EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Top Stories
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) onboard diagnostic technology mandate for 2010 engines continues to leave heavy-duty engine manufacturers concerned over the complexity for trouble shooting component failures, training mechanics and required sensor technology that does not yet exist. FULL STORY
-
More complex and expensive technology and a tight labor supply are two trends that could complicate the decision of whether fleets should outsource maintenance tasks or complete them at their own facilities. FULL STORY
-
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) had been working with engine manufacturers to develop an engine that would meet the state's “clean idle” standard; however CARB has recently announced that it is now reconsidering banning all idling in California. FULL STORY
-
The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) has announced a grace period until the end of February for motor carrier operations to get credentials distributed to their carriers for 2008. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
-
Horton’s EC600 Electromagnetic On/Off Fan Drive is designed to control temperature more precisely, resulting in a faster warm-up and better fuel economy. FULL STORY
Improved ergonomics, enhanced suspension, advanced electronics and a quiet cab are just some of the features included on Navistar International Corp.’s new LoneStar heavy-duty truck. FULL STORY
Bendix TABS-6 trailer ABS system and SR-5 spring brake relay valve are now standard on all Dorsey Trailers. FULL STORY
Carrier Transicold has improved their IntelliSet trailer refrigeration control option by including new preset profiles to make it easier to program for better temperature management and fuel economy. FULL STORY
Briefly
NationaLease is constructing a 10,000 square-foot maintenance facility in Wichita, Kansas, which is scheduled to open in June 2008. . .Ryder System, Inc. will establish a national distribution center in Plainfield, Indiana for education company K12 Inc which will create 90 new jobs for Ryder in 2010. . .Enterprise Rent-A-Car has won Market Metrix’s Hospitality Index (MMHI) for 2007 and has been recognized by Market Metrix, LLC, as a leader in customer satisfaction in the car rental industry 21 out of 22 times. . .Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America have eliminated freight charges for shipments of most emergency replacement parts from their parts distribution centers. The new program began in mid-January in the U.S. and will be effective by the end of March in Canada. . .Kenworth Truck Company and Peterbilt Motors Company announced that buyers of certain Kenworth medium-duty hybrid vehicles and Peterbilt Model 335 Class 7 and Model 330 Class 6 are eligible for a federal tax credit up to $12,000. . .Cummins Inc. has made available its Clean Idle Certified on-highway engines, which meet the new California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) idle reduction regulation. . .ArvinMeritor has announced the start of production at a new Light Vehicle Systems facility in Salonta, Romania. . .IDS Group, Inc. has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. . .Xata Corporation announced it has completed its acquisition of GeoLogic Solutions.
People on the Move
Yokohama Tire Corp. has named Takao Oishi president and CEO effective April 1, 2008 and he will be replacing Norio Karashima who is returning to Tokyo for his new position. . .Casey McCollom, Nicholas Teece, Douglas Schaffer and Ron Hardy have joined the medium-duty sales department for Rush Enterprises. . .J.J. Keller & Associates has hired Brian Kubiak as a direct marketing manager for training, forms and supplies; Tom Stolla as a web developer for the company’s Internet Products Center and Nicole Ebben as a human resources sales training specialist for the company’s outbound sales department. . .Webb Wheel Products has hired Rick Kempski as vice president of marketing. . .Shin Nakmura has been appointed president of Hino Motors Canada. . .PeopleNet has named Craig Dillion as chief technology officer.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
02/20 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $12.09 | $0.04 | 0.33% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $12.93 | $0.72 | 5.90% |
| Caterpillar Inc. | CAT | $71.25 | $0.85 | 1.21% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $52.77 | $0.66 | 1.27% |
| Eaton | ETN | $78.83 | $0.08 | 0.10% |
| General Electric | GE | $34.36 | $0.08 | 0.23% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $26.76 | $0.16 | 0.60% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $44.53 | $1.57 | 3.65% |
| Ryder | R | $59.85 | $2.14 | 3.71% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company earned $52 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with a loss of $358 million a year earlier. FULL STORY
President George W. Bush signed a two-year $168 billion economic stimulus package that is expected to provide enhanced expensing and depreciation relief for businesses buying equipment and placing it into service this year. FULL STORY
Caterpillar reported 2007 as the fifth consecutive year of record sales and revenue with figures of $44.958 billion, up 8 percent from 2006. FULL STORY
Rush Enterprises reported their 2007 earnings were the second highest in the Company’s 42-year history even with a 12 percent decrease in earnings for the year. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
TRALA's 2008 Annual Meeting
Join us April 2-5 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa as we celebrate TRALA’s 30 years of service to the truck renting and leasing industry. To register for the meeting, simply visit TRALA's website. Hotel accommodations can be made by contacting the Arizona Biltmore directly at (800) 950-0086 and make sure to mention TRALA to receive the discounted rate. Please contact Michelle McCarthy at (703) 299-9120 or mmccarthy@trala.org if you have any questions.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in Need of Custom-Built Trailer
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is in need of national sponsors to help provide for a new custom-built trailer as part of its traveling educational exhibit, The Wall That Heals. This exhibit has traveled to more that 250 cities and towns since its inception in 1996 and attracted more than two million visitors. After over ten years of travel, the miles have taken a toll on the mobile museum. The size needed is 53 ft. x 13 ft. 6 in. Benefits would accompany the donation, including signage, and recognition at VVMF events. For more information on the exhibit, go to http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=3. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please email Mr. Bernard Gluckstern, bgluckstern@vvmf.org. (Photo courtesy of VVMF)