NHTSA Issues Final Rule on Platform Lifts for Motor Vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule amending Federal motor vehicle safety standards on platform lift systems for otor vehicles...
Great Dane Opens New Manufacturing Plant in Statesboro, Georgia
Just over a year after breaking ground on a new refrigerated trailer manufacturing plant in Statesboro, Ga., Great Dane opened the 450,000-square-foot facility for production today following a ribbon-cutting ceremony...
Class 8 Preliminary Net Orders Down in March: ACT
In what is typically one of the seasonally strongest months of the year, preliminary Class 8 orders came in below expectations in March for a second consecutive month, according to ACT Research Co., LLC (ACT). On a seasonally adjusted basis, Class 8 orders were the weakest since September 2010 at 18,400 units...
Heavy Truck Demand Down in 4Q in China: ACT
Heavy truck demand in China fell in the fourth quarter, due to continuing construction market weakness, while growth in consumer spending supported increased road freight transportation, according to the recently released China Commercial Vehicle Outlook jointly published by ACT and SIC, China’s State Information Center...
ATA Calls for Repeal of FET on Large Trucks
American Trucking Associations (ATA) president and CEO Bill Graves called on Congress to swiftly adopt a proposal introduced by Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-Penn.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) to repeal the 12% federal excise tax on large trucks and replace it with a modest increase in the federal diesel fuel tax...
Prime Design Aligns With R•O•M
Prime Design Ladder Racks has formed a strategic alliance with R•O•M Corporation that will further its ability to provide products to a wide customer base. Prime Design will become a subsidiary of R•O•M and maintain its presence in West Saint Paul, MN...
GVW Truck Parts Opens Facility in Harrisburg, PA
GVW Parts Distribution, LLC (www.gvwparts.com), formerly Autocar Parts, LLC, has opened its newest distribution facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and will begin shipping from the location immediately...
Dealers Face Same FET Scenario—For Now
By Rick Weber
It will be business as usual for truck and trailer dealers regarding the federal excise tax (FET)—at least until June 30—as a result of President Obama’s signing of H.R. 4281: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012....
European Registrations Fall 11.3% In February
Demand for new commercial vehicles was down in all major European markets, leading to an overall 11.3% decline, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association ...
Azure Dynamics Stops Production, Files for Bankruptcy
Azure Dynamics has filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and Canada following a rejection by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) for a public stock offering that would have raised needed capital for operations, according to Mike Elwood, vice president-marketing...
NHTSA Amends Standards for Bus Emergency Exits
NHTSA has made several amendments to the Federal motor vehicle safety standard for bus emergency exits...
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Remains Steady in February
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index for February eased slightly in February to a reading of 5.9, according to the April 2012 Trucking Update...
ACOFAS Offering Shop Seminar
The American Council Of Frame and Alignment Specialists (ACOFAS) is hosting a two-day seminar in Milwaukee, WI, April 24-25 and will cover the latest regulations regarding the shop environment and office postings...
NTEA Supports Truck Sales Tax Repeal Legislation
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) is backing HR 4321, legistration introduced by Representative Jim Gerlach (R-PA) to repeal the retail sales excise tax on heavy trucks and replace the revenue with a small increase in the diesel fuel tax rate...
Terex Equipment Relocates, Expands Colorado Location
Terex Equipment Services (TES) has relocated its Commerce City, Colorado, location to a new site in Aurora that expands the square footage from 5,400 to 31,500...
Diesel to be Offered on Full-Size Transit in 2013
Ford Motor Co. plans to offer a diesel powertrain as an option to the new full-size Transit cargo and passenger van’s standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine when it begins building in 2013...
ATA Truck Tonnage Up 0.5% in February
The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in February after falling 4.6% in January...
EVI, Frito-Lay Combine on Pilot Electric Truck Program
Electric Vehicles International (EVI), which deals in alternative fuel vehicle development, manufacturing and deployment, has launched an electric vehicle pilot with Frito-Lay North America, which has the seventh-largest privately owned commercial fleet...
VIA Motors Earns Work Truck Show’s Green Award
VIA Motors (Orem, UT) has won The Work Truck Show 2012 Green Award for its full-size extended range electric vehicle (EREV) work trucks...
Trailer Van Orders Down 32%, Others Up 31% in February: ACT
The performance differences between total vans and all other trailers was striking in February: Net orders for total van trailers were off 32% month over month while all other trailers posted a gain of 31%, according to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co...
Used Class 8 Pricing Slips in February: ACT
Used Class 8 truck pricing slipped in February due to softness in the retail segment of the market, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research...
Fuel Prices, Election Could Impact Strong Trailer Sales
Sales for all models of trailers remain strong this year and could remain so in 2013 if fuel prices start to moderate, among other factors, according to Craig Bennett, senior VP-sales and marketing for Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co....
Wabash Inks Agreement to Acquire Walker Group Holdings
Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Walker Group Holdings LLC, a manufacturer of liquid-transportation systems and engineered products, for $360 million...
ACT Research Predicts Lukewarm Economy
By Bruce Sauer
With a context of what the future holds for the commercial vehicle industry, economist Sam Kahan said the U.S. can expect moderate economic growth in 2012...
North America to Be World’s Fastest-Growing Truck Market in 2012
By Bruce Sauer
North America will lead the world in truck sales growth this year, according to Zita Zigan, head of global commercial vehicle forecasting for LMC Automotive...
