Blog

EnRoute - May 26, 2016

TRALA IN THE NEWS - The Department of Labor has released its final Overtime Rule which increases the salary exemption threshold from its current level of $455 a week or an annualized amount of $23,600 to $913 a week or $47,476 annually.  This represents a massive increase in the amount of employees who will now be eligible to collect overtime pay. FULL STORY

TRALA IN THE NEWS

TRALA has expressed its disappointment that its comments regarding a rental vehicle exemption were not accepted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for inclusion in the final rule on the electronic logging device mandate. FULL STORY

 

TOP STORIES

The California Air Resources Board has released its proposed 2016 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan which includes a proposed measure for a Low-NOx Engine Standard to be developed between 2017 and 2019 with implementation starting in 2023.  FULL STORY
 
Frost & Sullivan recently conducted an annual survey with fleet managers to find out what are the top issues that the trucking industry should be worrying about at this moment.  Some of the top concerns based on the results included: the driver and technician shortage / retention issue, regulatory compliance, declining equipment utilization, and the economic outlook and profit margin concerns. FULL STORY
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed slight increases to the amount of ethanol and biofuels that fuel producers must add to gasoline and diesel in 2017. FULL STORY

 


 
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Ryder System, Inc. has launched two new commercial vehicle lease products that allows customers interested in leasing to choose from three different, flexible “Ryder ChoiceLease” maintenance options: Full Service, Preventative and On-Demand. FULL STORY
 
The Driver DataSense Plus with ELD Rollout service has been introduced by J.J. Keller to help fleets meet the 2017 ELD mandate deadline. FULL STORY
 
Zonar has announced ZForms, a forms based messaging application that enables fleets to replace paper forms, share route dispatch assignments, gain efficiency and improve communication between dispatchers and drivers. FULL STORY
 
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has introduced a new special Service Symbol Donut to help consumers identify the recently approved API FA-4 diesel engine oil. FULL STORY

 
 
BRIEFLY

PETERBILT customers and enthusiasts can build their own Model 579, choosing from a range of specs, colors, and configurations, with a new, free app available for iPads through the Apple App Store. . .EKOSTINGER offers a two-part aerodynamic system for trailers.  The EkoShield is a Cross Member Cover that protects the bottom of the trailer keeping out all the unwanted elements while increasing fuel economy and the EkoStinger Arrow is a mid-mount under trailer arrow that saves fuel and enhances safety. . .BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS INC. has reached an agreement to divest its business in Venezuela, Bridgestone Firestone Venezolana C.A. to the Corimon Group. . .DANA HOLDING CORPORATION has been named to Forbes magazine's list of the America's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies. . .A nationwide survey that was conducted on behalf of RECORD360 was done to explore the factors that influence rental decisions, including ways to improve the overall experience and issues that lead to loss of customer loyalty, survey results can be found here. . .BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS' remanufactured brake shoe operation has topped the 4-million-unit production milestone since the company opened is 74,000-square-foot Huntington, IN, plant in the fall of 2012. . CUMMINS FILTRATION has launched a new website with a faster search tool to make it easier to find Fleetguard filtration solutions for diesel engines, transmissions and industrial applications. . .WEX INC.  has extended its existing fuel management program with QuikTrip for another five years so that the convenience store and gasoline marketer will continue to market their co-branded and proprietary commercial card programs. . .ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR is pledging $1 million to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Program.  This gift is part of an annual, multi-million dollar commitment by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation to fund Red Cross emergency preparedness and relief efforts.  

 

 
PEOPLE

Navistar has named ROMAN LEWINSKY as president, Navistar Canada and regional sales vice president. . .ERIC HIGGS has been named vice president of marketing for Bridgestone Americas. . .Hino Motors Canada has appointed YUMIKO KAWAMURA as the company's new president. . .JAN OHLSSON has been appointed to the position of executive vice president of Truck Operations for Volvo's Group Trucks Operation. . .Meritor has named ERNIE DEVINCENT as vice president engineering, quality and product strategy. . .Hercules Manufacturing, Co., has hired MELISSA DOLIN as executive administrative assistant and LASENNA POWELL as an accounts payable / accounts receivable representative. . .BARBARA GOULD, director of communications for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and BRANDIE M. FULLER, vice president – marketing for Great Dane Trailers, were both named to FleetOwner magazine's inaugural Fleet Owner Dozen which recognizes and honor the women who are helping to build the trucking industry of tomorrow.

 

TAKING STOCK

A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
 
Company Symbol 5/26 Close Performance
Allison Transmission Holdings ALSN $27.75 $0.16 -0.57%
Avis Budget Group Inc. CAR $28.23 $0.01 -0.04%
Cummins Inc. CMI $113.48 $0.31 +0.27%
Dana Holding Corp. DAN $11.96 $0.12 -0.99%
Eaton Corp. ETN $61.54 $0.07 -0.11%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber GT $27.34 $0.22 -0.80%
Navistar International Corp. NAV $11.03 $0.61 -5.24%
PACCAR Inc. PCAR $55.47 $0.00 0.00%
Ryder R $69.18 $0.05 -0.07%


SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance




MONEY MATTERS

Kenworth's plant in Chillicothe, OH, is undergoing a $17 million construction project to enhance assembly efficiencies. FULL STORY
 

 
TRALA Announcements
 

TRALA Industry Scholarship Application Information
TRALA members and their dependents are invited to apply for TRALA's Industry Scholarship.  We're moving our industry forward by awarding up to four-$2,500 scholarships to qualified applicants.  Applications can be submitted by June 1, 2016 for consideration.  Visit our website for details: www.trala.org