November 1, 2009
Editor's Page
Data for all
Here's a new acronym for you EFM. It stands for electronic freight management, which is a fairly innocuous sounding term...
Management: In Box
FMCSA unveils driver pre-screening plan
In some respects, more questions than answers are being spawned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) announcement that it will launch a new driver pre-employment screening program this December...
Trucking Rx: Operational strategies must fit the times
Expert speakers at this week’s at TMW System’s 2009 TransForum user conference here recommended that carriers undergo a strategic makeover so they can survive and prosper in today’s brutal freight market...
Closing the gap on highway extensions
The passage this week of a three-month extension of current highway funding by a vote of 335 to 85 in the U.S. House of Representatives must now be reconciled with an 18-month extension wending its way out of committee in the U.S. Senate...
Target: Cargo Theft
Cargo thieves are becoming more organized, more sophisticated, and are creating larger economic losses for business, according to speakers here at the 2009 National Cargo Theft Summit, an event sponsored in part by the National Insurance Crime Bureau...
going places
Steve Williams, chairman & CEO of Maverick USA, has been appointed chairman of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), replacing Doug Duncan,...
Group to evaluate freight efficiency technologies
Committed to the goal of doubling truck efficiency within 10 years, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) says it will create an independent organization to produce credible information and evaluations of technologies that promise significant fuel economy and efficiency gains for truck fleets...
Heavy-weight pilot program closer to green light
A Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 73 to 25 included a one-year pilot program allowing 100,000-lb, six-axle trucks on interstates within the state of Maine...
TMC names newest “SuperTech”
Christopher Tate, a refrigeration technician for Mohawk Truck of Seneca, NY, captured three skills stations en route to being named grand champion at the TMCSuperTech 2009 competition...
ATA economist sees slow and choppy recovery
The most positive thing American Trucking Assns. (ATA) chief economist Bob Costello could tell members at the group’s annual meeting here was: “We’ve bottomed out, and we’re moving in the right direction.”...
Equipment: Nuts & Bolts
Freightliner revamps Coronado flagship
The Freightliner Trucks division of Daimler Trucks North America has announced updating its on-highway long-nose model, the Coronado, with enhanced aerodynamics, technological innovations and more luxurious styling, the Coronado is the perfect blend of form and function ...
Accessory LED lights from Peterson
The new 274 Series of LED Tunnel Lights from Peterson Manufacturing are 2 in. round, grommet-mounted accessory lights for trucks and trailers...
bulletins
SOMS Technologies has released a light- and medium-duty oil filter that it claims can help extend oil drain intervals out to 30,000 mi. for most Class...
Rotary Lift creates lift-inspection program
Because there is no national certification, licensing or directory of vehicle lift inspectors, truck fleets and other lift users are often left to locate an inspector on their own to meet the ANSI national standard of yearly lift inspections...
Doran, DriverTech team on tire monitoring
Tire pressures have become such an important issue for fleets seeking to improve fuel efficiency as well as to reduce costs through longer tire life, monitoring the pressure is quickly becoming a priority for fleet managers and drivers...
Fontaine Modification opening by Hino plant
Fontaine Modification Co. will open a new truck modification center directly across the street from a Hino Trucks assembly plant in Williamstown, WV...
Daimler dealers getting DEF dispensing units
Daimler Trucks North America dealers will receive diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dispensing systems from Spatco DEF under a partnership agreement reached by the companies...
Heater keeps trailers warm
Refrigerated products are not the only shipments that must remain at a constant temperature. Some products, like chocolate, must remain at a higher temperature....
Paccar Parts offers centralized billing
Paccar Parts is offering another service to its fleet customers of Kenworth PremierCare and Peterbilt TruckCare services – Paccar Parts Fleet Services...
Digital borescope aims to cut service time
A new imaging camera and recorder from Snap-on promises to cut service time by allowing technicians to diagnose problems in hard-to-see areas quicker and without disassembly, Snap-on said...
Product Briefs
A new low VOC generation true color primer for undercoats has been introduced to the North American market by AkzoNobel's Sikkens unit...
Fontaine showcases new line of fifth wheels
Fontaine Fifth Wheel used the occasion of its grand opening of a new corporate headquarters and distribution facility here to introduce its first new products to the market in several years...
Mini recorder
A new mini digital video recorder that can record both a forward-facing road view camera and a rear-facing cabin-view camera has been released by Safety...
Controller adds options for TriPac APU
Customization of the TriPac hybrid auxiliary idle reduction and temperature management APU system is easier with a new controller from Thermo King...
Pete offering Allison load-based shift scheduling
Owners of Peterbilt trucks equipped with Allison automatic transmissions may now order Allison’s LBSS (load-based shift scheduling) system...
Navistar 2010 diesels take to the road
Navistar rolled out three MaxxForce proprietary diesel engine families for a ride-and-drive event here, all using the company’s “advanced EGR” technology to meet the new 2010 federal emissions regulations...
Synthetic, blend expand Shell Rotella lineup
As part of a reorganized and expanded “portfolio” of heavy-duty engine oils, Shell Lubricants introduced an all-new synthetic blend CJ-4 product and a reformulated full synthetic under its Shell Rotella brand name at a press conference held at the Richard Childress Racing facilities here...
Equipment: Tire Tracks
Beware of the plain white box
During the Shop Talk segment of the recent Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) Fall Meeting, an attendee produced a set of wheel studs that were suspiciously sheared off inside the hub so only the heads remained...
The Last Word
More vroom for Con-way
Ford Motor Co., Roush Fenway Racing and Con-way Freight are joining forces to sponsor the No. 16 Con-way Freight Mustang with driver Colin Braun at the wheel...
A healthy challenge
Long-haul drivers for national moving company Atlas Van Lines report that staying healthy on the road is one of the biggest challenges they face these days...
Veteran driver hangs up keys
There are long-time employees, and then there's Marty Peters. The longest-tenured employee in the history of UPS is at last a retired driver at age 87 after 63 years, five months and 29 days of service...
Through thick and thin
Back in 1929, John and Catherine Cooper started Holland Motor Express, hauling grain and hay for West Michigan farmers expanding the very next year in...
Articles
Green Fleet of the Month
Running a truckload refrigerated fleet is not the easiest way to be green, but John Christner Trucking (JCT) is trying to do just that...
Navistar rolls outs electric truck prototype
Navistar showed off a prototype of a light-duty all-electric delivery truck to members of Congress during a special event held yesterday on Capitol Hill...
Consulting help for CARB regs
Fleets struggling with new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations or looking for ways to access grants through the organization can find the path confusing and time-consuming...
Utilities join for $600-million green fleet makeover
The FPL Group and Duke Energy are planning to jointly invest $600 million in their fleets, transitioning cars and trucks to plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles starting Jan. 1 next year...
Kenworth wins green honors
Seattle Business magazine has recognized Kenworth Truck Co. with a Green Washington award for its environmental efforts with hybrid trucks and at its Renton, WA, plant...
U.S. House receives first hybrid truck
WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. House of Representatives officially received the keys to its first hybrid electric vehicle , a Peterbilt Model 330 diesel-electric truck, here yesterday as the legislative body seeks to follow one of its own mandates-- boosting fuel economy while reducing emissions...
Follow the funds
Whether you think stimulus funds line the road to recovery or that famous path of good intentions to Hell, some companies will be putting the money to good use...
Graduation time
Time ever flies and yet so many of us tarry not the least those serving us in the halls of government when there is important work to be done...
Don't sleep on fatigue
Here it is November already and the holidays are just around the corner. That means professional truck drivers need to be extra vigilant...
All-star attitude
Twelve elite private fleet drivers have been welcomed into the inaugural class of NPTC's National Driver All-Stars program...
Spending habits change
The road to recovery faces a sluggish path as household balance sheets and supply chain inventory levels continue to imply a slow upturn in freight volumes in the months ahead. Household wealth has decreased by $12 trillion over the past two years due to lower home prices and a reduction in the value of financial assets such as IRA and 401(k) accounts...
Ryder revamps used-truck website
More options have been added to Ryder System’s used trucks web site to make it easier and quicker to locate the exact truck buyers are looking for, the company said...
How to work a market on the brink of change
Arrow Truck Sales Inc. recently released a white paper that lays out how two undeniable economic forces will bring used-truck prices back up much sooner than many fleet owners might anticipate given the current state of over-the-road trucking...
Chrysler spins off Ram truck brand
Chrysler announced it is splitting its Dodge Ram brand into an entity separate from the Dodge car business. The new Dodge Ram Brand will be led by Fred...
GM to be short diesels for months
While some OEMs have told FleetOwner there will be no gaps in their offerings of diesel-powered light- and medium-duty trucks during the switchover to EPA 2010-compliant engines, that will not be the case with some General Motors products...
Pouring in fuel economy
Oil. Protect it must, but green it'd better be, too. Lubricant engineers couldn't be blamed for issuing a collective sigh of relief that they have no further emissions-driven API oil-service categories to wrestle into existence...
Crossing the finish line
With the official deadline less than two months away, truck makers have begun their initial transition to diesel engines meeting the far stricter federal emissions requirements that take effect on Jan. 1...
What's new in automated tire inflation
Automated tire inflation (ATI) systems help extend tire life by ensuring that tires that too often go unseen remain properly pressurized. Automatic inflation also saves on labor costs and downtime. And as the price of diesel has climbed and trucking has become more environmentally oriented and that includes shippers seeking service providers ATI systems have become even more appealing to fleet owners...
off the wire
More vehicle grouping and report capabilities are among the updated features to Navman Wireless North America's Online AVL2 tracking and logistics system....
Qualcomm’s next-gen OBC launched commercially
In-cab video training and WiFi internet access are two of the most important features of Qualcomm Inc.’s next generation on-board computer, according to John Pope, chairman of Cargo Transporters, speaking at a press briefing during the American Trucking Assns.’ annual conference...
Skybitz adding cellular network
Trailer and asset tracking service provider SkyBitz will add land-based cellular options to its current satellite-based service...
TMW formalizes comprehensive service offering
TMW Systems launched TMW Managed Services, a new offering it said will reduce IT infrastructure investments, ensure scalability and optimize scarce resource ...
LogsManager adds HOS features
Additional features added to CarrierWeb’s LogsManager electronic on-board recording (EOBR) system make compliance monitoring with current Hours of Service regulations easier, according to the company...
off the wire
Combining GPS location information with fuel purchase data from fuel card providers, Prophesy Transportation Solution's TaxTally GPS automatically calculates...
Track trailers and their lease history
Leasing companies looking to track unleased assets can turn to SkyBitz's new Partner and Leasing Application. The software, hosted on SkyBitz InSight,...
Mapping options to cut your risk
FleetMap software from FleetMind Solutions of Canada offers companies the opportunity to not only map where their vehicles are at any given time, but...
Prophesy unveils Dispatch LTL versionProphesy unveils Dispatch LTL version
Prophesy Transportation Solutions is addressing the needs of less-than-truckload carriers with an expansion to its popular Dispatch Series solution...
Networkfleet boosts sensor capability
Additional vehicle diagnostic data, such as the activation/deactivation of power takeoff (PTO) equipment, can now be reported to a truck’s onboard computer through a sensor expansion module (SEM) hardware device with software from Networkfleet...
J.J. Keller releases truck-inspection training
A comprehensive training program designed by J.J. Keller & Assocs. to cut inspection violations is now available complete with DVD, driver handbooks, instructor guide and CD-Rom with two separate PowerPoint presentations...
PHH Arval adds driver-oriented tools
Two new services from PHH Arval are designed to help fleets manage violations by their drivers, including the recovery of traffic fines...
Guide offers tech help
Fleet managers who already have too many responsibilities on their plate due to the advancements in technology, can turn to the NAFA Information Technology...
PeopleNet offers in-cab customization
PeopleNet is beefing up the new version of its popular in-cab communication system with a new customized software function called Blu Workflow for creating unique applications to meet specific fleet workflow needs...
MileMaker going global
Rand McNally’s MileMaker software is taking on the world. The mileage and routing information product for North America will add a Global edition to calculate routes and miles as well in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia...
Xata shows new for-hire apps and OBC
. Xata Corp. announced during the American Trucking Assocns. Annual conference here that it will launch next-generation Fleet Performance Management (FPM) applications as well as a new onboard computer (OBC) to enable XATA’s fleet optimization solutions for the for-hire trucking market...
Fleet Director update integrates GPS, messaging
Several new features including dynamic dispatching have given Teletrac’s Fleet Director 7 new capabilities to help trucking fleets improve fuel savings, vehicle efficiency, driver productivity,and loss prevention, all while lowering insurance costs and improving customer satisfaction, the company said....
Smart driving with Navigator
Three new PCMiler Navigator GPS models from ALK Technologies can generate truck-specific spoken street-level directions within seconds, according to the...
Enterprise Intelligence
A key issue for fleets has always been how to make money while differentiating themselves from the competition...
Develop a game plan
It's fourth-and-10. We're in the fourth quarter of 2009 and about to move forward into 2010...
