EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Top Stories
A Canadian government panel has asked the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to develop a federal standard for use of electronic onboard recorders. FULL STORY
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Diesel emission standards are scheduled to change again in January 2010 and (SCR) is one of the two technologies that will be used on most light-duty and medium-duty commercial trucks. FULL STORY
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As July 17 draws near, all refrigeration units of model year 2001 and older running on California highways must meet particulate restrictions. This is causing a sense of urgency among fleets in determining the best course of action to comply with the upcoming mandate. FULL STORY
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At least two candidates that are in the race for the Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario have raised the speed-limiter law for trucks as a campaign issue. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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A new online training program from Continental Tire North America, “Engage360 Untamed Innovation,” is for dealership personnel to learn the basics on construction of Continental premium commercial tires, review product technical information, and become certified as a Continental Commercial Tire Specialist. FULL STORY
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A report recently released by Frost & Sullivan has concluded that fleet managers will seek out more benefits and attributes from advanced technologies to enable them to reduce operating expenses while improving driver and vehicle productivity. FULL STORY
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Truck-Lite’s new 33 Series license product is the world’s smallest LED license lamp and offers heavy duty trucks and trailers greater efficiency, coupled with the latest in white diode technology. FULL STORY
All new light-duty vehicles are now equipped with tire-pressure monitoring systems which have resulted in a steep learning curve for service technicians dealing with the technology and lack of standardization. It has also added an extra level of maintenance responsibility for fleets. FULL STORY
Briefly
Affiliated Computer Services and PeopleNet have formed a partnership to provide new mobile in-cab scanning solutions for fleets and drivers on the PeopleNet BLU platform. . .ArvinMeritor is being honored by Michigan Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve with the Pro Patria Award for its exceptional support to its U.S. military employees. . .Navistar has officially opened a parts distribution center in Midrand, South Africa. . .Penske Logistics has announced an expanded commitment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership and will contribute to SmartWay’s goal to reduce 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012 by improving the environmental performance of freight operations. . .Terra Environmental Technologies, a wholly-owned Terra subsidiary, has signed a multiyear agreement with Daimler Trucks North America LLC to supply all its Selective Catalyic Reduction (SCR)-equipped vehicles with an initial fill of TerraCair Ultrapure Diesel Exhaust Fluid, and through its distribution partners, ultimately supply its dealers and distributors with TerraCair DEF in a variety of package sizes and dispensing configurations. . .Ryder System, Inc. is committing $1 million over the next three years through the Ryder Charitable Foundation to support national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts, making it the newest member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program. . .Eaton Corp. has a new online resource for companies and governmental agencies seeking to launch infrastructure, modernization or energy-efficient projects with stimulus funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The new website, www.eaton.com/recovery, presents a diverse range of products and systems designed to help customers manage power more efficiently, effectively and safely.
People
Anne Ferro, the head of the Maryland Motor Truck Association, has been nominated by President Obama to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Polly Trottenberg is expected to be nominated as Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation. . .Dana Holding Corp. has named James Sweetnam as its new president and chief executive officer. . .Richard J. Kramer has been elected by the Board of Directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as the chief operating officer of the company. . .Ernst & Young has named Ron Konezy, PeopleNet’s chief executive officer and founder, as a finalist for its Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Upper Midwest region.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
6/10 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $4.19 | $0.44 | 3.05% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $4.54 | $0.10 | 2.16% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $35.81 | $0.18 | 0.50% |
| Dana | DAN | $1.88 | $0.36 | 23.68% |
| Eaton | ETN | $48.96 | $0.04 | 0.08% |
| General Electric | GE | $13.40 | $0.17 | 1.25% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $13.05 | $0.45 | 3.33% |
| Navistar International Corp. | NAV | $46.37 | $0.91 | 2.00% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $33.60 | $0.55 | 1.61% |
| Ryder | R | $30.09 |
$0.24 | 0.79% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Avis Budget Group has obtained commitments for approximately $325 million of operating lease financing for vehicles it plans to add to its U.S. car rental fleet over the next four months. FULL STORY
Eastern European countries had an accelerated drop of 68 percent in truck sales during the month of April 2009. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
Access the Entire Renting and Leasing Industry!!
Advertising space is still available in TRALA’s 2009-2010 Membership Directory and Buyers Guide! Contact TRALA’s Brian Hefner at (703) 299-9120 or bhefner@trala.org for more information on the rates and guidelines.