Observations from a MATS newbie

As Jami Jones told you earlier, we hit the ground running for media day at Mid-America Trucking Show. I may be a MATS newbie, but I've already noticed some of the major themes emerging. We'll see how they play out with other exhibitors and show patrons.

One that I like to keep an eye on is fuel economy, and that topic has shown up in each of the first four press events we covered in the morning session.

As we know, the Obama administration has proposed the first ever fuel mileage standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and the manufacturers are preparing for it.

Kenworth and Peterbilt focused a big part of their respective presentations on aerodynamics and fuel economy.

While checking out some Kenworths in the South Wing, a KW representative told me the T700 is the most economical Class 8 especially when paired with the Paccar MX engine.

Peterbilt is also focusing heavily on aerodynamics and fuel economy. Chief engineer Landon Sproull explained a new feature called speed control management. He said it can be set to rein in rpms.

As we know, a large part of fuel economy rests with the driver behind the wheel. Peterbilt's speed control management system uses a setting to prevent a driver from exceeding certain rpms. Fleets may like this feature, and I will try to get some opinions from owner-ops later when the show opens to the public.

During the very first press event this morning, Bendix representatives told us their new air-disc brakes will contribute to a truck's overall efficiency through performance and lighter materials. Tests show that a long-hauler could achieve 1-4 percent better economy with Bendix's latest offerings.

Rand McNally's new IntelliRoute line -- the 510 and 710 editions -- can also help a trucker or fleet find the most economical route from point A to point B. And fuel savings play into that.

I think we're going to see a lot of these types of announcements at MATS this year -- how every little bit contributes to the big picture of saving precious fuel.