Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020:
Cummins introduces new EPA-compliant engine lineup with mpg boost
Cummins on Tuesday unveiled its lineup of 2021 emissions-compliant X12 and X15 on-highway engines, which the company says will boast an increase in fuel economy.
The coming model year represents the first phase of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Phase 2 emissions requirements. The new measures are a step up from the current level – enacted for the 2017 model year – and increase incrementally in model-year 2024 before phasing in completely by model-year 2027. Once fully phased-in, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the standards will achieve up to 24% lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption compared to Phase 1.
The X15 Performance Series gets a fuel economy boost of up to 2% over the prior generation.The EPA 2021-compliant X15 Efficiency Series – making up about 70% of Cummins X15 sales – was brought to market earlier this year, a full model year ahead of the regulation change, leaving just the X12 and two other X15 series engines to get the update with order books for 2021 trucks already opening.
Nick Roth, Cummins’ director of national accounts, said that some customers are seeing in excess of 9 mpg in the current X15, but that number varies by segment, by driver and by a wide array of other factors. For 2021, X15 Efficiency Series customers with EX ratings (equipped with an Endurant HD transmission and GPS-enabled features such as Predictive Engine Braking and Predictive Gear Shifting) can expect to gain an additional 1.5% in fuel economy.
The X15 Performance Series gets a fuel economy boost of up to 2% over the prior generation. The X12, through base hardware changes, gets an added 2.5% fuel economy improvement. Compared to the previous generation ISX12, the 2021 X12 engine gets an improved fuel economy of up to 8.5%.
Both the X15 and X12 engines feature a 75,000-mile oil drain interval for trucks getting 7 mpg or more, but the X15 Performance Series will get a 10,000-mile bump for 2021 in trucks getting between 5 and 7 mpg.–Jason Cannon
Overdrive sister publication CCJ Editor Jason Cannon has a full report here on the updated Cummins engine lineup.
Kenworth’s new T680E battery-electric truck will enter production in 2021.Kenworth launches Class 8 battery-electric truck
Kenworth announced Wednesday the launch of the Kenworth T680E, the company’s first Class 8 battery-electric truck.
The truck is now available for order from Kenworth dealers in the United States and Canada and will enter production in 2021. It is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck in a 6×4 axle configuration. It’s also offered in 54,000-pound and 82,000-pound gross vehicle weight ratings.
The zero-emission T680E has an estimated operating range of 150 miles, depending on application. The truck is equipped with 536-hp continuous power and up to 670-hp peak power and 1,623 lb.-ft. of torque.
The truck features Meritor’s Blue Horizon 14Xe tandem electric powertrain and uses a 2-speed integrated transmission and has a top speed of 70 mph. It uses a CCS1 DC fast charger with a maximum rate of 120kWh and estimated 3.3-hour charging time.
Maverick announces new bonuses for drivers
North Little Rock, Arkansas-based Maverick Transportation announced new $3,000 and $5,000 sign-on bonuses for experienced glass and flatbed hires and an increase to its internal driver referral bonus program.
Through Dec. 31, drivers with six or more months of recent verifiable flatbed and/or glass OTR experience can earn a sign-on bonus of $3,000 (flatbed) or $5,000 (glass).
Maverick also increased its internal driver referral bonus program. Employees are paid a bonus for referred drivers ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 through the end of the year.
Redwood Logistics processing payments through TriumphPay mobile-pay solution
Carriers working with Redwood Logistics will benefit from a new partnership with the TriumphPay service to be Redwood’s primary payment processor. The mobile payment service will handle all carrier payments, allowing carriers to manage transactions with Redwood from one location.
The TriumphPay service enables drivers to manage payments from any device. With fully customizable options, TriumphPay makes collecting payments relatively simple, allowing carriers to enter their preferred payment details one time and receive payments how they want and when they want. Carriers can set up payments from Redwood in TriumphPay, select their default payment terms, including two-day QuickPay or Standard Pay, and choose from industry-standard payment methods.
