Trailers from top-flight manufacturers tend to last a while, and trailer maker Wabash National recently announced a collaboration with a leading aftermarket supplier to make sure its trailers can carry your loads as long as possible. The company has signed a five-year deal with Aurora Parts & Accessories to be the exclusive supplier of all aftermarket parts for the company’s dry van, refrigerated van and platform trailers sold under the brand names Wabash National, Transcraft and Benson.
With the new agreement, Wabash National and Aurora will collaborate in the day-to-day and strategic management of providing aftermarket parts to Wabash National, Transcraft and Benson dealers and customers. Keep on rollin’.
Speaking of great unions between trusted names, Kenworth now offers Meritor’s Permalube RPL Series Drivelines as an option on selected new Class 8 on-highway trucks.
Meritor’s Permalube RPL drivelines feature permanent lubrication to help reduce operating and maintenance costs and are designed for high-torque capacities. Nylon thrust washers eliminate metal contact points to help prevent wear, while triple-lip seals on U-joints help keep contaminants out. Advanced sealing features include an E-coated protective steel guard designed to hold the slip seal securely and help guard against contaminants and debris.
Meritor isn’t Kenworth’s only recent acquaintance. The truck maker now offers Eaton’s 10-speed UltraShift Plus VAS transmission for its T370, T440 and T470 equipped with the 8.9-liter Paccar PX-9 engine. Recommended for construction, refuse, municipal pickup-and-delivery and agricultural applications, the UltraShift Plus VAS incorporates an electronic clutch actuation system designed to enable quick shifts and clutch engagement regardless of engine rpm.
The system is engineered to automatically select an appropriate start gear and adapt shift decisions based on the driving environment to facilitate improved control of engine and transmission functions for smooth automated shifting and vehicle launches. Features of the UltraShift Plus VAS include Hill Start Aid, creep modes, auto neutral and engine, clutch overspeed protection, grade sensing, weight computation and driver throttle commands.
And last but most definitely not least, we have a teaming of two more top-shelf companies in Peterbilt Motors Co. and Bendix, whose SmarTire Tire Pressuring Monitoring System now is available for Pete’s aerodynamic integrated cab-and-sleeper Model 587. The TPMS provides real-time on-demand tire status that facilitates peak fuel and safety performance while giving the driver a timely warning before a potential tire failure.
The TPMS display is integrated with the vehicle’s main instrument cluster for quick-glance information about the temperature and pressure of each tire. Operators are alerted to potential tire issues through an alert on the display and an optional audible alert.
