Report on road conditions details progress
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Report on road conditions details progress (Fleet Owner)"According to the Reason Foundation’s 17th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems, six of seven key performance indicators that measure total highway performance improved from 2005 to 2006 and that was thanks to 2005 federal highway legislation that provided new dollars for roads, bridges and transit systems."
Other trucking industry headlines from Thursday, July 31, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
Windsor calls for comprehensive energy plan
Peters discusses new Administration plan
OOIDA takes issue with Bush highway plan
Maps of fatal accident sites available online
Mack Trucks adds SCR Q&A on Web site
Truck Tonnage increases in June
FMCSA adds 4 HOS documents to interim rule
Fleet Owner
Bendix shows off discs
FleetCards USA website launches
Latest version of TMT Fleet Maintenance
Fuel-saving webcast boasts experts Osterberg and Booth
Outsourced Logistics
More Air Mergers—Now British Air and Iberia are Talking
TNT June Express Volume Down
Fed Transport Plan Calls for Tolls, Private Funding
Con-way Inc. Shows Quarterly Growth
Rails Ask Shippers to Share Risk
Rail Carloads Up
Refrigerated Transporter
Frozen Food Express makes money in 2Q
Trailer/Body Builders
Cummins Reports Record Quarterly Financial Results
Eaton Acquires Engine Valves Business of Kirloskar Oil Engines
Volvo, Mack Trucks Headed For Ports
Blogs
Working hard (Trucks At Work)
"I interviewed Jim Boyd yesterday for a story you’ll see in this space pretty soon here. But his quote above really struck me as it summed up (to my mind, anyway) how important it truly is to make sure heavy-duty truck technicians – like drivers – understand how important their job is within the trucking world of today. That’s the sort of the reasoning behind the slideshow below – to shine the light on a job that gets overlooked, if not just completely taken for granted, in the daily hustle and bustle of the freight word. Enjoy!"
Other stories
Trucking company gives $1 million for bike safety education (The Oregonian)
The Ireland Trucking Co. has agreed to donate more than $1 million to promote bicycle safety. The money will go into the Jane Higdon Memorial Fund, named after a Eugene woman killed when her bicycle slipped under an Ireland logging truck in May 2006.
Proposed bill would ban Mexican trucks (Transport Topics)
Mexican trucks would be barred from U.S. highways, and the Department of Transportation prohibited from enacting future cross-border programs for Mexican truckers under a measure introduced in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 12:55 PM,
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Transportation infrastructure: What the future holds
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
What the future holds for infrastructure"Yesterday’s announcement by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters that the Bush Administration would reform the nation’s transportation programs included promises to address congestion, reward innovation and consolidate federal programs. However, Peters also indicated the government will look to “take advantage of the over $400 billion available worldwide for infrastructure investments from the private sector,” a highly contested and controversial issue throughout the transportation industry. She also said that the administration hopes to remove restrictions on congestion pricing too. "
Other trucking industry headlines for Wednesday, July 30, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
ATA files lawsuit against new port restrictions
Fleet Owner
ATA tonnage index up 1.3%
Karmak releases software interface for International dealers
Utility Trailer promotes Harris
Mack answering questions about SCR
Refrigerated Transporter
New national plan unveiled for transportation's future
Mack Trucks' McKenna talks SCR via the web
Trailer/Body Builders
American LaFrance Exits Bankruptcy
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Jumps 1.3% in June
JerrDan Appoints Two New Distributors
Blogs
Reliving the nightmare (Trucks At Work)
"One can only imagine the instant and overwhelming horror when the I-35W highway bridge crossing the Mississippi River north of Minneapolis began to give way back on Aug. 1 last year."
Read the tea leaves (Reading Between the Lines)
While business leaders and investors may count on an army of economists or other financial tea-leaf readers to help them gauge the health of our nation’s economy, I bank on the American trucking industry.
Other stories
ArvinMeritor beats expectations for the quarter (The Detroit News)
ArvinMeritor Inc., the U.S. supplier that's spinning off its auto-parts unit, gained the most in 30 months in New York trading after reporting Tuesday a third-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates.
A trucking group protesting against demerit points and registration costs has called off its national stoppage.
Cummins profits rise 16% (Transport Topics)
Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc., said that its second-quarter profits rose to a record as overseas demand bolstered a recovering North American truck-engine market.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 1:56 PM,
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Visit FleetOwner on YouTube
Fleet Owner magazine has a variety of trucking industry slideshows and other commercial-trucking related videos on its YouTube page.
Senior editor Sean Kilcarr also provides several slideshows from various trucking industry events he has covered recently.
Visit
posted by benmcclanahan @ 9:02 AM,
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Carriers try to remain upbeat despite negative reports
Monday, July 28, 2008
Carriers try to remain upbeat despite negative reports"Second-quarter financial reports have shown mostly negative returns for trucking companies due to challenging conditions in the industry. To counteract heavy losses, carriers promise to increase efficiency in the months ahead to improve bottom line performance."
Other trucking industry headlines from Monday, July 28, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
UNEV purchases Utah terminal facility
Gardner Denver Inc to acquire CompAir
Graying workforce isn't likely to change
Tank Container safe handling posted on Web site
SBA revises business size standard
DOT funds agency for driver training
PHMSA wants comments on railcar standards
Hazwaste trucker's wife wins ATA design contest
Fleet Owner
GE Transportation names president & CEO
Spal introduces electric cooling fan
Con-way receives high environmental score
FleetOwner honored with Azbees
Refrigerated Transporter
Hormel breaks ground on production facility
Cummins ends joint diesel engine venture
Blogs
Rail on a roll (Trucks At Work)
"Keeping an eye on the competition is always a smart thing to do in any business, and for truckers, that eye should be trained not just on fellow big rig operators but freight locomotives as well."
Other stories
GM, CAW reach settlement on Oshawa plant closing (The Detroit News)
A Canadian Auto Workers official says the union and General Motors Corp. have reached a settlement in the bitter dispute over the pending closure of the company's truck plant in Oshawa, Ontario.
Every day, hulking 18-wheelers invade California’s highways and freeways, spewing out clouds of dark diesel exhaust that is blamed for keeping thousands of the state’s residents gasping for air.
Australian truck strike begins (ABC News Australia)
Truck drivers are meeting in Sydney's west as part of a national shutdown of some trucking services.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 3:03 PM,
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Central Florida trucking job fair Aug. 2
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Trucking jobs, employment info:"CareersInGear along with the Orlando Employment Guide have created an event just for drivers, that can jump start your career or put life back into your battery. Join us on Saturday, August 2nd from 10am-2pm at NBI in Winter Haven, FL to meet with Central Florida’s Transportation leaders as they look to usher in a new wave of drivers, dispatchers, warehouse workers, yard dogs, dock loaders, security personnel and more for their fleets, company trucks, OTR loads, refrigerated trailers, flat-bed, tanker, warehouses, offices and Owner / Operator trips. If you are an Owner Operator (O/O) bring in your truck for a best in show competition where you can win the coveted Careers in Gear trophy along with other great prizes from our sponsors."
For more information, visit the Orlando EmploymentGuide.com Web site or CareersInGear.com.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 3:26 PM,
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Fleet Owner: Trucking stabilizing?
Trucking may be stabilizing (Fleet Owner)"Fuel costs are still high and freight volumes remain sluggish, yet many carriers report that the market for their services is stabilizing – both in terms of capacity and, more importantly, rates.
'Targeted growth initiatives, implemented late last year at our LTL unit, continued to produce market share gains,” noted Douglas Stotlar, president & CEO of Con-way Inc., in the company’s second quarter earnings statement. “We also began to see indications of a more stable pricing environment in the quarter.'"
Other trucking industry headlines for Thursday, July 24, 2008:
Fleet Owner
Postal Service looks for greener fleet
3,000 rally at Port of Oakland for cleaner trucks
Interactive Capacity Gateway launches new website
Hunter Engineering brake tester meets FMCSA regulations
Refrigerated Transporter
Minyard to sell 37 stores,Carnival brand to group
Calculator shows savings offered by plastic pallets
Blogs
Electric déjà vu (Trucks At Work)
"When I heard about the new deal between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), General Motors and 34 big utility companies across the country to create a “refueling network” for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), I couldn’t help but shake my head. Back in the early 1990s, I watch a very similar strategy get launched with a lot of fanfare and hoopla, only to die a slow and largely quiet death, with little care from an American public now so desperate to find an alternative to petroleum-powered cars and trucks."
Other stories
Indiana trucking company files for bankruptcy (Land Line Magazine)
Say what you will about Hoosier Tradewinds, but the trucking company didn’t leave home without its plastic.
A bill to help prevent a shortfall in transportation funding won overwhelming approval Wednesday, July 23, in the House of Representatives. The final vote total was 387-37.
Layoffs continue at Wisconsin trailer manufacturers (The Capital Times)Stoughton Trailers, LLC, of Stoughton, notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that the semi-trailer manufacturer would be closing its Brodhead facility and laying off the approximately 184 employees at the facility, 302 23rd St.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 2:00 PM,
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Commercial drivers faking documents
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
GAO report finds commercial drivers faking documents"According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released this week, more than half a million commercial vehicle drivers are currently receiving full disability benefits. While GAO admits that some of these drivers should be able to safely operate their vehicles, the report indicates that many of these drivers did not receive a full medical evaluation, with a number of them providing fraudulent medical documents and forged signatures."
Other trucking industry headlines for Wednesday, July 23, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
NEFI counting days to SPCC deadline
PHMSA schedules hazmat workshop
Statistics indicate no fuel price relief
Fleet Owner
Logistics+ using CargoWise’s ediEnterprise
Clean Burn Energy Star-certified
Trailer/Body Builders
Navistar Offers New APU
Index Shows Manufacturers Less Optimistic
Blogs
Slogging through (Trucks At Work)
"Things are tough, no doubt about it. ... Freight companies, though, seem to be muddling through all of this. It’s not pretty, however: tons of truckers have closed up shop (almost 1,000 since the start of 2008, including big names like Alvan Motor Freight and Jevic Transportation). Yet those that remain seem to be making the best of it, digging in until better days return."
Other stories
Oakland, LA mayors supporting "the right of truck workers to be employees." (ABC7News.com)
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke briefly at a labor rally today aimed at pressuring the Port of Oakland to require that trucking companies hire drivers as employees instead of just using them as independent contractors.
Former truck plants to produce small cars, source says (AP)
Ford Motor Co. plans to revamp some U.S. plants and bring six small vehicles to the U.S. market from overseas to meet customers' growing demand for more fuel-efficient options, a person briefed on the company's plans said Tuesday.
Volvo AB orders fall as customers hold off on buying new trucks (Bloomberg)
Volvo AB, the world's second-largest truckmaker, said orders slumped 28 percent in the second quarter as customers held off increasing their fleets amid higher fuel prices and slowing economies.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 12:29 PM,
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Fuel prices, cost cutting leading to
more counterfeit parts for fleets
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Counterfeiting concerns steadily rising"As fuel prices and commodities prices have gone through the roof in the past year, fleets are looking to cut costs in any way possible. Knowing that, counterfeiters have stepped up efforts to get potentially unsafe materials into the marketplace, as customers often can’t tell the difference."
Other trucking industry headlines for Tuesday, July 22, 2008:
Fleet Owner
Logistics experts launch new venture
Double Coin tire prices to rise
Diesel prices down four cents
Blogs
Medical qualifications (Trucks At Work)
"By now, I’m sure, you’ve heard about the big Associated Press story, entitled “Medically unfit drivers still on the road,” published yesterday in a variety of places, such as on CNN’s news website and a host of newspapers like the Kansas City Star, Connecticut Post, and many others."
Other stories
Retreads more environmentally friendly than new tires, study says (truckinginfo.com)
An independent analysis comparing the relative carbon footprints of new tires and retreaded tires has concluded that the process required to manufacture and distribute a retreaded tire produces significantly less carbon emissions than that required to produce a new tire.
One of the Big Ideas that's gotten a boost from the recent oil price shock is the notion that the energy for transportation should come from the electric grid, not an oil well in the Middle East.
Coalition of labor and environmental groups push for emissions reduction at Port of Oakland (Oakland Tribune)Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will join a coalition of labor, environmental and community leaders today to push for policies at the Port of Oakland to reduce diesel emissions and boost living conditions for thousands of independent truckers who move goods to and from the West Oakland facility.
posted by benmcclanahan @ 1:07 PM,
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Senate report slams FMCSA
Friday, July 18, 2008
Senate report slams FMCSA"The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill for 2009 contains a lengthy report that severely criticizes the performance of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)."
Other trucking industry headlines from Friday, July 18, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
TSA announces hazmat security recommendations
Dupre takes home LA safety award
Global economies boost commodity growth
SmartWay program selects new partners
NACD files comments on hazmat fee increases
EPA withdraws storage tank amendment
More TWIC enrollments underway
Fleet Owner
ZF touts hybrid expertise
Tenneco promotes three
Cummins Filtration to use environmentally friendly glycerin
West Coast workers slow down without new contract, PMA says
Trailer/Body Builders
Thermo King Launches New Line of Trailer Units
NFI, Raven Enter Into JV
posted by benmcclanahan @ 12:07 PM,
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FedEx Rumored In TNT Buy
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
FedEx Rumored In TNT Buy (Outsourced Logistics)"'No comment' is the rule, but that's no denial that FedEx may be in the market to acquire global express carrier TNT. Here's why the rumor seems likely to be true.
TNT has been conducting an aggressive stock buyback program. At the same time, it was streamlining the organization into a lean, mail and express company with strong road networks supporting it in developing markets. In a sense, it looks very much like the core FedEx Express operation."
Other trucking industry, logistics headlines for Wednesday, July 16, 2008:
Outsourced Logistics
Crane Forms Logistics Company
Ten Steps for Fuel Savings
Getting an 80,000 Pound Cargo Lift with a Blimp
Air Freight Looks Bad and Getting Worse
ExpressRail Successful In First Year
Fleet Owner
ATA pushing for offshore drilling
Constructions costs skyrocket
Old Dominion warehouse offering
posted by benmcclanahan @ 11:09 AM,
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Slowing down for fuel conservation -- Part II
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
From Trucks At Work:Changing landscape of driving
"A lot is changing out on the highways today – some good and some bad. We all know rising fuel prices are rapidly slashing the amount of miles four-wheelers log every day, with commuters scurrying for mass transit and vacationers becoming “staycationers.” Ways to restore our woefully maintained roadway infrastructure are also being hotly debated, from raising fuel taxes sales taxes and adding more tolls to the outright leasing of our roads to private companies – some note even based in the U.S.
But there are other significant changes we must start addressing, too. One theme I’ve been harping on is a return to a national 55 mph speed limit for cars, light trucks, and commercial trucks – both to reduce the nation’s consumption of fuel and vehicle crashes."
posted by benmcclanahan @ 7:40 AM,
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Finding affordable fuel supply
Monday, July 14, 2008
From Fleet Owner:ATA campaigns gov’t for more oversight
American Trucking Assns. (ATA) senior vp Tim Lynch testified last week in front of the House Committee on Agriculture and asked the Federal government to implement a comprehensive plan to help ensure an affordable fuel supply for the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers as well as American consumers.
“The fuel crisis we face today is severe,” Lynch said. “There is no one single solution to high oil prices. We need to conserve fuel and increase oil production to emerge from this crisis. But neither of these in itself is a total solution. Congress must embrace a multifaceted approach to solving this problem.”
Other trucking industry headlines for Monday, July 14, 2008:
Fleet Owner
YRC promotes two
Refrigerated Transporter
CARB plans workshops to discuss emissions rule
Trailer/Body Builders
American LaFrance Announces Operational Changes
ATA Calls For Comprehensive Plan to Ensure Affordable Oil
NTEA Recognizes 10 MVP companies
posted by benmcclanahan @ 12:06 PM,
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Slowing down to conserve fuel
From the Wall Street Journal:
Relearning How to Drive 55
"Even with gas prices cresting above $4 a gallon, large SUVs, pickup trucks and even Toyota Priuses barrel down freeways here in suburban Detroit at more than 75 miles per hour -- well beyond the 55 mph that was the national speed limit during the '70s and '80s.
If the U.S. Energy Department's calculations are right, all these lead foots could save the equivalent of 29 cents to 94 cents a gallon if they slowed down just to 60 mph -- and reduce the fuel they burn by about 7% to 23%. But most of my neighbors and I still choose to hit the gas rather than add 10 or 15 minutes to our commute times."
posted by benmcclanahan @ 11:26 AM,
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Ferrellgas wins civil suit against former employee
From The Kansas City Star:
"A Platte County judge has ruled that the founder of a student-mentorship program is liable for more than $3.2 million that his former employer accused him of embezzling.
In an order filed last week, Associate Circuit Judge Daniel Czamanske ruled in favor of Ferrellgas Inc., an Overland Park-based propane gas company, and against Scott Beeson, a Platte County resident.
The company accused Beeson of creating fake invoices and pocketing at least $3.2 million."
More ...
posted by benmcclanahan @ 10:28 AM,
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Battle for bigger trucks
A must-read and a very interesting Trucks At Work post on the LCV debate:Battle for bigger trucks
"'Bigger trucks are more dangerous trucks. Lifting truck weight and size limits would turn big rigs into time bombs.' –James P. Hoffa, general president, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
"You’ve got to give Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters credit: they know how to fire off good sound bites. The above quotation comes from the latest Teamster broadside aimed at heading off an effort to review federal truck size and weight limit laws. Right now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is proposing to launch a pilot program that would allow heavier and longer combination vehicles (LCVs) to operate on U.S. highways in “border states,” presumably those along the U.S.-Mexican border."While I haven’t turned up anything official about such an FMCSA study, there’s no doubt that the truck size and weight issue is again coming to a boil as the trucking industry not only searches for ways to boost productivity without adding more expensive equipment to our already-clogged roads, but to improve its environmental footprint as well."
Read entire article ...
posted by benmcclanahan @ 10:17 AM,
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Do lower oil prices mean lower diesel prices?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Do lower oil prices mean lower diesel prices?Oil prices have started--albeit it slowly—to drop this week, falling from a record high of $145 per barrel on July 3 to closing at $135.64 a barrel yesterday. But will this lead to any savings at the pump?
Other trucking industry headlines for Thursday, July 10, 2008:
Fleet Owner
Electric utility fleet managers hold annual conference
ATA testifies for law changes
Prophesy releases Dispatch with 2008 Peachtree interface
Des Moines Truck Brokers to use Transcore
Alcoa releases wheel for Sprinter 3500
posted by benmcclanahan @ 2:19 PM,
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Is biofuel the answer?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Featured article:Is biofuel the answer? (Fleet Owner)
A backlash is brewing against the widening use of biofuels worldwide – targeting ethanol, made mostly from corn, and biodiesel, created largely with soybeans – as concerns about their impact on the global food supply and the environment continue to grow. Still, despite potential pitfalls, experts believe biofuels are going to remain an important alternative fuel for transportation needs in the future.
Other trucking industry headlines for Wednesday, July 9, 2008:
Bulk Transporter
Information on repairing flood damaged vehicles
Land transport trade grows for NAFTA partners
Fleet Owner
Biofuel backlash
Michelin available at 32 new locations
Navistar to raise prices on International trucks
FTR Associates announces details of annual conference
ASA releases new side vision camera
posted by benmcclanahan @ 12:59 PM,
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Fuel Economy Resources
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
posted by benmcclanahan @ 7:46 AM,
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