"The trucking industry will continue to grow because it works."
As the trucking industry, along with the rest of the world, prepares for the new millennium, Spicer Driveshaft Div. of Dana Corp. will soon be celebrating a landmark date of its own. It was nearly a century ago, in 1904, when Clarence Spicer introduced the world's first practical application of a Cardan-type universal joint.
At the time, it was one of the most significant new product developments in the history of trucking. Torque could now be transferred while angles and lengths were constantly changing through a rotating driveshaft. This allowed for the elimination of less-efficient chain-driven vehicles.
Since then, of course, the product has seen a wealth of changes - all of which were designed to help fleets of all sizes enjoy the benefits of better, safer and more productive vehicles.
Today, driveshafts with 350,000-mile maintenance intervals and useful life spans of a million miles and more are a reality. Our Spicer Life Series offers reduced maintenance and greater torque carrying capacity than the industry standard Spicer 10-Series.
In the near future, we will be offering driveshaft products that feature million-mile maintenance intervals, with our next milestone being 500,000 miles.
As we enter the next millennium, demands on the global trucking industry to deliver goods faster and at less cost will continue to drive the needs for even bigger engines with higher torque and horsepower ratings, completely maintenance-free products, and increased payloads. These needs have a significant impact on our driveshafts.
Through joint research and development, sharing of technologies with customers throughout the world, and utilizing our expertise in alternative materials and process improvements, these needs will become a reality with lighter-weight, zero-maintenance Spicer Driveshaft solutions.
Along with our investment in products and process technologies, we are also investing in our information systems. A new digital system, in conjunction with the World Wide Web, will add further value and enhance our traditional customer service in areas such as order entry, inventory tracking, line-set sequencing, just-in-time delivery, emergency down orders, replacement parts information, and technical support.
Clarence Spicer certainly recognized the advantages of quality and new technology. Likewise, the thousands of Dana Spicer people who have followed him recognize the importance of these key drivers in helping our customers win in a global market.
The trucking industry will continue to grow because it works. There is no other form of transporting goods that offers the flexibility and efficiency that the marketplace demands.
As a core product group of Dana Corp., Spicer Driveshaft is devoted to the sustained success of this industry. To all of our customers, we thank you for your support.
You have our commitment that we will continue to develop and deliver products that enhance your ability to provide superior service to your customers.
