthetic lubricants are capable of handling low temperatures much better than traditional lubricants, providing increased energy efficiency. Synthetic oils have better viscosity than conventional mineral oils and can flow more quickly during the cold weather of the winter months. As a bonus, synthetic oil also allows extra time between oil changes without damaging the engine for additional savings. Changing your oil, preferably to a lighter viscosity in the winter will help improve flow within the engine.Lubrication Specialties recommends using a full synthetic from its Blue Diamond line of motor oils. Hot Shot’s Secret Blue Diamond Engine Oil infused with FR3 nano technology reduces wear, lowers oil consumption, improves fuel economy, and reduces friction. Changing your oil with a 100% PAO formula, nano lubricant and CK-4 additive package will decrease wear and tear on your engine, improve fuel economy, and fight against stiction, i.e., varnish buildup in your engine. It is always smart to choose an oil appropriate to the environment where your fleet operates. Blue Diamond engine oil, available in a 5w-40, 15w-40, and 10w-30 viscosity, has a wider operating temperature range making it ideal for cold weather use.ANTIFREEZEAntifreeze is a winter essential for any vehicle braving the cold winter temperatures. Antifreeze keeps the water in both your radiator and engine from freezing when outside temperatures begin to drop. Changing your vehicle’s antifreeze at the intervals your manufacturer recommends can prevent rust from building up inside your cooling system. Hot Shot’s Secret has several options for antifreeze that are pre-mixed and keeps the guesswork out of winter maintenance. Hot Shot’s Secret’s Global Extended Life 50/50 prediluted antifreeze for diesel and gas is pre-charged with a supplemental coolant additive to extend coolant efficacy up to 750,000 miles. For heavy-duty engines, Hot Shot’s Secret offers an SCA extended life 50/50 coolant for 150,000 maintenance-free miles that is compatible with conventional and other extended life brands.KEEP YOUR TANK FULLBetween season changes, it's important to keep your fuel tank full to prevent condensation. Condensation occurs when there are large jumps in temperature, which can wreak havoc on the injector tips and the engine. It can be a hassle to go to a fuel station every day, so keeping some jerry cans filled with fuel in a place with a consistent temperature can eliminate extra trips to the fuel station.Taking a few precautions to fortify your fleet for cold weather will keep your fleet operational even as the weather dips below -30 degrees.FOR MORE INFORMATION Find out more about Hot Shot’s Secret’s full line of products developed for gas and diesel cold weather defense or one of over www.hotshotsecret.com. GELLLED FUEL FILTER
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202254WORK TRUCK PRODUCTSFELLING TRAILERSFelling Trailers continues to go "green" with its patent-pending Air Operated Bi-fold Ramps system. The Air Bi-Fold ramp system is part of Felling's Controlled Flow Air Ramp series that is all air-powered with no batteries and no hydraulics. The new Air Bi-Fold system is suited for the paving and low clearance markets. A key feature of Felling's design is in the operation of the flip ramp. The flip ramp locks out fully when extending, preventing scraping or marring of the ground. Felling Trailer’s Air Bi-Fold Ramps are 45-inches wide by 11 ft (7.5-ft + 3.5-ft) wood inlaid.www.felling.comREAL POWERPOWER GENERATORSGenerators from Real Power provide electricity to the jobsite using a fraction of the weight and space of a generator set towed behind a truck or installed in the bed. Real Power’s generators are powered directly through the PTO of the truck’s transmission. On medium-duty vehicles, power options start at 15kW up to 60kW. Real Power systems take up none of the weight inside the truck and weigh up to 80% less for the power they create. This is because Real Power generators eliminate the diesel engine, fuel tank, exhaust system, and frame of a diesel generator.www.realacpower.comYOKOHAMA TIREYokohama Tire has added a new commercial tire to its continually expanding lineup: the 720R™. The 720R is a 19.5-inch, N-speed-rated drive tire engineered specifically for pickup trucks and last-mile delivery operations. The tire is offered in a 225/70R/19.5 size and is now available in the US. Benefits of the 720R include: high speed capabilities with a casing designed for speeds up to 87 mph; exceptional traction with wide lateral grooves that run diagonally; and built to last with sidewall protection that reduces damage caused by curbing and scrubbing.www.yokohamatire.comTRANSFER FLOWTransfer Flow’s 50- and 80-gallon refueling tanks for diesel fit full-size pickups and come with mounting hardware, fuel cap, and rollover valve. They work best for manually fueling a diesel truck or equipment out in the field. Transfer Flow manufactures the refueling tanks from 14-gauge aluminized steel for superior rust resistance and strength. The black powder coated tanks also have internal baffles for extra durability. They’re compatible with GPI® and Fill-Rite® 12-volt refueling pumps. The pumps are sold separately. Transfer Flow fuel tanks are great for high-capacity replacement tanks, in-bed auxiliary tanks, refueling tanks, and fuel tank and toolbox combination systems.www.transferflow.comSEE ADPG 7SEE ADPG 3
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.MWSMAG.COM MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS 55PPGDELFLEET ONEBy offering the industry’s lowest VOC ratings for a commercial vehicle paint platform, the PPG DELFLEET ONE system delivers the benefits of a healthier work environment while also helping businesses meet stricter VOC emissions regulations. The DELFLEET ONE compact mixing system is comprised of just 45 toners, including the latest aluminum and pearl pigments to provide full color capability for direct gloss, basecoat, and matte colors. Supporting its color capability is the DELFLEET ONE Color Selector that houses thousands of OEM color chips—including hundreds of variant colors—for precisely matching commercial vehicle colors.www.delfleetone.comA.R.E.DCU COMMERCIAL CAPSA.R.E.’s welded frame construction of its DCU caps offer years of service, no matter what your job throws at it. Customers can choose between the DCU (.035 aluminum skin), DCU MAX (.063 aluminum skin), or Diamond Edition DCU (.063 diamond plate aluminum skin) for their truck. Each commercial aluminum model features weather-sealed doors with gas props and heavy-duty hinges. They also include locks to protect equipment and tools. Customers can also choose to customize caps to their exact needs with roof racks, doors and windows, back-up cameras, LED lights, and toolboxes.www.4are.comTRIM-LOKDECORATIVE TRIM EDGE MOULDINGWhen used as decorative moulding, decorative plastic edge trim from Trim-Lok has various customizable sizing options as the standard edge trim—with an important emphasis on quality finishing options. Trim-Lok’s plastic trim moulding has a variety of applications, including playground equipment, machinery guards, automotive doors and seats, and much more. Customers find value in adding a clean, attractive finish to their products with Trim-Lok’s decorative moulding. The company meets the need for plastic trim moulding by helping customers in many markets including transportation.www.trimlok.com PHOENIX USA, INCPhoenix USA’s camlock-style toolboxes feature a box frame, doors, and all hardware constructed entirely of durable and easy-to-clean 304 stainless steel. Two opposingly-hinged doors open outward widely from the center allowing the operator to remain closer to the vehicle and away from traffic when in use. The cam lock closing/locking mechanism can stand alone to adequately hold the doors closed while also providing the user multiple locking options of their own choosing. The box is available in two sizes measuring 60 x 24 x 24 inches and 60 x 18 x 18 inches and are underbody or top mountable.www.phoenixusa.comSEE ADPG 1SEE ADPG 41SEE ADPG 39SEE ADIFC
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS WWW.MWSMAG.COM FEBRUARY 202256NTEA’s Work Truck Week is on the horizon, and the Modern WorkTruck Solutions team is excited to attend this year! With the absence of an in-person show last year, our team is even more stoked to see all our friends in the industry, and we know you feel the same way. Use this piece as your short guide to the show.MUST-SEE EXHIBITORSIsuzu Commercial Truck of America will exhibit at the show. Stop by the booth (#4639) to see what’s new.Be sure to stop by the Extendobed booth (#2743) where you can register to win a FREE Extendobed, a tough vehicle slide-out tray that works with pickups or cargo vans.If you stop by the Webasto Thermo & Comfort booth (#1132), you’ll get to see “The London,” a low-profile heating and cooling unit with conditioned air for the cargo space.WHAT’S IN STOREConsidering the electric trucks that are currently undergoing field testing or have already been in the field for up to a year or more, expect to see and hear a lot of EV updates and EV talk. Many of the top OEMs are keeping details of their exhibits a secret, but General Motors and Chevrolet did announce their plans to showcase the first-ever 2024 Silverado EV (booth #1829).However, aside from OEM news, expect to see body builders and upfitters on the road to electrification, showcasing products designed specifically for electric vehicles. Check out Legend Fleet’s EV flooring solutions (booth 4973), Vanair’s electrified power equipment (booth #3467), and Morgan Truck Body’s new electric body concepts (booth #4949).We can’t wait to see you there! WORK TRUCK WEEK PREVIEWaround the corner, and we wanted to share some show information Modern WorkTruck Solutions booth #5955 and Find out more about Work Truck Week, visitwww.worktruckweek.com.Talk soon! JadeSHOW SCHEDULE: Arrive and explore The Circle City. You can register and pick up your badge from noon to 5 pm on this day. Attend the Green Truck Summit, educational sessions, press conferences, and the Opening Reception. This is the first day to walk the exhibit hall. Attend educational sessions, hear OEM updates, attend press conferences, and join in on the Generation Next Workshop and reception. Attendees can also drive trucks on Indy streets during the Ride & Drive.Walk the show floor, attend even more educational sessions, hear more OEM updates, check out the Ride & Drive, and attend the Annual Meeting.This is your last day to roam the exhibit hall; it’s also your last day of face-to-face interaction—so make every impression count!
Call us today to get started at 205.795.0223 or email us at russell@mcsmag.comOur digital marketing campaigns can identify prospects interested specifically in your product, and then tell you exactly who they are! See what our customers are saying:You Need Leads!We Have the Solution!The reports are awesome! Thank you. If we can get that level of information from all of our suppliers, we will be very happy! We have already made one machine sale to a prospect from the eBlast and I am sure there will be more. Paul Gazik,Business Development/International Salesfor
VISIT US AT THE NTEA SHOW | BOOTH 3984