Commercial vehicles are utilitarian above all. Efficient semi truck designs pop up all the time but they always fail because they sacrifice ease of service to a

Commercial vehicles are utilitarian above all. Efficient semi truck designs pop up all the time but they always fail because they sacrifice ease of service to achieve their gains in efficiency. If a Volvo semi breaks down while hauling one of Wal-Mart's JIT deliveries it can be repaired by any shop in hours. If a highly proprietary semi breaks down then it's hosed. Either Wal-Mart rush processes another truck to that store or they eat a lost delivery and make up the missing inventory over the next few trucks. Repairing all the advanced, low production volume technology in that truck is a lot more expensive. Add the significant amount of money lost when JIT deliveries fall days behind and the expenses far outweigh the fuel savings.