Future Truck Position Papers

Recent advancements in sensor technology are enabling real-time monitoring of system performance and readiness in heavy-duty vehicles. ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Coun- cil (TMC) recommends that manufacturers leverage this new technology to develop a more accurate means of identifying slow leaks in air brake lines; thus improving driver awareness of developing brake system failures, and reducing the frequency and severity of thermal in-cidents (i.e., truck fires).

Issued: May 2018

With the rising demand for improvements in efficiency and power availability, efforts are underway to incorporate higher voltages into the electrical systems of heavy-duty commercial motor vehicles. Throughout this effort, it is important that safety, reliability, and compatibility with equipment currently in use, be maintained. This paper, developed by TMC’s Electrical/ Electronic Systems Task Force, under the auspices of the Council’s Future Truck Committee, serves to further outline these expectations.

Issued: December 2017

The Future Tire Durability and Reliability Task Force — working under the auspices of TMC's Future Truck Committee — was tasked with exploring and identifying key factors related to the adoption of zero-pressure tires in commercial transportation service. Accordingly,the Task Force developed this position paper to define future features and expectations forzero pressure commercial tires in terms of product performance, maintainability, reliability, durability, serviceability, environmental and educational issues.

Significant opportunities exist to collect or harvest energy using systems or technology on the trailer for improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle combination. Two such sources, solarenergy collection and regenerative braking are being investigated in earnest and are in the early stages of commercial development. The purpose of this paper is to facilitate increasedperformance and energy efficiency for trailers.

Today’s heavy-duty truck manufacturers are increasing their focus on more efficient manage- ment of all types of energy in commercial vehicle (e.g., combination vehicle, straight truck, etc.). This position paper explores industry efforts at attaining alternate energy sources and what steps should be taken to implement such alternatives successfully for commercial vehicle operations.

Issued: January 2017

The development and introduction of automated vehicle technology has sparked great interest within the trucking industry. Developed by TMC’s Automated Driving and Platooning Task Force under the auspices of the Council’s Future Truck Committee, this Position Paper offers several recommendations regarding the development and implementation of automated driving and platooning systems. It should not be viewed as an endorsement of automated driving and platooning systems.

Issued: December 2015

The issue of driver distraction in Class 7-8 commercial vehicles has two major components. First, the vehicle often contains multiple information/warning devices and systems which can be confusing and distracting. Second, interactive electronic devices and systems can be added or brought into the driver compartment. The compounding effect of excessive informa- tion, warnings and alarms within the interactive electronic devices can result in high levels of driver distraction.

Vehicle crashes are greatly impacted by a driver’s knowledge of what exists around his or her vehicle. The term “360° Driver Awareness” describes technologies and devices that improve safety by increasing a driver’s knowledge of what is around his or her vehicle. This paper serves as a request for manufacturers and suppliers to share their plans for products that will be marketed within the next 10 years (or as soon as possible) to allow equipment users to better assess and implement the technology in their operations.

Traditional methods for both pre- and post-trip inspections have existed for decades with few changes or improvements. Traditional tools and technology limit inspection effectiveness, add time to both the inspection and reporting, and contribute to the potential for errors and miscommunication of the resulting data. This paper explores technologies that may increasethe efficiency of pre- and post-trip trailer inspections and provides a vision for future development of technologies and systems for that purpose.

Issued: July 2014

Users of light- and medium-duty vehicles (LMVs) have similar expectations for future equip- ment as do users of heavy-duty vehicles when it comes to matters of performance, maintain- ability, durability, reliability and serviceability. Those expectations are outlined in other TMC Future Truck Position papers concerning tires, wheels and retread/repair issues. However, LMV users do have some very unique operational circumstances that suppliers and manu-facturers should consider. This paper will outline these unique needs as identified by TMC’sFuture LMV Task Force.