EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Top Stories
Companies that manufacture safety devices are urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act, H.R. 3820, which would provide tax credit equal to half the cost of the installed devices up to $1,500 per device, $3,500 per vehicle and $350,000 per carrier. FULL STORY
-
Truck renting and leasing companies are finding that one of the newest challenges with the 2007 diesel truck engines is teaching customers about the manual regeneration process. FULL STORY
-
The British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) is concerned about how the carbon taxes the government is planning on imposing will affect the trucking industry in British Columbia. FULL STORY
-
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is warning business owners about a hoax involving official-looking notices or telephone calls from companies requiring employers to buy OSHA documents. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
-
Hendrickson has released the company’s lightest 23,000 lb. capacity suspension system, the Intraax AANL 23K low-ride/liftable integrated trailer suspension system. FULL STORY
SkyBitz has partnered with StarTrak Systems to launch the SkyBitz Reefer Control Solution, a remote refrigeration control for the company’s satellite-based trailer tracking technology. FULL STORY
Volvo AG has acquired an interest in Datachassi, a Swedish company that has developed a new tractor-trailer anti-theft system based on intelligent radio technology and sensors. FULL STORY
Workhorse Custom Chassis gave its new heavy-duty W62 chassis a makeover and a new name. FULL STORY
The TREQ color display unit (CDU) is XATA Corp.’s new in-cab touch-screen computer that drivers can use for easier logging and communication. FULL STORY
Briefly
The current issue of Corporate Responsibility Officer has named The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. one of its “100 Best Corporate Citizens”. . .Eaton Corp. received it largest single order of hybrid electric drivetrains when Coca-Cola announced it will be purchasing 120 new hybrid drive trucks in 2008. . .The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has honored GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services with its Blue Seal of Excellence for the ninth year. . .Accuride Corporation announced that Great Dane Trailers has named Accuride’s Wheel division its preferred forged aluminum wheel supplier. . .Allied Waste Industries Inc. has named Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC and Bridgestone Bandag LLC as preferred suppliers. . .Fleet One has redesigned its website to offer real-time updates on account activity, as well as easier navigation and faster downloads. . .Stahl Peterbilt was named Peterbilt’s 2007 Dealer of the Year and Hunter Peterbilt was named the truck maker’s 2007 Medium Duty Truck Dealer of the Year at Peterbilt Motors Co. Annual Dealer Meeting. . .Stemco has acquired V.W. Kaiser Engineering, a privately-held company with 30 years of experience testing and manufacturing quality long-life pine and bushings for kingpins and suspension applications. . .The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has signed a three-year contract to supply tires and business solutions to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. . .MHC Kenworth-Kansas City was named Kenworth’s 2007 Medium-Duty Dealer of the Year for the United States and Canada at the annual Kenworth Truck Company Dealer Meeting. . .PeopleNet Communications has won Frost & Sullivan’s 2007 North American Regional Fleet Telematics Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award. . .Continental Tire North America, Inc. will move its corporate headquarters from Charlotte, NC to Lancaster County, SC, in 2009. . .J.J. Keller & Associates online people management tool, Prospera, and its Safe-Sim Truck Driving Simulator have both been selected as finalists for the Software & Information Industry Association’s 23rd annual CODiE Award.
People on the Move
Jerry Reynolds has assumed duties as director of North American field service for Hendrickson. . .Yokohama Tire Corp. has promoted Tooru Koyayashi to director and managing corporate officer and president of the company’s Multiple Business Group. . .Todd Anderson has been appointed vice president/general manager of Stemco-Kaiser. . .GE Capital Solutions has named Dan Henson president and CEO. . .The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Richard Noechel vice president and corporate controller. He replaces Thomas Connell, who’s been named vice president and chief information officer. . .Key Equipment Finance has appointed Peter K. Bullen as regional sales director for the Great Lake Region; Michelle Worster has been hired as senior vice president in the company’s operations group and Tricia Akins has been promoted to vice president within the company’s corporate development group. . .Webb Wheel Products has named Ken Kelley as vice president of sales, marketing & business development for the OES aftermarket business and Duane Ricketts has been named business unit president of the OES aftermarket business.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
03/04 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $11.49 | $0.06 | 0.52% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $11.28 | $0.19 | 1.66% |
| Caterpillar Inc. | CAT | $71.74 | $1.46 | 1.99% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $48.91 | $2.10 | 4.12% |
| Eaton | ETN | $82.06 | $0.05 | 0.06% |
| General Electric | GE | $33.52 | $0.12 | 0.36% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $27.42 | $0.48 | 1.72% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $43.57 | $0.02 | 0.05% |
| Ryder | R | $59.18 | $0.82 | 1.41% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Continental AG has reported 2007 as the sixth consecutive time the company has achieved record sales and earnings with figures of 15.9 billion Euros, a 7.2 percent increase. FULL STORY
Supreme Industries reported their 2007 net income improved 113 percent to $900,000, up from $400,000 a year ago. FULL STORY
European heavy-duty truck sales saw a 23 percent increase in January, which was a result of transport firms expanding their fleets and replacing older vehicles. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
TRALA Room Block Extended to March 7!
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 mentioning TRALA to receive the discounted rate. Please contact the hotel by Friday, March 7, 2008, to guarantee room availability. 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)