Trucks World News: October 2006

Oct 31, 2006

Border News - China & North Korea - Business as usual

Despite UN sanctions, everything from instant noodles to industrial machinery is flowing without controls into the rogue state

DANDONG,CHINA -The Globe and Mail (Canada), by GEOFFREY YORK -31 Oct 2006: -- Mr. Li, a veteran 60-year-old Chinese businessman, sells $2-million to $3-million in goods to North Korea every year. And, despite sanctions that the White House describes as a tough new measure, he is confident he can keep selling the same amount of goods to the newly nuclear state next year... Here on the North Korean border, the cross-border trade is still flourishing. Dozens of trucks and trains continue to rumble across the Friendship Bridge from China into North Korea every day... “There are just as many trucks as there were before the sanctions,” Mr. Li says...

PRODUCTS * USA - Kenworth introduces K360 cabover model for urban delivery companies

KIRKLAND, Wash,USA -Truck News (CAN), byAdam Ledlow -31 Oct 2006: -- Kenworth is introducing the new K360 Class 7 cabover model for urban delivery companies... The Kenworth K360 is designed for companies that deliver goods in urban areas and require a highly maneuverable truck with 22- to 26-ft body size, the company says...

Market - USA - Cummins reports highest third quarter profits in company history

COLUMBUS,Ind,USA -Truck News, by Adam Ledlow -31 Oct 2006: -- Cummins has continued its strong performance in the third quarter, reporting an 18% increase in net earnings on a 14% increase in sales, compared to the same period in 2005...

Truck Sales - Canada - Orders drop sharply as 2006 winds down

TORONTO, Ont,Canada -Truck News, by James Menzies -30 Oct 2006: -- Orders for heavy-duty trucks have plunged by 30% since March, according to a global auto report from Scotia Economics... The slump has been predicted by industry observers, thanks to the increasing cost of equipment set to roll out in 2007 that meets stringent new emissions rules. Most trucking companies pre-bought their equipment in early 2006 to delay their investment in the costly new 2007 engines...

Oakland To Sacramento Cargo - USA - Plan To Swap Trucks For Barges

The idea will require taxpayer support

San Francisco,CA,USA -abc7news.com -Oct. 30, 2006: -- There is a plan afloat to cut down on traffic congestion and pollution by using huge barges instead of trucks to transport goods between the port of Oakland and Sacramento... A barge trip from the port of Oakland to Sacramento may take about 10 hours, far longer than the two-hour truck journey, but this could be the wave of the future for transporting goods, especially if it rings in the projected benefits... The report says to be profitable, these barges need to operate at capacity. When full, they would take more than 400 trucks off Interstate-80, helping reduce diesel pollution and traffic congestion...

T & L COMMENT * Asia Pacific express/logistics investment continues apace

UK -Transport Intelligence -30 Oct 2006: -- In line with the continuing heavy investment in China and S.E. Asia, two of the leading global express players appear to be making major additions to their infrastructure in the region... Last week DHL announced that it was to develop an air cargo hub at Shanghai (Pudong) International Airport, specifically for its express parcel operations. This is part of its joint-venture with Sinotrans, which is based out of Shanghai but covers the whole of China. The DHL –Sinotrans Express parcels business is the largest in China with an estimated 40% of the market. In addition to the air cargo hub, the DHL-Sinotrans Express parcels business is building a corporate HQ in Shanghai and expanding its branch network to 72 offices throughout China... Whilst China is a fragmented market, with major differences between the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai and Beijing, the fact that companies such as DHL and UPS are investing in more than one hub in the region illustrates the size of their growth expectations. If expansion continues at this pace the China air-hub infrastructure of the two companies could shortly be larger than DHL has in the US or UPS has in Europe...

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC WORLDWIDE

* Germany - DHL foresees double digit growth in Americas
Germany -DHL (Press Release) -30 Oct 2006: -- DHL Express International Americas has announced that it is aiming for double-digit growth for its business volumes in 2007, based on forecasts of continued economic growth in the region...

* Germany - DHL wins new US express client
Germany -DHL (Press Release) -30 Oct 2006: -- DHL has been selected by U.S. Recordings as its exclusive U.S. express delivery provider. U.S. Recordings, the industry leader in real estate document recording solutions, will use DHL for transportation of real estate document filings to and from lenders and mortgage companies...

* Germany - DHL launches new online Import Express product
Germany -DHL (Press Release) -30 Oct 2006: -- Global express company DHL has launched DHL Import Express Online, its latest web-based tool designed to give customers more control over their imports or third-party (country-to-country) shipments...

* USA - UPS partners with IT provider to drive lean supply chains
Atlanta,GA,USA -UPS (PR) -30 Oct 2006: -- Pelion Systems, a market leader in Manufacturing Operating Systems based on Lean principles, and UPS have announced a new relationship designed to help manufacturers drive lean supply chains...

* USA - ProLogis exploits strong market conditions
Denver,COL,USA -ProLogis (PR) -23 Oct 2006: -- In its quarterly results ProLogis, one of the world's largest owners, managers and developers of distribution facilities, has reported strong markets with rents growing at their highest level for more than four years...

* Swiss - K+N continues to expand across all sectors
Schindellegi,Switzerland -Press Release -30 Oct 2006: -- Logistics group Kuehne + Nagel has released its results for the first nine months of 2006. Sea, air, road and contract logistics businesses all grew strongly as a result of organic development in the market and acquisitions...

* Swiss - K+N Belgian logistics centre to serve Lexmark
Schindellegi,Switzerland -Press Release -30 Oct 2006: -- Kuehne + Nagel has opened a new logistics centre in the Belgian town of Geel. For the key customer at the location, Lexmark, one of the world's leading providers of printing solutions, the logistics terminal serves as European import, warehousing and distribution centre...

* UK - Wincanton wins new 'relief' contract from Sainsbury's
UK -Press Release -30 Oct 2006: -- Building on its existing relationship with Sainsbury's, European logistics provider Wincanton, has secured a contract to handle the grocery retailer's UK Northern seasonal relief operation...

* UK - UTL/Vodaphone invest in new facility
UK -Press Release -30 Oct 2006: -- Vodafone UK and Unipart Technology Logistics (UTL) have announced joint investment in a new facility to manage all of Vodafone UK's handset and accessory storage plus distribution...

* Holland - TNT Logistics wins automotive contract with Chrysler
Hoofddorp, the Netherlands -Press Release -30 Oct 2006: -- TNT Logistics North America has been awarded a multi-year contract by the Chrysler Group in the US. TNT Logistics will provide lead logistics services and inbound transportation for stamped parts and components to KUKA Toledo Production Operations LLC (KTPO)...

* France - Geodis continues to see strong sales
France -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Geodis group continued to show increased revenue in the third quarter of 2006. Sales remained strong in France as well as in Eastern Europe, Germany and Asia despite the weakness in volume from major customers in the high-tech sector...

* France - Norbert Dentressangle revenues leap 15%
France -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Norbert Dentressangle Group has posted sustained revenue growth of over 15% for the first 9 months of 2006, in line with its forecasts. The logistics business increased 18.2% over the period...

* USA - JDF Distribution opens new Texas warehouse
Coppell,TX,USA -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- US logistics company JDF Distribution has announced the opening of a 155,000 square-foot addition to its Coppell, Texas warehouse outside Dallas...

* Japan - K Line receives Japan's largest container ship
Kobe,Japan -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Shipping line Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) has announced that it has taken delivery of a new 8000TEU container vessel "HUMBER BRIDGE" at the Kure Shipyard...

* Hong Kong/China - Grand Alliance adds ship to AsPac - Europe trades
HK/CHI -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- The Grand Alliance member lines, Hapag-Lloyd (HL), MISC Berhad. (MISC), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have announced the restructuring of the Asia/North Europe EU2 service from early 2007...

* China - COSCON launches new US services
Shanghai,China -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Largest shipping line COSCON has announced that it will launch two new Asia -America Services in November 2006...

* Hong Kong/China - Dragonair takes delivery of new freighter
Hong Kong,CH -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Airline Dragonair has taken delivery of the first of five new 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters, taking the number of all-cargo aircraft it operates to seven...

* Hong Kong/China - Cathay adds Beijing to freighter network
Hong Kong,CH -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Cathay Pacific Airways has announced that it will add Beijing to its freighter network in November after gaining approval from the Chinese Government to launch a new twice-weekly service...

* Japan - ANA obtains two new freighters for JP Express JV
Tokyo,Japan -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- Boeing and ANA (All Nippon Airways) have announced that the airline exercised options for two additional 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters as part of its joint venture cargo operation called ANA & JP Express, with partners Japan Post, Nippon Express, and Mitsui O.S.K Lines...

* USA - Trucking index down year-on-year in September
Alexandria,Va,USA -TTN -30 Oct 2006: -- The American Trucking Associations' seasonally adjusted for-hire Truck Tonnage Index gained in September. Year-to-date, the truck tonnage index was down 1.9 percent, compared with the same period in 2005...

* USA - Private equity company supports Arnold Logistics MBO
Stamford,CT,USA -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Oak Hill Capital Partners has announced that it, in partnership with management, has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Arnold Logistics, a leading US outsourced warehouse and transportation logistics provider...

* UK - RH Freight forms Swiss/Austrian partnerships
Nottingham,UK -PR -30 Oct 206: -- International freight company RH Freight has recently formed partnerships with the Swiss business - M&R Spedag and the Austrian based transport company Transdanubia...

* USA - Swift revenues fall although yield improves
Phoenix,AR,USA -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Trucking company Swift Transportation Co., Inc. has reported its latest financial results. Revenues fell due to a reduction in operating tractors and management complained about a 'softer freight environment'...

* USA - YRC Worldwide announces record revenues
Overland Park,KS,USA -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- Logistics company YRC Worldwide Inc. has announced record third quarter 2006 quarterly operating revenue of $2.57 billion and operating income increased by 11%...

* USA - C.H.Robinson continues strong growth
North Dakota,USA -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- Forwarder C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. has reported financial results for its last financial quarter. All its business lines show strong growth...

* Japan - Mitsui OSK Lines establishes China ocean consolidation subsidiary
Osaka,Japon -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has announced the start of operations by MOL Consolidation Service Ltd., a new subsidiary handling ocean consolidation business (OCB) in China...

* Germany - Schenker to takeover BAX activities in Indonesia
Essen,Germany -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Schenker and BAX Global Logistik (BAX Indonesia) have reached an agreement which will mean PT Schenker Petrolog Utama will take over the operations and activities of BAX Indonesia...

* USA - Forward Air releases record results
Greeneville,TN,USA -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Forward Air Corporation has reported record results for its third quarter. This is the seventeenth consecutive quarter that the company has improved its year-over-year operating revenue...

* UK - Target Express provides 'cut-to-fit' service
UK -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Target Express, a leading UK independent express delivery company, is providing a 'cut-to-fit' delivery service for one of the UK's most successful fashion retailers, Jane Norman...

* Jordan - Aramex revenues jump in third quarter
Amman,Jordan -PR - 30 Oct 2006: -- ARAMEX, the Middle East based transportation solutions provider, has announced a third-quarter revenue jump of 65 per cent. This was largely due to the acquisition of an Irish forwarding company earlier in the year...

* India - Four Soft to buy assets of FWL Technologies
Hyderabad,India -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Four Soft Limited (4S), a global provider of software solutions for the transportation and logistics sector, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of the freight and shipping software business of FWL Technologies...

* France - GEFCO to rollout information system to entire network
Courbevoie Cedex,France -PR -30 Oct 2006: -- Logistics provider GEFCO is to extend the use of the NOMAD information system to its entire network for movements of finished vehicles...

Oct 30, 2006

Healthy - USA - A Study Links Trucks’ Exhaust to Bronx Schoolchildren’s Asthma

NY.USA -The New York Timnes, by MANNY FERNANDEZ -Oct 29, 2006: -- In New York City, air pollution levels have typically been monitored by inanimate objects, at more than a dozen locations around town. But in the South Bronx, from 2002 to 2005, air pollution monitors went mobile. They went to the playground, to the gritty sidewalks, even... A group of schoolchildren carried the monitors everywhere they went. The instruments, attached to the backpacks of children with asthma, allowed researchers at New York University to measure the pollution the children were exposed to, morning to night... The N.Y.U. study found that the students were exposed to high levels of air pollutants in their neighborhoods and that children in the South Bronx were twice as likely to attend a school near a highway as were children in other parts of the city...Four Bronx organizations that supported the study — including the Point, a Hunts Point community group — have asked pro bono lawyers to look into their legal options to get the E.P.A. and the state to improve air quality in the South Bronx...

Market - Japan - Hino Motors Shares Fall After Truckmaker Cuts Profit Forecast

Tokyo,Japan -Bloomberg, by Naoko Fujimura -Oct. 30, 2006: -- Shares of Hino Motors Ltd., Japan's largest maker of heavy-duty trucks, fell as much as 5.2 percent after the company trimmed its annual profit forecast... Hino on Oct. 27 said its net income will probably total 18.6 billion yen ($158 million) for the year ending March 31, 16 percent less than its previous estimate of 22 billion yen. Domestic truck sales will be weaker than earlier expected in the second half, Tokyo-based Hino said... The company, half owned by Toyota Motor Corp., expects profit to drop for the first time in two years due to a lack of one-time gains...

The Trailer Past Our Car - Singapore - Are drivers of big vehicles going too fast on expressways?

Hey are big..! intimidating..! and thunder down the expressway at breakneck speed!!! ...

Singapore,Singapore -Electric New Paper -Oct 30, 2006: -- Ask motorists and they are likely to recount the fury of the many trailers, lorries and buses that cross their paths every day - some kicking up sand in their vehicles' faces, literally... And the most common observation is that these heavyweights on wheels break the speed limit regularly... Take the recent experience of 38-year-old motorist Martin Lim. He was driving along West Coast Highway near Pasir Panjang on 16 Oct, close to a lorry that he estimated was going at 100kmh. That's 40kmh above the stipulated speed limit displayed at the back of the lorry... Furthermore, the lorry was in the extreme right lane, which is supposed to be for cars travelling at higher speeds and overtaking... (Picture by Jonathan Choo - Tight fit: Heavy vehicles take up all three lanes of the West Coast Highway and put the squeeze on other road suers. The extreme right lane is for cars going at higher speeds and overtaking)

DRIVERS' Hours Of Service

* Canada - CTA offers new HoS reference book
TORONTO, Ont.,CAN -Truck News, by Adam Ledlow -30 Oct 2006: -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance has prepared an Hours of Service reference book to assist drivers, trainers and managers understand the new Canadian rules, which come into affect Jan. 1... The book incorporates the interpretation guidelines that will be used by enforcement officers, and also includes explanations of the US rules and tips for fatigue management together with the detailed regulations for both Canada and t

* Australia - Discrimination: One rule for govt, another for drivers...
Australia -ATN -27 Oct 2006: -- The reaction of state governments to doctors complaining of long working hours is in total contrast to their policy for truck drivers... The Australian Medical Association has raised the issue of doctor working hours, showing doctors working up to 20 hours straight, and 50 hours across three days... It has asked government owned and operated hospitals to cut back hours for doctors to reduce fatigue. Many of the extra hours worked by doctors are unpaid. Doctors also complain that regardless of the extra hours worked on one shift (a 12 hour shift that runs to 19 or 20 hours, they are still expected to turn up for the next shift, even if it is just 3 to 5 hours later). Doctors are also expected to sleep at hospitals without rest facilities to stay 'on call' although they are out of hours. Doctors also complained of working excessive night hours... As an example, the longest hours recorded in the AMA survey was a Tasmanian doctor who worked 113 hours in a week while a quarter of doctors worked more than 80 hours a week with most not having a full day off in the week. One doctor reported working 34 hours straight - in intensive care surgery! The average doctor in NSW hospitals worked 70 hours a week plus one weekend in six... When the same situation applies to truck drivers, albeit at lesser hours than worked by doctors, the governments have reacted by applying a 12 hour limit per 24 in working hours - and huge fines on drivers and employers for working one minute over legal times... Is it a fact that government feel free to legislate impractical working arrangemnents where a private sector employers (in trucking) have to pay, but are unwilling to change even worse or more dangerous working hours where government has to pay?... Is a shortage of skilled workers a good enough excuse for not introducing reasonable working and rest hours? If so, why doesn't it apply to the private sector like the government employers?...

New Heavy Vehicle Charges - Australia - Six months for fourth determination

Australia -ATN -30 Oct 2006: -- The National Transport Commission (NTC) has until April next year to develop a new heavy vehicle charges determination... State and Federal Transport Ministers at the Australian Transport Council (ATC) voted to direct the NTC to go back to the pricing drawing board, after rejecting the third determination... Industry groups are concerned at the short period of time given to the NTC to develop a fourth determination...

COMMENTS & OPINIONS

* USA - “Innovation is key,” speakers tell trucking executives at Carrier Logistics Inc. executive summit
Tarrytown, N.Y.,USA -Truck News (Canada), by Lou Smyrlis -30 Oct 2006: -- Innovation holds the key to survival and growth, top executives from leading LTL companies learned at the annual Executive Summit sponsored by Carrier Logistics Inc... The industry conference, produced and underwritten by CLI, provided transportation execs with valuable tools to help them achieve success now and in coming years. The event was open to top LTL and parcel delivery trucking executives...

Oct 28, 2006

WORLDWIDE TRUCKS' NEWS

* USA - Volvo Trucks laying off 600 at powertrain plant in Hagerstown
Baltimore,MAR,USA -Examiner.com/AP, by DAVID DISHNEAU -Oct 27, 2006: -- Heavy truck maker AB Volvo said Friday it will lay off 600 workers next year at its Hagerstown engine-and-transmission plant... The Swedish company said the layoffs reflect expectations for an industrywide decline in demand for heavy-duty trucks...

* Russia - KAMAZ to Increase Plastic Filling of Its Trucks
NABEREZHNIYE CHELNY,Russia -Financial Information Service (Novosibirsk,Rus) -Oct 27, 2006: -- By 2010 the volume of plastic structures in 'KAMAZ' trucks will double to 200-250 kg per vehicle. This opens additional opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises of Tatarstan engaged in processing of oil and chemical products...

* India - Tata Motors introduces trucks, tippers, pick-ups for S Africa
New Delhi,India -Zee News (Noida,Ind) -Oct 27, 2006: -- Tata Motors on Friday said it will strengthen its product offerings in South Africa by introducing more commercial and passenger vehicle models, including trucks, tippers and Suv Safari...

Diesel Shortages - USA - Minn. trucking companies cope with

Rochester,Minn,USA -Twin Cities/Associated Press -Oct. 26, 2006: -- Minnesota trucking companies were coping with spot fuel shortages on Thursday, with diesel supplies out or nearly out in Rochester, Mankato and Winona, the president of a trucking trade group said... John Hausladen, president the Minnesota Trucking Association, said the shortage was discussed during a board of directors meeting on Thursday in Rochester. He said there was still fuel in the state, it just wasn't evenly distributed... Hausladen said the shortages were brought on by increased demand by farm equipment during the harvest, the ongoing transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and a changing mix of products coming out of refineries...

Females in Trucking - USA - New organization aims to increase number of women in trucking

USA -eTrucker, by Brittani Tingle -26 Oct 2006: -- A new organization called Females in Trucking is attempting to solve the shortage of over-the-road drivers “one woman at a time”... According to the group’s Web site, www.femalesintrucking.org, its mission is to come up with a profile for female OTR drivers, identify women who match that profile and connect those potential drivers to trucking executives...

Trucking dangerous - UK - EU lorries

London,UK -The Sun (UK), by GRANT ROLLINGS -October 26, 2006: -- Foreign lorry drivers are flouting the rules of Britain’s roads — leaving a trail of carnage and misery behind them... And expansion of the European Union is making the problem worse with truckers from overseas putting lives at risk by overworking and using vehicles with serious faults... Chief Superintendent Geraint Anwyl, a spokesman on traffic issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “This is a very serious issue and lives are at risk here... As we’ve seen accession countries coming into the EU, the offending rate is getting greater and greater”... On a typical day there are 12,000 foreign lorries and 95,000 British ones on the country's roads, according to the Department of Transport... Romanian drivers were the worst offenders, with more than 40 per cent driving for too long... Dianne Ferreira, a spokeswoman for road safety charity Brake, warned: “In order to drive in the UK, foreign drivers do not need to undergo any additional training or testing on how to drive safely on our roads..."

Ending Transport Strike - Uruguay

Montevideo,Uruguay -Prensa Latina (Cuba) -Oct 25, 2006: -- The government of Uruguay took control of national freight transportation to end a strike that caused severe shortage of basic supplies... The Transportation and Public Works Ministry announced a decree approved by President Tabare Vazquez Wednesday at 3:00 am after negotiations between the union and the executive failed... Diego Valverde, president of the Inter-Union of Land Transport Professionals told Victor Rossi, minister of Transportation and Public Works at 2:30 am on telephone that the strike will go on... The Transportation Union Board called out Monday some 25,000 drivers, causing a shortage of diesel, naphtha, meat, raw material and other staple supplies...

TRUCKERS' WELFARE * USA - Schneider offers drivers over-the-road health perks

Green Bay,Wis,USA -Today¡s Trucking -26 Oct 2006: -- Schneider National drivers in North America will get a full range of health and wellness services at no charge, the giant truckload carrier announced... Schneider has signed a multi-year agreement with Atlas Ergonomics to provide drivers health services at in-house Operating Centers (company-owned truck stops) across North America, including a facility in Guelph, Ont... The centers offer services such as physical therapy, blood pressure monitoring, diet and nutrition counseling and exercise education...

TECHNONEWS * USA - Bendix stability control standard on Mack trucks

Lehigh Valley,Pa,USA -Today's Trucking -25 Oct 2006: -- Mack Trucks is making its Road Stability Advantage by Bendix system standard on its highway vehicles... Mack RSA is a full electronic stability system designed to reduce rollover and accident risk. It uses the existing ABS wheel speed sensors, along with steering, yaw and lateral acceleration inputs, to deactivate the throttle and selectively apply the brakes in sharp curves, sudden lane changes, or obstacle avoidance maneuvers...

Drivers' Shortage - Australia - Truckies campaign against foreign drivers

Sydney,New South Wales,Australia -The Sunday Telegraph -Oct 26, 2006: -- NSW truckers launched a campaign against plans to import foreign drivers, which they say will turn the nation's roads into a "killing field"... The truck drivers will today start lobbying state and federal politicians to block plans by the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) to fill labour shortages with drivers from overseas... The Transport Workers Union (TWU) described the plans as nothing but a means to provide trucking companies with cheap labour... “At the moment what we have is a plan to cripple the industry and put the livelihood of Australian truck drivers, their families and the public at risk”...

TRUCKINGS' BUSINESS AFFAIRS

* USA - Creo Capital Partners buys Volunteer Trucking
USA -eTrucker -25 Oct 2006: -- Creo Capital Partners of Los Angeles has entered the logistics industry with the acquisition of Volunteer Trucking of Dayton, Tenn... The transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, is the first in a series of logistics investments that Creo expects to make...

* USA - Knight buys Roads West for $15.6 million
USA -eTrucker -25 Oct 2006: -- Knight Transportation announced Monday, Oct. 23, that it has completed a $15.6 million purchase of most of the trucking assets of another Phoenix-based carrier, Roads West Transportation...

* USA - IJS Global Acquires Dutch Logistics Company
Stamford,CT,USA -TNN (UK) -25 Oct 2006: -- IJS Global, Inc., the fast-growing multi-modal freight forwarder, customs broker and non-vessel operating common carrier, said yesterday that it had acquired Transfairways BV, a Dutch logistics provider specializing in project forwarding, for an undisclosed sum...

* China - Schneider National to enter China trucking market
Beijing,China -XFN (Asia)/Forbes/ Wall Street Journal -26 Oct 2006: -- Schneider National Inc plans to enter China's trucking market, saying the country's road network has developed sufficiently to make operations there feasible, there... Schneider is likely to make investments worth tens of millions of dollars in China within a year, chief executive, Chris Lofgren said, adding that its preferred method is to acquire companies rather than form joint ventures...

* USA - Tri-State launches truckload division
USA -eTrucker, by Brittani Tingle -26 Oct 2006: -- Tri-State Expedited, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has formed a new truckload division to add to its expedited transportation services... The new division will offer drivers dedicated lanes, 100 percent of fuel surcharge, no trailer usage fee, paid tolls, no charge for base plates, weekly settlements and advances on each load...

* USA - Detroit troubles slowing Upper Midwest
Chicago,Ill,USA -Reuters, by Nick Carey -Oct 27, 2006: -- Trucking company YRC Worldwide Inc. is seeing greater softness in the Upper Midwest than in the rest of the U.S. economy due to the woes of car makers in Detroit, the company's top executive said on Friday... Chief Executive Officer Bill Zollars told Reuters the day after YRC reported third-quarter results that came in below market expectations and warned that a slowing economy would hurt the company's fourth-quarter profits...

* USA - Ryder Reports Higher Profits, Revenue
USA -TTNews Express -25 Oct 2006: -- Ryder System said Wednesday its third-quarter net income rose to $65.3 million or $1.06 cents a share, from $63.3 million or 98 cents a year earlier...

* USA - Saia’s Third-Quarter Earnings Improve
USA -TTNews Express -25 Oct 2006: -- Saia Inc., parent of less-than-truckload carrier Saia Motor Freight Line, reported late Tuesday third-quarter net income of $7.7 million or 52 cents a share, up from $7 million or 43 cents a year ago...

* USA - U.S. Xpress' Earnings, Revenue Rise in 3Q
USA -TTNews Express -25 Oct 2006: -- Truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises said late Monday its third-quarter income rose to $7.72 million or 47 cents a share, compared with $4 million or 25 cents a share in the previous year...

Research: Trucking Hinges - USA - On cloudy economic forecast

Nashville,Ind,USA -Today's Trucking -25 Oct 2006: -- The 2007 forecast of the U.S. transportation economy is being clouded by several factors, reports a leading American transportation research firm... Weighing on growth, says Nashville, Ind.-based FTR Associates, is the declining housing market and cuts in production by domestic auto producers. These industries are now laying off workers and are responsible for the lackluster employment gains the economy has seen recently. So far, job gains outside of housing and manufacturing remain steadfast, but this bears close scrutiny, the firm says... FTR Associates now believes that the chances of recession, most likely in the first half of 2007, is one in three -- uncomfortably high, but not certain. Even if the country avoids recession, growth rates will seem weak compared to past years, and there may be a bump or two in the road in 2007...

Logistic experts' goal - USA - Make Indy the 'rail deal'

Some pieces are in place, but adding a central freight yard could be the groundwork for new job growth

Indianapolis,IN,USA -The Indianapolis Star, by Ted Evanoff -Oct 24, 2006: -- Buy a winter coat made in China, and chances are good it was shipped on a freighter to Los Angeles, loaded on a train for Chicago, then trucked to Indianapolis... Now Indianapolis' logistic experts are trying to figure out how to get those coats and plenty of other railroad freight to come directly here instead of passing through Chicago... Hundreds and possibly thousands of new logistics jobs could emerge if they succeed... (Photo by Charlie Nye / The Star - Freight rest stop: Cargo containers cramp the CSX Avon railyard, an intermodal terminal. Experts say demand could prompt Indianapolis to get its own intermodal train from a West Coast port. Such an addition would nurture a new avenue of logistics growth for Indy)

Driving Danger - UK - From Common Medicines: Study

Millions of drivers could be at risk of accidents this winter due to the symptoms of common colds and the medication taken to relieve them
UK -Transport News Network -25 Oct 2006: -- According to new research, Kate Syred, Marketing and Commercial Director of Privilege Insurance, commented: "Medicines are clearly labelled for a reason, and those drivers who aren't taking the time to check for side effects could be putting themselves and other road users at risk. On the plus side, it seems that the majority of drivers do take heed of warnings once they are aware of them"... With more than half (54 per cent) of British motorists likely to take to the roads while feeling under the weather or on medication, nearly a fifth (18 per cent) admitted their driving had been negatively affected as a result during the past 12 months... One in ten, the equivalent of 3.3 million drivers, lost concentration at the wheel due to an impaired reaction caused by illness or medication... Conversely, eight in ten drivers would amend their behaviour if they discovered a medicine they were about to take might affect their driving, with a third (36 per cent) holding off taking the medicine until after having driven, and a quarter (24 per cent) not driving at all...

Survey - USA - Reveals various issues continue to concern the trucking industry

Danbury,Conn,USA -Logistics Management, by Jeff Berman -Oct 25, 2006: -- Fuel prices, the ongoing truck driver shortage, and excessive regulation—not surprisingly—are among the biggest concerns for trucking companies, according to a recently-released survey from GE Capital Solutions, a provider of commercial trucking industry financial services... GE conducted the survey in conjunction with Dun and Bradstreet. Data was based on phone interviews conducted with approximately 1,200 trucking executives, including owners, partners, managing directors, finance directors, and truck operating business managers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France... Ways of off-setting current and future fuel expenses, aside from passing costs to shippers through surcharges, included:
* Tightening supplier management, 41 percent overall/43 percent in the U.S.;
* Seeking alternative green initiatives, 36 percent overall/34 percent in the U.S.; or
* Leasing trucks to free cash flow, 18 percent overall/14 percent in the U.S.
And more than one-fifth of respondents (22 percent) said the * Driver shortage will continue to hamper their delivery operations for getting goods to existing customers. In the U.S., the findings revealed that 20 percent of additional freight opportunities have the potential to be affected...

Truck Test - USA - ORNL launches nationwide U.S. one

Oak Ridge,TN,USA -UPI/Monsters and Critics.com (Glasgow,UK) -Oct 24, 2006: -- A U.S. truck test involving special monitoring equipment on six instrumented tractors and nine instrumented trailers started Tuesday... The project was launched by the National Transportation Research Center -- a joint transportation research facility involving the U.S. Department of Energy`s, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Tennessee... During the year, the specially equipped tractor-trailers owned by the Schrader Trucking Co. of Jefferson City, Tenn., will be hauling freight across the United States on regular truck runs... Data acquisition systems will be on board to measure each vehicle`s performance, including vehicle and engine speed, engine torque and fuel consumption. Performance data will also take into consideration such physical factors as wind speed, precipitation and other conditions... Data collected will support modeling efforts for trucks of the future, and will be made available to automotive engineers in the trucking industry...

TRUCKS' BUSINESS AFFAIRS

* Germany - VW plans MAN stake rise in Scania power game
Duesseldorf,Germany -Reuters/Automotive News -Oct 27, 2006: -- Volkswagen plans to raise its stake in German truck maker MAN above 25 percent, the automaker said today, upping pressure on MAN to strike a friendly takeover deal with Scania... Europe's biggest carmaker has informed Germany's Federal Cartel Office that it plans to raise its minority stake in MAN above one-quarte.r,, a Volkswagen spokesman said... The agency earlier said VW had filed plans to increase its stake as high as 30 percent from 15.1 percent now...

* USA - PACCAR Surges to Record Revenue and Profits - Strong Growth in Financial Services and European Operations
Bellevue,Wash.,USA -Business Wire -24 Oct 2006: -- “PACCAR Inc., achieved record revenues and net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2006,” said Mark C. Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer... “PACCAR’s balanced global diversification, complemented by steady GDP growth, successful new truck model introductions and double-digit revenue increases in the company’s finance and aftermarket parts businesses, contributed to excellent operating performance”...

* Sweden - Volvo Q3 tops forecasts, sees U.S. market fall
Stockholm,SWE -Reuters -24 Oct 2006: -- Truck maker Volvo posted a smaller-than-expected drop in third-quarter pretax profit on Tuesday and said key markets would be at the top end of its forecasts this year, but predicted a sharp downturn in North America in 2007... The Sweden-based firm, the world's second-largest truck maker, said pretax earnings fell to 3.14 billion crowns ($428 million) from 4.02 billion a year ago, ahead of the mean forecast of 2.96 billion in a Reuters poll of 17 analysts...

* Germany - DaimlerChrysler Q3 beats forecasts; strong Mercedes, trucks offset weak Chrysler
Stuttgart,Germany -AFX/Forbes -25 Oct 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler AG posted third quarter profits well ahead of forecasts, as strength at the company's Mercedes and truck businesses more than offset steep losses at Chrysler. Third quarter operating profits slid to 892 mln eur from 1.838 bln for the same period last year, but the figure was well ahead of the 591.2 mln eur forecast made by analysts...

* USA - Stoneridge Reports Third-Quarter 2006 Results
Warren,OH,USA -PRNewswire-FirstCall -27 Oct 2006: -- Stoneridge, Inc., today announced net sales of $172.4 million and net income of $4.4 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006... Stoneridge Inc., is a leading independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, medium- and heavy-duty truck, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets...

AUTOS' COMMENTS & OPINIONS

* USA - Big Three carrying excessive inventory - Head of AutoNation claims fleet sales give automakers unreliable count of vehicle supply
Detroit,Mich,USA -Dow Jones Newswires/The Detroit News, by John D. Stoll -Oct 27, 2006: -- The head of the largest U.S. auto-dealer group said Thursday that U.S. automakers and sales analysts need to "move into the real world" and recalculate vehicle inventory estimates in a way that better reflects how deep a hole Detroit's Big Three are in.
AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson said the current practice of calculating days' supply of unsold vehicles is "outdated" and "dramatically understates" how much excess inventory is being carried by dealers selling vehicles from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group... He said that automakers and certain analysts currently calculate days' supply based on both the pace of retail sales to actual consumers and fleet sales, such as deliveries to rental car firms and government agencies... Jackson said fleet sales should be removed and automakers should only calculate days' supply inventory based on retail demand. The Big Three rely on fleet sales for at least 25 percent of total light-vehicle sales...

* USA - Analysts: Big 3 will fall further - By 2009, foreign automakers will lead U.S. market share; experts say better products needed to survive
Dearborn,Mich,USA - The Detroit News, by Sharon Terlep -Oct 26, 2006: -- Fewer than half of all vehicles sold in the United States will be made by Detroit's Big Three by 2009, when foreign carmakers will outpace American companies in market share, a top industry analyst said Wednesday at a conference focused on carmakers' restructuring... Not only will the Big Three's market share erode, but by 2011 foreign automakers will build more cars in the United States than American manufacturers, said Sean McAlinden, chief economist and vice president of research for the Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research... "They won't be the Big Three anymore, they'll be the Detroit Three," McAlinden said of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DailmerChrysler AG... "You've got to shrink to survive and shrink to be profitable in Detroit today"...

* USA - Efficient cars a tough sell with U.S. buyers
Boston,MAS,USA -Reuters/Automotive News -Oct 27, 2006: -- Designing a more fuel efficient car can be less of a challenge than selling one... But with the number of autos on the world's roads expected to triple over the next half-century and fuel prices expected to rise, automakers need to focus on both problems... That was the message from a panel of automotive experts at The World Oil Conference today... "Most people want horsepower. They don't want fuel economy," said Bill Reinert, national manager of advanced technology for the U.S. arm of Toyota Motor Corp...

* USA - Analysts sound note of caution on GM cash burn
Detroit,Mich,USA -Reuters/Automotive News -Oct 26, 2006: -- General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has been riding high with Wall Street this year: GM stock is up almost 80 percent and talk of bankruptcy has receded after billions of dollars in cost cuts... But analysts caution that the automaker's recovery is still stalled by one important measure: cash burn...

* USA - Trying To Recapture The Magic
USA -Forbes, by Jerry Flint -24 Oct 2006: -- Chrysler puts out the word that it will post a $1.5 billion loss in the third quarter and a loss for the entire year. The biggest problem is a massive overhang of inventory, which could wreck the introduction of a flock of new Chrysler models. Chrysler was in a similar jam six years ago, and it ended with the removal of the American head of Chrysler and the arrival of Dieter Zetsche, now known as Dr. Z, from the German parent, to take command... Add it up, and Chrysler has a parking lot full of new models. We will not be able to measure success or failure of this strategy until the first half of next year at the earliest... This rollout of so many new models is one reason for the big loss predicted by the company for the third quarter. Another problem is the glut of unsold 2006 vehicles, making it difficult to sell 2007 models... Incentive offers are as high as $8,000 off the price of a 2006 Dodge Durango. When the downturn began early in the year, Chrysler did not cut production, but kept rolling out vehicles, stacking them in parking lots (which Detroit calls the “sales bank”). Chrysler tells me the sales bank--those excess inventories--will be gone by the end of the year... Chrysler has a tough job ahead of it, but do not count it out. The company rides like a roller coaster--but it rides...

OIL BUSINESS NEWS - Weekly Digest

* USA - Exxon Mobil third-quarter net tops $10 billion
Houston,TX,USA -MarketWatch, by Jasmina Kelemen -Oct 26, 2006: -- Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's biggest company by market capitalization, turned in a third-quarter profit Thursday that topped $10 billion, or nearly $117 million a day... The staggeringly high earnings build on near record-high oil prices and continued growth in Exxon Mobil's worldwide production, adding up to 270,000 barrels of oil a day to the company's overall output, up 7% from a year ago... For the three months ended Sept. 30, Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil reported net earnings of $10.49 billion, or $1.77 per share, up from a year-ago profit of $9.92 billion or $1.58 per share... It was the company's second best quarter, coming in just behind the record fourth quarter it had in 2005, when the oil market was still reeling -- and prices soaring -- the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina...

* UK - BP profit falls 4% on flat production, taxes - Oil major's profit hurt by problems at Texas City and in Alaska
London,UK -MarketWatch, by Steve Goldstein -Oct 24, 2006: -- BP PLC reported a 4% third-quarter profit decline Tuesday, hurt by the fallout from a broken pipeline in Alaska, an explosion at a Texas refinery and rising taxes in Britain... BP, Europe's largest oil producer, said its profit fell to $6.23 billion from $6.46 billion, while revenue rose 4% to $70.73 billion... It's paying a quarterly dividend of 58.95 cents per U.S.-listed share. BP has bought back shares valued at $12 billion during the first nine months of the year... The company recorded more than $2 billion in profit during the quarter by selling off various assets, and it also posted a benefit of $354 million on tax and accounting gains...

* USA - Gasoline prices hold steady, but oil prices climb
USA -Automotive News, by Kim Scherer -Oct 27, 2006: -- Gasoline prices have held steady over the past few days, while the price of a barrel of crude oil is climbing again... The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.20 today, unchanged from the national average Tuesday, Oct. 24, according to AAA, of Hawthorne, Fla... Midgrade gasoline stands at an average of $2.34 a gallon and premium at $2.42, both unchanged from the nation's average three days ago... Diesel fuel averages $2.61 a gallon, also unchanged from three days ago...

* USA - Chevron's net up 40%, eclipsing targets
Houston,TX,USA -MarketWatch, by Jasmina Kelemen -Oct 27, 2006: -- Chevron Corp., the nation's second biggest oil company, said Friday its third-quarter net income jumped 40% from last year, breezing past Wall Street's expectations... Buoyed by higher oil production and energy prices, Chevron easily eclipsed results from a year ago, when much of its U.S. Gulf Coast operations -- including its biggest refinery -- were struggling to get back on their feet in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina... The San Ramon, Calif.-based company reported earnings of $5.02 billion, or $2.29 a share, up from $3.59 billion, or $1.64 a share, generated in the year-ago quarter...

AUTOS' NEWS WORLWIDE - Weekly Digest

* USA - Ford reports $5.8B loss and will restate results - New president, chief executive calls results "clearly unacceptable"
New York,NY,USA -MarketWatch, by Shawn Langlois & Steve Gelsi -Oct 23, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co., toiling to overhaul its struggling car business and return to profitability, reported Monday a $5.8 billion third-quarter loss and said the current quarter's operating results are shaping up to be even worse... The troubled automaker also said it will restate earnings going back five years for derivatives accounting... Ford shares sat out the broad market advance, falling as much as 2.5% to $7.81 following the report, which showed the company's biggest loss since 1992. The stock closed down 11 cents, or 1.4%, at $7.90...

* UK - DaimlerChrysler profit drops less-than-forecast 37% - Strong performance from Mercedes helps limit expected Chrysler loss
London,UK -MarketWatch, by Simon Kennedy -Oct 25, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler AG on Wednesday reported a 37% drop in third-quarter profit, but comfortably beat market expectations as a strong performance from its Mercedes unit limited the damage from an expected $1.46 billion loss at Chrysler... DaimlerChrysler, the world's fifth-biggest car maker by sales, posted net income of 541 million euros ($681 million), down from 855 million euros a year ago... Revenue for the period fell 7.9% to 35.18 billion euros... Operating profit fell 51.5% to 892 million euros, which was sharply ahead of the consensus forecast of around 530 million euros...

* USA - Chrysler turns to turnaround pros

Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Christine Tierney & Josee Valcourt -Oct 28, 2006: -- In an effort to get Chrysler back on track after an alarming $1.5 billion third-quarter loss, DaimlerChrysler AG has retained its longtime consultants McKinsey & Co. to help Chrysler's management draft a recovery program... Careers and reputations on both sides of the Atlantic -- possibly even Chrysler's future -- ride on the success of the plan, which DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche expects on his desk before the end of the year... Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda is leading the teams drafting the plan, but parent DaimlerChrysler brought in reinforcements last month from Mercedes-Benz and this month from McKinsey, one of the most prestigious management consulting firms...

* Japan - Honda bumps up outlook; quarter disappoints
Tokyo,Japan -MarketWatch (Hong Kong,China), by Chris Oliver -Oct 25, 2006: -- Honda Motor Co. reported Wednesday second-quarter net profit fell 4.3% from a year earlier, as weaker vehicle sales in Japan offset gains from higher unit sales overseas and a weaker yen... The automaker also boosted its earnings outlook for the full fiscal year... Japan's No. 3 automaker by volume, Honda posted profit for the three months through September of 127.9 billion yen ($1.09 billion), down from 133.71 billion yen a year earlier... Net revenue for the quarter rose 12.5% to 2.63 trillion yen from a year earlier...

* USA - GM technology going 'green' to challenge Toyota - Automaker will make hydrogen-powered fuel cell and hybrid-electric vehicles in near future
Detroit,Mich,USA -Bloomberg News/The Detroit News, by Jeff Green -Oct 28, 2006: -- General Motors Corp., losing sales to Toyota Motor Corp., will use some of the $9 billion in savings from cost cuts this year to make vehicles that match the Japanese automaker in technology and fuel efficiency, according to people familiar with the strategy... GM's plans include a hybrid-electric vehicle with a battery that recharges at any outlet, improved gasoline engines, hybrid versions of its Silverado pickup trucks and hydrogen-powered fuel cell models that emit only water vapor, according to sources, who didn't want to be identified because the plan isn't public...

* USA - S&P may still cut GM's ratings
New York,NY,USA -Reuters/Automotive News -Oct 26, 2006: -- Standard & Poor's today said it may still cut its ratings on General Motors after GM reported third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, Oct. 25... S&P said GM's long-term "B" rating, or five levels below investment grade, will remain on negative watch "until we are able to ascertain the financial effect on GM of its exposure to bankrupt former unit Delphi Corp.," S&P said in a statement... The rating company also is waiting for the sale of a 51 percent stake in GMAC, GM's profitable finance unit, S&P said...

* Japan - Nissan Motor Profit Surges 31 Percent
Tokyo,Japan -Associated Press -Oct 25, 2006: -- Nissan Motor Co., which drew the limelight earlier this year for discussing a possible alliance with General Motors, said Thursday that profit rose 31 percent to in the July-September quarter, thanks partly to special gains that offset sliding sales... Net income surged to 164 billion yen ($1.38 billion) in the period from 125 billion yen a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said In a release. But sales slid 0.9 percent to 2.324 trillion yen ($19.5 billion)...

* France - Nissan to add $627 million to Renault's second half earnings
Paris,France -Reuters/Automotive News -Oct 26, 2006: -- Renault SA said today that Japanese partner Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s fiscal first half earnings would contribute $627.8 million (496 million euros) to the French carmaker's second half earnings... Nissan, which is 44 percent-owned by Renault, today posted a smaller-than-expected 4.9 percent drop in quarterly operating profit on as an ageing product line hit global sales...

* USA - Audi A4s being recalled for ignition work
USA -Big News Network.com-southafricanews.net/UPI -27 Oct, 2006: -- Volkswagen of America Inc. is recalling more than 28,000 Audi A4 vehicles to fix an ignition problem that could break headlights or windshield wipers... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday on its Web site that dealers would install a new ignition switch during the recall, which begins Nov. 27... The recall affects 1996-97 vehicles...

Oct 26, 2006

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA - Shifting fortunes - Operating gains take Wall Street by surprise
DETROIT,MI,USA -The Detroit News, by Bill Vlasic -Oct 26, 2006: -- General Motors Corp. took another step toward returning to profitability Wednesday by posting a $115 million third-quarter loss -- better results than Wall Street was expecting... While its critical North American auto business continues to lose money, GM showed significant progress in reducing labor and health care costs and resolving its portion of the problems confronting bankrupt Delphi Corp... With both Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group dragged down by deep losses in the third quarter, GM now appears to have the healthiest outlook of Detroit's Big Three...

* France - Peugeot on the rack as sales, profits slide
Detroit,MI,USA -The Detroit News, by Neil Winton -Oct 26, 2006: -- France's Peugeot, which wrote the book about being a successful mass-producer of small cars, finds itself leaderless, with sales under pressure, profits evaporating, and facing tough decisions on more factory closures... Investors are wondering if the company can ride out the storm and regain its former glory. Some are speculating that the family-controlled company will revert to private status...

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