Opinion

Strike two for Florida man's toll dismissal

I got another toll invoice for a truck I do not own that blew past a toll booth I've never seen.

October 19, 2021

One month later and I'm still trying to clear a false toll charge with the State of Florida.

Working around supply chain constraints

The shortage of microchips is all over the news, but there are also issues with steel, lumber, tires and other components that have made it increasingly difficult for vehicle manufactures to complete building both trucks and trailers.

October 4, 2021

line of semi trucks in traffic

Internet aghast as Tundra loses V8 roar—sound about right?

Will Toyota be piping in the sounds of a roaring V8 when you stomp the pedal in their new V6-equipped 2022 Tundra? Does anyone really care--yet?

September 22, 2021

2022 Tundra Trd Pro 16

Toll road blunder demonstrates fallibility of unchecked computer systems

The picture on the toll invoice looked like my truck and there was no mistaking the license plate but a closer look showed Florida got it wrong--way wrong.

September 15, 2021

There's apparently no confirmation process in place at the Florida Department of Transportation to ensure the validity of auto-generated toll invoices. As a result, you may end up with an erroneous bill like me. The license plate in this photo FDOT sent me isn't exactly legible but that didn't stop them from sending me a bill for passing through their toll on State Road 91 in Central Florida.

Adding FM to CB may be too little, too late

The FCC recently approved of adding FM to CB radios but I'm not so sure it'll mean a return to CB's glory days of the 1970s.

September 8, 2021

My Uniden Pro 810e base station from the 1980s will be compatible with new CBs equipped with FM mode--until those users actually switch to FM mode. And yes, FM sounds better, but I'd really be more appreciative if the FCC raised transmission power above a measly four watts.

Beyond headlines

NACFE has estimated that if every Class 8 vehicle produced today was magically a ZEV, it would still take 15 to 20 years to migrate them into 100% replacement of the existing vehicles.

September 7, 2021

OEMs want government to "build consumer demand" for an onslaught of electric vehicles

Lopsided laissez-faire. Automakers have pledged to have half of their vehicles all-electric by 2030 and now they want government to create demand.

August 11, 2021

Ford-F-150-Lightning

Lack of tire inflation education is alarming

A recent survey revealed that 48% of drivers don’t know how often to check tire pressure and that 53% don’t know how to check tread wear to determine if tires show signs of damage.

July 4, 2021

truck with a flat tire

Ford points out 'battery friendly' AC charging

DC fast-charging sounds good, but it costs much more than AC charging, takes up more space and leads to faster battery degradation.

June 9, 2021

Charging port on the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

Camera liability?

While it's fine if you're the one pointing the camera, what happens when someone else is doing the pointing from 100 feet up buzzing around like a paparazzi mosquito?

June 2, 2021

Drones have plenty of uses, including this UPS drone being used to deliver small packages. Other uses, like spying, create concern.

Electric golf cart provides interesting insight into EV maintenance

I've worked on my own vehicles for years. After recently acquiring a nearly 30-year-old EZGo Marathon golf cart, reality set in fast regarding how easy it can be to work on an electric vehicle versus internal combustion.

May 26, 2021

While not much to look at, my recently acquired 1994 EZGo Marathon golf cart has thus far proven to be a reliable, low maintenance workhorse.

Biden needs help on transportation fast

Something's wrong with this picture...President Biden's squealing the tires in his emissions-spewing Corvette while preaching on the virtues of electric vehicles and pledging billions in tax payer money to that fledgling industry.

April 28, 2021

Hmmm...will that mask prevent President Biden from inhaling those unsavory emissions he's preached against while promoting all-electric vehicles?

Sharing EV data to save the planet

If time is quickly running out for the planet because of climate change, should OEMs and fleets be more forthcoming about EV performance data and plans so that other fleets and manufacturers can prepare accordingly and do their part to save the world?

March 24, 2021

A hundred years after the fact, you can read about what the United States Postal Service thought about electric delivery carriages. It may be more than what some companies are willing to offer today. A Columbia Mark XI electric delivery wagon used by USPS in 1901 is shown above.

5 tips to improve uptime

While 100% utilization is not possible, there are some simple things fleets can do to get close.

March 13, 2021

Semi-trucks receiving maintenance work in a garage

Is the BEV charging infrastructure better than we think?

Sergio Rodriguez capped a 3,000 mile trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean without a single drop of fuel in the tank.

March 9, 2021

Start your free 30-min charge with the Volta Charging app sign

Carbon cut: Entire vehicle lifecycle must be addressed

Sustainability goals should include well-to-wheels solutions that are not only good for the environment but also help fleets sustain their bottom line.

March 3, 2021

Chanje Fed Ex Residential Side Angle 600x400

Grid vulnerabilities for commercial EVs are troubling

Electric trucks and vans have a much lower TCO than conventional but grid vulnerabilities demonstrated this week in Texas and other states could bring on serious setbacks for fleets that are eager to embrace all-electric powertrains.

February 18, 2021

Icicles Austin, Texas

Dash cams capture more good than bad

Dash camera footage cannot always help a motor carrier with respect to liability, but it can fleets from having to pay excessive damages.

February 17, 2021

dash camera in use during heavy traffic

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trucks in a neighborhood

Isuzu kicks off production of F-Series, including it's first foray into Class 7

All F-Series models are available in eight wheelbases (from 152 to 248 inches) accommodating bodies from 14 to 30 feet in length.

Not your grandpa's Chevy. The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 is shown taking on a jump, the new norm it seems when it comes to flexing half-ton muscle.

2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 catches air and our attention

Chevy reports that the glass roof in the all-electric Silverado provides greater visibility and more headroom.

Chevy announces reveal date, glass roof for electric Silverado

2022 Toyota Tundra

2022 Toyota Tundra fully revealed with more power and safety features

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is shown behind the wheel of the nation's first mass-produced electric pickup, the R1T.

Rivian rolls out nation's first mass-produced electric pickup