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January 2012

Outlook 2012 look at the trucking industry as it braces for an onslaught of regulations. Additonally, there is an update to the Super Truck project that aims to build fuel-efficient vehicles as it enters the next stage. 

Editor's Page

  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    A happy new year 2

    I strongly suspect you're tired of reading about the economy. I know I'm tired of writing about it. For the last three years, though, it's been the unavoidable...More

Tire Tracks

  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Teamwork is the key

    Years ago, I spoke at a conference and made some remarks regarding the outdated rim matching and mount/demount wall charts for truck and bus tires from...More

Fleets Online

  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Dispatching for growth

    COMPANY: Delaware Valley Floral Group OPERATION: Nationwide floral distribution and logistics firm with facilities in five states and delivery operations...More

Articles

  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    OUTLOOK 2012: Regs, regs & more regs

    As humorist Will Rogers once famously observed, in every war they kill you in a new way. And so it goes this year in the endless war for survival and...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    SuperTruck Update 1

    Though the name evokes visions of futuristic vehicles straight out of a campy science fiction novel, the Dept. of Energy's (DOE) research program is far...More
  • Nov. 23, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    ALERT: FMCSA bans cell-phone use

    The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration formally banned all hand-held cell phone use by commercial truck and bus drivers during the operation of their vehicles....More
  • Dec. 14, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    U.S. Xpress co-chairman Patrick Quinn passes away

    U.S. Xpress Enterprises co-chairman Patrick E. Quinn has passed away at the age of 65 after battling brain cancer...More
  • Jan. 23, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Class 8 orders bounce back in December

    According to ACT Research Co. (ACT), Class 8 orders ended 2011 with the second-best order month in six years as Class 8 net orders rose to 30,293 units. ACT said that, when seasonally adjusted, December’s orders were the best since April - and resumed the stronger order trend that has been observed since August...More
  • Dec. 8, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Increase in truck crash fatalities sparks debate 1

    An 8.7% spike in the number of people killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2010 compared to 2009 is igniting debate on several fronts – regulatory and otherwise – concerning the trend line where trucking safety is concerned....More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Solid demand seen

    According to the annual fleet study published by CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR), 84% of fleets operating Class 8 vehicles and 33% operating medium-duty...More
  • Nov. 29, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Cost of fuel tops list of fleet worries

    A recent survey of 380 fleets operating everything from over-the-road tractor trailers to delivery trucks and buses found that the price of fuel tops their list of worries, with reducing costs related to crashes coming in a distant second...More
  • Nov. 16, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    CRST, U.S. Xpress expand into reefer biz

    Two leading truckload carriers, U.S. Xpress and CRST, have both announced recently that they will expand into the refrigerated trucking market. Both plan to use team drivers to expand their reefer fleet business...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Mass driver purge never materialized

    Before CSA went into effect, there were plenty of dire predictions about the number of drivers the new safety rating system would wash out of the workforce....More
  • Dec. 7, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Carriers optimistic about year ahead

    Things are looking up to carriers for the year ahead, according to Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) 4th Quarter 2011 Business Expectations Survey. The survey showed 61% of carriers responding expect freight volumes to increase in 2012 and only 7% expecting volumes to decrease. Both larger and smaller carriers responded similarly...More
  • Dec. 5, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Fuso developing HD hybrid for all Daimler Truck brands

    Kawasaki, Japan. Designated as the global hybrid development center for its parent Daimler Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso has begun work on a diesel electric hybrid system for on-highway heavy-duty trucks...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Upgrade to green for free

    Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) and Enova, a developer of proprietary hybrid-electric and all-electric drive systems and drive system components,...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Funding awarded

    The California Energy Commission recently approved nearly $5 million in funding to help bring natural gas-powered buses and large trucks to California's...More
  • Dec. 8, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Frito-Lay electric delivery trucks deployed in Orlando

    PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America said it will roll out 10 new electric trucks in Orlando as part of the largest planned fleet of commercial all-electric trucks in North America. In total, Frito-Lay will deploy 176 electric trucks this year in the U.S. and Canada, making Frito-Lay the largest commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in North America, according to a company announcement....More
  • Nov. 18, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Fee proposed to help fund NGV investment

    A temporary “user fee” is being proposed within a new Senate-sponsored bill to help fund tax credits for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and the construction of refueling infrastructure to support them....More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    More than just APUs

    There is a developing market for the use of fuel cells as auxiliary power units (APUs) across a range of markets, including trucking. And while the size...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Aerodynamic makeover 2

    Who says watching your competition doesn't pay off? For Normal, IL-based Nussbaum Transportation, the hope is that it will in a big way. Phil Braker,...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Earning respect

    Over the past decade or more, the trucking industry has launched a number of initiatives to improve its image in the eyes of the general public. Almost...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Commonsense safety approach

    This past November, with huge fanfare and little anticipation from motor carriers themselves, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Logging savings

    When Maines Paper & Food Service Inc. purchased electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs), achieving a return on its investment was a top priority. It saw...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Waiting game

    The European sovereign debt crisis should be coming to a head during the first half of 2012, and how Europe handles the crisis has large implications...More
  • Dec. 12, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Big savings are in gas for Ford F-650 15

    DEARBORN, MI. Ford Motor Co. proudly claims it sells more commercial vehicles than any OEM in North America. To maintain that dominance, the company must always be innovating and expanding its lineup to match the needs of commercial customers. And that includes the new gasoline engine Ford offers in its F-650 vehicle...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Roadranger partnership ends

    By the middle of this year, Dana Holding Corp. and Eaton Corp. plan to terminate their Roadranger joint marketing alliance, with each company expecting...More
  • Nov. 30, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Hino, Allison forge long-term deal

    Class 4-7 truck maker Hino Trucks and Allison Transmission recently hammered out a multi-year, long-term agreement that makes Allison transmissions the preferred and exclusive unit for all current and future Hino conventional trucks sold in the U.S....More
  • Nov. 30, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Display makes refrigerated trailer temps visible in mirrors

    A new display that mounts on the front corner of a trailer makes it easy for a driver to verify the temperature inside a trailer without leaving the cab....More
  • Nov. 22, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Metric impact socket set released

    Snap-on has released a new ½-in. drive, 12-piece semi-deep six-point metric impact socket set...More
  • Nov. 16, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Rogers redesigns gooseneck support

    Rogers Trailers has introduced a redesigned gooseneck jack paddle that it said offers plenty of lift distance and requires little or no tractor modification....More
  • Nov. 16, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Applications added to LED WhiteLight line

    Grote Industries has added six new versions to its popular Trilliant LED WhiteLight work lamp line....More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Brochure published

    The Racor Div. of Parker Hannifin Corp. has published its new lubrication filtration systems brochure. The brochure details Racor's full line of oil filtration...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Distributor changes its name

    Allied Oil & Supply, a Midwest distributor of lubricants and commercial tires, has changed its name to more accurately reflect the company's product portfolio...More
  • Nov. 30, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Con-way Truckload chooses Goodyear

    Goodyear announced an agreement with Con-way Truckload to be its principal supplier of wide-base truck tires...More
  • Nov. 30, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Utility securement system now available for all flatbed loads

    The adjustable load securement system (ALSS) from Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. is now available for all types of loads on Utility flatbed trailers, the company announced...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Disc brake version released

    Ridewell has released a new disc brake version of its Ridewell-brand axle. The axle is available with Wabco PAN 22 air disc brakes and includes a parallel...More
  • Nov. 15, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Updated industrial battery charger line

    A new line of advanced high-frequency industrial battery chargers offer improved power conversion circuitry for efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility, Ametek Prestolite Power said....More
  • Dec. 9, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    New landing gear drops weight

    JOST International has unveiled two new lightweight landing gear products that do not compromise on strength, the company said...More
  • Nov. 21, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Aftermarket parts demand poised to keep rising

    A boom in aftermarket truck parts demand is poised to keep gaining strength into next year as fleets large and small continue to extend their truck ownership cycles to cut down on vehicle acquisition costs....More
  • Nov. 30, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Clean power rules Tokyo Motor Show

    TOKYO. The next generation of diesel-electric hybrid trucks are the big stars at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, which is marking the return of commercial vehicles to the show floor after a four-year absence...More
  • Dec. 8, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Ford offers details on the Transit’s U.S. debut

    DEARBORN, MI. For those who can’t wait to see the full-size Transit van from Ford Motor Co., you may only need to look out your window the next time you hit the highways. That’s because Ford announced that the European vehicle, slated to begin production in the U.S. in 2013, is already here and in some select customer’s hands for testing...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Green five ways

    MANAGER: Pete Overgaag TITLE: President & owner FLEET: Hollandia Produce, Carpinteria, CA OPERATION: A multi-faceted agricultural concern specializing...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    GPS + cruise = fuel saved

    One new tactic now being deployed in Europe to boost fuel efficiency doesn't have anything to do with changing the physical characteristics of engines,...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Setting the standard

    For the North Canton, OH-based Kenan Advantage Group (KAG), specifications and maintenance practices are key elements in ensuring safety remains a top...More
  • Nov. 18, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Drive Cam to acquire Rair

    DriveCam announced on Wednesday that it will acquire Rair Technologies. The investment and acquisition are expected to close in early December, subject to customary closing conditions...More
  • Dec. 2, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    New driver screening product offered

    Truck Matters LLC has introduced Recruiting Matters, which the company said is a comprehensive new product that brings together “an arsenal of tools intended to expedite the truck driver recruitment process and increase driver retention.”...More
  • Nov. 22, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    New fleet tracking hardware devices

    Two new tracking devices have been introduced as part of Networkfleet’s 5000 Series of fleet tracking hardware...More
  • Dec. 5, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Prophesy launches OnDemand video series

    A series of eight videos have been released by Prophesy Transportation Solutions. The series focuses on different sections of the trucking and logistics software solutions company’s web-based, pay-as-you-go Prophesy OnDemand solution...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Detecting usage

    NavStar Technologies has signed an agreement with Trinity Noble to add cell phone usage detection while driving to its portfolio of electronic onboard...More
  • Dec. 6, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    SkyBitz acquired by Telular

    Wireless technology firm Telular Corp. has announced it will acquire SkyBitz, Inc. for $42 million in cash and stock. SkyBitz is a provider of mobile resource management solutions focusing on tracking and management of truck trailers, intermodal containers and other mobile assets...More
  • Nov. 22, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    App ensures legal smartphone use while driving

    PHH Arval has partnered with ZoomSafer to field what it calls the fleet industry’s first smartphone app that detects when employees are driving and then automatically encourages safe smartphone use....More
  • Jan. 5, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Pilot Flying J adds Android version to its MyPilot app

    Pilot Flying J has launched an Android version of its MyPilot smartphone app. The truckstop/travel center operator said the new app is “designed to assist professional drivers and motorists as they plan trips and stop to refuel and refresh while on the road...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    The Connected Truck

    The common perception is that once a truck leaves the loading dock or terminal, it's essentially on its own, isolated and out of touch until it reaches...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Avoid the hustle

    With the entire freight landscape going through major changes, from hours-of-service rules to looming EOBRs, fewer available qualified truck drivers,...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Losing it

    The Truckload Carriers Assn. has selected 11 companies to participate in its Trucking's Weight Loss Showdown. The contest boasts prizes for the fleet...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Rolling against MS

    Saginaw, MI-based Champagne & Marx Excavating specializes in running double-dump trailers capable of hauling payloads of 50 tons. But its fleet of doubles...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    100,000 strong

    Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) recently rolled the 100,000th engine off its DD Platform assembly line in Redford, MI. The heavy-duty truck engine line encompasses...More
  • Jan. 1, 2012
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Off the ice

    Going for some severe-service cred for its latest offering, Maxwell Technologies has inked legendary ice-road driver Alex Debogorski, a star of the History...More
  • Dec. 5, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    ALK incorporates solutions under new business group

    ALK Technologies has announced a new group, the Enterprise Solutions group, to support its PC*Miler, CoPilot Truck and CoPilot Live Professional product lines as well as map data, software tools, and other professional services...More
  • Nov. 22, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Truck-specific routing and navigation device

    TomTom Business Solutions unveiled the TomTom Pro 7150 Truck, a truck-specific routing and navigation solution...More
  • Nov. 22, 2011
    article
    Fleet Owner

    Trucks and weather: Making a connection

    As the nightly winter weather forecasts begin to drift into problems related to snow storms, roads closed to trucks and jack-knifed semis, others are looking at severe weather as a golden, if chilly, opportunity...More
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