Company Briefs

Nov. 1, 1997
Wheels and deals Truck-Lite Co., the vehicle lighting subsidiary of Quaker State Corp., will be sold to Penske Capital Partners. ....Navistar is buying 650 truck-service computer systems, which it will call E-Z Tech, from FieldWorks. The diagnostic tool supports links to manufacturer databases and engine control systems....Paccar Inc. has inked an agreement to sell Trico Industries, its oil-field

Wheels and deals Truck-Lite Co., the vehicle lighting subsidiary of Quaker State Corp., will be sold to Penske Capital Partners. ....Navistar is buying 650 truck-service computer systems, which it will call E-Z Tech, from FieldWorks. The diagnostic tool supports links to manufacturer databases and engine control systems....Paccar Inc. has inked an agreement to sell Trico Industries, its oil-field equipment business, to EVI Inc. Completion of the agreement is expected before the end of the year, pending government approval. Houston-based EVI manufactures and supplies oil-field equipment....Dana Corp. announced the completion of the sale of its flat rubber products business to Coltec Industries, Charlotte, N.C....Ford Motor Co. announced an $18-billion spinoff of its 80.7% interest in Associates First Capital to Ford stockholders....Transport International Pool (TIP) has agreed to buy the intermodal assets of Greenbrier Capital Corp. The transaction, expected to be finalized by November 30, 1997, will add 11,500 leased units, including trailers, chassis, and domestic containers, to TIP's intermodal fleet.

Breaking new ground Memphis, Tenn., will be the site of a new parts distribution center for Freightliner Corp., bringing to eight the number of major Freightliner PDCs in the U.S. The 800,000-sq.-ft. facility will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing immediate parts availability to customers....In a move to expand its U.S. coverage, Hankook Tire America opened a Southeast regional office in Atlanta.....Corporate offices for Ravens Inc. have a new home in Akron, Ohio. Sales and marketing and engineering offices remain at the company's Kent, Ohio, manufacturing plant....Ryder Transportation Services opened a new facility in Hebron, Ky., last month, housing a fleet of 110 vehicles. Programmed maintenance, full-service leasing, finance leasing, integrated logistics, and commercial truck rental will be available at this location.

More for your money Caterpillar Inc. and Jacobs Vehicle Systems are making things easier for customers with Caterpillar truck engines equipped with Jake Brake products. Through a product support agreement, effective October 1, 1997, Caterpillar's dealer network will support these customers and OEM truck dealers with parts, warranty administration, and technical support services....Chevron Global Lubricants & Technology Marketing has instituted a toll-free information hotline to help customers stay abreast of changes in emissions regs, engine designs, oil, and maintenance trends. Chevron specialists will be available to answer questions Monday through Friday, 5:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., PST. Call 1-800-PC7-7855....Thermo King has raised the bar with a new certification program for dealership technicians. Dubbed CERTI-TECH, the training will designate three certification levels for truck and trailer refrigeration units, and offer specialist certification in three areas, including diesel engines.

Milestones Two-million drive axles. This was the production milestone reached by Meritor Automotive's Fletcher, N.C., truck axle manufacturing plant recently. Production capacity at the facility has nearly doubled since the one-millionth-axle milestone was achieved five years ago....The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded 1998-emissions certification to the Mack Trucks E-Tech engine.....SK Hand Tool Corp. celebrates it 75th anniversary this year....RADAC Corp. marks its 50th anniversary by expanding its focus to include the heavy-duty truck market....and for Ridewell Suspensions, 1997 represents 30 years in business.

Take two Dana Corp. announced the formation of a Heavy Duty Truck Components Group, the latest of six new strategic business units established by the company. The group will include products from Dana's heavy-truck axle and brake division, trailer products, distribution services and PTOs, and the heavy systems assembly division. Other strategic units are engine components, automotive components, off-highway components, industrial components, and leasing services.....VehiCare Corp. has put in place a new management team and relocated corporate headquarters to Richmond, Va., better positioning the company to focus on the Southeast's concentrated fleet market. Joining president and CEO Keith Dobson are a new sales and marketing vp, Jeff Lester, and a new vp of operations, James Overstreet.

It's a wrap As part of its new "Best Drive in the Game" advertising campaign, Volvo Trucks North America will give away a Volvo 770 tractor as the grand prize in a Super Bowl sweepstakes. Drivers 18 and over with valid CDLs can enter the contest between October 15, 1997, and January 5, 1998, by calling 1-888-WIN-A770. All contestants will receive a game card with a Volvo phrase on it; the winning phrase will be featured during the Volvo Trucks Super Bowl commercial on January 25, 1998. The promotional campaign also includes a 30-city Volvo 770 Test Drive Tour....In another media first, Freightliner Corp. was recently featured in a Microsoft television ad campaign. In the TV spot, Freightliner's use of computer technology in building customized trucks on the assembly line is highlighted. The truck maker was one of four industries profiled in the Microsoft spots.

About the Author

Marilyn Wilson

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