North American engineering and research group’s first In-Service Fuel Testing for a U.S. carrier to compare powertrain combinations using a certified, highly qualified team of engineers, stringent processes and state-of-the-art equipment
ATLANTA/Las Vegas – October 03, 2016 – PIT Group, an engineering and research group for the North American trucking industry, is proud to announce today at the American Trucking Associations Annual Management Conference & Exhibition plans to conduct its first In-Service Fuel Testing on powertrain combinations in the U.S. Suppliers are currently being invited to participate in the evaluations for U.S. Xpress, Inc., which will take place from November 7-14, 2016 at the carrier’s facility in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. The event will also include an Invited Carriers & Media Day.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the PIT Group to showcase our testing capabilities with a carrier that is widely known for its use of innovative technologies,” said Yves Provencher, director of the PIT Group. “The ability to add real world test findings to test track data by a group of certified unbiased engineers will help carriers make the right decisions on which solutions will have the greatest economic impact on fuel consumption.”
For the U.S. Xpress evaluations, PIT Group has identified a 60-mile test course on highways and local roads. To represent typical fleet operations, U.S. Xpress fleet and other test vehicles will pull trailers with loads of equal weight. An in-cab observer provided by PIT Group will accompany U.S. Xpress drivers operating the test vehicles. U.S. Xpress will also provide fuel, technicians and maintenance facilities for the event, including a mobile service truck if required.
“We decided to host In-Service Fuel Testing to compare the fuel efficiency of engine-drivetrain components because we believe the PIT Group is the leading expert in the field of fuel efficiency evaluation,” said Gerry Mead, sr. vice president of maintenance at U.S. Xpress. “Using a proven process and a certified and highly experienced team from PIT Group will provide solid test results on fuel economy. Like most carriers we take fuel economy seriously and we believe this test will help validate the decisions we make about our equipment.”
PIT Group In-Service Fuel Testing utilizes TMC Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type III (RP 1103A). The industry standard test compares the fuel consumption of one component of a combination vehicle to the same component in another combination vehicle. PIT Group uses an ISO- 17025 certified process conducted by engineers dedicated solely to providing accurate unbiased test results on fuel saving technologies.
Founded in 1985, U.S. Xpress, Inc. is the nation’s second largest privately owned truckload carrier. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the carrier provides a wide variety of transportation solutions throughout North America with 8,000 tractors.
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About PIT Group
Based in Montreal, and actively operating in Canada and the U.S., PIT Group is a division of FPInnovations. Formed in 2008, the unbiased, neutral testing organization helps fleet managers select the best technologies to reduce costs and environmental impact. The group consists of engineers, technicians, eco-driving trainers and fleet management specialists that promote efficient energy use in the commercial transportation, municipal and transit industries across North America. Its highly qualified team employs stringent processes and state-of-the-art equipment during PIT Group’s Energotest, a fully independent, ISO 17025 certified, road test laboratory with international credibility. For more details, visit https://www.thepitgroup.com.
U.S. Media Contact:
Susan Fall
LaunchIt Public Relations
858 490-1050
U.S. Contacts:
Marc Bolduc
Business Development Director
PIT Group
Mobile: 1-514-824-1890
Toll-Free : 1-855-472-1159
Dwayne Haug
Business Development Consultant
PIT Group
Mobile: 1-402-807-9407
Toll-Free : 1-855-472-1159
Canada Media Contact:
Karine Seguin
Marketing Services Coordinator
PIT Group
1-855-472-1159
Canada Technical Contact:
Yves Provencher
Director
PIT Group
514-782-4523