Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021:
Oregon doubles fines for ignoring chains laws
The Oregon fine for trucks failing to use chains when required is rising this fall under a new Oregon law taking effect Sept. 25, Oregon DOT announced. The new fine for failure to use chains in Oregon will be $880.
Oregon law requires all commercial vehicles to carry chains whenever road conditions might require their use during your trip and signs are posted.
The law also requires vehicles to chain up when signs tell you that conditions ahead require them.
New version of ComfortPro APU runs in Li-ion battery power
Carrier Transicold's new ComfortPro electric model delivers double the air-conditioning runtime provided by some competitive conventional battery-powered auxiliary power units, with its new extended-capacity lithium-ion batteries and a proprietary embedded power management system. That's according to Ryan Rubly, product manager for power management systems for the Carrier Transicold's Truck Trailer Americas unit.
All ComfortPro electric APUs include a power plant, an under bunk climate control unit and a programmable control panel with the Cabin Pre-Cool Lock, which helps extend battery life by assuring the preferred cabin temperature is attained before the APU takes over. Available options add heating, power for hotel loads, shore power connectivity and truck engine preheating.
- 7,500 BTU/hours of cab cooling, delivering continuous air-conditioning that extends well beyond what is required for overnight rest breaks and up to 17 hours under certain real-world conditions.
- Quiet, emissions-free performance with relatively few moving parts, eliminating the maintenance required of diesel-powered APUs.
- Advanced lithium-ion technology in the unit has been engineered specifically for long-haul commercial vehicle applications to provide a power-dense and durable solution, charging faster with less performance degradation over time compared to conventional absorbed-glass-mat (AGM) batteries often used for similar battery-driven solutions.
- A five-year lithium-ion battery warranty provides more than twice the typical lifespan of AGM batteries, the company says, also outlasting the truck trade cycle for many companies.
- Weight reductions of about 26% using two DOT-certified lithium-ion batteries compared to Carrier Transicold’s standard electric APU, which uses four AGM batteries.
Overall, it makes for what the company says is a lower cost of ownership than many alternatives.
Find more information via Carrier Transicold’s North American dealer network.
Stage set for third Atlanta meeting of group dedicated to female business owners in transportation | The third- annual event of the Leading Ladies of Logisitx transport-business-focused group is set for November 4-6 at the Atlanta Airport Marriott on Best Road. The event aims to bring together representatives from the various sectors of the freight transportation and government contracting worlds in one place to share information and lessons learned from success and innovation. Attendees and presentations run the gamut of small carriers and more sizable fleets, intermodal interests, dispatching, brokerage and 3PL, and more. Find more about the conference via this link.
CFI recognizes 5-million-mile driver
Jon "Smitty" Smith
He leads 560 other CFI drivers who are currently driving their one, two, three and four million miles.
Notably, Smith achieved the milestone while also maintaining an outstanding safety record over 37 years of driving. He has driven accident-free for some 3,216,515 miles.
“Safety is the cornerstone of CFI’s operations and is our No. 1 core value,” said Greg Orr, CFI’s president. “The amount of focus and attention, day in and day out, that it takes to operate a tractor-trailer, though all kinds of road conditions, weather and congestion is perhaps the most difficult challenge a driver faces. Jon Smith’s sustained excellence epitomizes what it truly means to be a professional in this industry.”
Smith’s accomplishment was recognized Friday, Sept. 17, during a special ceremony at CFI’s headquarters in Joplin.
