the last word

March 1, 2006
No trailer trash this General Motors put a new spin on the mobile home genre with its GMC Pad, which took top honors in the 2006 Design Los Angeles competition. The Pad falls into the very fresh category of Living Activity Vehicle (LAV). That means it is essentially an urban loft on wheels. It's powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system that also serves as the generator for the onboard power grid.
No trailer trash this

General Motors put a new spin on the mobile home genre with its GMC Pad, which took top honors in the 2006 Design Los Angeles competition.

The Pad falls into the very fresh category of Living Activity Vehicle (LAV). That means it is essentially an urban loft on wheels. It's powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system that also serves as the generator for the onboard power grid.

“This is the true all-around vehicle,” says Tom Matano, director of industrial design for the Academy of Art University in Los Angeles and a judge in this year's contest. “This creates a new segment between the RV and the SUV. The future of this Living Activity Vehicle would appeal to many buyers including corporations, future homeowners, traveling business people and constant travelers.”

We also wonder if it will bring new meaning to the phrase, “Can I have the keys, Dad?”

“Looking forward to 2006, we believe our markets will continue to offer an environment for rate increases to offset the additional costs associated with driver pay, fuel and the introduction of the federally mandated 2007 engines.”
— Kevin Knight, chairman & CEO, Knight Transportation

Snowbound

According to GE and its Trailer Fleet Services unit, the winner drawn from trucking for its Olympics-themed “Stay Ahead of the Game” sweepstakes was Andrew Meir of Phoenix-based Swift Transportation. Meir's prize was a free four-day trip for two to the Olympic Winter Games last month in Torino, Italy.

“I was very excited to learn that I had won the trip to the Olympic Winter Games, “ says Mier. “First, I have never won anything this exciting in my life and two, being an athlete myself by participating in marathons, triathlons and Ironman events, it will be awesome to see world-class athletes participate in the various events. Thanks to GE, this will be a trip of a lifetime.”

Bonus quote if needed:

When you win, nothing hurts.
— Joe Namath

Road trip

Roadway Express is being honored by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in acknowledgement of its efforts to develop, present and transport the first mobile museum dedicated to the history of Negro Leagues Baseball.

“All of us at Roadway are very proud of our partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and excited about our continuing role in helping to share the unique and powerful story of Negro Leagues Baseball, its players, teams and coaches,” says Mike Smid, Roadway president & CEO.

While the NLBM is based in Kansas City, MO, this true road show, housed in a 53-ft. trailer emblazoned with the legend “Times of Greatness,” carries historic photos, videos, uniforms and other memorabilia illustrating the history of Negro Leagues Baseball. Roadway transported the exhibit to more than 30 cities last year and plans another extensive tour in 2006.

Homes to go

Third-party logistics provider Pacer International is making unusual deliveries for Habitat for Humanity in California — bringing homes in a box to former residents of Louisiana and Mississippi displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Pre-built frames for the dwellings are being constructed in the Golden State as part of Habitat's “Operation Home Delivery” program. Pacer ships them in 53-ft containers by train and truck to Dallas, where many refugees are settling permanently and where final assembly and construction takes place.

“We'll be picking up and containerizing framed houses from a Southern California sports stadium where volunteers are building them,” says Peter Mettra, Pacer's executive vp for marketing & transportation purchasing. “Some of the houses will be delivered directly to actual building sites in the Gulf Region and, in the truest sense, these will be ‘door-to-door’ deliveries.”

He notes that Pacer expects to accommodate three framed houses in a single shipping container and that shipments to Dallas or Louisiana will be staggered to conform to the availability of the houses.

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