EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Top Stories
As the global economy continues to change, more manufacturers are looking for opportunities for global partnerships and expanding into developing countries. FULL STORY
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Trucking companies that are using biodiesel are being asked by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) to pay closer attention to the properties and production values behind the biodiesel they put in their fuel tanks. FULL STORY
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Two U.S. Senators and two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to David Walker, the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to request an investigation into the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) expenditures associated with the cross-border trucking program. FULL STORY
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a final rule in the Federal Register addressing concerns from the engine manufacturers regarding emissions measurement accuracy margins for in-use testing of heavy-duty diesel engines and changes to the in-use testing program. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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The BLU In-Cab Application Platform (BLU ICAP), introduced by PeopleNet, will allow individual fleets to customize PeopleNet’s BLU using an Application Programming Interface (API) in Microsoft.NET framework. FULL STORY
International has unveiled the PayStar 5900i, a Class 8 vocational on/off highway vehicle that features a new axle configuration to address severe service applications such as construction, logging and other heavy-duty applications. FULL STORY
Mack Trucks, Inc. reports that its newest heavy-haul vehicle, the Titan, is the most powerful truck the company has built in its 108-year history. FULL STORY
Cummins Filtration has extended its series of Fleetguard standard off-highway exhaust products to include engines from 8 to 50 horsepower. FULL STORY
Briefly
PACCAR was selected for the 2008 Governor’s Trader of the Year Award which honors a Washington State business that has significantly contributed to the expansion of the state’s international trade. . .Visual Marking Systems, Inc. was named one of seven winners of the Smart Business Magazine and Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth’s Network’s (MAGNET) 2008 eVolution of Manufacturing Award. . .Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC has been named the official tire of the National Hockey League (NHL). . .Navistar International Corp. has donated an International 4300 medium-duty commercial truck to Kentucky Harvest to assist in picking up and delivering food to those who are hungry throughout Metro Louisville and the surrounding areas. . .Hiab, the load-handling business area of Cargotec that owns Waltco Truck Equipment has signed an agreement to acquire DEL Equipment (UK) and Ultron Lift Corp. . .The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been recognized as the world’s most admired motor vehicle parts company by Fortune Magazine. . .Mitch Seavey, the musher sponsored by J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., crossed the finish line last week in Nome, Alaska, as the seventh musher to complete the 2008 Iditarod. . .Continental Tire North America will offer consumers a free Magellan Roadmate 1200 GPS system and will also give away a new Range Rover Sport to consumers who purchase four Continental-brand tires valued at $499 or more between April 7 and June 9th. . .GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services will be offering a free online seminar on April 3 entitled “Vehicle Remarketing – Trends that will Affect your Bottom Line in 2008.” Visit https://emeetings.webex.com/emeetings/onstage/g.php?d=820477771&t=a to register online. . .Sysco Corp. has recognized Thermo King Corp. as its Transportation Capital Equipment 2007 Operations Supplier of the Year. . .Ryder System Inc. has been honored with the “Golden Service Enterprise Award” for outstanding performance and leadership in logistics by Wuhan International Logistics Committee at the International Logistics Fair in Wuhan. . .PeopleNet has been awarded the 2007 North American Regional Fleet Telematics Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award by Frost & Sullivan, which is given to a company that demonstrates an exceptional growth strategy within the industry. . .Navistar Truck Group has developed a website for customers to learn more about the Federal Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.
People on the Move
Comdata Corporation has named Scott Philips as executive vice president and general manager for the company’s Corporate Payments division. . .Steve Charlton has been promoted from executive director of Heavy Duty Engineering to vice president of Heavy Duty Engineering for Cummins Inc. . .PeopleNet has appointed Richard Budzyn as an account manager. . .Karmak Inc. has named John Lebel as chief technology officer and James R. Costa Sr. as Western area manager. . .Julie Fellows-Mason has been appointed senior vice president, portfolio management and chief compliance officer. . .Continental AG has announced as of April 1, 2008, CFO Dr. Alan Hippe, will take over the PLT Tire Division from Manfred Wennemer. . .Joe Kory will be joining Navistar Parts as vice president of global distribution operations. . .Joseph Saoud will be succeeding Pamela Carter as the president of Cummins Filtration.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
03/18 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $10.85 | $0.98 | 9.93% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $10.25 | $0.78 | 8.24% |
| Caterpillar Inc. | CAT | $76.87 | $2.41 | 3.24% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $51.32 | $3.17 | 6.58% |
| Eaton | ETN | $83.98 | $4.04 | 5.05% |
| General Electric | GE | $36.14 | $1.81 | 5.27% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $25.20 | $1.35 | 5.66% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $47.28 | $3.06 | 6.93% |
| Ryder | R | $62.33 | $3.73 | 6.37% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Engine manufacturers are predicting that lower maintenance costs, minimal additional weight and better fuel economy for trucks that will comply with 2010 emission regulations, could improve pre-buy sales in 2009. FULL STORY
Trucking stocks made significant gains on Tuesday when the Federal Reserve’s announced a three-quarter point reduction of a bench mark interest rate. FULL STORY
Volvo Group’s four truck companies showed a 54 percent increase in total deliveries in January 2008 compared to January 2007. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
Dr. Martin Regalia Added to 2008 Annual Meeting Program!
Join us on Thursday, April 3, for the All-Conference Assembly which will feature our good friend, Dr. Martin Regalia, chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Regalia will update us on economic conditions affecting our industry and provide predictions to help us to Navigate a Difficult Economy. There is still time to register to attend the meeting, simply visit TRALA's website. Hotel accommodations can be made by contacting the Arizona Biltmore directly at (800) 950-0086. 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)