This video from the US shows us Eaton and Cummins getting closer as they offer a more integrated driveline to US truck buyers. This particular AMT has just gone on sale in the US and is not destined to appear here for some time.
The gearbox is part of a comprehensive program where Eaton and Cummins are working very closely together to come up with a fully integrated package. The engine and transmission communicate seamlessly with each other and with whichever truck they are fitted into.Read more
The news from Diesel this week shows evidence of a new Scania, trucking optimism, a major fine and electric axles, with stories from around the world.
Images of the next generation Scania driving on Australian roads have started to appear on social media, as the Swedish truck maker run the new models in a, far from secret, evaluation program.
Not only is there an Electric Inter, Volvo and LNG, Iveco and Suttons, plus a New Auto from Eaton/Cummins in Diesel News, but also Daimler Platooning and an Electric Van.
Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies has introduced the new Endurant TM 12- speed automated transmission at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show in Atlanta, in the US. Claimed to be the lightest, most efficient 1,850 ft lb–capable heavy-duty transmission on the US market, it has been designed for line-haul applications where weight savings and efficiency can add to a fleet’s bottom line, Endurant weighs nearly 50kg less than competitive automated manual transmissions (AMTs). Read more
In the news this week have been a Top Female Driver, Australian Truck Manufacturing, Penske Dealership Change and Autonomous Trucks and the need for supporting infrastructure.
Tasmanian Kerri Connors, of Caltas, was named winner of the 2017 Volvo Drivers’ Fuel Challenge on-road category in a competition which put Australia’s most fuel-efficient drivers head to head. The off-road title was claimed by Cameron Simpson of Simpson’s Fuel in Victoria. Over a two-day event at Mt Cotton in Queensland, the competition was whittled down from 17 drivers in the semi-final, to nine in the final. Read more
Front of mind, this week in Diesel News are Fuel Saving, New Volvo , Autonomous Truck and an Underground Warehouse.
The 2017 Volvo Drivers’ Fuel Challenge, supported by sponsors Caltex and Michelin, brings together the six most fuel-efficient Volvo drivers in the country, measured on their daily work performance. Using Volvo’s Dynafleet system, the semi-finalists for the 2017 Volvo Drivers’ Fuel Challenge have been identified as the most fuel efficient Volvo driver in their States.
“This is a whole new way to determine who are the most fuel-efficient drivers in Australia by using the technology in our trucks,” said Mitch Peden, Vice President of Volvo Trucks Australia. “By comparing the Dynafleet data from a wide range of our customers, we’ve identified the six drivers who consistently demonstrate fuel-efficient driving skills, day in and day out, while driving fully-laden trucks on genuine commercial journeys.”
The six semi-finalists who will each represent their State are:
New South Wales: Andrew Woodleigh, Borg Manufacturing
Victoria: Cameron Simpson, Simpson’s Fuel
South Australia: David Kleinig, L H Perrys
Tasmania: Chris Scolyer, De Bruyns Transport
Western Australia: Phil Vallance, Desert Sands Cartage
Queensland: Andrew Print, TruckHaul
The semi-final and final of the annual Volvo Driver’s Fuel Challenge will be held on July 20-21 in Brisbane. The winner will go on to represent Australia in the final in Gothenburg, Sweden in September.
New Volvo VNL
Volvo Trucks North America has revealed the new Volvo VNL series, available in several configurations, including an all-new, 70-inch sleeper and a series of new features. The new truck includes swept back headlights, which include daytime running lights and there’s a new Volvo grille and hood. Redesigned and repositioned engine air intakes allow for less turbulent intake air delivery. Airflow up and around the cab has also been optimised with new chassis and roof fairings.
The Volvo VNL features an all-new dashboard which puts often-used controls within the driver’s reach. Centred in the gauge cluster is a configurable, five-inch colour driver information display that provides trip and diagnostic data. The driver information display is customisable, ensuring that critical information is always available to the driver at a quick glance.
New Autonomous System
Launched by Swedish company, Einride, the ‘T-pod’ is an electric, self-driving vehicle that can be remotely controlled by drivers, set for prototype testing in 2017 followed by international distribution. Eimride also says it is developing a remote driving system, charging stations and an infrastructure that will make the system the most pioneering of its kind.
The company claims T-pods will start running between the cities of Gothenburg and Helsingborg, Sweden and the first active system will cover a capacity of 2,000,000 pallets per year., comments:
“Einride is transforming the existing transport chain from the ground up,” Filip Lilja, COO at Einride. “The big companies behind long haul trucks keep building bigger trucks to increase efficiency, which ultimately means even more emissions. We are changing that by creating a secure solution that is, not only cost effective, but dramatically minimises the negative environmental impact of the transportation industry.”
Going Underground
Warehouse developers in the UK are proposing underground warehouses as a new way to fit logistics facilities into the crowded area around Heathrow Airport. A 175,000 m2 underground warehouse has been laid out before planners and reports suggest it is set to get the go-ahead.
With the nine metre high warehouse underground, it will be topped by a new public park at ground level on a site less than 1.5 km from Heathrow Airport.
It would seem Instagramming and Trucking are a good mix. Here at Diesel News we like to see people in our industry making interesting images. Here we have big triples in the West, double tankers from Toll, cool matt paint job and classic Mack tanker. Read more
We can keep our heads in the sand and tell ourselves they are decades away, but there are some real-world examples of the latest technology making this possible in quite a short time.
These examples are from Volvo, but you can be sure every major truck maker is pouring plenty of dollars into autonomous programs all over the world. In fact, the basic technology should be available to all of them, as the gizmos which make it possible – like the light-based radar – are being made by a wide spread of component suppliers.
So, these trucks are going to be a reality. The first areas to use them will be in confined areas like mine sites and industrial plants, but we can be sure the pace of technology development will not slow and enable the new trucks to interact with humans more and more over a short period of time.
Autonomous trucks delivering goods in the centre of Melbourne, no, or running a B-triple down the Bruce Highway, no. However, moving containers around the port and to nearby depots, quite possibly.
At an event during the Brisbane Truck Show weekend, Volvo Trucks showcased its concept FH XXL cab to an invited audience.
“We are extremely excited to be introducing the FH XXL cab concept here in Australia,” said Mitch Peden, Vice President of Volvo Truck Australia. “As always, we have been listening closely to our customers and there has been a strong and clear demand for this product.” Read more
When can we expect to see autonomous trucks on our streets? Right now apparently, this is a Volvo garbage truck actually working on a residential street in Sweden.
When Diesel News took a trip on public roads in this autonomous Freightliner, a couple of years ago, the moment when the driver pressed the button, let go of the wheel and handed over control to the truck, sent a shiver down the spine:
Here we have the Otto autonomous truck from the US. This company, now owned by Uber, is currently in a legal wrangle with Google over technology patents:
Here is where it all started, in the mining industry. There have been autonomous trucks hauling large loads out of mine sites in Australia for quite a few years now. Out of sight and out of mind, to the general public:
