Mack Trucks
This has been a tough couple of years for heavy-truck drivers on our nation’s highways. A U.S. Department of Transportation report compiling crash data for 2019, the most recent year for which these figures are available, shows that fatalities for large-truck occupants reached their highest level in more than 30 years. U.S. trucking fatalities for 2018 also exceeded a level not seen since 1988.
There are many factors that may play into this trend. There is no secret that the industry has been challenged to attract and train drivers to fill the pipeline. Manufacturers of on-highway trucks have stepped to the plate with upgraded collision mitigation technologies. But up until recently, many of these technologies were not available to vocational trucks customers.
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Mack Trucks
Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2021 Work Truck Show was held in a virtual format. Manufacturers introduced new products via recorded presentations. Virtual demonstrations and educational seminars were also held throughout the week. Several of the most notable presentations centered around connected vehicle capabilities, electrification and new product walkarounds.
Ford Expands Connected Capabilities
“One hundred percent of Ford commercial vehicles include embedded modems with 4G LTE WiFi for up to 10 devices,” says Philip Podgorny, general manager, commercial and government sales, Ford Motor Company. These modems unlock connectivity to intelligent fleet management tools offered by Ford Commercial Solutions.
“Ford Telematics is a modern, web-based product that gives customers access to vehicle health reports, vehicle location, driver behavior and more,” says Alex Purdy, Director of Business Operations, Enterprise Connectivity, Ford Motor Company.
Command Steer combines an electric motor with the Granite’s existing hydraulic steering.
Mack Granite models featuring the company s active steering system – Command Steer – are now in production, Mack Trucks announced Monday during Work Truck Week.
Command Steer combines an electric motor with Granite’s existing hydraulic steering. Multiple sensors throughout the truck monitor the terrain, driver inputs and environmental elements more than 2,000 times per second. Based on the data collected, Mack Construction Product Manager Tim Wrinkle said the system provides variable steering effort through the electric motor, applying additional torque as needed to make it easier to keep the truck on the intended route. Along with a reduction in driver steering efforts at low speed, Wrinkle said Command Steer also suppresses uneven terrain and reacts to surface irregularities by countering the steer force, smoothing the steering feedback and reducing steering wheel kick.