All new 2019 Ford Ranger Aluminum Service Body shown at the 2019 Work Truck Show.
7/24/19
Knapheide Lube Truck - KLT // NTEA 2019
All new KLT with big truck features in a non CDL compact package.
7/22/19
What You May Not Know About Gas Cans and Pickup Bedliners - Read This First and Watch the Video!
Here's a video you should watch. The near-tragedy
starts at about 1/3 through the video!
By Steve Taylor
I was shocked when I saw this video, I had limited knowledge of the potential for fire when a gas can was allowed to travel in and remain placed on the pick-up bed plastic bed-liner while refueling. Well, its real because here is a notice from the US NIOSH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US). I wanted to share it with you:
Fire Hazard from Filling Portable Gas Cans in Pickup Trucks and Cars
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 98-111
Description of Hazard
In recent incidents reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), fires spontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portable gasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns and other injuries resulted. Similar incidents in the last few years have resulted in warning bulletins from several private and government organizations.
These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charge generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline. Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gas containers have been involved in these incidents.
Fire Hazard: Filling gas can in pickup truck with plastic bed liner.
Safe Practice: Always place gas can on ground before refueling. Touch can with gas dispenser nozzle before removing can lid. Keep gas dispenser nozzle in contact with can inlet when filling.
Recommendations For Prevention
Construction workers and others in small businesses who often work with gasoline-powered equipment commonly use portable gasoline containers. Homeowners use gasoline cans for their lawn mowers and other equipment.
- Avoid the hazardous practice of leaving the portable gasoline containers in pickup trucks or cars when refueling!
- Before filling, always remove the containers from the vehicle and place them on the ground at a safe distance from the vehicle (provides path to dissipate static charge to ground).
- Touch the container with the gas dispenser nozzle before removing the container lid (provides another path to dissipate static charge to ground).
- Keep the nozzle in contact with the container inlet when filling (to dissipate static charge buildup from flow of gasoline).
- Manufacturers or retailers: Place a hazard label on all plastic liners being sold warning workers not to fill portable gas containers in the bed liner of the truck but always to place the containers on the ground before filling.
- Gas stations: Display a warning notice near gas pumps to place all portable gas containers on the ground before filling.
- States: Provide a warning notification to owners and users when new vehicles are licensed or when license plates are renewed.
- Manufacturers: Build bed liners that can be grounded to the metal truck bed, thereby dissipating potential electrostatic charge.
The principal contributors to this publication are: Jerome P. Flesch, Elaine Mann, G. Kent Hatfield, Heinz Ahlers, Richard Carlson, and Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, NIOSH; Richard Yallits, City of Winnipeg, Canada Fire Department; William Rowe, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Fire Hazard from Filling Portable Gas Cans in Pickup Trucks and Cars Adobe PDF file [PDF - 239 KB]
Guest Post by Steve Taylor. Steve is a consultant in lean six sigma process improvement and specializes in fleets and manufacturers in the work truck industry. He may be contacted at steve@truckarchitect.com and his website is http://www.upstreamsource.com/
7/20/19
Material Rack vs Forklift-Loadable Rack. What Are The Differences?
Michael Osborne demonstrates the differences between the standard Material Rack vs the Forklift-Loadable Rack. Generally speaking, the material rack is loaded by hand and the forklift-loadable rack can be loaded with a forklift. It mainly depends on what materials you need to carry and how often. Both racks carry material and how that material needs to get up there is going to determine the best rack for you. At Paradise Fleet, we carry both designs in stock and if you would like to see the differences in person, we are happy to show you for yourself.
Call Michael Osborne or one of our knowledgeable fleet pros at 951-252-2980
Check out our huge selection of ready-to-go-to-work-today trucks at https://paradisefleet.com
7/13/19
Kargo King Roll Off Rental Deck With Adjustable Hitch - Enoven Truck Body
Sam with Enoven Truck Body shows off the custom built equipment transportation body from Kargo King. This body will safely load equipment at the ground level eliminating the chance of injury and the hazards of using a traditional roll back. It also has a hydraulic adjustable hitch so you can tow a trailer once your equipment is loaded. See more at http://www.enoven.com.
7/08/19
GM Fort Wayne Paint Lab
The General Motors Fort Wayne facility, also known as Fort Wayne Assembly, is located in Roanoke, Indiana, USA. The factory produces full-size pickup trucks. General Motors is making a new round of upgrades to its Fort Wayne Assembly plant to further increase production of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups – especially crew cab models. “We are building Chevrolet and GMC crew cab pickups at record volume and mix levels to meet customer demand and the $24 million investment will allow us to build even more,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. “The team here at Fort Wayne has done an outstanding job helping us satisfy customers throughout this launch. Our product ramp-up was very smooth and the quality has been exceptional. Crew cab sales have been very strong, and we are expanding customer choice with new models, more cab choices and innovative new powertrains.”
7/07/19
How Work Truck Fleets Could Benefit from Lean Six Sigma practices:
Vehicle specifications should reflect the needs of the user department, fitness for use, conformance to laws, and maintainability. Often vehicles develop breakdowns caused by defects or variations in the manufacturing process effecting reliability of the unit over time.
If
fleets are interested in buying products with high reliability, best quality
and are as safe as possible to operate, they should review their purchasing
process and the specifications for the mounted equipment.
Here
are two suggestions - using Six Sigma Methodology:
1) Add DFSS and Lean Six Sigma to the bid specifications:
1) Add DFSS and Lean Six Sigma to the bid specifications:
Choose
vendors that use DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) in their product development. Add DFSS into the equipment specs, the
vendor will acknowledge that they either have or have not complied with the
process in their design stage.
In other
words, give preference to vendors that practice DFSS. It shows that the vendor /
equipment manufacturer has approached the design of their product using DFSS
methodology.
Design for Six Sigma, DFSS, is a business procedure utilizing Six Sigma methodology. There are several tools and methods to utilize within Six Sigma to assure the process will be running in the correct direction. These DFSS techniques include tools and processes to predict, model and simulate the product delivery system (the processes, the personnel and organization, the training, the facilities, and logistics used to produce the product/service). Many of the tools used by DFSS are often used in the classic DMAIC Six Sigma process to analyze new products and processes.
DFSS enables the manufacturer to
prevent defects from occurring. The manufacturer can then produce
superior products and offer services that are more stable and should not allow
occurrences of “special cause” variation. It’s been described as a “vaccination
against variation”.
Design for Six Sigma, DFSS, is a business procedure utilizing Six Sigma methodology. There are several tools and methods to utilize within Six Sigma to assure the process will be running in the correct direction. These DFSS techniques include tools and processes to predict, model and simulate the product delivery system (the processes, the personnel and organization, the training, the facilities, and logistics used to produce the product/service). Many of the tools used by DFSS are often used in the classic DMAIC Six Sigma process to analyze new products and processes.
Remember,
all business processes present an opportunity for a variation to occur. These deviations
are often associated with human controlled process operations. Each deviation
can potentially become a defect; some of these defects may not show up
immediately and could potentially cause safety related accidents. It is because
of this that the Design for Six Sigma, DFSS is important for every manufacturing
business.
2) Use of DMAIC
for the manufacturing process:
It would
follow that the manufacturing process be designed and controlled by Lean Six
Sigma methodology. Lean Six Sigma is a methodology that relies on team
effort to improve performance by systematically removing waste and reducing defects.
The process is a collaborative effort using a team made up of a Champion, process
owners and others chosen within and often consultants from outside the organization as well. The LSS methodology follows steps within DMAIC – Define, Measure, Analyze,
Improve and Control and relies heavily on data to assure that a correct path is
followed and the goals are met.
If six
sigma methodologies are followed, the end result will be a higher quality, more
reliable product. Defects will be reduced to 3.4 per one million opportunities or less.
Therefore, there should be a maximum of 3.4 defects for each one million products
produced or service opportunities. Most manufacturers and service providers do
not come close to this.
But as an example, one industry has a mixed record, one to brag about, and yet another that does not come close to meeting Six Sigma. It’s the airline industry, far fewer than 3.4 passengers per million end up not making their destinations because of crashes. However 6200 pieces of luggage do not make it to their destination for every 1 million pieces carried!
But as an example, one industry has a mixed record, one to brag about, and yet another that does not come close to meeting Six Sigma. It’s the airline industry, far fewer than 3.4 passengers per million end up not making their destinations because of crashes. However 6200 pieces of luggage do not make it to their destination for every 1 million pieces carried!
Although
the manufacturer is not required to have a Lean Six Sigma Black or Green Belt
on staff, they should be able to demonstrate that they routinely practice
continuous improvement initiatives. These initiatives may also be facilitated
by an outside consultant. Lean Six Sigma consultants should have obtained their
certification from a credible organization such as the ASQ or Public or Private
Universities.
By Steve Taylor: Steve is a certified lean six sigma
consultant specializing in process improvement. He may be reached at steve@truckarchitect.com His
LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevectaylor
Steve has vast experience in the work
truck manufacturing field and is an expert author specializing in writing and
blogging about work trucks.
You may find interesting posts on work truck news and truck safety, including NHTSA Recall Notices at http://truckarchitect.blogspot.com/
You may find interesting posts on work truck news and truck safety, including NHTSA Recall Notices at http://truckarchitect.blogspot.com/
Rightsizing Your Vehicle Fleet to Conserve Fuel
Fleet rightsizing is a management practice that can help vehicle fleet managers build and maintain sustainable, fuel-efficient fleets. Fleet inventories often grow over time to include vehicles that are highly specialized, rarely used, or unsuitable for current applications. By evaluating fleet size and composition, managers can optimize vehicle use, conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and save money on fuel and maintenance.
Evaluate Vehicle Needs and Use
Fleet managers should understand their fleet's daily vehicle use and needs. Most fleet managers already have a handle on their number and type of vehicles, average mileage, payloads, and fuel economy. Fleet rightsizing combines this information with a critical look at fleet operations to identify opportunities to reduce energy use. When rightsizing, fleet managers should evaluate how important each vehicle is to the fleet’s performance by asking themselves:
What tasks are accomplished by each vehicle? Or, what is the drive cycle?
What is the daily, weekly, or monthly mileage of each vehicle? Or, what is the duty cycle?
Are fleet vehicles the optimal vehicle type, class, and size for the job?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer cost effective to operate or are no longer fulfilling their purpose?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer being used or have experienced a lot of downtime?
What is the fuel consumption of each vehicle? Can any vehicles be replaced by lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles?
What is the age of the vehicles? Can any vehicles be replaced by newer, more efficient and reliable vehicles?
Are there any alternatives to owning or leasing a vehicle, such as shuttle bus services, motor pool vehicles, sharing vehicles with other offices/agencies, vehicle stipends, public transportation, or short-term rentals when needed?
Considering the answers to the previous questions, what is the optimal composition of the fleet required to properly support the fleet’s needs?
In addition to reviewing telematics or fleet analysis data, fleet managers should consider soliciting input from drivers when conducting a rightsizing review, as they can be very knowledgeable about how vehicles are being used to support operations. Gathering this input also gives drivers a stake in the development of rightsizing recommendations. Fleet managers can solicit input through driver surveys or face-to-face meetings to establish consensus.
A fleet rightsizing strategy should evaluate the business case of each vehicle to determine whether reassigning, replacing, or eliminating the vehicle would reduce fuel and maintenance costs without compromising fleet activities. Fleet managers often need to define evaluation criteria and rank vehicles to complete this analysis. A fleet dominated by sport utility vehicles, for example, may find that mid-size sedans can suffice with a significant reduction in fuel costs.
Fleet managers may develop their own analysis or use existing evaluation tools. The Vehicle Allocation Methodology developed by the U.S. General Services Administration is an evaluation framework that federal agency fleets use to ensure fleets are cost-effective and contain the appropriate number and type of vehicles. Learn more about this methodology in the Comprehensive Federal Fleet Management Handbook (PDF).
Make Smart Vehicle Purchases
Fleet managers may decide to replace older vehicles with more fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles. These purchasing strategies may help fleet managers make decisions that meet operational needs and conserve fuel:
Transition to Smaller, More Efficient Engines: Using smaller engines can help fleets meet operational needs without downgrading vehicle class. Some fleets choose to switch from 6-cylinder to 4-cylinder engines to help reduce fuel use and emissions. In many cases, the new, smaller engine can have nearly the same horsepower as a larger engine. Fleet managers can also improve fuel efficiency by selecting smaller engines with optional gearing for their application.
Choose Lighter Vehicles: When purchasing new vehicles, look for opportunities to reduce vehicle weight. Lightweight materials, such as aluminum frames, and smaller components can reduce rolling resistance and drag, thereby improving a vehicle’s fuel economy. For example, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can improve fuel economy by 6% to 8%. Also, try to avoid unnecessarily large body configurations and heavy accessories. For more information, refer to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's Confidence Report.
Use Alternative Fuels and Vehicles: Alternative fuel and fuel-efficient advanced vehicles can reduce a fleet's fuel use, making them economical options for many fleets. Cost savings from vehicle maintenance, operation, and fuel use and price often offset higher purchase prices.
Source: https://afdc.energy.gov/conserve/rightsizing.html
Evaluate Vehicle Needs and Use
Fleet managers should understand their fleet's daily vehicle use and needs. Most fleet managers already have a handle on their number and type of vehicles, average mileage, payloads, and fuel economy. Fleet rightsizing combines this information with a critical look at fleet operations to identify opportunities to reduce energy use. When rightsizing, fleet managers should evaluate how important each vehicle is to the fleet’s performance by asking themselves:
What tasks are accomplished by each vehicle? Or, what is the drive cycle?
What is the daily, weekly, or monthly mileage of each vehicle? Or, what is the duty cycle?
Are fleet vehicles the optimal vehicle type, class, and size for the job?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer cost effective to operate or are no longer fulfilling their purpose?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer being used or have experienced a lot of downtime?
What is the fuel consumption of each vehicle? Can any vehicles be replaced by lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles?
What is the age of the vehicles? Can any vehicles be replaced by newer, more efficient and reliable vehicles?
Are there any alternatives to owning or leasing a vehicle, such as shuttle bus services, motor pool vehicles, sharing vehicles with other offices/agencies, vehicle stipends, public transportation, or short-term rentals when needed?
Considering the answers to the previous questions, what is the optimal composition of the fleet required to properly support the fleet’s needs?
In addition to reviewing telematics or fleet analysis data, fleet managers should consider soliciting input from drivers when conducting a rightsizing review, as they can be very knowledgeable about how vehicles are being used to support operations. Gathering this input also gives drivers a stake in the development of rightsizing recommendations. Fleet managers can solicit input through driver surveys or face-to-face meetings to establish consensus.
A fleet rightsizing strategy should evaluate the business case of each vehicle to determine whether reassigning, replacing, or eliminating the vehicle would reduce fuel and maintenance costs without compromising fleet activities. Fleet managers often need to define evaluation criteria and rank vehicles to complete this analysis. A fleet dominated by sport utility vehicles, for example, may find that mid-size sedans can suffice with a significant reduction in fuel costs.
Fleet managers may develop their own analysis or use existing evaluation tools. The Vehicle Allocation Methodology developed by the U.S. General Services Administration is an evaluation framework that federal agency fleets use to ensure fleets are cost-effective and contain the appropriate number and type of vehicles. Learn more about this methodology in the Comprehensive Federal Fleet Management Handbook (PDF).
Make Smart Vehicle Purchases
Fleet managers may decide to replace older vehicles with more fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles. These purchasing strategies may help fleet managers make decisions that meet operational needs and conserve fuel:
Transition to Smaller, More Efficient Engines: Using smaller engines can help fleets meet operational needs without downgrading vehicle class. Some fleets choose to switch from 6-cylinder to 4-cylinder engines to help reduce fuel use and emissions. In many cases, the new, smaller engine can have nearly the same horsepower as a larger engine. Fleet managers can also improve fuel efficiency by selecting smaller engines with optional gearing for their application.
Choose Lighter Vehicles: When purchasing new vehicles, look for opportunities to reduce vehicle weight. Lightweight materials, such as aluminum frames, and smaller components can reduce rolling resistance and drag, thereby improving a vehicle’s fuel economy. For example, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can improve fuel economy by 6% to 8%. Also, try to avoid unnecessarily large body configurations and heavy accessories. For more information, refer to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's Confidence Report.
Use Alternative Fuels and Vehicles: Alternative fuel and fuel-efficient advanced vehicles can reduce a fleet's fuel use, making them economical options for many fleets. Cost savings from vehicle maintenance, operation, and fuel use and price often offset higher purchase prices.
Source: https://afdc.energy.gov/conserve/rightsizing.html
7/04/19
Experience DiamondBack: Theft Protection
Check out how DiamondBack Truck Covers provide your bed with theft protection that's second to none. Peace of mind knowing your gear is safe is a great feeling.
7/03/19
U.S. Senators press for speed limiters on trucks
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario and Quebec introduced a speed-limiter
program for trucks 10 years ago, setting the maximum speed for
heavy-duty vehicles at 105 km/h, or 65 mph.
Now the United States wants to follow suit amid a sharp rise in fatal accidents involving large trucks. Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would require trucks to be equipped with speed limiters, also set at a maximum speed of 105 km/h.
Road-safety advocates such as Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition have been lobbying Congress for months to pass such a legislation.
“The majority of trucks on our roads already have speed-limiting technology built in, and the rest of the technologically advanced world has already put them to use to ensure drivers follow safe speeds,” said Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who sponsored the bill with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.
“This legislation would officially enforce a long-awaited speed limit of 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the number of preventable fatalities on our busy roadways.”
The senators noted that the Department of Transportation delayed action on speed limiters for more than 20 times since it was first proposed in 2011.
The Trucking Alliance, a safety coalition of transportation and logistics companies, said it was hopeful Congress would pass the legislation.
More than 140,000 people were killed or injured in large truck accidents last year alone, the group said.
Safety advocates also point out that the speed limiters won’t cost extra money because most trucks already have the technology in place.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation study revealed that speed-related, at-fault collisions involving large commercial vehicles fell by 73% after the legislation took effect, according to the Ontario Trucking Association.
The study compared data from 2006-08 to 2010-12, the association said in a report published in 2017.
Source: http://www.trucknews.com/transportation/u-s-senators-press-for-speed-limiters-on-trucks/1003092258/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newcom&utm_campaign=TruckNewsDaily&utm_content=2019070380754
Now the United States wants to follow suit amid a sharp rise in fatal accidents involving large trucks. Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would require trucks to be equipped with speed limiters, also set at a maximum speed of 105 km/h.
Road-safety advocates such as Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition have been lobbying Congress for months to pass such a legislation.
“The majority of trucks on our roads already have speed-limiting technology built in, and the rest of the technologically advanced world has already put them to use to ensure drivers follow safe speeds,” said Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who sponsored the bill with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.
“This legislation would officially enforce a long-awaited speed limit of 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the number of preventable fatalities on our busy roadways.”
The senators noted that the Department of Transportation delayed action on speed limiters for more than 20 times since it was first proposed in 2011.
The Trucking Alliance, a safety coalition of transportation and logistics companies, said it was hopeful Congress would pass the legislation.
More than 140,000 people were killed or injured in large truck accidents last year alone, the group said.
Safety advocates also point out that the speed limiters won’t cost extra money because most trucks already have the technology in place.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation study revealed that speed-related, at-fault collisions involving large commercial vehicles fell by 73% after the legislation took effect, according to the Ontario Trucking Association.
The study compared data from 2006-08 to 2010-12, the association said in a report published in 2017.
Source: http://www.trucknews.com/transportation/u-s-senators-press-for-speed-limiters-on-trucks/1003092258/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newcom&utm_campaign=TruckNewsDaily&utm_content=2019070380754
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