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Related Blog Articles

• Top 6 Alternative Fuels

  Fuel costs are the second-largest operating expense (behind driver compensation) for most trucking operations. A rolling truck’s energy requirements fit into two basic categories: aerodynamic losses and mechanical losses. Aerodynamic losses tend to increase as...

• How Winter Affects Fuel Economy

  When all of the leaves fall off the trees and the weather gets colder each day, we know it is time to start getting prepared for the Winter season ahead. There are a lot of things to think about when preparing for the winter such as winterizing your fleet, but have...

• How COVID-19 Will Affect 2020 Holiday Shipping

  COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives in 2020. It has affected how we work, how we celebrate events with family and friends, and the way we shop. For many of us, we have to do these activities virtually. This holiday season is no different and, the holiday...

• 3 Easy Steps to Make Your Fleet Green

  Increasing numbers of people across the globe are trying to incorporate green practices into their lives and workplaces. Have you considered steps to make your fleet green? How to Make Your Trucking Fleet Green From 1990 to 2017, the volume of greenhouse gases...

• 4 Tips for Technician Retention

  It’s no secret that the trucking industry has a shortage of technicians. By 2022, the commercial trucking sector will need to fill more than 100,000 technician positions. A considerable part of this issue is that knowledgeable technicians are retiring, and the...

• Guide to Truck Driver Retention

  The American Trucking Association reports the trucking industry was short 60,800 drivers in 2018. This shortage is increasing fast, and if current trends hold, the trucker shortage may increase to 160,000 drivers by 2028.  When you consider all the costs associated...

• Tips for Proper Wheel-End Maintenance

  The wheels on a semi-truck are typically exposed to 100,000 miles of highway time in a single year. That’s a lot of revolutions for the hardware that keeps you pointed in the right direction. On an eighteen-wheel truck, you have five axles — each with two wheel ends...

• The Importance of Proper Tire Inflation

    Why is Proper Tire Pressure Important? It is crucial for a fleet to have a proactive maintenance program, especially one that involves the upkeep of their wheel end. With the cost of tires being one of the highest expenses for a fleet, keeping them at their...

• 3 Ways COVID-19 is Affecting Trucking

  COVID-19 and the Trucking Industry Due to COVID-19 overwhelming the country and changing life as we know it, all industries across the country have been affected. The trucking industry is no different. Thankfully, the trucking industry is full of workers that are...

• Aluminum vs Steel Wheels: What’s Best for Your Fleet?

  Are Aluminum or Steel Wheels Better? To answer this question, you need to consider the needs and applications of your fleet. With the increasing popularity of aluminum wheels for commercial vehicles, there is debate among fleets on whether or not to switch from steel...

• CSA Tire Violation Prevention

  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) set up the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scoring system in 2010 to improve safety on the road and prevent collisions. This score can influence everything from job opportunities for drivers to the...

• Automation in the Commercial Trucking Industry

  In the last few years, there has been plenty of misinformation surrounding the adoption of automation in the commercial trucking industry. This has created concerns over the safety of drivers on the road as well as the security of jobs for commercial truck drivers. So...

• Helpful Tips for Proper Wheel Installation & Inspection

  Mounting a wheel seems simple enough. Pop it on, use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts, and you’re good to go. But this step is a lot more crucial than you think. You want to be sure the wheel is mounted correctly and maintained properly to increase safety...

• Truck Maintenance Guide-Your Guide to Wheel-End Maintenance

  Managing a commercial truck fleet requires careful strategy. Every day, you have to make decisions about how to allocate resources, where to find new business, and what your trucks need to continue operating safely and efficiently. The over-forty years of knowledge in...

• Selecting the Correct Tire Sealant for Your Application

  Tire punctures resulting in air loss are a common issue on the road. Underinflation from air loss causes your tires to wear excessively and will lead to premature tire replacement. In the long run, this will lead to higher operating costs and an increase in downtime....

• Digital Data Gathering

  IMI understands that trucking is changing at a rapid pace, and that is significantly impacted by the increased adaptation of technology. With all of this additional technology comes a plethora of data that is gathered – how will fleets keep up? In this white...

• The Retreading Industry and the Myths Surrounding It

  Myths permeate the tire industry. When it comes to retreading, this is especially true. What Is Retreading? Do Retreaded Tired Perform Well? Are Retreaded Tires Safe? Can Retreaded Tires Cause Blowout? Advantages of Using Retreaded Tires When it comes down to the cold...

• The Best Apps for Truck Drivers

  Updated: June 2020 Index for Helpful Truck Driver Apps: All-Around Apps Directional Apps Apps for Fuel Weather Apps Health Apps Scanning Apps Other Helpful Apps Your smartphone and its programs may have become some of the essential tools in your truck. These programs...

• Benefits of Alignment in Trucks and Commercial Vehicles

  Business owners and fleet management personnel must equip tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles with solid sets of tires. While choosing a tire size and tread style appropriate for your applications is important, ensuring that installations are aligned and...

• Download the IMI Annual Industry Report 2018

  At IMI, we know trucking is changing – and for those working in the industry every day, it can be difficult to keep up. We’re here to help.  We’ve researched the top factors impacting fleets in 2018 and compiled a report with trends we’ve...

• Addressing the Service Technician Shortage in the Commercial Trucking Industry

  “Oh no, we’re out of technicians.” According to an article published on CCJ News, that was the title of one of the discussions during the 2016 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting. Three years later in 2019, that undeniable truth...

• Freight Ton vs. MPG: How to Calculate Fuel Efficiency Gains

  Quick Links: What Is Freight Ton? | The Freight-Ton Calculation | Who Is Using the Calculation?| How Freight Tonnage Will Affect Your Fleet | IMI Has Trucking Efficiency Solutions You Can Rely On The trucking industry is the backbone of America. Both truck drivers and...

• How to Keep Your Drivers — and Fleet — Safe During Winter Weather

  “It’s never too early to start planning.” The recognizable phrase holds true for almost every situation — especially when it comes to operating your trucks in the winter time. Preparing for the colder season means pulling out your warm work gloves and thermals while...

• Effect of Mounting and Alignment on Tire Wear for Semi Trucks

  When your fleet gets new tires for your tractor trailers, the first act of mounting and balancing those tires to your wheel-end greatly impacts the life of those tires.  Should the tires be mounted incorrectly, it can cause significant irregular tire wear and...

• How to Manage Your Tire and Fuel Expenses with Wheel-End Balancing

  Fleets face a difficult challenge of properly managing their two greatest expenses: tires and fuel. Although engineers are currently working to develop advanced technology to improve fuel efficiency, fleet managers need solutions that will make an impact on their...

• Effects of Corrosion on Your Commercial Fleet

  Quick Links: What Causes Corrosion on Your Truck’s Wheel Ends? | Effect of Corrosion on Your Truck’s Wheel End | Prevent Corrosion — Faster Treatment and Cleaning Corrosion is an oxidation process that occurs in metal due to a chemical reaction caused by...

• The Cost of Trucking

  Quick Links: Trucking Industry Averages | Trucking Company Cost Factors | Truck Maintenance Cost | How to Calculate Cost Per Mile for Your Trucking Company | How to Reduce Trucking Costs When it comes to money management, the majority of fleets hire outside...

• The Importance of Rolling Resistance in Hauling Trucks

    Quick Links: What Is Rolling Resistance? | What Is Low Rolling Resistance? | How Rolling Resistance Affects Fuel Economy| What Factors Affect Rolling Resistance in Heavy-Duty and Long-Haul Fleets? | IMI FLEXX for Decreased Rolling Resistance and Increased Fuel...

• The Future of Fuel Economy

  Over the last decade, successive lines of trailer-trucks have helped the industry gain on fuel efficiency. Whereas trucks manufactured in 2009 averaged six mpg, today’s newer trucks are averaging between eight and 12 mpg. The ultimate goal with today’s...

• Wheel Refinishing Tips for Fleets

  By understanding the safety of the wheel and the differences in the wheel refinishing process, you can ensure your fleet has attractive, reliable, and safe wheels on the road. This webinar contains tips for fleets to be aware of when working with a service provider to...

• Why Looks Matter: Wheel Safety Edition

  Appearance and safety often go hand in hand. When you take your vehicle to the car wash, you choose to get it cleaned not just because it will improve its appearance, but because regular washing saves your vehicle from salt, rust, and damage. Wheel safety and...

• Understanding Aerodynamic Drag and How It Impacts Your Truck

  How much do you know about semi truck aerodynamics? If you have a truck fleet, it is very important that you understand the relationship between truck aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. Put simply, aerodynamic drag is a force on your truck that requires your truck to...

• Large National Tire Dealer Reduces Waste and Increases Profits with the IMI MILCURE Process

  In May 2015, IMI conducted an audit of the wheel refinishing system at one of the nation’s largest retreaders and commercial tire dealers. The tire dealer was interested in improving its steel wheel refinishing, with a focus on waste-reduction, increase in...

• Innovations that Put Fleets First

  In 1946, Michelin introduced one of the most important advances in the transportation industry: the radial tire. While traditional tires featured cord plies that intersected diagonally, the radial tire added cord plies that cross the median axis at a 90-degree angle –...

• Extending the Life of Your Construction Fleet Tires

  When you’re in the construction business, your trucks are your life. And when it comes to trucks for construction, tire life is just as important as engine life. The more life you get out of your construction fleet and tires, the more money you save and the more...

• Important Maintenance for Mining Trucks

  If you manage a mining operation, you know that the condition of your fleet is a crucial element in your success. You have invested a lot of time and money in your mining fleet with the idea that they will work hard for you for a very long time. That won’t...

• Slower Driving Pays Big When It Comes to Improving Fleet Fuel Efficiency

  How fast should your drivers be driving their trucks? Your drivers may be tempted to drive as fast as they safely can in order to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. They may argue that it is better for you financially because they can make more runs if...

• Internal Wheel-End Balancing: the Top Three Benefits Your Drivers Will Thank You For

  Driver retention is one of the greatest challenges facing fleets today. With an industry-wide driver turnover rate of 95%, chances are you are already thinking about strategic ways to attract and retain drivers. You’re probably considering how to integrate ELDs,...

• How to Limit Truck Driver Turnover By Fixing Driver Comfort

  Driver Turnover and Shortage From an operational standpoint, the problem of driver turnover is too costly to ignore. In “Examining Driver Turnover and Retention in the Trucking Industry” by Harrison and Pierce, the average cost of losing one driver was estimated...

• Five Ways to Stop Your Refinished Wheels From Corroding During Winter

    Fleets often ask us about ways to prevent rusty or corroded wheels. It’s a top priority in around-the-wheel care for important reasons: wheels need to be strong, safe, and attractive to support productivity. While strong wheels are a necessity all year long,...

• What Is Aerodynamic Drag?

  If your business relies on trucking for deliveries, paying attention to aerodynamic drag helps you save on fuel costs. Most drivers have at least heard of the term aerodynamic drag, but many are unaware just how important the overall shape and size of a vehicle is...

• How Reducing Truck Vibration Saves You on Fuel

  If your business requires the regular use of trucks, fuel is one of your major expenses. Anything you can do to save fuel can make a big difference when it comes to your bottom line. One way of saving on fuel is considering ways to reduce truck vibration....

• Tire Sealants: A Safe Tire Solution

  Tire sealants are a great way to protect your truck tires, especially when you ride your trucks hard and often over rough terrain with heavy loads. However, some people have concerns that the dangers outweigh the benefits of tire sealant. In particular, some people...

• Three Benefits to Investing in Predictive Truck Tire Maintenance

  While it might seem like predictive maintenance is one more cost to your business, the peace of mind and benefits it provides make it well worth the investment.  Predictive maintenance keeps your fleet strong while keeping you safe from unforeseen costs, by either...

• Mining Productivity Relies on Tires

  There has been a focus on job creation in the mining industry of late. More mining means more use of mining trucks and more pressure on mining truck wheels and tires. Mining trucks tend to put a lot more wear on tires than trucks in just about any other industry,...

• Painting Versus Powder Coating Truck Wheels

  The decision of whether to paint or powder coat your wheels is an important one. Your wheels bear the brunt and weight of your vehicle, so it’s not a choice that should be taken lightly. Taking care of your wheel correctly helps eliminate downtime and ultimately...

• Voices of Our Customers: Hilco Transport and EQUAL FLEXX

  At IMI, we work hard to deliver extra miles in extraordinary ways. After all, it’s in our mission statement. And we are proud to partner with Hilco Transport, Inc. to improve their fleet’s tire wear and fuel efficiency with the use of EQUAL FLEXX. Watch...

• Our Surprising Way to Demonstrate Reduced Vibration and Rolling Resistance

  TMC EQUAL FLEXX DEMONSTRATION – REDUCED ROLLING RESISTANCE AND VIBRATION While at the TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, we wanted to create a way for visitors to experience the benefits of EQUAL FLEXX.  Why?  Well, we can...

• A Quick Guide: Keeping the Wheels on the Bus Going ‘Round

  As a manager of school bus maintenance, you’re responsible for some pretty precious cargo.  On top of the strict safety standards from the state and federal level, you’re given tight budgets and face great demands.  How do you maintain a safe fleet of school buses...

• Five Things to Know About Fuel Economy and Rolling Resistance

  Quick Links: 1. What is Rolling Resistance? | 2. Why Does Rolling Resistance Require So Much Energy? | 3. What Factors Influence Lower Rolling Resistance?| 4. Can Fleets Address Rolling Resistance Without Purchasing All New Tires? | 5. How Do Balanced Tires Impact...

• Case Study: Progressive Fleet Looks for More Fuel Economy

  A progressive, Midwest-based fleet with 340 trucks and 790 trailers was interested in improving its fuel economy and increasing tire life.  With a focus on preventative maintenance and data-driven acceptance of new technology, the fleet decided to do a test on EQUAL...

• Case Study: Regional Tire Dealer Protects OTR Tires with TOTAL

  In 2010, a Northeastern US Commercial Tire Dealer with retreading and OTR tire operations in over 40 locations and 250 truck service vehicles began looking for a solution to improve the dismounting process of earthmover tires. At the time, the Tire Dealer was...

• In the Know: Five Topics Affecting Trucking

  The beginning of 2017 has been a whirlwind of news – both international and domestic – and keeping all of these headlines straight can be a full-time job.  We’ve tried to make it easy for you: here are five of the top trending topics in trucking industry...

• Rethink the Wheel: The IMI MILCURE Process

  CASE STUDY: LARGE NATIONAL TIRE DEALER REDUCES WASTE AND INCREASES PROFITS WITH THE IMI MILCURE PROCESS In May 2015, we conducted an audit of the wheel refinishing system at one of the nation’s largest retreaders and commercial tire dealers.  The tire dealer was...

• Preventing Disaster: Simple Ways to Inspect and Maintain OTR Tires

  Recently, Tire Review published an article “OTR Market: Highs and Lows”, detailing the factors currently affecting the OTR tire market and what changes to expect in the future.  While economic and environmental influences were discussed, the article also stressed the...

• New EPA Regulations: Changes for You and the Industry

  The new EPA regulations to come out last month have many in the industry concerned about fuel consumption.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government has released new regulations requiring big trucks to lower carbon emissions by up to 25% and cut fuel...

• 3 Significant Ways to Reduce Costs when Maintaining a Fleet

  Maintaining a fleet is costly, and with fuel prices fluctuating constantly, keeping costs down while still performing at your peak can be difficult.  We’ve scoured the web to find the top tips for you to reduce costs – without major initial investments or sacrificing...

• Your Best Solution to Handle the Heat and Avoid Corrosion

  Tires experience a multitude of conditions throughout their lifetime.  General wear and tear on a tire can lead to air loss, punctures, and a variety of issues that are dangerous and costly to fleet managers.  Add in heavy stop-and-start operating, fluctuating outside...

• How IMI Combats the Danger of Wheel-offs

  Bringing a truck onto the roadway represents an enormous responsibility. A typical car weighs 4,000 lbs., compared to a fully loaded commercial truck that weighs approximately 80,000 lbs. Due to that disparity in weight and size, commercial trucks have the potential...

• How IMI Solves the Problem of Wheel Corrosion

  CHEMICALS HELP ROADS BUT HURT WHEELS An article that appeared in the December 5 print edition of Transport Topics highlighted a fairly recent challenge facing drivers who travel the roads in parts of the country where snow and ice on the roadways is a regular...

• Fuel Efficiency Practices That Will Save Your Fleet Thousands

  One of the largest variable costs for a commercial trucking fleet is fuel.  Second only to labor costs, the amount of a fleet’s annual spending that goes towards keeping gas tanks full will often determine whether that fleet is a profitable or losing money. While the...

• 3 Easy Solutions that Keep Truck Drivers Happy

  The American Trucking Association estimates that annual driver turnover among long-haul commercial truck drivers nearly approaches 100%, according to a recent article on Forbes.com. Fleet managers find themselves scrambling to find drivers to meet demand, often...

• Get the Most Out of Wide Base Tires With EQUAL

  An estimated 10-15 percent of commercial fleets use wide base tires to reduce vehicle weight, boost payload or save fuel. Fleets that make the move to wide base tires shed more than 700 pounds per vehicle and cut fuel use by up to 3 percent. Yet many fleets find wide...

• For Fuel Savings, Extend Tire Life

  A recent article in Tires & Wheels, “What Fleets Expect From Their Tires,” examines the connection between extended tire mileage and fuel economy and offers good advice for improving both. The author notes that one of the best ways to improve fuel economy is to...

• Fleet Equipment Article Confirms Benefits of Balancing

  The following article appeared in the August 2014 issue of Fleet Equipment. It contains excellent analysis of the relationship between commercial tire balancing and fuel economy. We hope you find it useful. A question of balance By Asa Sharp The issue of tire/wheel...

• How to Get Better Fuel Economy out of Your Tires: What the TMC Says

  Finding that magic combination of just the right equipment, maintenance and driving tactics to get the best mileage possible is more than a challenge—it’s an art. Accurate stats based on tests of the latest vehicles and equipment can help you be sure you’re investing...