Kenworth unleashes the W990

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Kenworth Trucks unveiled its new W990 Sept. 27 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which was touted as “a driver’s truck” and added to the company’s longest running model in its portfolio.

“The replacement of the W900, that’s a special place,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice-president, during the launch. “A lot of passion, a lot of pride has gone into what we think is a very special product.”

Kenworth W990.

Available in a day cab, 40-inch flat top, and 52-inch, and 76-inch mid-roof sleeper configuration, the W990 is designed for line haul, pickup and delivery, regional haul, and heavy haul operations.

The truck comes standard with the proprietary Paccar powertrain, the MX-13 engine, 510hp and 1,850lbs.-ft. of torque.

With a 12-speed Paccar automated transmission and 40K tandem rear axles, the W990 is built on the 2.1-meter cab platform, which is also used for the T680 and T880 models.

Learn more at:  https://www.trucknews.com/equipment/kenworth-unleashes-the-w990/1003087923/

When Your Truck Is Down

The very first thing you need to do with a truck down is be immediately aware of your personal safety. If you are on a busy highway stay in your vehicle and you may need to call 911 if an accident has or could easily occur due to traffic or fuel spills or if you are hauling dangerous goods. Follow safety procedures and put on hazard lights, lay out flares, or reflective triangles or lights, and wear bright clothing.

Your location of where your truck went down should be your next task. A GPS on a smart phone is an excellent way to identify what major route you are near, the names of the highway or streets. This will help you prepare to inform others of where your truck is down.

Notify the owner of the truck unless you are the owner. You may want to notify your dispatcher and or company heavy truck mechanic if you are using a business or commercial truck. Family or friends might be a good place to call, a mobile phone or satellite computer system will come is handy here. If you are stranded in cold weather stay with your vehicle.

Again, a smart phone with a Google browser will come in very handy for this step where you will look for local service to help repair or tow your truck. Using the GPS on the smart phone to find your location, then searching for mobile truck repair services or truck towing in that area. TruckDown.com is a great resource.

Mobile truck repair companies have fees that differ greatly by city. If you travel along a regular route or just in the same area all the time, you may pick truck shops that have mobile truck repair services you can trust. It is a matter of establishing relations in each of the cities where you travel and keeping all mobile rig repair service information handy when you truck goes down.

Written by Darren Chabluk for WinnipegTruckRepair.com

Visit [http://WinnipegTruckRepair.com] to see a growing list of trucking tips and our shop of the month.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Darren_Chabluk/921613

Seven Secrets To Keeping Your Truck In Top Shape

Whether you drive a big rig with a trailer, a box truck, or a cement mixer, you've got a job to do and a deadline to get the work done. You don't have time for a breakdown. As a company that provides road service for trucks, we've found that many of our clients have forgotten to use some of the seven secrets to keeping their truck in road ready condition. If you take the time to do these, you'll get that job done on time, and you'll earn a reputation as a driver who is reliable. You might even get a raise. If you're an owner operator, these tips will even save you money.

1. Check your oil often, especially before a long haul. Trucks are powerful machines, and they need oil like we need good coffee. Top up the oil when you see it getting low. Don't put this one off because you're in a hurry. It'll come back to haunt you later, costing you time and money.

2. Before a long haul, check your radiator fluid level. Don't just look at the overflow bottle. Remove the cap from the radiator and visually check the fluid level. This is a good habit to form because it will help you spot small leaks before you hit the road. Top up your fluid level when needed so you won't have to worry about overheating. If you notice a small but steady leak, deal with it promptly to prevent possible engine damage down the road.

3. Check the pressure in your tires at least once a week. Tire pressure changes both from variations in weather and from high-speed use on highways. Check your tire pressure often to keep your tires at their optimal performance level. Doing this will help you catch a slow leak and deal with it before you're on the road and in a jam. Underinflated tires lower your fuel mileage, can cause extra wear and tear to the truck, and can make steering more difficult. Overinflated tires are more prone to punctures and damage when going over potholes. Check the owner's manual for your truck, or visit the company's website, to find the right pressure level for your truck's tires.

4. If you are driving a truck with dual fuel tanks, do not park sideways on a hill so that one side of the truck is higher than the other. If you do this, the fuel in the tank that is in the high side of the truck will flow into the other tank. When you start the truck, the uneven fuel tanks will cause the fuel uptake system to draw in air instead of creating a vacuum to pull fuel into the engine. The truck will act as if it's out of fuel. If you need to park on a hill, park so that the hill slopes from front to back, not side to side.

5. If your truck has been sitting in one place for a few days, check the fuel vent before leaving. Wasps and other insects like to build a nest in the fuel vent, causing a blockage and causing the truck to act as if it's out of fuel.

6. If you notice that your steering wheel begins to vibrate as you slow down or come to a stop, it's time to have your brakes checked. This is also true if you hear a squealing sound as you come to a stop. Make a note to remind yourself to have this done as soon as your load is delivered. You'll save both time and money if you deal with this now instead of waiting until the brakes actually fail. Replacing brake pads and rotors costs less than replacing an entire brake system.

7. Keep a pocket-sized notebook in your truck. On its first page, write down the make and model of your truck along with the size and load weight of its tires. Use the notebook to keep track of the maintenance issues regarding the truck so you can stay on top of any repairs the truck might need. Having this information in a handy location will help you to avoid breaking down while on the road. Having good records can also help you get faster road service when you need it because the technician will know what parts are needed and can bring them to the work site more quickly.

There you have it. Use these seven secrets and keep your rig rolling.

Monica Willyard is part of the team at Amcor 24-Hour Truck And Tire Service, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Trucks are Amcor's specialty, and Amcor provides road service and tire replacement throughout north Georgia. Visit [http://www.truckandtirerepairs.com] for more information, or call us at (770) 928-3244.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Monica_O._Willyard/174898

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/998541

Kenworth vs. Hino - Medium Duty Truck Comparison

Kenworth vs. Hino - Medium Duty Truck Comparison

BIT Inspection Program California Bit Inspection CHP DOT

California BIT Inspection Program Explained. www.calbit.com

DOT Inspector explains what he looks for when checking semis

A Federal DOT inspector shows a group what he looks for when he stops a tractor trailer and makes sure it is road worthy. He answers the question that truckers and trucking companies have been asking for years. This video is a great resource for drivers and managers.

When Your Truck Is Down, You Can Depend On A&T Road Service and Towing

Our Service Area

Call 800-434-1205

This  map indicates our approximate service area. Our goal is to get to you within 1.3 hours and most often, on a clean run, we can be there in just under an hour. Although we have sometimes gone further than this circle--and we will still--this approximate 50-60 mile radius from our home base in Fairfield, CA is what we call our call area. Of course, most of our calls are probably within 25 miles and we get there even sooner, but rest assured that we will do everything within our power to be there as quickly as possible because when your truck is down, time is very important.  We are centrally located in Fairfield CA which is approximately 45 miles from San Francisco or Sacramento and about 50 miles from Stockton. We regularly service Fairfield, Vallejo, Rio Vista, Napa, Vacaville, Travis AFB, Winters, Dixon, Davis, Benicia, St. Helena, Calistoga, Suisun City, Green Valley, Crockett, Hercules, San Pablo, Richmond, Concord, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Boyes Hot Springs, Sonoma, Allendale, Cordelia, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, Novato, American Canyon, Truck Scales and much more. We've even gone as far as San Jose, the South Bay and the Peninsula because we always answer the phone 24/7. Solano County is our home turf, but readily service Napa County, Yolo County, Contra Costa County, Sonoma County, Sacramento County, and San Joaquin County, Alameda County and Marin County. We also have been known to travel to San Francisco County, Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. In fact, if you need immediate service, we will travel where ever we need to in order to take care of your problem. We are at your service and we mean that sincerely

A Little History of Towing

 

Tow trucks came on the automotive scene in 1915, well after several French and German inventors were finished experimenting with pushcarts and propulsion throughout the 1800’s, and only twelve years after the explosion of Ford Motor Company‘s mass-produced automobile.

It’s best not think too much about what people did with wrecked and inoperable vehicles during the 19th century, but it was probably a lot like auto mechanic Ernest Holmes Sr.‘s experience. In Chattanooga, Tennesee, Holmes found himself helping a friend extract a car from a river (some say it was a ditch). By tying ropes to the car, he and several others spend eight hours using pure body strength to recover the vehicle.

Since necessity is always the mother of invention, this dire event caused Holmes to think about how to make lighter work of what was soon to become a very common situation. The growing popularity of motor vehicles meant there needed to be an easier way to transport wrecked vehicles to repair shops. And to avoid spending half a day helping your buddies every time they ran their car into a ditch.

Only a few months later – using a 1913 Cadillac, poles, a pulley, and a chain device that wrapped around the axle or frame, Ernest Holmes invented the world’s first twin boom wrecker tow truck.
He filed a patent for a more refined version in 1918. The concept involved a “split boom” wrecker that could anchor the truck itself and lift from the opposite end without tipping over. This made it possible to retrieve vehicles that were stuck on steep embankments.

A major success, Holmes’ first models were said to lift up to 15 tons. This made them very useful during WWI and WWII as delivery, supply, and transport trucks. Holmes’ regular wreckers were also used for decades to recover race cars NASCAR and IndyCar.

The Ernest Holmes Co. Automobile Repairing operated for two generations until it was absorbed by Dover Corp., then continued as Century Wreckers, and ultimately purchased by Miller Industries.
Holmes’ method of wrapping a chain around the axle or frame, which causes damage to the chassis, has been mostly replaced by hydraulic towing methods (developed by Holmes’ grandson/Century Wreckers) that involve fitting a yoke on the front or back wheels.

Source:  www.fifetowing.com/blog

First Load With My 2018 Volvo VNL 860 Globetrotter XL

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