Trucks World News: April 2005

COMMENTS - USA - Trucks need more maintaining inspected more often

USA -by "Anonymous" -28 Apr 2005 12:10:12-0700(PDT): -- I would like to say that logging trucks are very scary and dangerious the way they are over loaded and unsafe not maintained very well they travel country roads very fast i was in volved in a accident were a logging trucks wheels and axcel came off and hit me head on by the grace of god me and my husband werent hurt very baddley but scared to deathand shook up totaled my car while on vacation.

TECHNOLOGY - USA - First port to check radiation

OAKLAND, every container arriving from overseas is tested
Oakland,CA,USA -The San Francisco Chronicle,by Jim Herron Zamora/Logistics Management(subscription) Newton,MA,USA -APR 27 2005: -- Oakland's seaport became the first of the nation's large shipping ports Tuesday to automatically scan all imported cargo containers for radioactive material as carrier trucks leave the terminals... http://www.manufacturing.net/lm/index.asp?layout=articleXml&xmlId=275587477

ECOLOGY - CANADA - Natural gas: the route to a 'clean air corridor'

Toronto,Ontario,Canada -Globe and Mail,by MICHAEL VAUGHAN -Apr 28 2005: -- Westport Innovations is a developer of technologies that allow vehicles to operate on clean-burning fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen and hydrogen-enriched natural gas (HCNG). From its origin as a spinoff from a research program in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia, Westport has grown into the world's leading provider of environmentally friendly engines for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses...

POLITICS - SWEDEN - SCANIA: Innovations Get Customers

SODERTALJE,Sweden -PRIMEZONE -April 29, 2005: -- Los Angeles,CA,USA: -- The era of major product launches is over. Instead, the way ahead is rolling introductions. This means that continuous changes and improvements are made during ongoing production so that each new Scania is a little better than the one before... That is how Scania described the company's concept for the development of tomorrow's trucks to Scania shareholders at the well-attended Annual General Meeting... http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/?d=77280

PERSPECTIVES - USA - Heavy truck demand surges across North America

Trucking fundamentals suggest the economy remains strong
TORONTO,CAN -CNW -Apr 29 2005: -- ... sales of heavy-duty trucks continue to surge, according to the latest Canadian Auto Report released today by Scotia Economics. Demand for commercial heavy-duty transport trucks has been on a nonstop ascent since 2003, and will likely continue well into 2006... Industry estimates suggest that new orders for Class 8 trucks (weighing in excess of 33,000 lbs) in North America will climb by at least 20% this year... http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2005/29/c2068.html

PRODUCTION - NA - Ward's Reports Estimated

SOUTHFIELD, Mich,USA -PRNewswire -Apr 29 2005: -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 334,355 units, up 0.5 percent from the 332,845 cars and trucks built last week, according to www.WardsAuto.com...

TECHNOLOGY - UK - ‘COAL fuelled' trucks envisaged in US study

London,UK -AWKnowledge(subscription)-29 Apr 2005: -- Diesel-engined trucks and buses in Wyoming, California and other western states of the US could, in a few years time, be running on fuel produced from locally ...

REGULATIONS - USA - Judge rejects challenge to diesel emission

SACRAMENTO,Cal,USA -Detroit Free Press/AP -Apr 28 2005: -- A Superior Court judge upheld stricter pollution standards for diesel trucks Thursday in a ruling against engine manufacturers... The diesel engine makers tried to block stricter pollution regulations that apply to an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 out-of-state vehicles that drive through the state and 58,000 California trucks. They said the rules that take effect this weekend violate a $1 billion legal settlement with state air regulators in 1998... http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw115093_20050428.htm

PRODUCTION - INDIA - URAL to make trucks in Haldia

Kolkata,India -Business Standard -Apr 30 2005: -- Russian Ural heavy duty trucks have completed trials in India successfully and the plant for their assembly at Haldia would start shortly under an agreement signed in October 2003 by India’s Motijug group and Russia’s Uralaz Trading House... The Ural trucks would initially use only Russian auto parts but some parts would be made in India later, he hinted... http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=187561

PRODUCTION - JAPAN - Auto Up in March

USA -Forbes/AP -04.28.2005: -- Production of cars, trucks and buses in Japan rose on year for the third straight month in March, increasing 3 percent to 1.06 million vehicles, an industry group said Thursday... For the fiscal year ended March 31, the production of cars, trucks and buses in Japan rose for the third consecutive year, rising 2.5 percent to 10.62 million vehicles, it said... http://www.forbes.com/business/commerce/feeds/ap/2005/04/28/ap1981153.html

FUTURE - UK - HYBRID heavy trucks ‘will capture 8.9% US market

London,UK -AWKnowledge(subscription) -Apr 28 2005: -- ... By 2010, hibrid heavy trucks ‘will capture 8.9% US market share ... When CHDVC delegates were canvassed on their concerns about enforced
adoption of ultra-clean trucks and engines, they put vehicle acquisition cost as the ...

MATCHMAKER - USA - Without trucks, business puts the move on goods

Portland,OR,USA -The Oregonian,by JULIA O'MALLEY -Apr 28 2005: -- Keith Gibson is in the business of moving freight across the country, but he doesn't own any trucks... Instead, his Wilsonville-based business, Integrity Logistics, plays a matchmaker role, connecting small trucking companies and other carriers with large companies that need to move everything from oversize pipe parts to produce...

EVENT - USA - KENWORTH Vocational Trucks Impress Customers

LAS VEGAS,Nev,USA -Layover -Apr 28 2005: -- Vocational truck operators got behind the wheel of new Kenworth trucks with the latest equipment during... Kenworth Truck Company, a division of PACCAR Inc, is a leading manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks... http://www.layover.com/cgi-bin/portal/printnews.pl/8299.html

ECOLOGY AWARDS - USA - Texas' Gvr Receive State's Highest Environmental Honor

AUSTIN,Tx,USA -BUSINESS WIRE -Apr 27 2005: -- An 8-year-old recycling champion, an environmental truck stop system that reduces diesel emissions and an automated irrigation control system are among 10 Texas projects selected as winners of state's highest environmental honor by Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)... http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050427005062&newsLang=en

PRICES - USA - Filtering fuel costs

New H.P. company hopes technology behind oil filter is a hit with truckers
USA - MSNBC / The Business Journal Greater Triad Area,by Mick Normington -Apr 24 2005: -- With fuel prices hitting record highs, many Triad trucking companies are considering new strategies to keep profit margins from being further eroded... One of those ideas is coming from a High Point company that has the North American marketing rights for a new oil filter designed to save truckers 2 cents a mile on diesel fuel and oil costs... http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7625885/

FEES - USA - Supreme Court considers Michigan truck fees

Detroit,MI,USA -Detroit Free Press/AP -Apr 26 2005: -- WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court appeared to express doubt Tuesday that Michigan truck fees discourage trucking companies from doing business in more than one state... http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw114954_20050426.htm

TECNOLOGY - USA - Fatigue indicator hat

USA -eTrucker -Apr 2005: -- TrukSafe America’s Fatigue Indicator Hat is a variation of its lamp hat. Along with the hands-free lighting, this cap alerts drivers with a beeping noise when their head drops to a driver pre-determined angle... www.TrukSafeAmerica.com.

BUYING GROUP - USA - Independent Haulers Alliance

USA -eTrucker,by Andy Duncan -27 Apr 2005: -- The newly formed Independent Haulers Alliance offers the benefits of group purchasing for owner-operators and small fleets in waste, dump and construction applications... Plans for the alliance include forming an online community, creating a member-owned purchasing pool and getting group discounts for members, Keesey said. “Too many haulers are paying retail for everything,” he said. “When you have a one-truck operation, saving $1,000 a month is cash in your pocket.”... http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=47153

MUDDIES - USA - Federal Reserve: Fuel muddies outlook for trucking

USA -eTrucker,by Jill Dunn -Apr 27, 2005: -- U.S. business activity continues expanding, but rising energy costs have softened trucking “somewhat” in several regions, the Federal Reserve reported... From late February to early April, several Federal Reserve districts – Cleveland, Richmond, Chicago and Minneapolis – reported that higher fuel costs had forced trucking and shipping firms to install fuel surcharges... Energy prices could soften consumer demand for the goods provided by trucks... http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=47183

TECHNOLOGY - S. KOREA - MOBIS Develops New Scale for Trucks

Korea Times - Seoul,South Korea -04-26-2005: -- Hyundai Mobis, the largest auto parts manufacturer in South Korea, has developed a machine that shows drivers the exact weight of the freight loaded on their vehicle... The company said Tuesday that it has applied for an international patent for the product, which is expected to emerge as a popular safety item among truck owners worldwide... http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200504/kt2005042618284711910.htm

RECALLS - USA - GM Recalls 2 Million Trucks, SUVs

Honolulu,Hawai,USA -KGMB9, HI -25 Apr 2005: -- More than 2 million vehicles are being recalled by the world's largest automaker... General Motors says there are safety concern with about 1.5 million pickups and SUVs including a possible second-row seatbelt... The models affected are model years 2003 to 2005... http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=4418&sid=1183

EARNINGS- USA - Increased for VOLVO & PACCAR

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL,USA -MarketWatch,by Shawn Langlois -April 26 2005: -- AB Volvo, which in addition to Mack has the Renault and its own truck division, reported a 34 percent increase in earnings to $462 million in the first quarter. Sales were up 13 percent to $7.4 billion in the period... Paccar Inc. reported the best quarter in the company's history Tuesday, with profit soaring 50% on strong demand for its DAF, Peterbilt and Kenworth truck brands... http://www.mcall.com/business/local/all-mackapr26,0,6468556.story?coll=all-businesslocal-hed

SALES - USA - First-quarter deliveries are 65 % ahead of last year's levels.

Allentown Morning Call, PA -The Morning Call -April 26 2005: -- The U.S. retail heavy duty truck market after two months, according to Heavy Duty Trucking magazine... Freightliner led with 31.93 percent, followed by International at 19.37 percent, Peterbilt at 11.46 percent, Volvo was ranked third with 11.53 percent, Kenworth at 10.14 percent, Sterling at 5.52 percent and Western Star at 0.94 percent... http://www.mcall.com/business/local/all-mackapr26,0,6468556.story?coll=all-businesslocal-hed

INVESTMENT - CHINA - ROBERT BOSCH to invest further $US600mlln

BEIJING,CHINA -Asia Pulse/PRNewswire:SYDNEY,Australia -April 25 2005: -- Robert Bosch GmbH, one of the world's leading automotive component producers, announced that it plans to invest a further US$600 million from 2005 to 2007 in China, the world's fastest-growing vehicle market... will use the new investment to expand its four existing facilities in China, including an automotive diesel systems plant, a chassis development centre in East China's Jiangsu Province, and two industrial-use mobile hydraulics plants in the province and Beijing ... http://www.asiapulse.com

INVESTMENT - BANGLADESH - TATA Group submits report on U$S 2BLN

DHAKA,BANGLADESH -Asia Pulse/PRNewswire:SYDNEY,Australia -April 25 2005: -- Business giant Tata Group has submitted a pre-feasibility study report to Bangladesh's Board of Investment, advancing the process of an estimated US$2 billion investment into the country. According to official sources, a delegation of the Tata Group placed the report with Board of Investment(BOI) Executive Chairman Mahmudur Rahman on Wednesday. The Indian industrial conglomerate conducted the study to examine its business suitability in different sectors in the country as also other pros and cons of its business... http://www.asiapulse.com

PRODUCTION - CHINA - KHODRO Irans's sign deal to manufacture cars

SHANGHAI,China -Asia Pulse/PRNewswire:SYDNEY,Australia -April 25 2005: -- ... In an agreement signed between the two countries, the Iran Khodro industrial group will manufacture a brand of car called Samand in China, based on mutual investment... The initial amount of the joint investment for production of Samand stood at US$60 million. According to the official, 20,000 cars are to be produced in China in the first year, growing to 120,000 in three years... http://www.asiapulse.com

TECHNECOLOGY - USA - Making solar hot

Boston,Mass,USA -Boston Globe,by Chris Reidy - April 23 2005: -- If the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative had its way, solar panels would soon become as much of a must-have as the Toyota Prius hybrid car, according to Rob Pratt, director of the renewable energy trust of the Collaborative, a quasi-public agency... http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/04/23/making_solar_hot/

SECURITY - USA - Technology to decrease accidents and fatalities

'Blind Spots' Are The Number One Cause Of Large Truck Accidents And Death
NEW YORK, USA -PR Newswire -April 22 2005: -- A new report just released by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that large trucks account for 12% of all roadway fatalities. 35% of those crashes occurred in the driver's "blind spot" or "No Zone", where truckers cannot see other motorists, pedestrians, etc... http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-22-2005/0003445123&EDATE=

TOLLS - EUROPE - Trucks to pay higher tolls

Australia -Big News Network.com/UPI -22nd April 2005: -- Trucks will pay higher tolls on European highways under a plan approved in Brussels by the transport ministers of the European Union... The European Parliament is expected to endorse the measure that will increase tolls between percent 15 to 25 percent... http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=2f94ac6f4f0a739f

CHANGES - INDIA - State to slam brakes on pre-1985 trucks

KOLKATA,India -Times of India -APRIL 21 2005: -- Commercial vehicles bought before 1985 may soon be headed for junkyard. The transport department has marked that year as the cut-off date to scrap trucks, buses and taxis and has sent the proposal to the Cabinet, which will discuss the issue on April 26... http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1085124.cms

ECOLOGY - USA - NYC to clean up refuse trucks by 2009

USA -Fleet Owner (subscription),by Terrence Nguyen -Apr 22 2005: -- The New York City Dept. of Sanitation is expecting to either retrofit its existing fleet of diesel-powered refuse trucks or replace them with EPA’s ‘07-compliant units by 2009. The refuse vehicles, which are used to collect household waste and recyclables, represent 2,200 of the Sanitation Dept.’s 6,000 vehicles... http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/new_york_city_sanitation_dept_refuse_vehicle_diesel_emissions_042205/

INCENTIVES - USA - To retire, or retrofit, older trucks to cut pollution.

Truck grant legislation is added to energy bill.
Torrance,CA,USA -Daily Breeze/Copley News Service,by Toby Eckert -22 Apr 2005: -- WASHINGTON DF,USA - Citing the pollution created by freight haulers around the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex, advanced legislation would encourage trucking companies to retire older trucks that emit the most exhaust... http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1499232.html

PRICES UP - USA - County buyers still like big vehicles

Pontiac,IL,USA -Pontiac Daily Leader,by Sheila Shelton -21 Apr 2005: -- Rising gas prices have had an effect on the nation, but it doesn't seem to have created a huge problem in Livingston County, at least as far as car-buying is concerned... http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/articles/2005/04/21/news/news3.txt

ECOLOGY - THAILAND - Government Encourages CNG, Ethanol, Biodiesel

Thailand -Green Car Congress/USA -April 21 2005: -- Thailand’s Cabinet approved proposals by the Ministry of Energy that encourage the use of natural gas, gasohol (95% gasoline, 5% ethanol) and biodiesel as alternative fuels for vehicles... The plan includes tax incentives for motorists using ... http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/thai_cabinet_en.html

TECHNECOLOGY - USA - Electric Car Goes for Land Speed Record

USA - Green Car Congress/USA -April 21 2005: -- A high-speed electrical car, powered by ABB motors and drives, will attempt to break the land speed record for an electrical vehicle on May 5 in Nevada... The 32-foot (10 meter) long, “e=motion” car will try to beat the current official FIA (Fédération Internationale d’Automobile) electric land speed record of 245 mph (394 kph) and become the first-ever electrically powered vehicle to break the 300 mph (483 kph) barrier... http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/electric_car_go.html

ECOLOGY - USA - Action in the House on the Energy Bill Today

USA -Green Car Congress/USA -April 20 2005: -- The House of Representatives began debate today on the Energy Policy Act of 2005... Some of the amendments to the bill proposed on the floor today:... - Amendment #4, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to increase fuel economy standards from today’s average of 25 mpg to 33 mpg over 10 years; to reduce by 10% the gasoline the nation would otherwise consume by 2015, defeated 254–177... - Amendments #5 and #6 to direct the Administrator of the EPA to revise Federal vehicle fuel economy adjustment factors (related post), passed 346–85... http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/action_in_the_h.html

ECOLOGY - THAILAND - Cooking oil as feedstock for biodiesel

USA -Bangkok,Thailand - Bangkok Post/Green Car Congress/USA -April 20 2005: -- Revo International, a Kyoto-based biodiesel technology provider, has entered into a joint venture in Thailand to develop a one-billion-baht (approximately $25.4 million) biodiesel refinery in Chon Buri... The plant, expected to start operation in July 2006, will use used cooking oil as its feedstock... http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/japanesethai_ve.html

BUSSINESS - USA - REMY Expands Global Operations in China Company

ANDERSON,Ind,USA -PRNewswire/Pressemitteilung/Heidelberg,Germany -April 21 2005: -- Remy International, Inc., has formed a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), Remy Electricals (China) Company Limited in Shajing, Guangdong Province of China which will significantly expand Remy’s presence in the region. This major expansion will add more than 2.2 million units of annual capacity for the manufacture of new Delco Remy and Remy brand starters and alternators... http://www.mysan.de/article84926.html

SALES - USA - Engine sales for heavy duty trucks rises 47%

NEW YORK,NY,USA -MarketWatch,by Padraic Cassidy -April 21 2005: -- Cummins Engine Co. Inc. said Thursday it nearly tripled its first-quarter income from a year ago as the engine maker rode a wave of strength in the North American heavy-duty truck market... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BD1D6F903-940E-4AD6-9FB4-B3ADA35C2E15%7D&siteid=mktw

PRICES - USA - A plethora of price increases

USA - Fleet Owner,by KEN SIMONSON -Apr 1 2005: -- Has inflation broken out at last? Certainly not at the consumer level, but more and more firms seem to be passing on price increases to their business customers... The overall producer price index (PPI) rose 4.2% from January 2004 to January 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, PPIs for general freight trucking rose 8.6% for local service, 7.7% for long-distance LTL service, and 4.9% for longhaul truckload service... http://fleetowner.com/management/bottomline/fleet_plethora_price_increases/

PRODUCTION - USA - NAFTA heavy-duty trucks, up 5%

Fleet Owner (subscription) - USA 20 Apr 2005: -- “First quarter production of NAFTA heavy-duty trucks totaled 82,000 units, 5% more than in the fourth quarter of 2004,” noted Alexander Cutler, Eaton Corp. chairman & CEO. “Orders for NAFTA heavy-duty trucks during the first quarter averaged 30,000 units per month and the backlog at the end of March is estimated at 190,000 units. We estimate the NAFTA heavy-duty truck market in 2005 is likely to total at least 310,000 units" ... http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/truck_equipment_trailer_tires_price_increase_042005/

PRICES - USA - Truck, equipment costs still set to rise

USA -Fleet Owner(subscription),by Terrence Nguyen -Apr 20 2005: --
Rising material costs, component shortages and lengthy backlogs are prompting OEMs and equipment makers to slap fleet operators with premiums on vehicles such as trailers and heavy trucks. Trailers and heavy truck prices rose 7.3% and 3.2% in March 2005 compared to March 2004, respectively according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The price of tires, tubes and treads increased 4.4% year-over-year (YOY) in March, BLS said... And with new orders of trucks accelerating, buyers should not expect any rollback in prices anytime soon... http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/truck_equipment_trailer_tires_price_increase_042005/

PRODUCTION - CHINA - Renault to set up heavy-duty truck venture

London,UK -AWKnowledge(subscription) -April 2005: -- Renault plans to collaborate with Guangxi Dongfeng Liuzhou for the manufacture of Kerex serial heavy-duty trucks... http://www.awknowledge.com/WCV/content.asp?contentid=34920

ECOLOGY - USA - One man's trash, is another man's gas

Burlco's recycling project is garbage in, gas out
Wilkes Barre,PA,USA -Wilkes Barre Times-Leader,by Tom Avril -- At the Burlington County landfill, some entrepreneurs have discovered a way to cut the costs of garbage collection, lessen reliance on foreign oil, reduce global warming, and make money all at the same time... One man's trash, they say, is another man's gas... Decaying trash emits methane gas, and certain garbage trucks can run on methane. A pilot project at the landfill merely put the two concepts together: a truck that runs on the gas that comes from the very stuff it dumps at the landfill... http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/health/11428294.htm

ECOLOGIA - USA - New York to Pass Strict Rules on Emissions

New York,NY,USA -New York Times,by ANTHONY DePALMA -April 20 2005: --In an effort to reduce harmful emissions while raising the fuel economy of its huge fleet of vehicles, New York City is set to impose strict environmental standards on cars and vans it buys, and to require that diesel trucks and buses be modified... a wide-ranging package of environmental bills intended to reduce the tailpipe emissions that contribute to cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems, including asthma.

RESEARCH - UK - Bigger trucks bring bigger benefits

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- Study Finds that the Benefits of Increasing Maximum Lorry Weight to 44 tonnes were Greater than Expected... which suggested that this measure would yield 'small, but significant' economic and environmental benefits. It predicted that greater consolidation of heavy loads would yield annual savings of: * 100 million vehicle-kms - * £60-80 million in road haulage costs (in 2000 prices) - * 80-100,000 tonnes of CO2... http://www.tnn.co.uk/research/plonearticle.2005-02-22.8566897269

ENTERPRISES - USA - PACCAR's record centenary

USA -Transport News Network/UK -Apr 2005: -- PACCAR Inc., the US parent company of DAF and owner of brands such as Kenworth, Foden and Peterbilt, has entered its 100th year with the news that it has recorded its highest profit ever. PACCAR had a net income of $906.8m in 2004 on gross earnings of a record $11.40bn... http://www.tnn.co.uk/WorldwideNews/plonearticle.2005-02-04.6956847698/view

TECHNOLOGY - UK - Diesel from plastic bags

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- New process that converts waste plastic bags to diesel at low cost... Australian based technology manufacturer Ozmotech is predicting up to 10 of its breakthrough ThermoFuel systems will be installed and commissioned in Britain and Ireland over the next 5-7 years. The system uses a pyrolysis chamber, a patented catalytic converter and series of specially built condensers to produce energy rich diesel fuel from unsorted waste plastics, often using plastics that are unsuitable for other recycling purposes because of an undesirable or contaminated mix of polymers.

TECHNOLOGY - UK - New solution for tyred old problem

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- Every year 32 million car tyres and nearly 4 million truck tyres are scrapped. Despite many uses now being found for them, some 190,000 tonnes still end up in landfill sites each year, a method which will be banned by 2006... A new distillation process under development by a Flintshire, North Wales firm UTDR Research is timely. The system will convert the tyre waste into resaleable oil, carbon, steel and gases... http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2004-12-08.0169490021

TECHNOLOGY - UK - The future of Dualmode?

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- Called the "Bladerunner" this latest concept in road/rail Dualmode transport is the result of years of effort by the engineering consultancy Silvertip Design based in Richmond, North Yorkshire. The project obviously looks as though it has potential as it has received funding from the freight trailer and body builder Don Bur... It is as applicable to freight as to passenger transport... http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2004-12-10.5362161808

ECOLOGY - UK - Biodiesel hits the big time

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- Commercial production at the UK's first large scale biodiesel plant has now started... and will shortly be available at some of the more than 100 forecourts around the UK that sell biodiesel... which could see up to 25,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year making its way to refineries... There it will be blended with mineral diesel. The resultant blend of 95% mineral diesel to 5% biodiesel... It requires no changes to the logistics of the fuel supply chain or to vehicle engines... http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2005-04-04.7092619604

DECIDING - USA - DaimlerChrysler wins fraud trial

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- A court case against DaimlerChrysler has finished in the US with the court deciding that the automotive company did not mislead its shareholders as to the nature of Daimler-Benz's merger with Chrysler... The case was brought by Casino tycoon Kirk Kerkorian, at the time of the merger, Chrysler's biggest shareholder. He was pushing for $1.2bn in compensation as he claimed the deal between Daimler-Benz with Chrysler did in fact constitute a takeover of the US car company rather than the merger as announced... http://www.tnn.co.uk/Manufacturers/plonearticle.2005-04-08.0700359825

OFFENCE - UK - Bad driving review

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- The Home Office is consulting on proposals to introduce a new offence of 'causing death by careless driving', and to instruct courts to take into account the consquences of bad driving when sentencing offenders... The Home Office believes that the current offences of causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving itself, and careless driving do not give the courts sufficient flexibility to deal with incidents where serious injury or death is caused by a piece of rank bad driving... http://www.tnn.co.uk/UKNews/plonearticle.2005-03-31.9958852342

ECOLOGY - KYOTO - Protocol, scapegoats?

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- The Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change came into force yesterday in 141 signatory countries. This was as a result of Russia ratifying the treaty in November 2004, and creating the 'critical mass' required to bring the treaty into full effect... The idea behind Kyoto is to reduce the amount of 'greenhouse' gases emitted around the world, primarily carbon-dioxide (CO2), and thereby combat global warming and reduce the impact on the world's climate... http://www.tnn.co.uk/CurrentIssues/plonearticle.2005-02-17.8406283794

TOLLS - UK - Green Light for EU Road Tolls?

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- Controversial EU road toll proposals will top the agenda for a meeting of Europe's transport ministers – and agreement is within reach... The Luxembourg EU presidency is keen to strike a deal on a complicated and difficult dossier, despite failure at three separate councils of transport ministers in 2005... http://www.tnn.co.uk/EuropeanNews/plonearticle.2005-04-18.9250123712

BIODIESEL - UK - Another option

UK -Transport News Network -20 Apr 2005: -- The rising prices of traditional fuel and a government policy to promote alternative energy provide an opportunity for British D1 Oils Plc to produce biodiesel from Jatropha (saboo dum), which can grow in northeastern Thailand...

RULES - UK - Force hauliers to limit their working week

UK -Transport News Network -Apr 2005: -- RTD Rules introduced from Brussels on April 4 force hauliers to limit their working week and to take longer breaks. The measure is intended to crack down on exploitation and to prevent accidents caused by exhaustion... http://www.tnn.co.uk/psv/plonearticle.2005-04-18.6320873784

REGULATIONS - UK - Ripple Effect Of The Road Transport Directive

UK -Transport News Network -20 Apr 2005: -- As well as actual driving time, The Road Transport Directive strictly limits how long drivers can spend loading and unloading their vehicles... Even though the new rules may only apply to employees of the haulage industry, it is likely that pig producers will also have to bear additional costs as a reult of the new legislation... The loading, unloading and vehicle washing, which often accounts for an extra 30–50% of overall working time, now has to be included as part of the drivers' overall working time... http://www.tnn.co.uk/RTD/plonearticle.2005-04-19.4281779254

TRANSFER - ITALY - Europe Comm. encourages transfer goods to sea

Rome,Italy -Transport News Network/UK -20 Apr 2005: --: The European Commission authorised today a € 240 Million aid scheme for the next 3 years to encourage the transfer of heavy goods vehicles from road to sea. Subsidies will be granted to road haulage companies which make use of existing or new maritime routes instead of roads... Transferring road traffic to maritime transport is one of the measures to combat road congestion proposed by Commission’s 2001 White Paper on European Transport Policy...

OIL PRICES - UK - New Fuel Protest By Hauliers

UK -Transport News Network -20 Apr 2005: -- Claiming it is driving them out of business, Hauliers in North Wales last night threatened to strike in protest at fuel tax... Company bosses are preparing to pull their vehicles off the road and give drivers a week's holiday to highlight their plight... They say that their businesses are being crippled by the gulf of difference between UK and European diesel prices... http://www.tnn.co.uk/CurrentIssues/plonearticle.2005-04-20.7184025369

PRODUCTS - UK - First U.S. Built Volvo D12 Engine Delivered

UK -Transport News Network -20 Apr 2005: -- The first U.S. built Volvo D12 engine for installation in a customer’s Volvo VN model truck was presented to AAA Cooper Transportation here on April 15. Previously, Volvo engines were produced in Sweden and exported to North America... http://www.tnn.co.uk/WorldwideNews/plonearticle.2005-04-20.4336507993

DEVELOPMENT - USA - U.S. Army developing hybrid vehicles

Would replace diesel-guzzling Humvees in non-combat roles such as security patrols
Montreal,Quebec,Canada -Montreal Gazette/CanWest News Service ,by CHRIS VANDER DOELEN -April 19 2005: -- The soaring cost of fuel has become such a burden to the American military, the U.S. Army is getting into the hybrid vehicle business... The Army's vehicle development wing, the National Automotive Centre, last week unveiled prototypes of a hybrid diesel-electric off-road vehicle capable of getting 60 miles per gallon... http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/driving/story.html?id=a52dcc12-a82d-44e6-9aef-10ae2b700937

TAXS - INDIA - Penalty harness on trucks

Calcutta Telegraph - Calcutta,India -18 Apr 2005: -- With overloaded trucks criss-crossing Howrah and also frequently causing accidents after entering the city, the district motor vehicles (MV) department has decided to undertake a special drive against the heavy-duty offenders... It has also decided to haul up motorcycle-owners evading the newly-imposed lifetime tax on their vehicles... http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050419/asp/calcutta/story_4631396.asp

TAX REBATE - USA - Bills aim to exempt U-Hauls from tax

RENTALS: Current law charges 10 percent fee on trucks, vans.
JUNEAU,Anchorage,AK,USA -Anchorage Daily News,by LARRY PERSILY -April 18th 2005: -- Legislators hadn't intended that any more Alaskans than absolutely necessary should have to pay the vehicle rental tax adopted two years ago, so they're going back into the law this year to exempt rentals of U-Hauls and other similar trucks and vans... http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6392135p-6271263c.html

FUEL BATTLE - USA - Trucks vs. Fuel Economy

USA -TruckTrend Magazine,by IntelliChoice -April 2005: -- Trucks and fuel economy are not happy partners. When trucks are designed, utility-oriented factors such as payload, towing capacity, and cargo space have greater influence on a designer's direction than does overall efficiency. At the other end of the spectrum, automakers looking to build high mileage into their models often forego some of the capabilities most important to truck and SUV buyers, focusing on smaller engines, lighter structures, and tighter passenger or cargo capacity... http://trucktrend.com/features/consumer/112_0501_ic_fuel/

OPINION - USA - On the electrified edge of a powertrain revolution

USA -TruckTrend Magazine/By IntelliChoice -April 2005: -- Automakers have been on a quest for heightened fuel economy and lower emissions for decades now, aiming for constantly moving government-mandated targets, as well as consumers who are demanding increased efficiency with each new vehicle purchase. Initially spurred by severe oil shortages in the '70s and '80s caused by OPEC oil embargoes and further provoked by today's ever-higher gas prices, consumers have developed a keen awareness of fuel economy... http://trucktrend.com/features/consumer/112_0501_ic_hybrid/

DISEASES - USA - Sign is meant to help keep trucks rolling

Milwaukee,WI,USA -Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,by Larry Sandler -April 17 2005: -- The patients were exhibiting all the classic symptoms of Lost Driver Syndrome... They would slow down, look around, pull over, check their maps and then try to make a U-turn... And their ailment might well have gone undiagnosed, except for one thing: They were driving semitrailer trucks on a city street... The truckers' befuddlement is the answer to Ken Schimpf III's question... http://www.jsonline.com/traffic/news/apr05/319202.asp

BUSINESS - VIETNAM - US' confident, stronger business links with

Hanoi,Vietnam -Voice of Viet Nam -18 Apr 2005: -- Two-way trade between Vietnam and the US has increased dramatically since the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) came into effect more than three years ago, said US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Marine at a conference in Hanoi on Monday that attracted nearly 150 Vietnamese and American women entrepreneurs... They include an industrial complex manufacturing heavy-duty trucks of the Vietnam Coal Corporation, the Tam Hai luxurious villa complex of the French ... http://www.vov.org.vn/2005_04_18/english/kinhte1.htm

OPTIMISM - USA - Trucking still good to go

USA - Fleet Owner,by Terrence Nguyen -Apr 14 2005: -- Despite disappointing first-quarter expectations from carriers such as USF Corp., Covenant Transport and U.S. Xpress Enterprises casting a pall over generally upbeat tonnage outlooks, the trucking industry remains bullish, experts say... his base of clients in the small- to medium-sized truckload, have had a very successful first quarter... (other) has enjoyed a tight freight market, which in turn allowed them to pass along higher rates...

PROFITS - USA - Truck sales boost profits for Navistar, Eaton

USA -Fleet Owner - Apr 15 2005: -- Navistar International Corp. has announced that its first-quarter earnings totaled $20 million, turning around the $14 million loss it posted for the same period last year.... said 1Q results reflect volume improvements tied to strong industry demand and “substantially” higher heavy-truck market share than in the first quarter of 2004.... http://fleetowner.com/news/truck_navistar_eaton_quarter_041505/

REGULATIONS - USA - Bush may back off U.S. passport plan

WASHINGTON,DF,USA -Today's Trucking News - April 15 2005: -- U.S. President George W. Bush has ordered a review of his own administration's recently announced rule requiring Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans to show U.S. Customs a passport upon entering the States... ttp://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3948

SECURITY - USA - Fingerprint security on Canadian hazmat haulers

WASHINGTON,DF,USA -Today's Trucking News - (April 18, 2005) -- The U.S. Senate Transportation Committee has approved a highway bill that would extend a rule requiring background checks for resident hazmat drivers to Canadian and Mexican haulers as well... The rule currently requires U.S. hazmat and dangerous goods drivers to undergo biometric background clearance before operating hazmat loads... However, while the rule for non-U.S. truck drivers is said to be "similar" to the one enforced on Americans, it's still unclear whether it would include a biometric component... http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3951

PRODUCTION - USA - GM/ISUZU Plant trucks out 50,000th model

Janesville,WI,USA -Janesville Gazette,By Jim Leute -April 14 2005: -- In Janesville's manufacturing sector, it's certainly one of the best-kept secrets... But 50 or so workers at the General Motors assembly plant in Janesville were front and center Wednesday as the plant celebrated the production of its 50,000th Isuzu/GM medium-duty truck... http://www.gazetteextra.com/gmisuzu041405.asp

PRODUCTS - USA - MACK Trucks Convert to DUPONT Imron System and Find Incresed Productivity

USA -Azom.com -15 Apr 2005: -- Converting to a DuPont™ Imron® finishing system made by DuPont CoatingSolutions has increased productivity by 25 percent at the Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania... http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=2904

PRODUCTION - TAIWAN - NAVISTAR in Partnership on $400 Million Taiwan Military Contract

WARRENVILLE,Ill,USA - BUSINESS WIRE(San Francisco,CA,USA) -April 14 2005: -- Navistar International Corporation today announced that its operating company International Truck and Engine Corporation in partnership with SanYang Industry Company LTD of Taiwan won a five-year contract worth approximately $400 million U.S. for the delivery of up to 5,000 trucks to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense... http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050414005508&newsLang=en

TRADES - NORTH KOREA - Border trade with China, getting busier

DANDONG, CHINA -The Christian Science Monitor (USA),by Robert Marquand -April 14 2005: -– That North Korea is or will soon be on the verge of collapse is a cherished hope in influential White House circles. But here at the biggest trading point between China and North Korea, few believe that will happen... For Chinese flooring and seafood salesmen, drivers, brokers, and local officials who deal with the North, the economy across the river is getting better... http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0414/p01s04-woap.html

BRANDS - USA - GM to add logo to all cars, trucks

DETROIT,MI,USA -Detroit Free Press/AP -April 13, 2005: -- General Motors Corp. says it will put its corporate logo on every car and truck it sells in North America in an effort to better link its eight nameplates with the parent company... The automaker said Tuesday that it plans to use the logo first on new vehicles such as the Buick LaCrosse and Pontiac G6... http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw114315_20050413.htm

SALES - GERMANY - Bosch to Sell Engine Emission Parts to Fuso's Trucks

USA -Bloomberg -Apr 8 2005: -- ... for the so-called SCR system, which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by spraying urea into diesel engines, would be fitted in Fuso's trucks, said the component ... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=av0c_iRqVIO8&refer=germany

SALES - USA - GM & FORD sales cool off in March, but not trucks

Seattle,USA -Seattle Post Intelligencer -April 8, 2005: -- General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said recently that new-vehicle sales in March failed to match year-ago levels, despite hopes for a recovery after a tough winter... Meanwhile, in an oft-repeated pattern, some Asian brands reported record demand... March's results created a conflicting message about the effect of rising gas prices on buying habits, as several automakers, including GM, Ford and Nissan, reported soaring demand for trucks... http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels/219065_tw108.html

SALES - INDIA - Srei buy 10,000 Tata trucks

Kolkata,India -Business Standard -April 09 2005: -- Srei Infrastructure Finance (formerly Srei International Finance Ltd) and its associate company Indian Infrastructure Equipment Limited today signed a deal with Tata Motors for 10,000 Tata vehicles... http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=185753

PRODUCTION - VIETNAM - New trucks roll out

Vietnam -Vietnam Economic Times -07/04/2005: -- The Truong Hai Automobile Company, based in southern Dong Nai Province, has unveiled a new truck model named the Foton. Chinese firm Foton Auto Group manufacture the 1.4-1.7 tonne vehicle... The price tag on a Foton truck is just 50-60% of similar models from the Republic of Korea. Truong Hai will initially stock Foton trucks imported from China, but plans to begin assembling them in Vietnam... http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/eng/?param=article&catid=06&id=050407142924

STATISTICS - USA - FMCSA kills carrier stats program

USA -FLEET OWNER -Apr 12 2005: -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced it has terminated the collection and dissemination of motor carrier financial and operating statistics... The program was designed to collect annual and quarterly data from motor carriers including balance sheet and income statement data along with information on tonnage, mileage, employees, transportation equipment and other related items... http://fleetowner.com/news/fmcsa_carrier_financial_operating_stat_041205/

PRODUCTION - USA - GM's Isuzu truck rolls out milestone

JANESVILLE,WI,USA -Fleet Owner -Apr 13 2005: -- General Motors Corp. has delivered its 50,000th Isuzu low cab forward gas model... “The N-Series gas model is important to production because it offers our customers a very distinctive and durable medium-duty truck option. As the only low cab forward gasoline model in the U.S., we’re extremely proud of our product’s reputation and success”... http://fleetowner.com/news/isuzu_low_cab_forward_n_series_041305/

ECOLOGY - USA - EPA addressing patchwork idle regs

EPA addressing patchwork idle regs
USA -Fleet Owner,by Terrence Nguyen -Apr 13 2005: -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting a series of regional meetings to develop a model national anti-idling law applicable to heavy-duty trucks and buses... The forum is open to all industry stakeholders including state representatives of environmental agencies, trucking associations, truck drivers, environmental groups and health associations... http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/epa_anti_idling_model_law_041305/

`PRODUCTION - USA - KENWORTH luxury cabs to lure scarce truckers

Kenworth Truck Co. has developed a new weapon in the battle for heavy-truck market share: luxury interiors.
Seattle,WA,USA -Puget Sound Business Journal,by Steve Wilhelm -April 8 2005: -- The company's first major interior redesign in six years is intended to bolster the already formidable market position of Kenworth's parent company, Bellevue-based Paccar Inc., which is now the No. 2 truck builder in North America... The car-like interiors, calculated to attract drivers to Kenworth trucks in the midst of a industry-wide driver shortage, are aimed at complementing Kenworth's strengths in engineering, manufacturing and aerodynamic design... http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/04/11/story2.html

STORY - USA - Penis too small? Buy a big truck

Bowling Green,OH,USA -Bowling Green News,by Scott Seel -April 11, 2005: -- Scientists have just released a clinical study proving without a doubt that there is a direct relationship between the size of a man's truck and the size of a man's penis... Yes, just take a look around this campus and you'll see: the real men drive real big and real loud, pick'em-up trucks...

PRODUCTION - CHINA - MERCEDES ponders truck production

BEIJING,China -Xinhua -April 11 2005: -- Mercedes-Benz Trucks owned by DaimlerChrysler, is to further consolidate its position in China... At the forthcoming Auto Shanghai 2005, to be held from April 22-28, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will launch its latest truck series - Atego and Axor... The auto firm commanded 32 per cent of China's heavy-duty truck market last year, while it aims to expand its market share to 40 per cent within a few years... http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/11/content_2812401.htm

ECOLOGY - USA A- The Week in Sustainable Vehicles

USA -WorldChanging -10 Apr 2005: -- Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were much in the news this week, as the 21st Electric Vehicle Show ran in Monaco, Toshiba announced a major breakthrough in Lithium Ion battery capability, and the New York Times and Business Week wrote pieces (available here) on plug-in hybrid conversions... http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002511.html

FUEL PRICES STORY - USA- "To lose some sleep"

Grass Valley/Nevada City,CA,USA -Nevada City Union,by George Boardman -April 8, 2005: -- "I have always been a gambler," Lowell Robinson said recently, but the surge in Nevada County's fuel prices has caused even the veteran entrepreneur: "To lose some sleep"... Logging trucks owned by Robinson Enterprises of Grass Valley are ready for the start of the timber harvest season, but volatile fuel prices make bidding on jobs a gamble... http://www.theunion.com/article/20050408/NEWS/50408003

PRODUCTION - NA - Ward's Reports Estimated

SOUTHFIELD,Mich,USA -PRNewswire -April 8 2005: -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 338,724 units, up 14.1 percent from the 296,772 cars and trucks built last week, according to WardsAuto.com ... http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-08-2005/0003343032&EDATE=

REGULATIONS - USA - International Trade Commission Prohibits Importation and Sale of ZF and ArvinMeritor Transmissions

San Francisco,CA,USA -Business Wire -April 08, 2005: -- CLEVELAND,OH,USA: Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced that the International Trade Commission (ITC) yesterday issued a remedy in Eaton's favor in an unfair import proceeding that Eaton brought against ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF), ArvinMeritor, Inc. (ARM) and ZF Meritor LLC (ZFM)... http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050408005187&newsLang=en

STORIES - CANADA - Drivers are crazy about their vehicles

Trucks are never perfect enough
Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada -The Province,by Ian Harwood -April 08 2005: -- People are totally crazy about their trucks. Look no further than heavy-duty truck mechanic Paul Mayfield of Langley for evidence of B.C.ers' huge fascination with these vehicles that have taken on a far bigger role than that of the workhorses they were intended to be... http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/driving/story.html?id=4c865cbd-7d28-4f18-92a0-2333ad870b4b

INFRAESTRUCTURE - EUROPE - Transport networks key in improving new Member States'

Brussels,Belgium -Euractiv -11 May 2004: -- The new Member States have been integrated into ten Trans-European Transport Networks. These projects aim to make transport infrastructure more efficient while promoting sustainable transport... http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-117821-16&type=News

DOCUMENT - EUROPE - White Paper on future common transport policy

Brussels,Belgium -Euractiv -13 Oct 2004: -- On 12 September 2001, the Commission presented its White Paper on the future common transport policy. The 130-page document proposes 60 measures to overhaul the current transport policy in order to make it more sustainable and avoid huge economic losses due to congestion, pollution and accidents... http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-129628-16&type=LinksDossier

ECOLOGY - EUROPE - Green cars

Brussels,Belgium -Euractiv -15 Nov 2004: -- The EU is promoting the marketing of greener cars via a combination of binding and non-binding measures. 'Clean vehicles' include low emission conventionally fuelled vehicles as well as those powered by alternative fuels. The production of such vehicles, generating less CO2 emissions, requires innovation in fuels, alternative powertrain technology, noise reduction and new materials... http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-117504-16&type=LinksDossier

ECOLOGY - EURO 5 emissions standards for diesel cars

Brussels,Belgium -Euractiv -8 April 2005: -- With the next generation standards for diesel cars (known as Euro 5) currently under preparation for 2010, some member states including France and Germany have already started to press ahead with measures of their own... http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-133325-16&type=LinksDossier

TAXES - CANADA - Have been revving up prices

Canada -Globe and MailBy ALEX LAW -April 7 2005: -- The situation with trucks is not so straightforward, since Statscan includes about 35,000 heavy-duty trucks in a "commercial vehicles" file. DesRosiers estimates that this will put the average truck price "several thousand dollars" above what the average price would be for what the auto industry calls the "light truck segment"... Over all, DesRosiers points out, "the vehicle is the biggest tax target in Canada, and one of these days our governments are going to have to realize that if they want the million direct jobs tied to the manufacturing, distribution, sales and repairs of vehicles, then they are going to have to tax the vehicle owner less"... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050407.wxwhinside07/BNStory/specialMegawheels/

REPLACEMENT - USA - Engines Promotion Program 2005

Detroit,MICH,USA -Khalsa News Network/Punjab,India -07 Apr 2005: -- Detroit Diesel (DDC) announced that it will continue its highly successful Series 60 Step UP overhaul package and reliabilt engine replacement promotion into 2005... With cost saving business solutions for Series 60 customers in mind, Step UP was first introduced in 2002 to owners of Series 60 engines nearing 800,000 logged miles. It provides four levels of simple, cost effective, warranted options to extend the life of current engines... http://www.kntimes.com/knreleases/fullstory03054-insight-news-status-1-newsID-209.html

SOFTWARE - USA - OSHKOSH Chooses Open-Source Linux's database

Cedar Park,TX,USA -LinuxElectrons -April 06 2005: -- Oshkosh, known for making some of the toughest trucks in the world, selected an ITTIA database solution... The company makes heavy-duty vehicles for the defense, fire emergency and commercial industries... http://www.linuxelectrons.com/article.php/20050406120951823

PRODUCTS - CHINA - WEICHAI diversifies to fight slowdown in core business

Hong Kong -The Standard,by Carol Chan -April 7 2005: -- Weichai Power, one of China's largest diesel-engine manufacturers, plans to seek new markets in shipping, power generation and buses to offset slowing growth in its core business of supplying engines for trucks... Sales of heavy-duty diesel engines capable of hauling loads of eight tons or more grew 12.6 percent to 1.3 million units last year, Tan said. He expects overall volume to be flat this year, with most of the growth coming in engines that can handle 15 tons or more... http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Markets/GD07Ag06.html

PRODUCTS - USA - Newest Addition to the Truck-Lite Family

Falconer,New York - Layover.com/Akron,PA,USA -04/06/2005: -- Truck-Lite Co., Inc., Falconer, NY, introduced a new revolutionary concept in interior trailer and truck lighting at the Mid America Trucking Show today. The patent pending LED Super Strip-Lite is a new form of lighting using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) evenly spaced on a fabricated aluminum channel... http://www.layover.com/cgi-bin/portal/printnews.pl/8218.html

CRASH TESTS - USA - GM Trucks Fare Poorly in

USA -Consumer Affairs -April 6, 2005: -- Federal safety regulators say the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra have the lowest ratings in crash tests for 2005 pickup trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave both the two-door and four-door versions of the Silverado and Sierra only three out of five stars for passenger-side frontal crash tests... http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/nhtsa_trucks.html

SALES PROMOTIONS - USA - GM to give away 1,000 cars and trucks in 2-month sale

USA -Bloomberg News, Jeff Green and Bill Koenig -Apr. 5, 2005: --
General Motors Corp. revived a giveaway of 1,000 cars and trucks over two months to attract buyers to showrooms, after losing U.S. market share to Toyota Motor Corp. and other Asian rivals in the first quarter... The Hot Button program awards vehicles when customers push a button in designated 2006 models at the correct time, the Detroit- based company said in a statement today. The offer runs from April 11 to May 31 and repeats a program that GM said attracted 2 million people to its dealerships early last year... http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0405gm-sales05-ON.html

SALES - INDONESIA - SCANIA Breaks Into Indonesian Mining Industry

SODERTALJE, Sweden -PRIMEZONE -April 5, 2005: -- Scania has sold its first trucks to the expanding Indonesian coalmining industry... has signed a contract to supply a total of 120 heavy Scania trucks to the Indonesian mining company, Gunung Bayan... http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/?d=75681

SALES - AUSTRALIA - Heavy trucks soaring, with a 14.5 percent increase

Australia -Australasian Bus and Coach/Publishing Services Australia -5 Apr 2005: -- The heavy truck market is soaring, with a 14.5 percent increase on sales in March from a year before... Heavy trucks were up 337 veihles... Lcvs were down 1,621 with a major fall in pick up trucks/one tonners (probably because of model update with Toyota's HiLux), but vans were also down 16.8 percent and the 2.5 tonne truck segment down 32.1 percent...
http://www.trucknbus.com.au/abc/displaystory.cfm?storyid=22173

ECOLOGY - USA - FUEL COMPARISSONS

Why are we even having this discussion?
New York,NY,USA -Industrial News Room,by Harry & Linda Clift -April 13 2005: --
* Corn energy cost less than coal and is clean.
* Corn ethanol cleans up gasolene at 90/10.
* Soybean methanol cleans up diesel as biodiesel 80/20.
* Coal generates electricity and can be clean as at Tenn Eastman, Kingsport. There is a known 500+ yr supply of coal in America... http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2005/04/hybrid_cars_get_1.html?WT.mc_t=imt&WT.mc_n=site_entry

DISCUSSIONS - USA - Hybrid Cars Get "Green-Tuned" ?

New York,NY,USA -Industrial News Room,by Katrina C. Arabe -April 12 2005: -- The no-plug-in-needed feature of the new gas-electric cars is supposed to be a good thing. But many enthusiasts are "rewiring" their cars claiming to get up to 180 mpg. How are automakers responding to such remodeling? The concept of plug-in gas-electric cars has already gained the support of diverse groups, from conservatives and environmentalists, who look to fuel efficiency as a central issue in bolstering national security and preventing climate change, to utilities, who are eager to oust oil in favor of electricity. Plugging in a hybrid overnight--at any electrical outlet--would allow users to consume dramatically less gas by running on battery power alone for long stretches. Additionally, car owners wouldn't have to plug them in unless they want to, unlike purely electric cars that require frequent, time-consuming recharging. And since most of the charging up would occur off-hours, power plant efficiency would actually increase since plants can't just shut down at night when demand takes a nosedive.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are especially promising because many contend they may be able to stem the growth of oil imports and even put a dent on consumption. In comparison, conventional hybrid electric cars, while gas-saving, are expected to ease the growth rate of oil imports only slightly, at best, given the growth projections for oil consumption.
Advocates point out that costs will go down with high-volume production, but the investment necessary for mass production represents a huge risk, especially with the availability of other higher fuel efficiency systems, including advanced diesels and upgraded gasoline or hydrogen engines. "All these technologies are great. But there is a tremendous amount of uncertainty," says David E. Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research. For instance, it's not known if gas prices will increase enough to stimulate demand for high-mileage cars. Still, plug-ins are winning support from high levels. For instance, the bipartisan National Commission on Energy Policy made plug-ins a key component of its energy strategy last December. And the Set America Free coalition, a group of conservatives and environmentalists, is lobbying for $2 billion in incentives, asserting that "if all cars on the road are hybrids and half are plug-in hybrid vehicles, U.S. oil imports would drop by 8 million barrels per day"... http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2005/04/hybrid_cars_get_1.html?WT.mc_t=imt&WT.mc_n=site_entry

SALES - USA - Truck sector suffers slump in orders

UK -Financial Times,by Bernard Simon -April 5 2005: -- The booming north American truck market hit the brakes unexpectedly hard last month, reinforcing recent evidence that high fuel costs and transport congestion might be taking a toll on broader economic activity... ACT Research reported that, based on preliminary data, orders for heavy-duty trucks in the US, Canada and Mexico tumbled to 25,100 vehicles in March, a quarter lower than a year earlier and the first year-on-year decline since May... http://news.ft.com/cms/s/0c58c1d6-a618-11d9-b67b-00000e2511c8.html

ECOLOGY - USA - H-E-B receives statewide award for environmental achievements

San Antonio,TX,USA -San Antonio Business Journal,by Torence White -April 5 2005: -- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will give San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (H-E-B) the state's highest environmental honor... In 2004, H-E-B converted 32 heavy-duty trucks to run on cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG)... http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/04/04/daily12.html

PRODUCTS - USA - CHEVRON 400 Multigrade Diesel Engine Oil Meets New European Specification

Chevron-Delo. Meets Rigorous Requirements and Reinforces Global Platform Position
SAN RAMON,Calif,USA -BUSINESS WIRE -April 5 2005: -- ChevronTexaco Products Company (ChevronTexaco), a leading provider of heavy-duty engine oils, lubricants and coolants, today announced that its premium Chevron Delo(R) 400 Multigrade SAE 15W-40 heavy-duty engine oil meets the new European ACEA E7-04 specification... http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050405005876&newsLang=en

PRODUCTS - USA - CUMMINS Integrated Engine and Particulate Filter for EPA '07

Toronto,ON,Canada -Webbolt Business News subscription -Apr 05 2005: -- Cummins Inc. announces that it will meet the stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2007 emissions standards for on-highway heavy-duty trucks by integrating the Cummins Particulate Filter with its current cooled-Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) engine technology... http://webbolt.ecnext.com/coms2/description_47528_CUMMINS050405_EQU

SECURITY - USA - New warning systems guard against lane departure accidents

Wake-Up Call for Inattentive Drivers
Newton,MA,USA -Design News,by Lawrence D. Maloney -April 4 2005: --Drowsy, distracted, daydreaming. Those "3-D" driving habits can add up to diasaster when careless motorists drift out of their lanes or off the highway... a new device that snaps drivers back to reality with all the grace of a rumble strip: lane departure warning (LDW) systems... http://www.designnews.com/article/CA513605.html?section=supplement

THEFT - SUDAN - Threatens Ability To Feed Millions

New Zealand -Scoop/United Nations press release -4 April 2005: --Attacks And Theft Seriously Threaten UN Ability To Feed Millions In Sudan’s Darfur... Shootings, attacks on drivers and thefts of contracted trucks carrying critically needed food aid in Sudan’s war-ravaged western Darfur region are seriously threatening the ability of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to assist millions of people at a time when needs are increasing daily... http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0504/S00052.htm

ECOLOGY - CANADA - Latest Drive Clean phase begins for trucks

TORONTO,CAN -Todays' Trucking -April 4 2005: -- Ontario's heavy-duty Drive Clean emission testing rules entered a new stringent phase...
Trucks older than 1990 will face pollution controls of 40 percent opacity, and 30 percent opacity for models newer than 1991. That's down from 35 percent opacity for post-1991 trucks and 45 per cent opacity for pre-1990 vehicles -- the first phase of the new Drive Clean standard that took effect in 2004... http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3917

OPINION - CANADA - Why make laws that will be broken?

CANADA -Todays' Trucking,by Jim Park -April 2005: -- The strange thing is, they're locking horns over how to write into the plan a deliberate contravention of the rules so it all looks legal and holds true to the spirit of the regulation. I'm speaking about the so-called 48-hour averaging provision where a driver might be allowed to work a few extra hours one day but has to cut back by a corresponding amount the following day. In principal, the two workdays should total no more than 26 hours of driving with a minimum of 20 hours off duty... http://www.todaystrucking.com/perspective.cfm

SECURITY - CANADA - New tie-down penalties

http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3935
LANGLEY, B.C. (April 11, 2005) -- The government of B.C. has published load securement penalties in preparation for the new standard effective July 1, 2005... The new rules mean truckers must follow a new set of tie-down standards. Cargo must be immobilized or secured so that it can't: leak; spill; blow; fall from the vehicle; fall through the vehicle; or otherwise become dislodged, shift upon or within the vehicle so that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is affected... http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3935

STORIES - USA - Texas trucker named Highway Hero

LOUISVILLE,Ky.,USA -Today's Trucking -April 5 2005: -- Rick Dent, a 6-ft, 300-pound driver for Groendyke Transport Inc., was honoured named the 2004 North American Highway Hero... for saving the life of Bob Strickland and his small children, Megan and Paul, when Strickland's car swerved to miss a deer and landed in a water-filled ditch... said Dent swam to the car, and "pulled the door open about 3 inches, but it was stuck. Suddenly, my daughter screamed again, and he grabs the door and pulls it off the car like it is made of cardboard."...
http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3919

SALES - CANADA - DAIMLER CHRYSLER, March down 17.4 percent

WINDSOR,ON,CAN -CNW Telbec -April 1 2005: -- DaimlerChrysler Canada today reported a total of 17,761 units sold in March, including 4,563 cars and 13,198 trucks... Compared to very strong March 2004 sales of 21,491 units, sales for the month are down 17.4 percent. Car sales increased 34.7 percent from 3,387 units last year and truck sales declined 27.1 percent from 18,104 units... http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/April2005/01/c1318.html

PRODUCTION - USA - PACCAR’s Plimpton calls for quality

LOUISVILLE,KY.,USA -Fleet Owner,by David Cullen - Apr 1 2005: -- At the annual Heavy Duty Manufacturers Assn. Breakfast at the Mid-America Trucking Show, Tom Plimpton, president of Paccar Inc., said growth in the truck market will depend on how truck OEMs and their suppliers step up to the plate... http://fleetowner.com/news/paccar_plimpton_supplier_040105/

BUSINESS - INDIA - The long and bumpy road to business in India

MUMBAI,India - Asia Times Online:Hong Kong,by Raja M - Apr 2 2005: -- An estimated 1.2 million trucks daily roar across 80,000km of Indian plains, mountains and plateaus... The annual road-transport market is gauged to be worth about US$95 million, but could increase to more than $125 million if road conditions improve, says the transport industry... http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GD02Df04.html

SALES - GERMANY - Wins US$1.5 Billion U.K. Order for Trucks

USA -Bloomberg -April 1 2005: -- MAN AG, Germany's second-largest truckmaker, won an order worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.94 billion) from the U.K. defense ministry to deliver 5,200 heavy trucks... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=aXvN0E0zJ0uI&refer=germany

SALES - USA - OEMs project banner 2005

LOUISVILLE, KY.,USA -Fleet Owner,by Sean Kilcarr and Terrence Nguyen-Mar 31 2005: -- OEMs seem to have reached a consensus that a robust economy, coupled with pent-up replacement demand, will make 2005 a banner year for truck sales... Volvo Trucks North America, a subsidiary of AB Volvo, believes truck sales should continue to grow about 15% to 20% over 2004 across all segments of the industry,... http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/oem_mats_truck_sales_forecast_033105/

PRODUCTS - USA - VOLVO introduces new highway trucks

Greensboro,NC,USA -Triad Business Journal -31 March 2005: -- Volvo Trucks North America Inc. introduced a line of highway trucks featuring its new 16-liter engine... The trucks with the new engines are built for long-haul trucking companies and are designed to meet federal emissions standards that become law in 2007 and 2010... http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2005/03/28/daily42.html

SALES - USA - GM, & Ford sales down. Up for TOYOTA & NISSAN

DETROIT,Mi,USA -CNN/Reuters -April 1 2005: -- General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. posted weaker sales on Friday, as high gasoline prices hurt demand for SUVs in March, while Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. reported double-digit gains and their best month ever... http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/01/news/fortune500/carsales.reut/

PRODUCTION - THAILAND - TATA Motors in talks to assemble in Thailand

Bombay,India -Financial Express -March 31 2005: Tata Motors Ltd said it is in talks with a Thai partner to set up a plant to assemble pickup trucks in Thailand as the Indian company seeks new markets... http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=86638

CANADA - Grew a modest gain in January

Ottawa,CAN -Business Journal -March 31 2005: -- Canada's economy grew by a modest 0.2 per cent in January, the same growth rate posted in December, thanks to a rebound in the retailing sector and renewed vigour in manufacturing... Aerospace products and parts, heavy-duty trucks, fabricated metal products, machinery, and food products manufacturers were responsible for much of the strength in the industrial sector... http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/282961625801591.php

PRODUCTS - USA - DDC Enhances Vocational Offerings with New Engines

New attributes provide businesses productivity improvements/solutions
LOUISVILLE, Ky,USA -PRNewswire -March 31 205: -- Long known for its prominence in the heavy-duty diesel engine market, Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) is proving it's a driving force in medium-duty and vocational markets as well... the company announced it is offering new un-restricted ratings for its 900 series Mercedes-Benz MBE 900 engine, as well as the launch of Rear Engine Power Take-Off (REPTO) for its MBE 4000 engine... http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-31-2005/0003294752&EDATE=

INSURANCE - USA - ARROWS adds insurance options

USA -Fleet Owner(subscription) -Mar 30 2005: -- Arrow Truck Sales, Inc. is now offering its used truck customers physical damage insurance and non-trucking liability coverage, thanks to its partnership with Lockton Risk Services... http://fleetowner.com/news/arrow_truck_insurance_033005/

SALES - USA - Vehicles with diesel option up

High gasoline prices give life to diesel powered vehicles
WASHINGTON,USA - MarketWatch,by Stephanie I. Cohen -March 30, 2005 -- U.S. sales of vehicles that offer customers the option of a diesel- or gasoline-powered engine are up nearly 56 percent over the past five years... The rising popularity of vehicles that can be run on diesel is not surprising given the greater efficiency of diesel engines... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BA51B0681-D3BC-4EFA-A912-428D0E569F3B%7D&siteid=google&dist=google&cbsReferrer=webmail.latinmail.com

STORIES - USA - DRIVING THE SOUTHEAST

Akron,PA,USA - Layover.com - 03/30/2005: -- Geography - From Florida to California to Canada, there are things to know about driving in the different regions of North America... By ex.: Southeast - Areas: West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida
Cities: Atlanta, Miami... http://www.layover.com/newbies/geography/southeast.html

PRODUCTS - USA - KENWORTH Introduces New Models with World-Class Quality

Akron,PA,USA - Layover.com - 03/30/2005: -LOUISVILLE,Ky,USA: -- Kenworth Truck Company today announced a major product introduction with the launch of its new 2006 Model T600, T800, W900 and C500 Class 8 trucks, with World-Class Quality, Comfort and Productivity... http://www.layover.com/cgi-bin/portal/printnews.pl/8194.html

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Apr 30, 2005

COMMENTS - USA - Trucks need more maintaining inspected more often

TECHNOLOGY - USA - First port to check radiation

ECOLOGY - CANADA - Natural gas: the route to a 'clean air corridor'

POLITICS - SWEDEN - SCANIA: Innovations Get Customers

PERSPECTIVES - USA - Heavy truck demand surges across North America

PRODUCTION - NA - Ward's Reports Estimated

TECHNOLOGY - UK - ‘COAL fuelled' trucks envisaged in US study

REGULATIONS - USA - Judge rejects challenge to diesel emission

PRODUCTION - INDIA - URAL to make trucks in Haldia

PRODUCTION - JAPAN - Auto Up in March

FUTURE - UK - HYBRID heavy trucks ‘will capture 8.9% US market

MATCHMAKER - USA - Without trucks, business puts the move on goods

EVENT - USA - KENWORTH Vocational Trucks Impress Customers

ECOLOGY AWARDS - USA - Texas' Gvr Receive State's Highest Environmental Honor

Apr 27, 2005

PRICES - USA - Filtering fuel costs

FEES - USA - Supreme Court considers Michigan truck fees

TECNOLOGY - USA - Fatigue indicator hat

BUYING GROUP - USA - Independent Haulers Alliance

MUDDIES - USA - Federal Reserve: Fuel muddies outlook for trucking

TECHNOLOGY - S. KOREA - MOBIS Develops New Scale for Trucks

Apr 26, 2005

RECALLS - USA - GM Recalls 2 Million Trucks, SUVs

EARNINGS- USA - Increased for VOLVO & PACCAR

SALES - USA - First-quarter deliveries are 65 % ahead of last year's levels.

Apr 25, 2005

INVESTMENT - CHINA - ROBERT BOSCH to invest further $US600mlln

INVESTMENT - BANGLADESH - TATA Group submits report on U$S 2BLN

PRODUCTION - CHINA - KHODRO Irans's sign deal to manufacture cars

Apr 23, 2005

TECHNECOLOGY - USA - Making solar hot

SECURITY - USA - Technology to decrease accidents and fatalities

TOLLS - EUROPE - Trucks to pay higher tolls

CHANGES - INDIA - State to slam brakes on pre-1985 trucks

ECOLOGY - USA - NYC to clean up refuse trucks by 2009

INCENTIVES - USA - To retire, or retrofit, older trucks to cut pollution.

PRICES UP - USA - County buyers still like big vehicles

Apr 21, 2005

ECOLOGY - THAILAND - Government Encourages CNG, Ethanol, Biodiesel

TECHNECOLOGY - USA - Electric Car Goes for Land Speed Record

ECOLOGY - USA - Action in the House on the Energy Bill Today

ECOLOGY - THAILAND - Cooking oil as feedstock for biodiesel

BUSSINESS - USA - REMY Expands Global Operations in China Company

SALES - USA - Engine sales for heavy duty trucks rises 47%

PRICES - USA - A plethora of price increases

PRODUCTION - USA - NAFTA heavy-duty trucks, up 5%

PRICES - USA - Truck, equipment costs still set to rise

Apr 20, 2005

PRODUCTION - CHINA - Renault to set up heavy-duty truck venture

ECOLOGY - USA - One man's trash, is another man's gas

ECOLOGIA - USA - New York to Pass Strict Rules on Emissions

RESEARCH - UK - Bigger trucks bring bigger benefits

ENTERPRISES - USA - PACCAR's record centenary

TECHNOLOGY - UK - Diesel from plastic bags

TECHNOLOGY - UK - New solution for tyred old problem

TECHNOLOGY - UK - The future of Dualmode?

ECOLOGY - UK - Biodiesel hits the big time

DECIDING - USA - DaimlerChrysler wins fraud trial

OFFENCE - UK - Bad driving review

ECOLOGY - KYOTO - Protocol, scapegoats?

TOLLS - UK - Green Light for EU Road Tolls?

BIODIESEL - UK - Another option

RULES - UK - Force hauliers to limit their working week

REGULATIONS - UK - Ripple Effect Of The Road Transport Directive

TRANSFER - ITALY - Europe Comm. encourages transfer goods to sea

OIL PRICES - UK - New Fuel Protest By Hauliers

PRODUCTS - UK - First U.S. Built Volvo D12 Engine Delivered

Apr 19, 2005

DEVELOPMENT - USA - U.S. Army developing hybrid vehicles

TAXS - INDIA - Penalty harness on trucks

TAX REBATE - USA - Bills aim to exempt U-Hauls from tax

FUEL BATTLE - USA - Trucks vs. Fuel Economy

OPINION - USA - On the electrified edge of a powertrain revolution