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

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COMING SOON - A New Way to Load and Unload Your Pickup - PowerLoader by MasterHaul

Coming in 2020

PowerLoader Loads and Unloads the Truck Automatically! 

Masterhaul is a new company with some new ideas of how to make far better use of a pickup truck or typical service body. The product offerings include the ability to make use of a wide range of optional modules that allow maximum use of a pickup truck bed or service body. Here are some of the features and how they can benefit your business.

The PowerLoader eliminates the need for additional resources required by existing truck mounted lift gate products.

• No need for workers to transfer heavy cargo from a liftgate into the truck bed.

• No need to purchase utility trailers to tow products that don’t fit on a liftgate, e.g. large power equipment, construction materials, pallets and many more.

• Enhanced Productivity– a quicker job site process equates to more jobs being completed per day, and more revenue being generated per week, per month, per year! A great ROI

•  Mobility – ability to take/deliver resources to work place without having to transfer and / or utilize another form of transport. Offload the truck in seconds when empty truck is needed 

•  Enhanced Safety – No human requirements for lifting or moving loads into the bed 

• Double + the load size capability – Load platform is same size as truck bed, NOT the tailgate

•  Optional and Unique Dump feature – Not offered by others

•  Optional conveyor belt feature – Automatically drops the load off at destination

•  Quick and easy to install - No drilling required

•  Switch & utilize for multiple trucks - Unlike Liftgates that are a permanent fixture once installed

•  Safer Weight Distribution v Liftgate: The PowerLoader allows easy positioning of the cargo forward in the cargo area. Cargo loaded by liftgates must be re-handled to move it forward. Improper cargo location may reduce steering and braking performance and increase rear axle system fatigue.

•  Remote Control– For all operational systems

•  Reduced Injuries caused by getting in and out of the truck bed

• ·         Slipping off the Liftgate
• ·         Injury by Falling Cargo
• ·         Being injured by Liftgate Mechanism

Please give us your thoughts on our product line, email us at info@masterhaul.com.

Learn more at:  www.masterhaul.com

2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 6.6-liter Duramax diesel

With best-in-class 35,500 pounds towing capability, Chevy’s 1-ton workhorse proved impressive at the company’s ride-n-drive event in Bend, Oregon. Sandor Piszar, Chevy truck marketing director, talks about the truck’s fleet appeal and Chevy lead development engineer Chris DePolo explains how a new Allison 10-speed transmission enabled an improved axle ratio of 3.42 (down from 3.73) and thus better fuel economy.

Roll Up Doors for the Knapheide Aluminum Service Body // NTEA 2019

New Roll Up Doors shown on our Aluminum Service Body at the 2019 Work Truck Show.

Maximize Safety On Your Next Upfit - by Knapheide

 

Safety is everywhere on jobsites.  Regulations are put in place by government agencies to minimize the risk of injuries, equipment has a laundry list of safety features, and laborers protect themselves with safety glasses, ear plugs, hard hats, steel toed boots, high visibility clothing, among many other things.  Work vehicles have safety features that Henry Ford couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams.  Seat belts, air bags, back up cameras, lane and blind spot sensors, bluetooth, traction control, autonomous braking, adaptive headlights, parking assist, tire pressure monitors, the list goes on and on, all designed to keep the driver and occupants of the vehicle safe.

So why in 2013 were there over three million injuries on the jobsite, of which over half required missed work?*  The current median age in the United States is 37 years old, by 2050 experts predict it will increase to 41 years of age.**  An aging workforce is a great concern as it relates to jobsite safety and injury prevention.  Baby boomer laborers that for decades put in hard work are now paying the price with their knees, hips, back, and many other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  Not all work injuries are related to the aging workforce, however for many businesses our aging workforce is a determining factor when purchasing equipment and vehicles.

‘Ergonomics’, a word not historically heard in the commercial vehicle industry, has been a hot topic for several years now.  Business owners understand an aging workforce is highly susceptible to those revenue-losing injuries that require time off.  In order to combat the jobsite injuries, many have turned their attention to the commercial vehicle they drive and the equipment they use, but many times end up either overlooking the body or downplaying its importance.  The back of the commercial vehicle (cargo area or body) is commonly called the “business end” in the industry for a reason, much of the work day is spent there.  Accessing tools and parts, utilizing vehicle mounted equipment, climbing in and out or on and off, goes on all day, every day.  Climbing in and out of a truck body alone can wreak havoc on knees and backs if spec’d improperly, especially if a worker has been performing these repetitive movements for decades.

Review the Knapheide accessories and options at  https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2016/07/maximize-safety-on-your-next-upfit?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nurture&utm_content=tof-4&elqTrackId=6e189d1618364636bb9ec8b76fae69d5&elq=7d3a6b49687f4380b09cacc98845767b&elqaid=1069&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=518

6′ & 8′ DUMP INSERT by CAM Superline

Turn your pickup into a dump truck with the CAM Superline Dump Insert. Available in 6 foot and 8 foot models, the dump insert offers a sturdy and convenient alternative to a dump trailer and lets you more easily maneuver and dump gravel, mulch, and other bulk cargo into tight spaces. The dump bed is capable of handling 5,200 lb. payloads if used on a HD pickup.

FEATURES

• Cab Protector
• Hoist with 3” Hydraulic Cylinder
• Remote with 20’ Cord
• Power Up and Gravity Down
• 2.5” × 2.5” Structural Steel Angle Frame
• 12 Gauge Sides and Floor
• Double Acting Tailgate (Removable)
• Stainless Steel Flush Tailgate Latch
• Stainless Steel Spring Loaded Tailgate Pins
• Tailgate Cables
• Spreader Chains
• Stake Pockets w/ Heavy Duty Tie Down Rail
• Epoxy Primer
• Polyurethane Paint Finish
• Color: Black
• Three Year Warranty

AVAILABLE OPTIONS

• Tarp Roller Kit
• Wireless Remote
• Power Up and Down
• 20” Metal Side Extensions
• Contact your local dealer for more options

COLOR OPTIONS

Not exact color match. Contact your local dealer for color samples.

LEARN MORE AT:  https://camsuperline.com/product/6-8-dump-insert/

HOW TO CALCULATE A WORK TRUCK'S PAYLOAD

With several technical terms and acronyms used when calculating a vehicle’s payload, it can get quite confusing. Get it wrong and risk being overloaded which can cause expensive citations, accelerated maintenance costs and safety issues. To make it easy, we break down each piece of calculating the payload of your work truck below and give some additional tips to consider.

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First, let’s start with defining the technical terms.

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - The maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the chassis manufacturer. Essentially, how much the vehicle can carry with everything including chassis, body, fluids, fuel, passengers and cargo. Trailers are not included in this rating.
  Chassis manufacturers always will publish this weight. It can be found on the sticker placed within the front drive side door frame or on the chassis manufacturer’s website.
• Curb Weight - The total weight of a vehicle with all operating consumables including oil, coolant, refrigerant and fuel. Include the weight of a truck body if applicable in the curb weight. This number will not include the weight of passengers and cargo within the vehicle.
  This number will come from the chassis manufacturer as well and can be found on their website. If your work truck has a body, be sure to include the body weight (including the bumper, mounting kit and shelves if applicable) within the curb weight as well. Body weights should be located on the body manufacturer’s website.
• Payload- The difference between Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Curb Weight. Simply put, it is the amount of weight left that your vehicle can carry in passengers and cargo.

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The equation to calculate your work truck’s payload is:

GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) - CURB WEIGHT = PAYLOAD

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Let’s run a quick example. Let’s say your truck’s GVWR is 10,000 lbs and your curb weight is 7,100 lbs. What is your payload?

Answer:10,000 lbs (GVWR) - 7,100 lbs (Curb Weight) = 2,900 lbs Payload

This may sound like a lot of payload but keep in mind a few things. Your payload doesn’t include passengers, at the very least your vehicle will have one passenger (the driver) and use up 150 lbs (or more) of payload. If you have multiple passengers, account for those as well. Don’t forget your tools, parts and materials you will carry on your truck. On upfits like a service or utility body, there is ample space to store these items. Calculate the weight of these items carefully and don’t underestimate. Also, be sure to account for any items you install on the truck or body after calculating the payload. These could include a grill guard, ladder or material rack, toolbox, generator, compressor, welder, auxiliary fuel tank and more. Lastly, keep some payload on reserve! There are times when you will need to carry additional equipment, tools or materials to the job that were not included in the original payload calculation. If you leave ample payload open, this won’t become an issue.

SOURCE: https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2017/11/how-to-calculate-a-work-trucks-payload?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nurture&utm_content=tof-3&elqTrackId=86196f756fe047eaae1c88ab70a98bb8&elq=71dcca10a8a44694a8b92890d994d97d&elqaid=1068&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=518

Knapheide Products: https://www.knapheide.com/products