EPA unveils hydraulic hybrid diesel delivery truck
The U S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today unveiled the first-ever series hydraulic hybrid diesel urban delivery vehicle, which will provide dramatic improvements in fuel economy and in emission reductions. The development of the hydraulic hybrid is the result of a partnership between the EPA, U S Army, UPS, International Truck and Engine Corporation and Eaton Corporation. ...
Wabash National awards scholarships for 2006
Wabash National Corp has awarded four students with scholarships that, combined, represent a total award of up to $32,000. Scholarships were presented at an awards ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana....
Aluminum supply down, demand up
Demand for aluminum in the United States rose almost 7% in May, according to Harbor Intelligence. At the same time, daily average primary aluminum slipped 2%. ...
Greatwide Logistics Services Acquires Southpoint Distributing
Greatwide Logistics Services announced today that the firm has acquired Southpoint Distributing Inc, a privately held, dedicated contract carriage company. Based in Winter Haven, Florida and Auburn, Georgia, Southpoint provides dedicated contract carriage services from grocery distribution centers to retail supermarkets. ...
Hyundai Translead opens $15.5 million production line
Hyundai Translead has opened a new 161,720 square foot, state-of-the-art production line at its Tijuana, Mexico, manufacturing facility. The $15.5 million dollar expansion includes some innovative tooling that will help increase production capacity for vans and domestic containers by 30%. ...
Commercial truck sales stay hot in May
Retail truck sales remained strong in May, at least those with gross vehicle weight ratings above 10,000 pounds. According to figures compiled by Wards Communications, dealers sold 62,888 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, up 13% from May 2005. ...
NTEA publishes catalog of work truck industry resources
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) recently published its Spring/Summer 2006 Work Truck Industry Resources catalog. ...
Capacity issues continue to affect the trucking sector
Truck industry capacity is expected to remain tight through 2006 and 2007, according to FTR Associates, a transportation research firm....
Transportation labor urges fair treatment for diabetic drivers
In response to a Department of Transportation request for public comment, Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), is requesting that diabetic truck drivers receive better regulatory treatment....
TBEI acquires Hardee Equipment
Hardee Equipment of Lakeland Florida has been sold to Truck Bodies & Equipment International (TBEI)....
Report profiles truck equipment distributors
A typical distributor in the U.S. has $15.8 million in annual sales and about 44.5 employees, according to the recently released National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) 2006 Distributor Employee Compensation Survey Report. ...
Truck production increases in Mexico
Mexican manufacturing plants produced 7,492 trucks and buses in May, up 14% from May 2005, according to Mexico’s Asociación Nacional de Productores de Autobuses, Camiones y Tractocamiones. ...
FleetPride sold to investment groups
FleetPride Corporation, the largest independent distributor of aftermarket heavy-duty truck and trailer parts in the United States, announced that Investcorp, Banc of America Capital Investors, and members of the company's management team have completed the acquisition of FleetPride. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed....
Hybrid buses receive EPA award
From Fleet Owner
Seattle's King County Metro Transit System has won the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award for its 235 diesel-electric hybrid buses. The hybrids, which were developed by Caterpillar, Allison Transmission and New Flyer of America, were said to achieve a 31% fuel economy improvement, 70% lower maintenance cost, 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50% reduction of NOx and particulate matter. ...
Diesel price up slightly
After two straight weeks of decline, the national average price for a gallon of diesel increased 0.8 cents to $2.890 for the week ending May 4, according to the Energy Information Administration. ...
Reinke honors North American LLC as top trailer dealer
Reinke Manufacturing, Inc., recently recognized North American, L.L.C., of Salt Lake City, Utah, as the top-selling Reinke trailer dealership for the 2006 model year....
American LaFrance to open new Charleston location
American LaFrance, LLC announced that it has selected North Charleston, S.C., as the site for its new corporate headquarters and state-of-the-art emergency and vocational vehicle assembly plant. The company plans to lease approximately 45 acres adjacent to the Charleston Southern University campus at U.S. Highway 78 just off I-26 in North Charleston from a design-build developer. ...
Alcoa, USW reach tentative labor agreement
Alcoa and the United Steelworkers (USW) have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor contract covering approximately 9,000 Alcoans at the company's 15 master agreement locations....
Carriers continue to expand networks
Carriers large and small are expanding their terminal networks even as a driver shortage limits their ability to grow their fleets....
Alcoa contract impasse could impact trailers
The expiration of Alcoa’s contract with the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and the failure to come to a mutually agreeable contract could send ripples in the trailer and truck equipment industry, according to Bear Stearns....
SMR acquires DuaLift hoist line
SMR Investments has acquired Refuse Parts LLC, manufacturers of the patent pending DuaLift and KwikLift container hoist systems. SMR, a private investment company, also owns RPI of Indiana Inc., a manufacturer of front load containers, and Cooper Tank and Welding Corp., Brooklyn, New York, which makes roll-off containers. ...
Trudell Trailers acquires Fargo Trailer Center
Trudell Trailers has acquired Fargo Trailer Center of Fargo, N.D. The acquisition enables Trudell to expand its current Fargo sales and rental operation to full-service status....
Autocar expands production to meet increasing demand
Autocar, LLC, has completed a two-year manufacturing expansion plan to keep pace with growing demand for the Xpeditor. Autocar's customers continue to require increased production. ...
FedEx acquires Watkins Motor Lines
FedEx Corp. announced a deal to acquire Watkins Motor Lines, the largest privately held LTL carrier, for $780 million in cash. ...
Diesel price down slightly
For the second straight week, the national average price for a gallon of diesel dropped—this time by 0.6 cents to $2.882 for the week ending May 28, according to the Energy Information Administration....
