Freightliner rolls out new offerings
Mar 28, 2006, From Fleet Owner
At the recent Mid-America Trucking Show, Portland, OR-based Freightliner LLC unveiled a host of new component offerings that will be available on its trucks starting late this year....
Transcraft redesigns D-Eagle drop deck trailer
Mar 24, 2006
Transcraft, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wabash National Corporation, announced that its Transcraft D-Eagle combo drop deck model has been redesigned to increase trailer strength and enhance overall performance. In addition, the company announced that it has added a forklift kit as an available option on its flatbed trailer models....
Kenworth introduces new T300 Class 6 vehicle with air brakes
Mar 24, 2006
Kenworth Truck Company announced the introduction of a new T300 Class 6 25,000-pound GVWR vehicle equipped with air brakes for pickup and delivery and various other applications. The announcement was made at the Mid-America Trucking Show. ...
Sterling Truck Corporation Receives Work Truck Show’s Editors' Choice Award
Mar 24, 2006
Sterling Truck Corporation (Redford, MI) is the winner of the second annual Editors' Choice Award for New Product Innovation. Ballots of editors who attended the 42nd Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention, Feb. 28-March 3, and The Work Truck Show, March 1-3, in Atlanta, GA, determined the winner. ...
MGM Brakes, Knaack Mfg receive Work Truck Show’s New Product Innovation Award
Mar 24, 2006
MGM Brakes (Charlotte, NC) and Knaack Mfg. Co. (Crystal Lake, IL) are the winners of the 2006 New Product Innovation Award. Voting took place during The Work Truck Show 2006 March 1-3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. The Work Truck Show was held in conjunction with the 42nd Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention Feb. 28-March 3. ...
Toyo Tires announces price increase in commercial truck products
Mar 24, 2006
Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation announced a price increase on both commercial truck and off-the-road tires effective April 1. This will result in a 5% increase to dealers on all commercial truck tires (truck and bus), and a 7% increase to dealers on off-the-road tires. ...
Heil Trailer renews Contract with First Index Inc
Mar 24, 2006
Heil Trailer International has extended its agreement with First Index, Inc. Heil Trailer uses First Index's RFQ Tools and Supplier Network to accelerate its process of identifying qualified metal fabrication suppliers. In addition to Heil Trailer contracting with domestic fabrication suppliers, it also has used First Index to identify suppliers of fittings and castings in select low cost countries. ...
Peterbilt reveals '07 testing, pricing plans
Mar 23, 2006, by Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner senior editor
LOUISVILLE, KY. As Peterbilt Motors Co. enters the final phase of its 2007 emissions testing, it says the cost impact of new emissions control technology will add $6,000 to $9,000 to the base sticker price of its Class 8 products, and $2,000 to $4,000 to the medium-duty lineup. ...
Manufacturers prepare for the downturn
Mar 23, 2006
LOUISVILLE, KY. Truck OEMs and component suppliers are preparing for a decline in truck sales next year, due in large part to the extra cost new emissions control technology will add to sticker prices. Yet opinions differ on how steep the drop in new truck sales will be and how long it will last. ...
Tom Thayer honored as 2005 International Dealer of the Year
Mar 23, 2006
International Truck and Engine Corporation recognized Tom Thayer of International Truck Sales of Richmond, Richmond, Va., as their 2005 Dealer of the Year at its 26th Annual Circle of Excellence black-tie awards ceremony, held at the Four Seasons Resort Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. Thayer is the seventh recipient of this prestigious honor, awarded annually based on strict performance criteria to only one of the more than 350 International dealers and distributors throughout the world....
Wabash National secures agreement with Contract Freighters Inc.
Mar 22, 2006
Wabash National Corporation today announced confirmation of an agreement with Contract Freighters, Inc. (CFI) to obtain 1,050 DuraPlate HD dry vans to be produced in 2006. The agreement includes an option for an additional 950 trailers in 2007. Trailer production is expected to begin in May....
International re-brands engine lineup
Mar 22, 2006, by Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner senior editor
International Truck & Engine Corp. is tagging its engine families with a new brand name: MaxxForce. Starting in 2007, all of the OEM’s on-highway engines, from its light-duty units through the new 11- and 13-liter heavy-duty products built in partnership with German engine maker MAN, will bear the MaxxForce logo. ...
Anti-counterfeiting efforts heat up
Mar 22, 2006, From Fleet Owner
A new law signed by President George W. Bush last week will help U.S. law enforcement officials ramp up efforts to combat counterfeit goods in global trade, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. (SEMA). The trade group hopes this will curb counterfeit components used by trucking fleets, from tires to brake pads. ...
Auto hauler hires turnaround expert
Mar 22, 2006, From Fleet Owner
Bankrupt automobile hauler Performance Transportation Services (PTS) is hiring turnaround specialist Timothy Skillman as its chief restructuring officer, reporting directly to Jeff Cornish, president & CEO. ...
Diesel on the rise again
Mar 22, 2006, From Fleet Owner
The national average price for a gallon of diesel is back on the rise, up 3.8 cents to $2.581 for the week ending March 19, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Despite the overall increase, regions that had been experiencing the highest prices actually saw a drop in prices. ...
Wabash National to exit domestic container market
Mar 17, 2006
Wabash National Corporation today announced that it will withdraw from the domestic intermodal container market by March 31. Over the last three years, container sales have averaged less than 3.5% of annual unit volume and have been one the company's lowest margin products....
Trudell Trailers to purchase Quality Truck Equipment
Mar 16, 2006
Trudell Trailers has acquired Quality Truck Equipment, Green Bay, which specializes in collision repair, truck parts and accessories, industrial finishing, boat repair and aluminum repair. Trudell is a semi-trailer dealership based in Green Bay and serves the Midwest....
Greatwide Logistics opens new facility in SoCal
Mar 16, 2006
Greatwide Logistics Services - a Dallas-based provider of non-asset-based transportation, third-party logistics, warehouse/distribution and truckload brokerage services - has opened a new distribution facility in Ontario, CA. ...
U.S. medium and heavy duty aftermarket sales on the rise
Mar 16, 2006
Medium and heavy duty truck aftermarket sales rose 6.2 percent in 2005 and are forecast to continue its three-year growth trend, reaching $73.9 billion in 2006, according to a new study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA). ...
Webcast series on practical lean manufacturing
Mar 16, 2006
The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), announces a series of three FabCasts (Webcasts) on the subject of practical lean manufacturing. The program's purpose is to help cut waste and optimize production in fabrication operations....
Eastern Europe's express and delivery industry poised for double-digit growth
Mar 16, 2006
Express and delivery markets across the 10 new EU countries are poised for double-digit growth rates over the coming five years, spearheaded by Central and Eastern Europe, according to a new report by independent market analyst, Datamonitor....
Diesel price hikes end—barely
Mar 16, 2006, From Fleet Owner
The national average price for a gallon of diesel took a slight 0.2-cent dip for the week ending March. 12 to $2.543, according to the Energy Information Administration. ...
Raydan announces $6 million strategic acquisition
Mar 14, 2006
Raydan Manufacturing Inc. announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase two profitable Ontario-based firms consisting of a chassis modification center and a heavy truck parts and service business with approximately $6 million in revenue....
ZF scores with Holland Group
Mar 14, 2006, From Fleet Owner
ZF Group North American Operations, based in Northville, MI, today announced that ZF Sachs has been named the sole supplier of heavy-duty shocks for suspensions manufactured by The Holland Group, based in Holland, MI. ...
Truck sales up 7% over a year ago
Mar 13, 2006
Medium and heavy trucks continued selling at a brisk pace in February, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications....
