Stating that it is challenging convention, Wrightspeed  has rolled out its Route-- an electric-drive powertrain retrofit featuring an on-board generator that is engineered for the medium-duty commercial fleet market. The company claims the Route will save over 20 times more fuel than a 100-mpg car. Wrightspeed uses the following scenario to illustrate how the Route will save more fuel than such a highly efficient car:...More

Mobile communication provider PeopleNet is making changes to its executive suite, bringing aboard Mark Botticelli as executive vp and head of technology while promoting several other key personnel. Botticelli is now responsible for PeopleNet’s North American technology strategy and product delivery across wireless, software, hardware, infrastructure and quality assurance. He previously led the development of several mobile worker-centric and vehicle-centric applications within mobile resource management business at Trimble, a PeopleNet subsidiary....More

Thanks to an economy that is still growing but slowly, truck tonnage has taken a hit in the first quarter of the year. The advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index generated by the American Trucking Assns. climbed 0.2% in March. That’s after rising 0.5% in February. The SA index stood at 119.5 (where 2000=100), up from 119.3 in February. Compared with March 2011, the SA index was up 2.7%, marking the smallest year-over-year increase since December, 2009....More

Law-enforcement agencies across the state of California, including the California Highway Patrol, will be on the lookout for drivers not properly buckled up and will begin zero-tolerance enforcement of the state's occupant-protection laws as part of the statewide “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt campaign....More

A new lower-cost version of the TND 760 onboard management system offers on-board electronic hours of service and vehicle inspection reporting for $649 plus $19.95/mo. for service, according to Rand McNally.  A fully featured version of the TND 760 loaded with Rand McNally navigation continues to be offered for $799....More