Sunday, November 16th, 2008
Tractor-trailer truck accidents are among the most common truck accidents in the United States. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Crash Avoidance Research, there were 1.6 million truck tractors and 3.6 million trailers in use in the motor carrier industry in 1998.
Heavy trucks are considered those with a weight greater than 10,000 pounds. Heavy trucks are involveved in an array of traffic accidents, with this number ever increasing. They are also involved in rollovers accidents as well. Although rollover accidents are not as frequent, they can result in more damage to the vehicle and more injury to the driver.
Tractor-trailer trucks are involved in approximate average of 200,000 crashes annually, however, that number is quickly increasing, according to the NHTSA.
Attempts are being made to improve the technology used within the tractor-trailer truck industry and with the development of commercial vehicles. Due to unavoidable constraints among current combination-unit truck trailer electrical powering and communications systems, there is becoming an increase in mechanical failures causing truck crashes.
The NHTSA has also developed a 10-year study to better determine the trends of heavy duty truck, light duty truck, medium duty truck accidents. Accidents can also occur by other trucks like ford trucks, GMC truck, dump truck etc. According to the study, the increase of truck accidents is occurring, and while many more individuals involved in accidents are wearing seatbelts/restraints, the fatalities associated with heavy truck accident/tractor trailer truck accidents is increasing.
If involved in a tractor-trailer truck accident, it is imperative that, whether injuries are visible or not, an individual seek medical attention immediately. As some injuries may be internal, it is important to ensure all potential conditions are thoroughly reviewed by a physician. Additionally, it may be necessary for an individual to consult with a tractor-trailer truck accident attorney on the specifics of developing a truck accident lawsuit.
Often, medical bills as well as additional costs of missing work, school, etc., are associated with being involved in a tractor-trailer truck accident, which is why it may be necessary to develop truck accident litigation and pursue compensation for the injury incurred.
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Friday, November 7th, 2008
A business is only as good as the product it delivers. And that can be taken literally. If the product itself is quality but the company’s delivery time is slow or the product is damaged during delivery because it’s packed in too tightly, the product’s quality is barely relevant at all. With a bad delivery comes an unhappy client.
You’re starting up a business and you need a fleet of heavy duty trucks to make your deliveries or maybe you’re expanding and you need to add more heavy trucks to your company’s heavy equipment. Or you’re looking for a different kind of heavy truck, one with better gas mileage to save you a lot of money or one with more space so you can deliver more products at once.
When you’re just starting up a business, you don’t want to put yourself so much in debt that you won’t be able to afford to give your business a chance to take off, so buying a brand new fleet of heavy trucks isn’t the best idea. Likewise, when you’re expanding a business, you’re taking a chance on new investments and new markets. Why put tens of thousands more into brand new heavy trucks when there are quality used trucks—some that aren’t even that old—for much less?
Rather than buying your fleet of heavy trucks directly from the manufacturer, save yourself thousands by searching for used heavy trucks online. Used heavy equipment classifieds websites will allow you to browse through used heavy trucks listings by type, truck manufacturer, and price.
Read descriptions of each used heavy duty truck for sale, see pictures, and contact the used heavy truck sellers directly or through the site. Some sellers offer used heavy trucks at negotiable prices, so go ahead and make your best offer. You never know what kind of deal you might get on a fleet of used heavy trucks!
If you want to upgrade your fleet of heavy trucks and need to sell a few used heavy trucks yourself, you can use the same website to sell your used heavy trucks. Most heavy equipment websites don’t take a cut from the sale of used heavy trucks or any used heavy equipment. You can even buy from truck dealers.
No business can hope to get its products on the road without a quality fleet of heavy trucks to get them there. When searching for heavy trucks, remember that used heavy trucks can still be pretty new and have low mileage as well as low gas mileage for a fraction of the cost of new heavy trucks. Saving on used heavy trucks can make all the difference in the success of your business.
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
Each new product, each new decision adds to the evolution of a company, creating a legacy of quality or leading to its eventual downfall. Isuzu is one of those companies that have survived, learned its lessons, responded to market demands, and because of its success, we felt it was worthy of rewinding the clock twenty years and taking a look at the past two decades of automotive achievement.
While Isuzu is now known for its high-quality Ascender and tough pickup trucks, it’s not surprising that 20 years ago, the company was already on the road to success. In 1988, Isuzu positioned itself as the number one heavy duty and medium duty truck maker in the world, surpassing Daimler-Benz. With such an incredible output of trucks, it was only a matter of time before the company began to focus on the light-duty truck market.
By 1992, American Isuzu Motors Inc. had something to celebrate. The company retailed its one-millionth unit in the U.S., catering to the growing needs of the sport utility vehicle market in North America.
With the introduction of the famed Isuzu Trooper, the company became the first import manufacturer to offer three segments of SUVs: the mini, the compact, and the full-size.
Two years later in 1994, the Isuzu Rodeo – another popular model – took on competitors at the Alcan 5000 – a 4,133-mile rally from Seattle, Washington ending eight days later in the Arctic Circle. It won, becoming the first SUV to boast that accomplishment. The Rodeo proved its worth again in 1994 when another Rodeo won first place, ensuring it was no surprise when the winner of the 2000 Alcan Winter Rally was, again, a Rodeo.
A year later, in 2001, American Isuzu Motors Inc. introduced the Axiom – a revolutionary blend of performance, comfort, and technology. The Axiom was popular but Isuzu realized that the SUV market was changing and they needed to change with it.
In 2003, Isuzu introduced the Ascender 7-Passenger with more passenger space than Axiom. In addition, the Ascender 7-Passenger was the first Isuzu SUV to boast a V8 engine. While the Ascender 7-Passenger was revered by many as one of the best high-performance SUVs on the market, it wasn’t for everyone. City dwellers wanted SUVs that were just as high-quality, but smaller, more fuel-efficient, and more affordable. And thus, the following year, Isuzu came out with the Ascender 5-Passenger – a more compact version of its older brother.
In 2006, Isuzu trucks had expanded to include two new pickups – the i-280 4×2 Extended Cab and the i-350 4×4 Crew Cab. Produced in Shreveport, Louisiana, the pickup trucks are an instant hit, providing customers with class-leading towing and payload capacities. 2006 was a good year for Isuzu. In addition to the new pickup line, Intellichoice recognized Isuzu’s entire lineup as the best in their class for low costs.
In 2007, Isuzu improved on its pickup truck line, upgrading both the i-290 and the i-370 with larger engines and increased torque and horsepower. Prices, however, stayed the same as the previous year. In 2007, Isuzu added two new models to its line: the i-370 4×2 Extended Cab and the i-370 4×2 Crew Cab, giving pickup customers multiple options.
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Monday, October 6th, 2008
Ford has always been known to produce large ford trucks. In fact, their F150 pickup truck is the best selling truck of all time. But the F150 is not the only great truck you can find in Ford’s lineup. The Ford F-350 is also one great heavy duty truck which has its own set of good attributes. There are numerous features and capabilities in the F-350 that has attracted truck drivers to come to love the vehicle.
The first thing that will strike you about this truck is its size. The truck is truly designed to take on the heaviest of load. It has a towing capacity of 15,000 pounds which makes gives it the capability to tow trailers, campers, fishing boat, or even livestock. The truck also has amazing off-road driving capability which makes it one of the top choices for any truck driver in town.
The Ford F-350 is available with three different choices of engines - all of which are capable of providing adequate power, as capable as a Volvo vent visor in protecting a car’s interior from snow or rain. Consumers can choose from either a gasoline powered V8, a massive V10 gasoline engine, or a 32-valve 6-liter, PowerStroke turbo-diesel V8 engine with cast iron cylinder block and cylinder head. For the diesel engine, an EVRT system is standard. The electronic variable response turbocharger balances the thrust needed by the wheels. This capability increases the fuel efficiency of the diesel engine.
For those who would want to buy an F-350, there are two gearboxes to choose from - a five-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual. To protect the car’s occupants or anything it is hauling, the Ford F-350 is equipped with TBC or the Trailer Brake Controller which balances the braking of the trailer. Disc brakes are also standard across the board; all wheels are fitted with high performance discs and equally high performance pads. The F-350 also has an anti-lock braking system which offers safe braking even on emergencies.
Whether you go for a gasoline or a diesel engine, your Ford F-350 will come with a huge 38-gallon fuel tank which holds enough fuel to feed the hungry horses inside the massive combustion chambers of the three engines. Gas mileage for the F-350 is not revealed though since EPA does not require vehicles such as this to state their gas mileage. This makes sense since most of these vehicles will be used commercially and not just for cruising around town.
The suspension system of the truck which gives it great off-road driving capability is a mono-beam suspension in the front with massive coil springs and an equally massive stabilizer bar. This truck is really made for heavy duty purposes. The rear suspension system is a solid axle with huge leaf springs and another huge stabilizer bar. Both the front and the rear suspension system sports heavy-duty gas-pressured shock absorbers. The configuration of the suspension system gives the Ford F-350 a responsive steering and a good stability.
The ride though is quite another story. Just like other pickup trucks, the ride may be stiff if the truck bed is empty but once it is loaded the truck gives an exceptionally smooth ride.
The interior of the truck also looks great and almost luxurious. This is because of the leather trimmings, its sun roof and other features one would commonly find in a luxury car. The black leather bucket seats are the most notable feature of the cabin of the truck which gives it an aura of luxury. The controls and the instrument panel are designed with convenience in mind. The truck may be designed for heavy duty jobs but the interior design also ensures comfort and sophistication.
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Sunday, September 7th, 2008
Historically, American LaFrance Trucks has not been a name immediately identified with industrial fire fighting. That is slowly changing, said American LaFrance’s manager for government and industrial sales. To put things into perspective, they are taking baby steps. They may not be attacking industrial fire protection as much as there competitors, but they are taking time to think through what they are doing to be sure it meets industry needs.
American LaFrance is now offering the National Foam pump module with the American LaFrance chassis, aerial and body to give another dimension to its product line. The resulting package will offer a chassis similar to American LaFrance, a National Foam pump, an American LaFrance aerial device and a body of choice, either American LaFrance or National Foam, depending on what the customer wants. American LaFrance is also excited about the industrial fire applications of its 102 foot rear mount aerial tower complete with 6 inch waterway and a 3,000 gpm capacity.
Because of the requirements of having 1,000 gallons of foam is the rule of thumb for industry, they use an older torque box design. If the foam capacity isn’t an issue they have a 12 foot jack spread that they are very proud of. That truck comes with a 110 foot aerial, 750 pound tip load and 1,500 gpm pump. A 12 foot spread could be a big advantage in a congested industrial setting. If they can use a National Foam 3,000 gpm pump, the maximum they could do is 1,500 gpm at the tip. Engineering fire trucks to meet the needs of industrial customers is unique and interesting.
A good example of this is a tanker pumper recently delivered to Fairbanks, AK. It’s basically everything you need in an industrial truck, including a compressed air foam system that operates at -50 degrees F or colder. It has an insulated pump panel, special exhaust systems, rugged heavy duty undercarriage and heavy duty front and rear suspension.
The body is American LaFrance’s typical extruded aluminum product. It has a 2,500 gallon tank that could be stretched to 3,000 gpm with foam. To date, American LaFrance is in the process of building its third truck for that same Alaskan department. Building big trucks like those used for industrial fire fighting is nothing new to American LaFrance. The biggest trucks they’ve ever built were for National Foam. They had a 312 inch wheelbase and Schwing booms. Refinery Terminal Fire Company in Corpus Christi, TX, has one of them. So they have built industrial trucks before and can meet any client’s needs.
Backing that claim is the combined engineering prowess of Daimler Chrysler and Freightliner Trucks, one of the largest heavy duty truck maker in the U.S., they draw on 173 years of experience to know what works and what doesn’t.
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
Over the past six years the manufacturers have made more than 120 significant changes to the Freightliner Argosy in terms of technical developments, product improvements and visual enhancements. They are all direct improvements made as a result of listening to the customers.
To celebrate this 80-month evolution, manufacturers have further enhanced there flagship model with the release of the Argosy Evolution. They have retained the design heritage which has made Argosy a leader in areas such as cabin ergonomics, low tare weight, driveability and occupational health and safety and they have now added the extra touches that are all about the driver. The Evolution model is a demonstration of Freightliner’s confidence in the quality of this Heavy Duty truck and the improvements that they have engineered into the Argosy over the past 80 months.
The Argosy Evolution was a direct benefit of the decision earlier this year by Freightliner LLC to concentrate Argosy production solely on export vehicles, predominantly for Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
The Argosy Evolution is confirmation that there is now even a bigger say in how the truck is designed, built and delivered. Everything about it - from the chrome to the superbly appointed cabin, says this is a truck built for the Australian truck driver.
Arguably the most stylish cab-over truck available in Australia, the Argosy Evolution has a bolder, stronger exterior and an even more driver-friendly interior. The trucks boasts a host of feature highlights including a distinctive-shaped grille, chrome mirrors, re-designed exterior grab handles, adjustable chrome leather-wrap and wood rim steering wheel, extra cabin insulation, signature trim and more.
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