Ford F-150 with 2.7-Liter EcoBoost Wins PickupTrucks.com Fuel Economy Challenge

•     2016 Ford F-150 2.7-liter EcoBoost® V6 beat four competitors, including Ram 1500 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, in head-to-head mileage, payload and performance tests conducted by PickupTrucks.com
•     F-150 recognized for ideal combination of best-in-class gas mileage, great capability and strong driving performance
•     Revolutionary 2.7-liter EcoBoost is a hit with truck customers – representing 30 percent of F-150 retail sales

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 15, 2016 – The 2016 Ford F-150 with 2.7-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine has been named winner of PickupTrucks.com’s Texas Truck Showdown Max MPG fuel economy challenge.



Ford F-150 beat out four competitors, including Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3-liter V8 and Ram 1500 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, thanks to its ideal combination of great gas mileage, capability and strong driving performance.



“In the end, we were impressed with the F-150 for its capability, fuel efficiency and composure when pushed hard, said Mark Williams, editor of PickupTrucks.com. “For a small V-6 engine, it’s very impressive how well it almost eliminates the typical compromises half-ton customers have become accustomed to.”



A hit with customers, sales of F-150 with 2.7-liter EcoBoost are 30 percent of the nameplate’s retail performance, fulfilling Ford’s great expectations for this revolutionary engine. Combined sales of 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines account for 60 percent of F-150 sales.



When equipped with the available 2.7-liter EcoBoost with standard Auto Start-Stop, F-150 4x2 has best-in-class EPA-estimated gasoline fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined (actual mileage will vary).



The engine produces 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque with a maximum payload rating of 2,250 pounds and maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds – ideal for meeting mid-range capability requirements and the needs of more than 90 percent of light-duty truck customers.



“We designed Ford F-150 to be a game changer,” said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “We’re proud that customers and third parties recognize the all-new F-150 as the toughest, smartest, most capable and most efficient F-150 ever.”

About Ford Motor Company



Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 199,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. For more information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford to Add Four New SUV Nameplates as Millennials, Boomers, Global Demand Drive Continued SUV Growth

•     Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete
•     Millennials starting families lends strong support to ongoing SUV boom in the United States
•     As baby boomers age, they’re more likely to stay in or return to SUVs
•     Increased fuel efficiency of Ford’s newest utility vehicles makes consumers less sensitive to fuel costs

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 – Together, millennials and baby boomers give Ford 160 million good reasons to expect the surge in SUV sales will continue into the next decade.


Growth in SUV sales is expected to continue – not only in the United States, but around the world – and why Ford is adding four new SUVs in the next four years – all four in SUV segments in which the company does not currently compete.


“As members of the 80-million-strong millennial age group enter their prime child-rearing years, a leading indicator of more SUV sales, nearly 80 million aging baby boomers continue to prefer their SUVs,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “It’s a demographic double whammy and it all points to one thing – more SUVs for the foreseeable future.”


LaNeve cited recent Ford research that shows once millennials even begin thinking about starting a family, their interest in shopping for SUVs goes up significantly. And as many have delayed starting families, these yet-to-form family households represent additional SUV growth opportunities for the company.


Yet millennials alone aren’t expected to drive SUV growth – aging baby boomers tend to stay with or return to SUVs, in part because it’s easier to get in and out of a vehicle that sits higher off the ground than a passenger car. LaNeve also noted that many boomers feel younger and more active driving an SUV.


While low gas prices have contributed to the growth in SUVs in recent years, much improved fuel efficiency in the latest generation of utility vehicles leads Ford to believe a potential rise in gas prices wouldn’t push consumers back to passenger cars.


“Some SUVs now rival the fuel efficiency of V6-powered midsize sedans from only a few years ago,” said LaNeve, “and as baby boomers grew up with much less capable, much less efficient vehicles, they tend to appreciate the efficiency of Ford’s newest SUVs.” Even if gas prices go up, he added, refueling costs for owners of modern SUVs will be much less than they were during the last SUV boom.


About Ford Motor Company


Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 199,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. For more information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com.

NTEA Enhances Work Truck Show for 2016

The NTEA has announced three new features at The Work Truck Show 2016 (held March 1-4 in Indianapolis), which are designed to give a glimpse into the future of vocational trucks.


A demo truck displayed near the Show entrance highlights the lifecycle cost benefits of spec’ing trucks that weigh less and use less fuel. A bright red, life-size Shelby Cobra convertible replica on the Show floor will draw attention to the power of 3-D printing to reduce manufacturing and R&D costs, and maximize innovation. And, outside, attendees can test drive commercial vehicles incorporating the latest advanced technologies and alternative fuel applications to identify those that might work in their fleets.


The Lightweight and Advanced Technology Demo Truck display consists of an Isuzu NRR diesel Class 5 truck upfitted with lightweight components. The truck itself is lightweight — weighing 760 pounds less than a conventional cab — and equipped with a driver feedback reporting system, speed limiting and idle shutdown to maximize fuel efficiency.


The truck is upfitted with:

•     Alcoa one-piece forged aluminum wheels with corrosion-resistant Dura-Bright finish. These wheels are typically about 50 percent lighter than the same size steel wheel.
•     A Switch-N-Go hoist system from Deist Industries Inc. This detachable body system permits total unloading of a full, partial or empty body onto the ground, removing body weight and load. Switch-N-Go equipped vehicles operate with no body at all during transport trips. Utilizing a detachable truck body system may allow fleets to use one chassis for multiple applications, such as dump, dumpster, chipper and flatbed.
•     Voth Truck Bodies’ lightweight aluminum detachable dump body. Aluminum bodies provide an average weight reduction of 50 percent compared to steel units, which results in reduced fuel consumption and greater payload capacity.

The GTA, an NTEA affiliate division, teamed up with its Lightweight Materials Technology Council to build the lightweight concept truck. To analyze the vehicle’s life cycle costs, GTA worked with the National Renewable Energy Lab, which is part of the Department of Energy and is associated with the Clean Cities program that seeks to cut petroleum use in transportation. The results of the National Renewable Energy Lab’s in-depth analysis will be available in the display at The Work Truck Show.


To demonstrate the potential of 3-D printing technology, The Work Truck Show will feature a full-size 3-D-printed replica of a Shelby Cobra convertible and an SAF Holland truck and bus suspension in Booth 3400 next to NTEA’s booth. Both models were built by Cincinnati Incorporated. The company will have representatives on hand to answer questions about 3-D printing and its Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) product line.


Formerly known as the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, the NTEA is expanding the focus of this popular Show feature to include the latest advanced productivity technologies as well as alternative fuel applications. The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive is open to all Show attendees on Wednesday, March 2, and Thursday, March 3, from noon to 4:30 p.m. The event gives Show attendees the opportunity to drive a variety of vehicles on city streets or in a closed course.


The vehicles available to drive in The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive include:

•     Alliance AutoGas — Bi-fuel propane autogas Ford Transit 15-passenger van equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 engine running on propane autogas.
•     BEAU-ROC/Palmer Power & Truck Equipment — Kenworth T370 with a municipal BEAU-ROC body and bed.
•     Cummins Inc. — Greenhouse gas 2017 compliant ISB6.7 high-efficiency diesel box truck, optimized for pickup and delivery.
•     Eaton — International DuraStar 4300 crew-cab chassis with the all-new Procision 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
•     Eaton — Kenworth dump truck featuring an automated VCS UltraShift PLUS transmission.
•     Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation — S2G propane-powered medium-duty truck featuring an 8-liter engine with a CleanFUEL USA liquid injection propane fuel system and equipped with a bobtail bulk propane delivery tanker body.
•     Hino Trucks — Hino COE 195H Class 5 electric hybrid truck.
•     Hino Trucks — A second Hino COE 195H Class 5 electric hybrid truck.
•     Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. — Isuzu low cab forward N-Series Class 4 truck upfitted with an IMPCO bi-fuel system.
•     Kenworth Truck Company — Kenworth T-880 straight truck equipped with a roll-off system and powered by a Cummins ISX12-G natural gas-fueled engine.
•     Lightning Hybrids — Ford E-450 cargo truck featuring the company’s energy recovery system for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
•     Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. — FUSO FE E-Cell prototype all-electric, battery-powered medium-duty cabover work truck.
•     Peterbilt Motors Company — Peterbilt 337 tractor equipped to operate on natural gas utilizing a Cummins Westport ISL-G engine and Agility CNG fuel system.
•     VIA Motors Inc. — 2015 Silverado with VIA’s eREV electric hybrid powertrain.

Participation in The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive is free, and no advance registration is required. The Ride-and-Drive is sponsored by Hino Trucks.


Produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, the 2016 Show will be held March 1–4 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Educational sessions begin March 1, and exhibits open March 2.


Source: http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2016/02/ntea-announces-new-work-truck-show-features.aspx

ACT Expo May 2-5.2016 - More Diverse than Ever

 ACT Expo May 2-5.2016 - Long Beach, CA

The fast-approaching Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, Calif. May 2-5 will be the most diverse ever, with co-hosts including the California Hydrogen Business Council, the Electric Drive Transportation Association, NGVAmerica, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, and the Propane Education & Research Council.


ACTExpo2016_Graphic“One size does not fit all when it comes to the myriad duty-cycles, climates, load and scheduling demands and regional infrastructure availability faced by North American fleets,” Neandross said.


Multiple Vehicle Showcases

CHBC, EDTA, NGVAmerica and PERC will each host vehicle showcase areas in the ACT Expo 2016 exhibition hall, highlighting the offerings of their member companies. A Trucking Efficiency Showcase will be hosted by NACFE in partnership with the Carbon War Room.


“At ACT Expo, all of the options are represented,” Neandross says: “all weight classes and vehicle types, powered by hydrogen, electricity, natural gas, propane autogas, and biofuels.”

Telematics and Autonomous Vehicles, Too


ACT Expo attendees will also learn about the increasing role played by telematics-based fleet management techniques, and even the emerging autonomous vehicle technologies.



Source: http://www.fleetsandfuels.com/fuels/cng/2016/02/act-expo-2016-more-diverse-than-ever/

Stellar X-Tra-Lift 2000 Does the Heavy Lifting

When the job requires heavy lifting, the Stellar X-Tra-Lift 2000 does the work.

Harbor Service Body False Floor keeps the cargo separated, secure and easily accesible

Here’s a great solution for contractors, utilities and municipal water departments, etc. - a false floor for the Harbor service body. The Dual Tailgate keeps contents secure while allowing access to each independently.

The best of  both worlds, space for your equipment above and other storage below. For
instance the storage below could serve as a sign box, storage for road signs or long tools while keeping the cargo area free for equipment.

Note that the lower compartment is lockable.

Find out more: Harbor Truck Bodies 800-433-9452

Switch-N-Go Operational Video

Switch-N-Go Operational Video shows the use and operation of the Switch-N-Go Product