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DaddySatyr -> New Technology (3/4/2014 10:43:34 PM)
Call me crazy (and I haven't driven a truck in years) but I like this. Please read the article as it is not the typical yahoo fair where the text merely mirrors the video.

MasterCaneman -> RE: New Technology (3/4/2014 10:52:56 PM)
It looks cool, but concept vehicles usually have that factor dialled-in. I can see the center position as both a safety feature and a means to keep truckers from taking lot-lizards along for the ride (sorry, but it's true). And the use of carbon-fiber is impressive in weight savings. My only real question is, how long would this thing handle what a 'real' truck goes through during the course of its service life? Dings, dents, scrapes, bad backups, the usual wear and tear on a piece of a equipment like that. On a side note, the driver's view looks like the Millennium Falcon to me.

blacksword404 -> RE: New Technology (3/4/2014 11:24:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman It looks cool, but concept vehicles usually have that factor dialled-in. I can see the center position as both a safety feature and a means to keep truckers from taking lot-lizards along for the ride (sorry, but it's true). And the use of carbon-fiber is impressive in weight savings. My only real question is, how long would this thing handle what a 'real' truck goes through during the course of its service life? Dings, dents, scrapes, bad backups, the usual wear and tear on a piece of a equipment like that. On a side note, the driver's view looks like the Millennium Falcon to me. The truck is next to worthless. It will cost too much. It has no room. What about husband and wife teams? And new things a hard to find parts for. And expensive once you do. Few people would touch something like this until it's been tested. By tested I mean driven up and down the road for 15 years. Shown to be reliable. 98% of Owner operaters won't go near a truck like that. But I'm sure you have a couple of brave souls who would.

blacksword404 -> RE: New Technology (3/4/2014 11:27:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman It looks cool, but concept vehicles usually have that factor dialled-in. I can see the center position as both a safety feature and a means to keep truckers from taking lot-lizards along for the ride (sorry, but it's true). And the use of carbon-fiber is impressive in weight savings. My only real question is, how long would this thing handle what a 'real' truck goes through during the course of its service life? Dings, dents, scrapes, bad backups, the usual wear and tear on a piece of a equipment like that. On a side note, the driver's view looks like the Millennium Falcon to me. Drivers don't take lot lizards for rides. Rides to where?

jlf1961 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 5:06:57 AM)
The truck reminds me of this. And, it is the latest of a bunch of recent concept trucks. Pacar has done concepts for both KW and Peterbilt, as have Volvo, Navstar and Frieghtliner. All of which feature cutting edge technology that looks great, but there is no infrastructure in place to support it. I figure by the time all of these designs are tweaked, congress is going to come up with some reason to stall implementation.

freedomdwarf1 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 5:36:30 AM)
What I find amusing is this - "The streamlined AirFlow BulletTruck achieved 13.4* mpg on a recent cross-country trip, while Peterbilt and Cummins' "SuperTruck" achieved 9.9 mpg last year." Many of our European Trucks are getting that MPG anyway with standard design cabs and standard diesel fuel. On top of that, most EU countries carry a higher load weight per truck than most US trucks do. USA Interstate Limits: Gross Vehicle Weight: 80,000 pounds (36.2 Tonnes). EU Limits: Varies by country but usually 44 Tonnes (97,000 lbs) up to 64 Tonnes (141,000 lbs). Plus, many trips for a truck, unless a relatively short distance, is often driven by a two-man team for efficiency in delivery times. This truck would eliminate those two-man driver teams completely. And personally, having driven RHD trucks on the continent and LHD trucks in the UK, I would not like the central driving position. And to be honest, I think the cab looks Fugly!! [sm=2cents.gif]

DaddySatyr -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 6:10:23 AM)
I guess no one noticed the couch/sleeper behind the driver?

freedomdwarf1 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 6:22:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr I guess no one noticed the couch/sleeper behind the driver? That's pretty standard in many EU trucks. Some even have twin bunks. Many Danish and Swedish trucks have everything you would ever need - including the kitchen sink! In my truck, I had a cooker, fridge, coffee maker, TV, video/DVD player etc etc etc. Is the US soooo far behind in truck development???

DaddySatyr -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 6:33:20 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1 That's pretty standard in many EU trucks. Some even have twin bunks. Many Danish and Swedish trucks have everything you would ever need - including the kitchen sink! In my truck, I had a cooker, fridge, coffee maker, TV, video/DVD player etc etc etc. Is the US soooo far behind in truck development??? No. It was in response to: "You can't have two driver teams ..." There's PLENTY of room for a second driver (who should be off duty, when the other driver is driving, anyway).

MasterCaneman -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 8:27:52 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 quote: ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman It looks cool, but concept vehicles usually have that factor dialled-in. I can see the center position as both a safety feature and a means to keep truckers from taking lot-lizards along for the ride (sorry, but it's true). And the use of carbon-fiber is impressive in weight savings. My only real question is, how long would this thing handle what a 'real' truck goes through during the course of its service life? Dings, dents, scrapes, bad backups, the usual wear and tear on a piece of a equipment like that. On a side note, the driver's view looks like the Millennium Falcon to me. Drivers don't take lot lizards for rides. Rides to where? Normally, no. But I knew a couple of truckers who took lot lizards on 'extended sessions' from time to time, depending on the woman's preference. Hell, one dude I knew had one hang around with him long enough they became an actual team.

FrostedFlake -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 9:14:34 AM)
I like efficiency. But I suspect driving from the middle requires certain perceptual and geometrical habits that will not work well when sitting on the right or left side of the truck. And vice versa. That is to say, I think there could be a hidden learning curve issue.

freedomdwarf1 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 9:39:24 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr quote: ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1 That's pretty standard in many EU trucks. Some even have twin bunks. Many Danish and Swedish trucks have everything you would ever need - including the kitchen sink! In my truck, I had a cooker, fridge, coffee maker, TV, video/DVD player etc etc etc. Is the US soooo far behind in truck development??? No. It was in response to: "You can't have two driver teams ..." There's PLENTY of room for a second driver (who should be off duty, when the other driver is driving, anyway). Maybe your driving/tachograph laws are different. In Europe, there are a set number of hours per working day where both drivers must be "off duty". So the rest period for the second driver has to overlap at the same time as the first driver, not while he is driving. So a single bunk and single seat would eliminate a two-man team completely. It may be practical in the US (doubtful), but that sort of truck wouldn't work too well over here. Most of the delivery times would be missed. [:D] Fresh fruit and veggies wouldn't be as fresh as they are - and we are used to fresh goods. Yes, it would be a learning curve to be sat in the middle rather than one side or the other. Even so, I wouldn't like it at all. I know that because I've been privileged enough to have sat in a Maclaren F1 sports car where you're sat in the middle. Eeeew! [:'(] It was god-awful. As I said, I think it looks F*ugly too.

blacksword404 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 10:21:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr quote: ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1 That's pretty standard in many EU trucks. Some even have twin bunks. Many Danish and Swedish trucks have everything you would ever need - including the kitchen sink! In my truck, I had a cooker, fridge, coffee maker, TV, video/DVD player etc etc etc. Is the US soooo far behind in truck development??? No. It was in response to: "You can't have two driver teams ..." There's PLENTY of room for a second driver (who should be off duty, when the other driver is driving, anyway). Doesn't work that way. I have driven team before. You are supposed to be in the bunk sleeping for 10 hours. But most people don't. Truck noise. Vibrations and bouncing around, maybe you get 7. So what do you do with the other time? You can't watch tv. No stations moving down the road. Can't watch a movie well with the road noise. So you end up in the passenger seat. Watching the scenery. If there is no passenger seat you lay in the bed and stare at the ceiling for 3 hours. A truck like this might be good for a single driver but teams would complain like hell.

DomKen -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 2:51:43 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 Doesn't work that way. I have driven team before. You are supposed to be in the bunk sleeping for 10 hours. But most people don't. Truck noise. Vibrations and bouncing around, maybe you get 7. So what do you do with the other time? You can't watch tv. No stations moving down the road. Can't watch a movie well with the road noise. So you end up in the passenger seat. Watching the scenery. If there is no passenger seat you lay in the bed and stare at the ceiling for 3 hours. A truck like this might be good for a single driver but teams would complain like hell. I drove some with my dad as a teenager and this is exactly right. You have to be really tired to sleep in the sleeper while the truck is on the road. Also with the driver in the middle you'd be reliant on cameras (I presume) for your side mirrors which I doubts any drivers would find acceptable. For new truck technology that might actually be on the road soon Coke was testing hybrid semis a while back in Miami, IIRC.

blacksword404 -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 8:58:10 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 Doesn't work that way. I have driven team before. You are supposed to be in the bunk sleeping for 10 hours. But most people don't. Truck noise. Vibrations and bouncing around, maybe you get 7. So what do you do with the other time? You can't watch tv. No stations moving down the road. Can't watch a movie well with the road noise. So you end up in the passenger seat. Watching the scenery. If there is no passenger seat you lay in the bed and stare at the ceiling for 3 hours. A truck like this might be good for a single driver but teams would complain like hell. I drove some with my dad as a teenager and this is exactly right. You have to be really tired to sleep in the sleeper while the truck is on the road. Also with the driver in the middle you'd be reliant on cameras (I presume) for your side mirrors which I doubts any drivers would find acceptable. For new truck technology that might actually be on the road soon Coke was testing hybrid semis a while back in Miami, IIRC. Yeah... We aren't big on New technology. They could still use mirrors. But they would have to be set differently. It would have to match the viewpoint. But most side mirrors swing in and out. So they could be adjusted. But I'm guessing these would be made already adjusted. They have an auto shift transmission. Supposed to be the best thing. No more having to shift gears. But I can shift faster than it can. The thing has all sorts of problems. Gets stuck in high gears, malfunctions. You have to rev the engine up high to get the damn thing to engage. So when a guy is backing up he looks all jerky. And is more expensive to repair because of the extra parts.

MercTech -> RE: New Technology (3/5/2014 9:09:05 PM)
Mirrors.... Actually I think the way the Japanese vehicle mirrors, on the front fender instead of at the windows, is a better choice. You can check the mirrors without taking your eyes off the road. But, different countries, different safety laws.

blacksword404 -> RE: New Technology (3/6/2014 3:04:07 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MercTech Mirrors.... Actually I think the way the Japanese vehicle mirrors, on the front fender instead of at the windows, is a better choice. You can check the mirrors without taking your eyes off the road. But, different countries, different safety laws. Most trucks have both side mirrors and fender mirrors. I f I only had fender mirrors exclusively you wouldn't be able to make and kind of turns around corners. Fender mirrors are good for looking for a car trying to sneak between you and the corner. You wouldn't even see a person you're about to run over in it. Which is why we have both. Making turns is one of the hardest parts of the job. Some of these streets are simply not designed for us. We need big mirrors that show details in actual size.

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