Blog

EnRoute- May 20, 2021

TRALA IN THE NEWS

TRALA-proposed amended language surrounding an International Registration Plan (IRP) issue with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) has been included in a bill that recently became law in South Carolina. FULL STORY





TOP STORIES

President Joe Biden's prospects for passing a major infrastructure bill through Congress with bipartisan support — seen unlikely in the wake of his Democrat-only pandemic-relief package in March — are now rising, though disagreements over funding still could scrap a deal. FULL STORY
 
A Senate proposal to impose a vehicle-miles-traveled fee exclusively on commercial vehicles drew a strong rebuke from the leaders in the trucking industry.
FULL STORY





 

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Noregon recently announced the release of its first major update of 2021 for its flagship product, JPRO Professional. FULL STORY
 
Eaton's eMobility business has been awarded a contract to supply a 24-to-12-volt DC-DC converter for use in a commercial heavy-duty battery electric vehicle (BEV) that will power accessories, such as antilock brakes and lighting. FULL STORY
 
Daimler Trucks has begun rigorous testing of its second-generation hydrogen-powered prototype truck, which the company calls an important milestone on the path to production of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, which was unveiled in 2020.
FULL STORY





 

BRIEFLY

VOLVO TRUCKS is celebrating its I-Shift automated manual transmission's 15th anniversary in the North American market and all model-year 2022 or newer trucks will feature Lytx onboard technology as a factory-installed option. . . HENDRICKSON has launched a dealer Sales Academy which will be comprised of videos, assessments and related resources to help dealer salespeople understand the features and benefits, and specifications of Hendrickson products to help guide their customers in making the optimum ride solution choice. . . GREAT DANE JONESBORO AND HUNTSVILLE have won awards in the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association's (TTMA) 2020 Plant Safety Contest WITH Jonesboro winning the trailer manufacturing plant in the large plant category and Huntsville winning in the small plant category. . . BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC has received a five-year regulatory exemption for Bendix's windshield-mounted video cameras from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). . . PACCAR PARTS recently celebrated the groundbreaking for its new state-of-the-art parts distribution center (PDC) in Louisville, Kentucky. . . INTERSTATE BILLING SERVICE and the Independent Truck Repair Group (iTRG) have announced a strategic partnership, which will bring specially brokered rates and rebates to iTRG members. . . CONTINENTAL is extending its commitment to sustainability in the natural rubber supply chain through an agreement with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on a significant expansion of their a project to ensure full traceability of the natural rubber supply chain in the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan in Borneo. . . PACLEASE has partnered with Multi Service Fuel Card for its Co-branded fuel card, called PacFuel to provide customers with one-on-one consulting to map out the best fuel strategies, and potential savings. . . ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS announced that it has opened more than 100 new branch locations in 20 countries across Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) over the past 12 months and has also brought a new location to Bowling Green, Kentucky that will specialize in truck rentals. . . VELOCITY TRUCK CENTERS announced the company has expanded further into the Southeast with the acquisition of the Triad Freightliner, Triad Freightliner of Kingsport, Tennessee, West Carolina Freightliner, Carolina Freightliner and H&H Freightliner. . . GEOTAB announced it will donate $25,000 to Together for Safer Road's Vision Zero Technology Fund that helps equip essential and not-for-profit fleets with safety technology if the number of speed-related incidents amongst Geotab-connected fleets is reduced by 1% in recognition of UN Global Road Safety Week, which runs May 17-23. . . PETERBILT MOTOR COMPANY is opening two new dealership locations: Rush Peterbilt Truck Center, Phoenix East, in Mesa, Arizona and Peterbilt of Augusta in Augusta, Georgia. . . BENDIX is offering in-person and online training opportunities for fleet technicians, owner-operators, service providers and others to enhance the skills necessary for keeping vehicles on the road and in safe operating condition.



 

PEOPLE

Ryder recently appointed JOHN J. DIEZ to the role of executive vice president and CFO and named TOM HAVENS president of its fleet management solutions business unit. . . Daimler Trucks North America announced that DAVID CARSON has been appointed to the expanded role of senior vice-president, sales and marketing, consolidating responsibility for all sales and marketing of vocational and on-highway segments; DREW BACKEBURG has been promoted to the role of senior vice-president of aftermarket and will join the company's operating committee; and RICHARD HOWARD will take on the role of president of the new established Daimler Truck Financial Services USA, an entity allocated to Daimler Truck Financial Services in Germany.  




 

NUMBERS

Economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is putting pressure on the freight-hauling sector, and an industry expert said changes brought on by virus-related cutbacks are contributing to a tightening market that could rival earlier periods of growth. FULL STORY
 
Carriers are enjoying the strongest freight market ever, and there's no quick solution to the supply chain issues that are keeping them from adding to their fleets. FULL STORY
 
Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders in April were 33,500 units, down 16% from March, but a whopping 689% higher than April of last year's COVID-stricken intake, according to ACT Research. FULL STORY
 
Despite general market positivity and great new equipment production rates, there are reasons to be nervous about how economy in the months to come, FTR reports. FULL STORY 




 

TRALA ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADVERTISE WITH TRALA
 
TRALA has several advertising opportunities available to its members in both its on-line directory as well as its publications. Please contact TRALA's Jennylynne Bowman at jbowman@trala.org or by phone at (703) 299-9120 to discuss all the options to reach TRALA's membership.