Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/751200
commercial carrier journal | november 2016 67 Jet Express' Burch named ATA chairman KEVIN BURCH, president of Jet Express and vice chairman of Truck- ing Moves America Forward, was elected as ATA's next chairman. Burch has been president of Jet Express since 1990 and a com - mercial driver's license holder since 2008. He succeeds Pat Thomas, senior vice president for state gov- ernment affairs at UPS. Burch previously has served as chairman of both the Truckload Car- riers Association and ATA's Communications and Image Policy Committee. He also works closely with the LEAD ATA program. In 2014, he won the Mike Russell Trucking Industry Image Award. – CCJ Staff EQUIPMENT ELD mandate boots HOS as top carrier concern MORE THAN 65 PERCENT of respondents to the most recent American Transpor- tation Research Institute annual survey listed the looming implementation date of the federal mandate on the use of electronic log - ging devices as the trucking industry's top concern. ATRI's latest survey features the list of the top critical issues facing the North American trucking industry. Car - riers' top concern about ELDs was that they could hinder productivity as full deployment rolls out. Hours of service, the top concern for the last three years, slid one spot to No. 2 thanks largely to ongoing uncertainty about a final HOS rule. The cumulative economic impacts of trucking regula - tions, a newcomer to the list, came in third, which ATRI said reflects the industry's collective frustration with increasing and costly regulatory requirements. The lack of available truck parking moved the issue up again this year to fourth place overall, while the state of the nation's economy rounded out the top five. – Jason Cannon Carriers' top concern about ELDs were that they could hinder productivity as full deployment rolls out. Kevin Burch previ- ously has served as chairman of both the Truckload Carri- ers Association and ATA's Communica- tions and Image Policy Committee. Paccar launching proprietary drive axle, boosting MX power, torque PACCAR IS TAKING THE NEXT STEP toward an integrated powertrain with the launch of a proprietary drive axle optimized for line-haul applica- tions. Offering ratios of 2.47 to 3.7, the new axle will be a Kenworth standard going forward. Kevin Baney, Kenworth chief en- gineer, said the unveiling of a drive axle gives Paccar two-thirds of the components needed to vertically integrate the company's tractors. "This is setting the stage for a Pac - car powertrain," he said. Efficiency gains come from a pinion through-shaft and laser welding on the inside, which helps improve friction and reduce weight with the elimination of bolt-on components. Lighter weight comes from a reduc - tion of oil inside, fewer components and the through-shaft's geometry. Paccar's MX-11 engine will get a peak torque bump of roughly 100 lb.-ft. from 1,550 to 1,650, whiel the MX-13 will get a horsepower boost to 510, up from 500. Both of the engines also will feature a single-cylinder air compressor. – Jason Cannon Offering ratios of 2.47 to 3.7, the new drive axle will be a Kenworth standard going forward. Peterbilt touts 579 Epiq day cab spec, updates to remote diagnostics PETERBILT ANNOUNCED the availability of the Model 579 Epiq spec in a day cab configuration that the company said can provide up to a 14 percent improvement in fuel economy. The day cab version features a three-piece collapsible roof fairing, chassis fairings with rubber skirts and closeouts, front wheel closeouts and fender liners, a three-piece aerodynamic bum - per and a bumper air dam with bumper-to-hood seals. "The 579 Epiq day cab will appeal to fuel-conscious customers in tanker, bulk and regional-haul applications in what has been an underserved mar- ket," said Darrin Siver, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president. The 579 Epiq day cab is available with either the MX-11 or MX-13 engine depending on application. Peterbilt also announced the new Paccar drive axle will be standard on Model 579 tractors spec'd for line-haul applications. Improvements to Peterbilt's SmartLinq remote diagnostics system include reasoning technology and the new SmartLinq Service Management solu - tion, for which the company has partnered with Decisiv. – Jeff Crissey Peterbilt's Model 579 Epiq day cab is suited for fuel-conscious customers in tanker, bulk and regional-haul applications.