Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020:
Cummins, Navistar partner to develop fuel cell-powered truck
Cummins and Navistar announced they will work together on the development of a Class 8 truck powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The project will be funded in part through an award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“This vehicle will feature our next generation fuel cell configuration and provides a springboard for us to advance our hydrogen technology for line haul trucks,” said Amy Davis, vice president and president, New Power at Cummins. “We are also excited to build on our strong relationship with Navistar, which dates back 80 years, and work together to lower costs and make hydrogen-powered vehicles more accessible for fleets to adopt.”
The award from DOE is one of two grants awarded to Cummins, totaling more than $7 million, and will aid in the development of an integrated fuel cell electric powertrain for heavy-duty trucks.
The powertrain will be integrated into an International RH Series and uses two HyPM HD90 power modules, made up of HD45 fuel cell stacks connected in series. Instead of having a single large fuel cell operate at an inefficient partial load, individual HD45 power modules can be turned on/off to provide adequate power at an efficient full load.
The prototype fuel cell Class 8 truck will ultimately see a year-long field test, the companies said. It will be integrated into Werner Enterprises’ fleet of more than 7,700 tractors and operated in real-world local and/or regional delivery operation out of Fontana, California.
Circle Logistics adds Truckstop.com ‘Book It Now’ feature
Circle Logistics is now offering its carrier network Book It Now access on the Truckstop.com load board, allowing carriers to search for freight and lock in a rate with the click of a button.
“The ability to quickly find and accept loads at fair prices means the drivers in our carrier network are spending less time negotiating and will have more time for driving and growing their businesses,” said Andrew Smith, vice president sales and operations, Circle Logistics. “We’re looking for every relationship, partnership and technology stack that we can find to help our customers deliver critical goods and keep store shelves stocked.”
In March, Circle announced a partnership to book loads via DAT Book Now, and in August announced a partnership to book loads via NextLoad.
New cell signal booster available
Wilson Electronics announced the launch of the Drive Reach OTR in-vehicle cellular signal booster. Compatible with all mobile devices and wireless carriers in North America, the boosters allow users to enjoy optimal call quality, fewer dead zones and faster data upload/download speeds while on and off the road.
The new model is more powerful than previous models, Wilson says, allowing strong cell phone signal up to 74% further away from a cell tower.
Wilson says the exterior antenna reaches out to cell phone towers to receive a signal, then transmits the signal to the Drive Reach OTR booster. The booster receives the outside signal, combining and amplifying the frequency bands throughout the vehicle and back to the towers, then uses the stronger signal to provide more reliable calls and data as the signal is transmitted back through the booster to the cell network.
Certified by the FCC, the Drive Reach OTR is available for purchase now online and through authorized resellers for $499.99. All boosters feature a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
