June 1, 2012
Industry News
FR&TL winning strategy constantly refreshes safety program, demands best from everyone
Jul 24, 2012 4:22 PM, By Charles E Wilson
Building a winning safety program takes a top-down commitment. Nowhere is this more apparent that at Florida Rock & Tank Lines Inc (FR&TL), the winner of this year’s National Tank Truck Carriers’ top safety award ...
New ATRI research identifies locations with high truck rollover risk
May 16, 2012 12:40 PM
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) just released findings from the first phase of a three-part research effort aimed at mitigating costly large truck rollovers...
JARCO launches NexGen propane bobtail designed for longer life
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
JARCO, a Polar company, announced its new NexGen propane bobtail, featuring a powder-coated barrel,designed to deliver up to three times the life of traditional...
Linde drivers test their skills in ‘roadeo’
May 16, 2012 10:12 AM
Linde North America recently completed a “roadeo” at its air separation plant in Gonzales LA. The Linde “roadeo” was a competition designed to showcase and test the skills and safe practice of its tractor trailer drivers...
Quality Distribution buys Wylie Bice Trucking, RM Resources
May 16, 2012 12:38 PM
Quality Distribution Inc announced more oilfield-related tank truck fleet acquisitions. The newest purchases are fleets that operate in the Bakken oil and gas shale region...
Cargo tank workshops scheduled in 2012 by FMCSA, NTTC
May 2, 2012 1:04 PM
As they have for a number of years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) will host another round of the very popular cargo tank test and inspection workshops. Four of the workshops are scheduled in 2012...
Meritor MTA suspensions spec'd on new tankers by Bynum Transport
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc is pleased to announce that Bynum Transport of Auburndale FL is specifying Meritor's MTA 23 air-ride suspension, Q Plus drum brakes, ABS with...
ATA designates Health-eScreen a featured product for trucking
May 9, 2012 1:22 PM
The American Trucking Associations has added Health-eScreen, a new suite of medical services from eScreen that provides nationwide driver health services and physical exam administration through a completely paperless process, to its group of Featured Products for the trucking industry...
Wabash National Corp completes acquisition of Walker Group Holdings
May 9, 2012 1:31 PM
Wabash National Corporation completed its previously announced acquisition of Walker Group Holdings LLC (Walker), a leading producer of liquid transportation systems and engineered products based in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, for an all-cash purchase price of $360 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The deal was completed May 8...
Petroplex developing multi-modal liquid terminal in St James LA
May 16, 2012 12:45 PM
Petroplex International LLC, a development company of bulk liquid storage tank terminals based in Baton Rouge LA, along with a consortium consisting of Macquarie Group, through its Macquarie Capital division, Quanta Services Inc and individual investor Harley Franco, CEO and founder of Harley Marine Services Inc, announced that it has raised capital to progress the development of a $600 million multi-modal bulk liquid terminal in St James Parish LA with a projected initial storage capacity of four to six million barrels. ...
ACT Research: truck orders slow in March and April
May 16, 2012 12:43 PM
ACT Research says in its May issue of the ACT NA Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK that it continues to believe US economic activity in 2012 will expand at a moderate pace of 2.2% with slow employment growth acting as a brake on more robust growth. Inflationary pressures are expected to hover in the 2% area...
FTR reports preliminary Class 8 truck orders remain sluggish
Jun 12, 2012 3:53 PM
FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing May Class 8 truck net orders at 17,650 units, a modest upturn after four months of decline. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs...
Oiltanking Holding Americas announces United Bulk Terminal acquisition
May 16, 2012 12:46 PM
Bulk Handling USA Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oiltanking Holding Americas Inc, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% ownership interest in US-based United Bulk Terminal LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Maritime Group LLC...
FTR Shippers Conditions Index steadies in March, capacity still shrinking
May 16, 2012 12:43 PM
FTR Associates’ Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for March showed little change from the previous month. The index currently stands at -5.3, representing a moderately unfavorable condition that is expected to persist until the onset of the busy fall shipping season...
eFueling, QuikQ join forces to offer cardless fleet fueling
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
eFueling Technologies has announced a strategic alliance with truckstop fuel transaction processing provider QuikQ. This agreement introduces eFueling...
HTAA provides driver wellness platform
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
The Healthy Trucking Association of America (HTAA) has launched the HTAA Driver Vitality Program, a universal personal health and wellness management...
ATA joins with law enforcement, advocacy groups to press for ELD mandate
May 9, 2012 1:33 PM
In a letter sent to members of the House and Senate currently negotiating the highway bill in conference, American Trucking Associations, along with several other industry and advocacy groups, urged the retention of the Senate's proposed mandate for electronic logging devices...
Meritor extends driveline warranties to two years
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc is extending the aftermarket warranty on Meritor Permalube (RPL) and Meritor XTended Lube (MXL) drivelines from the industry standard of one...
Most carriers indicate health care changes will hurt them, says report
Mar 1, 2012 9:29 AM
The recent fourth quarter national Business Expectations Survey by Transport Capital Partners (TCP) reveals more than 80% of carriers report that recent health care changes will adversely affect them....
PHMSA issues LP-gas odorant notice following several incidents
May 2, 2012 1:01 PM
Several recent incidents possibly attributed to the under odorization and/or ordorant fade of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have been brought to the attention of officials at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ...
ChemLogix named a top global chemical 3PL by ICIS Chemical Business
May 23, 2012 10:16 AM
ChemLogix LLC, a leading logistics services provider for the chemical industry, has been selected by ICIS Chemical Business magazine as one of its Top 50 Global Chemical 3PLs for 2012...
Freight index sets volume record in April
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
In April 2012, the TransCore DAT North American Freight Index achieved the highest volume in a single month since the index was established in 1996. On...
ATA directors call on FMCSA to address issues with CSA program
May 23, 2012 9:55 AM
The Board of Directors for American Trucking Associations called on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to make changes to its safety-monitoring system Compliance Safety Accountability. The call for action came this week during the ATA's annual Leadership Meeting at the Vinoy Renaissance St Petersburg Golf Club and Resort in St Petersburg FL...
Gem City opens truck tire center in Ohio
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Dayton OH-based Gem City Tire, one of the Midwest's leading commercial truck tire dealerships, has opened its sixth location: a 30,000-square-foot, full-service...
Allison Excellence ramps up level of service
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Allison Transmission has launched a national service certification program to ensure its customers receive an even greater level of maintenance and repair...
Polar Service Centers opens ND location
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Polar Service Centers has opened a location in Killdeer ND, the heart of the Bakken Shale oilfields and one of the fastest-growing oil-producing areas...
Industry supports NHTSA proposal calling for ECS on Class 8 trucks
May 17, 2012 3:35 PM
National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) was among the groups voicing support for the newly announced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposal that would require electronic vehicle stability control systems on new Class 8 tractors. The association and its members have been calling for just such a mandate for the past four years...
ATA applauds NHTSA’s ESC proposal as promising development
May 23, 2012 10:14 AM
American Trucking Associations officials said on May 22 that they were encouraged by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's proposed requirement for electronic stability control (ESC) on large trucks. NHTSA's proposal would require trucks to use electronic stability control, which could prevent a significant number of large truck crashes...
Meritor WABCO ESC Can Help OEMs Meet NHTSA Requirements
May 23, 2012 10:19 AM
Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has confirmed that its SmarTrac Electronic Stability Control (ESC) product has the technology to help ensure that truck tractors and motorcoaches are able to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed standard on electronic stability control systems for heavy vehicles...
Bendix says ESC mandate will bring improved highway safety
May 23, 2012 10:20 AM
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC applauded the action taken by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to improve highway safety...
Schneider National honored as top employer for military
May 30, 2012 9:34 AM
Schneider National Inc has been named to the CivilianJobs.com 2012 Most Valuable Employers for Military winner’s list. The annual list serves to help military-experienced job seekers identify the nation’s best companies for civilian careers...
KBR upgrading Rio Tinto fuel infrastructure in Australia
Jan 23, 2012 4:46 PM
KBR has been awarded a contract to upgrade Rio Tinto’s fuel assets as part of the mining company’s investment in power and fuel supply projects to underpin existing and future expansion of iron ore production capacity in the Pilbara region of Western Australia...
Truck driver turnover rate makes surprising decline
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
After a year of quarterly increases, the turnover rate for truck drivers at large truckload fleets unexpectedly dipped one percentage point to an annualized...
Construction spending inches up in March, boosted by private sector
May 2, 2012 1:18 PM
Construction spending inched up in March 2012 to an annualized rate of $808 billion, up 0.1% compared to the previous month and is now 6% above year ago levels, according to a new analysis of federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America...
Cement demand growing with construction activity
May 2, 2012 1:21 PM
Stronger than expected job creation and the beginning of a construction industry recovery means gains in real construction spending will materialize this year—after seven years of consecutive declines, according to the latest forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA). Increases in cement consumption will follow...
Kentucky deploying PrePass truck technology
Feb 17, 2012 1:51 PM
Over the next 28 months, Kentucky's adoption of PrePass truck technology should save the trucking industry and the Kentucky manufacturers they serve, nearly $27 million in operational costs and will reduce vehicle emissions by 3,600 metric tons, in addition to improving safety for the motoring public, according to PrePass officials...
Meritor sells axle ops to Renault Trucks
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc has completed the sale of the assets of its axle operation in Saint Priest, France, to Renault Trucks SAS. Terms of the sale were not disclosed....
Whiting producing 500th SmartWash unit
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Whiting Systems Inc (WSI) announced that its 500th SmartWash system is being built, and it will soon be in production washing trucks for Penske at its...
Oiltanking Finance BV generates additional loans of 245 million Euros
Mar 6, 2012 11:46 AM
Oiltanking Finance BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, has successfully completed a German Schuldschein transaction. Oiltanking could place notes of 245 million Euros in total with tenors from three to 10 years. Due to the strong demand, the original name-plate volume of 75 million Euros was heavily oversubscribed...
NBB urges Congress to reinstate tax incentive
May 2, 2012 1:14 PM
Once again, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling on Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive to avoid further disruption to an emerging American industry that is creating jobs across the country while diversifying US energy supplies. NBB doesn’t seem to be making much progress in this effort...
MTIS by PSI enhances fuel economy: study
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc and Pressure Systems International (PSI) announced the results of a study showing a 1.4% improvement in fuel economy using the Meritor Tire...
Magellan adds RoadMate device to help truckers plan routes, drive safely
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Magellan has announced a new addition to its RoadMate Commercial GPS family for truckers and commercial drivers providing improved safety and productivity...
Domestic intermodal container volume surges in first quarter, report indicates
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Domestic containers were the big winner in first quarter 2012, gaining 14.9% year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's...
Kenworth delivers 250,000th T800 truck
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Kenworth Truck Company celebrated the production and delivery of its historic 250,000th T800 truck during a special ceremony at the Kenworth assembly...
People in the News
Fleets
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Dr Uwe Franke has been invited to join the advisory board of Hoyer GmbH. Franke spent most of his career at BP Europa SE, where he held various positions...
Suppliers
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc has appointed Chris Villavarayan vice-president, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Commercial Truck. He previously was general...
Associations
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
The National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) announced that Joseph M Stanton will join the association as vice-president for legislative affairs....
Equipment News
Continental adds Eco Plus to HSL2 tires
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Eco Plus compounding, the hallmark of Continental Tire the Americas' low-rolling-resistance, fuel-saving medium radial truck tires, has been added to...
BTI's Optima Check Valve offers optimum performance, air flow
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Optima is Bulk Tank Incorporated's new and improved American made check valve for pneumatic systems. According to BTI engineers, previous to Optima, check...
Power converter/battery charger provided
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Progressive Dynamics Inc introduces the new 24-volt power converter/battery charger in 25-amp and 40-amp configurations with a built-in, patented four-stage...
Meritor adds 14-inch, 15.5-inch clutches
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Meritor Inc has unveiled its line of 14- and 15.5-inch clutches in standard and easy-pedal effort models, designed for medium- and heavy-duty trucks....
Goodyear makes spread axle trailer tire
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Tires mounted on spread axle trailers often see challenging conditions. That's why The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co has developed a new tire for spread axle...
Blackmer adds STX2A transport pump
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Blackmer announces the addition of the STX2A transport pump to its growing line of positive displacement sliding vane transport pumps. The STX2A is a...
PeopleNet delivers engine reporting for CNG, LNG vehicles
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
PeopleNet, a provider of onboard computing and mobile communications systems for effective fleet management, announced that it is the only telematics...
Chelsea 511 Series provides power density
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Power density is what users will find in the Chelsea 511 Series PTO (power take-off). The new coaxial-designed rear-mount PTO provides a compact housing...
Truck-Lite adds 5" 7" LED headlamp
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
In 2009, Truck-Lite released a 7" round DOT-approved LED headlamp. As LED technology evolved and improved, the firm responded to demand and is now releasing...
Smart-Hose Break-away protects tank, loading rack systems
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Smart-Hose Technologies has a patented and engineered safety system that can be integrated into almost any type of hose assembly. In the event of a catastrophic...
Rand McNally supplies in-dash version of IntelliRoute TND 710 GPS system
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Rand McNally is providing a custom in-dash version of the IntelliRoute TND 710 truck-specific GPS system. In addition to providing Rand McNally's navigation...
Roadranger Marketing updates websites
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Roadranger Marketing has released the next generation of its website, Roadranger.com. The site features sales- and service-related information and functionality...
Alliance adds coiled, straight air hoses
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Alliance Truck Parts now offers coiled and straight air hose assemblies, gladhands, and related accessories for Class 6-8 heavy-duty trucks. The hoses...
EFX90 scissor lift helps raise productivity
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Rotary Lift introduces the EFX90, the latest addition to its line of heavy-duty in-ground scissor lifts that use patented design features to lift technician...
Shark provides pressure washer package
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Shark Pressure Washers is offering the TRS-2500 standard trailer-mounted pressure washer package with self-contained water tank. This trailer provides...
PT Coupling Company enhances website
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
PT Coupling Company has a new, improved website accessible at www.ptcoupling.com. The website has an interactive product catalog that will allow distributors...
Rand McNally rolls out TND 760 to truck fleet operators
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Less than three months after announcing its next-generation in-cab EOBR (electronic on-board recorder), the TND 760 Fleet Edition, Rand McNally is rolling...
Articles
Driver inspection of cargo tank motor vehicles
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Randy Skoog
DRIVER training and driver inspections are important components of a good cargo tank management program. And, a good cargo tank management program is...
Why Schneider National is leading the charge to make hair testing a federal mandate
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By George Grossardt, General Manager, Schneider National Bulk Carriers Inc
ON MANY occasions people say they hope for a good hair day. Perhaps they're getting a family picture taken, standing up in a wedding or giving an important...
US private equity activity in oil & gas industry hits highest levels
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
PRIVATE equity (PE) interest in the US oil and gas industry marked at least a 20-year high during the first quarter of 2012, as the volume of mergers...
Cummins Westport shows ISX12 G at MATS, announces ISX15 G
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
THOSE attending the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky were able to check out the Cummins Westport ISX12 G, a 12-liter heavy-duty,...
Clean Energy opens Ohio LNG fueling station for Dillon Transport
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
DILLON Transport's natural-gas-fueled fleet operation got a boost when Clean Energy opened a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling station in Seville...
Encana opens its first LNG fueling station in Louisiana
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
ENCANA Natural Gas Inc, a subsidiary of Encana Corporation, one of North America's largest natural gas producers, opened the first liquefied natural gas...
Freightliner Trucks unveils the Cascadia Evolution powered by Detroit
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
OVER dinner on May 29 with members of the trucking press, Daimler Trucks North America's Martin Daum suggested that a 10-mile-per-gallon Class 8 tractor...
Western Star rolls out new 4700 tractor, adds options for 6900
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
Western Star Truck Sales Inc added a new 4700 tractor to its product lineup, and this one is focused on tank truck fleets. The wraps came off the new...
Volvo details natural gas strategy for North America
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
VOLVO Trucks has announced plans to launch its own 13-liter liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine for North America in 2014. The engine's advanced high pressure...
Convention Calendar
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM
July 9-10, 2012 Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (PPMCSA) summer conference, Grand Hotel, Ocean City MD. Ph: (717)939-1781...
