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Off highway and on track Hauling heavy loads across impossible terrains A blend of efficiency and driver comfort High performance at low speeds Volume 1, Number 2 POWER SHIFT RRSL0301 www.roadranger.com

PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

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Page 1: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

Off highway and on trackHauling heavy loads across impossible terrains

A blend of efficiency and driver comfort

High performance at low speeds

Volume 1, Number 2

POWERsHift

RRSL0301

www.roadranger.com

Page 2: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

There are as many different kinds of drivers as there are trucking companies. However, whether a driver works for a fleet, a private carrier, or themself, at the top of their checklist for vehicle expectations are most likely comfort and safety.

As a trucking professional, you are acutely aware of the high rate of driver turnover and the shortage of qualified drivers. According to the American Trucking Association, previous year annual driver turnover was at 95%, and driver shortages remain in the 35,000 – 40,000 range. Clearly, drivers are in high demand and driver retention is a key component of a successful trucking operation. At Eaton, we understand that maximizing driver comfort and safety translates into driver loyalty.

Because her vehicle is equipped with the Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission, Goldie Seymour, a driver for National Carriers with 40-years of experience behind the wheel, says, “In big cities, you don’t have to fight the clutch while sitting at a light. When I’m stopped, I’m not applying a lot of brake pedal

pressure, so I’m not as tired at the end of the day … you couldn’t get me out of this truck with a crowbar.” (page 8)

Due to a torn rotator cuff, San Jose Logging Ltd. driver, Delbert Ritchey, experienced plenty of discomfort shifting the gears of a manual transmission. The switch to UltraShift PLUS changed all that. “I was always very sore at the end of the day, but now that I no longer have to shift, I feel better than I have in a long time,” he says. (page 4)

“The UltraShift PLUS transmission allows you to con-centrate on the conditions around you,” says veteran log hauler, Jim Hansen. “It’s much safer and easier.” (page 12)

We recognize that there is intense competition for high character, high quality drivers. As your partner in business, you can be sure that our vast technological resources and innovative spirit are in strategic align-ment with your goal of providing your drivers with the safest, most comfort-providing drive systems possible.

David L. Karnes

Vice President of Sales

Comfort and safety — pick two

David L. Karnes

POWER SHIFT 3Go to: www.roadranger.com/

Eaton’s UltraShift PLUS MXP transmission’s grade sensing, weight computation and shift decisions provide safe, fuel efficient and driver-friendly performance transporting extra heavy truck loads of timber while negotiating a variety of demanding road conditions. Story on page 12.

4 Off highway and on track

6 SmartAdvantage™ PowertrainThe right choice for fleets

8 A blend of efficiency and driver comfortEaton Fuller Advantage® 10-speed automated transmissions

10 High performance at low speeds

11 Customer-driven solution

12 Upping his game in the U.P.

14 New Eaton approved lubes

15 Eaton news

Roadranger.com or Eaton.com/vehicle • Call Center: 1-800-826-HELP (4357)Facebook.com/RoadrangerSupport • Twitter.com/RoadrangerTruck@RoadrangerTruck Linkedin.com/company/eatons-vehicle-group • YouTube.com/EatonVideos

2 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

Volume 1, Number 2

Page 3: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

with the drivers.”

One driver in particular, Delbert Ritchey, who has been with San Jose for more than 25 years, is perhaps more thankful than others for Roadranger assistance in making the transition to automation a smooth one. Suffering from a torn rotator cuff that occurred several years ago, the labors of logging have been acutely hard on him.

“With the chains and the wrappers and the shifting I was always very sore at the end of the day,” says Ritchey. “I never realized how much of that was attributed to shifting. I’m still doing the same things with the chains and wrappers but, now that I no longer have to do all of that shifting, I feel better than I have in a long time at the end of the day. UltraShift PLUS is definitely a giant step forward for San Jose and my rotator cuff.”

Built upon the highly popular Eaton Fuller® manual transmission platform, all Eaton UltraShift PLUS automated transmissions offer tailored performance and efficiency for virtually any application. All launches and shifts are automated with the use of a self-adjusting electronic actuator for fast, smooth engagements. The Performance Series also includes the 13-speed Multi- Purpose Highway Performance (MHP) transmission.

Off highway and on trackHauling heavy loads across impossible terrains

Darren Getz (left), and his father, Roger Getz, represents two generations of owners of San Jose Logging.

POWER SHIFT 5Go to: www.roadranger.com/

“Most of the company’s seven drivers are getting older now and the work isn’t getting any easier,” says Darren Getz, who runs the family business. The company’s aging driver pool is one reason he decided to make the switch from manual to automated transmissions. With one of his drivers having been with the company for more than 25 years, Darren says specifying Eaton automated transmissions on his newest trucks is one of the best decisions he’s made in recent years.

Optimum performance in any driving environment

Darren specified three 18-speed UltraShift PLUS MXP transmissions with his most recent new truck order. With virtually no payload weight limits, the transmissions were designed for vehicles required to operate with extremely heavy loads in virtually any driving environment. The units have 18 forward and 4 reverse speeds and an overall ratio of 20:1.

The transmissions are part of the UltraShift PLUS Performance Series, all of which employ grade sensing, weight computation and driver throttle

commands to make intelligent shift decisions. The fully automated, two-pedal transmissions can be paired with the highest torque engines available.

Family owned and operated

The Getz family has been in the logging business since 1957 when Dean Getz founded the compa-ny in Williams Lake, British Columbia. San Jose Logging takes its name from the nearby San Jose River, which meanders its way through the rugged Cariboo Mountains in the Central Interior of British Columbia.

Dean Getz’s grandsons, Darren and Dallas, run the business, while Dean’s son Roger is still active with day-to-day operations at the age of 72. Kevin Bernier is the maintenance superintendent. The company’s fleet consists of three Kenworth T800 and four Kenworth T880 trucks, all with Cummins engines and Super B Train trailers. Trucks are typi-cally replaced with new units every three years.

Overcoming the toughest challenges

Payloads are always the legal maximum of 63,500 kilograms (140,000 pounds), with workdays rang-

ing from nine to 15 hours. Routes rarely exceed 200 kilometers (120 miles), which is not very far but every centimeter involves navigating some of the nastiest on- and off-road terrains and overall driving conditions in North America.

“It has to be cold enough at night so the ground hardens,” says Kevin Bernier, maintenance superintendent. “So we favor running on frost that might be as deep as two feet into the ground. If it gets too soft it will kill the road base.” He adds that on average, 55 percent of the time his trucks are operating off-highway on service roads. “We are a stump to dump operation and haul all of our own wood,” says Bernier. “We do everything from set-up, to harvest-ing the logs to the proper lengths, to deliv-ering the timber to its final destination.”

“We are always focusing on trying to be as efficient as possible,” says Darren. “With

the UltraShift PLUS transmissions, we are getting a big boost in terms of fuel efficiency. I would say up to 10 percent on some days and we are still early on with the transmissions.” Bernier agrees: “We’ve been putting the new transmissions through the paces in enough different terrains and the results have been excellent.”

Smooth transition for drivers

San Jose Logging’s Roadranger representative has been especially helpful with making the transition to automated transmissions. Bernier says he is a cut above most of his other suppliers. “He is very knowledgeable and has been especially helpful

San Jose Logging Ltd. operates seven trucks in rugged, heavily forested areas of British Columbia where drivers log much of their mileage off-high-way. Those conditions can be especially taxing on drivers who are also tasked with a host of additional responsibilities beyond just driving. During the long winter months, drivers are responsible for making sure tires are chained. Once the trailers are loaded, wrappers must be placed around the cut timber and properly secured for the return run to a local mill.

“Now that I no longer have to do all of that shifting, I feel better than I have in a long time at the end of the day.” — Delbert Ritchey, driver

4 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

Page 4: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

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©2015 Eaton. All rights reserved.

14226-1_Aftermarket_Evertough_7x10_resize.indd 1 9/10/15 3:07 PM

Launched in 2013, the Cummins and Eaton® SmartAdvantage™ Powertrain showed the industry that integrated powertrains don’t have to come from truck manufacturers. The unparalleled collaboration by leading powertrain experts delivers integrated optimization for fuel economy, performance and driver satisfaction. And we’re not stopping there. Newly available ADEPT™ technology — which includes SmartTorque2 and SmartCoast™ — maximizes fuel economy by reducing driver variability. Calibration improvements make better use of the ISX15’s available torque, for improved performance. New ratings of 400 hp (298 kW) and 420 hp (313 kW), along with our 450 hp (336 kW) rating, let you choose the right rating for your fleet.

See how much your business could be saving at SmartAdvantagePowertrain.com.

6 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

Why The SmarTadvanTage PoWerTrain iS The righT ChoiCe For your FleeT.

• Theinnovativesmall-steptechnologyontheEatonFullerAdvantage®10-speedAutomatedTransmissionprovidesthebenefitsofadirect-drivetransmissionwiththoseofferedinanoverdriveconfiguration.A26%stepbetweenninthand10thgearsallowsdownspeedinginoverdriveandefficiencyindirectdrivethatkeepstheengineinthe“sweetspot”formaximumfueleconomy—thebestofbothworlds.

• Thesedays,downspeedingisthenameofthegame,asevery100rpmsavesyouabout1%infueleconomy.Betyoudidn’tknowthatSmartAdvantagePowertrainoffersmoredownspeedingthanapowertrainthatoffersonlydirectdrive!

• Tomanyfleets,performanceisjustasimportantasfueleconomy.That’swhyCumminsISX15usesavariablegeometryturbotoprovidebettertransientresponsethanthefixed-vaneturboyou’llfindinsomeotherinte-gratedpowertrains.

• Itislesspronetodrivelinewearthanotherintegratedpowertrainsduetoloweroutputshafttorque.

• ThecombinedservicenetworksofCumminsandEatonfaroutnumbertheamountofsingle-OEMdealershiplocations.

• You’renottiedtooneOEM–SmartAdvantageisavail-ableinthemostfuel-efficienttrucksfromtheOEMofyourchoice.

The SmartAdvantage powertrain is the most fuel-efficient powertrain in linehaul operation.*

*Based on third-party testing using SAE J1526 test procedure.

The right choice for your fleet

Page 5: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

speed. “I was worried about how it would perform in the mountains of Pennsylvania and Tennessee, but it shifts on its own,” she says. The integrated electronics provide variable torque levels and proper skip shifting, so there’s no guesswork. Such precise use of engine revs and pow-er can save 2-6 percent in fuel bills.

Spec’ing for reliability and driver comfort

When it comes to spec’ing a new truck model to use in the National Carriers fleet, Jim Franck, president at National Carriers, looks for reliability and low cost of ownership. “The key is to spec a truck that gives us up-time, and that drivers like to drive,” says Franck. “That truck has to have a low cost of ownership, other-wise it won’t make us money.” As president of Irving, Texas-based National Carriers, Franck says he’s found the right balance with the Kenworth T680 and PACCAR-Eaton integrated powertrain, which has become the “standard” for the reefer divi-sion’s fleet. National Carriers operates 670 tractors, of which 70 percent are company-owned. The truck’s aero-dynamics, reliability and integrated powertrain, coupled with driver acceptance, is what sold Franck. “Eaton is great to work with, and a great partner,” he says. “From a dollars and cents standpoint, we’re seeing a 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy over the performance of our previous standard truck.”

Exceptional performance and fuel economy result as en-gine and transmission share critical data including vehicle weight, road grade, and throttle position. Precise engine and transmission communications are combined with proprietary control logic to further enhance down speeding in both overdrive and direct operation for less fuel consumption. Error-free, guess-proof shifting makes every driver in the fleet as efficient as the best driver, which saves the fleet money on every haul.

Quarterly fuel-economy bonuses are paid out to Nationals’ drivers, who especially appreciate fu-el-efficient equipment when there’s extra money to be made. “Two drivers received $1,200 bonus checks last time,” says Franck. “Last week, one driver averaged 9.1 mpg.”

Low driver turnover

With most routes running south of I-80, National Carriers hauls beef in about 40 percent of its loads with the other 60 percent a combination of refrigerated, frozen and dry loads. Its on-time delivery rate is exceptionally high, testament to the reliability of its equipment and diligence of its drivers.

“We really spec’d these trucks with driver comfort in mind,” says Franck. “And we feel they contribute in part to our low driver turnover, which is well below the indus-try average.” Franck notes that one National long-timer goes into the city each week on the East Coast and comes home, no longer fatigued at the end of his run. “Not having to use that clutch all day in traffic, that’s huge,” says Franck.

Fleets wonder if their very best drivers will accept auto-mated transmissions. Most, once they adjust, actually like them better. Intelligent electronics shift at points typically chosen by the most skilled drivers, smooth-

ing the transition to an automated drivetrain despite years of operating a manual.

A driver freed from the task of shifting has more time to keep his eyes on the road and remain alert for possible hazards. There’s less driver fatigue and fewer clutch-related wear issues. With additional safety features such as Auto Neutral, Hill Start Aid and Creep Mode, the Eaton Fuller Advantage automated trans-mission offers a fuel-efficient, safety conscious choice that will attract new drivers and retain experienced ones.

“When you get into big cities, you don’t have to fight the clutch when you’re sitting at a light,” says Seymour. “When I’m stopped, I’m not applying a lot of pressure on the brake pedal, so I don’t feel as tired at the end of a run. It’s more relaxing.”

Goldie Seymour, who has driven trucks for more than 40 years, concludes, “You couldn’t get me out of this truck with a crowbar.” According to Franck, Seymour is anoth-er shining light behind the wheel of a National Carrier rig. “Goldie was named our 2014 driver of the year for good reason,” he says. “She exemplifies the “Elite Fleet.”

POWER SHIFT 9Go to: www.roadranger.com/

Reliability and cost of ownership are key to Jim Franck, president of National Carriers. The T680 with Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission provides the company and its drivers a 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy over the performance of the company’s previous standard truck.

“From a dollars and cents standpoint, we’re seeing a 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy.” — Jim Franck

Driver Goldie Seymour says she was a little hesitant about her new truck at first since it was spec’d with an automated transmission. “I’m old school and had never driven an automated — not even in my car,” she says. “But I’ll tell you what — you can teach an old dog new tricks. I wouldn’t want to go back to a manual.”

Seymour originally began driving for National Carriers as a company driver, then converted into National’s lease program. National Carriers, known as the “Elite” Fleet®, began ordering Kenworth T680s two years ago. The company’s latest

purchases are specified with the 455-hp PACCAR MX-13 engine integrated with the Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission.

Greater fuel efficiency and no guess work

According to Seymour, “Baby Blue,” as she calls her new truck, has 227,000 miles under the hood already. “It’s the quietest truck I’ve ever driven and it’s very smooth — a great ride,” she says. As a new owner-operator, Seymour says she’s getting fuel mileage in the mid-7’s to low 8’s “…depending upon what I’m hauling. Since I’m now paying my own fuel bills, those mileage numbers are import-ant to me.” The Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission improves Seymour’s fuel economy by automatically choosing ideal shift points appropriate for every condition of load and

8 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

A blend of efficiency and driver comfortThe Elite Fleet® features PACCAR-Eaton integrated powertrains

National Carriers driver Goldie Seymour is shown with her Kenworth T680, which she affectionately calls “Baby Blue”. Seymour has been a truck driver for more than 40 years.

Page 6: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

Westrans, one of the largest dis-tributors of truck parts in Canada, wasn’t happy. The way shafts were being packaged by the manufac-turer was causing headaches for everyone who had to handle them on the receiving end. Removing the shafts from the crates and skids on which they arrived was difficult and time-consuming.

“While we had no issues whatsoever with the quality of the shafts, it was especially difficult getting one out of the box because of the shape of the gear at the bottom of the shafts,” says Jacquie Little, dispatch su-pervisor at Westrans. “As a result, people who were handling the shafts sometimes cut their hands on the packaging. We never had any serious injuries, but no one liked it.”

Answering the call

The supplier was Eaton, a long time supplier of input shafts for Westrans’ lineup of remanufactured heavy-duty manual transmissions. After Little witnessed the challenges among her co-workers, who were mostly pickers for internal and external parts, Eaton’s Roadranger parts and solutions manager was contacted.

Shafts would be much easier and safer to access, Little believed, if they were placed horizontally on slotted corrugated cardboard plat-forms with the gears on the outside of the slots, instead of vertically with the gears and shafts in the same slots without enough separation.

Reinforcing Eaton’s philosophies of pursuing complete custom-er satisfaction and developing a zero-incident safety culture, Eaton’s solutions manager ran the con-cept by the plant where the shafts were being manufactured. There, a prototype was soon developed and presented to Westrans.

Exceeding expectations

Little was pleased with how quickly Eaton responded, noting the turn-around time was less than two months. Also taking note was Westrans CEO, John Williams, who has high praise for the new pack-aging.

“I believe that the bruised knuck-les around here will just about be eliminated,” says Williams. “Eaton has definitely exceeded our expec-tations.”

Williams anticipates the new packaging will also help improve his company’s bottom line due to the fact that handling the shafts is much more efficient and productive than in the past. That, in turn, is allowing the Westrans team to improve its efficiency and productivity with customers.

“The morale of our pickers is certain to improve,” says Williams. “Jacquie saw something she didn’t like and spear-headed the changes that need-ed to be made. For its part, Eaton took the initiative to provide an important customer solution.

“You don’t always get that from larger companies like Eaton. And we commend them for that.”

Westrans built on reliability and pride

Founded in 1967, Westrans is located in a 61,000-square-foot facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company specializes in the remanufacturing of transmissions, differen-tials, brakes, driveshafts and power steering components.

With two additional locations added in 1984 and 1990 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Regina, Saskatchewan respectively, Westrans customers include truck repair facilities, small to medi-um sized truck fleets, and truck dealerships that are “in a pinch and looking for a quick turnaround,” according to Chief Executive Officer, John Williams.

Some of those customers have been dealing with Westrans for more than 30 years.

The company’s success can be attributed to “a dedicated team of employees who have worked hard to establish the company as a touchstone of reliability, assurance, and efficiency in the industry,” says Williams. “The team continues to provide our customers with an un-paralleled service experience.”

POWER SHIFT 11Go to: www.roadranger.com/

“Eaton has definitely exceeded our expectations and took the initiative to provide an important customer solution.” — John Williams

John Williams (left), CEO, Westrans Company, and supervisor Jacquie Little.

Customer-driven solutionListening to concerns leads to a better way

Low speed requirements in vocational applications have posed challenges for automated transmissions in the past. Not anymore. With the new Urge to Move and Blended Pedal features joining the existing Creep Mode as configurable options across Eaton’s full line of UltraShift PLUS transmissions, low speed maneuvers are now performed seamlessly, providing compel-ling options for fleets considering automated manual transmissions for improved fuel efficiency, safety, and productivity.

New features deliver seamless automated control

With the new Urge to Move feature, drivers simply release the brake pedal to automatically inch forward, similar to the feel of a passenger car. And there’s no fighting the truck when the brake is applied.

“With UltraShift PLUS, drivers used to have to raise rpms to activate Creep Mode,” says Eaton Product Strategy Manager Evan Vijithakumara. “We eliminated that step with the Urge to Move feature. It allows the vehicle to enter Creep Mode while keeping the engine at idle.”

In applications where increased engine rpms might spin a PTO too quickly, or spin a drum and discharge more material than expected, the new Urge to Move feature allows for controlled motion, controlled discharge, and more controlled operation during the launch phase.

While Urge to Move gives drivers a passenger car style motion, the new Blended Pedal feature delivers a level of fine control that, until now, has been the exclusive hallmark of manual transmissions. “With three-pedal manual operation, you have the ability to slip the clutch to allow for really small movements, very slow speeds, very controlled motion,” says Vijithakumara. “Blended Pedal gives you the same precise, minute control of the clutch in a two-pedal system. We have remapped the throttle pedal to allow drivers to slip and feather as they go through the starting gears. Drivers now have the ability to move at, say, 25 percent, or 50 percent en-gagement, or at varying speeds much slower than what Creep Mode allowed in the past. The end result is similar to operating a manual transmission equipped vehicle without requiring a manual transmission skill set.”

Electronic actuation delivers smoother automated operation

The enhanced functionality built into these transmis-sions is enabled by an electronic clutch actuator, which allows for smoother, more precise shifting, especially at low speeds. The UltraShift PLUS, launched in 2009, replaced the centrifugal clutch system of earlier mod-els with electronic actuation, meaning it can quickly pull back the bearing, disengage and re-engage, and perform shifts regardless of engine rpm. This enables drivers to have smoother and improved low-speed maneuverability.

One of the obvious benefits of an automated manual transmission in both vocational and on-highway environ-ments is increased driver alertness. Drivers can focus on their surroundings — whether at the job site or on the highway — rather than watching the tachometer and worrying about being in the most appropriate gear. For

fleet owners, this means new hires can more quickly become safe, productive drivers. And automated trans-missions allow all drivers to perform at a higher level in terms of maximizing fuel efficiency.

Who benefits from these new no-cost features?

All trucks currently equipped with UltraShift PLUS can benefit from the upgrades, which are entirely config-urable through ServiceRanger. The versatility of the product makes it popular in some of the most rigor-ous vocations you’ll find — logging, oilfield and other heavy-haul applications. Improved low-speed shifting performance makes the vocational series of UltraShift PLUS transmissions especially appealing in mixer and construction applications, among others.

Urge to Move and Blended Pedal are available for all UltraShift PLUS products, from LAS to MXP, and Fuller Advantage Automated, including SmartAdvantage and the integrated powertrains from PACCAR and Navistar.

Please see your dealer or contact your local Roadranger today. Tell them you want to test-drive it. These features are best experienced for yourself.

10 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

New improvements in low speed maneuverability make Eaton automated transmissions even better for vocational fleets; features also benefit on-highway

High Performance at Low Speeds

Urge to Move gives drivers a passenger-car style feel, while Blended Pedal enables manual-style control.

Page 7: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

A wise decision

“A friend of mine bought a new truck about a year ago with an UltraShift PLUS in it,” says Hansen. “After listening to what he had to say about how it performed, I decid-ed I wanted one. It was the wisest decision I’ve ever made. I love it.”

The recipient of Hansen’s af-fection is an UltraShift PLUS MXP (Multipurpose Extreme Performance) model. With 18-speeds and 2,250 lbs.-ft. torque capacity, the transmission has virtu-ally no payload weight limit – includ-ing the 158,000 pounds of com-bined vehicle weight that Hansen carries around every week.

His transmission has 18 forward and four reverse speeds and an overall ratio of 20:1. Safety features include auto

neutral and Intelligent Hill Start Aid, which prevents roll-back and roll-for-ward while launching on grades using foundation wheel brakes. Automatic Manual and Low modes offer optimum vehicle control.

It knows when, and how, to shift properly

“I’ve always been a fan of Eaton,” says Hansen. “My previous truck had an Eaton 18-speed manual transmission and it gave me a million miles of reliable performance, but this new UltraShift PLUS has just made my job so much easier.

“I mean it’s doing all of the work for me. When I’m coming out of the bush, through big hills and all types of road conditions, it knows when to shift and it shifts properly.”

Typically, Hansen’s workweek be-gins around 6 a.m. on Monday when he gets into his 2015 Western Star truck with a six-axle tri-drive tractor and a five-axle trailer. He travels 200 miles from his home up to northern Michigan to collect some 100,000 pounds of logs. That same day, once the logs are loaded and secured, Hansen travels another 200 miles to deliver the wood to mills in south-

eastern and central Michigan.

“Through the years, many truckers have come and gone, not realizing the daily hard work and challenges this work requires. It takes a special kind of person to live this kind of life,” says Hansen. The 59-year-old trucking industry veteran has been doing this for 42 years.

Hanson endures driving condi-tions that range from congest-ed urban traffic to hilly, muddy, and sometimes snow covered off-roads that he encounters getting in and out of the north woods. The huge payloads take skill and knowledge of the time

of year and types of wood to make sure the heavy hauls can be loaded and transported legally and effi-ciently. Often the mills have to send bulldozers in to remove trees and stumps and carve out a makeshift

road for Hansen.

“The UltraShift PLUS transmission allows you to con-centrate on driving and the conditions around you,” he says. “That’s really helpful in heavy traffic and through the city when I am fully loaded. You do not have to think about what gear you should be in. UltraShift PLUS

does all of the thinking for you. It’s much safer and easier.”

Hansen is currently averaging about 4.1 miles per gallon, which he explains is very good for a heavy hauler and about the same as he was getting with his former vehicle that had two instead of three drive axles. Hansen credits his local Eaton Roadranger with an important assist.

Roadranger by your side

“An Eaton factory technician called me and said he wanted to ride along with a load on. We drove the full load around the loop of Lansing, Michigan, and he asked me to take a look at a new software-shift-ing program. Then he used the ServiceRanger 4 tool to update my transmission.

“Just like that it was shifting smoother and faster. Later, I discov-ered, I was getting better fuel econ-omy. He was very knowledgeable and I was really glad I met with him.”

After-the-sale support has been a longtime mainstay at Eaton with the company’s more than 200 Roadranger field members servicing all facets of the North American trucking industry. Over the years, many in the industry have cited the commitment to service as a factor that keeps Eaton a cut above the competition.

POWER SHIFT 13Go to: www.roadranger.com/

“It allows you to concentrate on driving and the conditions around you … You do not have to think about what gear you should be in.” — Jim Hansen

Jim Hansen, owner of James Hansen Forest Products, LLC, Lachine, Mich.

“It was the wisest decision I’ve ever

made. I love it.” — Jim Hansen

Gaining the upper hand in the U.P.

For the past four decades, owner oper-ator Jim Hansen has hauled logs from the Upper Peninsula to logging mills in lower Michigan. “The rough driving conditions as far as getting the logs out of the bush can be especially demanding physically and mental-ly,” says Hansen, own-er of James Hansen Forest Products, LLC. “Of course, it was a lot more demanding 40 years ago. The equip-ment today is much better than it was in the past, but it’s still very hard work.”

The cost of diesel fuel is also one of Hansen’s top concerns, so any fuel consumption gains he can find are welcomed. With downtime being another factor that can chop into his productivity, he’s sure to keep up-to-date with the newer

technologies in truck equipment and components.

Hansen cites one relatively new component as being particularly helpful

meeting these chal-lenges. After consulting with a fellow logger who works in extremely demanding conditions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and research-ing the product himself, Hansen decided to invest in a new Eaton UltraShift PLUS auto-mated transmission for his Western Star truck.

Veteran log hauler Jim Hansen keeps weathering extreme conditions

12 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

“UltraShift PLUS does all of the thinking for you. It’s much safer and easier.” — Jim Hansen

Page 8: PowerShift, v1 number 2 - Eaton

POWER SHIFT 15Go to: www.roadranger.com/

SmartAdvantage Powertrain, which combines Eaton’s Fuller Advantage™ Series Automated Transmission with the Cummins ISX15 engine for linehaul applications, was nominated for a 2015 Automotive News PACE Award winner. The prestigious award recognizes commercial vehicle and automotive suppliers’ innovations in products, manufacturing processes

and information technology. Through integrated power, fuel and shifting strategies, the SmartAdvantage Powertrain delivers 3 percent to 6 percent improved fuel economy. Based on the success of the initial SmartAdvantage Powertrain, the collaboration between Eaton and Cummins has expanded to include a SmartAdvantage Powertrain with the

Cummins ISX12 engine and Eaton Fuller Advantage automated trans-mission for regional haul applications, as well as pairing an Eaton transmis-sion with the Cummins-Westport ISX12G engine for natural gas applications.

Eaton Cummins SmartAdvantage™ Powertrain Nominated For PACE Award

In The News

Eaton Enhances Aftermarket Offerings for Transmission RebuildersEaton has beefed up one of the company’s key commer-cial vehicle aftermarket offerings with a new name and the addition of several new genuine Fuller™ transmis-sion components. The former Bulk product line is now known as the Rebuilder Bulk Pack line to better reflect the program’s target audience. That same audience will also now have the opportunity to purchase 11 new additions to the Rebuilder Bulk Pack’s portfolio of prod-ucts, bringing the total number of offerings to more than 135 transmission parts. The newest additions include transmission shift blocks, yokes, shafts, gears, pump assemblies, flanges and more.

Eaton Named Supplier of the Year by PACCAR PartsEaton has been named Supplier of the Year for its aftermarket operations in Mexico and Latin America by PACCAR Parts, a division of PACCAR Inc., a global tech-nology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of premium duty trucks. Eaton was selected from a group of 50 PACCAR Parts suppliers for its out-standing performance in several critical areas, including achieving a 98 percent on-time delivery rate, participat-ing in support for regional training events and supporting a joint marketing program to enhance sales.

Eaton Expands Line and Speeds Up Deliveries for FLEX Reman™ TransmissionsEaton has enhanced its lineup of FLEX Reman™ trans-missions with the recent launch of three new initiatives. 1) The introduction of 12 new part numbers, each with forward shift bar housings that complement the existing standard shift bar housing transmission offerings. 2) The addition of the RTO 16908LL 10-speed model, which is popular in a variety of on/off-highway vocational applications. 3) The FLEX program also now includes the implementation of a new delivery policy that can provide same day shipments.

Eaton Launches 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission, Delivering Improved Fuel Efficiency and Performance for China MarketEaton has introduced a new 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) for the China market designed to improve fuel economy, performance and ease of driving. The new 12-speed transmission fea-tures a range of product features, including an Electric Clutch Actuator (ECA), a unique automated clutch and industry leading electronic control software. The combination of technologies provides up to 2 percent better fuel efficiency over a manual transmission while improving the overall driving experience for vehicle operators. Eaton Showcases 4-speed Automated

Manual Electric Vehicle Transmission for Large Transit Bus MarketAt the 2015 Auto Shanghai Show, Eaton displayed a 4-speed Automated Manual Electric Vehicle Transmission for the large transit bus market. The 4-speed demonstra-tor transmission is designed to provide 10 to 15 percent energy savings through improved shifting and features a more energy efficient gearbox when compared with a traditional direct drive transmission, but with no com-promise in launch acceleration. The product is in final validation testing in OEM trials.

Eaton Aftermarket Clutches Get Additional Warranty OptionEaton has extended the warranty coverage on the com-pany’s aftermarket Advantage Series and EverTough® clutches with the purchase of a Genuine Eaton Clutch Installation Kit. Advantage series warranty coverage increases from two years to three, and EverTough cover-age increases from one year to two. Eaton recommends a clutch installation kit be used every time a transmis-sion is pulled for a clutch replacement.

14 POWER SHIFT Go to: www.roadranger.com/

For reliability and durability, Eaton lubricants hold up over the long haul. In a variety of standard industry and OEM test programs, Eaton’s synthetic lubricants are proven superior to petroleum products in bottom line operating performance and extending component life and reliability.

PS-386 lowers viscosity for improved fuel economy

Eaton’s newest synthetic transmission lubricant, PS-386, features lower viscosity prop-erties that promote better fuel efficiency, heat management improvements that lower sump temperatures, enhanced low temperature start properties, and higher oxidation stability that allows extended drain inter-vals of up to 500,000 miles.*

PS-386 supercedes PS-164 Rev 7.

PS-386 has been field tested for 18 months in more than 100 trucks and 10,000,000 road miles.

The new Eaton Approved Lubricant label will make it

easier to know which oil is right for your Eaton heavy-duty manu-al and automated transmissions.

Lubrication: an integrated transmission component

Proper lubrication is the key to a sound and effective mainte-nance program. By recognizing lubricants as an integrated component in transmission performance, and as truck fleets continue to increase in sophisti-cation, Eaton is doing its part to improve transmission efficiency, reliability and durability over the long haul.

PS-386 is the factory fill at all OEMs now, and will be available from all of the standard market channels that are used for cur-rent fluids.

* Tested against the previous Eaton synthetic transmission spec PS-164 Rev7. SAE J1321 Fuel Consumption testing conducted by an independent fleet confirmed up to 1.5% fuel economy improvement.

Next generation Eaton transmission lube PS-386Superior performance for greater fuel efficiency and long life

Heat Management

• LowerSumpTemperatures

• HigherOxidativeStability

• SuperiorLowTemperaturePerformance

Fuel Economy

• MinimizeChurningLoss

• Upto1.5%fueleconomyimprovement*

Improved Durability

• ImprovedGearandBearingWear

• CopperCoolerProtection

Ecologically Friendly

• ReducedWaste

• CO2Reduction

Backward Serviceability

• Meetscurrentrequirementsfor Eaton heavy-duty manual and automated transmissions

®

Eaton PS-386 SynthEtic tRanSmiSSion fLuid PERfoRmancE PRofiLE

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©2015 Cummins Inc., Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.

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