Kenworth's NavPlus System: What? No kitchen sink?
Kenworth’s NavPlus system is spoiling KW operators with a driver’s-side 7-inch high-resolution color screen display that is loaded.

It offers everything from truck-specific navigation to hands-free telephone conversations – along with audio controls (including satellite-enabled radio, AM/FM, CD, MP3 and USB), and camera inputs for up to four optional video cameras for monitoring the truck and trailer.

Six virtual gauges provide current information on truck operation. Oil temperature, transmission temperature, manifold boost, current and average fuel economy, diesel particulate filter (DPF) status and percentage of torque come preloaded.

In addition, an on-screen preprogrammed button automatically dials the Kenworth PremierCare Customer Center, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for roadside assistance.
 
At the core of the Kenworth NavPlus is an on-board navigation system that provides drivers with true truck-optimized routes from Garmin, customized to truck and load specifications. The system also allows truck and load information to be entered, which allows drivers to steer clear of restricted roads and streets. Audible prompts keep drivers’ eyes on the road, instead of on the screen.

Shell announces new loyalty program
Shell Lubricants has launched a loyalty program that rewards truck drivers and equipment operators for choosing Shell Rotella products. The “My Miles Matter” loyalty program allows members of the program to earn reward miles by purchasing select Shell Rotella products and services. Membership in the program is free.

In celebration of the launch of “My Miles Matter,” those registering on or before Feb. 29, 2012 will receive double miles for the reward code entered.

Between March 1 and April 30, all members (in most states) can register to have a chance to win $25,000 in diesel fuel. Everyone who registers during this time period will also get 250 miles automatically credited to their account. Secondary prizes include one hundred $25 Shell gift cards. See www.MyMilesMatter.com for the complete rules.

Xata: Can we be ‘tweet hearts’?
Fleet optimization software people, Xata Corp., have announced they are conducting a Twitter follower contest Feb. 7-28, 2012, to benefit the St. Christopher Development and Trucker Relief Fund. Follow them on Twitter at @XataNation.

For every new @XataNation Twitter follower, Xata will donate $1 (up to $1,000) to the St. Christopher Fund.

The SCF is a nonprofit dedicated to helping drivers who struggle with medical bills and unemployment due to illness or injury.

WIT to name Influential Woman of the Year
Women in Trucking’s choice for Influential Woman of the Year will be announced at the Truckload Carriers Association annual conference March 4-7 in Orlando, FL.

A panel assembled by the Women in Trucking organization will discuss “Overcoming the Challenges” faced by women working in the trucking industry. Panelists include Andreea Raaber, Bendix VP for business development; Joyce Brenny, president of Brenny Transportation and Chairman of Minnesota Trucking Association; Phyllis Cochran, president of the Navistar Inc. Parts Division; and Rochelle Gorman, chief executive officer, CalArk International Inc. Moderator will be Chris Burruss, president, Truckload Carriers Association.

The Influential Woman of the Year will be named following the panel discussion. Three finalists will be introduced. WIT President and CEO Ellen Voie will announce the winner.

Navistar commits to expanding LNG truck offerings

At a special briefing held in connection with the grand opening of Navistar’s new world headquarters in Lisle, IL, company executives announced a commitment to natural gas as the fuel of the future.

“Natural gas has clearly emerged as the most reliable alternative fuel option for the trucking industry,” said Navistar chairman, president and CEO Dan Ustian. “Together, Navistar and Clean Energy developed a breakthrough program.”

Clean energy president and CEO Andrew Littlefair announced his company’s plans to open 150 liquid natural gas (LNG) fueling stations, with 70 operating by the end of 2012. Most will be co-located at Pilot Flying J. The company foresees a nationwide network of natural gas fueling stations within a few years.

Navistar will develop natural gas versions of most existing engine platforms. Currently it offers DuraStar and WorkStar vocational trucks with natural gas-powered MaxxForce DT inline engines and will soon offer the Cummins-Westport ISL-G engine in its TranStar and WorkStar trucks. The company plans on developing LNG-fueled MaxxForce 13-liter engines with diesel pilot injection.

While engines like the ISL-G require spark plugs to ignite the fuel, Navistar’s pilot injection uses diesel to initiate combustion. Once a burn is established, it is sustained by the gas. That eliminates any need for spark plugs and related electrical systems.

The per-gallon-equivalent price deferential between gas and diesel is relatively constant at around $1.50, according to T. Boone Pickens, chief investment officer of BP Capital Management.

Pickens is a major force in natural gas exploration and production. “The United States has a minimum of 100 years of gas reserves, more than enough to drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Pickens said.

Gas has not caught on as a fuel because of lack of infrastructure and a limited number of engine and fuel system options. Clean Energy’s commitment to build infrastructure and Navistar’s commitment to engine technology address the two major obstacles.

A third obstacle, the cost of vehicle conversion, is being addressed by Clean Energy. For operators who commit to purchasing 1,000 gallons of LNG per month per truck (equivalent to 100,000 miles a year at better than 8 mpg), monthly rebates will be available to repay the upcharges.

Special fuel tanks and engine changes are estimated at $35,000 per truck. In other words, up charges will be rebated over five years.

Vehicle range will be 400 to 600 miles depending on tank sizes. When the Clean Energy program is completed, fuel should be available every 250 miles. Vehicle weight will increase by less than 100 pounds. Refueling will take about 10 minutes.

Savings from the conversion to LNG should result in break-even periods as short as several years. The projections are based only on private investment. No government incentives are involved, although any incentives or tax credits for alternative clean-burning fuels will significantly shorten payback.

Recall: Bendix scrambles to remedy defective valve

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is recalling certain traction relay valves that will affect shipment of a large number of heavy trucks made by Paccar, Volvo, Mack and Navistar. In late January, the Ohio-based company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it had identified a potential defect on a traction relay valve fitted on 50,000 to 60,000 trucks manufactured between Dec. 2, 2010 and Jan. 18, 2012.

According to Bendix, OEMs were notified to ensure that the potentially affected trucks won’t be delivered for sale until there’s a fix. Bendix Communications Manager Barbara Gould said Thursday that the company was working as diligently as it could to get a remedy in place.

“Safety and customer satisfaction are top priority for us,” said Gould, “and when these types of situations arise, we do everything we can to get the right information and insure the fastest and least disruptive solution we can.”

The problem was discovered in mid-December after reports of intermittent brake applications. The company reports that following inspection of complaint vehicles, Bendix replicated the event under lab conditions and verified the situation in the field.

Gould said Bendix notified NHTSA on Jan. 26 of a potential defect on the ATR-6 traction relay valve. The problem is that internal leakage can develop, resulting in pressure being delivered to the affected service brake circuit.

Gould said it’s a potential problem, which means it doesn’t happen in every valve but can happen. The one consistent element, she said, is that it has occurred in vehicles operating in extremely cold – below zero – temps.

According to Gould, a temporary remedy kit is out there now and permanent one is forthcoming.

“From the OEM perspective, we are working closely with them to come up with a solution that works for them,” she said. “Some are already in the field installing the temporary remedy kit and we are working with others to come to a decision.”

Gould noted some confusion with a few reports she’d seen that indicated the defect was connected with Bendix’s stability and collision mitigation systems. Those reports are not accurate, she said.

“It’s not true that there are problems with these systems,” she said. “It’s an intermittent air leak issue, not related to stability and collision mitigation systems. Our Bendix ESP Full Stability System and Wingman ACB and Wingman Advanced – although they are temporarily suspended when you install the temporary remedy kit – are not the root cause of the condition.”

When the permanent remedy kit is installed, Gould said those systems will be instantly reactivated on the vehicle.

Bendix is providing online information and the latest developments at its Product Action Center and is now manning a toll free action line at 1-800-478-1793.

Inver Grove Heights travel center to remain open during remodeling
Pilot Flying J recently acquired a travel center in Inver Grove Heights, MN, and will remodel the Pilot Travel Center to feature 43 parking spaces for trucks plus full amenities for professional drivers and the motoring public.

Located at 11650 Courthouse Blvd. along U.S. Highway 52/55 in Dakota County, the travel center will remain open during remodeling, which is expected to be complete in May 2012.

The 7,500-square-foot travel center will feature four fuel islands and five diesel islands along with DEF at the pump.  

The Inver Grove Heights location will include a Cat scale, Subway restaurant, which will reopen after the remodeling is complete; hot food deli; clean restrooms; pay phones; an AirVac; fax and copy services; Western Union and check cashing; an ATM; lottery and Lotto tickets; an arcade; laundry services; and general merchandise for professional drivers and highway travelers.

As with all other Pilot Flying J locations, the Inver Grove Heights Pilot Travel Center honors the Frequent Fueler Advantage card. Pilot and Flying J merged in 2010, and both brands are still available on U.S. highways.

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, TN, and has more than 550 retail locations across North America.  

Discovery Channel announces new 'World's Toughest Trucker' series
Eight truck drivers from six different countries will put their driving skills to the test in a new Discovery Channel series, World’s Toughest Trucker, premiering at 10 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 13.

The new series features truck drivers from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia and Sri Lanka. All are competing for a $150,000 prize.

According to the release, truck drivers will compete in three-day challenges in some of the harshest environments on earth, including the Australian Outback and icy roads in the Himalayas. 

Drivers must face “unusual cargo, massive rigs, lethal roads and each other” as a driver is eliminated in each episode for “slow times and penalties.”

ATD Commercial Truck of the Year winners announced Feb.5
The winners of the American Truck Dealers Commercial Truck of the Year will be announced at the Las Vegas Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 5. The award recognizes the top truck entries in the heavy- and medium-duty categories. Nine trucks were nominated for the award.

The heavy-duty (Class 8) truck entries are the Freightliner 114SD conventional dump truck, International ProStar Plus tractor with MaxxForce 15 engine, Kenworth T660 Regional Hauler with Paccar MX engine, and Peterbilt 587 SmartWay conventional tractor. The medium-duty (Class 3-7) truck entries are the Fuso Canter FE160 low cab forward, Isuzu NPR-HD Gas, Kenworth T440 Conventional, Peterbilt Model 210 low cab forward, and UD 2600 low cab forward.

Trucks were judged on overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck, and convenience of maintenance.

Four journalists on the judging panel test drove the trucks on an eight-mile course that included rural and highway driving in Dallas last fall. Key judging factors included the trucks’ overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck, and convenience of maintenance.

The judges were Paul Abelson from Land Line magazine, Tom Berg from Heavy Duty Trucking, Paul Hartley from Fleet Equipment magazine, and Jack Roberts from Commercial Carrier Journal.

Thanks to truck stops, Subway is bigger than ever
“Five, five, five dollah foot-longgg” …The next time you order one of those at a Subway, you’ll be dining in the world’s largest restaurant chain. Subway is even bigger than McDonalds, with more than 37,000 sandwich shops in 98 countries.

One of the reason they’ve now topped all the others, in terms of units, is they are willing to operate Subway shops in so many non-traditional locations, like truck stops. Out of the more than 8,100 non-traditional locations with Subway restaurants, more than 4,100 locations are in convenience stores and truck stops.

Les Winograd with Subway’s franchise world headquarters in Milford, CT, told Land Line that the exact number of truck stop locations isn’t clear, but confirmed that Pilot Flying J and Love’s Travel Stops are among the top three non-traditional franchisees in the U.S.

“In the U.S. Pilot is the largest non-traditional franchisee, but they are our second largest non-traditional franchisee worldwide,” says Winograd. “The number one overall non-traditional franchisee worldwide is Couche Tard convenience stores, with 173 Subway franchises. The majority of Couche Tard’s Subway locations are in Canada with 108 franchises versus 65 in the US, which is why Pilot beats them out if you are only looking at the U.S. store counts.”

Winograd reports that Pilot currently owns and operates a total of 170 Subway franchises, all in the U.S. except one that’s in Canada.

 The Pantry Inc. comes in next with 150 to rank the second largest U.S. non-traditional franchisee and the third largest non-traditional worldwide.

Next is Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. with 131 franchises open and operating. Love’s is the third largest non-traditional franchisee in the U.S. behind Pilot and The Pantry, and the fourth largest non-traditional franchisee worldwide.

The most non-traditional location is neither a truck stop nor convenience store, but the True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY.

Don Schneider dies at age 76
Alzheimer’s Disease has claimed the life of former Schneider National president and chief executive officer Donald Schneider. He died Jan. 13 at age 76.

Schneider was named president of the Wisconsin-based trucking company in 1976 and stayed at the helm for more than 25 years. He retired from the daily operational responsibilities at Schneider National in 2002.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The company was founded by his father, Al Schneider.

Chapter 11 for Hostess
The company that makes Twinkies and Wonder Bread has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in five years. Hostess will continue operating its 36 bakeries and more than 500 distribution centers while it tries to restructure its finances.

Hostess says it filed for protection from its creditors because of debt, declining sales of some products, and the high cost of pensions and medical plans for its mostly union employees. Hostess has about 7,500 Teamster truck drivers and thousands of other workers who are represented by other unions.

Hostess was in bankruptcy from 2004 until 2009 and, at the time, cited many of the same reasons.

Dana, Eaton end alliance for marketing drivetrain components
Dana Holding Corp. and Eaton Corp. jointly announced in December that while they still have “deep respect for one another,” the marketing relationship between the two companies will end by the middle of 2012. Over the next six months, each company will be preparing to sell, market, and service customers independently of each other.

Eaton will continue to provide field services and support for all Eaton and Dana products through the middle of 2012 under the Roadranger brand, after which Dana will have the support systems in place to effectively service and support its customers independently.

Pilot Flying J completes purchase of Bosselman travel centers
Pilot Flying J and Bosselman Travel Centers Inc. announced in early January that the sale of seven Bosselman travel centers in the Midwest to Pilot Flying J is a done deal.

The centers are located in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and are open for business Thursday, Jan. 5, as Pilot Travel Centers.  

In addition to Pilot Flying J’s acquisition, the companies agreed to expand Bosselman’s Boss Truck Shops repair facilities to 20 additional Pilot Flying J locations across the country.

The newly acquired centers are located in Des Moines (Altoona), IA; Colby, KS; Salina, KS; Rapid City, SD; Big Springs, NE; Wood River, NE, and Elm Creek, NE.

Florida company develops ‘no fuel’ reefer
A Florida company has applied for a patent on a system that it says can power a reefer unit with batteries that are powered by the kinetic energy generated by the spinning of the truck’s wheels.

Emerald Technology Partners says the Wedway Refrigeration Power System refrigeration unit can run up to 10 hours after the truck has stopped. Or, the company says, it can be run off shore power.

With a Wedway-equipped refrigeration unit, the company claims the cost of operation is greatly reduced by doing away with the fossil fuel, lowering the overall weight of the system and allowing for more cargo weight.  

By Emerald’s calculation, there are more than a million reefers on the road that consume nearly $13 billion dollars worth of fuel each year.

Paccar parts to please
TRP Aftermarket Parts from Paccar recently announced a line of chrome-plated and stainless steel accessories. TRP parts are manufactured with tested 304-grade or 430-grade stainless steel to resist corrosion, while the chrome plating provides a uniform, attractive finish. Axle and hub covers feature screw-on wheel nut covers instead of pop-on installation features and are less likely to fall off.

TRP chrome and stainless parts include exterior accessories such as fenders, bumpers, kick panels, steps, skirts and toolboxes, and interior accessories such as knobs and panels. TRP also offers accessories designed specifically for popular Kenworth and Peterbilt models.

TRP Aftermarket Parts are available through authorized retailers including Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF dealerships. Visit TRPParts.com for a location near you.

2012: Kenworth will again offer $1,000 rebate to OOIDA members
Kenworth Truck Company announced that it will extend a successful rebate program with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association through 2012.

Originally introduced 10 years ago, the program offers a $1,000 rebate to OOIDA members on qualifying purchases of new Kenworth sleeper trucks. Under the program, OOIDA members have purchased more than 7,300 Kenworth trucks during that period.

Eligible Kenworth trucks include the Kenworth T660, T800 and W900 with 72-inch AeroCab or 86-inch Studio AeroCab sleeper, and the T700 with 75-inch Aerodyne sleeper. Buyers must show their OOIDA membership card to their Kenworth dealer at time of purchase in 2012.

“Kenworth is pleased to offer owner-operators a $1,000 rebate on qualifying new Kenworth truck purchases in cooperation with OOIDA during 2012,” said Erik Johnson, Kenworth on-highway marketing manager. “More than 350 OOIDA members benefited from this successful program in 2011. We appreciate the loyalty of owner-operators.”

Other limitations apply on the Kenworth rebate program. OOIDA members can check with Kenworth dealers for further details.

Volvo Trucks offers Bluetooth as standard on two models
In advance of the federal ban scheduled for Jan. 1, 2012, on commercial drivers’ use of hand-held mobile devices while driving, Volvo Trucks in North America will now offer its Bluetooth-equipped radio as standard equipment on all VN and VHD models.

Volvo’s standard Bluetooth radio package includes a radio unit, microphone mounted in the overhead console, and full audio delivered through the truck’s speaker system. The integrated design allows drivers to see pertinent incoming and outgoing call information on the vehicle’s Driver Information Display.

The system extends the phone’s features, such as answering the phone by pushing one button, as required in the regulation.

In addition to the Bluetooth mobile phone system, the radio features AM, FM, CD and MP3 capabilities, accessible through an auxiliary and USB connector installed in a dash switch location.

IdleAir extends price freeze through end of May
IdleAir has announced an extension of the 2011 Price Guarantee Program, which freezes current prices through May 31, 2012.

IdleAir Premium Service will remain at $1.99 an hour through May 31, 2012, and IdleAir’s Extended Stay Service for continuous stays beyond the first 10 hours will remain at $1.25 an hour through May 31, 2012. Drivers and fleets with different discounted rates will automatically receive the lowest hourly rate.

Freightliner design contest for college students
Freightliner Trucks has announced its “Design the Future of Pride & Profit” truck design contest. Open to college students studying within North America, entrants are invited to submit original designs for the owner-operator-style truck of the future.

The company is sponsoring a contest to see which college student can submit the best original design for a new truck – one that’s good looking, aerodynamic and user-friendly for owner-operators. The goal is to help generate out-of-the-box ideas for what owner-operators want.

Judging criteria will cover a broad spectrum of required skills, including concept, overall product appearance, originality, power of emotion, and illustration quality.

The contest runs from now through February 2012.

Three finalists, selected by a panel of commercial vehicle design experts, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show, where their designs will be on display at the Freightliner Trucks booth. The winner will receive a $20,000 scholarship fund and option for a paid internship at Freightliner Trucks.

For more information about the competition and a complete list of rules, go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com/TruckDesignContest.

Pilot Flying J partners with Truckers Against Trafficking
In an effort to help raise awareness about human trafficking along America’s roadways, Pilot Flying J has partnered with Truckers Against Trafficking to expand education for employees and outreach to customers.

Truckers Against Trafficking ia an organization dedicated to educating, equipping, empowering and mobilizing the trucking industry to fight human trafficking. It recently received its nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service, making it a 5019(c)(3) organization.

Pilot Flying J posted information from the growing organization in its more than 550 travel centers and travel plazas across the U.S. These posters provide the national hotline number that individuals should call to provide an anonymous tip if they witness or suspect human trafficking. The number is 888-373-7888.

Professional drivers are encouraged to pick up a Truckers Against Trafficking wallet card at Pilot Flying J locations, which along with the national TAT hotline number provides an email contact, tips on trafficking red flags and specific information to provide to law enforcement with each tip.

Pilot Flying J also now includes general training about human trafficking and the organization’s resources to all company employees.

Daimler brings the cloud to the cab
You know that “cloud” word you are always hearing in ads about the Internet? Now it’s coming to trucking. A strategic agreement between Daimler Trucks North America and a company called Zonar promises to offer some Freightliner drivers Virtual Technician, which DTNA says is the industry’s first real-time remote diagnostic system. They say it will be standard equipment on 2012 Freightliners equipped with Detroit Diesel BlueTec engines.

By leveraging Zonar cloud-based (Internet) technology with the Virtual Technician system, DTNA can provide immediate and proactive diagnostic service to their customers. The Virtual Technician transmits real-time engine diagnostics with vehicle performance indicators to the Detroit Diesel Customer Support Center. The support center then proactively communicates with fleets and vehicle owners regarding potential performance issues and service scheduling.

Volvo goes for better mpg, sweet spot
Volvo says its new powertrain, the XE-13, will improve fuel efficiency by 3 percent or more in its VN series trucks. A Volvo press release says the system produces a low-rpm cruising speed while increasing torque. The company says the result is that the engine runs at its ‘”sweet spot” at all speeds.

Goodyear blog lets trucking professionals interact with tire expert
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has launched the fleetHQ “Ask The Tire Answer Man” blog, exclusively available at http://blog.fleethq.com/.

“This unique blog gives fleets and owner-operators an opportunity to interact with Tim Miller, Goodyear’s ‘Tire Answer Man,’” said Bruce Woodruff, director of business solutions marketing, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. 

A 30-plus-year commercial tire veteran, Miller also serves as marketing communications manager for Goodyear's commercial tire business.

“Having spent his career working with original equipment truck manufacturers, fleets and owner-operators in a variety of capacities from engineering to national account sales, Tim will draw upon his vast knowledge of the tire and trucking industries to discuss issues that are important to transportation professionals,” said Woodruff.

Goodyear’s fleetHQ program offers a variety of tools and benefits, including the 24/7 fleetHQ Solution Center, which dispatches service technicians to downed trucks. It also offers TV Track, a powerful online management tool that helps fleets monitor tire conditions and performance, among other functions; Gold Medallion retreaded tires; the fleetHQ Truck Stop Network, which encompasses more than 300 locations; and more.

Rebates available to help truckers ‘electrify’
Truckers needing a cost-effective way to purchase anti-idling equipment for their rigs may want to check into a new rebate program being offered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The manager of the DOE grant program is Cascade Sierra Solutions of Eugene, OR, which announced the $10 million Shorepower Technologies Electrification Project – or STEP. The goal is to provide “idle reduction equipment rebates for devices on medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks that incorporate electric standby operation or run on battery power to eliminate engine idling during mandated rest periods,” according to Cascade’s press release on Aug. 15.

The STEP plan is to “locate and install 50 truck stop facilities over the next 18 months” in busy freight corridors.

Individual rebates can be as much as 20 percent of the “installed equipment price.”

Owner-operators operating in the lower 48 states will be eligible to apply for the program. Small fleet owners may also apply, with a maximum of 25 rebates per fleet.

“Equipment purchases must be pre-authorized by Cascade Sierra Solutions with a rebate certificate prior to installation,” Cascade’s release stated. Those selected must agree to use STEP project “electrified truck parking where available until June 2014.”

According to the release, the types of equipment eligible for the rebates, and the maximum payments, include auxiliary power units or generator sets with electric stand-by options, $2,000 max; battery HVAC systems, $1,600; battery evaporative cooler systems, $700; thermal storage systems, $260, truck cold plate systems, $3,200; trailer transport refrigeration units with electric stand-by options, $5,000; and e-Hybrid transport refrigeration units with electric stand-by options, $5,000.

The equipment must be SmartWay-approved technology. Click here for the list.

Freightliner aims for 8 mpg in 2015
The people at Freightliner say they’ve set a goal of improving the fuel efficiency of the Cascadia by 5 percent every two years. If they can pull it off, it will mean the Cascadia’s fuel use will improve from 6.7 miles per gallon in 2010 to almost 8 mpg in 2015.

Freightliner says it’s already boosted the tractor’s mileage with aerodynamic fairings and expects to introduce more aerodynamic improvements as well as mechanical advances and things like switching to a 5W-30 engine oil.

Freight Wing offers OOIDA member discounts on side skirts
Owner-operators who own their own trailers can save on their fuel bills if they run with aerodynamic trailer side skirts. If they happen to be OOIDA members, they can save even more, thanks to a 15 percent OOIDA member discount being offered by Freight Wing, the company that manufactures EPA SmartWay-verified Aeroflex side skirts.  

New rules in California are requiring pre 2011-model year 53-foot dry van trailers to have aerodynamics by Jan. 1, 2013. New trailers must be spec’d with side skirts now.

For those running more than one trailer (up to 20), you can phase in trailer side skirts, but you must file a compliance agreement by Jan. 1, 2012. Refrigerated trailers must also comply, although the deadline varies by model year. For complete CARB requirements, go to the CARB web site: http://www.arb.ca.gov and click on The Truck Stop icon.

To learn more the OOIDA discount, go to the OOIDA website, www.ooida.com (click on benefits and services and go to discounts), or contact Freight Wing at 866-464-9464 or info@freightwing.com.