Bendix and Dana Corporation form a joint venture known
as Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake (BSFB). It is a single,
complete source for OEM brake system design, manufacturing,
hardware and support for all foundation brake
components and actuation systems, as well as all-makes
coverage of medium and heavy duty aftermarket parts.
International Trucks introduces its International 4000 Series
Hybrid, the first commercial diesel/electric hybrid on the market.
Freightliner opens a
full-scale wind tunnel
in Portland, OR, making
it the first wind tunnel
in North America fully
designed for, and dedicated
to, testing full-size
commercial vehicles.
The U.S. EPA launches the SmartWay Transport Partnership
Program – a government/industry collaboration between the
U.S. EPA, freight shippers, carriers, logistics companies and
other stakeholders – to voluntarily improve fuel efficiency and
reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution from the transportation
supply chain industry. SmartWay is comprised of partnerships,
financial incentives, policy and technical solutions and
research and evaluation projects that find new ways to optimize
the transportation networks in a company’s supply chain.
FedEx Express places its first hybrid electric-powered
vehicles into service in Sacramento, CA.
Sales of OEM-embedded telematics
reach more than 1.8 million units.
12 Fleet Maintenance | October 2017
The introduction of real-time traffic data
to in-vehicle navigation systems.
Goodyear introduces its
Duraseal Technology for
commercial truck tires. It
instantly seals punctures up
to ¼” inch in diameter in the
repairable area of the tread.
Meritor WABCO introduces the first Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) product for commercial vehicles.
It can reduce the risk of the vehicle instability while in
a slippery curve or taking an evasive action, preventing
jackknife and drift-out conditions through select braking
of the tractor and application of the trailer brakes.
The U.S. EPA begins the
phase-in – through 2010 – of
more stringent regulations to
lower the amount of sulfur in
on-road diesel fuel to 15 ppm.
This fuel is known as ultra
low sulfur diesel (ULSD).After
2010, the agency’s diesel
standards require that all
highway diesel fuel supplied
to the market be ULSD,
and that all highway diesel
vehicles must use ULSD.
Congress enacts the Energy Independence
and Security Act(EISA). It contains several
vehicle fuel efficiency provisions, including:
+ Instructs the U.S. DOT to prescribe fuel economy
standards for cars and light duty trucks sold in the
U.S. for each model year from 2011 to 2030.
+ Sets a minimum standard of 35 miles per gallon
for cars and light trucks for model year 2020.
+ Directs the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate
vehicle fuel economy standards, including
those for medium and heavy duty trucks.
+ Requires the U.S. DOT to study fuel efficiency of work
trucks and commercial medium and heavy duty trucks.
The U.S. EPA establishes a national Renewable Fuel
Standard Program to encourage the blending of
renewable fuels into the nation’s motor vehicle fuel.
Daimler and Chrysler split.
Noregon launches JPRO Commercial Vehicle
Diagnostics, an in-shop diagnostic and repair
solution that offers an extensive multi-brand
coverage and comprehensive diagnostics.
Freightliner becomes Daimler
Trucks North America (DTNA).
DTNA discontinues the sale of
the Sterling truck brand.
The U.S. EPA finalizes regulations
that require the emissions control
systems of large highway diesel and
gasoline trucks to be monitored for
malfunctions via an onboard diagnostic
(OBD) system, similar to those
systems that have been required on
passenger cars since the mid-1990s.
All the major automakers are
pursuing telematics strategies.
Tesla launches its Roadster sports
car. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph
in 3.7 seconds and achieving a range
of 245 miles per charge of its lithium
ion battery, the Roadster sets a new
standard for electric mobility.
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