Behind the Wheels

There are many trucking superstitions and urban legends passed down to younger generations that are usually unverified claims with exaggerated or inaccurate details. These can relate to maintenance, technique, methods, product selection, etc. and while they make for a great laugh, the information can potentially be problematic to your truck or wheel axle. Doug, Dave and Mike share some of their favorite “wise tales” from the field, why the advice may actually be unreliable and how it can be...

Understanding the processes of litigation is important within the trucking industry as, for fleets, it is a likely occurrence. Therefore, what better way to learn what to expect when walking into a courtroom than by witnessing a real life scenario? The leaders of TMC made a significant impact on attendees of its March Annual Meeting when they activated a mock trial centered around a wheel-off and offering viewers an eye opening and instructive lesson. On this episode of Behind The Wheels,...

What is galvanic corrosion, why does it occur and what does it mean for the health of your wheel and hub? In the first new episode of 2022, Doug, Dave and Mike will help better understand what happens when a wheel sticks to the hub and the solutions that can help prevent this challenging issue. Yes, there are products and tools on the market that claim to be galvanic corrosion problem solvers, but the Alcoa® wheel experts detail which actually help your wheels and hub, and which could cause...

With tire pressure management systems (TPMS) continuing to be a major player in the industry, it became essential to identify a way to operate the TPMS, while not disrupting tire/wheel maintenance. Just this year, Alcoa® Wheels introduced its Dual Valve Wheel, which allows operators and fleet owners to install a TPMS into one valve of the wheel , and still provide the ability to perform maintenance on the other—without the need to remove the wheel. Doug, Dave and Mike discuss the benefits of...

Alcoa Wheels experts understand that the topic of heat leads to many questions. That’s why we’re dedicating another episode to this “hot” issue, specifically as it relates to wheels. How do you manage your wheel if it gets too hot, how do you know when your wheel is too hot and what should you do if it is? Also, learn how heat indicators are a critical solution to keeping your wheels in service. Doug, Dave and Mike address all these and more when they take you Behind The Wheels. Don’t want...

Our hosts Doug, Dave and Mike are big fans of all that the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) has to offer and they love getting into the nitty gritty. On this episode, the guys are taking a deep dive into all things Recommended Practices (RP’s). It’s a powerful discussion regarding how the ideas of RP’s are introduced at TMC and the path they take to formal development. They’ll also specifically get into a conversation about one of the newer TMC RP’s, RP237CT—torque checking...

We all know that fleets and their decision makers are the influencers to making industry differences. Doug, Dave and Mike sit down with the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)’s executive director, Mike Roeth, to talk about the most reliable information for optimum truck performance. With so much diversity within the commercial vehicle wheel industry, technology is essential in creating “the big transformation” or a world with little or no truck emissions and the best in...

In this follow up episode of Behind the Wheels, Doug, Dave and Mike take a deeper dive into the topic of loading and the things that affect it. Topics include the importance of placement on the spread axle, the fifth wheel positioning and how it affects the steer axle and one of the most common problems - managing inflation pressure. Find out how this has a huge impact on overloading a wheel. Don’t want to miss an episode of Behind The Wheels? Subscribe today. Links from Todays...

Mike, Doug and Dave take on the topic of loading. From the very basics of loading like load limits, weight limits and axle limits, to the difference between static loading vs dynamic loading. Don’t want to miss an episode of Behind The Wheels? Subscribe today. Links from Todays Episode: https://www.alcoawheels.com/alcoawheels/north-america/en/home.asp Follow Alcoa® Wheels: Facebook: facebook.com/alcoawheels Twitter: @alcoawheels Instagram: @alcoawheels YouTube Channel:...

Doug, Dave and Mike highlight the transit market, and its' wheels, on this episode of Behind The Wheels. When you see a bus or coach riding down the road, notice how many are equipped with aluminum wheels. Why is aluminum such a fit for this industry? The guys answer this by sharing the history behind introducing aluminum to these applications and why they are a game changer. Dave Walters shares his 30-plus years of knowledge, while “Dr. Doug,” the metallurgist, weighs in with his technical...

We’re going global in this latest Behind The Wheels episode as Doug, Dave and Mike chat with Ross Simmons, managing director Alcoa Wheels Australia. The guys have worked together for many years, and share what the commercial vehicle wheels industry is like down under. Ross has been with Alcoa Wheels Australia since its inception in 1985 and shares tremendous insight about his market and what makes Alcoa Wheels Australia unique. You’ll learn all the reasons why Australian applications are the...

Dave, Mike and Michael who is sitting in for Doug, welcome Jason Cuddy, host of The Transportation Exchange Podcast, presented by Rush Truck Centres of Canada. During this episode, the guys discuss how logistical challenges, shutdowns and delays have affected the truck inventory, as well as what customers are looking for and getting excited about in the future, including the buzz on electrification. The Transportation Exchange Podcast offers insightful conversations with industry leaders...

This week on Behind the Wheels, we had the opportunity to join, host Jamie Irvine, as a guest on his Heavy-Duty Parts Report podcast to talk about the issue of wheel-offs. When there is a wheel-off situation it is a catastrophic failure that puts the public and the driver at risk of serious injury or even death. Additionally, the fleet has to deal with costly repairs, potential fines, and other forms of financial liability. Fortunately, this issue can be avoided. In this episode, Doug, Dave...

Where do wheels that have been badly abused end up? Many find themselves in the Alcoa® Warranty Center where our team learns some of its best lessons. Alcoa® technical experts use these “wheels of shame,” as educational opportunities, that contribute to being the best in design, engineering and manufacturing. In this episode, Doug, Dave and Mike have a little fun with a collection of mistreated rims by describing what they look like and what their cause of “injury” may be. Because a picture...

The medium duty market can be defined in so many different ways by so many different people. Doug, Dave and Mike take this episode of Behind The Wheels to help listeners better understand what constitutes the medium duty market, the applications associated with medium duty trucks and the wheels on these applications. There is so much variety when it comes to, not only the types of trucks considered to be medium duty, but all the wheels available. This is a great discussion, and debate, that...

Doug, Dave and Mike welcome Lee Demis to Behind The Wheels, vice president, business development, with Doran Manufacturing. As a leading supplier of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) for truck/trailer fleets, commercial equipment, RVs and motorcycles, Doran knows everything about the TPMS. During this episode, the guys discuss how and why TPMS originated, where the technology is currently and what the future holds. Doran specifically offers both an internal and external TPMS solution,...

For the past 20 years, wide base wheels have made their mark on the North American commercial vehicle wheel industry. Since their introduction, and thanks to innovative engineering, design and manufacturing, they are lighter than ever and are ideal in optimizing fuel economy and payload efficiency. So, what are customers looking for when it comes to these wide base wheels? In this episode, Doug, Dave and Mike discuss what fleets seek out and the benefits that make them choose 14” over...

Doug, Dave and Mike are honored to be joined by three of their friends from Daimler Trucks North America—Ryan Major, Alexander Lee and Joseph Kidd. Their conversation focuses on the OEM perspective and what they are seeing in terms of industry trends and technology. Fuel economy and freight efficiency continue to be a major priority for OEMs. In this episode the team highlights ways to optimize as this is sure to remain a hot topic. Don’t want to miss an episode of Behind The Wheels?...

In this episode, Doug, Dave and Mike are REALLY going behind the wheels. They’re digging a little deeper within the industry to share the positive impact industry experts create when they take off their company hats, come together for the greater good and collaborate to advance the trucking market. Industry members are highly involved in various trade and professional organizations breeding partnerships that ultimately deliver the safest, most effective and best product on the market. Learn...

How do you know when something is wrong with your wheel axle end and what can you do to change your maintenance processes to avoid issues in the future? In this episode, Doug, Dave and Mike will address the best ways to troubleshoot wheel end failures—exclusively on the hub. With the hub changing so much in the past 10-20 years, it’s important to understand and be able to recognize the warning signs your wheels may be displaying so you continue to stay safe on the road. Don’t want to miss...