Ryder System completed its acquisition of Ruan Leasing Co., effective March 1. The deal included Ruan's 6,400-vehicle fleet, 37 of its 111 service locations, and more than 500 customers, which will now operate under the Ryder name. Ruan's supply chain, logistics and dedicated contract carriage businesses were not part of the transaction. Purchase price was approximately $145 million. www.ryder.com
Goodyear tires are now available at truckstops operated by Pilot Travel Centers. Pilot's nationwide store network, with 260 locations coast to coast, will carry a variety of Goodyear truck tires, including the G395 LHS steer tire. www.goodyear.com or www.pilotcorp.com
Kenworth Truck Co. named MHC Kenworth-Texas its Medium Duty Dealer of the Year at the company's annual dealer meeting in Phoenix. The dealership, which added a medium-duty sales specialist and dedicated maintenance facility in 2001, achieved a seven-fold increase in KW T300 sales over a three-year period. www.kenworth.com
Consolidated Metco (ConMet) has expanded its presence in the fifth-wheel market through an agreement with Georg Fischer Vekehrstechnik GmbH in Germany and Amsted Maxion Fundicao e Equipamentos Ferroviarios S.A. in Brazil. The companies will share technical and marketing information related to the manufacture and distribution of fifth wheels. www.conmet.com
Pacbrake has released new Slave Piston Bore Repair Kits for Jacobs Engine Brakes. This follows the release last fall of repair kits for Caterpillar C15/16 and Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine brakes. To order, call 1-800-663-0096. www.pacbrake.com
A new vocational rating for Cummins' 11L ISM engine is now available for International 5000i and 7000 Series vehicles. The 425V is rated at 425 hp. with 1,550 lb-.ft. of torque. www.cummins.com
XTRA Lease has released the XTRA Care maintenance brochure, describing its full range of services. XTRA Care gives customers several options to help them run trailers without downtime, including RoadWatch, a 24/7 emergency road service. www.xtralease.com
Through an agreement with management technology provider EET Corp., Fleetguard will now offer a recycled antifreeze product. EET supplies Fleetguard with used antifreeze from its TN-based recycling plant. www.fleetguard.com
Stemco has released a new, more durable wheel-end system called Platinum Performance System Plus (PPS+). Features include Teflon sealing, advanced venting technology, and OEM-quality bearings. www.stemco.com
Freightliner's Sprinter chassis can now be fitted with Onspot of North America's automatic tire chain system. Versions are available for both the singe- and dual-rear wheel van configurations. Onspot and Freightliner worked together to develop a 12V air compressor mounting system and a new air tank to address space constraints on the chassis. www.onspot.com or 800-766-7768
Autocar has developed a retrofit kit for Xpeditor trucks built before September 2003 that enables owners to add 3 in. of belly room and 4.5 in. of knee room in the cab. Suggested price is $200 - $450, depending on vehicle configuration. www.autocartruck.com
