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LET’S START WITH SOME GOOD NEWS, an all too rare phenomenon these days. It’s not a huge deal, I’ll admit, but if you’re like most of us and enjoy seeing little guys take big strides, it may warm your tired heart to know that a small Halifax company is taking on Europe. It’s doubly pleasing to me because it seems that an awful lot of technology has been making the reverse trip in the last few years.

I’m talking about TruckWeight, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a little outfit that makes and sells wireless onboard scales for trucks, tractors, and trailers. And successfully, by all accounts. They introduced their Smart Scale for air suspensions back in 2005, and started exploring the European market earlier this year. In a couple of weeks they’ll be setting up their display at the world’s biggest truck extravaganza, the huge IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover, Germany -- Hall 21, Stand E11, to be exact, in case you happen to be headed to Deutschland.

Zwei bieren, bitte!

Getting back to TruckWeight for a minute, the company offers versions of its Smart Scale for air suspensions and now mechanical spring suspensions, as you’ll read in this edition’s product items. There’s also its Fleet Link product, a telematics thingy that allows data to be shared across a wireless network.

A Smart Scale really is wireless, and battery-powered. Sensors monitor subtle changes in the suspension and an RF transmitter sends this data to a small handheld receiver that produces an accurate estimate – to within about 1% -- of how much load the axle is bearing. Being wireless, you can read gross and axle weights from wherever you like – in the cab or a nearby office, for instance -- up to about 500 ft away. Check them out at www.truckweight.com.

Anyway, I wish them luck on their European adventure.

WARRANTY ISSUES ARE OFTEN ADVENTURES of a different sort, though you don’t need me to tell you that. Over my 30 years in this game I think I’ve heard them all, tales of woe from both sides of the fence. What’s common, and nearly universal, is predictable: what we have here is a failure to communicate, to steal a classic line from, I think, Cool Hand Luke.

Truck owners don’t ask, dealers don’t explain, and far too often nobody actually exchanges words until tempers are high and then voices are raised. At that stage, real communication is often impossible. That’s when I get a call, quite often, and try to play a mediator role. So anything that helps create smoother waters in advance of that moment is all good.

On that front, Eaton has just introduced a pre-approved repairs system to help streamline warranty processing by dealer shop staff. With new pre-authorized warranty-repair guidelines now posted on www.roadranger.com, telephone calls for many authorizations may no longer be necessary, Eaton says. The warranty program allows technicians, service managers and warranty administrators at all North American truck dealerships to identify and administer 19 different repairs with no outside intervention, assuming they follow the clear guidelines accessible 24/7 on the Roadranger website. The program covers Eaton transmissions, clutches and VORAD collision-warning systems.

I like this one, and so should dealers. Truck owners too, of course, because they’ll probably get their truck back sooner.

“By eliminating the need for telephone authorizations, dealers now have the autonomy to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair the problem, submit their claims, and receive compensation in the fastest possible manner,” says John Needham, Eaton’s warranty manager. “Of course, they can still call us if they want to do so.”

Among the more than 50 repair guidelines available online, pre-authorized guidelines are provided for five automated transmission repairs, 10 for manual transmissions, three for clutches, and one collision-warning system repair. In each case, says Eaton, visitors see a description of the repair, parts required, labor required, a claim code, and parts disposition. Another link provides submission guidelines and all the necessary claim-filing forms.

Eaton says this represents the kick-off of a new Roadranger initiative to create a more “customer-centric” warranty system. It’s apparently the first of several new programs that we’ll see in the next few months. Have a look at www.roadranger.com for more info.

AND A BRIEF NOTE ON CUMMINS, a follow-up to the news I wrote about a couple of newsletters ago, namely the company’s switch to SCR for its 2010 heavy-duty engines. Big news it was, though probably inevitable when you think about it. But I neglected to include a key piece of information in my coverage of the announcement. In fact, it wasn’t part of the official press release, and I don’t think it come up in the subsequent telephone press conference.

The Cummins switch has left International as the only engine maker still planning to use EGR in a couple of years time, and the industry has been abuzz lately with speculation about that plan. Will they stick with it or join the SCR crowd? There’s nothing wrong with the EGR solution, of course, and in some ways, for some people, it may even be the better choice. But with fuel prices where they are, and with SCR’s ability to shave as much as 5% off a diesel bill, the idea of switching over will be pretty compelling.

Anybody taking bets?

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?

And while you’re there at todaystrucking.com, check out the Decision Centers. They’re essentially libraries on specific subjects like Engines or Braking Systems. We’ve gathered all manner of information from maintenance manuals to research reports to help you make informed decisions about spec’ing, operating, and maintaining trucks and truck systems.

I should remind you that I don’t endorse any of the products I write about in this e-newsletter, nor do I have the resources to test them. What you’re getting is reasonably well educated opinion based on three decades in trucking. And in the case of the individual product items, I’m presenting simple news from the manufacturer or service provider, with the hyperbole removed and clarification applied.

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.