Blog

EnRoute - February 11, 2016

TRALA in the NEWS -

Wisconsin Senate has introduced TRALA-supported legislation that will correct a significant problem with the Minimum Financial Responsibility (MFR) requirements for consumer rental trucks and bring the state into compliance with the rest of the country. This legislative fix comes after more than a year of TRALA educating state lawmakers as to the current problem that exists in Wisconsin. FULL STORY

 

TOP STORIES
Included in the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act, is language that aims to prevent states from enacting their own meal and rest break rules for CDL drivers. It would also prohibit states from requiring that those drivers be paid certain types of added compensation such as detention pay. FULL STORY
 
New York State's Supreme Court has ruled as unconstitutional the highway-use registration and decal fees imposed on all trucks that operate in the Empire State.  FULL STORY
 

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,235,936. This particular patent further extends J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. intellectual property portfolio and relates to technology that improves the ability to collect vehicle data and reports hours of service for drivers of typical light- and medium-duty trucks which utilize OBD-II technology. FULL STORY
 
International Truck has unveiled its first all-new vehicle since 2010, the HX Series, a new Class 8 vocational series that offers four models that are available in either set-forward or set-back front axle models and in short or long hood configurations. FULL STORY
 
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has introduced the Fuel Max RSA, a new commercial truck tire for regional/long haul fleets. FULL STORY
 
Google has been awarded a patent for its “Autonomous Delivery Platform.” The patent application notes that the technology relates to delivery systems, not an unexpected release of a self-driving truck. FULL STORY
 

 

BRIEFLY

DANA HOLDING CORPORATION has published a new white paper for the commercial-trucking industry that presents optimized tire pressure as a solution to prevent blowouts and other tire events, improve fuel economy, and reduce operating costs.  Titled “Optimized Tire-Pressure Management,” the paper is free and may be downloaded at http://danacv.com/downloads/TirePressureManagement_WhitePaper.pdf . . .CONTINENTAL  has reached an agreement with the state of Mississippi to purchase a site for the construction of a commercial vehicle tire plant.  The company has committed for long-term investment totaling approximately $1.4 billion and employing 2,500 people when the plant reaches full capacity in the next decade. . .CUMMINS is partnering with Geotab to make its Cummins Connected Diagnostics application available via Geotab's fleet management offering. . . KALMAR has received a large order for 27 straddle carriers from its long-term customer Maher Terminals LLC in Elizabeth, New Jersey. . .PENSKE TRUCK LEASING in Denver received the Employer of the Year award from Lincoln Technical College.  The award is given to outstanding employers that demonstrate a long-term commitment to the school and their graduates by offering internships and employment, and developing unique relationships with students. . .BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS INC. and the National Football League have extended their sponsorship agreement for an additional five years.  The deal advances the “Bridgestone Performance Moments” campaign platform, which includes the award for top performance play of the year at the NFL Honors during Super Bowl week. . .PETERBILT MOTORS COMPANY has named THE LARSON GROUP its 2015 North American Dealer of the Year. . .J.J. KELLER  and Dallas Seavey Iditarod Racing Team celebrate 10 years of sponsorship with champion Dallas Seavey looking for a fourth win in 2016.
 
 

PEOPLE

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. has added TODD WARD as a transportation consultant to who will be dedicated to helping clients improve driver safety and compliance programs. . .CHRISTINE TAYLOR has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Holdings Inc.  
 
 

TAKING STOCK

A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
 
Company Symbol 2/11 Close Performance
Allison Transmission Holdings ALSN $21.57 $0.51 -0.51%
Avis Budget Group Inc. CAR $24.70 $0.98 -0.98%
Cummins Inc. CMI $95.21 $1.12 -1.16%
Dana Holding Corp. DAN $11.55 $0.13 -1.11%
Eaton Corp. ETN $53.08 $0.62 -1.15%
General Electric GE $27.45 $0.85 -3.00%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber GT $28.61 $0.03 +0.10%
Navistar International Corp. NAV $6.79 $0.38 -5.30%
PACCAR Inc. PCAR $48.29 $0.44 -0.90%
Ryder R $52.47 $2.85 -5.15%


SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance



MONEY MATTERS

Ryder System Inc. has reported that net income jumped to $76.2 million in the final three months of 2015, from $11.1 million a year earlier. FULL STORY
 
PACCAR achieved record revenues of $19.12 billion in 2015 compared to revenues of $18.99 billion in 2014. Net income was a record $1.60 billion, up 18% compared to $1.36 billion earned last year. FULL STORY
 
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has reported an 18% growth in full-year segment operating incoming and exceeded $2 billion for the first time in the company's 117-year history. The company's fourth quarter earnings grew 16 percent in North American business and 20% in Asia Pacific, both records. FULL STORY
 
Volvo Trucks North America has posted record results achieving all-time highs in 2015 for U.S., Canada and NAFTA Class 8 retail sales. FULL STORY
 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing funding for $1.25 million collaborative project between Bridgestone Americas and PPG that will focus on improving the fuel efficiency of truck and bus radial tires. FULL STORY

 
 
 
 

TRALA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Early Bird Rate Extended for TRALA's Annual Meeting
 
TRALA's 2016 Annual Meeting early bird rate has been extended to February 22, 2016.  The event will take place at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona from April 17 to April 20. Click here for the registration link.  Once completed, make sure to book your reservations directly with the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, https://aws.passkey.com/event/14384244/owner/12564/home. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact TRALA's Shannon Davison at sdavison@trala.org.