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EnRoute- February 4, 2021

The United States House of Representatives recently passed a budget resolution, which is a key step as Democrats push toward a vote on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. FULL STORY





TOP STORIES

Consideration of a major infrastructure policy package aimed at improving access to commercial corridors would enhance the freight industry's distribution of goods in the coming years, stakeholders said during a recent forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. FULL STORY
 
The U.S. Department of Transportation has a new leader in Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 presidential candidate and the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. FULL STORY
 
Daimler plans to spin off Daimler Truck as a separate business and establish two independent pure-play companies, eventually renaming the car part of the business as Mercedes-Benz. FULL STORY





 

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

In collaboration with General Motors and OneH2, Navistar is introducing a complete solution for customer implementation of a zero-emission long-haul system, which will be initially piloted by J.B. Hunt Transport. FULL STORY
 
Goodyear and ConMet are teaming up to create combined tire and wheel-hub digital solutions to connect commercial truck fleets to the health of their tires and wheel ends. FULL STORY
 
Eaton announced its Vehicle Group has expanded the capabilities of its ServiceRanger 4 software, the computer diagnostics and service tool designed to support all Eaton automated manual transmissions, hybrid powertrain systems, Advantage Automated Series clutches and Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies. FULL STORY
 
Peterbilt recently unveiled its New Model 579. The new truck is the first significant upgrade of the Model 579 aerodynamic tractor, which was launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2012. FULL STORY





 

BRIEFLY

VOLVO GROUP announced its new business area, Volvo Energy, that will focus on commercial vehicle electrification by strengthening the company's battery and charging infrastructure offerings. . . GEOTAB MARKETPLACE is now offering a a seamless, single user-interface that deliver real-time Al insights known as the Driver and Fleet Safety Platform from its collaboration with the Nauto Risk Reduction and Fleet Safety Platform. . . PENSKE TRUCK LEASING has supplied five Feeding America food banks with 26-foot refrigerated box trucks for use as mobile food pantries. . . COOP BY RYDER announced the expansion to three new markets in California, Tennessee, and North Carolina to strengthen COOPs footprint and further advances its position across the United States, after successfully rolling out the program in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. . . UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY announced its dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds produced after 2002 can be retrofitted with Utility's standard 7” deep horizontal Interstate Commerce Commission (I.C.C.) bumper. . . Mack Trucks recently launched a fuel savings calculator on its website, to clearly show fleet owners and owner-operators how much fuel savings could be realized if their trucks were spec'd with the next-generation Mack® MP®8HE+ powertrain package. . . MACK TRUCKS AND VOLVO TRUCKS introduced the PartsASIST platform, one-stop online solution that increases uptime by enabling faster, simpler, and more efficient service, which offers a secure, remote access to parts, components, and expert support. . . BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS is is expanding its upgrade program that helps fleets retrofit their trucks with Bendix advanced safety technologies by adding members to its Authorized Upgrade Centers (AUC) network which consists of dealers and distributors that facilitate the installation of the company's advanced safety systems on existing vehicles and includes locations in over a dozen states in the U.S. . . GENERAL MOTORS has announced it will build BrightDrop electric light commercial vehicles at its CAMI manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. . . GENERAL MOTORS recently announced its commitment to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. . . PENSKE LOGISTICS recently awarded 23 recipients of Penske Logistics' inaugural Freight Management Trucking Carrier Awards. . . RYDER SYSTEM, INC. announced the company will pay up to six hours of paid time off (PTO) to Ryder employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which include three hours of PTO for the first vaccine and an additional three hours of PTO for those treatments that require a second dose to complete the vaccination process. . .  DANA INCORPORATED announced that the company's European region was recognized as a 'Top Employer 2021' by the Top Employers Institute, which is a prestigious award honors exceptional human resources programs, including diversity and inclusion, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, and well-being.




 

PEOPLE

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has appointed ANDREW JOHNSON head of corporate communications. . . Meritor recently appointed JOHN NELLIGAN as senior vice-president and president of truck, Americas, TIM BOWES as senior vice-president and president of industrial and North American aftermarket, and KEN HOGAN as senior vice-president and president, truck, Europe and Asia Pacific. . . Cummins recently appointed AMY BOERGER to lead the North America region for On-Highway as vice president and general manager, North America, JOSE SAMPERIO as executive director, sales, for U.S./Canada, and LYNDON JONES as leader of the Leasing team.




 

NUMBERS

The U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus shutdown slowed markedly in the final three months of the year, as the nation failed to recoup all of its losses from the COVID-induced recession. FULL STORY
 
Used Class 8 sales rose in December along with double-digit gains in prices as the average heavy-duty truck's mileage and age remained below year-earlier levels, ACT Research reported. FULL STORY
 
Preliminary Class 8 truck orders remained robust in January, slowing from December but still far outpacing year-ago orders. FULL STORY





 

TRALA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Registration is Now Open for TRALA's 2021 Annual Meeting
 
While meetings in 2021 will look different from what we have all experienced in the past, TRALA is providing two great options for its members. You can register to attend in-person April 11-14 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas or participate in a virtual meeting which will take place April 26-28 from the comfort of your home or office.
 
You may visit TRALA's 2021 Annual Meeting website by clicking here to view additional information. If you have any questions, please contact TRALA's Shannon Davison at sdavison@trala.org or Jennylynne Bowman at jbowman@trala.org.  

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