C.R. England purchases TMWSuite, TMT software  Aug 3, 2010 12:04 PM Refrigerated truckload carrier C.R. England has purchased TMWSuite and TMT Fleet Maintenance software from TMW Systems. The software packages will be incorporated in England’s national, Mexico, dedicated, regional and intermodal operating divisions...

Study: “Aluminum intensive” trucks deliver significant savings  Aug 3, 2010 11:58 AM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor A recent study conducted by research firm Ricardo Inc. has found that wider use of aluminum components on Class 8 tractors and trailers could remove some 3,300 lbs of total vehicle weight. That would give freight haulers an extra 6.5% of payload capacity or boost their fuel efficiency by 6.5% – saving anywhere from 777 to 1,612 gallons of diesel per year, when assuming 100,000 miles traveled...

Fleet buying index hits highest mark in two years  Aug 2, 2010 12:28 PM According to CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR), its third-quarter Fleet Sentiment Report’s (FSR) Equipment Buying Index jumped from the previous quarter to reach 90.2-- the index’s best reading in two years. Per the 3Q report, 45.1% of the participants plan to place orders for medium- and heavy-duty power units in the next three months with 43.1% planning trailer orders in the same time frame...

UPS opens new Oregon facility  Aug 2, 2010 12:27 PM Express carrier United Parcel Service recently opened a new $86-million, 46-acre package sorting and delivery facility in Swan Island, outside Portland, OR. The new operation not only doubles the capacity of its older building, but also helps UPS lower the fuel consumption and emissions output of its fleet serving the area...

MiX Telematics unveils online data warehouse  Aug 2, 2010 12:22 PM A new business intelligence tool from MiX Telematics can help fleets improve driver and vehicle efficiencies, the company said. MiX Insight Reports, a tool for FM-Web, is an online data warehouse that stores detailed information for every vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle monitoring system ...

Continental Tire appoints replacement sales director  Aug 2, 2010 12:20 PM Thomas L. Fanning has been promoted to director of replacement sales – NAFTA, for Continental Tire the Americas Commercial Vehicle Tire Division. Fanning had been director of original equipment sales-- Truck the Americas...

Revenues, earnings rise for Celadon  Aug 2, 2010 12:16 PM Truckload motor carrier Celadon Group bagged bigger revenues and earnings during its fourth fiscal quarter and for its fiscal year on the strength of increased freight volumes coupled to a growing lack of trucking capacity...

Bill introduced to empower ports in clean-truck fight  Jul 30, 2010 1:38 PM, By Brian Straight, managing editor A bill just introduced in Congress would give federal approval to local cities and ports to enact their own clean-truck programs, similar to what the Port of Los Angeles has done. The idea of regulating the air around ports, though, has the port community split...

Mack unveils rolling reman parts center  Jul 30, 2010 1:24 PM Remack, the remanufacturing arm of Mack Trucks, Inc., has converted a 35-ft recreational vehicle into a high-tech mobile learning center to provide more effective onsite parts training to both dealers and customers...

Celadon named Ryder’s top truckload carrier  Jul 29, 2010 1:47 PM For the third consecutive year, Celadon Trucking Services received Ryder’s 2009 Carrier of the Year award, recognizing Celadon as Ryder’s top truckload service provider...

Old Dominion’s 2Q earnings more than double  Jul 29, 2010 1:46 PM Net income more than doubled for LTL carrier Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) in the second quarter of this year...

MetroGistics launches as auto transporter  Jul 29, 2010 1:45 PM Two entrepreneurs have joined forces to launch MetroGistics, a full-service auto transportation company...

ATRI’s Rebecca Brewster honored with Halladay Award  Jul 29, 2010 1:43 PM Rebecca Brewster, president & COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), has been honored with the J.R. “Bob” Halladay Award for her dedication and commitment to the trucking industry....

Railroads see intermodal volumes rising  Jul 29, 2010 11:14 AM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor Intermodal volumes jumped for many of the major Class I railroads in the second quarter this year, fueling increases in both their revenues and earnings while stoking hopes that more freight can be transitioned from trucks to trains...

Energy Bill applauded by NGV America  Jul 28, 2010 11:44 AM When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released a draft summary of the proposed Energy Bill on Tuesday, NGV America was quick to praise the move. “We applaud Senator Reid’s leadership in recognizing the important role that natural gas can play as a transportation fuel,” said Richard Kolodziej, president of NGV America....

Distribution peaks create higher collision risks for fleets, study finds  Jul 28, 2010 11:41 AM Local distribution fleets face a higher risk of collisions on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as for the month of July, which corresponds to the heaviest periods of demand, according to analysis conducted by San Diego-based DriveCam Inc. ...

Lynden beefs up tracking system for Alaskan freight  Jul 28, 2010 11:40 AM Alaskan trucking operator Lynden Transport is adding GPS mapping of shipment locations while en route over the highway to its “EZ Tracing” system. By clicking on a link on its website, the company said, customers can monitor their shipments in real time on a digital map that shows the truck as it moves from origin to destination. ...

ATA: Tonnage dip reflects slowing economy  Jul 27, 2010 11:44 AM The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) said today that its advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.4% in June, although May’s reduction was revised from 0.6% to just 0.1%....

Fikes Truck Line assists Weyerhauser with Haiti relief effort  Jul 27, 2010 11:43 AM When originally approached by Weyerhaeuser in its effort to assist the Haiti relief effort by hauling loads of lumber at a reduced rate, Hope, AR-based Fikes Truck Line waived their fee and donated the transportation services. ...

Dental device said to help limit sleep apnea  Jul 27, 2010 11:38 AM For some drivers who suffer from snoring or other sleep apnea-related problems, a dental mouthpice may be an option. The Full Breath Solution is one such product....

Top 100 infrastructure projects named by CG/LA  Jul 27, 2010 11:36 AM CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, recently announced the release of its Top 100 Infrastructure Projects in North America. According to CG/LA, the total estimated value of these projects is nearly $465 billion with a potential to create nearly 7 million full-time employment positions over the coming five years. ...

FleetOwner, Ward’s editors to judge Big 3’s diesel pickups  Jul 26, 2010 4:15 PM Each of Detroit’s Big 3 automakers—Chrysler (Ram), Ford, and General Motors (GMC/Chevy)— recently rolled out or refreshed their heavy-duty diesel pickup models...

Truckload profitability helps sparks trailer sales rebound  Jul 23, 2010 12:57 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor Trailer orders – especially for dry-van models – are spiking due in large part to improved profitability within the truckload (TL) sector, which is allowing motor carriers to invest in new equipment...

Independent warranty firm rolls out medium-duty plan  Jul 23, 2010 12:48 PM National warranty provider GWC is launching a new medium-duty truck protection plan to gives truck dealerships that have a mix of vehicles on their lots an opportunity to fulfill more customer needs...

Across-the-board demand boosts UPS earnings  Jul 23, 2010 12:46 PM United Parcel Service said shipment demand across the board – from both its domestic and international operations – helped fuel a 71% increase in second quarter earnings this year...

National freight policy would result from Lautenberg bill  Jul 23, 2010 12:39 PM, By David Cullen, executive editor There may finally be a national freight policy enacted if a newly proposed bill makes its way through Congress. The legislation would direct the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) to develop and implement a “National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan” that would guide infrastructure investments for the movement of goods...

CARB’s SCR workshop draws fire  Jul 22, 2010 11:43 AM, By Jim Mele, editor-in-chief Truck and engine manufacturers that have chosen selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to meet new diesel emissions requirements are not happy that regulators are considering changes to rules governing SCR use. “We question the need to make modifications to SCR strategies just six months after SCR products were brought to market,” said Steve Berry, Volvo Powertrain dir. of government relations...

Continental regional steer tires SmartWay-verified   Jul 22, 2010 11:02 AM Continental Tire the Americas, LLC has announced that its entire family of regional steer tires has been added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership's list of verified fuel-saving technologies...

Wingfoot Commercial Tire opens 33rd on-highway center  Jul 22, 2010 10:50 AM Wingfoot Commercial Tire has opened a new truck maintenance center in Midland, TX. The new center is located at 10213 West County Road 127 on Interstate 20, exit 126, and Farm to Market Road (FM) 1788. It will provide trucking fleets with new tires, retreads, light mechanical service, preventive maintenance and roadside assistance...

Rand McNally releases 2011 motor carrier atlas  Jul 22, 2010 10:47 AM Rand McNally has published the 30th edition of its Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas, which it calls the best-selling trucker's atlas in the United States. Each year Rand McNally upgrades the book’s maps and content to keep drivers up-to-date on the road...

KW T700 now in full production   Jul 22, 2010 10:44 AM Kenworth Truck Co. has announced that its new aerodynamic Kenworth T700 tractor is now in full production at its manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, OH. “We’re seeing positive demand for the T700 and expect it to increase as customers purchase fuel-efficient, aerodynamic trucks as their business and the economy strengthens,” said Marilyn Santangelo, assistant gm for operations...

PHH Arval acquires assets of Center for Transportation Study  Jul 21, 2010 11:27 AM PHH Arval announced today it has acquired select assets of the Center for Transportation Safety, LLC, including the company’s brand. PHH Arval said the Center for Transportation Safety is a leading provider of fleet risk-management and training solutions, focusing on simulator, classroom, behind-the-wheel and mobile training programs for drivers of all classes of vehicles in the United States and Canada...

CARB hears Navistar’s SCR complaints  Jul 21, 2010 11:21 AM The California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a public workshop yesterday to discuss possible changes in the way selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems react to malfunctions or other problems in trucks meeting the Environmental Protection Agency 2010 diesel engine emissions standards...

Driver-training school buys 22 Freightliners, Great Dane trailers  Jul 21, 2010 11:13 AM Driver-training school Smith & Solomon Commercial Driver Training has purchased 22 Freightliner Columbia tractors and Great Dane dry freight trailers for its training programs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware...