SUPERIOR, Wis., - Sometimes a little sisterly advice comes in handy. Especially when you run a fleet of trucks and you're looking for ways to improve productivity and driver comfort.
 
"That's how we found out about the Kenworth AG130 suspension," recalled Jon Vinje, CEO of Halvor Lines on the shores of Lake Superior. "My sister, who has a fleet of Kenworths, tested the suspension and got great results and feedback from drivers and mechanics. It convinced us to spec the AG130 suspension when we ordered T660s."
 
Operating a fleet of 370 tractors - the majority Kenworth T660s - Vinje said the combination of T660s and the new suspension has made a great truck even better.  "We couldn't be more pleased with our T660s," he said. "Our overall fleet average is 7.06 mpg, and that's pulling dry vans and flatbeds. Our best T660 driver gets 7.85 mpg. About 30 percent of the time we're grossing out in weight so we feel our mpg is excellent and about as good as you can get. When we heard about the AG130 with its weight savings ability (about 20 pounds over taperleaf front-end suspensions) and the smoother ride, we were very interested."
 
The Kenworth AG130 front air suspension is disc-brake compatible and available in 12,000-lb. and 13,200-lb. ratings for the Kenworth T660, T800 and T2000 Class 8 models. The AG130 features a four air-bag configuration while other competitive suspensions typically have just two air bags. The four air bags, which handle the majority of the vertical load while a lower leaf spring handles the remainder, help the suspension to resist high input torque encountered with disc brakes. The design reduces vibration into the cab and onto the chassis to help provide a smooth ride without sacrificing the feel of the road that customers expect from a Kenworth.
 
"Our drivers have said the new suspension is one of the best spec changes we've made," said Vinje. "They've commented on a smoother ride, less vibration and less road noise.  While they like the driver comfort aspect, and we do too, we're also happy to be saving 20 pounds and putting that saved weight into payload. We also think the suspension will help us when it comes to sell our Kenworths in the form of even better resale value."
 
While the Kenworth AG130 has been an important spec for Halvor Lines, the company has had its eye on continual improvement in productivity, weight savings and fuel economy. "We're EPA SmartWay certified and we jumped on certification way before customers started requesting it," said Vinje. "We've spec'd out T660s with 430 hp engines driven through 10-speed transmissions. Our gear ratio is 3.25. Since we're moving to shorter hauls, we've moved to 62-inch AeroCab sleepers from 72-inch and for some significant weight savings. We're also running wide base tires on about half of our units, and duals with fuel efficiency compounds on the other half. Our new trailers are equipped with aerodynamic fairings, which help even more."
 
To get the most out of his drivers, a computerized "driver rewards" program on the engine monitors throttle demand, idle time and shifting. "The engine is governed at 62 mph," said Vinje, "But if a driver doesn't exceed any of the limits, he is rewarded with a top speed of 65 mph.  It's been a great tool and another component to our high fuel economy numbers."
 
On Halvor's next order of Kenworth T660s, Vinje said he plans to spec the optional high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. "The T660's standard Halogen headlights are fantastic and drivers have commented about how much better they can see at night.  We tested the HID system and that's even better, plus they last even longer."
 
All told, the driver comfort elements of the Kenworth T660 has helped play a role in Halvor's driver retention rates. "We're at 23 percent in turnover which we consider very good.  In long haul trucking, some companies have over 100 percent turnover," said Vinje. "We attribute our good numbers to the equipment we run, the benefits package we offer, fast moving freight and how we treat our drivers - with respect."
 
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, liquefied natural gas trucks, and the Kenworth Clean Power(R) no-idle system. This year, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks, and for Heavy Duty Dealer Service. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.