Motor Truck Engineering Handbook: Class 8 Powertrains, Chassis Spec’ing, J1939 Diagnostics, Aftertreatment & Electric Trucks

Engineers and technicians need a handbook they can actually use—not another classroom-sized textbook…

Is it difficult to justify truck specifications with defensible calculations rather than vendor claims?

Does troubleshooting sometimes become a frustrating process of replacing parts instead of proving root cause?

Is it challenging to understand J1939, aftertreatment, telematics, ADAS, BEV, and hydrogen technology without losing sight of proven diesel systems?

Written by Sienna Newman, Motor Truck Engineering Handbook connects engineering principles with practical field decisions through the framework established in the book outline: understand, calculate, compare, verify, decide, and document. It covers Class 8 architecture, powertrain matching, chassis and braking, J1939 diagnostics, aftertreatment, fleet specification, TCO, connected systems, and alternative propulsion.

Readers can learn to:

• Match engines and transmissions to duty cycles
• Evaluate axle ratios and gearing
• Calculate tractive effort and gradeability
• Analyze GVWR, GCWR, and axle loading
• Understand chassis and braking interactions
• Diagnose J1939, SPN/FMI, and CAN faults
• Approach aftertreatment derates systematically
• Evaluate thermal requirements
• Build defensible truck specifications
• Apply TCO and lifecycle thinking
• Use telematics and fleet data
• Understand ADAS and software-controlled systems
• Evaluate BEV truck requirements
• Examine hydrogen truck applications
• Apply repeatable symptom-to-root-cause workflows

This is designed for readers who want engineering depth without unnecessary textbook bulk. Worked examples, system diagrams, diagnostic paths, specification tables, failure-mode discussions, checklists, and verification practices turn concepts into usable decisions. The handbook also reinforces verification against applicable OEM and regulatory information rather than treating generic values as universal.

If you want to strengthen truck specification, diagnostics, and fleet engineering knowledge, then start using the handbook as a practical desk or bench reference.