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November 1, 2006
Dropping fuel costs
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY JIM MELE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Diesel prices have finally entered a period of steady decline after rocketing to near record levels this summer. We all know, though, that the next spike is justa hurricane, or coup, or pipeline shutdown away...
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Topping out at 68 mph
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY LARRY KAHANER, WASHINGTON, DC
A group of nine truck carriers, American Trucking Assns. and a highway safety public interest group petitions FMCSA for mandatory speed limit governors...
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Peters confirmed as DOT Secretary
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Early last month, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Peters as Secretary of Transportation. A former Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration,...
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Sleep apnea treatment pays off
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
TERRENCE NGUYEN
Schneider National has published a white paper stating that its sleep-apnea screening and treatment program has generated a return on investment in the form of savings on medical costs, accident reduction, reduced turnover and increased productivity. ...
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New York gets ACE
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has completed installations of its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) at all land borders ports in New York...
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Tax file: Phone tax repeal on hold
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
KEN SIMONSON
Among the many bills left hanging when Congress recessed from October 1 to mid-November was a proposal to repeal the telephone excise tax. ...
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Trucks at work
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Registration is open for the 2007 Work Truck Show, to be held in conjunction with the 43rd Annual National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) Convention, March...
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Hero search under way
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Goodyear is accepting applications for its 24th annual North American Highway Hero awards program through November 30, 2006. ...
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Railroads to build intermodal corridor
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway and CSX Corp. are joining forces to create a high-volume rail intermodal corridor connecting California, Atlanta and rest of Southeast region...
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Silver Spark Plug
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Mark Kachmarsky, chief project manager-product range management at Mack Trucks, has received this year's prestigious Silver Spark Plug Award from ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC)...
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FYI
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Celadon Group has purchased the truckload business of Nashville-based Erin Truckways, which operated under the name Digby Truck Lines....
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CVSA inspection service
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
iQsafe, a subsidiary of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), has chosen Environmental Systems Products' SafeGuard Fleet Services as a preferred provider for CVSA's new periodic inspection program...
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FleetSeek updates Mexican Directory
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
The FleetOwner FleetSeek data products group has released the 2007 edition of the Mexican Motor Carrier Directory, one of a suite of web-accessible fleet databases....
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going places
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Robert Harbin has been named president of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. He succeeds Reid Bigland, who was recently promoted to president & CEO of Daimler Chrysler Canada...
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Time to choose: One or oil two
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY SEAN KILCARR, SENIOR EDITOR
Fleets must decide whether they are going to use CJ-4 in all equipment next year - or just in trucks with 2007 engines...
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Owning the job
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY DAVID CULLEN e-mail: dcullen@fleetowner.com
Like other workers who take on jobs requiring highly independent and responsible action, truck drivers generally don't thrive in a company where they're told what to do, hour by hour or mile by mile....
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Less help wanted
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY KEN SIMONSON e-mail: ksimonson@erols.com
Are trucking and truck manufacturing companies losing their appetite for employees? In a single week in October, UPS and Freightliner both announced layoffs....
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Happy holidays
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY MARTIN LABBE e-mail: mlabbe@mlabbe.com
From an economic standpoint, the holiday buying season will probably be better than most people expect. Currently, there's more good news than bad news...
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Contingency plans
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY JIM YORK
Making sure your fleet is ready for the unthinkable. Fleetowners need to know the importance of contingency plans for their business...
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Heavy metal
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY GARY PETTY
NCI Building Systems is the nation's leading integrated manufacturer of metal products for the nonresidential construction market. ...
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INSIDE JOB
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY DAVID CULLEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Only way to really judge a truck nowadays is to take a real good look inside the cab. The aerodynamic styling of Class 8s that's now almost unremarkable...
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Ford debuts '08 Super Duties
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
WENDY LEAVITT
While Ford's 2008 Super Duty line is officially referred to as an overhaul of the 2007 offering, there were enough innovations and new features to create a stir...
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I-Shift heads to U.S.
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
Volvo Trucks North America will bring a completely re-designed version of the I-Shift automated mechanical transmission built by its Swedish parent AB Volvo...
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Safety net for '07 engines
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
To give its customers more peace of mind about the switch to '07 low-emissions engine technology, Volvo Trucks North America will make its two-way satellite communications Volvo Link Sentry and its Volvo Action Service (VAS) 24/7 roadside assistance standard on all trucks...
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Toyota previews new Tundra pickup
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
DAVID CULLEN
At a two-week long press event in Louisville this fall, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (TMS) gave the media a long lead advance look at its newest contender in full-size pickup market...
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Hendrickson forms aftermarket unit
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Hendrickson announced the creation of Hendrickson Parts North America, a standalone division for the commercial vehicle parts aftermarket that is expected to be fully operational by January 2007...
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bulletins
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Luber-finer has published a new brochure that explains the benefits and service intervals of air cabin filters. The company's heavy-duty cabin air filters,...
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ProStar remaking truck plant
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
DAVID CULLEN
At a press event in Ontario, International Truck and Engine Corp. highlighted the massive changes the upcoming launch of its ProStar flagship tractor has brought to tis Chatham Assembly Plant (CAP)...
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Cummins revs up the Ram
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
A Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel will be a power option for '07 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 models beginning in January. ...
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Bosch showcases engineering prowess
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
DAVID CULLEN
As part of its celebration of 100 years of operations in the United States, Robert Bosch Corp. Automotive Group, part of Stuttgart, Germany-based Bosch Group, gave the media an extensive tour of its Research Technical Center in Farmington Hills, MI...
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Euro fleets pre-buy clean diesel trucks
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology is allowing European heavy-duty diesels to reduce emissions levels to near U.S. 2007 levels, while also increasing fuel economy...
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DaimlerChrylser aiming for three truck engines
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
Calling the new 2007 Detroit Diesel heavy-duty engine launch in the U.S. market the first milestone in our modular strategy, parent DaimlerChrysler plans to cover all of the world markets with three engine platforms...
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Dana to sell trailer axle business
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Dana Corp. announced that plans to sell its trailer axle manufacturing business to Hendrickson USA LLC and its affiliates. ...
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Extended warranty
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
In addition to its limited warranty program, used-truck retailer SelectTrucks has introduced what it terms the industry's most comprehensive 36-mo./300,000-mi. OEM backed Class 8 warranty...
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ArvinMeritor marks reman milestones
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
The ArvinMeritor Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business recently celebrated reaching two major milestones with the remanufacture of its 10-millionth brake shoe and 50,000th axle differential carrier...
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Kohler APU uses Dometic HVAC
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Kohler Power Systems has selected Dometic Environmental Corp. as the supplier of air-conditioning components for its new auxiliary power unit (APU). ...
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Electrical system check
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Remy Inc. has introduced its Delco Remy Systems Analyzer, an all-in-one handheld digital testing unit that provides performance data for heavy-duty alternators...
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EOBR: U.S. vs Europe
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
There are significant differences between U.S. needs for an hours-of-service electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) and the digital tachograph mandated for all commercial drivers in Europe...
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Amsoil offers CJ-4 oil
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Amsoil's CJ-4 synthetic oil for diesel engines is now on the market. The 5W-40 premium oil better withstands the stress of heat, soot and acids to help prevent deposits, corrosion, and wear...
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New BorgWarner engine fans
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
BorgWarner Thermal Systems has introduced the X Series engine fans, which provide improved efficiency and performance, in spite of their lightweight construction and package size...
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Green crusade
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY SEAN KILCARR e-mail: skilcarr@fleetowner.com
Calling Edwin Black controversial is sort of like saying a tornado raises the wind speed a little bit. His latest book, Internal Combustion, is going to set the trucking community's teeth on edge...
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Resist the temptation
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY KEVIN ROHLWING e-mail: kevinrohlwing@comcast.net
Regrooving is the practice of carving out the rubber in the grooves of a tire to create additional tread depth. Don't be fooled by the "regroovable" label on a tire...
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what's new in: Obstacle detection
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
DEBORAH MCGUFFIE-SCHYHOL
You can't put a price on safety. In a nutshell, that's the single most important reason why a truck or bus operator should invest in an obstacle detection system for its fleet...
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Engine triage
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
When Don Everingham was put in charge of H-E-B's fleet maintenance operation he came face to face with a major engine crisis. The fleets tractors were breaking down at an alarming rate and required more than average maintenance...
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Under one roof
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
DEBORAH MCGUFFIE-SCHYHOL
Nobody knows buses better than the Hageys of Souderton, PA. Since 1936, the family has been operating school and tour bus operations out of their eastern Pennsylvania headquarters...
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NAVIGATION SYSTEMS: Which way do I go?
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY JIM MELE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A good trucker's atlas is about $100, needs no batteries or power, requires no user's manual or data entry, and can be tossed on the floor when you don't need it. So why are electronic navigation systems that are at least five times more expensive and increase the complexity factor by a far greater multiple beginning to find a ready market among commercial truck fleets?...
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fleets online
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
WENDY LEAVITT
Caltrans replaced paper and pencil vehicle inspection with an electronic system from Zonar Systems....
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Benchmarking dangers
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
BY WENDY LEAVITT e-mail: wleavitt@fleetowner.com
Benchmarking, using other companies' performance to help set standards for your own, is as much a part of business as budgeting and strategic planning, and for obvious reasons...
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GeoLogic adds touch screen
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Multi-mode communications and tracking systems provider GeoLogic Solutions has introduced a Windows-based touch screen color display unit (CDU) for its MobileMax system ...
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Integrated for utilities
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Qualcomm Inc. and software developer Daffron & Associates announced they will collaborate to offer an integrated wireless solution for utilities, combining Qualcomm's OmniTracs mobile communication system with Daffron's Integration X Platform....
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Dossier improved
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Arsenault Associates has released Version 4.3 of its Dossier maintenance software, adding a new repair order and invoice data import feature that eliminates manual entry of vendor invoices and repair orders...
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Trucking must get smarter
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
SEAN KILCARR
The business models trucking used in the past are no longer viable, according to trucking executives and other industry experts ...
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off the wire
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Jay Coughlan is the new chairman and CEO of Minneapolis-based Xata Corp., replacing Craig Fawcett. Fawcett is returning to his former employer...
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Terion adds Carrier reefer monitor
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Trailer-tracking system maker Terion is launching a new version of its FleetView product, compatible with Carrier-brand trailer refrigeration units. ...
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In-dash navigation system
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM,
JIM MELE
A new onboard truck navigation system introduced at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hanover, Germany this fall is an early step in the development of a comprehensive vehicle control system by Siemens VDO...
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the last word
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Helping hands Employees of Fort Lauderdale-based truck leasing concern PHH FirstFleet, led by senior vp Hal Booth, helped christen a new volunteer program of the Broward Partnership for the Homeless...
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