September 2008
Editor's Page
So many alternatives
While crude oil and diesel prices have begun to drop from record highs, no one expects them to fall all the way back to last year's level, or even knows...
Management: In Box
Will Congress get the no-pork message?
When Congress returns this month from its summer recess, it will begin the arduous job of negotiating and writing the highway authorization bill. So contentious...
GAO report finds drivers faking documents
Report indicates that many drivers did not receive a full medical evaluation, with a number of them providing fraudulent medical documents and forged signatures...
Final Webcast in fuel series on tap
Don Osterberg, vp-safety and driver training for Schneider National Inc., and Jim Booth, fuel economy consultant and owner/president of Fifth Wheels Plus,...
Cross-border program extended two years
A highly controversial cross-border trucking demonstration project--which allows up to 100 Mexican carriers to operate beyond the U.S. border commercial zones and up to 100 U.S. carriers to operate throughout Mexico--has been extended for two years to the maximum three years allowed by statute as a pilot program...
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...
FleetOwner editor wins national recognition
FleetOwner executive editor David Cullen was recognized by The American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) with the prestigious Stephen Barr Award for Feature Writing for his work on “Fuel: Diesel and Beyond.”...
Ryder acquires Gordon Truck Leasing
Ryder System, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Philadelphia-based Gordon Truck Leasing, a full-service truck leasing, commercial truck rental and fleet services company...
Transplace unveils consulting services
Transplace has announced the launch of Transplace Consulting, which the company said will offer logistics engineering analysis, design and consulting services...
Going Places
Chris Painter has been named CEO of Erlanger, KY-based Transfreight, a group of five North American transportation and logistics companies in the U.S.,...
Management: Running Green
Alternative Smorgasbord
It's one of the biggest fleets in the world, operating over 219,000 vehicles and logging more than 1.2 billion mi. in 2007 alone. Yet that doesn't deter...
Wine fleet gets first Peterbilt hybrids
NAPA, CA. The first two production Peterbilt hybrid electric medium duty trucks were delivered today to VinLux Fine Wine Transport, a wine storage and expedited delivery business with a fleet of 35 delivery trucks operating throughout California. The two Peterbilt Model 335 hybrids are going into daily service in the San Francisco region...
Con-way receives high environmental score
Con-way Inc. has announced that its three primary operating companies-- Con-way Freight, Con-way Truckload and Menlo Worldwide Logistics—-have received the highest fuel efficiency and environmental performance score from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership...
Cox Enterprises adds more hybrid vehicles
Cox Enterprises, based in Atlanta, has added nine International DuraStar Hybrid bucket trucks to its fleet. The Navistar trucks bring Cox's fleet of hybrids...
Biodiesel OTR test nearing end
A two million-mile over-the-road field test of biodiesel-blended fuel has passed the 1.6 million mile mark and should be wrapped up by November of this year, with detailed data analysis on fuel performance available by spring 2009....
No engine necessary
Recent testing at Peterbilt’s Texas headquarters demonstrated how a Delphi solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit (APU) can provide power for a Peterbilt Model 386’s “hotel” load with the truck’s diesel engine turned off...
Web site details Volvo's commitment to environment
Volvo Trucks North America is taking its green campaign to the web. By clicking on the VTNA and the Environment tab on www.volvotrucks.us.com, users can...
Clean Burn Energy Star-certified
Clean Burn has announced it has become an Energy Star partner, earning the designation after its CB-200 coil tube boiler met Energy Star guidelines during recent testing...
Red Bull gets hybrid wings
Four International DuraStar hybrid trucks have joined the Red Bull delivery fleet, distributing the company’s energy drinks in the Las Vegas area...
California ports order Volvo, Mack trucks
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have ordered 100 Volvo VNL 300 day/cabs and 100 Mack Pinnacle Axle Back day/cabs for the initial phase of their Clean Trucks Program...
The Last Word
Road show Following the maxim that hands-on presentations provide the best learning experience, SAF-Holland is sending out its new Road Tour '08 vehicle...
Management: First Person
Billion-dollar Band-Aid
Our highway bridges and roads are in sorry shape and getting sorrier by the day. Recommendations are pouring in from all sides on how to fix the problem...
Management: Feature
TIRES: From the lab to the road
Beyond being oohed and aahed by tread design, there isn't much to get excited about a new tire ready for the road from just looking at it. But step into...
Management: Economics
Management: Safety Matters
A worthwhile history lesson
This summer, we have seen significant Congressional activity regarding the topic of truck safety. It is prudent that we track the hearing topics, witness...
Management: Private Fleets
America's best driver?
Could George Ertel be one of the best commercial truck drivers in the United States? His record of performance speaks for itself and makes a strong case...
Management: Closing the Deal
Stick to your Guns
This year we added a $19 border security fee on each shipment between Canada and the United States. We move more than 50,000 shipments across the border...
Management: Economics
Creating long-term pain
Any attempt to lower the price of fuel without relying upon fundamental supply and demand will fail and be more costly than anyone could anticipate. Reducing...
Equipment: Nuts & Bolts
Sterling shows new sleeper, 13L diesel, LNG truck
NAPA, CA. A mid-size integrated sleeper for regional haulers and the first public appearance of the Detroit Diesel DD13 engine topped new product announcements at a Sterling Truck Corp. press conference here yesterday. The work-truck subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) also introduced the first OEM-built natural gas heavy truck, the Sterling Set-Back 113, powered by the Cummins Westport ISL G...
Thermo King releases temperature control unit line
Thermo King has announced the launch of a new line of temperature control units for trailers that will help fleets reduce fuel and operating costs...
Dometic refrigerators available for Cascadia
Freightliner Trucks has announced that Dometic under bunk refrigerators are now available as an option for Freightliner Cascadia sleeper cabs...
Cummins to use SCR across the board in 2010
Cummins announced today it will add Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment to its heavy-duty product line to meet 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diesel-engine emissions regulations...
UltraShift transmission debuts on medium-duty trucks
Daimler Trucks North America is now offering Eaton Corp.'s UltraShift Highway Value (HV) transmission on 2009 Freightliner M2-106 and Sterling Acterra...
LED headlamps from Truck-Lite
Truck-Lite has released 7-in. LED headlamps geared for the heavy-duty commercial vehicle market...
Bulletins
Kenworth Truck Co. has announced Paccar Financial will offer double the basic vehicle extended warranty for customers who buy new, eligible Kenworth Class...
Isuzu announces 2009 N-Series
Isuzu has announced its 2009 N-Series line-up of low cab forward trucks, highlighted by an optional limited slip differential that distributes torque...
Continental offers new steer tire
Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has released the HSL2 (heavy steer long haul) steer tire to the North American market...
Wireless monitor quickens tire pressure checks
For fleets that consistently switch trailers, Doran has released the 360 SmartLink Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Designed to speed the process of checking...
FS560 Plus steer tire adds six new sizes
Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) has added six sizes to its Firestone FS560 Plus tough-wearing steer lineup. Designed to deliver long wear and...
Equipment: Light & Medium Report
Zero emissions for ZeroTruck
Electrorides Inc., based in Laguna Niguel, CA, has announced that it hopes to have the first models of its ZeroTruck on the road in November. The ZeroTruck...
Light-duty, plug-in pickup
Building on the success it says has been achieved in building a prototype electric SUV, Provo, UT-based Raser Technologies has announced it will build...
GM lightens pickups
General Motors announced it will improve fuel mileage by as much as 7% on its full-size pickups and sport-utility vehicles through a combination of aerodynamic...
Bendix air disc brakes available on Mack, Volvo models
Bendix ADB22X heavy-duty air disc brakes will be available on the Mack Pinnacle Axle Forward and Axle Back models as well as Volvo VN and VT model trucks,...
Wabash completes purchase of Benson International
Wabash National Corp. has completed the acquisition of Benson International-a manufacturer of flatbeds, dump trailers and other truck bodies-for approximately...
Parts rebates up to $100 available
Thermo King Corp. is offering instant cash rebates of up to $100 to customers who purchase qualifying parts for Thermo King and Carrier units from participating...
Equipment: Feature
A New Era for Vans
One would think that the five trucks of Lakeside Pharmacy outside Atlanta would have little in common with the decidedly mammoth 88,000-unit fleet operated...
Jack be Nimble
The new, all electric van, currently under development by ArvinMeritor and body-builder partner Unicell, is both nimble and quick and emits less smoke...
Equipment: Maintenance Bay
Education Never Stops
Manager: Kelly Reagan Title: Fleet administrator Fleet: City of Columbus fleet division, Columbus, OH Operation: Police, fire and municipal vehicle maintenance...
Equipment: Tire Tracks
Know your tire repairs
We definitely live in the age of surcharges, add-ons, fees and extra charges. When everything goes as planned, the cost is generally close to what was...
Equipment: Hardware Report
what's new in: Object detection
Obstacle avoidance for commercial trucks is getting quite sophisticated. Depending on budget and needs, a fleet can now choose anything from basic cameras...
Equipment: Vocational Profile
Bull's Eye
Rising fuel costs are causing many operators of field service fleets to rethink their vehicle specification and fuel economy strategies. SimplexGrinnell,...
IT: Trucks.com
FleetMentor hits the deck running
J.J. Keller officially launched its online fleet management solution, FleetMentor on July 1, after six months of beta testing...
GE adds driver functionality to website
GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services has enhanced its my.Drivers/my.Vehicles application with a new “add driver” function that will make it easier for fleet managers to add and manage drivers without having to assign them to a vehicle immediately...
Mobile computer offered
Mentor Engineering has released Ranger, a rugged mobile computer with an integrated suite of options. Ranger accommodates hands-free voice calling and...
FleetCards USA website launches
FleetCards USA has launched a redesigned website featuring a new version of its FleetMatch card selection system, geared towards helping businesses save on fuel expenses...
Arsenault targets small fleets
Arsenault Associates announced the company has revised its user license pricing structure so the Dossier software will be affordable for small fleets with as few as 10 units...
Off the Wire
Prophesy has announced the availability of its Dispatch software with an interface to Peachtree Accounting 2008, adding improved functionality between...
Latest version of TMT Fleet Maintenance
TMW Systems has released TMT Fleet Maintenance for Windows Version 9, designed to help companies perform fleet and equipment maintenance and repair operations...
Mitchell 1 updates tractor-trailer.net
Mitchell 1 has added color air brake diagrams to the June update of its online truck repair manual system, Tractor-trailer.net...
New ways to find parking
ParkingCarma has announced its Smart Parking system--which identifies the nearest available truck parking spot to drivers--will be used on California’s Interstate 5 (I-5) ...
Vigillo, Howell & Associates form alliance
Vigillo LLC has announced it has entered into an alliance with Howell & Associates...
IT: Feature
Today & Tomorrow
If a company could eliminate thousands, or even millions, of dollars in costs each year without hurting its service, it would be foolish for a manager...
IT: Fleets Online
Fleets Online
COMPANY: PECO, an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corp. OPERATION: Serving 1.6 million electric and 480,000 natural gas customers...
Small Business Review
Future Planning
It's not just a question of survival during these times of high fuel prices and low freight volumes. It's time to take advantage of the many opportunities...
