Las Vegas — PIT Group, an engineering and research group for the trucking industry, plans to conduct its first In-Service Fuel Testing on powertrain combinations for U.S. Xpress, the company announced at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition. 

For the evaluations, PIT Group will make use of a 60-mile test course consisting of highways and local roads. U.S. Xpress fleet and other test vehicles will pull trailers with loads of equal weight to represent typical fleet operations.  An in-cab observer from PIT will accompany U.S. Xpress drivers while they operate the test vehicles. U.S. Xpress will also provide fuel, technicians and maintenance facilities for the event, including a mobile service truck if required.

Suppliers are currently being invited to participate in the evaluations for U.S. Xpress, Inc., which will take place from Nov. 7-11, 2016  at the carrier’s facility in Tunnel Hill, Ga. The event will also include an Invited Carriers & Media Day.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the PIT Group to showcase our testing capabilities with a carrier that is widely known for its use of innovative technologies,” said Yves Provencher, director of the PIT Group. “The ability to add real world test findings to test track data by a group of certified unbiased engineers will help carriers make the right decisions on which solutions will have the greatest economic impact on fuel consumption.”

PIT Group In-Service Fuel Testing uses TMC Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type III (RP 1103A). The industry standard test compares the fuel consumption of one component of a combination vehicle to the same component in another combination vehicle. PIT Group uses an ISO- 17025 certified process conducted by engineers dedicated solely to providing accurate unbiased test results on fuel saving technologies.

“We decided to host In-Service Fuel Testing to compare the fuel efficiency of engine-drivetrain components because we believe the PIT Group is the leading expert in the field of fuel efficiency evaluation,” said Gerry Mead, sr. vice president of maintenance at U.S. Xpress. “Using a proven process and a certified and highly experienced team from PIT Group will provide solid test results on fuel economy.”

In other news from ATA MC&E, transport services and technology company EROAD has announced a partnership with PIT Group to provide independent testing and verification of its ELD Solution.

Under the FMCSA’s ELD mandate, providers can self-certify that an ELD meets required technical specifications. However, ATA has stated that verification of a device by the government or a third-party would be ideal.

“We know how much compliance matters to our customers which is why EROAD  follows rigorous internal testing procedures and protocols for our tax and compliance solutions,” said Jarred Clayton, EROAD COO. “We are going one step further by adding PIT Group’s independent testing and verification to assure carriers that the ELD they have chosen is best in class and compliant.”

Once PIT Group completes the certification process for EROAD, it will confirm that the EROAD ELD solution satisfies the FMCSA’s specifications and requirements.