FR8Star Blog

Western Star’s all-new 57X on-highway truck is the most fuel-efficient truck the company has ever built, according to parent company Daimler Truck. The 57X follows the 49X (released in 2020) and the 47X (released in 2021) in Western Star’s X-Series, complementing the vocational models with a design based on the latest Detroit powertrains to maximize highway performance and fuel economy.

Volvo Trucks will have its first-generation all-electric Volvo VNR Electric 4×2 tractor and bestselling Volvo VNL 760 on hand at the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA’s) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) 2022 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition. The ATA says the event, which takes place March 7 to 10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is 2022’s most important event for fleet technology and maintenance management professionals. Volvo is one of more than 380 planned exhibitors at the show; the manufacturer will also display a cutaway of its latest-generation D13TC (Turbo Compound) engine and the new Volvo VNR Electric motor.

Kenworth recently announced a new lineup of conventional trucks that range from Class 5 to Class 8. The truck maker’s new T380 and T480 were part of the reveal; both trucks come in a vocational variant (the T380V and T480V) that is equipped with a vocational hood for customers requiring FEPTO (front-engine power take-off), full parent rails, and a fixed grille. They are also available with 4×4 or 6×6 drivetrains.

FR8Star has been hard at work making updates and adding new features to continue to meet the needs of transporters and customers alike. Here’s a look at some of the updates so far in 2021.

Volvo Trucks customers with Remote Programming/Remote Diagnostics coverage now have unlimited parameter updates for as long as they have coverage. Volvo’s Uptime Services are free for two years with the purchase of a new vehicle, but customers can also opt for extended coverage or renew their subscription for an additional cost.

According to Great Dane, its Freedom XP (FXP) trailers have three things that are “must-haves” for flatbeds: they are lightweight, durable, high-performance flatbeds. But the FXP is also highly customizable with several suspension, coil, load securement, bulkhead, and rear-end options available to tailor it to the specific needs of a given application. Here’s a closer look at the Great Dane FXP flatbed trailer.

Peterbilt recently introduced the latest iteration of its Model 579, which the company is saying is the most technologically advanced truck it has ever produced. As evidence of that, the manufacturer points to the 15-inch Digital Dash Display, the smart steering wheel, and Bluetooth microphone, as well as the suite of standard driver safety and assistance systems, including collision mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and more.

Utility Trailer recently introduced a new 7-inch (17.8-centimeter) rear impact guard that will be standard on all of its trailers going forward, including curtainside, dry van, flatbed, and reefer models. It’s also possible to add the new guard to any model produced after 2002 as long as it has the 7-in.-deep horizontal Interstate Commerce Commission bumper. The new rear impact guard was also given a TUFF Guard award for eliminating underride in the organization’s full-width, 50% overlap, and 30% overlap tests.

Hot shot trucking is an excellent hauling option when you need express delivery. Typical hot shot freight is often an individual machine, raw materials, or cargo critical to productivity and maintaining service, such as equipment or parts vital to completing construction and agriculture jobs. By enlisting the services of a hot shot trucker, companies can avoid costly downtime and receive the desperately needed products in the fastest manner possible. FR8Star streamlines the process of finding drivers of all kinds, including those who specialize in hot shot trucking. With a network of reputable drivers boasting the right trucks and trailers, FR8Star is a fast and secure way to find an operator who can haul the hot shot load at a moment’s notice.

Mack recently held a virtual event attended by more than 300 customers and dealers that focused on the MD Series, complete with an opportunity to ask Mack executives questions about the new medium-duty truck family that entered fully production on September 1. (Photo courtesy of Mack Trucks.)