Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, July 14, 2020:
Fontaine releases new heavy-haul RGN trailer
Fontaine Heavy-Haul on Tuesday introduced its new Magnitude 60LCC RGN trailer that hauls 60-ton loads in 13 feet.
Fontaine released a new RGN heavy-haul trailer, the Magnitude 60LCC.The four-axle trailer is designed for operations where spread axle configurations are not required to maximize their trailer loads.
“If local regulations allow a more concentrated load this trailer is a great choice,” said Todd Anderson, Fontaine vice president of sales and marketing. “It can handle 60 tons without adding a flip box or a spreader. This means our customers get a much lighter trailer setup at a much lower acquisition cost.”
Anderson added that maneuverability is improved with a shorter overall length compared to trailers equipped with a flip box, spreader and fourth axle.
The trailer can also accept a 23-inch flip box and a Fontaine EQ1 spreader with a fourth axle. In that configuration, the trailer can haul 55 tons in 16 feet with a 125-inch swing radius.
The Magnitude 60LCC is fabricated with 100,000-pound minimum yield steel flanges, boasts a true 26-foot clear deck length and a loaded deck height of 18 inches with six inches of ground clearance.
Trucker named Highway Angel after helping young woman after crash on icy roadway
The Truckload Carriers Association has named Challenger Motor Freight driver David Hill a Highway Angel for rushing to help a young driver that hit black ice and skidded off the road.
On Jan. 30, Hill was on I-29, just north of Fargo, North Dakota, bound for southern Wisconsin.
David HillHe noticed some ice on the roads and was driving under the speed limit when a car, which Hill said was not speeding, passed him and lost control when moving back into the right lane after hitting a patch of black ice in the center of the highway. He slowed down and watched as the car was thrown toward a snowbank.
“She flew through it like a tornado and went about 100 yards off the road into a field,” he said.
The car ended up on its driver’s side when it came to rest. Hill ran over to the car and found the passenger side door nearly ripped off the car. He said the driver was a 16-year-old young woman, who was scared and screaming for help.
“She was laying there against the driver’s door, covered in snow,” he said. “She was only wearing a t-shirt and jeans, the kind with holes all over them.”
Hill jumped into the back seat, calmed the driver down, unbuckled her and helped her out of the car. He also grabbed her coat from the back seat, found her boots that had flown out of the car and had her put them on, as the temperatures were below zero outside. He stayed with her until state troopers arrived. She was not injured in the crash.
For his willingness to help, TCA presented Hill with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. Challenger Motor Freight also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. EpicVue sponsors the TCA Highway Angel program.
Samsara/Navistar ink telematics integration partnership
Navistar International Corporation has partnered with telematics provider Samsara to allows International Truck customers to add Samsara software solutions without the necessity of installing of additional vehicle hardware. This allows users to bring data from Navistar’s factory-installed telematics device into the Samsara platform — and Samsara fault code data into Navistar’s OnCommand Connection platform, which users can now utilize for remote diagnostics.
Factory-installed telematics is standard on the International LT Series, RH Series and LoneStar models; any new International truck customer can easily integrate into the Samsara platform, no additional hardware required. Fleets subscribed to Samsara via Navistar’s factory-installed telematics device will enjoy continued telematics service, including access to OnCommand Connection’s Advanced Remote Diagnostics solutions and over-the-air programming capabilities for the duration of the Samsara subscription.
