June 1, 2010
Editorial
A year of transition: where we are going
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, by Bruce Sauer
WHAT a difference a year makes. When trailer manufacturers gathered together last year at the annual Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association convention, the industry was in freefall. Like a paratrooper jumping in total darkness, no one was really sure when we would hit bottom. ...
Featured Content
Trailer manufacturers and suppliers express optimism as the industry convenes
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY BRUCE SAUER
TRAILER manufacturers found new optimism and said good-bye to a long-time president at the 68th annual Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association Convention April 21-24. ...
Dick Bowling retires as TTMA president
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
It was time to say, Good night, Dick as the Truck Trailer Manufacturers closed its 2010 convention by honoring the man who has served as president of the association for the past 21 years. ...
Kremar says trailer buyers will re-enter the market slowly, with more meaningful change coming in 2011 and 2012
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
EXPECTING the trailer business to be booming by the end of this year? ...
Industry Newsdesk
Truck-Lite Adds 200 Employees
Jun 1, 2010 2:15 PM
Truck-Lite has hired over 100 new direct, full-time employees and more than 100 temporary employees at its Pennsylvania and New York operating facilities since the beginning of the year...
ATA Truck Tonnage Index advances in April
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The American Trucking Associations' advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased for the sixth time in the past seven months,...
Class 8 Net Orders Up 91% in April
May 21, 2010 9:43 AM
Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles increased 91 percent in April compared to the same month last year, according to ACT Research Co...
Volvo to Start Serial Production of Hybrid Buses
Jun 1, 2010 2:16 PM
Volvo Buses will now commence serial production of its hybrid bus Volvo 7700 Hybrid and the double-decker Volvo B5L Hybrid...
Hercules Manufacturing Co. Unveils Green Vehicle
Jun 1, 2010 2:19 PM
Hercules Manufacturing Co. has received five additional orders from Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. for its hybrid Proof of Concept (POC) vehicle...
Manufacturing Technology Consumption Up 33.7% in 1Q
May 10, 2010 2:15 PM
March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $258 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) and the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT). This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 58.1% from February and up 49.5% from the total of $172.59 million reported for March 2009. With a year-to-date total of $548.53 million, 2010 is up 33.7% compared with 2009...
Western Express Orders 900 Freightliner Cascadia Tractors
May 26, 2010 3:39 PM
Freightliner Trucks announced that Western Express, Inc., has ordered 900 Freightliner Cascadia tractors equipped with 2010 Detroit Diesel Corporation DD15 engines featuring BlueTec emissions technology...
Spartan Receives MRAP Subcontract from BAE Systems
May 13, 2010 12:25 PM
Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR), has been awarded a $6.8 million subcontract order from defense contractor BAE Systems to support the production of advanced tactical vehicles under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program...
Kaltenbach Becomes Structural Machinery Solutions
May 14, 2010 2:03 PM
Following a recent management buy-out, Kaltenbach, Inc. – the US Division of Kaltenbach GmbH, a leader in metal sawing machinery – the Columbus, Indiana, company has undergone a name change and is now known as Structural Machinery Solutions, Inc...
ArvinMeritor Makes Additional Investment in Brazil
May 3, 2010 2:20 PM
ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE: ARM) announced it will invest approximately $10 million to build a new axle manufacturing operation in Resende, Brazil, to support MAN's production of trucks and buses in the region...
Talbert receives Longevity Award
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Talbert Mfg recently received the Longevity Award for more than 60 years of membership in the Specialized Cranes & Rigging Association (SC&RA). ...
Western Products among top workplaces
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Western Products was among select employers named to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Top Workplaces list. ...
Hybrid diesel-electric Peterbilts let Tropicana pour on fuel efficiency
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Tropicana, a division of PepsiCo, is taking steps to upgrade its chilled delivery fleet operation to models starting with two new hybrid diesel-electric medium-duty Peterbilt trucks, which service downtown Chicago IL....
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems recognizes distributor excellence
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is recognizing outstanding achievement in its Premier Distributor Program for the fourth consecutive year. ...
Product Profiles
Flex-Lite LED lighting products permit simple, flexible mounting
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Truck-Lite Co Inc has released a line of LED lighting products that allow for flexible mounting, without the need for additional accessories and with versatile wire options....
N700 Series reels ideal for trucks, trailers
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The N700 Series hose reel from Hannay Reels is part of the standard N Series and ideal for lubrication and washdown applications. ...
VisionStat Plus integrates obstacle detection sensor with video system
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Mobile Awareness LLC is offering VisionStat Plus, a complete commercial-grade system to prevent backing accidents. ...
SmartWay Says Trailer Skirt Meets CARB Rules
May 25, 2010 12:01 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program says fleets installing Silver Eagle Manufacturing’s new Aero Saber trailer skirt will satisfy stringent California Air Resources Board (CARB) legislation requiring 53-foot trailers operating in the state to have aerodynamic devices installed on trailers that yield 5% or greater verified fuel savings...
Thermo King V-520 system for small trucks
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Thermo King has introduced the V-520 vehicle-powered temperature control system for small trucks. ...
Trailer Immobilizer protects against theft
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
WABCO Holdings Inc introduced Trailer Immobilizer, a security innovation that significantly increases protection against trailer theft, as an additional function in the company's trailer electronic braking system (EBS). ...
Dealing with the new Super Duty
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The new 2011 Super Duty chassis cabs are beginning to show up in truck equipment distributor shops, and they are bringing their DEF tanks with them. ...
People and Positions
Trailer, truck, & body OEMs
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Godwin Group, representing Godwin Truck Body, R/S Body Company, Champion Hoists, and Galion Body has named Omar B Sandlin II national marketing and sales coordinator....
Component manufacturers
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
ArvinMeritor Inc announced that Matthew Stevenson has been appointed director of marketing for the company's Truck business unit, and director for the joint venture Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems. ...
Dealers/distributors
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Arrow Truck Sales Inc announced that Steve Clough has been named president and chief executive officer. ...
Industry association profiles
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) has hired a new engineering manager, Michael Daubert. ...
Obituaries
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Talbert Mfg Inc founder Austin G Talbert died March 31, 2010. He held 24 of the company's patents, many developed during the heavy-haul industry's infancy and some of which remain in use....
Articles
Now known as PalFleet, the former Fontaine Truck Equipment operation is equipping trucks for delivery to just about anywhere
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY BRUCE SAUER
It has been a period of transition for the group of former Fontaine Truck Equipment branches that had been owned by Omaha Standard....
Senior VP of XTRA Lease says reefer market has improved, but flatbed market remains difficult
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
THERE is some pent-up demand for van trailers, but it remains to be seen whether it is across the board, according to Steve Zaborowski, senior VP of XTRA Lease. ...
Engineers address trailer topics, practices
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Tractor stopping distances and Canada's SPIFF trailer requirements were among the issues that trailer engineers discussed at the engineering committee meeting held during the TTMA convention April 22 in Orlando. ...
Promoting safety in trailer manufacturing
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
TTMA recognized the winners of the association's annual plant safety awards during the association's convention in Orlando. ...
Consultant to the trucking industry says a manager in today's world must be a coach instead of a boss, a teacher instead of a supervisor
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
DAN Baker, a nationally known speaker, teacher, and consultant to the trucking industry not to mention a former Methodist minister in San Antonio, Texas entertained the audience with a series of tales and one-liners. ...
A look at new trailer products
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
EACH of the participating associate members at the convention had four minutes to explain a product and its benefits. ...
New officers, new RPs From tank committee
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
TTMA's Tank Executive Committee elected new officers and approved a series of recommended practices for tank manufacturers during the TTMA convention....
The Road Ahead
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
August 25-26, 2010 Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas TXwww.hdma.org September 13, 2010 National Truck Equipment...
Tregaskiss redesigns its TGX MIG guns
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Tregaskiss has brought a new look and flexibility to its line of TGX semi-automatic MIG guns at no extra cost. ...
Weldcraft WP-225 helps reduce inventory
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
To provide flexibility to weld without purchasing or changing torches, Weldcraft offers its WP-225 modular flex-neck torch package. ...
Hypertherm division has new versions of NestMaster, TurboNest software
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Hypertherm's MTC Software is unveiling new versions of its CAM nesting software....
Nozzle cleaning station for welding guns
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Arndt Enterprise Ltd's AE-SC2CV nozzle cleaning station is designed for manufacturers using robotic Mig welding guns. ...
Talbert Mfg honors its top 10 dealers
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Talbert Mfg recently recognized its top 10 North American dealers for sales excellence and superior product, parts, and service support....
Tregaskiss offers Surestart contact tips
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM
To reduce arc start failures that can lead to rework and downtime in robotic welding applications, Tregaskiss offers its Surestart contact tips....
Simple tips to make your MIG gun consumables last
Jun 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By David Bellamy, product manager, and Jeff Wells, engineering manager, Semi-Automatic & Consumables
Many people think of MIG gun consumables as simple throwaway items, but in reality these components are critical to welding performance and quality....
