Beverage World - May 2008 - (Page 72) [DISTRIBUTION] FLEETBEAT IN BRIEF BEVSOLUTIONS The Low-Emissions Lowdown by bob deierlein Delco Remy Has New Alternator Delco Remy has introduced the 24SI HP alternator, an updated replacement for its 310 model. It has a Dual Internal Fan design that provides Maximum Cooling Technology. Dual fans mean greater air circulation over the alternator electronics, which allows the alternator to run at lower temperatures that improves the operating efficiency and durability of the unit. I t’s been a wait, but now we are getting some actual statistical information from fleet managers running the 2007 low-emission engines. A survey by Power Systems Research of 87 trucking companies in the fourth quarter of 2007 showed that 70 percent were generally satisfied, with 30 percent either “somewhat,” or “very dissatisfied.” The major complaints by the latter group related to fuel economy reductions of 2 to 4 percent, the onboard computers and soot filters. Two major carriers indicated they liked the new technology, but said problems exist. Knight Transportation said they are comparable to the downtime of previous engines and the degraded fuel economy was the main drawback; also, the onboard computers initially confused some drivers. Schneider National was less satisfied with the four brands of engines it is running. They have good power and responsiveness and drivers like them—“they call them hot rods because they accelerate so fast,” said one manager—but they have poor reliability, higher maintenance costs (282 percent higher) and high downtime. The 2 percent less fuel economy than ’06 engines is due to fuel used by the regeneration system and is 5-percent less than pre2002 engines before exhaust gas regeneration was added. Saturn Freight Systems has run five ’07 engines for six months and its experience is not good. The new engines are continually failing and breaking down enroute; all of the problems are in the emissions control and the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Eastern Fresh Freight has run three new engines for a year. “One we can’t get out of the shop, the other two, no problems. But, they don’t get the fuel mileage we were told they would,” said one fleet manager. The new engines were a big subject at the recent American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting. Three managers summed up their experience: They are more costly to buy and operate, and suffer significantly more downtime. FedEx said the ’07 tractors cost US$7,000 more compared with the US$4,000 extra the ’02 and ’04 tractors cost. With ’02 engines, it suffered a 16-percent loss in fuel economy compared with pre-emission control models; it reduced the loss to 3 percent by recalibrating them. The ’07 engines are within 3 percent of the fuel economy of the ’02 and ’04 engines. What’s more, the acceleration benefit from ’04 engines remains, and they require driver education for new warning lamps and dash controls, (different by OEM), and they are required to burn ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Finally, they need one active DPF regeneration per night, as well as maintenance schedule add-ons for crankcase filter and DPF cleaning interval. The final carrier complained of the high maintenance cost and an increase in downtime of 20 percent and towing of 15 percent relative to the rest of the fleet. BW Distribution Editor Bob Deierlein has written about rig-related rumblings since 1974. Having previously run a 7,000-vehicle fleet, he has received a Silver Spark Plug from The Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations and a Jesse H. Neal Award for excellence in reporting. Tel: 914.946.1297 New Remote Status Displays Thermo King announced three new remote status light displays for reefer-equipped vehicles. These displays make it easy for drivers to check on the status, temperature and fuel level of their reefer unit with just a glance in the rear view mirror. Biodiesel Quality Improves The US Department of Energy has released the results of its 2007 biodiesel quality survey that showed improvements in biodiesel quality, but said 10 percent of the biodiesel produced in the US still fails to meet certain quality specifications. That is an improvement over the 59 percent failure rate in 2006, but is still unacceptable to the trucking industry, according to the American Trucking Associations. 72_BEVERAGE WORLD_MAY 2008 BEVERAGEWORLD.COM http://BEVERAGEWORLD.COM
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