9/30/19

International Trucks - Strong and Smart


Your construction truck needs to work hard. But it also needs to work smart, and we’ve designed our severe-duty and medium-duty trucks to do just that.

That’s why we created our DriverFirst™ philosophy. It’s how we keep the driver in mind as we design features like a roomy cab (available in aluminum or steel) that not only keeps you comfortable, but also keeps everything right in front of you displayed in our premium gauge clusters. Our trucks are strong, with best-in-class, single-rail frames that can carry any workload you throw their way. Wide track axles keep our trucks nimble, making sure you can get around anything the job site throws back at you.

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9/28/19

Quick Guide To Industry Acronyms

 Quick Guide To Industry Acronyms


Understanding the many industry acronyms and terms can be overwhelming. This quick guide can get you up to speed on some of the most important terms and meanings.

GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight
This is the total weight of the truck, including all passengers, drivers, cargo, accessories, fuel, and fluid in the engine at any point in time. It is important that this measurement does not go over the GVWR, or it can be a safety hazard.

GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
This is the maximum total vehicle weight that is safe for the truck, established by the chassis manufacturer. The weight of the truck, any cargo, and passengers including the driver, as well as any fuel and fluid in the engine is included in the rating. Chassis manufacturers will most often set the GVWR lower than the combined axle ratings (the total amount of weight an individual axle can carry). This is due to the chassis manufacturer’s internal safety standards for durability, stability, and handling, as well as SAE International test protocols.

GCWR – Gross Combined Weight Rating
Everything that moves with the vehicle is included in the GCWR. The weight of the truck, any cargo, passengers including the driver, any fluid or fuel in the truck, as well as the weight of the trailer and the trailer’s cargo is included. Exceeding the GCWR can cause a safety hazard.

Payload
The cargo carrying capacity of a vehicle is the payload. It is calculated by subtracting the vehicles’ weight including passengers and the driver from the GVWR. Exceeding the Payload capacity can cause damage to your suspension, chassis, frame, tires, and many other parts of the truck.

CA – Cab to Axle
The cab-to-axle measurement is the distance from the back of the truck cab to the center of the rear axle. Clear CA or effective CA is the distance from the rear surface of any obstruction behind the cab to the center of the rear axle. If you have a tandem axle truck, then it is measured to the midpoint between the two rear axles. This measurement can help you determine the length of the body that can be mounted on the chassis.

Wheelbase
The wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear axles. When the truck has more than two axels, it is the distance between the steering axle and the center point of the driving axle group. This can affect body installation, weight distribution, and truck performance.

SRW – Single Rear Wheel
A single rear wheel refers to a chassis that has one wheel on each side of the rear axle. Single Rear wheels make for smoother driving without cargo, as well as easier driving in cities, suburbs, and highways. These trucks are more affordable to purchase outright, and have better fuel economy. A single rear wheel has less towing capability than a dual rear wheel, and less stability when towing in windy conditions.

DRW – Dual Rear Wheel
A dual rear wheel refers to a chassis that has two wheels on each side of the rear axle. This feature is a must if you are towing large payloads, or driving through rough terrain. It adds stability to your truck which increases safety for your divers and cargo. Having a dual rear wheel will allow the driver to safely get off the road in the case of a tire blowing out. Trucks with a dual rear wheel can be difficult to maneuver in cities, where parking and tight streets can be challenging. This feature can also reduce the truck’s mpg, especially in cities, and increase maintenance costs, because there are at least two extra tires to replace or rotate.

CDL – Commercial Driver’s License
The vehicle’s GVWR is one of the factors that will effect whether the diver needs a CDL. If the truck has a GVWR, and GVW of 26,000 lbs. or lower, the driver does not need a CDL.

Class A
A Class A license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs. or more. This includes towing a trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. which makes the vehicle and trailer rating over 26,001 lbs.

Class B
A Class B license is required to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR or 26,001 lbs. or more, and/or a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or heavier that is towing another vehicle weighting up to 10,000 lbs.

Class C
A Class C license is required if the vehicle you intend to drive does not meet the criteria for either Class A or B and it is meant to transport either: 16 or more passengers including the driver or hazardous material.

Original Source: NTEA Truck Equipment Glossary


Blog Source: https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2018/08/quick-guide-to-industry-acronyms

9/26/19

Ford Trucks – Built Ford Tough | Built Ford Proud | Ford


For whatever party you’ve got going on in the back, the Ford F-Series lineup has the business up front. Learn more about what Built Ford Proud means to us: https://ford.to/BuiltFordProud

9/24/19

StabiliGrip - Dimensionally Stable Rigid Floor


Where durability and safety matter most.
Protecting operators and cargo of the hardest-working fleets and helping increase their productivity by having a reliable anti-slip rigid floor. In this video you will learn more about StabiliGrip - the industry's only dimensionally-stable rigid floor. Learn more here: https://blog.legendfleet.com/products...

9/22/19

Ranger Design Van Accessories - Vehicle Security


For long term profitability, make sure your van is always well-protected and well-kept. Have your most expensive equipment locked away out of sight, and take other protective measures to help prevent theft. By keeping your vehicle burglar-free and in good condition, you can improve the resale value for the future.

9/20/19

Need a Crane Body? “Like New” Reading 11 Ft Crane Bodies Available at Premier Truck Center


Like New Florida Crane Bodies 




If you need a crane body, we have (2) “Like New” Reading Crane Bodies with Venturo 3200 LB  Cranes ready for mounting on your appropriate chassis. These are available for sale, you can either have it mounted or we can mount it for you.

Not $30000, not $25,000, not $20,0000, not even $12,000, You can own this crane body and crane with all the listed options for less than $10,000.  Why pay for a new crane body and wait 6 months for delivery when you can pick one up now and have it mounted, while spending a lot less money!

Reading Cranemaster bodies have been utilized in many different industries including heavy construction, municipalities, railroads, mining, agriculture and equipment rental.

These Reading bodies feature a Venturo 3200 LB crane to perform the heavy lifting, heavy duty drawers for organized tool storage and ample and secure storage within the side compartments. These bodies have some great extra features such as a gas compartment, cross box, small part storage drawers, and large cubbies.

Look at these great features below:


9/14/19

Involve Your Techs With Spec'ing Work Trucks

 Store Long Items

Many business owners or fleet and equipment managers cringe when the time comes to purchase new work trucks. When you don’t work out of the vehicle that is being purchased, it can be a challenge to understand the daily application and requirements. Incorrectly “spec’ing” the vehicle translates into lost ROI, safety issues and unhappy techs.

Many companies choose one extreme or the other when it comes to input from the techs that actually use the vehicle. Either the techs get little to no input on the new work trucks or the company leaves it up to the techs entirely. The best approach, for both the company and techs, is to establish a collaborative process. One that values the perspective of the technicians while taking into account the position and direction of the company. Read on to discover how.
On the side of technicians...

The work truck is the mobile office of the technician. It can also serve as the shop, break area and more. Regardless if they are HVAC techs, plumbers, or electricians, they all depend on their work truck on a daily basis. With the next work truck purchase approaching, be sure to gather this information from the techs to ensure it is set up to be efficient and safe.

  •     Thoroughly understand what is stored on the vehicle. Are there a lot of hand tools that can be found quicker if a set of mechanics drawers are provided? Do they carry a lot of hardware or small parts that warrant parts bins. Does any larger equipment (think ladders) or materials (think pipes) eat up too much space in the bed? If the tech spends 15 minutes on every jobsite just trying to locate and retrieve what they need on the vehicle, it is time to increase organization which will lead to better efficiency.
  •     Are there repetitive motions being performed that put the tech at risk of injury while on the job? For instance, are they stepping up and down on a tall bumper or lifting heavy components or equipment in and out of the bed? Items like cable steps mounted to the bumper or collapsable cargo area cranes can alleviate these dangerous repetitive motions. Without asking, you may never uncover these issues.
  •     While creature comforts in the cab may seem like just convenience to you, for the tech they may make the difference between happy on the job and feeling appreciated or hating to go to work every day. These can be as small as power windows or as big as remote start.
  •     Last, but certainly not least, are safety and security. Is the tech having rear visibility issues when reversing on a jobsite or attempting to hook up to a trailer? Are their tools and equipment commonly stolen when working in high-theft areas? Investing in rear vision cameras and enhanced security options can make a huge difference in the safety and security of the work truck.
On the side of business owners and fleet/equipment managers…

While work trucks can be a major expense, business owners and fleet managers also realize work trucks are a major contributor to revenue. However, with all businesses there are budgets to maintain. No one understands the position of the company better than a business owner or fleet manager. Be sure to take the following items into account prior to the next work truck purchases.

  •     The jobs that are being done today may change dramatically a few years down the road, depending on the growth and direction of the company and the industry. Many companies will keep work trucks in service for a long period, some for 10 years or more. Keep this in mind as the work trucks may need to transition along with the business.
  •     Cost will always be a major limiting factor with work truck purchases. While the techs may want the Cadillac, that can’t always be the outcome. Maximize the value by creating the best work truck possible with the money that has been allocated.
  •     Maintenance costs can drain the ROI directly out of a work truck. Spec a work truck that has a solid reputation of reliability and performance. Sometimes, the best place to obtain this info is from other business owners or fleet managers.

Remember, take into account both sides of the coin in order to produce the best possible work truck.

Source:  https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2018/05/involve-your-techs-with-specing-work-trucks


9/12/19

Cummins History: 1931 Coast-to-Coast with Clessie Cummins



Determined to top a coast-to-coast record held by GM's gas engine, Clessie Cummins set out with a diesel-powered cargo truck on a route from New York City to Los Angeles in August 1931.

9/10/19

FORD Trucks at the 2019 Work Truck Show


NTEA Work Truck Show, all new Ford F600, RV chassis, E-chassis and of course 2021 F650-750. Commercial trucks chassis cabs will all the safety features of a F150.

Source: MrTruckTV

9/08/19

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD Medium-Duty Truck Reveal


Chevrolet unveils three Silverado HD chassis cab trucks — the 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD — at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. John Schwegman, director of commercial product and medium duty for GM Fleet, shows the features of the 2019 Chevy Silverado 4500HD. Read more about the three new medium-duty commercial trucks: http://www.worktruckonline.com/news/s...

9/06/19

GM Fort Wayne Paint Lab


The General Motors Fort Wayne facility, also known as Fort Wayne Assembly, is located in Roanoke, Indiana, USA. The factory produces full-size pickup trucks. General Motors is making a new round of upgrades to its Fort Wayne Assembly plant to further increase production of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups – especially crew cab models. “We are building Chevrolet and GMC crew cab pickups at record volume and mix levels to meet customer demand and the $24 million investment will allow us to build even more,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. “The team here at Fort Wayne has done an outstanding job helping us satisfy customers throughout this launch. Our product ramp-up was very smooth and the quality has been exceptional. Crew cab sales have been very strong, and we are expanding customer choice with new models, more cab choices and innovative new powertrains.”

9/04/19

PALFINGER Heavy Duty Loader Cranes


The hydraulic knuckle boom crane is PALFINGER's core product. Loading cranes help to load and unload trucks and other vehicles. Lorry cranes make an impression thanks to their operator friendliness and high level of cost-efficiency. Various equipment (rope winch, rotator, gripper, crane fork) expands the loading crane's field of application. PALFINGER loading cranes are available from 1 to 150-meter tonnes. With more than 120 models and a market share exceeding 30%, the company is the world market leader in this segment. The most important industries include construction, transport logistics, emergency services, local authorities, waste management, mining and the inspection/maintenance/cleaning of structures, buildings and large machines as well as leasing and rental business.

9/02/19

History of Labor Day


While you take your three day weekend, remember those who struggled to get Friday and Saturday off.

Enjoy your Labor Day!