Cat Electrifies Its Largest Dozer, the D11 XE
Fewer moving parts generally mean lower maintenance costs and longer life. Combine that with the power efficiency of electric drive on a D11 size dozer moving hundreds of tons of material a day, now you’re talking real savings.
That’s the program Caterpillar is developing behind its newest dozer, the D11 XE shown at MINExpo this year. The D11 XE is currently operating at Caterpillar’s dozer proving grounds in Peoria, Illinois, and will complete an extensive field validation plan before entering full production.
According to the company, it delivers the lowest cost per bank cubic meter in dozing operations and 25% better fuel efficiency. As for maintenance, the electric-drive technology results in a 20% increase in time between engine rebuilds, while 60% fewer moving parts translates to more machine uptime.
Tapping into Cat’s 20 years of experience with electric drives, the D11 XE dozer’s system delivers constant power to the ground, continuous pushing and greater maneuverability for faster cycle times and improved fuel efficiency.
Although the D11 XE is a new design, the machine shares some components with Cat’s mechanical-drive models. That similarity means mechanics are already familiar with many of the dozer’s systems, and owners have fewer parts to stock.
The new dozer’s modular design simplifies maintenance through improved serviceability of the powertrain. Fewer moving parts alsomean less wrenching required to maintain the dozer and lower service costs.
Also new with this dozer is the integration of powertrain, electronics and software controls which facilitate the use of Cat technologies such as MineStar Command for dozing with remote control or semi-autonomously.
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Truckers Banned from I-95 Work Zone in Delaware
To try to keep workers safe on a major rehabilitation project on Interstate 95, the Delaware Department of Transportation has banned tractor trailers on northbound lanes in the work zone.
“Since the beginning of the I-95 rehabilitation project there have been nearly two dozen crashes involving tractor trailers in the construction zone,” says Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “While the tractor trailer operators are not always at fault in these incidents, these crashes have shut down the roadway for lengthy periods of time, and this is an additional step we are taking to increase safety in this construction zone.”
The road section through downtown Wilmington is now only open to two-axle vehicles and buses until the project is completed. The section extends from I-495 north to the Brandywine River Bridge.
DelDOT said it implemented the temporary restriction after talks with the Delaware State Police in an effort to reduce crashes in the work zone.
The DOT also asks that drivers of vehicles with more than two axles avoid the southbound lanes of the area. But it adds that it would be too difficult to enforce a restriction on those lanes due to the multiple access points.
Interstate 95 through Wilmington, Delaware, is undergoing major construction to extend its life.Delaware DOTThe I-95 rehabilitation project involves deck repairs and replacement, as well as other improvements to 19 bridges and ramps, including the Brandywine River Bridge. The bridges, built in 1964, are rated to be in “fair” condition and in need of major repairs to extend their lives. The mainline concrete pavement between the Wilmington Viaduct and Brandywine Bridge needs to be reconstructed. The area also needs new concrete barriers, signs and lights, according to DelDOT. Work began in February on the $200 million project and is expected to be completed in Summer 2023.
The old concrete on the bridge decks will be removed using hydro-demolition equipment. After the top 2 inches are removed, they will be resurfaced with ultra-high-performance concrete, which will reduce the number of bridge joints. After the work is completed, the roadway is expected to last another 30 years.
DelDOT says that without the repairs, the entire section would need to be rebuilt.
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eBay “Doubles Down” on Used Equipment Market with Bidadoo Investment
Saying it is “doubling down” on providing tailored solutions for customer segments, eBay has taken a minority stake in online auction company bidadoo. While the two companies have had an 18-year partnership, the investment takes things to the next level, says Howard Hawk, bidadoo president.
For eBay, the deal was prompted by the rapid transition of the heavy equipment industry from in-person to online transactions experienced during the pandemic. “By harnessing the capabilities and experience of bidadoo the largest industrial seller on the platform eBay can offer end-to-end transactions that are more transparent and efficient, while boosting buyer confidence in their purchase without having to see an item in person,” says Chris Prill, vice president of eBay Motors, North America.
The companies estimate the value of the highly fragmented used equipment market at $50 to $60 billion.
“EBay and bidadoo are primed to meet this demand head on by connecting global buyers with equipment sellers through a seamless, industry-leading experience,” Prill says. “Professionals can not only discover high-quality equipment, parts and attachments, but also enjoy additional protections including machine evaluations and demos, eBay’s Business Equipment Purchase Protection (BEPP), and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.”
HawkbidadooFor bidadoo the deal “will add new value to both buyers and sellers,” Hawk says in comments to Equipment World. The two companies will remain separate although the brands will be brought closer together to show that “while it’s still bidadoo, we will have the the full power of the eBay platform, and bring more of their tools into the marketplace,” he says.
First up will be a “significantly expanded” field sales and solutions team along with marketing activities across all eBay channels, Hawk says. Another focus will be rolling out technologies and solutions that take advantage of this multi channel retail, wholesale and auction approach.
Buyers will see a lot more inventory plus added retail options, Hawk says. There will be more items offered on a “buy it now” basis. Sellers also will have more remarketing options. The inventory boost will come from the variety of used equipment channels, including dealers, rental companies, governments and utilities along with companies in the transportation and agricultural markets.
Bidadoo will also be rolling out additional buyer assurance programs “to further enhance buyer trust and give them the transparency they need to make intelligent buying decisions,” Hawk says.
During Q2, bidadoo says it saw a 65% increase in new seller accounts those using its platform for the first time over Q2 2020. And today’s hot used equipment market prompted a 15% to 30% increase in sales pricing and demand in several asset categories. It also notes it’s selling bigger equipment: its average sales price per item rose more than 75% in the quarter compared to Q2 2020.
“We track ourselves against a live auction model,” Hawk says. Bidadoo says it gets around 1,700 views per sale item, which it says is about 17 times more views per item versus a live auction platform that has simulcast online bidding. “The activity level is pretty astounding,” Hawk says. Bidadoo now has more than 63% mobile participation.
Currently, 70% of bidadoo’s inventory is construction equipment, Hawk says. The company also a presence in used truck and trailers. “But we will be investing in transportation, agriculture and equipment that comes through banks and lending institutions,” he says.
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Used Truck Prices Skyrocket, But Will the Bubble Burst?
The Class 8 auction market heats up more each month, and retail selling prices continue to crush records as the industry stands at the confluence of a strong freight market, an inadequate supply of low- to average-mileage used trucks and a shortage of drivers.
J.D. Power Senior Analyst and Product Manager of Commercial Vehicles Chris Visser, a guest during FTR’s ongoing virtual State of Equipment series, says “superheated rates” are keeping truck buyers energized. FTR forecasts rate increases to gradually relax and reach year-over-year parity starting in early 2022, while volume continues to grow into 2023. “In this market, we’re never going to have enough drivers to move the amount of freight that we have,” he says. “We’re really in a severe shortage of new trucks.”
The four-year truck trade cycle has been alive and well, Visser said, adding that 489,100 orders for trucks have been placed in the last 12 months with a bump in August due to the opening of model year 2023 build slots. However, OEMs have tamped down some of the enthusiasm as uncertainty surrounds the number of trucks they can build due to shortages of various components and workforce challenges.
Based on the number of trucks bought in model years prior, the supply of trades was naturally set to increase by roughly 20% in 2022, but Visser says the new-truck shortage will delay that increase.
Model years 2015 and 2016 are the most common trucks on the auction market, Visser notes, adding that if you can find three- or four-year-old trucks at auction, be ready to pay upwards of $100,000 for them.
“2019s are three years old, and those trucks are selling for well over $100,000 on the retail market,” Visser says, “and they’re being snapped up.”
Year-over-year auction pricing has increased more quickly and steeply than retail, as a lack of inventory is currently limiting sales.
“Dealers would sell more trucks if they had more trucks to sell,” Visser says.
An increasing number of fleets are bypassing dealers and auctions to dispose of late-model trucks because they’re so easy to sell. Visser adds the overall truck shortage has also pushed more fleets to the auction market as buyers, pitting them head-to-head against dealers and wholesalers on the auction floor and further driving up prices.
“When there’s no bargain price equipment that’s unwanted, (trucking) business is tough,” Visser says. “It’s getting more and more difficult for an owner-operator to purchase a used truck.”
Trucks 4 to 6 years old brought 86.5% more money at auction from January to July this year compared to the same period in 2020. Monthly appreciation has averaged roughly 4.8% in 2021.
Retail pricing is now at a post-Great Recession high with monthly appreciation of 3- to 5-year-old trucks averaging 1.8% per month across-the-board and increasing to 5.3% for trucks with fewer than 500,000 miles.
Visser says J.D. Power’s 48-month residual forecasts will likely be adjusted upward due to lower than predicted build rate of model year 2022 and 2023 trucks. While there’s no change in sight for current conditions, he said pricing will eventually pull back.
The used truck market will turn fairly quickly when new truck production returns to normal, parts shortages end and fleets start remarketing more trades through auctions, leaving the number of trucks on the ground and negative equity as concerns when supply returns to trend, Visser said.
“I won’t say the bubble bursts,” he says, “but eventually pricing will return closer to trend as the availability of new trucks increases and economic factors work themselves out of the economy.”
Fuel-saving equipment
Fuel-friendly specs 6x2s, wide-base wheels and aerodynamic equipment are hitting the used market in higher numbers, “and they do take a fairly substantial hit on the used side,” Visser says of used truck buyers typically seeking a dual rear-wheel, 6X4 configuration.
Wheel covers and chassis fairings, Visser says, also “tend to be one more piece of equipment that break and tend to wear out.”
A full set of aluminum wheels, Visser says, is adding upwards of $2,000 over steel.
The market is also warming up to automated manual transmissions (AMTs). Visser said most of the used truck market currently “wants” an AMT, adding that AMTs are now commanding a $2,000 to $3,000 price premium compared to a comparable manual transmission.
Historically, AMTs have been a pricing deduct compared to manuals, but that dynamic only exists currently with buyers seeking an 18-speed manual.
“Value enhancers are engine size and horsepower,” Visser says, adding that buyers still put a premium on 500-plus-horsepower engines. Other possible equipment on used models include:
Electronic Driver Assist Systems The 2018 model was the first year of widespread installation for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and while fleets want this technology on new trucks for safety and insurance savings, individual used buyers often need to be educated on how they work and their benefits.
Gliders Gliders are commanding roughly a 20% premium compared to a factory original unit, applies-to-apples, Visser says, because they are in very limited supply and almost none are entering the market. “That will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future,” he says.
Completed glider builds – Glider builds equipped with refurbished engines and transmissions in new truck bodies and chassis became popular among owner-operators and small fleets as an alternative to buying new in the wake of tightening federal emissions regulations that took effect in 2008 and 2011.
But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency crippled the glider industry with its Phase II emission regulations, sending independent shops that produced most of the kits retreating to repair/replacement when OEMs stopped selling chassis for gliders or selling gliders themselves.
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Industry Roundup: H & E relocates Little Rock branch
H & E Equipment Services has relocated its Little Rock branch, renovating a 6,450-square foot facility in Mabelvale, Arkansas. The facility includes a fully fenced yard, offices, parts warehouse and a repair shop with six service bays.
“To best serve customer demand, we recently sold our Komatsu dealership rights in Arkansas along with our former Little Rock property to focus specifically on rentals, the largest growth area of our business,” says Trent Taylor, branch manager. “Our plan is to aggressively grow our rental fleet and expand our product offering of quality equipment with competitive rates throughout the central Arkansas area.”
The Little Rock branch specializes in the rental of aerial lifts, telescopic forklifts, earthmoving machinery, compaction equipment, generators, compressors and more.
Hyundai adds Delta Power Equipment
Left to Right: Cameron Currie, general sales manager and Brad Blain, construction sales manager, Delta Power Equipment.Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas has added Delta Power Equipment to its North American dealer network. Delta serves agricultural, construction and power sports markets in multiple locations across Ontario. Hyundai equipment will be available at the company’s Essex, Forest, Mitchell, Sparta, Waterford and Winchester locations.
ProSource Machinery named Hydrema dealer
ProSource Machinery will now offer Hydrema articulated dump trucks. The company will represent Hydrema throughout Colorado from its Platteville location.
Chadwick-BaRoss buys J. F. McDermott
Chadwick-BaRoss has completed acquisition of waste-and waste-water-industries supplier J. F. McDermott. Chadwick-BaRoss now has nine locations in New England.
MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS
Yanmar announces new president, executives
JohnsonYanmarYanmar Compact Equipment and ASV Holdings brands have named Tate Johnson president, Lee Thole director of aftermarket and David Gannon as director of channel development.
Johnson joined the company as commercial director last year, overseeing sales, national accounts, channel development and marketing. As president, he will further develop growth initiatives for the company as the two brands progress in a joint vision of Yanmar Compact Equipment North America.
“As we continue to grow, we will seek to provide even more resources and support to our dealers and in turn, the end user customers,” says Johnson. “The addition of Lee and David is the logical next step.”
Thole’s responsibilities as aftermarket director will include strengthening post-sales support functions and aftermarket strategy. Gannon will work closely with the company’s dealer network, working to recruit new dealers and assist current dealers.
Ritchie reaches $500 million mark with Marketplace-E
Ritchie Bros. says its Marketplace-E price-controlled option has seen sales of more than $500 million in the past 12 months.
The option includes “Buy Now” and “Make Offer” features. Ritchie says it’s driving buyers to the site through real-time demand data. As a result, items “are selling approximately 40% faster on Marketplace-E,” says Kari Taylor, chief revenue officer. Ritchie says more than 2,500 customers used the service to sell items, including Sunbelt Rentals.
“We now have access to an expanded footprint and tools to help us better manage how, when, where, and what price to sell our assets—because we have the flexibility of choosing the proper Richie Bros channels, using a Ritchie Bros. location, or remarketing directly by Sunbelt we are improving the efficiency of our disposition process as well as recovery on equipment sold,” says James Dennis, vice president of fleet management at Sunbelt.
Sheppard joins Machinery Advisors
Luke Sheppard of Sheppard & Company Consulting has joined the Machinery Advisors Consortium. George Russell, MAC co-founder, says Sheppard “will complement the other MAC Advisors with his experience in construction and forestry equipment, his leadership insights revealed in his first book, and his demonstrated results driving success in the key parts and service departments of a large CE dealership.”
Equipment confidence index drops in September
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s monthly confidence index dropped from 66.6 in August to 60.5 in September. The index is a qualitative assessment of prevailing business conditions and future expectations as reported by key executives in the equipment finance sector.
When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 17.9% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, down from 35.7% in August. Another 71.4% believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, up from 64.3% the previous month; 10.7% believe business conditions will worsen, up from none in August.
Executive respondents cited several factors leading to increased uncertainty, including the Delta Covid-19 variant and the inability to fulfill demand because of labor shortages and supply chain shortages.
Woods Equipment names dealer channel director
Woods Equipment has named Darwin “Dag” Parsell to its newly created director of dealer sales channel position. Parsell, previously regional sales manager, will manage sales activities within the North American Woods Ag and Turf dealer organization.
Magni opens Houston-area office
Magni Group says it will use its new facility in Pasadena, Texas, as its main logistics hub for the distribution of spare parts and machines. The facility is in addition to the company’s current U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, which also serves as a parts and machine distribution facility. Magni has also announced plans to start work on a new headquarters in the first quarter of 2022.
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OSHA to Ramp Up Heat-Related Enforcement and Inspections
The Biden administration is calling for stepped up enforcement and increased efforts to prevent heat-related illnesses on the job.
As part of that initiative, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to increase workplace enforcement and inspections, especially on days when the heat index is above 80 degrees.
“On days when a recognized heat temperature can result in increased risks of heat-related illnesses, OSHA will increase enforcement efforts,” the agency says.
OSHA says it will also develop a National Emphasis Program, in which it will place temporary, intense focus on heat inspections. It also plans to develop a workplace heat standard.
Though construction is among the top industries affected by heat, the administration’s plan is broad-based, also including indoor workers, as well as schools and nursing homes. It cites climate change as leading to extreme heat, which “is now the leading weather-related killer in America.”
“Rising temperatures pose an imminent threat to millions of American workers exposed to the elements, to kids in schools without air conditioning, to seniors in nursing homes without cooling resources and particularly to disadvantaged communities,” President Joe Biden said in announcing the initiative.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 43 workers died from heat-related illness in 2019 and 2,410 suffered serious injuries and illnesses from heat. The agency notes that heat illnesses are often underreported. With climate change, DOL says, those conditions will worsen.
OSHA has ordered its area directors throughout the country to do the following:
Prioritize inspections of heat-related complaints, referrals and employer-reported illnesses and initiate an onsite investigation where possible.Instruct compliance safety and health officers, during their travels to jobsites, to conduct an intervention or open an inspection when they observe employees performing strenuous work in hot conditions. An intervention involves providing the agency’s heat poster and wallet card, discussing the importance of easy access to cool water, cooling areas and acclimatization.Expand the scope of other inspections to address heat-related hazards where worksite conditions or other evidence indicates these hazards may be present.
OSHA also calls on employers to intervene with its workers in extreme heat by requiring regular breaks for water, rest and shade; training workers on identifying heat-related symptoms and what to do when a worker suspects a heat-related illness; and taking periodic measurements to determine workers’ heat exposure.
In October, OSHA plans to start the rulemaking process to develop a federal heat standard for indoor and outdoor workplaces.
The agency says the forthcoming National Emphasis Program on heat hazard cases will target high-risk industries and focus resources and staff on heat inspections.
“The Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies will work together to help ensure that the American people have safe and healthy working conditions, provide cooling assistance to homes and neighborhoods, and coordinate with state and local officials to bolster their resilience and address the impacts of this threat,” Biden said.
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Why Is Terex Trucks’ Articulated Truck Line Now Called Rokbak?
When Volvo Group changed the name of its Terex Trucks articulated truck line to Rokbak earlier this month, it represented the first time the company had created an entirely new brand, says Paul Roberts, Rokbak managing director.
North American dealer input played an integral role in the rebranding.
RobertsVolvoAfter the dust settled following Volvo’s 2014 acquisition of Terex’s articulated and rigid-frame truck lines, “we started having a dialogue with our dealers and customers asking how they felt about the brand and what it should look like,” Roberts tells Equipment World.
Volvo had changed the division name to Terex Trucks with the understanding it would be a step along the way to new identities. (The rigid frame trucks directed primarily at the mining and quarry segments are now Volvo branded; both truck types are manufactured in Motherwell, Scotland.)
And with Terex now concentrating on lifting, material handling and processing, “there was quite a lot of separation from that brand,” Roberts says. “And after quite a few years of Volvo ownership, there was still some confusion in the marketplace regarding who we were. Was it still part of Terex or part of Volvo? Did Volvo buy Terex?”
About three years ago, Volvo started to delve into the Terex Truck artic product branding, asking dealers if it was time for a change. “The answers were very clear: we had to start thinking about where the brand should go,” Roberts says. “We sampled a few names with some key dealers. We wanted to convey that this is a strong, simple product that’s as solid as a rock.”
At the forefront in this effort was the North American articulated truck market. “The North American market is hugely important,” Roberts says. “In some years, it makes up 50% of the world market for articulated haul trucks, which can be around 8,000 units. North American customers and dealers really know the product and its applications.”
Rokbak artics are distributed by around 30 North American independent multiline dealers and not through the Volvo CE dealer network, which, of course, distribute Volvo’s popular artic line. “We keep the brands separate,” Roberts says. “It’s a different platform and design.”
Volvo says the two Rokbak models, the the 30.9-ton RA30 and the 41.9-ton RA40, offer better fuel economy, lower emissions, improved safety and greater durability than the previous Terex Truck models.Volvo
Roberts points out that the articulated hauler space has relatively few competitors. He sees two types of customers: those looking for feature-laden premium products and those wanting simpler products. Rokbak products would tend to appeal to smaller to medium-sized earthmoving contractors. Top Rokbak markets are Florida, the Carolinas and Texas. The division is also looking to expand in Georgia and some areas in Canada.
Today’s supply-chain problems, however, have created interest in Rokkbak trucks outside its usual customer base, says Roberts. It’s a two-edged sword, however, since the division also faces similar supplier issues as other OEMs.
Volvo says the two Rokbak models, the the 30.9-ton RA30 and the 41.9-ton RA40, offer better fuel economy, lower emissions, improved safety and greater durability than the previous Terex Truck models, TA300 and TA400. For artics going to the European market, Europe’s Stage 5 engine requirements also prompted major changes in the machine control, intake and exhaust system that will not be part of the North American product.
Volvo traces the Rokbak’s lineage to 1934 when Euclid Road Machinery built what Volvo calls the world’s first off-road truck, the Model 1Z. The trucks have been made in Motherwell, Scotland, since 1950. General Motors bought Euclid in 1953 and renamed its earthmoving division “Terex,” from the Latin “terra” (earth) and “rex” (king). Terex became independent of General Motors in 1987, was bought by North West Engineering in 1992, forming Terex Corporation. Volvo Group then bought the off-road truck line from Terex in 2014.
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Plagued with Low Battery Life? These Chargers Will Keep Your Devices Ready to Go
Time for a battery check. You rely on your devices especially phones to power your business. But will they last a full day which in contractor terms means way past eight hours?
The good news: There are a slew of good, reliable and affordable charging options out there. But whatever you buy, be sure to look for these basics:
Size and Capacity: A good rule of thumb for power banks says the bigger the battery, the greater its capacity and the more ports it can accommodate. It’s easy to find an inexpensive one that will fit in your pocket and, with 5,000mAh, reload your phone once or twice. It’s also not hard to find something a bit more robust.
Power In. Power Out: When shopping for a charger or power bank, be sure it’s compatible with the device(s) you’ll be using it with. Most will have a USB-A port for reloading the battery and for sending the juice to your device. More and more devices are relying on USB-C ports, as they are also compatible with most fast-charging options.
And, of course, Apple has a port all its own: Lightning. However, with the Apple iPhone 12, charging can be done with a USB-C port.
So, regardless of the charger or battery pack you buy, be sure its ports match up with your device’s cords.
Wireless Charging Is a Real Thing: Newer models of smartphones and other devices may be set up to be charged without having to be plugged in. Wireless charging relies on electromagnetic induction to reload your device. In short, wireless, or Qi, charging works by transmitting power from a coil in a charging unit to a coil in the receiving device. All you do is place your smartphone or other device on the pad of the receiver.
As we said, there are hundreds of charging devices on the market. With even modest study, you can find one at a travel center, truck stop, big-box store or online that fits your device and your budget.
Here’s a few to get you started:
Jackery Explorer
To the untrained or unfamiliar, putting using this portable power station in your pickup might seem like going rabbit hunting with a Howitzer. But it never hurts to be over-prepared.
Weighing in at just a shade less than 4 pounds, the Explorer packs a big charging wallop and also provides the convenience of not having to reload it too often.
It has a 100-watt AC outlet, a USB-C and two USB-A outlets, and a 12-volt car outlet as well.
And at its heart, the Explorer has rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that provide 167 watt-hours of energy storage. That means it’ll recharge the thirstiest of smartphones 16 times.
You can refill those batteries by plugging into a wall socket (about five hours) or your truck’s 12-volt system as you drive, or hook it to an optional solar panel.
The Explorer 160 sells for about $106 on Jackery’s website.
PowerDrive’s Cup Holder Power Inverter
This device not only charges your devices, it also provides AC and 12-volt outlets so you can use your truck’s battery to power other appliances.
Fitting nicely into your truck’s cup holder, it has both USB 2.4 amp and USB-C 3 amp ports, in addition to the AC outlet, making it able to accommodate most of your charging requirements.
It has a 2-foot-long cable to plug into your truck’s 12-volt port.
PowerDrive is a member of the RoadPro Family of Brands, and the cup holder inverter is available at most travel centers and truck stops and sells for $32 online.
Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger
Don’t be thrown by the name. This’ll work in your truck and delivers plenty of power for a reasonable price – about $20 online.
This device fast-charges phones, tablets and laptops on its USB-C port and, at the same time, can charge a second phone on its USB-A port. It conforms to USB-C fast-charging standards and includes a good quality cable.
This Nekteck’s 45-watt output and its USB-C–to–C cable support the maximum charge rate on Android phones, the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pros, and some laptops. In addition, you can use the 12-watt USB-A port at the same time to charge a second phone or other device with any USB cable you already have.
MobileSpec Charging Bundles
Let’s face it; your fancy smartphone is useless if not charged. And even the best, most powerful charger is of no value if you can’t get the juice to that same smartphone. The important link is the cable (yes, yes, we know, Qi allows wireless charging, but not every person has a compatible device), and MobileSpec delivers not just a good, solid charging cable but some much-appreciated accessories in its bundles.
Each bundle has a 6-foot-long Lightning to USB or USB-C to USB braided cable that has strain relief built-in, but other goodies as well. All three bundles include five cable organizers. Then you can get a bundle with a:
● Multi-tool that has a pen, knife, bottle opener and flashlight
● Phone cardholder for up to three cards
● Three-in-one phone mount (finger, stand or dashboard venter)
MobileSpec is a member of the RoadPro Family of Brands, and its bundles and other charging devices can be found at most truck stops and travel centers. Available online for under $13.
WeeGo Jump Starting Power Pack
Don’t let the name fool you. This powerful battery can:
1. Jump-start your pickup or ATV
2. Recharge your smartphone or other device
3. Fit in the palm of your hand
That makes it ideal to keep in your truck’s cab. It literally packs a lot of power and takes up little valuable space.
WeeGo makes several power packs (including the Crankenstein, which is suitable for jump-starting duties at jobsites and repair shops), and includes the 44.1.
WeeGo’s new 44.1 weighs just a pound and a half, but its lithium-ion battery delivers 440 cranking amps, so you can jump-start most vehicles. The $129 unit also has a 12-volt port, a fast-charge USB port, and doubles as a flashlight with 500 lumens of illumination.
nker 24W Three-Port USB Portable Solar Charger
Anker is well known for producing reliable, affordable chargers and other digital devices. Among them is a solar charger; the Anker 24W 3-Port USB portable solar charger includes a foldable CIGS (thin-film) solar panel.
It’s suitable for iPhone 12/SE/11/XS Max/XR/X/8, iPad, Samsung Galaxy S20/S10/S9/S8. The solar panel’s three USB ports share a total 21W output, allowing you to simultaneously charge up to three devices. When you’re not charging, the PowerSolar folds away for easy storage. The built-in storage compartment can hold cables or small mobile devices. It comes with an 18-month warranty.
Available online for $79.99.
myCharge HubMax 10050 Portable Charger
The myCharge HubMax 10050mAh portable charger has an integrated Apple Lightning cable, an integrated USB-C cable and a USB port. It also has self-contained wall prongs so you can plug it into a wall socket or an inverter.
With a 10050mAh internal battery, the HubMax 10050 delivers up to 54 hours of charging power. It’s available online for $89.99.
Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand
Belkin Boost WirelessThis wireless charging stand can reload a typical smartphone from empty to 50% in about an hour. It comes with a cable and wall plug and delivers a 7.5 W charging speed for iPhones and 10 W for Android smartphones.
The Belkin Boost is compatible with Qi-enabled devices including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. You can charge your phone in portrait or landscape modes.
Available online for $32.99.
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Cat’s Connected Worker Puts Safety In a Hard Hat, Wearable Tag
Embedding tracking and communication capabilities into PPE just makes sense.
Cat says its new Connected Worker system, which will be available during the first quarter of 2022, combines smart wearable technology with the power of analytics to make workers safer. The system was developed by GuardHat.
Introduced at MINExpo this week, the Connected Worker consists of three major components: the wearable hardware, software that captures and reports data and an Internet of Things platform that receives field reports and alerts workers of potential safety risks.The system communicates evacuation orders, fall detections, SOS signals and geofence violations.
The lithium-ion battery backs last 8-12 hours and can be easily swapped out.GuardHatThe “wearable” part comes in two different forms: an HC1 Hardhat has an embedded GNSS chip that tells users where each wearer is on site. Users employing Ultra-Wideband systems can also track wearers indoors, offering 3D tracking (longitude, latitude and elevation) to quickly locate workers in an emergency. The hard hat features video and audio call, push-to-talk and offline geofence and recording capabilities.
According the the GuardHat website, the HC1 Hardhat is powered by a rear lithium-ion battery pack that provides 8-12 hours of power. The yellow brim is where most of the features reside. Buttons on the underside of the brim include a call button, volume, SOS, status/resolve, push-to-talk, channel change and power button. The maximum weight of the hard hat (with suspension) is 1 pound, 12.2 ounces.
The Cat Connected Worker TA1 tag offers GNSS and Bluetooth tracking outdoors.CaterpillarAnother wearable is the TA1 tag, which offers GNSS and Bluetooth tracking outdoors. The tag has SOS, evacuation and social distancing alerts and notifies workers of geofence breaches. The tag can also capture images and videos to report hazards that are automatically shared with the system’s safety control center (SCS) to teams can quickly develop geofences around the hazard.
The system, part of Cat’s MineStar Detect portfolio, also has an Android smart phone app to monitor crews outdoors. It allows field managers to communicate with workers, issue SOS alerts, and can capture images and videos.
Cat says Connected Worker creates a safety ecosystem at the mine site, capturing and storing data either in the cloud or on a local server for analysis. Using the SCS, managers can view worker location and data in near real-time to communicate unsafe situations to those in the field. Reports include event reporting, violations and emergency evacuations, location reports with heat signatures that designate highly traveled areas, sensor readings that include temperature, noise, humidity and pressure.
Smart hard hats are gaining traction, especially in the mining sector. The SmartCap, now marketed by the Wenco International Mining Systems division of Hitachi Construction Machinery, attacks a different safety issue: fatigue. It measures alertness and fatigue by analyzing brain activity, often referred to as EEG. Alertness scores, early warning alerts and fatigue alarms are delivered via a smartphone app installed on rugged devices.
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Equipment World Announces Editorial Leadership Transition
After a stretch of more than three decades, Randall-Reilly announces a change at the top of the Equipment World editorial team.
Marcia Doyle, Equipment World’s chief editor, is retiring at the end of 2021. She will be succeeded by Jordanne Waldschmidt, formerly head of content for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), who joins the Equipment World team this month as chief editor. Doyle will serve as the brand’s editor emeritus during the transition.
Doyle joined Randall-Reilly in 1989 and has expertly guided Equipment World since its inception, helping readers navigate the ever-changing construction industry and evolving equipment trends. She also served as editorial director for Randall-Reilly’s construction brands and successfully launched new brands in related markets such as Total Landscape Care and Big Iron Dealer.
Under Doyle’s leadership, Equipment World has become the most respected media brand in the construction industry and has won dozens of awards from the American Society of Business Press Editors and other industry associations. Equipment World’s June 2018 special report, “Death by Trench,” won the Jesse H. Neal award for Best Single Issue from Connective, the Business Information Association, a division of SIIA.
“Equipment World would not be where it is today without Marcia’s tireless service and dedication over the last 32 years,” said Jeff Crissey, content director, OEM/Aftermarket, for Randall-Reilly. “She has been the driving force behind award-winning content, and most recently guided the Equipment World team through the transition from print to digital and multimedia content.”
Waldschmidt joins Randall-Reilly from AEM, where she served as the organization’s content marketing manager for more than nine years leading trade show editorial, content marketing and social media strategies. Her audience focus and multimedia content skillset will propel Equipment World to new heights for audience engagement.
Waldschmidt has earned awards from the Content Marketing Institute, Construction Media Alliance and other organizations for her forward-looking approach to social media and audience engagement for AEM’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show.
“For decades, Equipment World has set the standard for trusted industry news and insights,” said Waldschmidt. “It is an honor to lead a team of top journalists as we explore new opportunities to serve construction professionals in a digital-first world.”
“Serving this industry as a journalist has been a great honor,” said Doyle. “I treasure the memories and look forward to seeing Jordanne and her team propel Equipment World to new heights.”
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