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FTR North American Commercial Truck and Trailer Outlook
FTR Associates reports in its current North American Commercial Truck and Trailers Outlook service that Class 8 net orders for December 2008 were even softer than estimated, totaling 8,649 units.
This is the lowest level for orders since September 2006. Orders for the three-month period, October through December 2008, are running at an annualized rate of a meager 119,100 units. Class 8 order backlogs fell to 52,703 units with a backlog to retail sales ratio of 3.9 months. This suggests further reductions in production.
Order weakness remained in all geographic areas, but a noticeable decline in Non-US orders (Canada, Mexico and Exports) suggests that there is significant downward pressure on the forecast for 2009, according to Eric Starks, President of FTR Associates. “In the last quarter of 2008, orders for Non-US markets came in at an annual rate of 19,080 compared to the current new factory shipments forecast of 40,231 units for Canada, Mexico and Exports. This just adds to the already negative outlook for Class 8 production in 2009.”
For more information about FTR Associates, visit www.ftrassociates.net.
CKCVR Fleet Equipment Buying Index Declines Further in Q1 2009
CK Commercial Vehicle Research reports that their Fleet Equipment Buying Index for Q1 2009 declined nine percent from Q4 2008 to a reading of 75.8. The index is a simple measure of planned buying behavior of for-hire, private and government fleets over the next three months. A lower reading indicates that fewer fleets are planning to purchase equipment, while a higher reading indicates that more are planning to purchase equipment.
CKCVR regularly polls a group of fleet operators about their equipment purchasing and maintenance practices. In January 2009, 44 percent of respondents planned to place orders for power units in the next three months, and only 30 percent planned to place orders for trailers in that time period. In addition to those fleets that have no immediate plans to place orders for equipment, a number plan to sit on the sidelines throughout 2009. Complete survey results are reported in the Q1 2009 Fleet Sentiment Report at www.ckcvr.com/fleetsentiment.html.
ALK Announces Fifth Annual Technology Summit
ALK Technologies Inc., announces that John White, President of U.S. Express will deliver the keynote address at the 2009 ALK Transportation Summit April 20 -22 in Princeton, New Jersey.
The event brings together senior transportation executives and industry thought leaders to share the latest strategies on how to leverage technology to continue to move transportation forward.
The three-day event includes a golf outing at the prestigious Tournament of Player’s club – Jasna Polana in Princeton, and a dinner reception on the Princeton University campus. The conference, themed Driving Cost Control and Safety Through Technology, will provide transportation, logistics and manufacturing companies’ valuable guidance on how to maximize operational efficiencies in this difficult economy. For more information, visit www.alk.com/techsummit2009.
Donaldson Company Celebrates 15 Years of Ultra-Web Nanofiber Filtration Technology
Donaldson Company recognizes a 15-year milestone for the introduction of Donaldson Ultra-Web Nanofiber Filtration Technology into its engine products. Launched in the engine aftermarket in 1993, the technology revolutionized air filtration for on- and off-road vehicles and equipment by providing high-efficiency filtration and extended filter life, while reducing operator maintenance costs.
For more information on Ultra-Web Technology and Donaldson engine air filtration products, visit www.donaldson.com.
AMBEST Announces Promotions
Tom Boutwell
Tom Davis
Steve Allen, President of AMBEST, announces the promotion of Tom Boutwell to vice president of purchasing and Tommy Davis to vice president of service centers at the Ambest 20th Annual Meeting in Brentwood, TN.
AMBEST Truck Stops is a network of more than 120 Independent Truck Stops and Service Centers featuring locations nationwide.
Boutwell resides in Evansville, IN, with this wife Charly. Davis and his wife Gayla reside in Clinton, Mississippi.
Alk Celebrates 30 Years of Transportation Technology Innovation
ALK Technologies is celebrating 2009 as its 30th year of developing innovative transportation and navigation software solutions. ALK was originally focused on creating routing and mileage solutions for the North American railroad and trucking industries. Its PC*MILER product line has since become and industry standard, according to the company.
More recently, ALK’s CoPilot mobile navigation software enjoys a leadership position in the EMEA Smartphone navigation market. For more information, visit www.alk.com.
Phillips Industries Wins NAPA H.D. Manufacturer of The Year Award
Phillips industries won the NAPA Heavy Duty Manufacturer of the Year Award for 2008. This is the second win in a row for Phillips.
To determine the recipient, NAPA Heavy Duty Regional Managers evaluate their top suppliers on criteria that assist NAPA in meeting their customers’ expectations.
Rush Truck Center Delivers Hybrid Diesel to Arizona Community Food Bank
Community Food Bank Hybrid Truck
Rush Enterprises, which operates the largest network of heavy-duty and medium-duty truck dealerships in North America and a John Deere construction equipment dealership in Houston, TX, announces that its Rush Truck Center in Tucson, AZ delivered one of the first Peterbilt production hybrid diesel electric trucks, a 2009 Model 335 to the Community Food Bank Fleet, also located in Tucson during a dedication ceremony.
The Community Food Bank truck is equipped with a 20-foot Morgan body, Carrier Supra 750 refrigeration system and an Interlift liftgate. The new truck will enable the food bank to add 13 retail locations to its food donation pickup route, greatly increasing its ability to meet the growing need for food assistance in the Tucson community.
Safest Fleets in U.S. and Canada Vie for Volvo Trucks Safety Award
Smart fleet managers have always known that safety pays. Now the payoff from safety will be $50,000, thanks to the “Volvo Trucks Safety Award.” Volvo Trucks North America will award $25,000 to two fleets with the best driving records in 2008. The money is awarded to help fund additional safety activities at the winning fleets.
The Volvo Trucks Safety Award is open to all U.S. and Canadian fleets operating at least five Class 8 units. Fleets will be ranked by their accident frequency rates, using the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) definition of a “recordable accident.” Entrants will also be judged on their accident prevention activities. The deadline for entry is June 30, 2009. The winners of the award will be announced in Fall 2009.
The two grand prizes will be awarded to the fleets based on annual vehicle miles traveled: less than 10 million miles and more than 10 million miles. Complete rules and entry forms are at www.volvotrucksafetyaward.com.
Pressure Systems International Names Moore Salesperson of Year
Debra Moore
Pressure Systems International (PSI) names Debra Moore as Salesperson of the Year for 2008. Moore was chosen for her outstanding year for sales, customer service, new accounts, customer retention and her sales management of her associates in the ArvinMeritor Fleet Sales Organization.
Moore’s sales territory covers 16 states from the Western United States to the Northeast. Frank Sonzala, executive vice president for PSI recognized Moore during special presentation at the TMC meeting in Orlando.
Moore has been with PSI for five years and has worked in the trucking industry for more than 18 years.
In Presidential Travels, Goodyear Truck Tires Help President Obama ‘Get There’
Presidential Cadillac
After Barak Obama took the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States, he began a journey of countless appearances and appointments, and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will be a key contributor, though few will probably notice.
The president’s official limousine is carried to its various destinations in the Capital and elsewhere on Goodyear tires, continuing a decade-long tradition as the exclusive tire for the presidential limo, and the standard tire of the U.S. Secret Service.
On the heavily customized Cadillac DTS, a set of Goodyear tires – Goodyear Regional RHS occupied the four corners of the car. These are truck tires in a 285/70R19.5 size, necessary due to the vehicle’s extra load that includes a heavy-duty chassis, extended length and armored material.
As with military combat vehicles, the presidential limo runs on standard tires, but the rims contain a run-flat device made by Hutchinson Industries that enables the vehicle to be driven with zero air pressure in all four tires.
Webb Wheel Development Engineering Expanded
Webb R&D Lab
The expanded development engineering capabilities of Webb Wheel Products at their R&D lab facilities in Cullman, AL, gives the company the resources required to design, test and product drums, hubs and rotors for current and future medium and heavy duty commercial vehicle requirements.
Products developed by Webb can help vehicle operators mitigate the challenges they face in meeting shorter stopping distance rules and other cost and performance related issues.
Webb’s R&D facility is an integral part of the company’s ability to meet customer demands for the highest quality, wheel end products.
Webb operates manufacturing facilities in Cullman, AL; Tell City, IN; and Siloam Springs, AR.
Mike Goodheart Awarded Silver Spark Plug
Mike Goodheart, regional sales manager for the Power Fleet Division of Penray, received the Silver Spark Plug Award from the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations during its recent meeting in Orlando, FL. The award is the highest honor given by TMC.
Goodheart, a member of TMC since 1987, is credited with study group activity in the S.3 Engine study groups for cooling systems, along with extensive help on the sign committee. He has chaired several task forces that have resulted in TMC recommended practices, including S.3’s Engine Cooling System Maintenance and Used Engine Coolants. Prior to this he heled advise TMC on numerous committees.
Kenworth Grand Falls Opens New Facility
Kenworth Grand Falls announces the opening of a new parts and service location in New Brunswick.
A member of the Kenworth dealer network of more than 300 locations in Canada and the United States, the nearly 10,000 square-foot Kenworth Grand Falls facility is strategically located just off Highways 1 & 2 in a key logging area. Both highways are major truck routes running through northwestern New Brunswick into the United States, Quebec and Western Canada. The dealership has six service bays and a parts department.
Kenworth Grand Falls is located at 291 Madawaska Road in Grand Falls. The dealership is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The phone number is 506-473-3174.
Cummins Reaffirms Readiness for EPA 2010 Regulations
Cummins Inc. reaffirms that its entire on-highway product range, including its industry-leading ISX, will be ready to meet the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for the North American market beginning in 2010.
For 2010, Cummins will introduce the ISX15, which will provide substantial fuel economy improvement, stronger performance, faster throttle response and overall best-in-class drivability and reliability compared to today’s industry leading ISX engine.
Cummins will also introduce the new ISX11.9, providing a compact and lightweight medium-bore engine ideal for vocational trucks and other applications.
Champion Laboratories Promotes Shannon Sullivan to Director of Sales – Heavy Duty
Shannon Sullivan
Champion announces the promotion of Shannon Sullivan to the position of Director of Sales – Heavy Duty. In this new role, Sullivan will be responsibe for the sales of Luber-finer products to the heavy-duty aftermarket in the U.S. and Canada.
Sullivan joined Champion in 2002 as a National Account Manager before being promoted to Director of Brand Management in 2004. In 2007, he was promoted to the position of Western Division Manager. Prior to joining Champion Laboratories, he held sales and management positions with Fram, Baldwin and Donaldson.
Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Missouri State University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Business.
Decker Recognizes 2008 Million Mile Team
Decker Truck Line recently recognized some new additions to the company’s prestigious Million Mile Team. The inductees for 2008 who have one million or more verifiable miles are Devin Tadlock of Iowa City, IA; Paul sigle of Milford, MI; and Dean Filmer of Lake City, IA.
James Brown of Otho, IA; John Kilmer of Fort Dodge, IA; Alvin “Doug” Johnson of Kanawha, IA; and John Robertson of Farminghton, IA, who are current members of the Million Mile Team, were recognized for achieving two million miles.
Dan Liska of Garner, IA; and Rodney Irwin of Fort Dodge, IA, were recognized for achieving three million miles.
The Million Mile Team has 123 active members: 73 one million mile members, 33 two million mile members, 12 three million mile members and 5 four million mile members.
In order to be eligible for the Million Mile Team, drivers must have one year’s seniority, one million or more verifiable miles, have had no preventable accidents, have had no lost-time injuries and have satisfied the company’s annual safety meeting requirements.
All members receive a personalized Million Mile decal, a commemorative leather logo jacket, a Million Mile pin and plaque, plus recognition on the company’s Million Mile Team plaque displayed at the corporate offices.
Northwood University Honors Marvin Rush
Marvin Rush
Northwood University honors Marvin Rush, chairman of Rush Enterprises, as one of five nationally known businessmen and women at its 29th Annual Outstanding Business Leader (OBL) Awards ceremony January 24, 2009.
Rush founded Rush Enterprises with his first GM Truck store and then added a Peterbilt franchise. He served as President until November 1995 when he took the role of chairman of the board and chief executive officer. In 2006, Rusty Rush succeeded him as CEO, but Rush continues to serve a chairman of the board today.
Northwood University annually recognizes a select group of men and women for their business achievements and their support and exemplary leadership in the communities in which they live and work.
PacLease Continues Record Growth, Adds 13 New Locations
PACCAR Leasing Company (PacLease) continues its rapid expansion with the announcement of 13 new locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Companies are choosing PacLease to provide customized fleet management solutions. PacLease combines full-service leasing, rentals, contract maintenance and support services including insurance, fuel programs and vehicle performance reporting.
To learn more about PacLease programs visit www.paclease.com.
Volvo Trucks Names Patrick Collignon Manager of New River Valley Plant
Patrick Collignon
Patrick Collignon was named plant manager at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley Plant in Dublin, VA. He assumed the new role in December 2008.
Collignon was general manager of Volvo Trucks’ Ghent, Belgium plant, Volvo’s largest truck plant in Europe. Under his leadership, the Ghent plant instituted programs aimed at lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and waste reduction. In 2007, the facility became the first CO2-neutral truck plant in the world.
Ghent joined Volvo in 1995. From 1985 to 1995, he worked for General Motors in Europe and North America, in a variety of engineering and production positions. Collignon is an industrial engineer and holds a Masters degree in industrial engineering from Kettering University in Michigan.
Landstar Honors 2008 Class of Million Mile Safe Drivers
Landstar Systems recognizes 80 men and women for their outstanding safety records and professionalism behind the wheel.
The business capacity owners (BCOs) were honored as Landstar Million Mile Safe Drivers at a recent awards banquet in Jacksonville, FL.
Collectively, these 80 BCOs have safely driven a total of 92 million miles. Leading the 2008 class are three Million Milers, Fred Durbin of Corinth, MS, and Tommy Stiles of Christiansburg, VA.
The 80 BCOs bring the total number of active BCOs who have earned the Million Mile title to 608. The complete list of 2008 Landstar Million Mile Safe Drivers is available on www.landstar.com
Intergis Unveils New Branding and Website
Intergis LLC unveils its new brand identity and website, www.intergis.com.
Intergis’ customer base includes hundreds of businesses in transportation, delivery/distribution and general field services, as well as facilities management, construction, plumbing, HVAC, security, government, telecommunications, utilities and healthcare organizations.
The company’s product offerings and services include: GPS Tracking and Reporting, Automated Scheduling & Route Optimization, Mobile Field Services and Sofware & Developer Tools. |
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