Today's Truck Tires: The Inside Story

Find out what goes into making a modern Bridgestone truck tire, including composition and tread design.

"Like A BOSS" - Meet BOSS Owner Al Hunt

With 41 years of plowing under his belt, it is fair to say that Al Hunt has many of plowing stories to tell.  As the owner of Al’s Snow Removal located in Dearborn, Michigan, Al, also known as “Big Al”, battles an average 45 inches of snow each season equating to 12 plowing events and 30 salting events.  The winter of 2014 exceeded all averages with Al and his team heading out to service 22 plowing events!  Al has put his BOSS Power-V plow to the test time and again and he has not looked back since switching to BOSS over four years ago.  In addition to the reliability and durability of the plow, Al has enjoyed the efficiency gains of using a multi-position v-plow.

During the early part of his career, Al began plowing as a way to earn some extra cash during the winter.  Five years later, he made his side business a full time occupation and hasn’t looked back since.  His business focuses on providing snow & ice removal services for driveways, parking lots and sidewalks.  When preparing for the next big storm, Al reviews his pre-storm checklist:

•        Change Plow Truck Oil

•        Gas Up The Plow Truck
•         Inspect Windshield Wipers
•         Inspect Tires
•         Inspect & Hook Up Plow
•         Pack Extra Plow Hoses & Hydraulic Fluid
•         Charge Cell Phone
•         Contact Employees
•         Gather Snacks & Fluids!

When heading out to battle a storm, Al knows he is in for long hours with little sleep and lots of communication with his team to check on the completion of his various contracts.  His radio keeps him company as well during the long work hours.  At the beginning of each event he listens to his local news station for weather updates every 10 minutes.  As the hours wear on, he switches the radio to the Oldies station. In the event that Al is in need of parts for his equipment, he relies on BOSS dealer, Commercial Lawn & Snow located in Livonia, MI.

When asked what advice Al would give to other snow plow operators, he noted “Be prepared and never let your truck or equipment get too old.”  Al also noted, “If you plan something else for a day/night, then more than likely it will snow!”  After 41 years, we would say that Al has been through enough winter seasons to know!

Thank you Al for being a BOSS Owner!

 by Jodie Gilroy - Boss Snowplows

Source: http://info.bossplow.com/blog/like-a-boss-meet-boss-owner-al-hunt?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=15376504&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--3A1c21YUsSDQCKr6zeU9f9plvt1DLyF6etGAzZ2j4y_3IrNmb3z9b2ZWQPUVCbaUijSp81eL2x5MXcb110D-oSnRELg&_hsmi=15376504

Snow Plow Tripping: A Comparison of the BOSS XT vs DXT

Let’s face it snow plows are bound to encounter obstacles.  Those obstacles could include manhole covers, curbs, frozen snow banks and everything in between.  If you have been snowplowing for any period of time, you could probably add a few other items to that list.  Obstructions and obstacles are one of the unavoidable dangers of snowplowing.

As such, snow plow manufacturers design and build snow plows with trip protection technology to help protect the plow and truck from damage.  The tripping mechanism works in tandem with the snow plow’s pressure relief valves that are also designed to reduce the impact caused by obstructions.  BOSS Snowplows, including the BOSS XT & DXT, are specifically designed with one of three types of tripping systems:

    Trip-Edge Snow Plow:  Plows designed with a trip-edge will help reduce the impact on your plow should you hit an obstacle smaller than 6 inches high, these are commonly man-hole covers or large cracks in the pavement. When the trip-edge base angle hits these hidden obstructions, the base angle/edge of the plow trips backwards to “give way” to the object. This takes some of the force off of the entire plow, which means less impact to the plow itself, the front of your truck, and to you, the operator.  An example of a trip-edge snow plow is the BOSS Trip-Edge Super-Duty straight blade.

    Full-Moldboard Trip Snow Plow:  With a full-moldboard trip snowplow, should you hit an object taller than 6 inches, the entire moldboard trips forward to cushion the impact. This greatly reduces the force on the plow and truck and helps keep you and your equipment safe.  An example of a full-moldboard trip snow plow is the BOSS XT v-plow or the BOSS Super-Duty straight blade.

    Dual-Trip Snow Plow:  A plow with dual-trip protection has just what the name implies – two tripping systems.  In the case of a BOSS DXT snowplow, the plow is designed with both the trip-edge as well as the full-moldboard trip creating dual-trip protection.

As noted and reviewed above, BOSS manufactures two models of v-plows, the XT & the DXT each featuring a different trip design.  The XT v-blade is designed with a full-moldboard trip and the DXT v-blade with dual-trip protection.   One of the other main differences of these two blades is the cutting edge/base angle that is installed on new blades.  BOSS XT blades come installed with a high performance formed cutting edge while the DXT blade comes installed with a high performance trip-edge base angle that serves as the plows cutting edge until a certain wear point.  Once the trip-edge base angle on the DXT is worn down to the recommended wear point, a replacement cutting edge is bolted on and used as the wear edge.

In summary, the tripping mechanism and the wear edge are the main differences between the XT & DXT.  For a complete comparison you can view the product specification sheets:  XT | DXT.  In addition, the following video and infographic visually represents the differences between the two snowplows.

by Jodie Gilroy - Boss Snowplows

Source:  http://info.bossplow.com/blog/snow-plow-tripping-a-comparison-of-the-boss-xt-vs-dxt

Grote LightForm® - The most flexible, light-weight, low-profile LED lighting product available.

LightForm® is the world´s first LED lighting film. Its ultra-thin structure is the most flexible, light-weight, low-profile LED lighting product available. LightForm fits where other products can´t by conforming to any shape, bending around corners and even folding back on itself. All LightForm products either feature an adhesive backing for easy installation, or have easy mounting options to adhere to virtually any surface. Available in a range of colors, LightForm´s superior lighting characteristics eliminate hotspots.

LightForm flexible LED lighting film uses patented technology and relies upon a proprietary conductive substrate and a unique laminating technique that minimizes the product’s footprint using state-of-the-art, solid-state technology. LightForm products are developed by Grote Industries, a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of lighting products, and meet the highest testing and certification standards for safety and decorative lighting.

For more information about LightForm products, please download our brochure. LightForm® Brochure (U.S.)

For information on mounting and connecting your LightForm products, please see our below data sheets:

• Mounting
• Connectors

Source:  http://lightform.com

Super Bowl MVP Receives Chevrolet Colorado

NEW YORK – Chevrolet presented Super Bowl XLIX Most Valuable Player Tom Brady with a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, the Official MVP Vehicle of Super Bowl XLIX, in recognition of his tremendous effort on the field in the New England Patriots 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

A media panel and fan vote on nfl.com/MVP determined the MVP Award winner, announced during the Super Bowl Postgame Show on NBC.

The Chevrolet Colorado, 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year^®, was engineered to be the most capable, most versatile and most technologically advanced midsize truck in the market. With class-leading horsepower and fuel economy along with a 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, the Colorado adds a new dimension to the Chevy truck line. 

“The Chevy Colorado, like Tom Brady, is truly a game changer,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing.

The Super Bowl MVP receives the Pete Rozelle Trophy, a silver trophy made by Tiffany & Co., and the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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Isuzu Reliability a Measure of Success

If only StarTrack contractor Peter Lloyd had a dollar for every kilometre he’d clocked up in his Isuzu FVD 950…

Despite having recently ticked over a staggering 1.7 million kilometres, Mr Lloyd says the 11 year old unit still runs like a dream.

Lloyd has been in operation for over 30 years, with his trucks spending countless hours traveling the vast expanses of Western Australia for freight and logistics giant StarTrack.

A typical job consists of a gruelling 850km daily run, and it’s one his trucks complete five days a week, every week.

From the birth of his business, Mr Lloyd has been an Isuzu customer and he can only ever recall one break-down which was easily fixed.

But he reckons, in over three decades of constant operation, that’s a pretty decent record.
“I started out in 1982 with an Isuzu JCR 500 that I had for 13 years, and it clocked over 3 million kilometres,” Mr Lloyd said.

“We’ve only ever had a few minor issues and, in the long run, this has saved me plenty of money.
“Also, even after driving so far in the Isuzus, they’re still super comfortable to drive, which is very important, especially considering the length of time spent on-board.”

Mr Lloyd said the secret to racking up the enormous numbers is regular Isuzu servicing and the use of genuine parts.

“I always service my trucks regularly. That’s very important. And I have always used quality parts and oils,” Mr Lloyd said.

“I’ve put a lot of trust in the Isuzu reliability, and that has been important for me staying in the business so long.”

Also included in his present fleet is a later model Isuzu FVD 1000, which he’s owned for one year.
Mr Lloyd estimates he has owned more than 20 trucks during his time in business.

But the decision to stick with Isuzu extends beyond issues of quality and reliability. He also highlighted a 30-plus year, mutually beneficial relationship with Major Motors in Perth.

“There’s two reasons why I stick with Isuzu. One is the reliability of their trucks, and the other is Major Motors,” Mr Lloyd said.

“They’ve always been accommodating, helpful and a pleasure to deal with.

“Their parts and servicing team is always first-rate and they’ve helped my business become what it is today.”

Mr Lloyd said that even after so long in business, he still enjoys being involved with trucks, and in particular, with his well-travelled Isuzu fleet.

- See more at: http://isuzu.com.au/news-media/press-releases/isuzu-reliability-a-measure-of-success/#sthash.y8OjkikY.dpuf

Leer Truck Caps and Tonneau Covers

See all of Leer Products at www.leer.com

2015 Chevy Super Bowl Commercial: 4G LTE Wi-Fi – 2015 Colorado | Chevrolet

What would you do if your TV went out right before the Super Bowl? The all-new Chevy Colorado offers built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi. You could stream the game in it. Just sayin’. You know you want a truck.

Learn more about the Chevy Colorado: http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado-sma....

Connect with Chevy Trucks on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChevyTrucks or follow @ChevyTrucks on Twitter.

Turtle Top Odyssey XL Executive Limo

This Turtle Top Odyssey XL Executive 25 Passenger Limo walkaround and walkthrough demonstrates the luxury and comfort, as well as the stability of the F550 chassis for this task.

Here's some information on this unit: The Odyssey XL shuttle bus and motor-coach series extends our most popular shuttle to provide up to 37 passengers with a great ride.  These are available on the Ford F550, F650, and Freightliner chassis and provide top notch road stability, passenger comfort, dependability, quality, and safety.  Selecting the Odyssey XL increases passenger capacity for churches, colleges, city and county transportation authorities, assisted living services, cross-country touring companies, excursion companies and many more transportation opportunities.

See more at www.turtletop.com for this and many other products by this great company.

2015 Freightliner M2 All-Wheel Drive with Extended Cab

Check out this 2015 Freightliner M2 All-Wheel Drive! This chassis won't last long and will go to work like a champ for your company. Check out some of the specs below, and call Marty if you have any questions or want to add this truck to your fleet.

2015 Freightliner M2 AWD Extended Cab White 144″ CA

ALL WHEEL DRIVE – 300HP – Air Locking Differential

• Stock# 2103

It’s finally here!!! A 26,000 GVWR Chassis with All Wheel Drive!
This is not the old 50MPH 4×4 brush truck, this is an All Wheel Drive truck you can run up to 85 MPH with a comfortable ride.

• Cummins 6.7L ISB – 300hp
• 2010 EPA/CARB Emission Certified
• Allison 2500 RDS Automatic Transmission with Push-button Controls
• AWD features:
- Meritor MTC-4210 Transfer Case
- 2-Speed Low/High Range
- Oil-Cooler
• Air Locking Rear Differential – Driver Controlled
• 26,000 Lbs. GVWR
• 10,000lb. Front Axle
• 19,000lb Rear Axle
• 4.88 Front Axle Ratio
• 4.88 Rear Axle Ratio
• Air Brake System
• Air Ride with Dump Valve
• Air Dryer with Heater
• 144″ Cab-To-Axle
• 50 Gallon Polished Aluminum Fuel Tank
• 6 Gallon DEF Tank
• Michelin XD2 Front & Rear Tires – 255/70R22.5
• (6) ALCOA Polished Aluminum Wheels
• (2) Alliance Maintenance Free 1850 CCA Batteries
• 160-Amp Alternator
• Exhaust Brake
• 18.7-CFM Air Compressor
• Auto Engine Fan with Dash Switch for Driver Control
• Electric Grid Air Intake Warmer
• 750 Watt / 115 Volt Block Heater
• Chrome Bumper; Grille; Air Intake; Headlight Bezels
• Snow Shield Keeps Air Intake Clear
• LED Aerodynamic Marker Lights
• Opal Gray Vinyl Interior
• Premium Air Ride Driver Seat
- Dual Armrests
- Adjustable Shock Absorber
- 3-Chamber Lumbar Support
• Bucket Passenger Seat
• Full Width Rear Bench Passenger Seat
• Tilt-Telescoping Steering Wheel
• Power Door Lock
• Cruise Control with Idle-up
• Power Mirrors
• Am/Fm/WB/CD/MP3/USB Radio with Bluetooth
Give us a call today! 1-800-376-7114

You can also learn more and view images at 
http://idahowreckersales.com/FW_Inven...

IWS Custom Built Towing Equipment and Luxury Motor Coaches ©2014. All Rights Reserved.
www.idahowreckersales.com • www.iwsmotorcoaches.com • 
1-800-376-7114 • steve@idahowreckersales.com

2015 Chevrolet Colorado and Accessories

Whether camping, kayaking, daily driving or for purely stylistic purposes, the 2015 Colorado was developed around a slew of accessories to meet your lifestyle demands. 

Order the accessories, have them installed at your dealer, pick up your new truck and hit the road ... or trail. 

Read more about the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year: http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado-sma...

For more on Colorado Accessories: http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado-sma...

For more on Chevrolet Performance: www.TheBLOCK.com

2015 Silverado Midnight Edition is The New Black

Monochrome appearance package 

to debut at NADA and Chicago Auto Show

DETROIT – Truck fans know that nothing adds presence to a pickup like basic black. And Chevrolet is taking black to the next level with the Silverado Midnight special edition, on display starting today at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in San Francisco, and making its public debut February 14 at the Chicago Auto Show.

Beginning with a black Silverado Z71, the Midnight special edition adds:

• An all-black front end with body-colored grille, bumper, headlamp bezels, tow hooks and fog lamps;
• Black side moldings and beltline moldings;
• 18-inch black painted alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires;
• Special Z71 badges on the doors;
• A spray-in bedliner (black, of course);
• And the finishing touches – black Chevrolet bowties front and rear.

Like all 2015 Silverado 1500 Z71s, Midnight special editions include off-road suspension, a locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control and a trailering package. Midnight special editions also include rear park assist and heated, power-adjusted outside rear-view mirrors.

“The Midnight special edition, like our recently announced Custom Sport Silverado, lets our dealers offer a custom look right from the factory,” said Sandor Piszar, Silverado marketing director. “Customers can get a monochrome exterior, black alloy wheels and other uplevel touches, while maintaining all of the dependability Chevy trucks are famous for along with full factory warranty coverage.”

Chevrolet will offer the Silverado Midnight special edition in either 1500 double-cab or crew-cab models. Up to 5,000 Midnight special editions will be produced for the 2015 model year. Dealers can order the trucks starting in February 2015. Package prices be $1,595 to $1,995, depending on the model.

About ChevroletFounded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 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 & active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Study: Clean Diesel Exhaust Safe for Animal Lungs, Probably Humans

Study: Clean Diesel Exhaust Safe for Animal Lungs, Probably Humans

Right Van For The Job | Appliances

See all about the RAM ProMaster Cargo Van at www.ramtrucks.com/en/ram_promaster/

Natural Gas Vehicles Still A Good Bet

Oil Price Volatility Is All the More Reason to Go with Gas,

NGVAmerica Says, Making a ‘Compelling Case’ for the Fuel

The price of oil is at a level almost no one anticipated a mere six months ago, causing operators to question whether the up-front costs of natural gas are worth the investment. But the situation is, really, all the more reason to go with gas, says NGVAmerica, which has released a new white paper on the subject.

 

Matt Godlewski

Natural gas is a domestic fuel, still largely free from world market influence, the association says. Hence natural gas prices in North America are stable and predictable.

“Our analysis reveals a compelling case for the continued transition to natural gas-powered vehicles, especially among commercial and government fleets who are seeking long-term stability and low prices in their transportation costs,” NGVAmerica president Matt Godlewski told association members on Friday.

Pro-NGV Argument Strengthened

“We strongly believe that the recent volatility in oil only strengthens the strong long-term economic arguments associated with NGVs,” Godlewski said.

In Oil Price Volatility and the Continuing Case for Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel, NGVAmerica looks at some of the key questions around the price and stability of all transportation fuels. The document “provides a historical and forward-looking perspective on oil prices, as well as those for gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuels.”

The association tackled the following questions:

•     What is causing the decline in oil and petroleum prices?
•     Why have oil prices declined and where is the price of oil headed over the next 12 months and in the long-term?
•     Will diesel prices fall further, and are factors other than crude oil prices influencing its price?
•     What is the long-term outlook for the price of all transportation fuels?
•     Why do the strong economic advantages of natural gas remain solid over the long-term? And

    What are the public policy issues that could benefit natural gas as a transportation fuel?

Still Far Lower than Diesel

“Boom and bust in the oil industry is nothing new,” NGVAmerica notes. But the association, taking into account such factors as the price of oil versus natural gas on a BTU basis, projected fuel-price differentials, and U.S. refinery capacity (limited, which points to a continued dependence on imports for refined petroleum products), draws the following conclusions:

•     The price at the pump for gasoline dependent depends far more on the price of crude oil than CNG depends on the price of natural gas. graphic courtesy NGVAmerica

•     NGVAmerica points out that the price at the pump for gasoline depends far more on the price of crude oil than the price of CNG depends on the price of natural gas. American Gas Association 2014 Playbook graphic

•     History shows that the recent decline in world crude oil prices and related gasoline and diesel prices are likely to be short-lived. Oil prices will increase as the world economy rebounds.

•     Diesel fuel is influenced by a variety of other factors that will likely keep upward pressure on prices over the long run.

•     On a Btu basis, natural gas still has a 3:1 price advantage over oil. At the pump, average CNG prices are currently $0.75 to $1 lower than diesel

•     The long-term stability and low prices for natural gas relative to oil are likely to remain for many years – perhaps even decades – based on well-documented economic models.

•     The long-term nature of fleet asset management suggests that it is prudent to continue to invest in transportation fuel portfolio diversification by transitioning more vehicles to natural gas. Fleets that have already made the investment in vehicles and infrastructure will continue to benefit from the stability of natural gas prices and their continuing economic advantage.

•     State and federal policymakers are likely to continue to promote fuel diversity and policies that encourage use of natural gas as a transportation fuel on the road to energy security.