May 2016 Volume 36, Issue 5
TRUCK NEWS Inspections 101
An Ontario enforcement officer offers advice on how to pass your next roadside inspection.
Bust rust
Delivering daily news at trucknews.com
A fleet shares its secrets to winning the never-ending battle against truck and trailer corrosion.
Page 42
Changes are in the works that could result in new drug testing methods for commercial drivers.
Page 38
A better test?
Page 21
Page 19
Canada’s Trucking Newspaper Since 1981
Best practices from the best fleets
Buying medium-duty Thinking of buying a medium-duty truck? We outline some of the major considerations.
RE T ADVERTAIL ISIN G PAGES 4
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Secrets of Best Fleets to Drive For winners shared at TCA seminar
By Sonia Straface LAS VEGAS, NEVADA After naming the overall winners for the Best Fleets to Drive For in both the large and small carrier categories at the annual Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) convention in March, co-founders of CarriersEdge, Jane Jazrawy and Mark Murrell revealed the best practices of those best fleets. The Best Fleets to Drive For Program recognizes the best for-hire carriers across the US and Canada based on a multitude of different criteria such as compensation, benefits, HR strategies, operations strategies, performance management, development and career path, and work-life balance. “Essentially the program revolves around the driver’s experience at the company,” Murrell said, explaining that fleets must be nominated by one of their company drivers or owner/ops. “The Best Fleets isn’t just about one (criteria), it isn’t just a compensation survey or which company has the best safety programs… there’s a lot more to it than that.” The purpose of the program is to get Continued on page 56
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Mercedes trucks form a platoon during a recent demonstration in Germany.
Platooning potential Daimler demonstrates world’s first semi-autonomous truck platoon By James Menzies DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
I
n what was the first demonstration of its kind, Daimler on March 21 showcased a truck platoon featuring three semi-autonomously driven Mercedes-Benz trucks. The demonstration was held on Autobahn A52 just outside Dusseldorf, and was part of a major global event held by Daimler Trucks that included more than 300 journalists from 36 countries. The theme of the event was connectivity and it built upon the company’s Shaping Future Transportation mantra, which it established two years ago with the introduction of the Highway Pilot autonomous truck platform. This year, Daimler is showcasing Highway Pilot Connect, which not only allows autonomous operation of the trucks but also allows them to connect through vehicleto-vehicle communications in a platoon formation to save fuel. Tests have shown an aggregate fuel savings of 7% for the trucks in the platoon, ranging from 2% for the lead truck to 11% for the next and 9% for the trailing truck in a three-truck formation. Initiating the platoon was simple. The driver in the lead truck pushed a Highway Pilot Connect button on the dash, which sent the signal to nearby vehicles that it was ready to form the platoon. Following drivers with Highway Pilot Connect did the
same and then fell into place. The trucks closed to within 15 metres of each other and Highway Pilot took control of acceleration, braking and steering. When a car squeezed in between the trucks, the following truck backed off and then re-established its following distance when the car left the lane. Daimler officials explained that the system can react much faster than humans. At 80 km/h, a human driver would take 1.4 seconds to react to an emergency situation and would require 30 metres to initiate stopping of the vehicle. Highway Pilot can react within 0.1 seconds and apply the brakes within 2.2 metres of travel, according to Sven Ennerst, head of truck product engineering and global procurement. In addition to saving fuel, Daimler said platooning makes better use of limited road space. A three-truck platoon takes up just 80 metres instead of the 150 metres that would normally be occupied by three consecutive tractortrailers. Drivers must remain at the controls at all times and be prepared to take over when the Highway Pilot system loses sight of the lane markings or when a lane change is required. Continued on page 17
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