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THE TEST ROUTE
The test route between Phoenix and Long Beach, a straight shot through the desert on I-10, is not necessarily typical of the routes Knight's trucks traditionally run. Nonetheless, it is a busy shipping lane for the company, and it allows them access to the BP ULSD supply in California, and lets them bring the truck back home for regular check-ups.
"The availability (of ULSD) has been spotty," Williams admits. "There's really only been one company producing it, prior to the recent date the refineries all had to start making it. So we were limited to finding a site where British Petroleum could supply us with fuel, and we found one right outside of Long Beach. As far as cost is concerned, it's fluctuated with the market. It's been a little bit above the normal price of diesel fuel. Where it ends up I can't tell you at this point. I would anticipate it being between five and 20 cents above what fuel is selling for today. It's been a little volatile."
THE SCORECARD
After over a year, and 150,000 miles of testing, does Williams have concerns about the diesel particulate filter?
"If it works as advertised, then no, I don't believe there's much reason to be concerned," he says. "We still have some questions about how (cleaning the DPF) is going to be done, how long that's going to take, whether there's going to be a core return program or whether you wait for it to be cleaned. But those are things that are probably two years away."
Williams, does, however, have some concerns about the engines.
"The technology is something we're comfortable with. The price is a different issue," he says. "If anything, that is the issue that would be holding us up. But the technology itself is something we've gotten very involved with, and as we've done that we've gotten very comfortable with it."
As far as fuel economy is concerned, Williams reports that, compared to the '02 ISX, the '07 test engine is exhibiting a "slight degradation inclusive of use of ULSD." By spec'ing the gearing on new trucks for increased mileage, monitoring rpm at idle, and offering idle-reduction incentives to drivers, the company hopes to counteract that degradation.
Knight Transportation purchases approximately 1,400 trucks a year, or about 175 a month. Williams hasn't seen any reason why the company would alter their purchasing schedule going into 2007.
