A consortium of industry suppliers has created a demonstration Technology Vehicle that provides a glimpse into tomorrow’s technology while enabled by today’s equipment and components.

The Technology Vehicle incorporates advanced materials and systems and showcases a variety of communication abilities that offer significant incremental gains in safety, maintenance, delivery and cost benefits that can help users ranging from the owner-operator to the largest fleet.
Featuring innovative products from Great Dane, Volvo, Thermo King, MeritorWABCO and Hendrickson, the Technology Vehicle prototype was on display at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The Technology Vehicle is based on a Volvo VN 770 tractor, equipped with a Cummins ISX engine and featuring the Volvo Link integrated tractor-trailer communication system. It is coupled to a 53-foot Great Dane SuperSeal XLT that features the efficient vacuum panel insulation package, advanced suspension and braking systems and state-of-the-art communications structure, and a Thermo King SB-200 trailer refrigeration unit with unprecedented data collection and communication abilities.
Also featured are MeritorWABCO’s TCSII Enhanced Easy-Stop trailer AS, Electronic Leveling Module and Integrated Vehicle Tire Monitoring System; and Hendrickson’s Vantraax suspension system with newly introduced dock stabilizing technology.
In addition, the trailer comes fully equipped with Thermo King’s new FlexAir bulkhead and air delivery system.
By partnering and taking advantage of existing technology, the partner companies have made it possible for the driver of the Technology Vehicle to readily detect critical trailer conditions, adjust the trailer suspension system and to determine reefer fuel level and trailer interior temperatures, all from the driver’s seat and while on the road. The Technology Vehicle is also capable of communicating information and problems to dispatch or even another vehicle, via either a satellite tracking device or an RF communication link.
Read more about the Technology Vehicle in the May issue of RoadStar magazine.