Over the years, refuse fleets have gotten smarter, more durable and more efficient thanks to things like advances in technology, safety and alternative fuels. These advances have allowed refuse truck manufacturers like Scranton, Iowa-based New Way Trucks to ramp up their fleet offerings and grow their business.

In anticipation of WasteExpo, held May 6-9 in Las Vegas, Waste360 sat down with Don Ross, vice president of sales and marketing for New Way Trucks, to discuss current fleet trends, the role technology is playing in enhancing fleets and some of the exciting things New Way will be exhibiting at the show in Booth #816.

Waste360: What is New Way focusing on going into WasteExpo 2019?

Don Ross: WasteExpo is important to New Way because it allows us to connect with our dealers and end users in a number of different formats. We are excited to once again be sponsoring the Opening Reception and hope that everyone joins us for what is sure to be a great kickoff to WasteExpo week.

Our main focus during WasteExpo is to use the format to reinforce to our dealers and end users that New Way is their trusted refuse equipment partner. Our dealers and end users are our extended family, and they are the reason New Way is the fastest growing company in this space.

Waste360: What are some of the exciting things New Way will be exhibiting?

Don Ross: We have a nice lineup of customer units on display at this year’s WasteExpo. New Way Trucks will be on display in a number of locations throughout the tradeshow floor. We are proud to showcase a Randy’s Environmental Services compressed natural gas-equipped Sidewinder in the Peterbilt booth and an Advanced Disposal Services King Cobra and Republic Services Sidewinder in the New Way Trucks booth. RotoPAC’s Sidewinder will be on display in the Freightliner outside display area as well as in the New Way booth, and the newly redesigned Mamba, our small residential side loader, will be in the New Way booth sporting Advanced Disposal colors.

We are again supporting the Environmental Research & Education Foundation auction with our popular Cobra rear loader mounted on an International chassis, so please support a good cause and place a bid!

We are most excited, however, about the release of our newest rear load body, the Cobra High Compaction (HC). Mounted to Hino’s newest XL chassis, the combination is built for heavy duty! See the lightest, fastest and strongest Cobra ever in the Hino Trucks booth.

Waste360: What fleet trends are you seeing right now?

Don Ross: There are a couple trends in the industry currently, and New Way is addressing a number of them. First, our customers are driving the need for strong truck rental programs as an alternative fleet replacement strategy, and we have responded with our FleetForce Rental program offering, both long- and short-term rental programs.

Despite the proliferation of automation in the industry, rear load sales continue to be strong, and that is the reason we are introducing the new Cobra HC. Our customers asked for it, so we designed and built a 1,000-pound-per-cubic-yard machine with a fast cycle time, large hopper and lower overall height, all in a competitively priced package.

Other trends include alternative fuels, battery-electric and designs that improve ease of maintenance in an effort to help our customers combat the technician shortage. Organics collection has always gotten a lot of attention, but with new legislation in different regions of the country, interest in our RotoPAC auger-driven side loader is very active with demonstrations occurring around the U.S.

Waste360: What role is technology playing in enhancing fleets?

Don Ross: Aside from safety and productivity enhancements, the latest technology New Way is incorporating into our bodies are designs and features that help technicians with serviceability and maintenance. It is common knowledge in the industry that there is a shortage of maintenance technicians, so making their job easier is paramount to employee retention and productivity.

New Way’s new CANBus tools assist with diagnostics, our traditional air over hydraulic systems are easy to maintain, and New Way’s latest body features are designed to make routine service easier than ever. To keep these trucks running in top form, periodic maintenance is required, and our engineers are making that easier through thoughtful design.

Waste360: Many companies are making the switch over to compressed natural gas and renewable natural gas. Can you talk a little bit about that and how that movement is having an impact on how fleets are designed?

Don Ross: Alternative fuels continue to be a focus, and New Way, like our competitors, incorporates fuel delivery systems into their bodies. The alternative energy source that is really getting attention this year, however, is battery-electric. BYD (Build your Dreams) and New Way recently delivered the first 100 percent battery-electric Class 8 rear loader to Recology Cleanscapes in Seattle. The BYD chassis is one of the first of its kind in the United States, and New Way is proud to have partnered to make this project a reality. A number of units are currently on order in different configurations, so expect to hear more about battery-electric as an alternative to traditionally fueled vehicles.