Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/725427
22 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 EQUIPMENT Volvo adds crawler gears to I-Shifts By JASON CANNON Volvo Trucks North America now offers optional crawler gears in its 13- and 14-speed I-Shift transmissions to target applications such as concrete and paving operations. I recently was able to try out a 14-speed I-Shift with crawler gears on a VHD I took for a spin around Volvo Construction Equipment headquarters in Shippensburg, Pa. Crawler gears can accommodate a GCVW of up to 220,000 pounds and allow for speeds as slow as 0.6 miles per hour with a 3.58 rear axle ratio. The VHD I was driving took it a step further with a 3.07 rear axle ratio. Stronger drivelines have been added to accommodate the faster axle ratios. The transmission can operate in effi ciency mode for highway speeds, or performance mode for heavy loads on rough terrain. Switching to manual mode, which I did to navigate up a 21 percent grade while loaded with 80,000 pounds of aggregate, gives the driver the fl exibility to call his own shots when the need arises, but it's not a necessity in most cases. Gears can be selected up and down easily enough with two buttons on the shifter. Coming down that same grade proved even easier than climbing it, thanks to an intuitive engine brake that feels like an old friend who's got your back. I rolled the truck down the grade into a hard left turn and barely touched the service brake. The axle's faster gearing provided better throttle response, and the increased engine effi ciency of the 500-horsepower D13 engine enhanced the truck's overall drivability. Volvo Trucks North America, www.volvotrucks.us Severe-service tire Goodyear's Armor Max Pro Grade MSD tire is suited for construc- tion, cement, dump and coal- fi eld trucks. The tire's casing is engineered for enhanced retread- ability, and its rugged tread design helps enhance on- and off-road traction. A tough tread compound helps resist chipping and chunking, while a mixed- service undertread compound helps enhance the casing's toughness. A cool-running base compound helps provide longer tread life and lower rolling resistance, which leads to enhanced fuel effi ciency and greenhouse gas compliance. The Armor Max also features the company's proprietary DuraSeal Technology designed to seal nail-hole punctures of up to ΒΌ-inch in diameter in the repairable area of its tread. The tire is available in sizes 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and 12R22.5, all load range H. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., www.goodyeartrucktires.com Refuse retread Bridgestone's Bandag BRM3 all-position refuse retread features a proprietary com- pound and tread engineered for longer wear, durability and traction. The retread's robust shoulders help resist damage caused by frequent twisting and turning, while a high center void and shoulder sipes con- tribute to a stronger grip on wet roads. Bridgestone Americas, www.bridgestoneamericas.com Demand for vocational trucks is growing relative to long-haul tractors due to a rebounding construction segment and weaker demand for over-the-road freight, said Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks' vice president of marketing and brand management.