3/31/15

Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition: On Point, Off Road



When adventure calls, the Trail Boss has your back




CLEVELAND – For those who want to blaze their own trails, Chevrolet introduces the 2015 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss edition today at the Cleveland Auto Show.

The Trail Boss combines the capability of Chevrolet’s Z71 off-road truck suspension package with more aggressive tires and additional appearance enhancements. It is offered in extended and crew cab configurations, with a choice of a long or short cargo bed and available 4WD.

The Trail Boss goes on sale this spring with a starting price of $28,505 plus the package price of $3,320.

“The Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition is equally at home blazing an urban trail or following one to a favorite remote campground,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “It gives owners the gear-carrying ability and versatility they need to venture off-road, with segment-leading efficiency and capability.”

In addition to Chevy’s proven off-road truck suspension package, the Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition features Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/65R17 all-terrain tires and 17-inch dark argent metallic painted cast-aluminum wheels; GearOn™ moveable cargo tie-down rings, load bar and cargo divider; with black fender flares and front and rear black Chevy bowtie logos.

Additional features include:
  • G80 automatic locking rear differential
  • Transfer case shield (on 4WD)
  • Front recovery hooks
  • Black, three-inch round rocker steps
  • Spray-on bedliner
  • Projector beam headlamps
  • Front fog lamps
  • All-weather floor mats with Z71 logo.

The Trail Boss is the second Colorado special edition announced recently. Last month, Chevrolet introduced the 2015 Colorado GearOn Special Edition, which blends the capability of the midsize pickup truck with the versatility of the GearOn accessory system – and additional popular features. It also goes on sale this spring.

Colorado, the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year and Cars.com’s Best Pickup Truck of 2015, offers the most horsepower and best highway efficiency in the segment, as well as the highest available trailering rating – 7,000 pounds (V-6 2WD) – and higher payload rating – 1,590 pounds (V-6 2WD).

Editors’ note: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Includes dealer freight charges and option package discounts. 

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

3/29/15

How Ford Switched Gears for the All-New F-150


Ford redeveloped its F-150 plant for a complete restructuring of the famous truck line.

About: This Built America celebrates the rebirth of American industry.Explore the individuals and companies that are building and re-imagining America, whose ambition and dedication stretch from sea to shining sea.
See more here: http://goo.gl/4mEGvb

3/28/15

Men at Work: Sign and Signal Contractor





By Steve Taylor

Men at Work or actually Men at Lunch in this case! I spotted this Ram Crew Cab with the Knapheide Gooseneck body at a McDonalds near my home in Tampa, Florida. The crew of 4 was on break for lunch and they had just enough time to let me take a few pictures and ask a few questions.

Their company, United Signs and Signals is headquartered in Tavares, Florida. They specialize in highway signs and signals. This crew is the prep crew doing the excavating for the concrete footings. They say that some of their work requires excavating up to 30 feet below ground level for the sign or signal footings. 

The company owns several of these trucks.



This crew is very happy with the truck and body. They often pull a trailer and this Knapheide Body provides for towing a heavy gooseneck trailer. They love the open top design which allows them to quickly store and retrieve their long handle shovels tools, buckets, etc. They can easily reach them from across the side of the body.The drop-in gate prevents objects from sliding off the back of the bed.



This body is outfitted with a Miller gas or LP powered Bobcat 250 Amp welder / generator. This one appears to be gas as evidenced by the tank to the left of the welding machine.

OK, this truck is a work truck. I would say, beneath the dirt is a very tough and durable body. It appears to have held up very well, especially in consideration of the likely tough conditions on construction sites it endures on a daily basis. The open design allows for an easy hookup to the gooseneck trailer. Notice the beveled rear corners, allowing for turning tight corners with the trailer attached.


So What’s in Their Cabinets?

The cabinets allow for their tool storage and are lockable.



Looking at the two front vertical cabinets, they contain their smaller work tools, a MAXX Power Inverter, calendars and a few other items in case of emergency! 

The low rear smaller cabinet is perfect for storing the straps.


Now the top cabinet (shown below) would allow for long tools or rolled-up drawings, etc. In this case they placed their "planning calendar" on the inside of the cover so they could refer to it readily! (I had to distort the image because it looks like it might contain “confidential" images!!)



Knapheide's Deluxe Gooseneck Body:

Knapheide's PGND Gooseneck combines the secure storage of a Service Body with the hauling ability of a Gooseneck body.

The PGND Gooseneck Body is the top of the line Gooseneck offering from Knapheide.  Versatile storage including service body style compartments and a flip top compartment enable you to store a wide variety of  tools and equipment.  The integrated gooseneck hitch and receiver hitch systems allow you to haul virtually any trailer.  Aluminum tread plate trim give the PGND Gooseneck Body premium styling and appearance.  The Knapheide PGND Gooseneck Body is the ideal work truck for mining, agriculture and many other vocational applications.

For increased functionality, look to Knapheide's PGNDHD Gooseneck Body models which have all the same great standard features as a PGND Gooseneck Body plus a 3/16" treadplate floor (ILO 12 gauge treadplate), slam lock tailgate, and side tie-down rings in the cargo area. 


https://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/ED4-4.pdf


Guest Post by Steve Taylor. Steve is a consultant in lean six sigma process improvement and specializes in fleets and manufacturers in the work truck industry. He may be contacted at steve@truckarchitect.com and his website is http://www.upstreamsource.com/ 

Coming Soon - Steve Taylor Chases Down a Signal Contractor Truck!




As I was walking near my home in Tampa, FL I noticed a crew cab Ford work truck and wanted to find out how it is used. Stay tuned, Coming Shortly!

3/27/15

The Work Truck Show 2015



A record-setting 11,005 industry professionals from all 50 states, eight Canadian provinces and 23 countries turned out for The Work Truck Show® 2015, North America’s largest work truck event. This breaks the Show’s previous attendance record of 10,408 set in 2012. The Work Truck Show 2015 was held March 4–6, with educational sessions and the concurrent Green Truck Summit kicking off March 3, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. It is produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry.

Learn more at worktruckshow.com

3/26/15

Iveco LNG BIG Truck



Iveco CNG and LNG Systems

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Chassis Cab


A lot of thought has gone into what looks like a simple problem-solving solution. For small-business and fleet buyers, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado chassis cab is basically a license to get creative with how to best build a small vehicle to serve their customers. Pricing, we're told, is around $24,000. Not bad. Standard equipment includes a V-6 engine, six-speed transmission, extended cab, rubber floormats, a limited-slip differential and a full-size spare.

Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/03/2015-chevrolet-colorado-chassis-cab-video.html
Cars.com photo by Mark Williams

3/25/15

Ford Brings REPREVE to the 2015 F-150




What if we could redirect plastics from landfill and use them to create innovative materials, and then put them in the all-new Ford F-150, part of Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling truck?​ We could make a big difference.

Since 2012, Ford Motor Company has worked with Unifi to bring environmentally responsible, high-performance REPREVE fiber to many Ford vehicles. Now, this innovative fiber is available in the in the all-new F-150. By substituting with this recycled material, Ford will divert more than five million plastic bottles from landfills this year. 

Ford is the only automaker to use REPREVE, made from 100 percent recycled materials including plastic bottles, in its vehicles. Ford is currently using REPREVE in five vehicles around the world, making it a truly global material, and it represents Ford's larger commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle as part of the company’s global sustainability strategy to lessen its environmental footprint.

“By using REPREVE in the all-new Ford F-150, we are reconfirming our commitment to using renewable and recyclable materials in our vehicles,” said Carol Kordich, lead designer, global sustainability materials strategy development. “We are always looking for ways to incorporate more innovative and sustainable materials into our vehicles.”

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

3/24/15

2015 Ford Aluminum F150 Line X Bedliner Install



We take a 2015 F150 to Great lakes Line X for a new Platinum bed liner. I would recommend Line X over any other bedliner product.

3/23/15

Chelsea Products Wins The Work Truck Show® 2015 Innovation Award

249V Series PTO praised for big output 
in a small package


Chelsea Products Div. of Parker (Olive Branch, MS) won The Work Truck Show® 2015 Innovation Award last week for its 249V Series power take-off. The award was presented at The Work Truck Show 2015, which was held March 4–6 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN.

Chelsea’s 249V Series PTO prevailed over more than 100 other new products to win the Innovation Award. All products entered in The Work Truck Show 2015 New Product Spotlight and New Product Media Guide programs were eligible. A judging panel of truck fleet managers and trade media editors made its final decision after visiting exhibitors during the show to gather and evaluate product details.

Developed for the Ford F-Series Super Duty line of trucks, the 249V Series PTO provides best-in-class flow of up to 23 GPM and pressure of 3,500 PSI at 1,200 engine RPM, as well as an unprecedented torque capacity of 200 lb-ft. It features a single hose connection, and an integrated cartridge valve and pressure switch for easy installation.

“Winning the Innovation Award really validates all the customer and end-user research we conducted while developing this product,” says Jeff King, marketing manager for Chelsea. “At The Work Truck Show, we received a lot of positive feedback about the 249V Series PTO, and the award was icing on the cake.”

Produced by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, The Work Truck Show is North America’s largest vocational truck event. It annually brings together more than 11,000 truck fleet managers, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, equipment buyers and maintenance personnel, and features the newest vocational trucks, vans and equipment.

To learn more about the full line of PTOs available from Chelsea Products Div. of Parker, visit www.phtruck.com.

Additional information about The Work Truck Show is available at www.worktruckshow.com. Connect with the NTEA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NTEA.TheAssociationForTheWorkTruckIndustry, and join the Work Truck Show conversation on Twitter at @WorkTruckShow and with the official Work Truck Show and Green Truck Summit hashtags: #wts15 and #gts15.

ABOUT THE NTEA
Established in 1964, NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, represents more than 1,700 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the Association. NTEA provides in-depth technical information, education, and member programs and services, and produces The Work Truck Show. The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit and government relations offices in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, ON, Canada.

3/21/15

Plow and Spreader Trends 2015



Mike Stevens reviews snow and ice control equipment trends seen at the 2015 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN. http://www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/

A Day in the Life - W.J. Scott Company


To make a family business last from generation to generation, families pass down the best ethics and practices to keep their businesses the most successful that they can be. This is one thing that The KnapheideManufacturing Company and W.J. Scott Company have in common.

Watch this video to find out why Matt and James Scott continue to choose Knapheide KUVs for their business for the fourth time in their company's history.

3/20/15

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel




From the 2015 Work Truck Show, Mark Williams of PickupTrucks.com, takes a look at the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel.

IVECO - Truck & Transport Show 2015



Iveco took part at “Truck & Transport”, the annual heavy-duty commercial vehicle show held in conjunction with the 93rd European Motor Show in Brussels. Geared toward industry professionals, the show took place from 16 – 19 January at the Brussels Expo.

The Iveco stand offers visitors an overview of the outstanding products in the company's medium and heavy-duty range: three heavy-duty Stralis trucks, one of which is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), two medium-duty vehicles, a Eurocargo and two Trakkers, one of which bears the colours of the Iveco vehicle participating in Dakar 2015 rally.



3/19/15

Ask An Owner: Ram Trucks for Painters, Marvin Couch Edition



You don’t often find success in business unless you make smart decisions that also align with your brand’s core values. For Marvin Couch of Environmental Painting Alternatives in Orlando, Florida, that means purchasing trucks and vans like the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and the Ram ProMaster, two vehicles that achieve great gas mileage without sacrificing capability.

In this video filmed on location, Marvin explains why Ram Trucks are the right trucks for a business like his, from their capability to their efficiency to their ease of upfit and more.

3/18/15

TYMCO Model 600 Regenerative Air Street Sweeper



The TYMCO Model 600 is both extremely reliable and incredibly powerful. Whether you're sweeping city streets during leaf season, cleaning up on a construction site or sweeping behind a milling machine or road reclaimer, getting the job done with the Model 600 is quick to perform and easy to operate. Not only is it built using the high-efficiency, time-tested TYMCO Regenerative Air System that provides unprecedented reliability, but it also delivers incredible performance and an amazingly clean sweep.

The Model 600 is, quite simply, the sweeper that changed the industry. Before it, all sweepers were designed in one of two ways -- either a mechanical main broom (100% broom sweeping) or a vacuum (which still requires a main broom for 75% of the sweeping path to transfer debris to the vacuum head). Mechanical main brooms introduce additional expense and complexity, and vacuum sweepers, by the nature of their design, have to exhaust all air used while sweeping which can contribute to poorer air quality in harsh sweeping environments.

The Model 600 delivered and still delivers excellent performance without a mechanical main broom or exhausting dusty air -- giving you a low total cost of ownership and a more environmentally friendly sweeper.

3/17/15

Mighty Ford F-750 Tonka Dump Truck



From the 2015 Work Truck Show, Mark Williams of PickupTrucks.com, takes a look at the Mighty Ford F-750 Tonka Dump Truck. The outside has been modeled after a toy Tonka truck while the interior uses Super-Duty components.

3/16/15

Ford Telematics Delivers Innovative Fleet Management Solutions for Ford’s Global Commercial Vehicle Customers



Ford Telematics Delivers Innovative Fleet Management Solutions for Ford’s Global Commercial Vehicle Customers
  •     Ford Telematics™ powered by Telogis® is a next-generation cloud-based fleet management solution that helps commercial customers better manage vehicles and improve their customer service
  •     Ford Telematics adds new services, real-time actionable analytics and communications capabilities globally
  •     Ford Telematics available today for 2009 and newer Ford F-Series, Transit Connect, Transit and E-Series vehicles, as well as for Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan
Indianapolis, March 3, 2015 – Ford Motor Company introduces Ford Telematics™ powered by Telogis® to help fleets run more efficient operations and better serve their customers.

Ford Telematics is the next generation of the fleet management platform previously known as Crew Chief™ powered by Telogis, which was available in the United States and Canada. The new version will be available globally and adds new features and analytics.

“Commercial trucks have to be more than delivery boxes on wheels, and innovations like Ford Telematics are critical to helping our fleet customers succeed,” said Raj Nair, Ford chief technical officer and group vice president, Global Product Development. “Ford, in coordination with Telogis, is leading the development of smart solutions for hardworking fleets so they can maximize their operations to better serve their customers.”

Ford Telematics is a suite of cloud-based applications that gives Ford customers visibility into the workday of every driver in the field. The technology is designed to provide exclusive metrics and insights for any size commercial fleet.

Ford Telematics services and features include:

    Mobile connectivity: Connects workers in the field with fleet managers to coordinate Department of Transportation compliance (including hours of service and driver vehicle inspection reports), work orders and more
    Data reporting: Ford-exclusive data and services for more vehicle intelligence, such as diesel emissions and idle time
    Workflow and information gateways: Integration with new workflows, scripted alerts and application programming interfaces that connect Ford Telematics with customer information systems to leverage data in new ways in the back office or in the field
    In-cab alerts: Provide audible driver feedback on harsh acceleration, hard braking, excessive speed and excessive vehicle idle time
    Driver scorecards: Customizable driver behavior scorecards, dashboards and optional Telogis Coach, an industry-first driver feedback mobile application for Android or iOS
    Fuel management: Fuel management reports and dashboards
    Dashboards: Ready-to-use dashboards monitor driver behavior and operations to help ensure the fleet is running efficiently and productively
    Customizable reports: Easier-to-use reports with new user interface improvements, resource filtering and more output formats

Ford Telematics is available from the factory and as a dealer-installed aftermarket option, giving fleets access to actionable analytics even after they place their vehicle orders.

Ford Telematics can be financed with the purchase of a Ford vehicle and is covered under a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty. The system is serviceable at Ford dealerships.

“With the launch of Ford Telematics, we renew our commitment to providing Ford customers with a best-in-class, mission-critical platform on which they can manage every aspect of their mobile business,” said Susan Heystee, executive vice president, worldwide sales at Telogis. “The key benefit to customers is improved workforce utilization and fleet productivity that’s easily ordered in Ford trucks with the technology built right in.”

Ford Telematics is available today in North America for 2009 or newer models of the following Ford vehicles:

    Super Duty and F-150 pickups – part of the F-Series lineup, America’s best-selling trucks for 38 years
    Transit – America’s best-selling full-size van
    Transit Connect – with best-in-class EPA-estimated fuel efficiency ratings
    E-Series vans
    Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan – America’s best-selling law enforcement vehicles – through Ford Telematics powered by Telogis Law Enforcement Edition

The system will be introduced on F-650/F-750 trucks for 2016.

Additionally, Ford Telematics soon will be available around the world for Ford commercial customers.

“We want to have one solution customers can rely on no matter where in the world they do business and where they are buying Ford vehicles,” said Nair. “They will be able to walk into a dealer in North America, Germany, Australia or anywhere and ask for one brand, one product.”
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
About Telogis, Inc.

Telogis, Inc., the platform for connected intelligence, is dedicated to enhancing the value of its customers’ businesses through intelligent integration of location technology, information and services. Telogis was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., with offices in Europe and Latin America as well as development centers in Austin, Texas; Toronto; and Christchurch, New Zealand. Telogis’ products and services are used and distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. To learn more about Telogis, visit www.telogis.com or call toll free at 866-TELOGIS (866-835-6447)