October 2008
Editor's Page
Politics as usual
It's getting harder and harder to ignore the meaningless posturing of politicians around election season. In the past I was able to shrug it off as simply...
Management: In Box
Transportation views take a back seat in race
When it comes to transportation issues, neither candidate has made it one of their top priorities. Therefore, voting for either presidential contender...
The future of emissions regulations and technologies
FleetOwner recently spoke with Dr. Walter G. Copan, executive vp of American operations & CTO for Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc., about the rapidly changing world of emissions control and regulation...
Going Places
Dan Sobic has been named executive vp at Paccar. Also, Bob Christensen was named senior vp. Thomas M. Kelly III has been named senior vp-product portfolio...
YRC merges Yellow, Roadway
YRC Worldwide has merged its two largest subsidiaries, Yellow Transportation and Roadway, in an attempt to reduce duplicate functions...
Ford trying to stop ‘Chicken Tax’
Ford Motor Co. is trying to shield its Ford Transit Connect commercial van from “the chicken tax,”...
ATA launches business-solutions service
To address critical issues currently facing trucking companies, the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) has launched ATA Business Solutions, providing participating companies with information products, business tools, services, training programs and conferences, the trucking lobby has announced...
Is federal CDL tracking ahead?
A new study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) suggests that a nationwide Commercial Drivers License (CDL) system is both economically feasible and necessary as drivers can currently easily hide changes in CDL status or suspensions...
Trust Fund fix passes, set to be signed by President
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to transfer $8 billion from the Treasury’s general fund to the Highway Trust Fund. The bill was sent to President Bush to sign late yesterday. The measure passed by a 376-29 vote after a number of Senate Republicans dropped their opposition to the House version of the bill...
Management: Running Green
On the Wine Road
California's wine country is full of family-run businesses with the kind of commitment to place that ripens over decades. Two such businesses are Biagi...
Daimler finds home for hybrid center
Daimler Trucks has opened a Global Hybrid Center in Kawasaki, Japan, to serve as the company’s worldwide hub for hybrid truck development...
Bergstrom NITE system CARB-approved
Bergstrom Inc. has announced its No-Idle Thermal Environment (NITE) system has been approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)...
New green technologies website for Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Co. has launched a green technologies website as the company begins making its new medium-duty hybrid vehicles available for customer order...
NTEA to host Green Truck Summit
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) will host a Green Truck Summit as part of the Work Truck Show 2009...
Major beverage distributor joins hybrid crowd
The nation’s fifth largest beverage distributor, Crescent Crown Distributing, will lease three Peterbilt Model 335 Hybrid Class 7 tractors through PacLease...
More GM plants to go landfill-free
General Motors plans to make half of its major global manufacturing operations landfill-free by the end of 2010 meaning that all production waste or garbage...
Management: First Person
Our tools are inventing us
I don't know about you, but I have always tended to think in terms of people using tools to shape their world, not vice versa. But what if the technologies...
Management: Feature
Making bigger better
The way Tim Clinton sees it, if federal size and weight limits for commercial trucks increase, insurance rates are going to increase as well pretty much...
Management: Safety Matters
Proving the value of safety
These are difficult times, placing ever-increasing strain on both private and for-hire motor carriers. This strain is experienced on the front line of...
Management: Economics
Future change starts right now
In the past, I have advocated the use of public warehousing to stage freight around major metropolitan areas. We are seeing significant growth in this...
Management: Private Fleets
Myth vs. reality
The potential for accident liability is a fact of life for any trucking operation. Myths about liability, however, are commonly found at many corporate...
Equipment: Nuts & Bolts
Arvin Meritor opens new axle plant
Monterrey, Mexico. As part of its new focus on commercial vehicles, component builder ArvinMeritor officially opened a 40,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility here today. The company’s first all-new manufacturing plant in 19 years, it went from a green field to a working facility in just nine months...
Hankook releases new long-haul tire
Hankook Tire America Corp. has released a long-haul steer tire it said increases both durability and fuel efficiency, using a mixing system to ensure longer tread life while maintaining performance and safety...
Volvo unveils fuel program for fleets
To help its customers maximize fuel economy over the life of their equipment, Volvo Trucks North America is rolling out a far-reaching program called Fuelwatch that encompasses everything from spec’ing and maintenance to driver training and fuel efficiency analysis. ...
SmartScale now available for mechanical suspensions
TruckWeight has updated its SmartScale wireless onboard scale for trucks, tractors and trailers with mechanical spring suspensions...
Freightliner’s collision system now available
A new collision avoidance system, now available on Freightliner Trucks, gives drivers another tool to improve safety...
Michelin X One available at all PTP locations
Michelin’s X One wide-base single truck tires will now be available at Professional Transportation Partners (PTP) LLC’s 180 member travel plazas, truckstops and shops...
Hyundai Translead trailer protects against forklift damage
Hyundai Translead has released a new dry van trailer with an extended scuff rail to prevent forklift damage ...
Bridgestone Bandag adds two sizes to Firestone FD690 Plus
Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) has announced the addition of two sizes to its Firestone FD690 Plus deep drive axle radial tires...
New aluminum trailer from Fontaine
Fontaine Trailer has introduced the Fusion aluminum trailer...
what's new in: Flatbeds
The more weight a trailer manufacturer can take out of a flatbed, the more payload available for fleets. That's the bottom line for truck operators trying...
Swept away
Goodyear tires with DuraSeal technology are making flats a thing of the past on the City of Windsor's four street sweeping trucks. Last year, reports...
Equipment: Light & Medium Report
Busted deal is no big deal
In the eyes of some industry experts, the scuttling by Navistar of its deal to purchase the medium-duty truck operations of General Motors is no big deal....
Virtual paint from Ford
Ford Motor Co. is developing a new virtual paint simulation tool called EPD (electrocoat paint deposition) to help ensure vehicle body panels for its...
Equipment: Maintenance Bay
Delivering pay dirt
Manager: Lew Hayes Title: President and owner Fleet: Hayes Trucking, Novi, MI Operation: Heavy-hauling aggregate fleet serving metro Detroit PROBLEM A...
Equipment: Tire Tracks
Respecting pressure
When I first started teaching, I used to tell my students that one of my major goals was to live in a year without a fatal accident related to the servicing...
IT: Truck.com
Arkansas offers real-time drug test results
Nearly eight months after its creation, Arkansas’ one-of-a-kind online alcohol and drug test database for commercial truck drivers is getting positive feedback – and it’s being looked at as a possible model for developing a similar system for tracking alcohol and drug test results on a national basis...
Navigation tools available
TomTom, Concord, MA, has introduced the Pro series for fleets with a mobile workforce. The navigation line makes travel safer and more efficient while...
Prophesy collaborates with Nationlink
Prophesy Transportation Solutions has partnered with Nationlink to service customers’ software and product-related cellular needs...
Qualcomm platform factory-installed option at Navistar
Qualcomm’s Mobile Computing Platform (MCP) will be available as a factory-installed option on Navistar Class 5 to 8 vehicles beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008...
Arsenault updates Dossier software
The latest version of Arsenault Associates’ Dossier software includes hundreds of upgrades and three new modules, including a tire management system...
Qualcomm names senior vp
Qualcomm Inc. has named Robert Walton senior vp & division president of Qualcomm Enterprise Services (QES)...
Xata adds self-service reporting tool to Xatanet
Xata Corp. has created a self-service reporting tool that will allow Xatanet users to create additional customer-defined reports...
IT: Feature
Sky's the limit
Bob Dylan was right. At least when it comes to climate change, the answer is blowin' in the wind. The less carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels...
IT: Fleets Online
Fleets Online
COMPANY: BLS Trucking OPERATION: Primarily short-haul lumber, some appliances and wood pellets Josh Zimmet, exec. administrator PROBLEM: BLS Trucking...
Small Business Review
Service with a smile
What is the first thought that comes to mind when you are looking for excellent customer service? I think of communication, regardless of whether I'm...
The Last Word
The Last Word
Don't mix these up A glossy new 38-pg. fuel economy guide issued by Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions includes this arresting image that makes a compelling...
