EnRoute
Headlines From The Vehicle Renting and Leasing Industry
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Top Stories
Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America are merging into a single organization which will now be called, North American Trucks (NAT). The move is being made to improve profitability and efficiency in the Volvo Group’s North American truck operations. FULL STORY
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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued SmartWay trailer regulations, which beginnin on January 1, no 2011 or subsequent model year 53-ft. or longer dry, refrigerated or curtainside van trailer may be pulled by a heavy-duty tractor on a highway in California unless it is either SmartWay certified or has been retrofitted with equipment meeting SmartWay technical requirements or specifications for fuel-efficient trailers. FULL STORY
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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has formed a Safety Council which will tackle the critical transportation safety issues facing the department’s 10 operating administrations. FULL STORY
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R.L. Polk and Company has conducted a new Diesel Engine Parts Replacement analysis which predicts that longer commercial vehicle life-cycles combined with increasing costs of new engines are coupling to increase demand for replacement parts for diesel engines. FULL STORY
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A national terrorism awareness program, First Observer, is offering a 38-minute terrorism awareness training which can be viewed all at once or in sections as an individual’s time permits. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
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Continental Tire North America has introduced the HDR1 drive tire which is available in four sizes. The new tire is designed for regional applications. FULL STORY
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A Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report is a new auditing service from J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. through which the company will scan, audit, and archive vehicle inspection documents for clients that seek a cost effective way to monitor regulatory compliance, and to improve safety and maintenance in their organization. FULL STORY
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Peterbilt Motors Company has added two new trucks to its lineup. The Peterbilt Model 337 is a medium-duty model designed specifically with the P&D, beverage and food service vocations in mind and a Class 7-8 heavy-duty vocational unit. The Peterbilt Model 348 is a Class 7-8 heavy-duty vocational unit. FULL STORY
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Allison Transmission has introduced 2nd Reverse which will be available on all Allison 4700 and 4800 Rugged Duty Series, Emergency Vehicle Series and Specialty Series Models. The new feature offers a second “deep reverse” in addition to the standard reverse and provides greater control and engine braking during operating on steep grades. FULL STORY
Briefly
Bridgestone Canada and Evergreen have partnered to create a new outdoor classroom for Lancaster Public School in Mississauga. . .Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) an the National Hockey League (NHL) have entered into a multi-year agreement naming Enterprise as the official rent-a-car of the NHLPA and the NHL. . .The Minnesota High Tech Association, in partnership with Enterprise Minnesota and LifeScience Alley, has named Xata Corp. as the recipient of the 2009 Tekne Award in the Technology Services award category. . .Navistar Inc. concluded an agreement to acquire certain assets and the membership interests of Continental Diesel Systems to manufacture key injection components for its MaxxForce diesel engines and the new renamed company will be Pure Power Technologies. . .Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. has signed an agreement with Guaraguao Trucks Sales, Inc. in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, naming Guaraguao as an authorized sales and service dealer for Mitsubishi Fuso medium-duty work trucks. . .Idealease, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with CyntrX. The CyntrX product are now available to all Idealease customers and fleet vehicles. . .Murphy-Hoffman Company (MHC) became one of the first truck dealership groups to achieve ISO certification for quality in customer service. MHC has been ISO recertified for the second time. . .Karmak, Inc. has announced that several applications in its ProfitMaster line have been tested to meet all the technical requirements to earn the “Compatible with Windows 7” logo. Only “Compatible with Windows 7” software and devices have passed Microsoft Corp.-designed tests for compatibility and reliability on PCs running the Windows 7 operating system. . .The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Commands have approved the use of Skybitz trailer tracking system for controlled movements of arms, ammunition and explosives, granting the company a Defense Transportation Tracking System II (DTTS II) certification required for all asset tracking systems used by carriers hauling those cargos within the United States. . .Eastern Michigan Kenworth President and Dealer Principal Jesse Berger recently received a Young Leader and Excellence Award from the Automotive Hall of Fame at its annual induction ceremony at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.
People
Continental Tire North America has appointed Deborah Whiton as regional manager for Continental Tire Canada. . .Jerome Selitto has been named president and chief executive officer of PHH Corp. effective immediately. . .Cummins Inc. has named Lori Thompson vice president – Truck and Bus OEM Business and Lori Cobb has been named vice president – North and Central American Distribution. . .Dave Renz, vice president – Sales and Marketing, for the Vehicle Group, has announced his retirement after 32 years of service with Eaton. His last day will be November 30.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:
| Company | Symbol (Click for Chart) |
11/4 Close | Two Week Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $9.11 | $0.31 | 3.29% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $45.30 | $0.53 | 1.18% |
| Dana | DAN | $5.94 | $0.12 | 1.98% |
| Eaton | ETN | $62.89 | $0.25 | 0.40% |
| General Electric | GE | $14.19 | $0.13 | 0.91% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $12.54 | $0.82 | 6.14% |
| Navistar International Corp. | NAV | $34.18 | $0.74 | 2.12% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $37.50 | $0.28 | 0.74% |
| Ryder | R | $41.19 |
$0.39 | 0.94% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com
Money Matters
Daimler AG has reported its first quarterly profit in a year with the company reporting it earned about $61 million in the third quarter of 2009. FULL STORY
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company posted net income of $72 million on net sales of nearly $4.4 billion for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 which compares to income of $31 million on sales of $5.1 billion for the same period a year ago. FULL STORY
News From TRALA
TRALA's unrivaled record of success has earned the truck renting and leasing industry a strong reputation at the federal and state governments. Legal Action Fund contributions will allow TRALA to continue to uphold the highest standards our industry has come to expect from us. Please help support TRALA’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts and join your colleagues in making a contribution to TRALA’s 2009/2010 Legal Action Fund campaign today. Visit TRALA’s website at www.trala.org to make your contribution. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
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