Nissan Diesel Motor Co
becomes UD Trucks Corp

The Volvo Group’s Japanese truck company Nissan Diesel Motor Company Ltd is being renamed UD Trucks Corporation. In conjunction with the name change, the Nissan Diesel brand will also be changed to UD Trucks and a new logotype will be developed...

PTDI completes two decades of certifying driver courses

The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) recently reached a milestone: 20 years of certifying courses at entry-level truck driver training schools across the United States and Canada...

Canadian shipper costs
stay level in November

Results published by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI) indicate that the cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers in November 2009 remained virtually unchanged since October...

Price of diesel fuel sinks
to lowest so far in 2010

The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide fell 5.2 cents to $2.781 a gallon, matching the biggest drop in six months, according to US Department of Energy information...

Weather Central delivers
data for LBS, mobile sectors

Weather Central LLC has introduced the first product for the location-based services (LBS) and mobile markets that delivers weather forecasts, updates, and alerts based on road segment codes...

PHMSA calling for 205% hike in hazmat registration fee

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) says it needs a 205% increase in the registration and fee assessment program for persons and companies that transport and ship hazardous materials ...

Current HOS rules working
but need more flexibility,
industry speakers tell FMCSA

Representatives from affiliates and member companies of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other trucking industry speakers told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules are working but need flexibility in the sleeper berth provision...

Paccar donates $250,000
to relief effort in Haiti

Paccar announced it was making a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross to support Haitian relief efforts. In addition, the company was donating a Kenworth vehicle equipped with a dump body to assist in clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake...

Haldex to launch rollover
simulator for trailers

Haldex plans to launch the world’s first UN-ECE-approved rollover control simulator for trailers. The simulator will enable trailer manufacturers to obtain type approval for vehicles equipped with Haldex’s EB+ electronic braking system ...

WABCO obtains EU approval
for roll stability support

WABCO Holdings Inc announced that WABCO’s roll stability support (RSS) for trailers has been certified by TÜV Nord Germany, an accredited technical service, which leads to the approval by the German Federal Authority for Road Transport...

Paccar launches MX engine

Paccar has introduced the Paccar MX engine to be installed in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in summer 2010. The PACCAR MX engine is designed to deliver industry leading performance, reliability, and fuel efficiency to Kenworth and Peterbilt customers worldwide...

DOT bans texting in trucks and buses

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a federal guidance on January 26 that bans hand-held texting by commercial truck drivers and buses to avoid the danger of distracted driving. The prohibition is effective immediately and follows a similar ban in December 2009 for all drivers of federal government vehicles...

No basis for shortening HOS,
ATA informs federal agency

American Trucking Associations (ATA) representatives and other trucking industry speakers gave the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) a clear message recently: “The current hours-of-service (HOS) rules are working. Retain them, but add flexibility to the sleeper berth provision.”...

Odyssey Logistics achieves
double-digit growth in ‘09

Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corp (OL&T) announced that revenues grew 18% in 2009 as the company moved cargo valued at more than $40 billion...

Kinder Morgan announces
renewable-fuels venture

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP announced a terminal venture designed specifically to handle renewable fuels. The transaction includes KMP’s acquisition of three unit train ethanol handling terminals in Linden NJ, Baltimore MD, and Dallas TX from US Development Group (USD), and the formation of a joint venture to coordinate access to these terminals, other assets KMP already owns and operates, and other projects under development...

Minnesota trucking group
campaign urges drivers:
‘Keep Both Hands on Wheel’

The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) has announced a year-long effort to provide information and training to its members and their drivers to improve road safety. The “Keep Both Hands on the Wheel” campaign will focus on reducing distracted driving by engaging truckers, their employers, contractors, and the public to follow safe driving habits...

Detroit Diesel engine family
certified to meet 2010 regs

Detroit Diesel Corporation’s fuel-efficient family of engines, including the DD13, DD15, and DD16 with the BlueTec emissions control system, has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency as meeting 2010 emissions regulations...

Class 8 commercial vehicle
net orders up in December

Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles rose to 11,919 units in December 2009, up 37% from December 2008, according to ACT Research Co...

Bendix slates 2010
Brake Training School

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is offering the 2010 Brake Training School. The school—conducted by the firm’s ASE-certified Service, Warranty, and Training (SWAT) team—teaches maintenance professionals the description, operation, and service elements for all components found within foundation and air brake systems...

APRA honors ArvinMeritor
as Remanufacturer of Year

ArvinMeritor was named Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year for 2009 by the Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG) of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA). The award was presented to Doug Wolma, general manager–remanufacturing, ArvinMeritor, here at the fourth annual Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group Summit, held in conjunction with Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas LV...

ATA releases American
Trucking Trends report

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) annual report ATA American Trucking Trends 2009-2010 is available to the public and members of the media...

Volvo Trucks Safety Awards
program continues in 2010

Volvo Trucks North America continues its recognition of the safest fleets in North America through the 2010 Volvo Trucks Safety Awards. Two fleets with the safest driving records and top safety programs will each receive $25,000 prizes to be used on their safety activities...

Rail carload traffic hits
lowest level since 1988

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that 2009 saw total carload traffic on US railroads at its lowest levels since at least 1988, when the AAR’s data series began. AAR’s January Rail Time Indicators report includes both monthly numbers for December and 2009 annual totals for freight railroad traffic...

Price of diesel fuel drops
for first time in a month

The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide fell for the first time in a month, dipping 0.9 cent to $2.87 a gallon, according to US Department of Energy information...

TSA nominee withdraws from consideration

Just a day after the Republicans’ upset US Senate victory in Massachusetts, President Barack Obama’s choice to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) withdrew from consideration...