12/31/16

Work truck wheels require care for extended life


Aluminum and steel wheels are practically bullet proof and a daily glimpse for cracks and rust is probably sufficient as long as you take the steps necessary to maintain them.

“If you have good maintenance practices the wheel should last the life of the vehicle, if not longer,” says Brandon Uzarek, product design engineer at Accuride.

If you’re running steel or aluminum wheels, Uzarek says it’s critical to be sure all mounts and surfaces are clean and flat.

Dave Walters, Alcoa field service manager, agrees, adding the most important part of wheel maintenance is making sure the studs, drum and mounting faces are all clean before installation ever takes place.

“Sometimes, excess or foreign material can work its way into the joints and you’ll lose clamping force,” Uzarek says.

Uzarek recommends cleaning the studs when the wheels are mounted and on hub pilot wheels, studs need to be oiled while also oiling the gap between the flange.

To account for any shifting that takes places when the truck finally hits the road, Uzarek advises wheels be re-torqued between five and 100 miles after the initial mount and again every 10,000 miles.

“A lot of fleets do not do re-torques because it’s an inconvenience,” he says.

Walters says fleets can mitigate much of that inconvenience and still reap the benefits of proper torque by taking a 5 to 10 mile test drive after the wheel is initially mounted to settle the joint, then checking the torque.

“If you cleaned them and did everything properly, you shouldn’t have to re-torque them again unless the wheel is removed,” he says, adding this method was included in the Technology Maintenance Council (TMC) Recommended Practice (RP) 237.

Re-torquing practices can vary and Chris Putz, Maxion Wheels principal engineer for commercial vehicle wheels, says that’s fine so long as it’s application specific.

“The fleets know best their operations and vehicle duty cycles,” he says. “We would just recommend they have some established program for checking torque.”

Keeping wheels clean can also help prolong their life. A simple soap and water bath is sufficient for aluminum, while a wire brush is an effective tool in removing corrosion from steel.

“The faster we take care of any rust,” Uzarek says, “the longer the wheel should last.”

“If you maintain the appearance of your wheels, that prolongs the life of that wheel,” adds Walters. “The hidden corrosion is what’s going to get you. If you wash the truck and keep it clean, that’s key to keep corrosion from working down into the hidden places.”

Putz says keeping wheels clean is important to also ensure the longevity of the wheel against harsh salts and corrosives used to de-ice roads that can also eat through the wheel’s finish.

Wheel makers have developed advanced propriety anti-corrosive surface treatment coatings for their wheels that won’t flake, which Walters says offer advantages over many paints.

Wheel re-finishing is an option to make worn wheels look like new, but Uzarek cautions that a coat of paint won’t fix structural issues. When wheels begin to lose material, they need to be removed from service.

And the process of re-finishing can also be tricky. Uzarek says paint applied too thick can cause a loss in clamping force as can paint that has not cured properly.

Putz says each wheel should be thoroughly re-inspected after the refinishing processes is complete and, Walters adds, habitual wheel refinishing can remove enough wheel material to make it unsafe to operate.

“One thing we hear a lot of is burning off the paint in an oven and we have not approved that process,” he says. “Depending upon time and temperature, it could change the mechanical properties or the microstructure of the steel.”

When refinishing, you also must be aware that you could be eroding the roll stamp on the wheel, the visibility of which is mandatory for its use on the highway.

“Once the roll stamp is gone, you’ve basically got junk,” Walters says. “Once you cannot read the DOT stamp, you’re done.”

- See more at: http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/steel-aluminum-work-truck-wheels/#sthash.Qca0f8LU.dpuf

12/27/16

SpaceKap Transfer With Jacks


See how easy it is to transfer our SpaceKaps even without a forklift. In this video SpaceKap Boy transfers a WILD unit with the use of our optional jack system. Our SpaceKaps are all universal and can be removed at any time with jacks, even with as much as 2,000 lbs of equipment inside. For that reason, many customers refer to our service bodies as toolboxes. Enjoy.

12/25/16

12/24/16

Norstar Truck Bed 2015 Model Overview


This video showcases all truck bed models for 2015 available at Norstar. Our beds are suitable as replacements or cab and chassis applications on virtually all makes and models.

12/20/16

Adrian Steel - New Composite Partition


Your mobile office just got more comfortable with an Adrian Steel composite partition. Sound deadening reduces driver distractions, climate control shortens idle time, and generous leg room helps ensure that you have the space you need to enjoy the ride.

12/18/16

Switch -N-Go Dumpster / Drop Boxes - Ideal for Light Duty Trucks

Switch-N-Go's® dumpster / drop box also known as roll-offs are built to the high quality standards that our company has brought to the waste hauling industry for years.


Switch-N-Go® dumpsters or drop boxes are available in six standard lengths, from 9 to 14 feet long, with capacities from 8 to 17 yards. Additionally, Switch-N-Go® dumpster come in three classes, standard, medium duty and heavy duty. These containers all come with our top quality powder coated finish which is boosted by our triple stage wash to ensure proper curing and rust resistance.

Our Switch-N-Go® containers come standard with industry respected features side swing or barn door gates, greased wheels and sloped fronts that allow for easy cleanout. Options for our dumpsters include mesh tarps, side doors and factory mounted D-rings.

The Switch-N-Go® system when paired with a supply of dumpster containers allows for a hauler to create a successful waste hauling business. Where they have an advantage over traditional roll-off rental businesses due to their smaller trucks and lighter containers.

Find more at: http://www.switchngo.com/product/dumpster-drop-box/



12/16/16

BRAND FX - WHO WE ARE


Started in 1984, BrandFX Body Company has grown to become the world’s largest producer of advanced composite line bodies, service bodies, insert, toppers, and covers. We are fully focused on designing and producing lightweight, durable composite truck bodies that deliver the highest life cycle value in the industry.

Our truck bodies have been proven to deliver more than 20 years of reliable service, while also maintaining their quality finish and appearance. That’s why, for over 30 years, many small-to large-size companies, including five out of the top six U.S. service fleets, have counted on BrandFX. Today, the BrandFX product line is expanding to include specialized bodies for the lawn care and pest control industries.

At BrandFX, we believe in American-made quality, and all of our service bodies are manufactured in the U.S. Our operation includes almost 1 million square feet of manufacturing space in facilities strategically located across the U.S., supporting the efforts of more than 450 employees. To ensure the consistent quality of our truck bodies, we utilize the most advanced manufacturing and quality control processes.

Over the years, our innovations have led to many improvements in service body design and performance. And we continue to innovate. We are committed to working closely with our customers, knowing that the best designs and ideas often result from a partnership effort between our customers and us.

Combining the experience of over three decades of operation with outstanding facilities and a drive to produce innovative, highly durable truck bodies…BrandFX is committed to meeting the market’s need for high life cycle value truck service bodies.

Find more at:  http://brandfxbody.com/about/

12/14/16

Zonar Ushers in a New Era of Fleet Management Technology with Zonar Connect

ELD-Ready Smart Fleet Tablet and Seamless Software Platform Allows Fleets to Customize and Upgrade for Future Growth


Seattle Wash. – October 1, 2016 – Zonar, the leader in smart fleet management technology, today announced Zonar ConnectTM, a next generation tablet and software ecosystem that empowers commercial fleets to take greater control of their operations. Connect allows fleets to seamlessly enter the next era in fleet management technology using a smart fleet platform which is faster, more responsive, readily customizable and more user-friendly than current solutions in the commercial fleet marketplace. This ruggedized, high-performance, easy-to-use tablet delivers management tools for commercial vehicle operations including compliance, safety and efficiency monitoring.

“We are entering an age in connected commercial vehicles where the capabilities go beyond the individual vehicle and extend to fleet management and industry decisions regarding job bidding, safety, efficiency and compliance,” said Ian McKerlich, President of Zonar. “Connect is designed to exceed industry needs with Electronic Logging Device (ELD) readiness, Electronic Verified Inspection Reporting (EVIR) and a growing number of apps built in a scalable environment to address needs further down the road. We believe that Connect is the path forward for designing and delivering the next generation of solutions for the smart fleet management era.”

Connect is always connected whether it is docked or undocked representing a significant milestone in smart fleet management. For example, a driver can submit a completed EVIR inspection back to dispatch without returning to the cab of the truck. The tablet-based platform further connects vehicles, driver/operators and fleet managers with critical information such as vehicle health, efficiency, driver hours of service, performance, data capture, compliance, safety and asset utilization.

“Just as smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, you soon won’t be able to run your fleet operations efficiently without a smart fleet technology like Connect,” said Brett Brinton, co-founder and CEO of Zonar. “Connect will help operators manage their fleets more effectively as technology changes with hardware that supports over-the-air updates to give them greater flexibility and scalability to grow.”

Connect has the ease of use of everyday consumer devices with the power and ruggedization needed for commercial vehicles. With it, drivers and operators can streamline daily tasks, such as pre- and post-trip inspections; hours of service logging with Roadside ViewTM for compliance inspections; communicating with fleet management; documenting deliveries; navigating routes and – in the case of passenger services – verifying ridership. The tablet also equips drivers and operators with tools that ensure adherence to a broad range of safety and compliance regulations.

Key features:
  • owered by a Quad-Core processor, 2GB of built-in memory and 32GB of storage for enhanced speed and responsiveness
  • Scalable Android™ platform supports options for third-party and custom Zonar apps to increase driver productivity and fleet compliance
  • Compliant with Automatic On-Board Recording Device (AOBRD) and Hours of Service regulations
  • Ready for the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate with capability for over-the-air software update service
  • LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity keeps drivers connected to fleet managers, dispatch, and operations
  • Constructed with a ruggedized hardware design and a DragontrailTM Glass screen to endure harsh conditions
  • Seamlessly integrates with Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control® web portal and third-party programs including maintenance, payroll, navigation, workforce management software and more

“Zonar Connect tablet and platform represent an extremely compelling offer for fleet managers across a variety of industry verticals,” said Clem Driscoll, president of consulting and research firm C.J. Driscoll & Associates. “It’s a very rugged, state-of-the-art piece of hardware connected to a software ecosystem that offers new flexibility for customers to add third-party apps and upgrade easily as technology advances. It’s clear that Zonar listened to customers and upgraded an already-compelling product based on what they learned.”

For more information on Zonar Connect visit: www.zonarsystems.com/connect

About Zonar
Founded in 2001, Zonar has pioneered smart fleet management technology by providing innovative technology that has changed fleet operations in the vocational, pupil and commercial trucking industries. With a unique focus on this field, the Company offers a complete suite of solutions and specialized platforms for our customers in multiple markets. Our patented, award-winning technology keeps fleet owners and managers connected to their fleets and drivers to dispatchers. Headquartered in Seattle, Zonar also has a Technology Development Center in downtown Seattle, a regional office in Cincinnati, and a distribution center outside of Atlanta.

For more information about Zonar Systems, go to www.zonarsystems.com

12/12/16

GM adding CNG, LNG engine option to HD trucks and vans next year



Early next year, Chevrolet and GMC will make available a Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI) a 6.0-liter V-8 compressed natural gas (CNG) and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-capable engine on its heavy duty trucks and commercial vans.

Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet, says expanding available engine choice is the key to helping more commercial and government fleets reduce their fuel consumption, fuel costs and emissions using alternative fuels and EVs versus using traditional gasoline.

“There are no ‘one size fits all’ solutions for fleet managers,” he says.

Chevrolet also will offer CNG and LPG versions of its new Low Cab Forward commercial truck. The expanded lineup brings GM Fleet’s portfolio of alternative fuel, hybrid and EVs to more than a dozen trucks, cars and crossovers. Other recent additions include the Chevrolet Bolt EV, a Duramax 2.8-liter B20-capable Duramax diesel for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans and all-new available 6.6-liter B20-capable Duramax diesel engines for the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD.

Ship-through will be offered on the PSI-spec’d units, allowing customers to seamlessly order and take delivery from the same dealer. GM will supply vehicles equipped with the 6.0L V-8 engine with hardened valves and valve seats to PSI, for installation of the fuel system and other hardware. The vehicle will then be shipped directly to dealers in all 50 states.

All PSI-modified vehicles are covered by Chevrolet and GMC’s five-year/60,000-mile (whichever comes first) limited powertrain warranty.

- See more at: http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/gm-adding-cng-lng-engine-option-to-hd-trucks-and-vans-next-year/#sthash.H0wvayak.dpuf

12/08/16

No pickup matches the premium status of the 2017 GMC Canyon Denali.


From the leather-appointed seating inside to the signature chrome grille outside GMC Director of Design Matt 
None explains why you won’t find another mid-size pickup matching the premium status of the 2017 GMC Canyon Denali. 

For more information about the GMC Canyon Denali, visit: http://www.gmc.com/trucks/canyon-dena..

12/04/16

Muncie V080 HYBRID SYSTEM - Optimizes Plow, Hoist and Spreader Operation



This unique circuit design optimizes operations with full flow but also insures cylinders and spreader operations can work together when required. It is all-automatic. Paired with our entry level electronic controls for a customized and budget conscience solution.

Optimizes operation with full flow and flow sharing capabilities

  • Plow and Hoist Functionality
  • Proportional cable control or air control cylinders
  • Configurable spools for all common applications
  • Easy to use, setup and install
  • Spreader Control
  • Save salt / save money – electronic spreader system with groundspeed control
  • Compatible with all common v-body and tailgate spreaders (stainless steel enclosure)
  • Smart flow technology – keep the spreader running when the cylinders are actuated



12/02/16

UTILIVAN - Built on a cutaway chassis - set-back walk-through bulkhead.



Utilivans are the industry standard for medium-duty commercial delivery. Traditionally built on a cutaway chassis, Utilivans are built to be tough, constructed with durable materials such as fiberglass reinforced plywood, aluminum, and a variety of composite materials such as DuraPlate.® The innovative cab can be designed to fit as many as five crew members and can be configured with a set-back walk-through bulkhead.

See more at: http://www.spartanmotors.com/fleet-vehicles/baking-snack-foods/utilivan/