EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Top Stories
A revised draft regulation has been released by the California Air Resources Board that would ensure that beginning in 2012, all trucks must be 2010 models or newer or pre-2007 model year trucks will need to be retrofitted with soot filters. FULL STORY
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The Ontario Legislature passed a measure on June 16 that would require speed limiters on large trucks that would cap speeds at 105kph (65 mph). The new law will be implemented as early as the fall 2008, with a six- to twelve-month educational period. FULL STORY
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Lubricant suppliers are not anticipating any changes to motor oil specifications or requirements for 2010 engines. FULL STORY
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $200,000 grant to Mississippi State University for research to transform wastewater treatment plant sludge into biodiesel. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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The new RLB490 low-profile regional drive tire from Double Coin and CMA LLC, takes the core specifications of the RLB900 and upgrades it for enhanced performance and durability. FULL STORY
The Aftermarket Business Unit of Webb Wheel Products has introduced the Webb Vortex brake drum which is an alternative replacement drum for more expensive steel-shelled or other light weight drums used in rear or trailer applications. FULL STORY
Volvo Trucks North America is developing new lightweight prototype sleepers made with advanced composite material technology as part of a U.S. Army program. FULL STORY
Caterpillar Inc. has announced it has struck a deal with Navistar International Corp. to collaborate on engine technologies and to market a Cat-branded severe service truck through Cat dealers. FULL STORY
Briefly
Ryder System, Inc. was presented with the 2007 Regional Contribution Award for its overall performance in providing Toyota with world-class logistics service in North and South America. . .Sterling Truck Corp. launched a new website, www.sterlingtrucks.com/CompleteLease, which is designed for customers researching full-service leasing opportunities. . .Thermo King diesel particulate filter for its TriPac Hybrid Auxiliary Idle Reduction and Temperature Management System has been approved for use by the California Air Resources Board. . .The Philadelphia Business Journal has named AmeriQuest Transportation Services of Camden County, NJ, as one of the 25 fastest-growing companies in Southern New Jersey. . .Penske Logistics has earned Eastman Chemical Co.’s Supplier Excellence Award. . .Daimler Trucks North America has announced that it will be offering the 14.8-liter Cummins ISX diesel engine throughout its Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star product lines beginning with the 2010 emissions regulations. . .Karmak Inc. was featured on Microsoft’s premier partner website as an ISV software solutions partners success story which described how Karmak uses Microsoft’s technologies and services to provide advanced software products for the heavy-duty truck industry. . .Chris Leach, area vice president for FirstLease, was named the 2007 Top Salesperson by NationaLease for the sixth year in a row. . .Eaton Corporation has received the CALSTART 2008 Blu Sky Award for innovation and advancement in sustainable transportation technology. . .Caterpillar and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) have agreed to a multi-year partnership for the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton beginning with the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. . .G&D integrated will be deploying PeopleNet’s onboard communications and fleet management system in the fleet’s 475 power units. . .Michelin North America Inc. has been presented the Best Value Medal Award from the United States military for product quality and delivery. . .Freightliner Trucks will be making its Business Class M2e truck available for commercial application rentals at Seattle and Kent, WA based International Leasing Co., Inc. . .Enterprise Rent-A-Car will begin moving some Vanguard employees from Vanguard’s Tulsa, OK, headquarters to Enterprise’s St. Louis headquarters. . .PLM Trailer Leasing is opening a new two bay drive-through shop at its Dallas rental and leasing branch, an expansion of its service and maintenance division.
People on the Move
Fontaine International has promoted Terry Mennen to vice president of sales and marketing; Brit Caple has rejoined the sales team as key account manager; Scott Shearer has been hired as corporate industrial engineer; and Toby Harris has joined Fontaine Parts Connection as vice president of sales and marketing. . .Ken Hartman has been named service contracts business development manager for Thermo King Corp. . .Bridgestone Corp. will shuffle a number of senior level executive positions in its Tokyo, Japan office with Yasumi Kawasaki will become vice president and senior officer, responsible for quality management; Takashi Urano will be promoted to vice president/ senior officer, responsible for Bridgestone’s International Tire Business Operations; Hideo Hara will be promoted to vice president and officer, Tire Products Strategy; Akira Nozawa will assume the position of vice president and officer, chief information officer; and Kiyoshi Nomura will be promoted to vice president and officer, production and distribution.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
06/18 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $16.48 | $0.40 | 2.37% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $11.77 | $0.28 | 2.32% |
| Caterpillar Inc. | CAT | $79.70 | $0.99 | 1.23% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $71.87 | $1.18 | 1.62% |
| Dana | DAN | $8.64 | $0.12 | 1.37% |
| Eaton | ETN | $94.17 | $1.34 | 1.40% |
| General Electric | GE | $28.21 | $0.65 | 2.25% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $20.93 | $0.87 | 3.99% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $45.38 | $0.66 | 1.43% |
| Ryder | R | $70.27 | $0.29 | 0.41% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Donaldson Co. has reported earning $46 million in the third quarter which is up from $40.1 million from last year. FULL STORY
Recent, unprecedented jumps in crude oil prices have the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) examining whether the increase in prices have come from supply and demand or are being driven by speculation. FULL STORY
The European firm, ABI Research, has released a report that by 2013, Global Positioning System (GPS) for consumer and business use is expected to generate $240 billion. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
TRALA Launches 2008 Election Website
TRALA has launched www.TRALAVOTES2008.com, a political news resource to help members keep track of campaign news and candidates for local, state or national office. In addition to this information, TRALA members can also find out how to register to vote and obtain absentee ballots. If you have any questions or comments, please email Shannon Murray at smurray@trala.org.