Fleet managers have a hard-enough time juggling the daily needs of a transportation company. That\u2019s why they occasionally need a how-to on the best way to spec equipment or decide on the best approach to procurement. Recently we looked at how to spec a transmission, but there is more to the powertrain than just shifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Fleet managers have a hard-enough time juggling the daily needs of a transportation company. That\u2019s why they occasionally need a how-to on the best way to spec equipment or decide on the best approach to procurement. Recently we looked at how to spec a transmission, but there is more to the powertrain than just shifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Decide Which\nEngine To Pair With Your Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, it could be argued that the engine is the single\nmost important part of the powertrain. Without it, the truck doesn\u2019t move, and\nthe job does not get done. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all\nsolution to determining what engine you should choose. There are different\nvocations and duty cycles to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even more, without the right engine and transmission combo,\na truck might find itself overworked and fleet technicians may find themselves\ncompleting far more reactive maintenance on the vehicle than should otherwise\nbe necessary. On the flipside, the truck could potentially be underworked \u2013 in\nother words, your bottom line will suffer because you spent money on equipment\nthat you didn\u2019t actually need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is choosing the powertrain that is perfect for the\njob. Selecting the right combination is very important. There are a dozen or so\nfactors that fleet procurement managers must consider when they are setting\nabout the task of figuring out the right powertrain for the right application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Application is Key<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step in ensuring you get your powertrain combo\nright is to consider the application the equipment will be operating in.\nFactors that should be considered include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some transmissions have specific operating condition\nlimitations. So, maximum grade and road conditions can help determine what\ntorque and gearing are necessary. It is critical to consider what the truck\nwill be hauling and how heavy the load will be. How fast will your truck\ndrivers be driving, and will they be expecting inclement weather or other road\nhazards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific variables like these must be taken into\nconsideration when figuring out how much power should be sent to the wheels and\nwhat the axle ratio should be. As one example of a potential way this can be\napproached is to consider smaller displacement to save on weight. Once you have\nconsidered application, it is time to look at drivability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it Drivable?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be thinking, \u201cWhat is drivability?\u201d A vehicle\u2019s\ndrivability refers to the smoothness of the vehicle\u2019s operation. Is there\nvibration in the seat? Does the vehicle maneuver well? These may not seem like\nthey have anything to do with the powertrain, but in fact, they do. Duty cycle\nand application set the direction on how a powertrain should be spec\u2019d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether it be through smoother shifting or the ability to\nproceed forward slowly \u2013 such as for utility applications \u2013 the powertrain\nshould supplement these efforts, especially if there is a critical safety\nfactor at stake. As one example, some trucks may have to operate in curb work\napplications. Conversely, for fire trucks, they need to be able to offer quick\nand smooth acceleration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other situations, such as high stop and start scenarios,\nclutch wear and truck driver fatigue must be considered. While automated manual\ntransmissions (AMTs) have a clutch, they don\u2019t face the same wear-and-tear\nproblems that traditional clutch-driven manual transmissions do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Transmission Types<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While we are discussing transmissions, it is important to\ncover the choices related to transmission type. It is important that the\napplication the transmission will be operating in matches the design, truck\ndriver experience levels, the required power and torque for the application,\nand more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Automation is great for just about any truck driver. Even\ntruck drivers who are experienced with manual transmissions may enjoy the\nease-of-use that automation provides. AMT transmissions help reduce truck\ndriver fatigue and potential distraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, a change in fleet attitudes towards transmissions\nhas caused a major industry shift. Many fleet managers will now tell you that\nit is far harder to find a manual transmission than it used to be. A large\npercentage of fleets have already made the transition to AMT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examining Drive Types\nand Axle Ratios<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After a motor carrier has decided on the transmission it\nwill pair with their engine choice, it is important to decide on whether they\nwant direct drive or overdrive. Overdrive varieties have historically been the\ngo-to decision, simply because there were few direct drive manuals and a\nlimited axle ratio, but the AMT has changed all that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, fleets can easily find AMTs that offer both direct\ndrive and overdrive varieties. And since a direct drive transmission is a bit\nmore fuel efficient than an overdrive transmission, fleets are increasingly\nmaking the switch. Axle OEMs have also been introducing new ratios, so direct\ndrive powertrains can still maintain their high level of efficiency without\nmaking performance sacrifices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of axles, the rear-axle ratio must be considered\nwhen selecting a powertrain. Lower numerical axle ratios are generally selected\nwhen a vehicle has a direct drive transmission. Overdrive layouts typically\ncome with higher numerical axle ratios. The powertrain choice bears a direct\nimpact on cruise speed and top gear time, so a tailored solution is required to\nensure you are getting the most out of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is the Cost of\nOwnership?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While performance factors are probably the most important,\nanother important consideration \u2013 especially for budget-minded fleet\nprocurement managers \u2013 is the total cost of ownership they can expect in a particular\npowertrain combo. While purchase price is important, it is only one factor in\nthe equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responsible fleets must also consider fuel economy,\nmaintenance, resale value, and potential repair costs. Looking at these factors\ncould be the critical deciding factor on what equipment is right for the job.\nThe application the vehicle will be operating in is also an important\nconsideration where total cost of ownership is concerned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If it has not already become apparent, application is\ncritical to just about every factor regarding powertrain selection. Knowing the\napplication will allow you to pay for only what you need, while ensuring\nperformance does not suffer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, a proper understanding of a piece of equipment\u2019s total cost of ownership will help determine which engine\/transmission combo should be purchased. It will prevent needless tradeoffs between performance, safety, and efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly every fleet manager is faced with a similar problem:\nIncreasing efficiency while decreasing overall costs. In the hustle-and-bustle\nof being more efficient and effective, fleet managers must not forget that\nmachinery purchases are much like real estate purchases. Making a large\npurchase is all about timing, and what may seem like a good idea today may not\nnecessarily be a good idea tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Equipment combos that require a lot of maintenance eat into\ntotal cost of ownership. Trucks that don\u2019t handle the duty cycle well because\nof bad procurement choices break down prematurely and weigh heavily on a motor\ncarrier\u2019s bottom line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Performance Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In discussing total cost of ownership, another factor is the\npriority you place on performance or economy. While truck drivers enjoy\noperating vehicles that perform, fleet managers look at fuel economy and\nefficiency as their top concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If fuel economy is the priority, then you may want to select\na down-sped or low RPM cruise powertrain. If you have top performance on the\nmind, then a traditional power curve powertrain will be your best bet. Again,\nit is important to consider application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are operating a snowplow truck, a high-numerical gear\nratio will ensure that the vehicle does not suffer performance loss at low\nspeeds, but also remains stable and startable in cold weather. Conversely, if\nthe vehicle is operating in a situation where maximum fuel\neconomy is preferred, a lower gear ratio is better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Most Important\nPerson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In all this discussion of equipment, fuel economy,\nperformance, and safety, it is critical that we do not forget the most\nimportant part of the truck: the truck driver. Choosing the right powertrain is\nvital to ensuring your truck drivers remain happy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, providing engine\/transmission combinations that are\neasy to operate allow proper control of a vehicle and prevent the truck driver\nfrom becoming overly stressed out. The skills of those operating the vehicle\nshould also be taken into consideration. New truck drivers may not be as apt as\nexperienced truckers, so powertrains that don\u2019t require as much from them\nshould be considered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, with car OEMs continuing to eliminate manual transmissions from their lineups, trucking OEMs are following suit. Staying on top of the trend while also keeping truck driver comfort in mind can go a long way to ensuring you make the right choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact is, your entire operation is riding on your\npowertrain. The engine\/transmission combo is the most important spec that goes\ninto a truck. Get it wrong, and you may find yourself spending way more time,\nmoney, and effort on problems that could have been prevented from the outset. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[wp_ad_camp_2]<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n [wp_ad_camp_2]<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n