Red Dot expands distribution  Oct 21, 2009 11:04 AM Interstate Companies will now distribute Red Dot Corp. aftermarket climate control solutions in four locations as Red Dot expands its distribution network....

Lenan Corp. now Lanair Products  Oct 21, 2009 10:55 AM Lenan Corp., a manufacturer of waste oil heaters and related equipment, has been sold to Barry Brandt and Aldine Capital Partners of Chicago and will be renamed Lanair Products LLC...

Teamsters protest car hauler cuts  Oct 20, 2009 11:30 AM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is launching a six-week national campaign against OEMs such as General Motors and Chryslers to protest reported efforts to “demand dramatic and unsustainable cost cuts from Teamster-represented car haul companies,” the union said...

ABF names vp-national sales  Oct 20, 2009 11:21 AM Kirk May takes over as vp-national sales at LTL carrier ABF Freight System on Dec. 1 this year, replacing the retiring Donald Reynolds, a 39-year ABF veteran who spent the last 20 years in that postion ...

New York calls for enhanced GPS usage for truckers  Oct 19, 2009 1:59 PM, By Brian Straight, managing editor Having a GPS device in your cab may no longer be enough if you drive in New York State...

Canadian trucking rates bottoming out  Oct 19, 2009 1:57 PM The cost of ground transportation in Canada is starting to bottom out, according to new statistics compiled by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI). Overall ground rates for Canadian shippers dropped in the first six of the first seven months of 2009, declining a further 1.7% in July, with over-the-road transportation costs down 15.6% in July, when compared year over year, and 9.8% versus the end of 2008...

Stemco taps Reis to lead Brake Products Group  Oct 19, 2009 1:56 PM Stemco has promoted Jim Reis to the position of vp &gm of its Brake Products Group, effective in January...

“Quietness” of hybrids deemed safety risk  Oct 19, 2009 1:53 PM Steven J. Schwartzapfel, a partner in the New York personal injury firm of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C., is putting auto and truck OEMs on notice that the “quietness” of hybrid cars and trucks can be considered a higher safety risk for pedestrians and bicycle riders than gasoline- or diesel-only powered vehicles...

CVSA to launch “Operation Safe Driver”  Oct 16, 2009 3:00 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor In an effort to reduce crashes involving trucks, buses and passenger vehicles alike, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is joining with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and other organizations to target aggressive and distracted drivers of all vehicles on the highway in a national enforcement and education effort to run Oct. 18-24...

A flu shot in the arm from Pilot  Oct 16, 2009 2:49 PM Pilot Travel Centers, in an agreement with Walgreen’s, is offering free seasonal flu shots to all 14,000 of the company’s employees nationwide-- whether or not they participate in the company’s medical plan...

Polk: Aftermarket engine parts demand rising  Oct 16, 2009 2:46 PM With the age of the commercial fleet of Cass 3-8 vehicles rising and higher sticker prices ahead for new commercial vehicles in 2010 due to costly emission control systems, demand for engine replacement parts is projected to jump significantly, according to a new report from R. L. Polk & Co...

Kenworth dealer honored as “young leader”  Oct 15, 2009 1:35 PM Jesse Berger, president and dealer principal of Eastern Michigan Kenworth, is one of this year’s winner of the “Young Leader and Excellence Award” presented by the Automotive Hall of Fame based in Dearborn, MI...

Landstar reports improving freight environment  Oct 15, 2009 1:31 PM Though Landstar System reported lower net income and revenue in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2008...

Barr-Nunn makes it 27  Oct 15, 2009 1:29 PM Not surprisingly, given the state of trucking today, Barr-Nunn Transportation, Inc. is excited to be celebrating its 27th year in business...

Truckers and others take on terrorists  Oct 14, 2009 2:55 PM First Observer, a national terrorism awareness program that makes use of the skills, experiences and "savvy" of Americans who spend a good part of their working day in America's surface transportation industry, is now offering terrorism awareness training online...

Evans Network buys two trucking firms  Oct 14, 2009 2:53 PM The Evans Network of Companies is acquiring the container drayage, domestic truckload, and brokerage assets of two trucking firms: Land Transportation plus Phoenix Transit and Logistics...

New intermodal option links California-Mexico  Oct 14, 2009 2:51 PM An alliance forged by U.S.-based TBM Intermodal and Mexico’s Ferromex railroad is opening up a new intermodal option that will reportedly shorten overland transport between the western U.S., Canada, and Mexico...

Consulting help for CARB regs  Oct 14, 2009 2:49 PM Fleets struggling with new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations or looking for ways to access grants through the organization can find the path confusing and time-consuming...

Con-way, Schneider come out against cap-and-trade effort   Oct 14, 2009 2:16 PM, By Wendy Leavitt, director of editorial development Since its introduction in the House of Representatives earlier this year, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) or H.R. 2454, has been drawing both strong support and opposition from various interest groups...

Penske relocates a Maryland facility  Oct 13, 2009 3:38 PM A new Penske Truck Leasing facility has opened in Jessup, MD, offering full-service leasing and contract maintenance...

Slow growth forecast for truck sales  Oct 13, 2009 1:54 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor Sales of new medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles are now projected to be at the start of a three-year period of slow yet steady growth, according to recent analysis by ACT Research Co...

NAFA guide offers technology help  Oct 12, 2009 2:04 PM Fleet managers seeking to gain a better grasp on today’s technology for managing truck operations can turn to the NAFA Information Technology Guide for help...

Continental rolls out new drive tire  Oct 12, 2009 2:00 PM Deeper tread depth and a cut- and chip-resistant compound for long, even wear and durability are among the key features of the new HDR1 drive tire released by Continental Tire North America...

Paccar Parts offers centralized billing  Oct 12, 2009 1:58 PM Paccar Parts is offering another service to its fleet customers of Kenworth PremierCare and Peterbilt TruckCare services – Paccar Parts Fleet Services...

Jury finds Eaton violated antitrust laws  Oct 9, 2009 2:25 PM, By Brian Straight, managing editor The contentious legal battle between Eaton Corp. and ArvinMeritor took another turn yesterday when a Delaware jury ruled that Eaton violated U.S. antitrust laws in its marketing of truck transmissions...

TransAxle names David Olsen CEO  Oct 9, 2009 2:23 PM Former Workhorse Custom Chassis president David Olsen has been appointed CEO of TransAxle, a Cinnaminson, NJ-based remanufacturer and distributor of heavy-duty truck replacement components...

Diesel prices down, but not for long  Oct 9, 2009 12:06 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor Though diesel fuel prices have dropped over the last five weeks and may continue to trend lower in the near-term, they are expected to start climbing back up early next year – thanks to growing uncertainty about global oil prices...

ATA appoints Hodges as chairman  Oct 8, 2009 3:14 PM The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) Board of Directors named G. Tommy Hodges as chairman during the banquet at the group’s annual conference ...

FMCSA unveils driver pre-screening plan  Oct 8, 2009 2:11 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor In some respects, more questions than answers are being spawned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) announcement that it will launch a new driver pre-employment screening program this December...

ATRI: Economy tops trucking’s critical issues  Oct 8, 2009 2:09 PM, By Wendy Leavitt, director of editorial development . The economy came out on top in the fifth annual survey of critical issues facing the trucking industry, conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute and commissioned by the American Trucking Assns...

Arrow, VTNA aiding “Back On The Road”  Oct 8, 2009 2:06 PM Arrow Truck Sales and Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) along with motor carrier Heartland Express have announced they are teaming up to support “Back On The Road” 2010 campaign...

Giti rolls out long-haul tire   Oct 8, 2009 2:05 PM A new long-haul tire from Giti Tire USA has released a new long-haul tire for commercial vehicles to the marketplace...

Maverick’s Williams appointed ATRI chair  Oct 8, 2009 1:57 PM Saying he wants to increase the visibility of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) while promoting the value of the organization’s research in advancing vehicle safety and productivity, Steve Williams has been installed as chairman of ATRI...

Zero accidents wins Volvo safety award  Oct 7, 2009 1:43 PM, By Jim Mele, editor-in-chief Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) presented two $25,000 checks during the American Trucking Assns. annual convention here to the first winners of is new safety award program...