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Traveling At High Speed

How technology is ushering in the future
Trans Technology_MS

On the inside
The trucks themselves have progressed in myriad ways as well. Mike Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency in Fort Wayne, IN, touts one of the bigger ones: transmissions.

“Automated manual transmissions have become universal, making trucks easier to drive,” Roeth says. Of course, switching a fleet to automated manual transmissions can cost thousands per truck, he admits, but it may be a perk that can attract new drivers to the industry, especially millennials who may never have driven a standard transmission.

Another innovation is tire monitoring. Many roadside breakdowns are the result of low tire pressure, but pressure monitoring and inflation systems can now help with safety and extending both tire life and fuel economy.

While Roeth concedes tires “now contain new materials and more parts, making them more expensive,” he believes widespread adoption will reduce costs. “As all these advances like assistance with aerodynamics, auto transmissions, different tires and more become popular, the prices will go down.”

Lastly, Elon Musk, of Tesla fame, is planning to debut an electric semi-truck in September. Whether these road warriors take off is anyone’s guess.

On the outside
Vaché says he’s seeing improvement in trailer manufacturing processes, too. For example, a Georgia-based company now makes seamless walls with better, lighter insulation materials that result in decreased overall weight—which allows trailers to transport more product and avoid overweight fines.

“So far, Emerald Transportation Solutions doesn’t make 50- or 53-foot trailers, just what is used for the short haul or local food distribution,” observes Vaché. “Still, the lighter construction materials allow for more product in each shipment, which avoids wasted miles.”

Look Ma, No Hands!
Michael Cammisa, vice president of safety policy and connectivity for the American Trucking Associations in Arlington, VA, is excited about several innovations. “Crash avoidance, cruise control, collision warning, and automatic braking improves the safety of everyone on the road,” he asserts, and notes all “are stepping stones to automated trucks.”

According to Vaché, truck platooning using sensor technology will improve interstate safety by reducing or avoiding crashes, allowing for more efficient traffic flow and decreasing fuel consumption. With platooning, the first truck sets the speed and if it brakes or changes speed, the following vehicles will immediately respond in the same manner with zero reaction time.

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