January 1, 2008
Editorial
Gotta give 'em credit
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, by Bruce Sauer
Once every month or so, a letter from the local bank arrives congratulating my father for the way he has handled his financial affairs. The letter is...
Industry Newsdesk
Manufacturing stalls in December
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector failed to grow in December following 10 consecutive months of expansion, while the overall economy grew...
Trucking-related revenue hits $312 billion
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Revenue for truck transportation, couriers and messengers, and warehousing and storage totaled $312 billion in 2006, compared with $293 billion in 2005,...
Force Dynamics breaks production records
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Force Protection Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems through their joint venture Force Dynamics LLC continued to break monthly vehicle production records...
Utility opens dealership in Leon, Mexico
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Utility Trailer Mfg Co announces that its dealer Utility Trailers de Mexico SA de CV has opened the first Utility dealership in Leon, Mexico. The new...
Brenner expands Poly-Coat partnership
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Since 2006, Brenner Tank LLC has been working closely with Poly-Coat Systems Inc, enabling Brenner to offer FRP composite tanks to its customers. Brenner...
A practical idea or just a lot of wind?
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Has the trucking industry given any thought to capturing the wind created while driving on the highway? Jack Reynolds thinks a trailer constructed with...
Oshkosh to build MRAP II test vehicles
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Oshkosh Truck Corp announced that, with Ideal Innovations Inc (I-3) and Ceradyne Inc, it had been awarded a firm-fixed-priced delivery order for six Mine...
Bendix honors Wasem with special award
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Mark Wasem, director of business excellence at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, was presented with the global company's most prestigious individual...
Fabick expands chemical production facility
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Fabick Protective Coatings announces an expansion of its chemical production facility centrally located in Madison WI. The firm has increased its production...
European transport equipment market forecast to set new sales record for 07
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
In the seven largest West European markets for heavy truck trailers, 2007 demand is forecast to be 17.4% higher at 173,000 trailers and semitrailers....
Scania lands major truck order from Arla
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Danish dairy products group Arla Foods has ordered 193 trucks from Scania, including both tractor units and distribution trucks for its operations in...
ArvinMeritor acquires Mascot Truck Parts
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
ArvinMeritor Inc has entered into an agreement to acquire Mascot Truck Parts Ltd, a remanufacturer of transmissions, drive axle carriers, steering gears,...
Eaton receives award for CSR in China
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Eaton Corp recently was named one of The Most Committed Multi-National Corporations (MNC) to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China by Foreign...
UQM Technologies' propulsion system picked for hybrid bus development project
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
UQM Technologies Inc, a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced that its newly introduced 150-kilowatt permanent magnet propulsion motor...
Volvo Group's deliveries increase 2%
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Total deliveries of trucks from the Volvo Group's four truck companies through October 2007 amounted to 185,048, which is an increase of 2% compared with...
Daimler gets orders for 1,052 Orion VII Next Generation hybrid transit buses
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Daimler Buses North America has received orders totaling 1,052 Orion VII Next Generation diesel-electric hybrid transit buses from some of North America's...
Webb unit forms alliance with TMD
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Aftermarket Business Unit of Webb Wheel Products Inc has entered into a strategic alliance with TMD Friction to couple brake drums and friction linings...
Sullair receives CAGI Verification Seal
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Sullair Corporation's rotary screw air compressors have been awarded the Verification Seal from the Compressed Air and Gas Institute's (CAGI) Performance...
GM, International Truck reach tentative agreement on medium-duty truck business
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
General Motors Corp and International Truck and Engine Corp, the principal operating subsidiary of Navistar International Corp, have entered into a non-binding...
Haldex restructures Friction Products
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Haldex says it will restructure Friction Products, a business unit within the Commercial Vehicles Systems (CVS) division, discontinuing production of...
Navistar affiliate gets $1.2 billion order from US Marine Corps for MRAPs
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Making its largest single order to date of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, the United States Marine Corps ordered 1,500 additional MRAP...
CKCVR survey results indicate slow rebound
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
As part of its Q4 2007 Fleet Sentiment inquiry, CK Commercial Vehicle Research (www.ckcvr.com) included questions about 2008 equipment buying plans. Fifty-nine...
Kenworth Customer Support Dealer of Year hails from Alberta, Canada
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Edmonton Kenworth was named 2006 Kenworth Customer Support Dealer of the Year for the United States and Canada at the Kenworth Customer Support Meeting...
Volvo Financial Services opens new office
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Volvo Financial Services North America recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new office in Aurora, Ontario. The purpose...
Product Profiles
Product Profiles
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Peterbilt ranks highest in medium-duty truck customer satisfaction, study finds Peterbilt ranks highest in customer satisfaction among conventional cab...
People and Positions
Trailer, truck, & body OEMs
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
MAC Trailer announces the promotion of Bryan McElroy to manager-used-trailer sales, responsible for all aspects of development and growth of the MBR used-trailer...
Component manufacturers
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
R-O-M Corp has promoted Steve Briggs to chief executive officer; he will also maintain his duties as president. Jeff Hupke will now serve as chief operating...
Fabricators
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
OMCO announces the promotion of Gary M. Schuster to the position of chief executive officer and president of the firm from his former position as president...
Obituaries
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Rush Enterprises Inc reports that John D Rock, a member of the board of directors and chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee, died Nov 16,...
Articles
Rising fast in flatbeds
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Mike Conny, president of one of the industry's fastest growing dump trailer manufacturing companies, really doesn't like wasting time. So when he decided...
Cutting costs, keeping quality
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Let's face it. In recent months, the market has not exactly been kind to the truck trailer industry. That has been especially true for those who specialize...
Bearish on truck market
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
A protracted downturn in freight has caused A.C.T. Research to lower its Class 8 production forecast for this year and 2009. Where the economy goes, freight...
The winds of change
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
Trailer and truck body manufacturers have been here before. They've had to switch the blowing agents used to produce foam insulation on panels and, in...
Taking the high road
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
As far as Rob Hancock is concerned, Wabash National's participation in the SmartWay Transport Partnership is a win-win situation. You offer a product...
Construction made easy
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The record crowds that attended the 2007 International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) saw a wide range of new truck bodies, trailers,...
Georgia on your mind
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
Two years after making Atlanta the home for The Work Truck Show, the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) is returning. And why not? It went great,...
Ten key sessions you won't want to miss
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
No Business Owner wants to take a step back or even simply maintain the status quo. Everybody wants to move forward with a profitable business that has...
What a trip for Waltrip
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
When Darrell Waltrip was a 12-year-old kid growing up in Owensboro, Kentucky, he raced go-karts and dreamed big. Waltrip had some friends who were big...
Be different or die
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
Steve Miller, a strategic marketing expert with The Adventure LLC in Federal Way, Washington, had a question for attendees at the National Trailer Dealers...
Maximizing sales effectiveness
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
How much business is really out there? Who are your customers? Who should be your customers? What is your current market share? What should it be? Are...
Blown away
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Tornados are called for a reason. Just ask Sam Hart, whose cargo trailer was left a twisted mess and hanging from a tree on Groundhog's Day 2007. That's...
The rest of the story
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Check out these welding machines, fixtures and drills that were on display at Fabtech International, Most of the Fabtech report, including major types...
Utility flatbed is lighter yet stronger
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co has introduced the 4000A flatbed trailer. Featuring an aluminum/steel composite design, the new Utility 4000A is both...
The Tough One boasts HDPE lining sheets
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Strick Trailer Corp unveiled its latest dry-freight semi-trailer, the TF1 (The Tough One). It has a new sheet-and-post trailer design with an HDPE...
Isuzu offers first LCF gas-powered crew cab
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc announced the availability of the industry's first gas-powered, low cab forward crew cab truck. The new model features...
Rancher Body ready to lasso some attention
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The new Truck Bodies & Equipment International Inc (TBEI) Rancher Body is now available to distributors. Main features of the Rancher include: Powdercoated...
Report looks at trucking in Germany
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Trucking in Germany to its offering. This report includes detailed data on market size and segmentation,...
Phillips gives its web site a makeover
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Phillips Industries has completely overhauled its web site at www.phillipsind.com to offer new, practical tools to help in the purchase, distribution,...
Donovan Enterprises launches web site
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Donovan Enterprises (Stuart FL) recently launched its new web site. The new web site has a whole new look to help the user find what he needs quickly...
Point and click to select a Fuller clutch
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A new interactive clutch selector is available online at Roadranger.com to help maintenance professionals select and order genuine Fuller replacement...
Design Guide covers Lumex LEDs, LCDs
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Lumex is offering its new 368-page LED and LCD Design Guide. This reference manual presents design and technical information from all of the firm's major...
Catalog details Superior line of products
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A new, 185-page catalog describes Superior Signals' complete line of vehicle safety lighting and traffic control products. This catalog includes technical...
Powerbrace has catalog
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Powerbrace Corp has released a new, revised full-line product catalog. The 38-page, 8 11-inch color catalog includes photos of all Powerbrace's lockrods,...
InventHelp inventor debuts modified liftgate
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Inventor has modified liftgate for DIY'ers InventHelp announces that one of its clients, an inventor from Spanish Fork UT, has designed a modified liftgate...
