Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/116194
Want more equipment news? Scan the barcode to sign up for the CCJ Equipment Weekly e-mail newsletter or go to www.goo.gl/Ph9JK. makes for a quiet interior, so drivers don't have to deal with any shaking, buzzing or rattling panels – either at low rpms or highway speeds. Power comes on smoothly, with shift points set at about 1,200 rpm. The 500 horses mean the tractor gets moving in a hurry, so drivers find themselves hustling through the low-range gears quickly; even fully loaded, the ProStar+ accelerates to highway speed in impressively short order. Once at 70 mph – Mississippi's legal speed limit – an occasional split-shift is sufficient to handle any grades, and the ISX15 still has plenty of available power if needed. On the return leg, I decided to pass a slower tractor-trailer on a mild grade. I was planning to splitshift down in top gear, but that turned out to be unnecessary; simply adding throttle gave me almost instantaneous engine response and impressive acceleration. We breezed past the rig in no time. International has taken a hard hit over the past year, and while it's safe to say the company probably would do a few things differently if it had them to do over again, it's clear the decisive move to get Cummins back into its trucks was a good one. Whatever one thinks of the company's MaxxForce engine push, the ProStar+ is a proven product – as is the Cummins ISX15. Putting Cummins power back under ProStar+ hoods gives International the truck it needs to restore confidence in its products and reaffirm its commitment to its customers. JACK ROBERTS is Executive Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail jroberts@ccjmagazine.com or call (205) 248-1358. Clarification Readers of the "No idle? No problem" article on page 18 of the January 2013 issue of CCJ mistakenly might have construed Idle Smart's product offering as an auxiliary power unit. Idle Smart produces a non-APU idle reduction system powered by Idle Smart Fuel Optimization software designed specifically for fleet applications. We apologize for any confusion. DPF maker Cleaire goes out of business A fter its products reportedly were the source of two fires – one a major forest fire last September in Washington and the other a three-acre brush fire – diesel particulate filter manufacturer Cleaire Advanced Emissions Controls no longer is open for business, according to the California Air Resources Board. The board, which CARB, which said DPF maker said the company Cleaire ceased operations Jan. ceased operations 18, is reaching out to fleets and Jan. 18, is reaching truck owners whose warranties may be affected. out to fleets and truck owners whose warranties may be affected and saying they will not be penalized for missing CARB regulation deadlines on account of Cleaire. The board is directing truck owners to its website – www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/verdev/companies/ cleaire/cleairepage.htm – for more information and guidance. – James Jaillet Allison Transmission updates Electronic Controls A llison Transmission introduced its 5th Generation Electronic Controls, which include upgraded Transmission Control Module hardware and software and a new integral inclinometer that the company said deliver enhanced fuel economy and vehicle performance with easy OEM integration. Allison said the flexible controls Allison's 5th Generation Electronic Controls were designed provide optimal to match the new generation of shift strategies for global vehicle electrical-elecproductivity and tronic architectures and for easy efficiency while integration. addressing varying OEM and operator requirements. The 5th Generation controls also feature enhanced programming and a new bump lever selector design. – Jack Roberts commercial carrier journal | march 2013 0313_Equipdept_Jack.indd 29 29 2/20/13 2:04 PM