Author: Erica Burke

Auto Truck Group was recently awarded ship-thru capability for the RAM ProMaster Van. Under this arrangement, fleets and dealers can use the ship-thru code 99783A for Auto Truck Group ship-thru at the RAM ProMaster Van assembly plant in Saltillo, Mexico. Auto Truck has already been awarded ship-thru for the ProMaster cab chassis and cutaway, and currently has ProMaster vans available in the company’s pool. www.autotruck.com

Action Truck Parts and Vantage Parts and Service have joined the VIPAR Heavy Duty network of distributors as stockholders.

Action Truck Parts (www.actiontrkparts.com), a full-line distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer components based in Bolingbrook, Ill., has been serving the greater Chicago area market for the past eight years.

Vantage Parts and Service (www.vpsllc.net), an independent heavy-duty warehouse distribution company based in Anchorage, Alaska, offers a complete selection of parts and service for Class 6 through 8 trucks and tractor-trailers.

VIPAR is North America’s leading network of independent aftermarket truck parts distributors serving the needs of customers from more than 500 locations across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. www.vipar.com

Zonar, the leading provider of electronic vehicle inspection and fleet telematics systems, has released the V3R telematics platform for work truck fleets and construction equipment. The V3R provides powerful vehicle tracking combined with operating information for vehicles that work in harsh conditions including dirt, mud, ice, sand and rain. The V3R features a durable hard casing designed to withstand the harsh shaking and shocking inherent with rough terrains. This easy-to-install GPS device meets the IP67 and IP69K ratings, making it not only dust tight, but able to withstand high-pressure and steam cleaning. The sealed watertight connectors ensure reliable connectivity with the vehicle under all weather conditions. This rugged device can endure temperatures from 40 below zero to 85 degrees Celsius and will function properly in environments with up to 95 percent humidity. www.zonarsystems.com

Sensata Technologies has released a new line of Dimensions brand inverter chargers. The pure sine product is known as the NP Series, with many new features and design improvements. The units are available in 12VDC, 24VDC and 48VDC input with AC output power ranging from 1,000 to 3,600 watts. The power factor-corrected charger puts out 60 to 150 amps DC depending on the model. Most models are UL/cUL 458 listed and feature easy-to-use DC and AC connections. These units pack a lot of power in a relatively small-sized footprint in two chassis sizes, and retain their cool with a processor-controlled variable speed fan. www.dimensions.sensata.com

GreenRoad announced new features including RFID-based driver identification real-time email alerts and an enhanced interface for GreenRoad Smartphone Edition. GreenRoad’s new RFID feature automates driver association with trips by detecting when a driver boards a vehicle, eliminating the need for drivers to log on with a Dallas key. GreenRoad Smartphone Edition has been enhanced with Facebook integration that allows drivers to share their achievements with friends. GreenRoad Smartphone Edition, code-named “Asimov,” uses smartphone native functionality, including GPS and built-in accelerometers, to eliminate the need for a professionally installed telematics device in the vehicle. A new version of GreenRoad Central, the software at the heart of the GreenRoad service, features real-time alerts for exception events including high-risk events in all driver behavior categories and speed violations. In addition to receiving email alerts in real time, managers can view their alerts on a to-do list through GreenRoad Central. www.greenroad.com

BettsHD, a leader in spray suppression products, has received the prestigious PACCAR 50 PPM Quality Award for the second year in a row. This marks the third time BettsHD has garnered the award, which is presented to an elite group of suppliers who have met the OEM’s quality expectation of fewer than 50 parts per million (ppm) in quality defects. Betts earned the distinction by lowering ppm to zero at its heavy-duty component manufacturing facility in Fresno, Calif., where the company’s lineup of spray suppression products is produced. BettsHD-branded spray suppression products and other proprietary components are manufactured to PACCAR specifications. www.bettshd.com

The 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup truck arrives at dealers this year with the best V-8 pickup fuel economy in the industry. Sierra’s new 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 uses direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and variable valve timing to achieve EPA estimates of 16 mpg city and 23 highway with two-wheel drive, or 16/22 with four-wheel drive. In addition to highway estimates that are 2 mpg higher than a comparable 2013 Ford V-8 pickup and 3 mpg higher than a Ram V-8, Sierra’s new V-8 fuel economy estimates also measure higher than those of the 2013 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6. www.gm.com

The Doosan P125WJDU utility air compressor is equipped with a separate gear set on the airend that offers a convenient auxiliary drive option. This handy feature allows operators to use the auxiliary drive for hydraulics and other applications, such as paint striping, with the flip of a switch. The P125WJDU is powered by a Tier 4i-compliant John Deere 49-horsepower diesel engine with a free-air delivery of 125 cfm and a rated operating pressure of 100 psig. The P125WJDU can be customized with the first-ever remote control panel: a full instrument panel with a four-in-one gauge that displays discharge air temperature, engine oil pressure, engine temperature and a voltmeter, plus a no-fuel-tank option. The compressor weighs 1,950 pounds without fuel. www.doosanportablepower.com

GPSTrackIt has developed an instant alert device that can attach to a driver’s key ring. If a driver is in trouble, help can be on the way with the touch of a button. The device works in a similar fashion to an electronic key: It’s a small plastic box with a single button on it. The driver can carry it on their key chain, so assistance can be called even if they’re not with the vehicle. When the button on the device is depressed, it sends a signal wirelessly to a receiver connected to the tracking device in the vehicle. The instant alert device has a range of up to 500 feet.

All About Computers has released a version of FleetWise VB Fleet Maintenance Software offering many new features including advanced preventive maintenance schedules, enhanced repair order system and inventory control module. Many new advanced management reports are available to provide complete fleet analysis. The new release of FleetWise VB also includes a completely new safety module that schedules safety inspections of facilities. A full history of all completed inspections is tracked. The module is also available as new standalone program SafetyWise VB. FleetWise VB and SafetyWise VB use the Microsoft SQL Server database. Single-user and network versions are available. The software is completely compatible with Windows XP through Windows 8. www.fleetwisevb.com