Here are five things worth knowing today:
1. The Better Business Bureau of Nebraska, South Dakota, the Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa warns customers shopping for RVs and trucks on Craigslist that scammers are posing as vehicle sales companies and touting fake services, the Plainsman reports. Over the past several weeks, the BBB has received calls and complaints about scammers using the name “Mayer Auto Center,” stating that they are advertising trucks, recreational vehicles and heavy equipment. The Plainsman has more.
2. Four North Carolina lawmakers and more than a dozen local politicians are demanding that Gov. Pat McCrory cancel a state contract to build and manage a $650 million toll-road project stretching 26 miles between Charlotte and Iredell County, the Charlotte Business Journal reports. The group seeks cancellation of the planned widening of I-77. Concerns include: lack of capacity for trucks and heavy vehicles in the new lanes, a possible shift in liability incurred by the state, and damage to area businesses, according to the report.
3. Ryder System has activated its online Winter Preparedness Hub, where best practices are shared on how to keep fleets winter-ready throughout the chilly season. “With record-shattering snow last year, drivers and fleet managers relied on Ryder’s Winter Preparedness Hub to remain informed of best practices surrounding fleet maintenance proactive planning, proper fueling, driver training, and driver safety – all of which can make the difference between an on-time delivery and a breakdown or accident,” Ryder said. Visitors can find informative tip sheets and videos about the do’s and don’ts of prepping a fleet for winter, Ryder shop closure notifications, and a listing of other helpful online resources such as the Winter Storm Preparedness page of Ryder charitable partner, the American Red Cross. To download the latest tip sheet, Battling Driver Fatigue, or for more on ways to plan ahead this winter season, visit Ryder’s Winter Preparedness Hub.
4. Alkane Truck Co. announced that its propane autogas and compressed natural gas Class 7 cab-over trucks are now available for dealership orders, according to Next Generation Transportation News. According to the report, the OEM will begin assembly operations in early 2016. NGT has more.
5. Bestpass, which provides single-source payment and toll management services to commercial fleets, recently added Foodliner Inc. and Quest Liner Inc., both subsidiaries of the McCoy Group, as clients. Based in Dubuque, Iowa, Foodliner is a carrier in the bulk-food industry, with more than 1,000 trucks operating in 48 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. Quest Liner, also based in Dubuque, Iowa, provides bulk chemical transportation services to some of the industry's largest shippers, especially targeting the beverage, chemical and biofuels markets.
