EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Top Stories
Truck technicians will need more training to deal with the complexities of onboard diagnostic systems that will be added to 2010 and later engine models. FULL STORY
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The U.S. Department of Energy has released a 383-page report that indicates wide-base single tires are 6-10 percent more fuel efficient than duals on heavy trucks. FULL STORY
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U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA) has introduced the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act (SHIPA) which will seek to ban states from allowing trailers longer than 53 feet or combo units to operate on national highways and allowing weights to exceed Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System. FULL STORY
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Colonial Chemical Co., Terra Environmental Technologies, and Yara North America have had their urea solution blends certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API) which confirms that the company’s name-brand DEF product conforms to ISO 22241, an international performance standard for automotive-grade urea. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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Mack Trucks is now offering the Mack Road Stability Advantage System (RSA) by Bendix as an option on its Class 8 highway models. The system helps increase driver safety and decrease potential for roadway accidents by integrating throttle, engine brakes and foundation brakes into the truck’s cruise control function. FULL STORY
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The T-Series is a new product line from Thermo King Corp. which will eventually replace the company’s temperature control units for straight trucks. The new series will provide improved performance, fuel economy and lifecycle cost. FULL STORY
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Continental Tire North America Inc. has unveiled its next generation of truck tires which include two steer tires, a drive tire, a trailer tire and a wide-base trailer tire. FULL STORY
Truck-Lite has revealed what it claims to be the world’s first 12-volt, seven-inch round LED headlamp. FULL STORY
Aloca Wheel and Transportation Products have taken advantage of a new, proprietary manufacturing process to create the LvL ONE wheel, which is 2 lbs. lighter than its predecessor. FULL STORY
Carrier Transicold has introduced the Vector 6500, a hybrid refrigerated trailer cooling unit designed for the single-temperature reefer van market. FULL STORY
Briefly
The new Detroit Diesel DD16 engine will be in production for the Western Star 4900 series in March 2010 and the Western Star 6900 in July 2010. . .Mitch Seavey and his son, Dallas, the two mushers sponsored by J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., reached Nome to finished the Iditarod in 4th and 6th place. . .Cummins Filtration has announced its Fleetguard Diesel Exhuast Fluid (DEF) will be available through distributors across North America by October 1, 2009. . .Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is celebrating the grand opening of its newest state-of-the-art distribution center in Jacksonville, FL. . .Kenworth announced that its new AG400L tandem rear suspension for its Class 8 vehicles is now available for order. . .Dana Holding Corp. is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year as a supplier of Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) to the military and commercial vehicle industries. . .Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems is expanding its on-highway service network through a relationship with Bosselman’s Boss Truck Shops. . .Penske Truck Leasing has teamed up with Smith System to provide Penske customers exclusive online access to E Learning truck driver safety courses and related training materials. . .Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems announces Shipping on Demand (SOD), a program that allows customers to order selected lift axles and have them shipped straight from the factory within 48 hours or less. . .Kenworth Truck Company and PACCAR Parts were recently honored with a Supplier Partnership in Excellence Award presented by Swift Transportation. . .ArvinMeritor is extending its “stimulus package” promotion for its Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS), which allows customers to purchase five retrofit kits for the price of four. The deal is now available to North American fleets through dealers until July 31, 2009.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
04/01 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $0.89 | $0.10 | 12.66% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $0.90 | $0.01 | 1.16% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $26.35 | $0.90 | 3.54% |
| Dana | DAN | $0.49 | $0.03 | 6.52% |
| Eaton | ETN | $37.50 | $0.64 | 1.74% |
| General Electric | GE | $10.17 | $0.06 | 0.59% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $6.49 | $0.23 | 3.67% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $26.14 | $0.38 | 1.48% |
| Ryder | R | $29.18 |
$0.87 | 3.07% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is evaluating whether or not to invest $250 million in the company’s Topeka, KS plant. FULL STORY
Previously the U.S. Internal Revenue Service would only allow a net operating loss (NOL) to be carried back for two years; however the recent stimulus bill changed that provision to allow small businesses with a NOL in 2008 to elect to offset this loss against income earned in up to five prior years. FULL STORY
Beginning July 1, 2010, Ontario will move forward with harmonizing the provincial sales tax (PST) with the federal goods and services tax (GST). The Ontario Trucking Association is pressing the government to also include the Multi-Jurisdictional Tax (MJVT). FULL STORY
News From TRALA
Access the Entire Renting and Leasing Industry!!
TRALA is now accepting advertising for the TRALA Membership Directory and Buyers Guide. Reach your target audience and advertise with TRALA! Information about the 2009-2010 rates and guidelines for our annual Membership Directory and Buyers Guide will be sent out shortly. For more information, contact TRALA’s Brian Hefner at (703) 299-9120 or bhefner@trala.org