August 1, 2010
Editorial
Skirting the issue
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM, by Bruce Sauer
A FUNNY THING happened on the way to our story about advanced trailer technology this month. We realized that cutting-edge technology wasn't really the...
Industry Newsdesk
Class 8 trucks expected to grow 26% in 2010
Jul 12, 2010 12:02 PM
Heavy truck production will grow 26% this year, with more modest growth expected for medium-duty trucks, according to ACT Research...
Volvo Recalling Workers to New River Valley to Meet Increased Demand
Aug 23, 2010 1:58 PM
Volvo will recall about 270 people to its New River Valley Assembly Plant beginning the week of September 6 to meet increasing demand for orders...
Mack engine orders surpass 10,000 mark
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Mack Trucks Inc announced that its orders for Class 8 vehicles equipped with EPA 2010-compliant engines, when combined with those of its sister company...
Commercial Trailer Net Orders Up 59% in May
Jun 25, 2010 12:25 PM
May commercial trailer net orders were up 59 percent from the prior year month, continuing a healthy rebound from a very weak 2009, according to ACT Research Co. (ACT). Through May, year-to-date net orders for trailers are up 69 percent...
Isuzu Begins Production of EPA 2010 Engines
Jul 12, 2010 11:54 AM
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. announced that production has begun of the U.S. market’s first and only low-cab-forward medium-duty diesel engines to meet the newest and strictest emissions standards ...
Haldex plans to expand Mexico facility
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems has announced plans to further expand the Monterrey, Mexico facility by moving all production activities from the Iola...
Volvo Now Accepting Orders for EPA2010 Trucks
Jun 22, 2009 3:55 PM
Customers can place orders now for trucks across Volvo’s product line equipped to meet the EPA2010 emissions standards, using Volvo’s selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology...
WABCO Reman Solutions is established
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
WABCO Holdings Inc has established WABCO Reman Solutions. This operating unit will specialize in remanufacturing electronic and mechatronic components...
CTP applauds legislators for backing higher weight limit on Interstate highways
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP), a group of more than 150 shippers and allied associations dedicated to responsibly increasing federal...
Strictly Diesel, Sinister Diesel join forces
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Strictly Diesel and Sinister Diesel (formerly ITP Diesel) are joining forces to enhance their nationwide product and service offerings. They have both...
HECO unveils new logo, revamped website
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Highway Equipment Company (HECO), manufacturer of Hi-Way road maintenance equipment and New Leader crop nutrient applicators, recently unveiled a new...
Stellar Signs Ace Truck Body/Equipment as new Dealer
Jun 24, 2010 1:55 PM
Stellar Industries introduced Ace Truck Body, Inc. of Grove City, Ohio and Ace Truck Equipment, Inc. of Zanesville, Ohio as its new dealer for the telescopic service crane, mechanics truck and hydraulic hooklift product lines...
Eaton's Mexican operations earn awards
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Eaton Corporation recently earned two Master of Quality awards from Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). Eaton was recognized for outstanding performance...
USA Harness expands its capabilities
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
With the addition of new CNC machining equipment as well as three-dimensional design workstations, USA Harness is bringing a new level of precision to...
Want to Get Smart as a sales or technical worker? Godwin offers a way
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Godwin Group has rolled out its new national training programs titled Get Smart. A Get Smart national sales meeting will include more than 30 sales...
Heil Environmental Begins $6.4 Million Expansion at Fort Payne Facility
Jun 25, 2010 8:06 AM
Heil Environmental has begun a $6.4 million plant expansion project that will enhance the manufacturing capabilities at its Fort Payne, Alabama, facility. The project is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2010...
Half of Fleets to Order Trailers Before End of 2010, Survey Shows
Jul 28, 2010 1:20 PM
Half of the fleets responding to a recent survey conducted by CK Commercial Vehicle Research plan to place orders for trailers before the end of 2010...
Phillips Industries Expands Electrical Harness Division
Jan 22, 2009 1:34 PM
Phillips Industries has expanded its Electrical Harness Division (EHD), located in Saltillo, Mexico, to meet increased industry demands for products...
Maxon Lift Corp partners with Purkeys
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Maxon Lift Corporation and Purkeys Fleet Electric have formalized their decade-long informal relationship with a strategic partnership agreement. The...
Fontaine International Wins Exclusive Award for Fifth Straight Year
Mar 24, 2008 2:11 PM
International Truck and Engine Corporation has named Fontaine International-North America a Diamond Supplier for 2007...
EPA salutes Detroit Diesel plant efficiency
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Detroit Diesel's Engine Manufacturing Center in Redford MI has been recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the first manufacturing...
Firestone's Brazil plant earns certification
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Firestone Industrial Products Company LLC's air spring manufacturing plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has earned ISO/TS 16949 certification. ISO/TS 16949 is...
Clean Cylinder Technology new from Hyva
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Hyva USA Corporation announces Clean Cylinder Technology. This technology is based on a Hyva proprietary internal sealing system designed to control and...
Ridewell opens Canadian FOB warehouse
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Ridewell Corporation has opened a Canadian FOB (freight on board) warehouse in Hamilton, Ontario for complete suspensions, service kits, and replacement...
Market for hybrid trucks, buses surging
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Transit buses have long been an important platform for testing new drivetrains in the heavy-duty vehicle market, but within the past couple of years,...
HDMA addresses energy efficiency
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association has announced the initial formation of the HDMA Strategic Energy Council. Comprised of HDMA member companies...
Boyd Bros. Orders 325 International ProStar+ Trucks
May 20, 2010 1:53 PM
Navistar, Inc. announced that it has received an order from Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc. for 325 International ProStar+ tractors equipped with EPA 2010 Advanced EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) MaxxForce 13 engines...
Trilogy Machinery becomes Sunrise agent
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Trilogy Machinery Inc has entered into an agreement with Sunrise Fluid Power Inc to become the new United States agent for ironworkers and punching machines....
Vipar Heavy Duty Increases Presence In West Central Florida
Jul 12, 2010 11:53 AM
VIPAR Heavy Duty has announced that Fleet Products, a diversified distributor of heavy-duty replacement parts in west-central Florida, is the newest stockholder to join the VIPAR Heavy Duty network of distributors. Beginning with a single location in Tampa, Fla. in 1985, the company has enjoyed steady growth with the addition of locations in Clearwater in 1998 and Lakeland in 2003...
Martin Engineering acquires Cougar
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Martin Engineering has acquired Cougar Industries, a Peru IL-based manufacturer of industrial vibrators. According to Scott Hutter, Martin Engineering...
May Preliminary Class 8 Orders Below April
Jun 3, 2010 2:06 PM
FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing May Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs at 12,903 units, a 9.8% decline from April. Although May orders slowed from the previous month, year-over-year comparisons show a 74.7% improvement over May 2009...
Product Profiles
VECV will produce medium-duty engine
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Volvo Group's Indian joint venture company, VE Commercial Vehicles VECV, is to invest a total of SEK 480 M (INR 2.8 bn) in the production of the Volvo...
Vector unit boosts capacity, cuts fuel use
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Featuring next-generation environmental technologies, the new Vector 6600MT hybrid trailer refrigeration unit from Carrier Transicold raises the bar on...
Hendrickson Primaax EX for vocational use
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Kenworth Truck Company now offers the Hendrickson Primaax EX suspension for vocational applications with the Kenworth T800, W900, and C500 models. The...
Henderson debuts Green3 product line
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Henderson Products Inc has introduced its new Green3, Exponentially Better line of Green Products. All the Green Products have been developed with attention...
Bendix provides ADB22X service tool kits
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC now offers three new service tool kits for fleet and repair facilities servicing Bendix ADB22X-equipped commercial...
Palmetto Ford adds Jerr-Dan equipment
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Palmetto Ford recently signed a distributor agreement with Jerr-Dan to add to its line of trucks that already includes Ford, Sterling, and Autocar. It...
Accuride Corporation provides a line of OEM-quality chrome wheel accessories
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Accuride Corporation recently debuted a line of OEM-quality chrome wheel accessories, consisting of ABS chrome front and rear wheel hub and nut covers....
Wabash National chooses Haldex brakes
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems announces that Wabash National has selected Haldex Gold Seal Long Stroke spring brakes as a standard product offering...
TELC adds three products to anti-theft line
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Equipment Lock Company (TELC), which manufactures and sells anti-theft devices for heavy equipment, trucks, and trailers, introduces three new products:...
Spicer convertible tag axles improve fuel efficiency, vocational flexibility
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Dana Holding Corporation has introduced two new Spicer tag axles that improve fuel efficiency, reduce vehicle weight, and lower OEM installation costs...
Waltco introduces Work Truck Gates
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Walto Lift Corp announces its Work Truck Gates Series, which consists of six liftgates organized as a group to offer an easier way to identify and spec...
Paccar launches MX engine
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Paccar has introduced the Paccar MX engine to be installed in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in summer 2010. The PACCAR MX engine is designed to deliver...
RSSplus is chosen as standard equipment
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Walker Group Holdings (WGH) LLC, the maker of Brenner, Bulk, and Walker stainless tank trailers, has selected Meritor WABCO RSSplus roll stability support...
Hydraulic brake rotors equipped with ZXP3
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
ArvinMeritor's aftermarket business introduced hydraulic disc brake rotors with a new, patented coating, called ZXP3, designed to protect against oxidation...
Cummins ISX11.9 engine gets certification
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Cummins Inc has received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB) for its ISX11.9 diesel...
Neway ADZ suspension introduced
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
SAF-Holland has released the Neway ADZ Series drive axle air-ride suspension for vocational trucks and tractors. The new ADZ Series has been engineered...
Webb's Super Kits can lower brake costs
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Webb Transit introduces Super Kits to the transit and coach markets. Kits consist of two Webb OEM-quality brake drums, four new brake shoes lined with...
The Road Ahead
CALENDAR
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
August 25-26, 2010 Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas TXwww.hdma.org September 10-12, 2010 North American Trailer...
People and Positions
Trailer, truck, & body OEMs
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Phill Pines, Great Dane Trailers president and chief operating officer, plans to retire from the company at the end of 2010 after more than 50 years in...
Component manufacturers
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Maxon Lift Corp has appointed Arnold Kowal product manager. He has more than 25 years of technical experience and liftgate product knowledge. Palfinger...
Dealers/distributors
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Auto Safety House LLC (ASH) has named Cory Merry parts manager of the Las Vegas NV location. With 19 years of parts support and sales experience, Merry...
Obituaries
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The family of VMAC owner Tony Menard has appointed Jim Hogan company president after Menard died unexpectedly July 4, 2010. Hogan, who helmed VMAC with...
Articles
George McMahon uses $10,000 credit-card advance and Internet savvy to build Utility Fleet Sales into $16-million company
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
USING industry knowledge, unwavering courage, indefatigable work ethic, and Internet savvy, George McMahon has turned a $10,000 advance off his MasterCard...
Trailer technology takes off
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
When the industry was at its most vulnerable point in the economic downturn and manufacturers weren't producing trailers in abundance, it didn't make...
Your shop makes money, right? Here's how to produce a little more
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY BRUCE SAUER
SHOP LABOR typically produces the highest profit margins of any other department in a trailer dealership. So when management can find ways for technicians...
Josam updates Play Detectors
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Josam Products Inc is releasing its latest version of Play Detectors. Able to check for worn components on steering and suspension systems on all trucks...
Haldex warns against imitation HCVs
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Imitation height control valves have been designed to appear identical to genuine Haldex height control valves in order to convince the user they'll perform...
Trilogy debuts Sunrise line of products
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Trilogy Machinery Inc, the United States distributor for Sunrise ironworkers and punching machines, introduces the Sunrise line of CNC ironworkers and...
Peterbilt delivers first Paccar MX engine
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Peterbilt Motors Company recently celebrated the delivery of the first 2010 EPA-certified Paccar MX engine. A Peterbilt Model 386 equipped with the first...
Civacon offers Thermistor, Optic sockets
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Civacon announced that its new Optic and Thermistor single API sockets are now available. These sockets have been designed for longer wear than traditional...
Grote's Trilliant 36 conversion bulb turns traditional lamp into LED WhiteLight lamp
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Grote Industries has introduced the newest member of its LED WhiteLight work lamp portfolio: the Trilliant 36 LED WhiteLight conversion bulb. The Trilliant...
Super 80 lamp employs IR motion sensor
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Truck-Lite's recent release of the Super 80 LED interior trailer lamp with IR (infrared) motion sensor uses advanced technology to boost efficiency for...
Phillips changes trailer wire harness line
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Phillips is changing its trailer harness product line as follows: Previously, the company has featured all custom harness systems for trailers. Now Phillips...
SureStart LVD prolongs battery life
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Cole Hersee introduces its SureStart Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) switch 48513. The SureStart switch electronically senses battery voltage and conserves...
TRP Aftermarket Parts offers LED lighting
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
TRP Aftermarket Parts offers a special line of LED lighting products manufactured for use in all Class 6, 7, and 8 trucks, tractors, and trailers. The...
Waytek supplies Amphenol AT Series
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Waytek Inc now offers Amphenol AT Series connectors designed to be used within the heavy equipment, agricultural, automotive, military, alternative energy,...
Skirt-Lite meets side-skirting requirements
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
JVR Safe-T-Signal Inc is providing Skirt-Lite, a new style of its wide-turn warning signal to meet all requirements for trailers using the new side skirting....
Maxi-Seal Defender battles corrosion
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Maxi-Seal Harness Systems, a subsidiary of Peterson Manufacturing, has introduced a new weapon against trailer wiring corrosion. It's called the Defender,...
Phillips 3 n' 1 assemblies include QCP
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Phillips Industries has introduced the new 3 n' 1 electrical and air hose assembly complete with its Quick Connect Plug (QCP) for ease of service. The...
Lite-Check's Detector 902 provides precision testing of trailer systems
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Lite-Check LLC is offering the new Detector 902 test instrument for trailer lights and air brake systems. The instrument is simple to operate using either...
Landoll adds chain drive to Model 330
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Landoll Corporation has introduced a chain drive power-on/power-off system to its Model 330 traveling axle container trailer line. This new option will...
Trail King unveils pneumatic bulk trailer
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Trail King's new APBE 1600 external ring pneumatic bulk trailer is lighter, stronger, and more maneuverable. The new external ring design of the APBE...
MC-L RV chassis enables aerodynamic body designs, enhances fuel efficiency
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) has introduced its newest product for the RV market, the FCCC MC-L RV chassis. Designed with a durable...
The Composite van resists punctures
Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Great Dane has introduced a dry freight van, The Composite, designed to resist punctures. With a full 101" interior width and a standard 0.30" panel thickness,...
