Trailer orders fall, but backlogs growing
Net orders for U.S. trailers orders were off 9% during May, the second consecutive monthly decline for the industry, according to figures compiled by ACT Research of Columbus, Indiana...
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Falls 2.3% in May
The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 2.3% in May after decreasing a revised 0.6% in April 2011, which was slightly less than the 0.7% ATA reported on May 25...
GE Capital Selected by Felling Trailers for Inventory Financing Program
GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) business announced an agreement with Felling Trailers to provide floor-plan financing options for dealers purchasing its brands in the US and Canada....
Wabash to Enter into $150 Million Revolving Credit Facility
Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) plans to enter into a new $150 million revolving credit facility with a group of lenders led by Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), acting as administrative agent and joint lead arranger and joint lead book runner with RBS Citizens Business Capital, a division of RBS Citizens, N.A....
Navistar Awarded Diesel Re-Power Contract With USPS
Navistar, Inc. and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have inked a development contract under which Navistar will engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for USPS delivery vehicles...
Driver Turnover Up 6% in 1Q
Turnover for long-haul truck drivers increased 6% in the first three months of 2011, according to American Trucking Associations’ latest Trucking Activity Report...
VT Hackney Breaks Ground On 70,000-Square-Foot Addition
VT Hackney, Inc., a company of VT Systems, Inc., broke ground on a plant addition at its 27-acre Independence, Kansas, manufacturing site...
Accuride Acquires Wheel Plant, Boosts Capacity
Accuride Corp. has acquired most of the assets of Forgitron Technologies LLC, including an 80,000-square-foot forged aluminum wheel manufacturing facility in Camden, SC. ...
HD Hybrid Bill in Senate
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has introduced S. 938, the Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act, which would provide for between three and seven competitive grants of up to $3 million in each of three years to advance research and development as well as demonstrate technologies, including plug-in hybrid technology, for advanced heavy-duty hybrid vehicles (vehicles with a gross weight between 14,000 lbs. and 33,000 lbs. that are fueled, in part, by a rechargeable energy storage system). ...
Truck Fuel Efficiency Rule Being Reviewed by White House
The White House Office of Management and Budget is now reviewing rules that were jointly developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the first-ever fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction rules for medium- and heavy-duty trucks....
Class 8 Net Orders Up 77% in May: ACT
Despite falling well below April’s overheated intake, North American Class 8 net orders in May were 23,300 units—77% above the same month last year. That was strong enough to fuel continued growth in industry backlog, according to ACT Research Co. (ACT). ...
Ryder Makes Largest Single Order of Utility 4000D-X Composite Dry Van Trailers
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has received the largest single order for the 4000D-X Composite dry van from Ryder System, Inc. Ryder, which recently extended a full-service lease contract with CEVA Logistics, purchased 1,044 Utility 4000D-X Composite dry vans to support CEVA’s domestic U.S. ground and freight management operations across North America....
Two New Suspension Options From Western Star
Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. has unveiled two new suspension options available for its various truck models and configurations. ...
Spartan Chassis, Lion Bus Reach Agreement on Type C School Bus Chassis
Spartan Chassis, Inc. has executed a supply agreement with Lion Bus Inc. of Saint-Jerome, Canada, in which Spartan will supply conventional front-engine diesel chassis for use on Type C school buses in the United States and Canada....
Volvo Receives Largest Hybrid Bus Order
The city of Curitiba in Brazil has ordered 60 Volvo buses that generate up to 35% less fuel consumption—the largest hybrid bus order to date received by Volvo Buses, and the first in South America....
Bendix Air Discs Now Standard on Peterbilt’s Steer Axles
Air disc brakes supplied by Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake are now standard on the steer axle of all Peterbilt Motors Co. Class 8 trucks. ...
Utility Unveils New Website, Smartphone-Friendly Dealer Directory
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has launched a new corporate website, a mobile smartphone-friendly dealer directory (www.utdealers.mobi) and new Quick Response (QR) codes. ...
Demand for Class 8 Vehicles Remains Strong
Despite recent easing in freight growth and softening in the U.S. economy’s recovery, demand for commercial vehicles continues to be strong. Widespread strength was apparent across all segments of the commercial vehicle market, according to the most recent data reported by ACT Research Co...
Fuel, Driver Wages Still Loom Large: ATRI Report
Fuel and driver wages (excluding benefits) continued to be the largest cost centers for carriers, constituting 58% of the average operating costs in the first quarter of 2010, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) 2011 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking...
FTR Shippers Condition Index Shifts Direction and Improves
Breaking a long-term decline, the FTR Associates’ Shippers’ Condition Index (SCI) improved to a reading of -5.4 from -11.4 the prior month, as reported in the firm’s June Shippers Update....
Navistar Defense Receives $357-Million USMC Order
Navistar Defense has received a $357-million delivery order for an additional 471 International-branded MaxxPro Dash vehicles with DXM independent suspension from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command....
Germany Leading Recovery In West European Trailer Market
Almost all the countries of Western Europe will see an increase of trailer demand of more than 20% in 2011—led by Germany, whose output has been boosted by a tripling in demand, according to consulting group CLEAR. ...
Medium and Heavy Truck Sales Up 30% in May
Medium and heavy truck sales were up 30% in May over the same period a year ago and up 6% from last month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications...
Navistar China Names Von Meister New President
Navistar, Inc. announced that Rudi von Meister will lead the company’s efforts in China as the company works to finalize its joint venture agreements with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. Ltd. (JAC)...
Daimler to Ramp Up Production, Hire 1,400 Employees
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) today announced that it plans to sharply increase production and employment levels at its Mt. Holly, NC, Portland, OR, and Saltillo, Mexico, truck manufacturing plants during the second half of this year...
