ComfortGuard APUs to be certified by California Air Resources Board
Cummins Inc. announced that two new ComfortGuard APU systems will be certified to meet the 2008 California Air Resources Board (CARB) idle reduction regulation.
ComfortGuard will be available with two options to meet these emissions criteria: 1) a stand-alone particulate filter on the ComfortGuard APU engine, or 2) a Cummins engine installation kit to route the ComfortGuard diesel exhaust gas into the Cummins Particulate Filter.
The new ComfortGuard APUs have met all Cummins standards for performance as well as all criteria for compliance with the new CARB regulations. Cummins has submitted all necessary applications for product testing and verification by CARB. Once the formal approval is received, the two options will be available through authorized Cummins locations.
ComfortGuard APUs feature a two-cylinder low-emissions diesel engine and either a regenerative DPF or an exhaust adapter kit for use with 2007 Cummins ISX engines. Equipped with a Cummins alternator, the APU produces 4,000 watts at 120 volts, 60 hertz AC, and has exceptional voltage and frequency stability for appliances and electronic equipment. It also produces up to 40 amps at 12 volts DC for charging the truck's batteries, and powering lights and fans.
Thermo King remote status light displays
Thermo King is providing three new remote status light displays for reefer-equipped trailers. The displays make it easy for drivers to check on the status, temperature, and fuel level of their unit with just a glance in the rearview mirror.
New displays are available in three configurations: status, status/fuel level, and status/fuel level/temperature readout. Displays help drivers avoid out-of-fuel shutdowns and feature a solid-state design sealed against the elements with no bulbs to replace. Each display uses high-visibility LED lights and has an auto dimming feature for night driving. The displays are compatible with all Thermo King SB trailer units with SR-2 controllers (basic Status Light works with any controller).
Michelin rolls out an improved XZE tire
Michelin Americas Truck Tires has taken its all-position XZE tire and made it better. The new Michelin XZE2 tire was recently unveiled at the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) show.
The all-position XZE2 tire improves on Michelin's XZE tire in a number of ways:
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A 15 percent increase in overall tread life — meaning more miles of operation without compromising other performance attributes.
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An optimized tire profile, incorporating Michelin's siping technology and four-groove design, protects the tire against irregular wear.
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A 6 percent wider tread area that delivers enhanced traction and stability.
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An enhanced chip- and cut-resistant tread compound for all load ranges. This compound was previously only in LRH tires, and combined with the 22/32nds of original tread depth allows the XZE2 tire to deliver superior wear in high-scrub applications.
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A 5 percent reduction in rolling resistance.
The XZE2 tire is available effective March 1, 2008, in sizes 11R22.5, 275/80R22.5, and 11R24.5, with a 275/80R24.5 size provided in April 2008. The XZE tire will remain available through the end of the year.
Real-time tire pressure management offered
Par Technology Subsidiary-Par Logistics Management Systems along with Advantage PressurePro LLC have introduced a real-time tire pressure management system for the transportation industry.
Trailer managers have real-time information on trailer location, temperature, fuel levels, and door activity while also receiving critical alerts on reefer failures, rapid fuel loss, and insufficient tire pressure. Automated alerts arrive in e-mails and text message PDA devices (cell phones) informing managers of low pressure, reefer failure, and rapid fuel consumption.
Cummins offers Clean Idle Certified engines
Cummins Inc. is offering Clean Idle Certified on-highway engines, meeting the new California Air Resources Board's (CARB) idle reduction regulation. The Cummins full lineup of on-highway engines — including the ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC, and ISB — meet this new regulation by generating less than 30-g/hour nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions at idle.
Effective immediately, Cummins customers can now specify a 50-state Clean Idle Certified engine option when ordering a new vehicle. In addition, customers now also have the option, through their local Cummins distributor, to update existing 2007 engines to meet the 50-state Clean Idle Certified status.
Cummins' ability to offer Clean Idle engines complements and supports other available electronic engine features such as the programmable idle shutdown timer. Together these features help reduce a customer's idle time and fuel consumption, thus only allowing idling for those periods where a driver needs cab comfort while logged out of service.
Truck leasing plan enables entrepreneurs
Rockwall TX-based Texas Star Express offers a truck leasing opportunity to help aspiring owner-operators get started in a financially responsible way. The 36-month leasing package includes a used tractor retrofitted with a Thermo King TriPac hybrid auxiliary idle reduction and temperature management system (APU) and one free year of business bookkeeping.
The company, which first opened its doors in 1983, has been owned by EPES Carriers Inc. of Greensboro NC since 1991. Currently Texas Star Express runs 300 company-owned Freightliner and Peterbilt tractors and owns 1,280 trailers, the majority of which are Wabash Duraplates.
Essentially, Texas Star Express is providing a service that allows drivers to get into a reliable tractor (375,000-plus miles) that is retrofitted with a TriPac system for fuel and emission efficiencies and will be completely driver-owned within three years. The company offers financing at equipment cost; there is no markup or money earned by Texas Star Express. Drivers benefit from fair interest rates, and they get the business support needed to ensure solid business management — from bookkeeping, to fuel cost management tools, to profit and loss worksheets, to general advice.
Texas Star Express has 24 drivers on the lease truck program with TriPac systems and plan to add another 25 in the next eight months.
Thermo King recognizes dealer excellence
Thermo King President Dave Regnery handed out the 2007 dealer and district awards at the company's annual dealer meeting in January, which took place in Scottsdale AZ.
At the awards banquet, Regnery praised the winners for their commitment to customers, quality and reliability, innovation, and the pride they take in their business and Thermo King.
Individual award winners included:
Dealer Service Manager of the Year: Jim Zuber, Thermo King of Indiana (Fort Wayne)
Dealer Parts Manager of the Year: David Peterson, Thermo King of Houston
Dealer Sales Manager of the Year: Tim Edwards, Thermo King of Atlanta
District Service Manager of the Year: Thomas Bland
District Parts Manager of the Year: Ken Hartman
District Sales Manager of the Year: Dwayne Cowan
Bus Service Manager of the Year: Dennis Hubbard
Dealerships receiving awards were:
Bus Dealer of the Year: Thermo King Northwest (Kent WA); owners: Russ Bowdidge, Dennis Parker, Brandon Pugh, J.R. Zundel
Light Rail Dealer of the Year: TK Services Inc. (Sacramento CA); owner: Herb Hoelscher
Eastern Region Dealer of the Year: CSTK East (Philadelphia PA); owners: Michael Kahn, Ronnie Kahn
Central Region Dealer of the Year: Thermo King of Pittsburgh (North Huntingdon PA); owners: Bob Price Jr., Lauren Simkovic, Cheri Peters
Western Region Dealer of the Year: Thermo King of Dallas; owners: Lester Bell, Jim Marino, Bill Niesman
Latin America Dealer of the Year: Laguna Thermo King (Gomez Palacio, DGO Mexico); owners: Juan Carlos Menendez, Fernando Menendez Jr.
