The Kranken is a patented, stainless-steel, corrosion-resistant, constant-tension snow chain tensioner designed for utility trucks, bucket trucks, commercial vehicles and heavy-duty fleets operating in demanding winter conditions. Installed in under 30 seconds, its self-balancing mechanism automatically maintains tension as tire chains settle and shift during operation.
Tighten it once, and The K…
Summit Truck Bodies has completed the rollout of its next-generation hydraulic crane lineup, adding the 620, 629, 820, 1020 and 1029 models.
The five new cranes extend the platform that was first introduced with the 829 and later scaled into the heavy-duty capacity class with the 1229. Together, the seven models offer maximum lifting capacities from 6,000 to 12,000 pounds and options in both 20-f…
Weather Guard’s redesigned line of Transfer Tanks has been engineered to reduce downtime, simplify installation and deliver longer service life for today’s work trucks. Built around the realities contractors and fleet operators face when fueling equipment in remote work areas, the next-generation Weather Guard Transfer Tank incorporates structural improvements that deliver increased durability an…
Buyers Products has expanded its GuardDogg headache rack offering with a new aluminum construction option. Building on the popularity of the existing steel GuardDogg, the aluminum version delivers the same practical design and drill-free installation in a lightweight, corrosion-resistant package.
The aluminum GuardDogg is designed to help contractors and fleet operators maximize their work trucks…
Elliott Equipment Co., a Stellar company, recently announced that Smyrna Truck, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fouts Bros Inc., has joined the Elliott dealer network as an authorized dealer. Smyrna Truck will offer the Elliott lineup of truck-mounted aerial work platforms, digger derricks and BoomTruck cranes from its headquarters in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Fouts Bros, a family-owned company servin…
Ford Pro Advantage is a new, industry-first, manufacturer-backed certified pre-owned program for Class 1-7 commercial vehicles, including chassis cabs and incomplete trucks and vans. It helps businesses find affordable, used, work-ready commercial vehicles with added confidence and support. Available through more than 700 Ford Pro Commercial Vehicle Centers, the program offers certification optio…
The recently introduced Weather Guard Configurator is an interactive digital tool designed to simplify van upfit planning and spec’ing. Combining vehicle-specific compatibility, real-time 3D visualization and quoting in one streamlined experience, the Configurator helps users build the right upfit for their vehicle, visualize it before they buy, and move from idea to order with greater speed and…
Reading Truck Equipment and Masterack are integrating their operations to create one of North America’s largest commercial vehicle upfit organizations.
The move combines Masterack’s leadership in cargo management solutions for commercial vans and pickup trucks with Reading’s nationwide network of commercial vehicle upfit, installation, parts and service locations, offering consumers access to exp…
Ten-Nine Technologies is scaling production of TENIX, its patented cathode additive, as the battery industry’s shift toward manganese-rich chemistries accelerates. The company describes TENIX as “anti-aging for batteries.”
Unwanted chemical byproducts build up inside batteries each time they are charged or discharged; this is the same process that raises your smartphone’s temperature and shrinks…
The Fuse Saver 2nd Gen Series from Innovative Products of America is a dedicated short-circuit diagnostic solution engineered to eliminate blown fuses, smoke testing and damaged harnesses during automotive electrical troubleshooting.
Chasing intermittent shorts often leads to burned-out fuses, melted fuse blocks and wasted diagnostic hours. The Fuse Saver replaces standard fuses with color-coded…
Fleetio recently announced general availability of its AI Service Advisor, which is designed to aid fleets in making faster maintenance decisions and automating routine processes. Built on one of the largest proprietary fleet maintenance datasets in North America, it was used to assess more than $1.4 billion in maintenance spend during a six-month open beta. On average, Fleetio reported, Service…
OTR Engineered Solutions has introduced OTR3DLab, a first-of-its-kind prototyping service intended to dramatically reduce product development timelines.
For decades, bringing a new off-the-road tire, wheel or track concept to life has typically meant extensive lead times, significant investment in tooling, and limited opportunity to conduct full-scale visual evaluations prior to making production…
Andax Industries’ Transformer Containment Bag System (TCBS) has received the Plant Engineering 2026 Product of the Year Bronze Award, recognizing the system as an innovative solution designed to improve utility crew safety, simplify transformer handling and support regulatory compliance.
Developed through direct collaboration with electric utilities, the TCBS provides crews and safety managers wi…
CAS Automotive recently announced the public launch of Damaged Equipment, an on-demand remarketing service created to help businesses, insurers, dealers and fleet operators sell damaged, surplus, aging and end-of-life commercial equipment.
The announcement marks Damaged Equipment’s first official introduction to the market after operating as a proof of concept since the end of 2025. CAS Automotiv…
Navigating complex infrastructure projects demands fleet equipment that works as hard as the crews who operate it. In this product showcase, check out seven recent manufacturer innovations engineered to elevate operator safety, shrink operating costs, and deliver the power, precision and payload capacity required to build and maintain the country’s critical public works systems.
210 P-Tier Excava…
Fleet management looked quite a bit different when Mike Donahue first walked through Omaha Public Power District’s doors in the early 1990s. For starters, much of the technology integral to today’s fleet operations simply did not exist yet.
Now, almost 35 years later, Donahue has borne witness to – and helped to lead – one of the most transformational periods in utility fleet management history…
As utility fleets strive to reduce engine idling, manufacturers are expanding their mobile power offerings with crew productivity in mind. The solutions highlighted here offer three approaches to powering tools, electronics and other jobsite instruments – all without the need to idle your truck.
Altec: Integrated Energy Management Altec’s Jobsite Energy Management System (JEMS) is designed to red…
There’s no escaping the artificial intelligence hype. Utilities are currently using it to assist with a wide range of tasks, from composing emails and communicating with customers to conducting virtual equipment inspections.
As a utility fleet professional, you’re likely to encounter different types of AI in your daily work. For example, digital assistants like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are a…
Regular gas cost an average of $2.81 per gallon in January, per the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Diesel was $3.52.
Then, in early March, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz – which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – began to experience severe restrictions in response to U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
By the end of Ma…
Although tires represent a significant portion of fleet operating costs, emerging technologies are giving fleet managers more control than ever. Data-driven maintenance strategies – which combine telematics and predictive insights to proactively manage tire health – help extend tire life, reduce downtime and ultimately lower total operating costs.
Fleets that consistently control tire costs focus…
