EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Top Stories
Fleets are being warned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) about companies producing onboard recording devices that fail to meet FMCSA standards. FULL STORY
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The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has updated its idling regulations compendium and cab card, which include a summary of limits and exceptions for more than 30 jurisdictions. FULL STORY
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is planning on issuing a contract that would provide GPS terminals to carriers to facilitate tracking Mexican and U.S. trucks participating in the cross-boarder trucking program. FULL STORY
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U.S. Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) has proposed fighting global warming by putting a 50-cent per gallon tax on gasoline and a $50 per ton tax on carbon emissions. Congressman Dingell is waiting on feedback from the public before introducing formal legislation. FULL STORY
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A final rule has been issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation that moves five southwest Indiana counties – Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Martin and Pike – from the Central time zone to Eastern time zone. Those counties will observe Eastern Time beginning November 4 when daylight-savings time ends. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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Penske Truck Leasing has released Fleet I.Q. version 4.0 that is designed to enable fleet managers to employ GPS and wireless technology to measure, monitor and manage critical performance for truck fleets of any size more affordably. FULL STORY
The Waltco Direct Lift (WDL) Extra Tough (XT) is the new rail-type liftgate designed by Waltco Truck Equipment Co. to enhance performance and reliability. FULL STORY
Xata has released Xatanet version 4.0, which will offer more than 14 enhancements such as XataScope to allow fleet managers to track, capture and report on vehicle speed data and an Exceptions function to track ongoing operational events and identify performance levels outside of user-defined limits. FULL STORY
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. has unveiled the new 3000R prep package for trailers that will be equipped with hybrid refrigeration units. FULL STORY
Briefly
With the sale of Chrysler, the company formerly known as DaimlerChrysler is now Daimler, and on January 7, 2008, Freightliner LLC will become Daimler Trucks North America. . .Visual Marking Systems has launched a new designed and updated corporate website, www.vmsinc.com, which offers current and prospective customers information on the products, capabilities and services provided by VMS. . .Bridgestone Corp. has begun construction on its medium truck and bus plant near Stargard, Poland. . .Pam Nicholson, Enterprise Rent-A-Car executive vice president and chief operating officer, has recently been named to Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business 2007 list for the first time. . .Hino Trucks has chosen Credit Funders Inc. as a preferred finance resource. . .Caterpillar Inc. announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Panama to purchase land for the construction of a demonstration and learning center and other operations near Panama City. . .For the second consecutive year, more than 20 employees and senior executives with PHH FirstFleet spent the day working at Broward Partnership for the Homeless (BPHI) Broward County Central Homeless Assistance Center. . .For the second time in four years, Sterling Truck Corp. has received the highest overall ranking for Heavy-Duty Truck Dealer Service in the J.D. Power & Associates Heavy Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Survey. . .InformationWeek recently announced that Ryder System is ranked 25th and Penske Truck Leasing is ranked 60th on InformationWeek’s 500 list for 2007. . .Cummins has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam Motors Industry Corp. to create a 50-50 joint venture to produce on-highway diesel engines in Vietnam. . .Kenworth Truck Co. has expanded into the Class 5 market with the T170 market, a straight truck in a 4.2 configuration featuring a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 19,500 lbs. . .Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC has signed a multi-year agreement with the National Football League (NFL) that makes Bridgestone the “Official Tire of the NFL”. . .Truck-Lite has expanded its line of 33 Series products, offering high- and low-intensity auxiliary lamps in six different colors. . .Freightliner LLC has forged a deal with the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to launch a Freightliner-specific elective course targeted to training top graduates of UTI’s diesel program. . .Manheim has activated an advanced wastewater treatment system designed to reduce Manheim Auto Auction’s water demand by 60 percent at its reconditioning center. . .ArvinMeritor has become the first company from the automotive manufacturing industry sector to be classified as a “Most Valuable Player” (MVP), according to the 2007 Women’s Leadership Index. . .The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Carrier Corporation, parent of Carrier Transicold, for achievements in helping restore the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Carrier Transicold environmental innovations for the trucking segment include Deltek hybrid diesel-electric refrigeration technology and ComfortPro APU. . .Scopelitis, Garvin, Light & Hanson will be known as Scopelitis, Garvin, Hanson & Feary.
People on the Move
Doug Dorn will be assuming the role as director – OEM sales in Europe for SAF-Holland. . .GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services has hired Lori Tennant as rental product manager. . .Tracey Maynor has been named senior vice president, sales and operations for Kidron and Kidron’s parent company, VT Specialized Vehicles Corp. . .John M. Boler, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the Boler Company has announced that effective immediately, Matt Boler is succeeding him as president and CEO and Gary Gerstenslager has been promoted to president and CEO of Hendrickson. . .Key Equipment Finance has promoted Adam D. Warner to president. . .Cleman Decker and Ronny Jones have been hired as regional account executives for serving the metropolitan areas of St. Louis/Kansas City, MO and Birmingham, AL for J.J. Keller & Associates. . .Yokohama Tire Corp. has promoted Satoshi Miyata to CFO & Treasurer and reassigned Takao Oishi to executive vp of operations, Kenichi Shirai to YTC chief advisor of strategic marketing and Iwao Shimomura as YTC’s senior director of corporate quality assurance. . . Jim and Nolan Shiplet are Authorized Independent Affiliates of Commercial Property Consultants, which is a new business they have started based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. To learn more about their business they can be reached at (904) 287-9200.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
10/10 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArvinMeritor | ARM | $16.21 | $0.10 | 0.62% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $23.82 | $0.14 | 0.59% |
| Caterpillar Inc. | CAT | $82.51 | $1.17 | 1.44% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $139.98 | $3.16 | 2.31% |
| Eaton | ETN | $100.76 | $0.12 | 0.12% |
| General Electric | GE | $42.02 | $0.49 | 1.18% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $30.43 | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $87.00 | $0.84 | 0.96% |
| Ryder | R | $47.49 | $1.37 | 2.98% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
The Technology & Maintenance Council takes a look at maintenance costs from the late 1980’s to compare them to today. FULL STORY
For the first time in over 30 years, the Canadian and U.S. dollars are on par with each other. Strong prices for exports have put the Canadian economy in an upswing. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
You won’t want to miss TRALA’s Council Meetings and Washington Briefing taking place November 6-7 in our Nation’s Capitol. Join us to hear political commentary from former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and the latest economic forecast from US Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist Martin Regalia. The deadline for hotel reservations at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City is October 15. To reserve your room at the specially-negotiated rate, click here and be sure to enter the group code RLARLAA or call (800) 241-5000 and be sure to mention TRALA. To register for the meeting, visit www.trala.org. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Riser at (703) 299-9120 or ariser@trala.org.
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