Crystal ball for sale
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY JIM MELE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It wouldn't be January without forecasts, but this year I think I'll take a pass. It's a fairly safe business this new-year forecasting because within six months no one remembers what you predicted...
Management: Feature
Outlook 2007: A Juggling Act
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY DAVID CULLEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus won't be the only road show adept at juggling acts this year. Managers of for-hire and private fleets alike will be keeping plenty of balls in the air as they stay on top of what's shaping up to be a most challenging year for trucking...
Management: In Box
Green aid
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY LARRY KAHANER, WASHINGTON, DC
The recent introduction of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, stricter engine emissions rules, and government initiatives that make available money for fleets to curb emissions have spurred interest in emissions lowering projects around the nation...
A legend passes
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr., 79, died Dec. 7, 2006, in Springdale, AR, of injuries suffered in a fall at his home, according to published reports....
Tax file: IRS simplifies phone tax refund
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
KEN SIMONSON
Last May, after several appeals courts ruled that the 3% federal telephone excise tax does not apply to most long-distance service...
PA weighs privatized pike
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
In a bid to raise desperately needed highway construction and maintenance funds, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is canvassing the private sector to determine the potential value of leasing or privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike...
going places
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Barbara Pilarski has been named executive director, mergers & acquistions for North and South America at DaimlerChrysler. ...
Rush rodeo crowns top tech
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
Competing against 45 finalists from all of Rush Enterprises' heavy- and medium-duty dealerships, Jason Swann of Dallas Rush Peterbilt was named Best All Around Rush Technician at the mega truck dealer's first Technician Skills Rodeo...
March looks good for brake rule
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
TERRENCE NGUYEN
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expected to finalize its truck tractor stopping distance rule in March 2007, according to ArvinMeritor and Meritor Wabco....
Fleets have saved $1-billion with PrePass
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Founded in 1995, the electronic bypass system PrePass has now saved participating motor carriers $1-billion, according to the organization. ...
Fuel: Still a wild card
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
TERRENCE NGUYEN
In 2006, crude oil prices were expensive and volatile. In 2007, prices will remain expensive and volatile -just less so. ...
Management: Bottom Line
Tax hikes, no; tweaks, likely
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY KEN SIMONSON e-mail: ksimonson@erols.com
The Democrats who now control Congress are not likely to push for explicit tax increases. But like the Republicans they replaced they will be on a never-ending hunt for provisions that bring in more revenue, disguised as compliance measures or offsets to tax cuts....
Management: Economics
Avoid the stranglehold
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY MARTIN LABBE e-mail: mlabbe@mlabbe.com
There are many negative things we can say about inflation: it provides incentives to avoid planning for the future; it erodes the value of fixed assets; it hurts those with fixed incomes; it creates a buy now attitude; it rewards excessive production; it erodes the purchasing power of the dollar with respect to foreign trade; and it acts as a deterrent to savings...
Management: Safety Matters
Driven to distraction
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY JIM YORK
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released its analysis of a single-vehicle passenger bus crash near Washington, DC, in 2004. The findings provide yet another link between crashes and driver cell phone use....
Management: Private Fleets
Driver webcasts
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY GARY PETTY
For the past two years, the For the past two years, the National Private Truck Council and J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. have partnered to provide a virtual forum for industry education and discussion through free, online webcasts...
Management: Managers Tool Box
Hybrids ahead!
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY DAVID CULLEN e-mail: dcullen@fleetowner.com
It's never easy to argue with the adage that if you want something done, do it yourself. Even better, gather up a bunch of like-minded folks and get the thing done all the quicker....
Equipment: Feature
Tracking built in
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY SEAN KILCARR, SENIOR EDITOR
When you ask trailer makers about the process of integrating tracking technology with the trailer chassis at the production level, you get a simple four-word response: It's one big hassle....
Equipment: Nuts & Bolts
Ready for uncertain 2007
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
While no one really knows what economic and market conditions 2007 will bring, Freightliner and its parent, the DaimlerChrysler Truck Group, are ready to respond...
bulletins
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
The new Master Cross Reference (MCR) CD from Haldex includes part number cross-reference for more than 128,000 air-brake and suspension-control products, as well as installation instructions, service manuals and troubleshooting guides...
Bridgestone to buy Bandag
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Bridgestone Americas Holding plans to buy retread giant Bandag Inc. for $1.05-billion cash, paying roughly $50.75 per share for Bandag's stock. ...
International takes wraps off MaxxForce
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
International Truck and Engine Corp. has announced details of its MaxxForce line of diesel engines for model-year 2008 medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses...
Carrier upgrades ComfortPro
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Carrier Transicold recently announced a number of improvements to its ComfortPro auxiliary power unit, including a 1,000-hr. service interval, R124a refrigerant and 60-amp alternator....
Isuzu diesel network set up
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has set up a network of service centers staffed with technicians specially trained to service the Isuzu 4H and 6H diesel engines in Isuzu, GMC and Chevrolet medium-duty trucks....
Cummins launches Recon ISX
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Cummins announced that it is remanufacturing ISX engines on a state-of-the-art production line at its San Luis Potosi, Mexico, plant. ...
J.D. Power ranks medium-duties
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Peterbilt ranked highest in customer satisfaction among medium-duty conventionals and Chevrolet ranked highest in dealer service satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study....
More coverage for Cat '07 engines
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Caterpillar will offer special coverage for its '07 on-highway ACERT engines delivered in the U.S. and Canada between January 1 and June 30, 2007. ...
Holland to merge with SAF
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
The Holland Group and Bessenbach, Germany-based Otto Sauer Achsenfabrik GmbH commonly known as SAF announced they have signed a definitive agreement to merge the two companies...
Hadley adds turn indicator
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Hadley has introduced a new 8-in. convex mirror with a built-in turn indicator. Known as the TIC (turn indicator convex) mirror...
Dana to sell engine parts business
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Dana Corp. announced plans to sell its non-core engine hard parts business to Europe's Mahle GmbH, a global supplier to the automotive and engine industries....
Early-detection cables
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Phillips Industries has developed a line of battery cables that allow technicians to see any corrosion developing from the inside....
Pete's Sobic promoted; new GM named
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
According to Peterbilt Motors, current general manager Dan Sobic has been named a Paccar (Peterbilt's parent company) senior vice president. In addition, Bill Jackson has been named Peterbilt general manager...
Low-rider kit for Kodiak/Topkick
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Monroe Truck Equipment has developed a suspension kit that lowers overall height for the GMC Topkick and Chevrolet Kodiak C4500 and C5500 models. ...
KW offers rebates on some 07 models
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Kenworth Truck Co. is offering $2,000 rebates to customers who trade-in a Kenworth truck when they buy a T660, T800, W900 or T2000 equipped with 07-emissions-compliant engines...
Upgrade for Inspector software
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
The latest version of Inspector software for the 910B automatic vehicle tester has been released by Spokane, WA-based Lite-Check....
2007 pre-buy not for all
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
WENDY LEAVITT
Here at the top of 2007, the long predicted pre-buy of Class 8 trucks is evident in the sales figures. ...
Quick ROI for tire inflation system
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
At a recent fleet demonstration event held by Pressure Systems International (PSI) and ArvinMeritor at PSI's San Antonio, TX, headquarters, the companies noted that the return on investment (ROI) for the Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) can be as little as 8.3 months...
Door-less container
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
CakeBoxx LLC introduced a door-less cargo container at Intermodal, a container tradeshow held last month in Hamburg, Germany....
Dana achieves steer-axle milestone
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Dana Corp. recently celebrated the production of its one-millionth Spicer E-12021 steer axle at its Humboldt, TN, plant. ...
SmarTire debuts sensor for tire pressure monitors
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
SmarTire, based in British Columbia, Canada, recently filed a patent application in the U.S. for an external valve sensor designed for use with its tire pressure monitoring system for commercial vehicles...
Equipment: Under Eight
Challenge '07
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY SEAN KILCARR e-mail: skilcarr@fleetowner.com
Okay, I know you're sick to death of talking about the new 2007 engine and exhaust aftertreatment systems required for all medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks starting this month....
Equipment: Tire Tracks
Get off the sidelines
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY KEVIN ROHLWING e-mail: kevinrohlwing@comcast.net
During my sophomore year in college I had the opportunity to join several on-campus organizations. I must admit that in the beginning it was more about the free road trips for conventions and retreats....
Equipment: Maintenance Bay
Backing up
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
PROBLEM When Galliher opened his 1-800-Got-Junk franchise, he quickly discovered that backing the trucks up in tight urban areas was a major hassle in terms of both safety and cost....
Equipment: Hardware Report
what's new in: Tire inflation
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
DEBORAH MCGUFFIE-SCHYHOL
As a fleet operator you might not have control over the rising costs of diesel fuel and truck tires, but you can improve your fuel economy and make those tires run longer simply by keeping them properly inflated...
Equipment: Vocational Profile
Going, going, green
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
DEBORAH MCGUFFIE-SCHYHOL
The responsibility of spec'ing and maintaining 1,200 fleet vehicles in Virginia's Arlington County poses a number of challenges for Ric Hiller, equipment bureau chief....
IT: Feature
EVENT DATA RECORDERS: BIG BROTHER OR BIG HELP?
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY JIM MELE, EDITOR IN CHIEF
One of the most misunderstood, and misused, terms in trucking is black box. To some it's synonymous with electronic onboard recorders (EOBR), to others it means a Big-Brother device just waiting for them to make a mistake...
IT: Truck.com
Trimble buys @Road
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Trimble has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire @Road Inc. for approximately $496 million. ...
off the wire
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
LTL carrier A. Duie Pyle is switching over from Qualcomm's OnmiTRACS system to the new OmniVision mobile communication platform in order to boost freight visibility to its customer base...
Bluetooth at the border
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
WENDY LEAVITT
Tighter security along the border between the U.S. and Canada may be helping to keep both countries safer, but it's adding time and complexity to the business of border crossing for truckers....
Headset for truckers
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Designed to help block road and engine noise for truck drivers, a wireless headset for use with Bluetoothenabled cell phones has been developed by VXI Corp....
PHH offers dashboard
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
The fleet leasing company PHH Arval is launching a fleet management tool powered by PHH Onboard, the company's telematics service. ...
Cost-based system upgraded
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
An accessorial revenue feature that identifies costs based on load-specific revenues has been added to the Truckload Cost Information System (TL/CIS(r)) and Less-Than-Truckload Cost Information System (LTL/CISTM)...
Alternative fuel web tool
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
NextEnergy is rolling out a free web-based tool that allows fleet managers to more accurately and efficiently predict alternative fuel costs and emissions for a wide variety of commercial and passenger vehicles...
Ready for Canada's new HOS
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
With truck drivers in Canada subject to new hours-of-service (HOS) rules starting this month, PeopleNet Canada says it's also ready with an eDriver Logs application designed to make it easy for fleets and drivers to comply with the rules...
Tracker offers low cost, long battery life
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Providing location and status information over the Globalstar network of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the AXTracker MMT cuts hardware cost and size while increasing battery life and simplifying installation by offering only one-way communications from a mobile asset...
IT: Patent Pending
Oh e-language!
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
BY WENDY LEAVITT e-mail: wleavitt@fleetowner.com
The other day, a young author was being interviewed on the radio about his new book. The book sounded darn dull to be frank, but the way he answered call-in questions really caught my ear....
IT: Fleets Online
fleets online
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM,
WENDY LEAVITT
COMPANY: Bruce R. Smith Ltd. OPERATION: Flatbeds, six-axle heavy-haul, refrigerated, heated, dry van John H. Smith, Chairman and CEO ...
The Last Word
the last word
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
Wag this The giant Great Dane statue standing in front of the headquarters of Great Dane Trailers in historic Savannah, GA, comes with a tale all its own....
