NTEA Work Truck Show: showcasing latest technologies, products

INDIANAPOLIS — The buzz on the show floor is real. Touted by one exhibitor at the NTEA Work Truck Show 2016, North America’s largest work truck event, the show works; it is a great resource because the attendees are qualified leads.

“The Work Truck Show is the one event where everyone involved with vocational vehicles in North America comes together to share ideas, see what’s new and find opportunities for their business operations,” said Steve Carey, NTEA executive director.

In fact, truck premieres, exclusive ride-and-drive opportunities, and a glimpse of the latest and greatest in work trucks drew a record-setting 11,905 — verified —industry professionals. This breaks the event’s previous attendance record of 11,005, set in 2015. Attendees came from all 50 states, eight Canadian provinces and 19 countries.

Green Truck Summit

During his keynote address at the Green Truck Summit general sessions on March 1, Reuben Sarkar, deputy assistant secretary for transportation at the U.S. Department of Energy, announced SuperTruck II, an $80 million funding opportunity for research, development and demonstration of long-haul trailer truck technology. He also announced more than $12 million in selections for three new projects focused on plug-in electric powertrain technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

In other “green” news, Work Truck Show exhibitors highlighted significant propane fleet adoptions and even converted a pickup truck to run on propane right on the show floor. Setting a record for the “Fastest Recorded Alternative Fuel Conversion to propane autogas,” Alliance AutoGas conversion technicians Stephen Holland and Stacey Snyder installed Alliance’s new Engineered Conversion System on a Bi-Fuel 2016 3.5 Liter Ford F-150 V6 almost 30 minutes faster than the predicted two-hour window.

Tucker Perkins, chief business development officer, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), led a panel called “The Propane Autogas Advantage: Reduce Your Total Cost of Ownership,” and was joined by two propane autogas users: Renee Dawson, director of transportation and school safety at DeKalb Central United Schools in Auburn, Indiana, and Glenn Chamberland, fleet manager for AAA Allied Group Inc., in West Hartford, Connecticut. Dawson and Chamberland shared their first-hand experiences with managing vehicle fleets powered by propane autogas and the subsequent savings they have experienced.

“From the time of purchase to the retirement of a vehicle, using propane autogas shows its advantages through less time spent on maintenance, reduced fuel costs, and more time spent on the road,” Perkins said. “In comparison to other fuels, propane has more flexible refueling options and requires no emissions-reduction equipment.”

Work trucks, vans

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. used the Show to unveil its 2018 FTR Class 6 medium-duty truck to a huge crowd. The F-Series truck is slated to go into production in the United States in mid-2017. The FTR will be powered by Isuzu’s 4HK1-TC 5.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine — a first in the segment.

“As the adult population grows and as people move to urban centers, there will be an increasing need for delivery trucks that can carry a lot of cargo, but at the same time be fuel efficient, maneuverable, environmentally friendly, and that offer a low cost of ownership,” Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America.

General Motors Fleet announced that the 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel engine will be offered in 2017i MY Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Cargo and Passenger vans. Start of production will begin in the first quarter of 2017 (calendar year). This is the same diesel engine that is used in the Chevrolet Colorado that was named the 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. This option will give business owners and fleet managers the ability to benefit from increased fuel economy in a traditional body on frame van. 

In addition, the 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel will be offered with an 8-speed transmission and will be available on long and short wheel base models in 2500 and 3500, cargo and passenger vans. This is the first small diesel engine that is offered in a traditional, body on frame, full size van.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. debuted its prototype FUSO E-CELL all-electric truck and gave attendees the first opportunity to drive it in North America as part of the show’s Ride-and-Drive.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. noted that its parent company, Daimler Trucks Asia/Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. is in development of a new all-electric, battery-powered FUSO Canter FE-Series medium-duty cabover work truck. A year of in-use training has demonstrated that FUSO E-Cell trucks can generate a 64% savings in operating costs compared to an equivalent diesel-powered vehicle in the same service. Not only did the eight test vehicles produce operating cost savings, but they also produced zero CO₂ or other tailpipe emissions.

Ford delivers again with the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty — F-350, F-450 and F-550 — chassis cab lineup — optimized to help commercial customers be more productive on the job.

Its best-in-class front gross axle weight rating of up to 7,500 pounds — 250 pounds better than the closest competitor — supports vocational body upfits, and features a best-in-class gross combined weight rating of up to 40,000 pounds — the combined weight of the truck and everything it can haul and tow — for both truck and trailer. That’s the equivalent of half the maximum gross combined weight rating of an 18-wheeler semi on most U.S. federal highways.

The Super Duty also features 330 horsepower and 750 lb.-ft. of torque from second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel, the best-ever ratings for Class 4 and Class 5 Super Duty chassis cab.

Ram announced that its 2016 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks will answer the call of flexibility by offering the most Power Take-off (PTO) options. New for 2016, Ram Chassis Cab trucks feature PTO capability: right and left sides; 4x4 and 4x2; and 6.4-liter HEMI gas or 6.7-liter Cummins diesel. Ram’s 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 gas engine uses four cylinder mode, while its “Fuel Saver Technology” in the 6-4 HEMI creates greater efficiencies while on a jobsite with the ability to run a compressor and generator simultaneously off the PTO.

Navigation and more

Built from the ground-up with the needs of commercial drivers in mind, Telogis Navigation — Global Edition (GE), from Telogis, Inc., provides the necessary directions and information to make more informed, safe and efficient decisions behind the wheel. Telogis Navigation has been optimized for iOS on iPhone and iPad and is available today in the App Store.

Current users of Telogis Navigation make up a network of nearly 150,000 professional commercial drivers who use the feedback function within the application to update information on road conditions, tips and exceptions. Feedback from the network is processed in real time to provide the most current and accurate truck-specific navigation with the goal of keeping drivers safer and more well-informed.

Reading Truck Body LLC’s aluminum Classic Service Van (CSV) 72, which was displayed on a Ford Transit, features optional roll-up doors available for the front compartments and rear cargo door area. The aluminum CSV also is equipped with exclusive Reading features such as Dual-Pro door seals, stainless steel SMART Latch rotary paddle locks and patented hinges.