Blog

EnRoute - April 2, 2014


Top Stories

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has released some tentative decisions on the lease accounting project after a recent joint board meeting with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). While the boards came together on a number of areas, they still diverge in one major area which is lessee accounting.   FULL STORY
 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the number of heavy-duty truck and bus mechanics and diesel specialist rose at nearly twice the rate as all U.S. occupations from May 2012 to May 2013.
 
The driver shortage will continue to frustrate the trucking industry as long as bulk goods needs to be moved around America, however the simple stuff like pay, the time away from home, and the nature of the work, are not just issues limited to trucking today, they are universal throughout the American labor force. FULL STORY

 

Technology Trends

 
Dana Holding Corporation has introduced new lightweight versions of its Spicer D-Series line of steer axles that features an integrated air disc brake that allows fleets to specify air disc brakes with a net increase in weight over most S-cam drum brake axle systems. FULL STORY
 
Carrier Transicold has unveiled its family of new ultra-high performance transport refrigeration units (TRUs), which are all compliant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions standard and manufactured at the company's Athens, Georgia facility. FULL STORY 
 
Hendrickson has introduced the new SOFTEK NXT, a lightweight front steer axle with mono-leaf spring suspension rated from 12,000 to 12,500 lb. capacities that saves up to 118 pounds. The company also introduced the new OPTIMAXX liftable forward 6x2 tandem axle system with automated controls that saves 350 lbs. of weight while reducing tire wear due to liftable axle providing ride and handling during variable load conditions. FULL STORY
 
Donaldson Co. has introduced its new Blue line of premium filters that will include more than 150 fuel, air intake, lube, coolant and fuel filters and is manufactured using Donaldson's advanced Ultra-Web nanofiber technology.  FULL STORY
 
FleetLocate Asset & Trailer Intelligence solution software from Spireon will see the addition of an automated detention optimization system. The new module will feature flexible reports that enable trucking companies to see instantly where trailers are located, how long those trailers has been detained at specific locations, whether the trailers are empty or loaded and which customers have exceeded their detention grace periods. FULL STORY 
 


Briefly

NationaLease celebrated the grand opening of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) new state-of-the industry campus in Lisle, Illinois. NationaLease has joined UTI in a strategic partnership, with both organizations working closely together to equip students with skills entering the workforce ready for employment as a diesel technician. . .Kenworth Truck Company's assembly plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, celebrated its 40th anniversary of building trucks.  The first Kenworth truck rolled off the Chillicothe assembly line in March 1974 and since that date, the employees at Kenworth's largest plant have assembled more than 410,000 trucks. . .CSM Companies and French-Ellison Truck Center merged on March 31. It establishes the company as one of the largest commercial truck dealership groups in the United States.  The newly formed company will be headquartered out of Madison, Wisconsin. . .Bridgestone Americas Inc. has pledged $300,000 in funding to Mind Drive, a non-profit educational program that uses the automobile and experiential learning techniques to teach at-risk high school students about math and science.  The company will also provide hands-on volunteers who will give more than 250 hours of their time to support the program and its urban youth. . .Continental Tire the Americas LLC will launch its new Conti360 Fleet Services portal this summer that will provide one-touch access to Continental products, services and reporting tools. . .Enterprise Holdings subsidiary, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada Co. is purchasing AutoShare CarSharing Network Inc.  AutoShare was established as Toronto's first car-sharing organization.
 
 

People 

NationaLease has announced that Andy Stopka has been named vice president of Member Programs. Prior to his new position, he served as vice president of Maintenance for the organization. . .Kurt Danielson has been named president, U.S. & Canada commercial tire sales for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). Danielson will also assume the role of senior vice president, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.. . .Karmak, Inc. has named John Lebel the new strategic partnerships director.
 

 
 
 

Taking $tock

A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:

Company Symbol (Click for Chart) 4/2 Close Performance
Allison Transmission Holdings ALSN $30.57 $0.22 -0.71%
Avis Budget Group Inc. CAR $51.40 $1.64 +3.30%
Cummins Inc. CMI $149.34 $0.39 +0.26%
Dana Holding Corp. DAN $23.36 $0.13 -0.55%
Eaton Corp. ETN $76.67 $0.90 +1.19%
General Electric GE $26.04 $0.17 +0.66%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber GT $26.80 $0.30  -1.11%
Navistar International Corp. NAV $34.60 $0.27 -0.77%
PACCAR Inc. PCAR $68.27 $0.46 +0.68%
Ryder R $81.76 $0.49 +0.60%

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance

 
 

Money Matters

Truck manufacturers and component suppliers believe truck sales for heavy- and medium-duty units should strengthen in the coming years as the economy continues to strengthen. FULL STORY


 

News From TRALA 

 
TRALA Annual Meeting Draws Record Number Expressing Optimism on Industry Growth

Almost 400 hundred industry professionals met at the Truck Renting and Leasing Association's (TRALA) 36th Annual Meeting at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona March 10-14, 2014. The strong turnout for the largest meeting of the vehicle renting and leasing industry in North America signaled renewed optimism for the industry's future and economic growth in the broader truck transportation arena. Over 100 different truck renting and leasing companies were represented at the meeting, as well as over 50 companies supplying products and services to the industry. The NationaLease System, Mack Leasing and Volvo Truck Leasing System and the PacLease System all held meetings of their respective organizations in conjunction with the TRALA meeting.
 
Please click here to read more about TRALA's 2014 Annual Meeting.