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...

ATA lawsuit seeks
HOS supporting
document regulation

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) filed a lawsuit with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking it to compel the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue an hours-of-service (HOS) supporting documents regulation...

ArvinMeritor showcases
its Class 8 technologies

ArvinMeritor Inc recently hosted US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to showcase the company’s advanced technologies for Class 8 commercial vehicles. Highlighted technologies included the dual-mode hybrid Class 8 drivetrain and stability control and collision safety systems, offered by the company’s Meritor WABCO joint venture...

Stena Bulk places order
for two Suezmax tankers

Stena Bulk has confirmed an order for two in-house designed Suezmax tankers from Samsung, South Korea for delivery in 2011...

Refiners with low-sulfur
capabilities likely to fare
better this decade: study

Low-sulfur diesel and gasoline are likely to spearhead an economic recovery for the refining industry just beyond 2010, a study from Hart Energy Consulting shows...

Bendix CVS divests
fan drive business

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix CVS), a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, has completed the sale of its fan drive/clutch business and related assets to Kit Masters Inc for an undisclosed amount...

Commercial vehicle orders
likely to slow in Q1 2009

Net orders for heavy-duty commercial vehicle markets closed 2009 slightly stronger than expected, but will likely slow dramatically in the first quarter of 2010 before recovering in the second half of the year, according to ACT Research Co...

DTNA gets $40 million
in federal funding
for truck technology

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has received nearly $40 million in funding through the US Department of Energy’s 21st Century Truck Technology Partnership...

Cummins to receive
$54 million in funds
for vehicle projects

US Secretary of Energy Dr Steven Chu announced that Cummins will receive nearly $54 million in funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for two projects aimed at improving fuel efficiency in heavy- and light-duty vehicles...

Inergy to acquire Seneca
Lake gas storage facility

Inergy LP announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Inergy Midstream, has executed a definitive agreement to purchase the Seneca Lake natural gas storage facility in Schuyler County, New York, (Seneca Lake) and two related pipelines for about $65 million from New York State Electric & Gas Corporation ...

Patriot Transportation
Holding Inc announces
loss of customers

Patriot Transportation Holding Inc announced that its transportation group has been unsuccessful in renewing certain contracts with significant customers recently. The holding company operates tank truck carrier Florida Rock & Tank Lines Inc based in Jacksonville FL...

OSHA proposes
$1.47 million
in explosion penalties

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued CES Environmental Services Inc willful and serious citations after an investigation into a fatal explosion at the company’s Griggs Road facility in Houston TX. Proposed penalties total $1,477,500...