Carlisle gains China brake venture
From Fleet Owner
Carlisle Motion Control Industries, a subsidiary of Carlisle Companies, has acquired all of the heavy-duty brake lining and brake shoe assets of Hangzhou, China-based Zhejiang Kete. ...
4Q reports spell good news
From Fleet Owner
The most recent weekly roundup of quarterly earnings indicates that the trucking industry, from truckload to LTL to third-party logistics and trailer makers, is posting record earnings and in some cases continuing its trend toward consolidation. ...
Wabash National negotiating to acquire Transcraft
Wabash National announced today that it is in discussions to acquire Transcraft Corporation, a portfolio company of Lincolnshire Management Inc., a leading middle-market private equity investment firm....
Net sales, income up for Wabash
Wabash National announced today that net sales for the fourth quarter were up 18.6% ($340.8 million, compared to $287.4 million for the same period last year) and net income for the quarter was up 51.5% ($19.7 million, compared to $13 million)....
Westport, Ford forge hydrogen partnership
From Fleet Owner
Vancouver, Canada-based Westport Innovations and Ford Motor Co. are joining forces on a project to develop and demonstrate an advanced direct injection fuel system for vehicles powered by engines operating on pure hydrogen. ...
Utilimaster Corporation announces aluminum surcharge
Effective today, Utilimaster Corporation will institute an Aluminum Metal Surcharge on all products that utilize this material. ...
EPA approves diesel-hybrid package
From Fleet Owner
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the thumbs up to a big bore diesel-hybrid package developed by Tampa, FL-based Hybrid Fuel Systems (HFS) – giving the technology a “Conversion System Certificate of Conformity” covering its patented diesel-hybrid conversion system. ...
Diesel up for third straight week
From Fleet Owner
The national average price for a gallon of diesel increased one cent to $2.499 for the week ending Feb. 5, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This marks the third straight week of price increases. ...
Class 8 pre-buys picking up rapidly
Although the pre-buy for Class 8 trucks hit a little later than expected, it appears to be coming on fast and furious, according to market analyst Bear Stearns....
Nissan takes aim at LCV market
Nissan North America (NNA) is forming a new division responsible for the sales and marketing of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and fleet sales in the U.S. Dubbed the Light Commercial Vehicle and Fleet Division, its goal is to develop products and services for users of light commercial vehicles, said Jed Connelly, senior vp-sales and marketing for NNA. ...
FedEx increases China presence
From Fleet Owner
Memphis-based FedEx Corp. said its FedEx Express unit plans to buy out shares in a Chinese freight carrier owned by Tianjin Datian W. Group Co., Ltd. (DTW Group) for $400 million. This would give FedEx sole ownership of the FedEx-DTW International Priority express joint venture originally formed in 1999. ...
EPA Inc reports 9% gain in truck trailer shipments
Trailer shipments edged up 9% in 2005, according to figures compiled by EPA Inc of Smithtown, New York. Manufacturers shipped 244,170 complete trailers for the year, up from 223,625 shipped in 2004. ...
Another record year for Volvo Trucks
Volvo Truck’s deliveries in 2005 were the highest ever recorded in the history of the company. In total 103,696 trucks were delivered, an increase of 7% on 2004....
Trucker bankruptcies at near-record lows in January
Bear Stearns’ seasonally adjusted bankruptcy index increased modestly to 42 in January from an all-time low of less than 25 in November 2005 and 115 in January 2005. Healthy filings over the last three months followed sharp deterioration in September/October 2005. Strength was across the board at the OEMs and was consistent with improved loss provisions in 4Q....
Class 8 hits all-time high with preliminary truck orders
Preliminary Class 8 net new orders were a record 43,100 in January, according to ACT Research – well above its forecast of 38,000-40,000....
Outlook for transportation positive for 2006
The January 2006 economic outlook published by FTR Associates (www.ftrassociates.net) indicates strong economic factors likely to positively affect growth in the transportation sector of the economy. ...
IC Corp, Enova developing nation’s first hybrid school bus
IC Corporation, North America's largest school bus manufacturer, is working with Enova Systems, Inc. to introduce the nation's first hybrid school bus. The two companies have developed a prototype school bus with a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain that is currently undergoing testing. ...
Schneider National hits 33rd straight year of growth
Schneider National Inc. reported solid financial performance for 2005, achieving consolidated revenue growth and ending the year with $3.5 billion in revenue, up from $3.2 billion in 2004. The accomplishment marks the company's 33rd consecutive year of growth....
Knight expanding with three new facilities
Fleet Owner
After a banner year featuring higher revenues and profits, Phoenix-based truckload carrier Knight Transportation is opening three new facilities in the Northwest and upper Midwest....
Diesel prices rise for second straight week
From Fleet Owner
The national average price for a gallon of diesel increased 1.7 cents to $2.489 for the week ending Jan. 29, according to the Energy Information Administration. ...
December tonnage dropped 3%, ATA survey says
From Fleet Owner
For-hire truck tonnage dropped 3% in December, slowed down by a decline in automaker production, according to a survey conducted by the American Trucking Assns. (ATA). This marked the largest monthly decline in 2005. Yet compared to the same month in 2004, the index was 0.6% higher. ...
New division at Caterpillar to manufacture aftertreatment for engines with ACERT technology
Caterpillar announced the formation of Cat Environmental Technologies-a new group that brings the development and manufacturing of all aftertreatment technology and products in-house. The result is a single source for engine technology that meets demanding emissions standards while cost effectively reducing the environmental impact of Cat engines. Cat Environmental Technologies is part of the Caterpillar Engine Component business unit, which is headed by Jim Green, general manager....
Bosch and Knorr-Bremse to make driver systems
Knorr-Bremse and Robert Bosch have announced a deal to make adaptive cruise control systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles....
Another strong year for trailer production
Trailer manufacturers had another year of growth in 2005, just not the meteoric rise the industry experienced in 2004. After double-digit growth in 2004, shipments rose 8% in 2005, according to figures compiled by ACT Research of Columbus, Indiana. ...
Volvo Trucks North America initiates safety recall on 42,000 vehicles
Volvo Trucks North America has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the company will initiate a voluntary safety recall on approximately 42,000 Volvo VN and VHD model trucks manufactured from November 2002 to January 2006 and equipped with the Volvo D12D engine. ...
