DRIVER TRAINING HITS THE CAB

May 7, 2008 Vol. 4, No. 10 Today’s e-newsletter is going to focus on simple news for a change, though ‘simple’ may not be the right word to use in every case here -- there are some really interesting things happening a little bit below the radar screen. Things that could make a difference.

For instance, U.S. Xpress has become the first fleet in North America to begin training drivers on safety and compliance matters by way of computer-based lessons right in the cab. The truckload giant has 7500 tractors all told, and it’s equipped over 4700 of them with DriverTech DT4000 Fleet Management System units, installed with all of Instructional Technologies’ (ITI) Pro-Tread In-Cab interactive lessons. The plan is to equip all 7500 trucks this way.

U.S. Xpress has long been an innovator, quick to look at and test new technologies, and that spirit begins at the top with co-chairman and CEO Max Fuller. He got pretty involved in this project by all accounts, and having his stamp of approval is no small deal. In-cab training began after months of testing and modifications, several of which were recommended by Fuller himself.

The DriverTech units provide high-end communications capabilities as well as the option of training. In fact, they do a lot more, and I expect we’re just scratching the surface of the possibilities here.

The DT4000 is an open, Windows XP-based, onboard computer system providing in-vehicle computing and an intelligent link between the driver and many sources of data -- work assignments, mapping and other GPS information, engine data, and more. It’s a true ‘tri-mode’ system using satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi networks connected simultaneously, and the lowest-cost option among those three is automatically chosen to route data. It’s built to military specs and is said to withstand the vibration typical of a moving truck. There’s a suite of DriverTech software but fleets can also use their own applications or, as in the Pro-Tread case, employ third-party options.

With in-cab driver training, lesson completion data is sent back to ITI and is entered into a secure, private, online database for each client. Carriers can monitor and document their drivers’ training records, of course. This documentation can be invaluable in the event of litigation.

Using ITI material, drivers can select from some 50 interactive lessons anywhere/anytime over the Internet, not just via in-cab means. Course subjects include defensive driving, winter driving, backing, accident procedures, hours of service and log books, workplace safety, tanker lessons, and a great deal more.

Have a look at these websites to learn more -- www.instructiontech.net, www.drivertech.com, and www.usxpress.com.

PEOPLENET, IT SEEMS, WILL ALSO BE OFFERING ITI Pro-Tread courses by way of its new BLU onboard system. We’re likely to see it in this quarter. But there’s other PeopleNet news as well.

For one, the company is about to add satellite communications to its existing wireless network. This will provide real time accessibility in even the most remote areas of Canada and the U.S., the company says. Subscriber fleets will be able to select the best mix of network options, including satellite, on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis with automatic least-cost routing of all communications. It should be available later this year and will allow PeopleNet to expand into new markets both geographically and vertically.

The new, compact satellite modem will install alongside PeopleNet’s onboard computer, which will only use the satellite communications option when cheaper ground-based wireless is unavailable. Customers will control what kinds of data can be sent when the satellite option is invoked. For example, vehicle location information and messages can be sent via satellite when necessary while more data-heavy transmissions like onboard training videos would be held for wide-band wireless access.

And how about this one? PeopleNet has launched what it calls the MPG Guarantee Program, in response to sharply rising fuel prices. The company says it can help fleets improve fuel economy, based on years of in-depth experience. The program’s goal is to increase fleet fuel economy by 5 to 10%. Whatever the actual result in a given case, PeopleNet guarantees the mpg benefit will exceed the program’s cost within one year or all fees will be refunded.

The program involves a year-long collaboration during which PeopleNet Professional Services will audit customer practices, then develop and implement a plan. Six distinct phases begin with an in-depth analysis of fuel purchasing, maintenance, driver habits, operating efficiency, and equipment specs. The process then establishes measurement benchmarks and a custom, fleet-specific plan to improve fuel efficiency. Training for in-company trainers is also included so as to create a long-term plan that ensures benefits reach beyond that first year.

Hmmm... might be worth checking out www.peoplenetonline.com.

COMPLETELY UNRELATED BUT KINDA COOL, the first International LoneStar tractor to hit Canadian roads in company colors is in the Erb Transport fleet out of New Hamburg, Ont. This is early, because production isn’t due to start for a while yet, but Erb has been an International fleet for quite a while – and is obviously a favored one.

The LoneStar, for those who’ve been asleep for the last couple of months, is a dramatically styled tractor launched, for reasons that I don’t understand, at the Chicago Auto Show in February. At the Mid-America Trucking Show in March and at our own Truck World Show in Toronto last month, the truck attracted a ton of attention. Reactions seem to be a little mixed but mostly very positive. An Ohio Navistar dealer I spoke to recently said he had orders for the truck coming out his ears, even though it’s priced on the high side in Peterbilt premium territory.

Speaking of Navistar, the company has made some moves to clarify its various brand and subsidiary names. So, International Truck and Engine Corp. is now known as Navistar Inc., while Navistar International Corp. remains as the holding company. The International brand name doesn’t change. Its other brand names are IC, Workhorse and Mahindra International. ‘Navistar’ is a sort of ‘umbrella’ brand, we’re told.

WE HAVE A NEW PLAYER ON THE LUBRICANTS FRONT with the emergence in Canada of the world’s fourth largest oil company. Total Lubricants of Canada is based in Montreal, part of Total SA, itself based in Paris, France. Where, really, everyone ought to be based, including Lockwood’s Product watch.

The parent company is a major fuel and lubes enterprise with 95,000 employees in 130 countries, including much activity on the exploration side in 42 countries. It produces oil and gas in 30 nations, and in 2006 it made an average of 2.36 billion barrels of oil per day. That would be almost enough for the Durango in my driveway.

In fact, while Total hasn’t been evident on the street side of the business in Canada until now, it’s actually been much involved in exploration on several leases near Fort McMurray and in northeastern British Columbia. By way of its Canadian subsidiary, Total E&P Canada Ltd., it intends to become a leading oil-sands producer over the next 10 years, with plans to add 500 employees in Alberta.

On the retail side of things, the company entered the Canuck market by acquiring Montreal’s Tribospec late last year. That company was an independent lubricants manufacturer and a leader in the oil-analysis business. It still is.

Not surprisingly, Total makes a bunch of lubes for Canadian truck operators, including Rubia 7900 FE CJ-4 in the larger family of ‘FE’ engine oils aimed at improving fuel economy as much as protecting an engine’s innards. Total claims these oils can improve your fuel economy by as much as 3%. Both mineral-based and synthetic lubes are available.

A COUPLE OF TIDBITS TO FINISH, like the news that ArvinMeritor Inc. will spin off its light-duty business unit to create a separate company to be called Arvin Innovations. ARM chairman and CEO Chip McClure says each company will gain by being better able to focus on the business at hand. There will be little overlap between the two.

From a trucking end-user’s perspective, nothing will really change, though Carsten Reinhardt, presently senior vice president of ArvinMeritor and president of the company’s CVS unit, will be named COO for ArvinMeritor.

A couple of hours down the road in Michigan, Eaton Corp. is basking in glory after being given a CALSTART Blue Sky Award for pioneering heavy-duty hybrid drive technology – both electric and hydraulic -- for trucks. CALSTART (www.calstart.org) is a very active and influential advanced transportation technologies consortium, California-based, aimed at promoting energy efficiency and clean transportation. It’s a participant-supported organization of more than 150 firms and organizations worldwide.

Still in Michigan, the ZF Group has announced it will provide six-speed automatic transmissions for a new light commercial vehicle from Nissan, to be designed and built specifically for the North American market. The transmissions will be produced in Gainesville, Ga., and supplied to the Nissan factory in Canton, Miss. Volume production is planned for 2010.

This will be the first automatic transmission produced by ZF in North America, but it’s no stranger to the process. Last year, the German company built more than a million automatic transmissions for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. The Nissan deal further solidifies ZF’s presence in the North American market, though it’s been around for quite a while and also builds axles and manual transmissions here for cars, light trucks, and off-highway vehicles.

One of ZF’s claims to fame is that its Sachs division builds the tiny little clutches used in Formula One racing cars. In fact, you would believe how tiny they are – maybe the size of a small saucer.

That’s all for now. See you in a couple of weeks.

This newsletter is published every two weeks. It's a heads-up notice about what's going on with trucking technology as well as what you can see at www.todaystrucking.com where you'll find in-detail coverage of nearly everything that's new. Plus interesting products that may not have had the 'air play' they deserved within the last few months. Why not subscribe today?

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If you have comments of whatever sort about Product Watch, or maybe a gizmo I should know about, please contact me at rlockwood@newcom.ca.

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