Blog
EnRoute - August 6, 2015
- By: Shannon Davison
- On: 08/06/2015 16:38:00
- In: EnRoute
Top Stories
President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill to extend funding for the Highway Trust Fund for three months. This is Congress' 34th stopgap surface transportation measure in a decade despite the introduction of several long-term bills. FULL STORYThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will, when final, require single-unit trucks to be equipped with rear impact guards and reflective tape on the rear and sides of the trucks to improve their visibility. FULL STORY
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is working on a number of regulations that will affect the trucking industry. FULL STORY
Technology Trends
Fleets may begin to re-evaluate their use of mobile technologies as the growth of alignments between telematics companies and OEMS continue. FULL STORYPending approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Thermo King will begin to offer North American customers new trailer and truck refrigeration units with lower global warming potential. FULL STORY
The Falcon Series GXT3100C from SkyBitz is an all-in-one trailer and container tracking system with three components: a GXT3100 mobile terminal with remote antenna, SkyBitz Cargo Sensor, and proprietary mounting bracket. FULL STORY
Michelin North America Inc. is in the process of launching Michelin OnSite, which will enable consumers to purchase tires online, via mobile device, or by phone, and have them installed and serviced at a time and place of their choice. FULL STORY
Briefly
Navistar has announced that the Eaton Procision line of dual-clutch, automated-manual transmissions will be available on International DuraStar medium-duty trucks in late 2015. . .Mack Trucks has announced a partnership with the Historic Harley-Davidson dealership and Lathan McKay of Evel Knievel Enterprises, a collector of Knievel memorabilia. The goal of the partnership is to revive the motorcycle daredevil's legacy through a traveling and permanent exhibit that features thousands of collectable materials. . .Ryder System, Inc. is a bronze champion sponsor of the Special Olympic World Games. Ryder's specialized trucks and vans will be utilized to safely transport event-related materials. . .Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (BATO) is extending its terms as the Official Tire of the National Hockey League (NHL), and will return as the title sponsor of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game. . .Kenworth Truck Company's assembly plant in Renton, WA, recently earned a 2015 Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling Award from the King County Solid Waste Division for exceptional efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. . .Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has announced its new headquarters will remain in Lorain County, Ohio, where the company will move 10 miles from its current location in Elyria to Avon. . .The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination to the waiting period under an anti-trust law for Element Financial Corp. to acquire GE Capital's fleet management unit. . .Penske Truck Leasing has formally opened a full-service facility in Alabaster, AL. The state-of-the-art facility provides full-service truck leasing, consumer and commercial truck rental and contract truck fleet maintenance services.
People
Kelley Platt, president of Western Star Trucks, has been assigned the additional responsibility to serve as Daimler Trucks North America's chief diversity officer and a member of the company's Operating Committee. . .Great Dane Trailers has promoted Robert Ulsh to Vice President-Dealer and International Sales and will be replacing Chris Hammond, who was recently named Executive Vice President of Sales. The company has also appointed Cyndi Rogers to the newly created position of Director-Marketing Communications and David Grant to the newly created role of Director-Customer Experience Management. . .Scott Darling, chief counsel for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has been nominated by President Obama to be the next agency administrator.
Taking $tock
A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:| Company | Symbol | 8/6 Close | Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Transmission Holdings | ALSN | $29.46 | $0.10 | +0.34% |
| Avis Budget Group Inc. | CAR | $44.47 | $0.63 | +1.44% |
| Cummins Inc. | CMI | $127.18 | $0.66 | -0.52% |
| Dana Holding Corp. | DAN | $18.53 | $0.12 | -0.64% |
| Eaton Corp. | ETN | $59.98 | $0.36 | +0.60% |
| General Electric | GE | $26.03 | $0.07 | -0.27% |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | $30.74 | $0.27 | -0.87% |
| Navistar International Corp. | NAV | $16.80 | $0.23 | -1.35% |
| PACCAR Inc. | PCAR | $63.32 | $0.28 | -0.44% |
| Ryder | R | $91.55 | $0.36 | -0.39% |
SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance
Money Matters
PACCAR is celebrating 110 years of success in 2015. The company has achieved record quarterly profit by earning $447.2 million for the second quarter of 2015, an increase of 40 percent compared to $319.2 million earned in the second quarter of 2014. FULL STORYCummins Inc. reported results for the second quarter of 2015 with revenue of $5.0 billion increased 4 percent from the same quarter in 2014. The increase year-over-year was driven by stronger demand in on-highway markets and distributor acquisitions in North America. FULL STORY
Supreme Industries, Inc. reported that consolidated net sales from continuing operations increased 15.4 percent to $82.6 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared with $71.6 million during the same quarter last year. FULL STORY
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $18 million in funding for six years in an effort to reduce the modeled price of algae-based biofuels to less than $5 per CGE by 2019. FULL STORY
TRALA in the News
TRALA welcomes Wholesale Truck and Finance of Auburn Hills, Michigan as the newest member to the Association. If you have any questions or concerns regarding TRALA membership, please contact LaTisha Thomas at lthomas@trala.org or by phone at (703) 299-9120.