Industry News - October, 2020 | Supply Post - Canada's #1 Heavy Construction Equipment & Commercial Truck Newspaper

Inland Opens New Fort St. John Facility at Existing Location

Inland has announced they have completed construction on their new Fort St. John facility. Built on the existing 8.5-acre property located at 10611 Finning Frontage Road, the new facility is more than double the previous building size, sitting at 84,000 sq. ft.
The larger facility contains 25 service bays which will operate on heavy-duty trucks and equipment and two wash bays. The parts department boasts 28,000 sq. ft allowing for a spacious retail display area and a well-stocked parts warehouse.
The Fort St. John service department is equipped with a frame straightening bay for trucks and trailers, full truck and equipment service for maintenance and repair work, fabrication, full rig ups, and mobile service trucks for on-site service.
This investment represents Inland’s commitment to Fort St. John’s trucking, forestry, construction, utilities, and mining industries. Inland Fort St. John offers new and used heavy-duty trucks and equipment as well as complete business support through parts, service, and financing.
“The new facility allows for a better, more efficient workflow,” said Boyd McConnachie, VP of Business Development at Inland. “This means we can better serve our customers, in a faster more effective manner, which allows them to get back to their business sooner. At Inland we take pride in the fact that we consistently reinvest in our business and believe this strategy has provided and will continue to provide all stakeholders with an improved experience.”
Construction alongside the previous facility began in June 2019. In January 2020, the business moved into the new building to demolish the previous one, and now the new facility is fully ready.
“We would like to thank our customers and employees for their patience during the construction process,” said Jaret Pieper, General Manager of Inland’s Fort St. John dealership. “One of the many things we’re excited for is better showcasing our product lines in the yard, which makes for a more engaging customer experience.”

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Oct 23, 2020 - 4 years ago

Prebooking Of Volvo CE's Electric Machines Expanded

Prebooking of Volvo CE's Electric Machines Expanded

Seven additional European nations join the list of countries where Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) customers can prebook one of the new electric compact machines via an online portal.
From October 14th customers in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, and Switzerland will join other European countries and North America in being able to reserve a place in the production queue for the new ECR25 Electric compact excavator and L25 Electric compact wheel loader. With zero exhaust emissions and low noise levels and vibrations, these machines are the perfect choice for inner-city jobsites or any sensitive work environment. They provide lower maintenance levels, improved operator comfort and the ability to meet stringent environmental and noise regulations.
“The online pre-booking tool is a new approach which targets the early adopters of electric machines and identifies new customer segments. We are now making this platform available to an even wider customer base,” explains Carl Slotte, Head of Sales Region Europe, Volvo CE. “One of our main priorities is the customer experience and we want to stay up-to-date with new technologies that will streamline our processes and aid our customers and sales teams. We look forward to hearing what our customers think.”

Expanding The Customer Base
By registering on the prebooking tool, customers will be able to reserve a place in the production queue for the electric machines. After this, customers will then be informed that they have been cleared to place an actual order for the machines. The first deliveries of the electric compact machines to customers in these countries will commence at the beginning of 2021.
The online portal has been conceived to expand the opportunities for customers to buy one of these machines and to broaden the way these machines are used by customers. It is being managed in collaboration with local dealers.

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Oct 22, 2020 - 4 years ago

Mentors And Mentor Companies Play Key Role In Training New Drivers

The BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) is currently working with training providers to offer comprehensive quality industry recognized training based on the Professional Log Truck Driver Program and the Wood Fibre Hauling Safety Group (WFHSG) Driver program. These industry training programs are built to support the development of competent drivers and include a four to six week mentorship providing students with practical driving skills which support the knowledge component from their course instruction.
Both the mentoring companies and mentors play a key role in the training and professional development of new drivers. There is no substitute for the knowledge and skills that can be learned from an experienced driver, and the success of training relies on the participation of experienced industry drivers mentoring new ones. Companies willing to mentor new drivers understand the need for comprehensive training as shown by their commitment to these mentorship-based programs that focus on creating safe, professional drivers.
Mentors have unique competencies and are willing to work with a student and assist them in obtaining the necessary practical skills built from the knowledge and attributes learned from course instruction. While there are many highly skilled and knowledgeable Professional drivers out there, mentoring a new driver requires an additional and unique set of competencies combined with a willingness to share their cab with a student.

Mentors should possess:

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Oct 21, 2020 - 4 years ago

Automation Advances Productivity Of Cone Crushers

If you’re thinking about investing in a new cone crusher you can expect a significant increase in productivity, even with less skilled operators. “With old-school cone crushers, it all came down to the experience of the operator,” said Wayne van Antwerpen, crusher technology product manager for Terex Materials Processing. “They can tell when the machine is not crushing effectively, even by the sound of the cone crushing. They read the dials, checked the product, and made necessary adjustments. Today automation does all that for the operator.” According to van Antwerpen, “Experienced operators will typically get the cone to crush at about 75 percent of peak performance, but when utilizing automation, the cone’s performance moves up to about 75-90 percent of peak.”
“Automation ensures the best possible performance,” said Vincent Celsi, vice president of crushers for Metso Outotec. In Metso’s MX cone crusher line, settings are automatically adjusted based on load conditions, which improves the utilization of wear parts as well as worker safety. Overloading of the crusher is prevented by controlling the setting, power and pressure.
Cone crushers typically work in a secondary, tertiary or quaternary crushing role, reducing the size and shape of rocks in the downstream of a crushing circuit. They reduce the material in a crushing cavity by continuous compression between a fixed element (bowl liner) and a moving element (mantle). An eccentric swinging movement produces a force strong enough to crush the rocks.
“The main advantage of cone crushers is the ability to process big tonnages at a very efficient operational cost,” said Vincent Celsi, vice president of crushers for Metso Outotec.

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Oct 21, 2020 - 4 years ago

Kenworth W990 Becomes Long-Hood Truck Of The Future for Pocock Trucking

Kenworth W990

When Kenworth unveiled its new long-hood, the Kenworth W990 in 2018, it didn’t take long for John Pocock to schedule a meeting with Sam Moss, Kenworth Sales Company – Idaho Falls new truck salesman to place an order.
“Kenworth trucks, primarily Kenworth long-hood tractors, have been a part of our operation for years,” said Pocock, who owns Pocock Trucking. “The traditional look of the long-hood has played a role in establishing our company brand and how we’re perceived by our customers. Plus, our drivers enjoy operating them. Kenworth produces high quality trucks. When Kenworth announced that they were coming out with the Kenworth W990, I knew it could only be an improved version of its predecessor. Kenworth’s reputation solidified my decision in transitioning to the new truck.”
For Pocock, his experience with Kenworth began when he drove a Kenworth for his father, John S. Pocock, who previously owned the company. The behind the wheel experience played a role in Pocock Trucking’s continued relationship with Kenworth.
“My dad started Pocock Trucking in 1979 and, in 1985, I started driving for him,” Pocock recalled. “I drove a Kenworth cabover, making deliveries throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho pulling hopper bottom doubles to deliver fertilizer, potatoes and coal. That’s when my appreciation for the quality of trucks that Kenworth produces began to build, and as our company continued to grow, so did our fleet of Kenworths.”
Today, the Sugar City, Idaho-based bulk hauling company specializes in delivering fertilizer, grain, wheat, potatoes, road salt and other bulk commodities in the lower 48 states and in Canada. Pocock Trucking operates 32 company-owned trucks and has contracts with 40 owner-operators. The fleet is primarily made up of Kenworth long hoods, including eight 76-inch mid-roof Kenworth W990s and one 52-inch mid-roof Kenworth W990 -- all spec’d with PACCAR MX-13 engines rated at 510 hp, 1,850 lb.-ft of torque and 18-speed transmissions. Pocock Trucking currently has two more 76-inch mid-roof Kenworth W990s on order.

Kenworth W990
“We’ve been placing Kenworth truck orders with Sam at Kenworth Sales Company for years now,” said Pocock. “He knows our operation well. When we need a truck, he knows exactly what we need and how to spec it out. He’s become a good friend and a great asset for our operation.”
According to Pocock, when PACCAR began offering the PACCAR MX-13 engine with a rating of 510 hp in 2016, the power was exactly what the company had been waiting for. It’s become the engine of choice for Pocock Trucking. “Since we haul up to 120,000 lb. GCW, we need that extra horsepower,” said Pocock. “It’s been a great engine for us, and it’s reliable.”
The company’s Kenworth trucks typically average 145,000 miles per year and are traded into Kenworth Sales Company – Idaho Falls around 600,000 miles to ensure drivers are always in new equipment, according to Pocock.
“Driver retention is big for us,” said Pocock. “We let some of our senior drivers choose which truck make and model they want us to purchase. We want our drivers to be comfortable and happy with what they’re driving. The way our fleet is made up, the majority of our drivers tend to go with Kenworth long hoods. I believe allowing drivers to choose what trucks they drive helps us reduce our driver turnover.”
According to Pocock, all of the fleet’s 76-inch mid-roof Kenworth W990s feature the W990 Limited Edition interior, which comes in midnight black with glossy Ravenwood door and dash trim accents. The special interior features rich black leather, embroidered W990 logo, Royal Blue double-stitched diamond door pads, black leather wrapped steering wheel with Royal Blue stitching, and driver and passenger seats with suede charcoal inserts and perforated leather with Royal Blue backing.
“Our drivers love the creature comforts and latest technology features in the cabs of Kenworth trucks,” said Pocock. “Our goal is to always provide our drivers with the highest quality equipment and driver comforts. It’s one of the main reasons our driver turnover is so low.”

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Oct 21, 2020 - 4 years ago

John Deere Improves Fuel Burn, Boosts Productivity With New E-II Articulated Dump Trucks

New John Deere E-II Articulated Dump Trucks

Designed with the demands of today’s job site in mind, John Deere introduces the new E-II Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs). The models, including the 410E-II and 460E-II, incorporate customer-driven features, resulting in greater operator comfort, reduced fuel burn, increased uptime and lowered daily operating costs. With a redesigned dump body, updated operator station, and new drive and transmission retarder modes, the John Deere-designed and -built E-II models deliver ultimate productivity on the job.
“All of our ADTs are proudly designed and built by John Deere in Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa. The new E-II trucks combine the most popular features of the E-Series line with customer-driven performance and operation enhancements, resulting in a machine that is easier and more cost-effective to operate,” said Cory Ouellette, product marketing manager, ADTs, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “With the three standard drive modes, new body design, operator station enhancements and improved fuel burn, the E-II Series trucks provide customers with a reliable and durable, yet easy-to-operate, solution that positively impacts their operation and their bottom line.”
A key feature on the E-II machines is the redesigned dump body, which is wider and has a lowered and leveled rail height to improve material retention. A brand-new side sheet design makes the load height the same from front to back, while the widened bin provides additional tire coverage and easier loading. Additionally, the bin rail features an angled top, helping to reduce material spillage while traveling.

New John Deere E-II Articulated Dump Trucks
The updated operator station on the E-II models increases ease of use, productivity and all-around comfort. One of the most notable features is the single sealed switch module, reducing the number of switches by 25% compared to the previous models. An automotive-style multifunction turn signal lever includes lights and windshield wipers, further helping to simplify truck settings without limiting functionality. The new primary display unit provides a clear display of daily operation and enhanced diagnostic information. Other comfort-boosting features include the relocated HVAC controls for easy access to the temperature settings, optional Automatic Temperature Control feature, and a heated and ventilated premium seat option. Customers can also add the seat belt minder system, which includes a green beacon light outside the truck, providing confirmation that the seat belt is fastened. An optional four-point retractable seat belt harness is also available on all models.
The three standard drive modes — Normal, Eco and Traction — help to optimize the drivetrain and reduce inputs from the operator. The Normal mode provides the same great features found on the E-Series, while reducing fuel burn by up to 7% compared to the existing models. With Eco mode, the system reduces fuel consumption by smoothing throttle input and reducing maximum rpm. When conditions allow, Eco mode can improve fuel consumption by up to 12% compared to E-II Normal mode. The Traction mode helps the operator to maintain tire traction in soft underfoot conditions, automatically engaging the differential lock to minimize wheel spinning, and increases traction. To improve the function of the automatic differential locks, new wheel speed sensors have been added, enhancing the accuracy of engagement.

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Oct 21, 2020 - 4 years ago

Industry News - October, 2020

Inland Opens New Fort St. John Facility at Existing Location

Prebooking Of Volvo CE's Electric Machines Expanded

Mentors And Mentor Companies Play Key Role In Training New Drivers

Automation Advances Productivity Of Cone Crushers

Kenworth W990 Becomes Long-Hood Truck Of The Future for Pocock Trucking

John Deere Improves Fuel Burn, Boosts Productivity With New E-II Articulated Dump Trucks

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