Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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PRODUCT REVIEWS, OEM & SUPPLIER NEWS AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT TRENDS BY JACK ROBERTS one track driver told me recently, "Most of them used to drive, but they don't anymore, so they're rusty. But they're the boss. So they feel like they've got something to prove sometimes. And some of them can really scare the hell out of you." On one level, this is just a funny little anecdote about the bossman's ego and his abilities behind the wheel. But maybe there's more to it. The boss ultimately OKs new technology options for the fleet's vehicles. And if someone is shown that something can increase fuel efficiency, decrease maintenance costs and improve highway safety – say, an automated transmission – how big a role does that decision-maker's own abilities behind the wheel play into the acceptance or rejection of that technology? In other words, his mindset could be "Yes. The best drivers are getting old and retiring. And the new ones we're hiring will be safer and make us more money with these transmis- sions." Or it might be "The old technology was good enough for me. And it ought to be good enough for anybody driving for me." People don't like change. And in the trucking industry, "change" usually means "more expen- sive. Everywhere we look today, the signs point to a relentless push toward more technology in commercial vehicles and a greater government-driven emphasis on safer operations. It's still possible for fleets to resist those trends. On the other hand, it's only a matter of time before other companies that adopt these new technologies pass them by. The old days were great, but they're gone – and they're not coming back. That's something to think about next time one of those manufacturer drivers is sitting over in the passenger seat explain- ing a new piece of technology to you. JACK ROBERTS is Executive Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail jroberts@ccjmagazine.com or call (205) 248-1358. " But that doesn't mean you should discount any new technology or safety system just because you got by without it back in the day. GWFEC panel sees bright future for natural gas panel of leaders in the natural gas industry addressed attendees on the viability of alternative-fuel vehicles in the trucking industry during a session at the Great West Fleet Executive Conference. Tim Carmichael, president of the Califor- A nia Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, said two key factors over the next year and a half will help drive acceptance of natural gas vehicles in the commercial market. First, Carmichael said, is the infrastructure buildout of fueling stations to support fleets using natural gas. "With the Natural Gas Highway and Shell's announcement of 100 fueling stations, we're going to go from a handful of fueling stations to a couple hundred in the next 18 months," he said. "I do believe this buildout is going Continued on page 34 Trucking executives said the infrastructure buildout of fueling stations to support fleets using natural gas will drive acceptance. Eaton enhances hybrid power system E aton Corp. announced a number of enhancements designed to in- crease the fuel economy, performance and pay- back of its hybrid power system for commercial vehicles, including a new high-capacity battery, a new auxiliary power generator, a higher-capac- ity clutch and a new remanufactured battery for aftermarket purchase. Eaton says its lithium-ion battery cell archi- tecture increases the fuel savings of its hybrid power system an additional 5 to 10 percent while also improving vehicle performance, more than doubling the system's engine-off capability Continued on page 36 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JULY 2012 31