trucks world news: April 2006

DaimlerChrysler - Germany - Operating Profit Up to $1,082 Million in First Quarter

STUTTGART, Germany -PRNewswire-FirstCall -Apr 27, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler, recorded an operating profit of $1,082 million in the first quarter of 2006 (Q1 2005: $762 million). Earnings in both years were negatively affected by substantial expenses relating to smart... - Net income of $363 million... - Earnings per share of $0.35 ... - Increase in revenues to $45.1 billion... - Operating profit of more than $7.3 billion anticipated for full year 2006..-

Organized crime - Borderline story - Mexico's top threat

Nueva Laredo,Mex -ISN Security Watch (Zurich,Switzerland), by Sam Logan -26 Apr 2006: -- Over 10,000 cargo trucks pass through Nuevo Laredo on their way to Interstate 35 and cities throughout the US. Another 10,000 vehicles cross the border daily, totaling over 20,000 vehicle-crossings a day. At such high volumes, it is impossible for US customs to stop, search, and process every vehicle. It is inevitable that drugs, humans, guns, and other contraband cross the border daily. At the same time, it is economically destructive to close the border crossing even for a day. The Nuevo Laredo-Laredo border crossing is a smuggler's paradise... Nuevo Laredo has become a stage where Mexican organized crime demonstrates its immense power to corrupt, kill, and make money. Despite every attempt by both Mexican and US authorities to control smuggling and violent death, Mexican organized crime continues to take advantage of the largest inland trade zone to smuggle hundreds of tonnes of cocaine north into the US and thousands of automatic rifles south into Mexico. Two factions of Mexican organized crime continue to wage a war for control of access to Laredo, Texas. It is a direct route to a demand market in the US worth billions of dollars year after year... Osiel Cardenas Guillen leads one faction, known as the Gulf Cartel. It has traditionally controlled access to the Nuevo Laredo-Laredo smuggling routes, referred to as "plazas". Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as "El Chapo", currently leads the other faction, the Sinaloa Cartel. Since escaping from prison in 2001, El Chapo has worked hard to increase the Sinaloa organization's control of the Mexican cocaine market. Nuevo Laredo has been his target for years...

Transportation - USA - No More Government Roads

* What if I could propose a solution that would clean up our air, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, save energy, reduce urban sprawl, lower taxes, and alleviate traffic congestion, all in one fell swoop?...
* No, this isn't a fantasy. It's actually quite simple: get the government out of the business of building roads and highways...

Burlingame,CA,USA -Lew Rockwell, by by David M. Woods -25 Apr 2006: -- About a hundred years ago, someone in government decided that private cars and cargo trucks shall be the dominant modes of transportation. And so it came to be. Here are some figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation: As of 2003 (latest year compiled statistics are available), there were nearly 4 million miles of paved roads and streets in the U.S. If you add up multi-lane roads, you get about 8.3 million lane-miles. In FY 2004, federal, state, and local governments spent about $147 Billion building and maintaining all that concrete. (About $144 Billion of that was state and local dollars.) The DOT estimates that we logged about 2.9 Trillion vehicle-miles in 2003... So with a little help from our good friends in government: America has made its choice, and it chose the road. But was it a wise and proper choice?...

Reducing Idle - USA - New Truck stop electrification station maps

USA -Earthtoys (press release) -25 Apr 2006: -- A new internet-based mapping program is helping truckers find truck stops with idle reduction facilities—on-site systems that can substantially cut fuel use while reducing air emissions... A new internet-based mapping program is helping truckers find truck stops with idle reduction facilities – on-site systems that can substantially cut fuel use while reducing air emissions...

Job - USA - Think convoys are a beautiful sight? Have they got a job for you

USA - USA TODAY, by Barbara Hagenbaugh -25 Apr 2006: -- Facing a mounting shortage of drivers, trucking companies are ready to play hardball: They're going after the softer, emotional side of potential drivers... For years, trucking companies individually have tried to recruit potential drivers on their own, mainly on the merits that trucking offers a steady job with a good wage. But starting this summer, members of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) will roll out their first-ever unified advertising campaign with a whole new focus... With slogans like "My office has a better view than yours" and "Ever seen purple mountain majesty?" and featuring pictures of trucks making their way along scenic, mountainous roads at sunset, the ads are meant to appeal to potential drivers based on their love of the road and the outdoors and the ability to see the country in a boss-free environment... (Photo:USA TODAY, by Robert Deutsch Trucks line up at the Vince Lombardi rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike)

Truckers fear - USA - Rising diesel fuel costs to continue climb

The trucking industry upped its fuel spending, estimates more than $6 billion for 2006

Charlotte,NC,USA -Baltimore Business Journal, by Stephanie Wentworth -25 Apr 2006: -- The American Trucking Association said fuel spending will rise to $94.3 billion this year, up more than 7 percent from last year's $87.7 billion. The industry is experiencing the highest fuel prices in history, ATA CEO Bill Graves said... The Alexandria, Va.-based trade group cautions that 2006 fuel spending projections may increase when a new, more environmentally friendly fuel grade -- ultra low sulfur diesel -- hits the market in mid-summer. The new diesel fuel costs more to refine and distribute, officials said... Fuel is the second highest operating expense, behind employee wages, for trucking companies...

Lessons - Japan - Makers teaching trucking smarts

Osaka,Japan -The Yomiuri Shimbun -25 Apr 2006: -- Truck manufacturers are providing transport companies with lessons in fuel-efficient driving and equipping their vehicles with devices for indicating fuel mileage, all in hopes of helping ease financial burdens due to soaring fuel prices... "Don't gun the accelerator when you're speeding up," said an engineer from Hino Motors, Ltd. as he instructed 17 drivers and officials of JR East Japan Logistics Co., a major freight company... "Please come to a stop by wisely using the engine as a brake," he later said... Hino Motors has held several such classes since last summer. The number of people wishing to attend the lessons has jumped since the price of diesel oil for trucks started to spike late last year...

Paccar profit up on demand for big trucks

CHICAGO,Ill.USA -Reuters Apr 25, 2006: -- Paccar Inc., the No. 2 U.S. maker of heavy trucks, said on Tuesday that its quarterly profit rose nearly 25 percent due to strong demand for its biggest trucks ahead of tough new U.S. environmental rules that take effect next year... The maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks said it earned $342 million, or $2.02 a share, in the first quarter, up from $274 million, or $1.56 a share, a year earlier... Sales rose 15.6 percent to $3.85 billion, the company said...

Gains - Sweden - Volvo trucks sales in overdrive

USA -MSNBC, by Toby Shelley -Apr 25, 2006: -- Shares in Volvo made strong gains on Tuesday morning as the Swedish vehicle manufacturer reported strong growth in truck sales in Europe and the US... Group sales rose 15 per cent to SKr60bn ($8bn) in the first quarter with net profits up 23 per cent at almost SKr4bn...

Promise - Australia - Truckies another fuel price protest

Australia -ABC Regional Online -25 Apr 2006: -- Truck drivers are planning another blockade of the national roads in protest against rising fuel prices... The drivers have called on the Commonwealth Government to bring down fuel costs... Long Distance Owner Drivers Association president Bunny Brown says there will be another blockade at an unannounced location before the end of the month... Brown says the Prime Minister has done nothing to resolve the crisis...

Production - Iran - To manufacture Japanese Trucks

Tehran,Iran -ISNA/Tehran Service -24 Apr 2006: -- Iran is to manufacture Japanese heavy machinery from the second half of 2006... Bahman Diesel Co. sales manager, Abolfazl Golzari announced that this company is to start the manufacturing of heavy ISOSU trucks from the second half of 2006... According to Golzari, this Company plans to manufacture 4000 trucks this year...

Report - Australia - Trucking families hit by fuel, tax crisis

Australia -supply chain review -23 Apr 2006: -- The rising cost of fuel has only added to other issues such as changes in the tax system causing small trucking operators in regional areas to be in crisis... A report, based on on a survey of 300 truck operators and 20 freight customers in regional and remote Australia, highlights the economic and social importance of trucking to services and employment in these areas... But it shows that these smaller trucking operators are being squeezed between rising costs, of fuel and of increased bureaucracy and paperwork, and the use of market power by large operators to squeeze rates... And it says the situation will become worse if the Federal Government introduces its new fuel tax rebate scheme from July (it is yet to go through parliament) which will severely hit the cash flow of truck operators. The winner will be the Tax Office which will increase its cash flow at the expense of small truck operators...

Hours of Service - Australia - QLD Govt focus on fatigue

Queensland,Australia -supply chain review -24 Apr 2006: -- Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Paul Lucas, has told the Australian Trucking Association's (ATA) annual convention that the State Government had turned the spotlight on rogue transport companies who forced drivers to cut corners and break the law... The Minister said the State Government would make no apology for taking a tough stand on the issue... Since the introduction of chain of responsibility legislation in 1998, Queensland Transport has led the field with 324 successful prosecutions for driving hours offences...

Long-distance drivers - USA - They're a philosophical, independent breed

Palm Beach,FL, USA -Palm Beach Post -23 Apr 2006: -- According to the American Trucking Associations, there are a nationwide shortage of 20,000 long-haul truckers..., To prevent an all-out crisis that could delay deliveries and push up the cost of trucked goods, the ATA this summer will roll out an advertising campaign that tugs at the hearts of would-be drivers... Called "Take the Wheel", the campaign is the brainchild of Falls Church, Va., ad firm +SmithGifford Inc...
(Photo: The American Trucking Associations' "Take the Wheel" campaign for new drivers will target 24- to 35-year-olds, recent military veterans, English-speaking Hispanics and people older than 50. It's set for launch this summer)

Keep on trucking - Canada - Companies find it hard to doit

The trucking industry is taking a hard look at its aging, retiring workforce, and the problem isn’t just here in Lloydminster, it’s nationwide.

Lloydminster,Alberta,Canada -Meridian Booster , by Peter Worden -Apr 21, 2006: -- The trucking industry is taking a hard look at its aging, retiring workforce, and the problem isn’t just here in Lloydminster, it’s nationwide... Terry Johnson a dispatcher at Roberge Transport Inc., said it’s the same tune across Canada, a huge transportation industry and increasingly fewer drivers to fill vacant positions... Across Canada, the trucking industry employs 400,000 people and generates about $54.7 billion every year. A crucial industry, Statistics Canada says more than half of everything Canada exports uses road and rubber to get there...

Report - Canada - Core inflation steady despite oil prices

Toronto,Ontario, Canada -The Toronto Star, by DAVID PADDON -Apr. 21, 2006: -- Despite the recent spike in fuel prices, economists say there's little evidence that higher energy costs have had a significant impact on Canada's core inflation... In some cases, that's because businesses can compensate for higher energy prices by cutting costs in other areas, such as labour expenses, or improving the fuel-efficiency of their operations or products... Other producers may need to pass along their costs but find their customers resist paying more, and that means their investors and employees feel the impact of high fuel prices long before consumers do...

Profit - China - Dongfeng Auto 1Q net fell 31.8%

SHANGHAI,China -MarketWatch -Apr 20, 2006: -- Dongfeng Automobile Co., a China-based maker of light trucks and diesel engines, Thursday said its net profit in the first quarter fell 31.8% from a year earlier amid a slump in China's heavy-duty truck market... Net profit in the first quarter fell to CNY99.8 million from CNY146.4 million in the same period last year. Core revenue rose to CNY2.51 billion from CNY2.13 billion... Its vehicle sales in the first quarter rose 27.2% from a year earlier to 31,243 units, but its engine sales fell 37.2% to 21,821 units, said Dongfeng in its earning statement...

Revenues - USA - Truck sales boost Eaton’s 1Q profits

USA - Fleet Owner -Apr 18, 2006: -- Strong production and order rates for heavy-duty trucks boosted Cleveland, OH-based truck component supplier Eaton Corp’s net income to $208 million on 14% higher revenues of $3.1 billion for the first quarter of 2006. That equals a 21% jump over net income of $187 million in the same quarter in 2005, despite taking charges for acquisition absorption costs...

Sinotruk May Go Public - China - In Hong Kong within 2006

JINAN,China -SinoCast via COMTEX -Apr 20, 2006: -- China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co., Ltd. (CNHTC, or Sinotruk), the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in the country, announces that it will likely to go public in Hong Kong before the end of 2006. Officials at CNHTC disclosed that when the group celebrated the establishment of an engine subsidiary in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province on April 18... Sinotruk Jinan Power Company, the new arm of the group, will become a special production base of engines for heavy-duty vehicles in China. CNHTC has invested nearly CNY 1 billion (USD 1 = CNY 8.01) in the company and equips it with the most advanced techniques around the world. The engine company, which will reach a designed capacity of 100,000 heavy-duty engines annually, plans to manufacture 30,000 to 50,000 engines this year...

Investment - Mexico - Neutral, clause closer to becoming law

Mexico,DF,MEX -El Universal, by RICARDO CASTILLO MIRELES/The Miami Herald -April 20, 2006: -- 14-year struggle to revamp the "neutral investment" clause within the Foreign Investment Law may be nearing an end as the Senate sent a reform initiative to the Chamber of Deputies to define the limitations of this type of foreign investment... When the original law was enacted in 1992, cries of foul play were heard from the transportation lobby. They asserted that it effectively allowed U.S. carriers to acquire what the National Cargo Carriers Chamber (Canacar) called "ghost companies." Canacar alleges that these companies were purchased via frontmen (Mexicans acting as investors), but were actually illegally bought by U.S. investors... The so-called "ghost companies" quickly became leading competitors in the transport sector and Canacar began voicing complaints that the spirit of the law was being violated. They soon began to lobby Congress to reform the law... One of the most notorious companies was Transportes Easo owned by Alberto Anchustegui. In 1992 he owned 20 rickety rigs but soon commanded a fleet of nearly 1,000 new trucks...

Border Protection - USA - Stricter measures for border bound trucks will spring into effect by May

OTTAWA, Ont.,Canada -Truck News, by Steven Macleod -20 Apr 2006: -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking the next step with implementation of the U.S. Trade Act and will begin enforcing measures of Phase Four of the Act on May 15... In Phase Four, carriers who are not participating in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) will no longer be able to rely on a copy of a fax transmission to a customs broker to indicate an attempt to comply with the Trade Act's advance cargo information rules. If CBP has not received advance cargo information from the broker when the truck arrives, the truck will not be allowed to proceed...

Sensors - Ireland - Plea over blind spots on trucks

Dublin,Ireland -Ireland Online -20 Apr 2006: -- Sensors and front-facing mirrors should be made mandatory on trucks to eliminate blind spots for drivers after the tragic death of a pensioner, a jury recommended today... The Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard many pedestrians have died after stepping into the driver’s blind spot in front of high-sided trucks stopped at traffic lights... Coroner, Brian Farrell, said new legislation was being brought in through an EU directive in relation to mirrors to eliminate the blind spot for truck drivers, but may only apply to new vehicles... (Picture: Transport Road Safety Canada)

Temporary Plates - USA - Cracks Down on

Inspections for Inspections for Large Trucks

Connecticut,USA -Insurance Journal -Apr 20, 2006: -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell has accepted the Department of Motor Vehicles' recommendations to stop the prolonged use of temporary commercial plates on large trucks that have not had safety inspections... Under the proposal, trucks receiving the temporary plates would only be able to use the plates to move the vehicle to or from the place of sale or transfer, to a plant, construction site or other job location, to obtain repairs or to a site offering a safety inspection. Under no circumstances would a truck with a temporary plate be allowed to carry a load of any kind...

Earth Day - Canada - A Present From the Trucking Industry

New Generation of Smog-Free Diesel Fuel, Engines Introduced This Year

TORONTO, ONT.,Canada -CCNMatthews -Apr 20, 2006: -- This Earth Day, Canada's trucking industry has much to be proud of. According to the CTA, before this year is out, the air coming out of new heavy truck exhaust systems could be cleaner than the air we breathe - and that's no exaggeration... The new mandatory fuel and engine emission standards introduced by both the Canadian and US federal governments "will usher in the age of the smog-free truck," says CTA CEO David Bradley. "None of the other modes - rail, marine or air - have anywhere near the same requirements and that only trucks will be able to lay claim to being the most environmentally-friendly mode of commercial goods transport"...

Trucking Stronger - USA - Freightliner Numero Uno kicks off Truck World

TORONTO,Ont,Canada -Today's Trucking News (USA) -20 Apr 2006: -- Returning to his old stomping grounds of Toronto, Chris Patterson laid it all on the line for nearly 300 fleet executives and industry suppliers at this morning's opening VIP breakfast of Truck World 2006... The Rexdale, Ont.-born and raised president of Freightliner LLC in Portland, Oregon told his audience that the North American trucking industry is experiencing perhaps one of the most interesting points in its storied history. Despite some hardships in the last 10 years — some naturally cyclical, some entirely industry-created — trucking is stronger than it's ever been, said Patterson, who has worked for truck manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. for 27 years, the first 14 years with Canadian Kenworth...

AUTOMAKERS' WORLD NEWS digest

* Car sales across Europe up 3.2 percent in first quarter
BRUSSELS, Belgium -The Detroit News/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- VW, Fiat lead European sales boost... Car sales across Europe picked up by 3.2 percent in the first three months of the year compared with the same period a year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said... About 4.13 million cars were sold across Europe in the first quarter, the ACEA said in a statement... Germany's Volkswagen AG and Italy's Fiat Spa profited most from the first quarter upswing, while France's Peugeot PSA, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.'s sales stayed flat and Renault SA lost market share, the figures showed...

* Two Hyundai executives detained in slush fund scandal
SEOUL, South Korea --The Detroit News/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- Investigation centers on bribes to seek business favors from South Korean government... Prosecutors said that they detained two top executives of Hyundai Motor Co. and a former executive of a state-run bank in an escalating scandal over allegations the company created a slush fund to buy influence with government officials... Chief Financial Officer Lee Jung-dae and Kim Seung-nyun, a vice president in charge of procurement, were the first Hyundai Motor executives to be detained in the investigation. Also detained on was Park Sang-bae, former deputy governor of the state-run Korea Development Bank, prosecutors said...

* Japan to test train powered by fuel cells
TOKYO,Japan -The Detroit News, by Hans Greimel/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- Japan's biggest rail company soon will test using fuel cells to help power a train, following the lead of automakers in rolling out cleaner, more efficient transportation... Pollution-free fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water vapor as exhaust... East Japan Railways Co., will start test runs of the NE Train, or New Energy Train, in July... As with automobiles, however, hydrogen-powered trains will need to overcome a current lack of fueling stations, which would be needed to make long-distance travel practical...

* Sterling Heights assembly line to be shipped to Russia
MOSCOW,Russia -The Detroit News, by Hans Greimel/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler sells equipment to Russian automaker, which will build vehicles under license... Russia's OAO GAZ automaker agreed to buy DaimlerChrysler AG production lines in Sterling Heights and move them to Russia, where it will produce DaimlerChrysler cars under license... The Sterling Heights plant will get new equipment to build the company's next generation Sebring and Stratus, the Chrysler Group said, and will have the ability to produce a second, small-vehicle line as well...

* U.S. automakers try to fill every niche
NEW YORK.NY,USA -The Detroit News, by Dee-Ann Durbin/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- Glut of new models is a boon to consumers, but expensive for automakers... Automakers seem to be a little frantic these days. At this season's major auto shows in Detroit, Chicago, Geneva and New York, they offered vehicles powered by diesel fuel, hybrid systems and ethanol, massive pickups and tiny subcompacts, nostalgic muscle cars and futuristic crossovers... Finding the right formula to whet car buyers' appetites has become more essential than ever... Automakers are responding with more products to fill every niche, which is a boon for consumers but painful and expensive for U.S. automakers...

* A third of plant jobs evaporate in Michigan
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Josee Valcourt and Louis Aguilar -Apr 20, 2006: -- Midwest losing clout as one of world's major automaking hubs, study finds... Michigan has lost nearly 1 in 3 manufacturing jobs since 1999 and impending factory closures by automakers and suppliers could further erode the state's position as a major global automotive hub, according to a new analysis by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor... Michigan faces a confluence of forces that threaten its bread-and-butter industry, including overseas competition, the rise of the auto industry in the American South and the continued loss of U.S. market share by Detroit's Big Three automakers...

* Automakers clear the air
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Josee Valcourt -Apr 20, 2006: -- Americans with allergies welcome in-vehicle air filters... Very soon, that new car smell might just be clean, fresh air as automakers make more vehicles with air filtration or ionization systems... Vehicles such as the Chrysler 300 and Ford Mustang are equipped with air filters that keep certain particles on the other side of powered windows. Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Camry sedans are rolling off factory lines with ionizers that release positive and negative ions into the cabin to attack invading allergens and pollutants... Such features could help attract some of the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. Mounting environmental concerns in general and a throng of consumers purchasing home purification systems also are driving the trend...

Production - China - SinoTruk completes new engine facility in Jinan

BEIJING,China -Asia in Focus, Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge -Apr 19, 2006: -- China Heavy Duty Truck Group Corp (SINOTRUK) announced yesterday that it has built an engine production base in Jinan, Shandong Province with an annual output capacity of 100,000 units. The new production base enables China's leading truck manufacturer to make high-function engines for heavy-duty trucks... The new base is erected at the SINOTRUK JINAN ENGINE CO., LTD. site, with an investment approaching one billion yuan (US$124.7 million)...

Aging workforce - Canada - Trucking industry facing dearth of young drivers

Transport company trying heavier advertising

Ontario, Canada -Toronto Star, by STEVE ARNOLD -Apr. 19, 2006: -- A major labour shortage is looming for the industry that keeps Canada's economy rolling... Research from Statistics Canada shows the country's trucking industry could lose as much as 20 per cent of its workforce in coming years, and young people aren't coming into the industry in enough numbers to replace those departing... That's a frightening statistic, given that more than half of everything Canada exports, 78 per cent of its imports and 90 per cent of its food, moves to its final destination over the road... According to Statistics Canada, nearly 271,000 people worked as truckers in 2004 with an average age of 42 for company drivers and 45 for self-employed owner-operators... Most troubling, however, is the fact that 18 per cent of drivers are 55 or older, compared with 13 per cent for the workforce in general. In 2004, the over-55 age group outstripped the number under 30. Only 5 per cent of the trucker fraternity are under age 25, compared with 15 per cent of the workforce generally...

Sold - USA - Trucking Business To Cease Operations

Billings opened in Lexington in 1922

LEXINGTON, N.C.,USA -WXii 12.com (Winston-Salem,NC) -April 19, 2006: -- A decades-old trucking business has announced it will close its operation in the Piedmont... More than 200 Billings Transportation Group employees were told the news: most of the workers will lose their jobs... Officials said the company's international and domestic logistics divisions have been sold to a company in San Francisco... A small number of employees will be retained to deliver remaining freight and help close the location...

Orders - USA - Carriers Must Separate Diesel by Sulfur Content

USA - Transport Topics, by Andrea Fischer -Apr 17, 2006: -- Beginning June 1, trucking companies that use in-house central refueling facilities will be required to label their diesel pumps as either ultra-low-sulfur diesel or low-sulfur diesel, said the Environmental Protection Agency... Carriers that buy their own fuel in bulk will be required to segregate ULSD — which must contain no more than 15 parts per million of sulfur — from low-sulfur diesel, which contains anywhere from 16 ppm to 500 ppm of sulfur... ULSD is needed for lower-emission 2007-model truck engines to run properly...

Reorganisation - Netherlands - TNT to shed 1,000 postal jobs

Hoofddorp,Netherlands -transportintelligence.com -Apr 2006: -- TNT has announced the nature and scale of a planned reorganisation of TPG Post's letter sorting centres. The reorganisation is part of the Cost Flexibility Master Plan the company announced in 2001. As a result of this part of the reorganisation, 1,000 to 1,100 full-time jobs will be shed between 2006 and 2008 at the six letter sorting centres (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Den Bosch, Zwolle and Nieuwegein)...

Chaos - Canada - Truckers call upon Ottawa to act

Order-in-council's expiration could lead to new chaos in the port

Vancouver,BC,Canada -Vancouver Province -19 Apr 2006: -- The spectre of another container-trucking disruption such as the one that devastated the Port of Vancouver for seven weeks last summer was raised yesterday... Following a stakeholders' meeting with federal Industry Minister David Emerson and provincial Transport Minister Kevin Falcon to address issues facing the industry, about 200 truckers staged a horn-honking protest in Vancouver... The meeting was said to be positive, but the issue for the protesting truckers is that an order-in-council that suspends the Competition Act with regard to licensing of companies doing business with the Port of Vancouver expires tomorrow... The concern is that the hauling rates set up by mediator Vince Ready last summer would plummet and that some companies would be free to undercut others... (Photograph by : Jason Payne, The Province - Protesting container-truck drivers cause a major traffic disruption in Vancouver)

Court Asked - USA - To Assign HOS Case to Same Panel

USA - Transport Topics, by Sean McNally -Apr 17, 2006: -- Attorneys representing Public Citizen filed a motion asking that its challenge to current hours-of-service rules for truck drivers be judged by the same panel that overturned the prior regulation... Meanwhile, attorneys for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration asked to have the two challenges to the HOS rules —Public Citizen’s and a separate one by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association— by heard by the same panel of judges... Public Citizen said in its April 6 motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that “judicial economy, efficiency and consistency” favor assigning the case to the same panel of judges that heard the first petition...

Production - China - Yokohama Rubber to Produce Steel Radial Tires for Trucks and Buses

Tokyo,Japan -Japan Corporate News (press release) -Apr 19, 2006: -- Suzhou Yokohama Tire a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber (China), will invest $81.3 million to construct a tire production plant with a maximum annual output capacity of 350,000 units... The new plant will become Yokohama Rubber's fourth truck/bus-use steel radial tire plant. The company has similar plants in the US, Thailand and Japan. The company already has a manufacturing base, Hangzhou Yokohama Tire, in China...

In first quarter - USA - Rush Enterprises sees jump In truck sales, service revenue

San Antonio,TX,USA -San Antonio Express (subscription) -18 Apr 2006: -- New Braunfels-based Rush Enterprises Inc. on Tuesday reported a nearly 24 percent increase in revenue and a 48 percent jump in earnings per share in the first quarter, thanks to an increase in both truck sales and in parts and service revenue...

Dirty Wheels - USA - Mid America Trucking Show

The United States truck world seems to finally be realising that there are trucks in the rest of the world

Australia -Australasian Transport News (subscription), by Tim Giles -18 Apr 2006: -- This year's Mid-America Trucking Show brought the rest of the globe home to the Americans... All of the major manufacturers were showing something in their range that integrated with European or Japanese product... Detroit Diesel... A Sterling truck based on a Fuso design... The new 11 litre Volvo engine... International showing off their latest range of engines... A light duty DAF LF was on show... The Chinese market was the claimed destination for one of the strangest displays... The monster 6x4 prime mover used a Kenworth chassis fitted with a Caterpillar C-15 engine... The single message coming from the states is that the industry there has finally accepted that they must become global or die. There is room for some niche players but to slug it out with the big boys you've got to sell worldwide...

Report - China - Get Me Personnel!

Who's got the hottest job in China? The HR guy

USA -Forbes, by Russell Flannery -17 Apr 2006: -- Michael Cline has seen the front line of the piracy battle in China... As a vice president for global personnel at AO Smith, the maker of heaters and motors based in Milwaukee, he helped guide the firm's China expansion from no plants in 2001 to multiple sites in four cities by 2005, and from zero employees to 3,000 people... Problems soon emerged: Employees were selling the company's technology to outsiders, and sales staff were, he says, "leading a dual life" by also working for rivals... They tried to root out nepotism by managers who directed business to companies controlled by family members, says Dane Chamorro, the China deputy manager with Control Risks in Shanghai... China's economic boom and attendant surge in intellectual property theft and financial crimes are taxing the skills of personnel departments. The demand for those skills is making personnel into one of the hottest careers in China today...

Opinion - USA - Carrying A Heavy Burden

Foreigners are aggressively going after this part of the market...

New York,NY,USA -Forbes, by Jerry Flint -18 Apr 2006: -- More than half of the passenger cars sold in the United States wear foreign nameplates. General Motors, Ford Motor and American Chrysler still hold the truck side of the business, but the foreigners are aggressively going after this part of the market. And the home team seems to be repeating many of the same mistakes it has made in the past... Asian carmakers now own more than 40% of the minivan market, sell more than half the small pickups and lead in sales of car-based "crossover" sport utility vehicles... It is clear that the truck market has become quite competitive across all segments. Detroit can no longer count on simply bringing a truck to market and then leaving it unchanged for years... It Detroit fails in trucks, it will not be because of labor, pension and health care costs. It will be due to plain old incompetence...

"Criminal Charges" - USA - Trucking firm owner being investigated

Knoxville,TN,USA -Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription), by REBECCA FERRAR -Apr 17, 2006: -- Scott McCluen, district attorney general for Loudon County, said Monday that Extreme Logistics owner Joe Brandenburg is being investigated by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Department... "There is a criminal investigation ongoing right now," McCluen said... Extreme Logistics closed March 9, leaving many of the 100 or so drivers with paychecks that bounced, drivers say... When the company closed its doors, some drivers were stranded hundreds of miles from home because their fuel cards were invalidated...

Purchases - UAE - National Transport acquires fleet of enhanced Volvo Trucks

United Arab Emirates -AME Info -Apr 17, 2006: -- Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO), the exclusive distributor for Volvo Trucks, Buses and Construction Equipment in the UAE, announced that National Transport, a reputed name in construction transport, has purchased the first 25 trucks of the new Volvo FH Trucks... This purchase was followed by overwhelming response from several other players in construction transport... (Photo: Martin Bleasdale, Divisional Manager, Truck and Bus FAMCO, shaking hands with Shawqi Ali Lootah, General Manager, National Transport to mark the sale of the first fleet purchase for the enhanced Volvo FH Truck. Also seen in picture is a staff from National Transport along with new fleet of Volvo FH Trucks in the background)

Trucks on the Highway - USA - How to Live With Them

Washington,DF,USA -The Washington Post -April 16, 2006: -- The Washington area is the third-most-congested in the nation, and it is projected to grow by 2 million residents in the next two decades. Truck miles are projected to grow 36 percent in the next decade. Limiting truck usage of the Beltway and local interstates would be self-defeating, however, given the enormous growth in truck traffic that is expected. And while truck crashes grab headlines, most crashes occur between cars, and most crashes involving trucks are caused by cars... While National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show that the fatal accident rate for both cars and trucks is at a historical low, last year more than 42,000 people were killed on the nation's highways and more than 2.5 million were injured... Motorists, truckers and government working together can ensure that increasing cargo and congestion on the highways do not mean more accidents...

''Jake Brakes'' - USA - On big trucks again causing head aches

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, N.J.,USA -Newsday (Long Island,NY)/AP -Apr 15, 2006: -- The "Jake Brake," an exhaust braking system used in 18-wheelers and other large vehicles, is again creating earsplitting headaches in residential neighborhoods and backlash among residents... "When (truck drivers) apply the brakes, it sounds like the world's coming apart," Bill Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, told... The Jake Brake _ named by its Connecticut-based manufacturer _ cuts the flow of fuel and uses air to change the movement of pistons to slow down the big vehicles. Drivers say it reduces reliance on regular brakes and their pads, which can heat up and deteriorate over time...

Protest - Canada - Farmers Vow To Keep Blocking Trucks

Ottawa,Ontario,Canada -580 CFRA Radio, by Cindy Clyne -April 15, 2006: -- The Farmers blockade at three food distribution terminals in Ottawa's east end will continue... The farmers believe their protest is having an effect. On Saturday morning, protesting farmers were only allowing only one truck through every 20 minutes, and with over 40 trucks in line at one location (Sheffield Road National Grocers Warehouse), the last trucker in line was expected to wait 10 hours before being able to get through...

Futuristic Ford - Canada - Its biggest plant goes wireless

OAKVILLE, Ont.,Canada - CBC News/Canadian Press -Apr 15, 2006: -- It's a bird, it's a plane, no - it's Fast Gate... That's the name for Ford of Canada's new shipping lane for trucks delivering components to the assembly line at the Oakville assembly complex, which is undergoing a $1-billion transformation... Ford is blanketing a 486,000-square-metre area with wireless Internet access and creating a dedicated lane where trucks will have transponders that "trigger the main gate to open and instantly record the time and location of the vehicles entering the site."...

Infraestructure - USA - Massive ports, rail and highway plan nears agreement

LOS ANGELES,Cal,USA -Sacramento Bee, by LAURA MECOY -16 Apr 2006: -- Every day, the 300-foot cranes at the Port of Los Angeles remove containers of toys, clothes, and other goods from Asian ships and place them on American trucks and trains for delivery to consumers around the country... At the Los Angeles port and the neighboring Port of Long Beach, these cranes handle 40 percent of all shipments to the U.S., making this the largest port complex in the nation and the fifth largest in the world... Trade through the two ports generates some 500,000 jobs, and the number of jobs could double over the next 25 years, according to the Southern California Association of Governments... The $222 billion plan Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled in January included $15 billion in rail improvements, roads and other port-related public works... A task force convened by the Schwarzenegger administration has determined more is needed... Its draft recommendations call for extending the Alameda Corridor east of Los Angeles, expanding cargo-loading facilities and building new bridges, new rail lines, new freeway interchanges and new freeway lanes...

Fines - Guam/USA - Smoke-belching vehicles will soon face GEPA

Chamorro,GU,USA -Pacific Daily News, by Valerie Lynn M. Maigue -15 Apr 2006: -- The Guam Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to curb the harmful emissions that sometimes are emitted by tour buses, dump trucks and other heavy vehicles... Guam EPA Environmental Health Specialist Steve Norby said the agency has had a lot of success with its Air Pollution Control Program, under which dozens of trucks have been brought in for evaluation and even given notices of violation. While the program has been in existence for several years, Guam EPA last week said it still is awaiting the approval of the federal EPA to allow the local agency to fine violators. It was not immediately known when approval would be granted, Norby said...

Police officers - USA - Co-conspirators charged with title fraud

Orlando,FL,USA -Orlando Business Journal/Bizjournals.com (Charlotte,NC) -15 Apr 2006: -- Attorney General Charlie Crist announced Thursday that his office has filed criminal fraud charges against two Orlando police officers, a towing company operator and a car dealer in connection with an alleged scheme to title Mack trucks so they could be resold at higher prices... Crist says arrest warrants have been issued for officers Keith Gibson and Larry Kamphaus of the Orlando Police Department, as well as Edward Utley and Alvin Sosa... In an investigation conducted by his office and the Florida Highway Patrol revealed that Utley, 70, purchased 20 partial Mack trucks consisting of only the cab, frame rails, front wheels and tires, as surplus parts from a Texas company. Sosa, 60, then applied for towing and storage titles for the trucks, claiming they had been towed to his lot and that he could not locate the owners. Officers Gibson, 43, and Kamphaus, 35, falsely certified that they had personally verified the VIN numbers on the partial trucks to allow for the new titles... Utley and Sosa have each been charged with one count of organized fraud and two counts of title fraud. If convicted on all charges, each could face up to 15 years in prison. Gibson, a 16-year veteran of the police force, has been charged with two counts of title fraud and could face up to 10 years in prison. Kamphaus, an 11-year police veteran, has been charged with one count of title fraud and could face up to five years in prison...

Driving disasters - USA - Paved way for a profusion of guard duty

Columbia,MO,USA -Columbia Daily Tribune, by BILL CLARK -Apr 14, 2006: -- One of the fears attached to a person’s growing number of years is the possibility that your driver’s license renewal might require a road test, exposing all your bad driving habits. You make sure it doesn’t expire and hope the computer will not randomly pick you out as a suspect driver... When your renewal notice comes, you respond immediately. You say, "Yes ma’am" and "No ma’am" and smile for your picture. You concentrate on your eye test and breathe a huge sigh of relief when you’re good to go for another four years... In 1951, I got my first driver’s license at age 18. I walked into the license office in the county courthouse, plunked down 25 cents and was set for three years. No driver’s test, no eye exam, no photo, no driving lessons, no proof of insurance - just 25 cents... I had never driven a car when I bought that first license. But my grandparents had given me a 1929 Dodge when they upgraded to a 1950 Dodge, and I needed to have the state’s permission to drive it... (Foto: 1940 Dodge Truck)

Biodiesel - USA - Local Company Fueling Trucks With Cooking Oil

WEST BRIDGEWATER,Boston,USA -CBS4 Boston, by Christina Hager -Apr 13, 2006: -- J.P. Noonan transportation's fleet of 300 trucks burns 10-thousand gallons of diesel fuel every day... Now the company is investing in a big way in bio-fuel which is a mix of waste vegetable oil and diesel... "Our fuel costs are so high, 50, 60, 70 percent of our costs besides payroll...by the end of the day you don't make much profit," said Paul Noonan... The vegetable oil comes from area restaurants which pay Noonan to take it away... A gallon of the mix costs Noonan 2-dollars-and-55-cents about a quarter per gallon cheaper than diesel...

Sales - Germany - Army counting on MAN trucks for military

Seattle,WA,USA -Jobwerx -13 Apr 2006: -- The German Armed Forces, Bundeswehr, orders 592 vehicles from MAN´s TGA heavy truck range and 89 MAN LE2000 light range trucks for towing fighter planes at military airfields... The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) have ordered a total of 681 trucks from MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG. 592 vehicles from MAN´s TGA heavy truck range will be used to train drivers, while another 89 MAN LE2000 light range trucks are to serve as tractors to tow fighter planes across military airfields. Deliveries to BwFuhrparkService have already begun. Last year, the British Ministry of Defence also ordered 5,200 MAN trucks and MAN recently received a contract from Denmark for 143 military vehicles...

Cash bids - Bulgaria - For powered trucks maker Balkancar Sredets

Bulgaria -Dnevnik.bg -13 Apr 2006: -- Local company GTM Angel Balevski has filed the highest bid - 91.1 mln levs, in the sell-off procedure for a 69.33% stake in powered trucks manufacturer Balkancar Sredets, Bulgaria's Privatisation Agency said on Thursday... The second highest bid - 61.6 mln levs, was placed by Bulcari while Zagora Car was third with a cash offer of 35.5 mln levs... The PA will select a winner between the 3 candidates today.The procedure attracted 33 potential buyers...

Cross-border - USA/Mexico - Roadblocks to trucking still a drag on U.S., Mexico

San Antonio,TX,USA -San Antonio Express-News -13 Apr 2006: -- One of Mexico's leading businessmen revived the old issue of cross-border trucking in a San Antonio speech Wednesday, signaling the start of a new effort to allow freight to cross the U.S.-Mexico border as easily as it does the Canadian border... Eugenio Clariond Reyes, chief executive of Monterrey-based Grupo Imsa, knows the exact amount... Whereas the cost of moving a truck container across the busy bridge between Windsor, Canada, and Detroit comes to $19, shippers must pay $300 to drayage carriers for a container to cross the bridge between Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Clariond said... The unnecessary drayage costs are one reason North America is losing ground to Asia, Clariond said, citing the power the Mexican-owned drayage carriers have in Mexico's government to block the start of cross-border trucking... The U.S. Teamsters truck-driving union first stopped the planned freight opening on the border in 1995, wanting to avoid competition with lower-paid Mexican truck drivers. The U.S. barriers eventually fell in Congress and the courts, but now Mexico stalls the start of cross-border trucking... Cross-border trucking has been delayed so long that many people believe it will never happen. Until it starts, however, the issue will never go away...

Identity Stolen - USA - Man’s victim through job application

Brownsville,TX,USA -The Brownsville Herald, by JEFF RAYMOND -Apr 13, 2006: — Filling out a job application left a man with more than he bargained for: a Public Utilities Board account in someone else’s name... The victim, David Fries, received a $779.78 PUB bill in the mail for an address at which he had never lived, according to a Brownsville police report... Juan Jose Cruz, 22, is accused of stealing Fries’ identity to begin PUB service and attempting to steal another man’s, whom police identified only as “Mr. Galvan,” according to police reports... Fries recalled Cruz when he visited PTL Trucking Co. to fill out a job application... Fries currently is employed with PTL Trucking. Lt. James Paschall said Cruz no longer works there... Cruz also told police he used Fries’ information to open a PUB account... The account went unpaid until it was disconnected... Each charge is a state jail felony and is punishable by two years in prison and a $10,000 fine... Cruz was released on a $25,000 bond Wednesday, Paschall said...

Guinness Records - USA - World's Fastest Diesel-Powered Truck

Australia - Business Wire(San Francisco,CA,USA) -(Fairfax, Virg.) -Abr 12, 2006: -- An Australian truck, the "Bandag Bullet," has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the World's Fastest Diesel-Powered Truck... Engine temperature during the record-breaking run reached approximately 100 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit) above typical operating conditions. To protect his engine during the run, "Bandag Bullet" driver Frank Gaffiero used Mobil Delvac heavy duty engine oil...

Book - USA - Let the World know What Trucking is All About

If you ever wanted to know what it is like to drive a truck, you can find out here. Carl Maxwell Just released a book about driving a truck. My life as a trucker the first two years.

Cottage Grove,Ferndale,WA,USA -PR Web (press release) -Apr 12, 2006: -- Carl Maxwell tells the world what it is really like driving a truck and the trials and problems and even the good time to be had driving a truck, with the publication of My Life As A Truck Driver The First Two Years... ABOUT AUTHOR: Carl Maxwell has been a truck driver for eighteen years and still drives today. He watches the ever - changing trucking industry. Carl now owns a small trucking company in Minnesota, where in times when fuel in two dollars to three dollars a gallon Carl still can be found on the road having fun and making money...

Costs - Australia - Truckies feel impact of rising fuel

Australia -ABC Online -Apr 12, 2006: -- Truck drivers say the cost of fuel is pushing many owner-drivers to a financial limit... The founder of the National Trucking Alliance, Doug McMillan of Albury, says a fuel levy needs to be considered as prices head towards $1.40 and more... McMillan says some businesses are happy to pay a fuel subsidy, but most are not...

Database - USA - Trucking group pushing for statewide one, on drivers

Centre County,PA,USA -Centre Daily Times, by PATRICK WALTERS/AP -Apr. 12, 2006: -- In search of a new tool to weed out problem truckers, a Pennsylvania trucking association is pushing for a statewide database that would compile employer records on drivers' drug test results... Traffic violations and criminal convictions can be found on drivers' public records, but trucking companies say they often have no way to track whether drivers had any positive drug or alcohol tests at their previous jobs... Officials with the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, an industry group that represents trucking companies, argue that while most truck drivers have good histories, it can be hard for companies to keep track of the ones who consistently have blemishes on their records...

Study - USA - Truck sales are on the rise

Says AAIA study
Akron,OH,USA -Modern Tire Dealer -Apr 12, 2006: -- Aftermarket sales of medium and heavy-duty trucks are projected to hit $73.9 billion in 2006 following 6.2% growth last year, according to a recent Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) study... "Sales have increased for a variety of different reasons, including rising Class 4-8 vehicle sales, increases in the average number of miles driven, 2.5% growth in truck registrations since 2000, and the nation's transporting dependency on the trucking industry"...

Vandals - USA - Target rigs parked on commercial T.O. streets

Parking restrictions frustrate trucking company owners and drivers

Ventura county,CA,USA -TheVenturaCountyStar, by Daniel Miller, Apr 8, 2006: -- Three trucks owned by Image Motor Transport and CCC Auto Transport were vandalized — their windshields smashed with a hammer — while parked overnight two weeks ago on Thousand Oaks streets... The vandalism, which occurred March 24 to car-hauling trucks parked on Boardwalk Avenue and Hillcrest Drive, was not an isolated incident... The companies use these commercial streets for overnight parking because the city does not allow commercial vehicles to be parked overnight on residential streets... (Photo: James Glover II / Star staff - Brian Memmott, co-owner of CCC Auto Transport, says his truck has been vandalized while parked on Thousand Oaks streets. He thinks someone in the area is responsible for the vandalism)

HOS - Canada - New trucking regulations to limit hours

Valemount,BC,Canada -Robson Valley Times, by JENNIFER QUAM -8 Apr 2006: -- New proposed federal rules pertaining to log hauling and the number of hours truck drivers can work are going to have a direct affect to log haulers in the Robson Valley if instated... Roy Nagel, Manager of the Central Interior Logging Association (CILA), said that the proposed federal regulations will come into affect January 1, 2007 and unless there is flexibility at the provincial level, those proposed standards would govern all commercial transport in B.C. by default... “The key points in the planned federal rules that pertain to log-hauling are a limit of 13 hours of driving per day, plus one hour in-service, to a maximum of 70 hours per week,” said Nagel. “There must also be a minimum of 36 hours consecutive rest time in each seven-day week"...

Creative - USA - Thieves target Toyota trucksCatalytic converters

Being stolen from vehicles for valuable metals inside

Fremont,CA,USA -The Argus, by Ricci Graham -11 Apr 2006: -- So, with the prices of certain metals soaring in commodities markets, they have begun targeting catalytic converters that are featured in a line of 1990's Toyota trucks and sport utility vehicles... Authorities say the converters contain valuable metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium — that now can net a recycler thousands of dollars on the open market... Thieves are focusing on 1990s Toyota 4Runners, Tundras and Tacomas because the catalytic converters are easy toremove, according to police... Lt. Bill Gaudinier, an investigator with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, said he has seen a rise in catalytic converter thefts from Toyota trucks in the past six months...

Cargo sting - USA - Plan aimed at netting dump truck thieves

Ocala,FL,USA -Ocala.com, by JOE CALLAHAN -11 Apr 2006: -- Ocala "Operation Sandstorm" a law enforcement sting targeting dump truck thieves along the coasts and cargo thieves down the Interstate 75 corridor blew through Florida over the weekend... Dozens of law enforcement officers from 13 counties teamed up for eight stings on four consecutive nights. In Marion County, they targeted 18-wheelers... No major cargo thefts were discovered during the operation, which began last Thursday and continued until early Monday morning. But officers made eight felony arrests not related to cargo theft and recovered one stolen 18-wheeler...

Port inspections - USA - Take 28 trucks off the road

Of the 107 trucks stopped today, the CHP handed out 82 citations

Los Angeles,CAL,USA -Daily Breeze -Apr 11, 2006: -- More than two dozen trucks were taken off the road today as a result of a safety inspection of vehicles carrying cargo from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the Highway Patrol reported... The inspections involve six agencies: the CHP, U.S. Coast Guard, Los Angeles Police Department, California Air Resources Board, state Board of Equalization and the Foreign Export & Recovery Team... (Photo: Meryl Schenker/Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Customs Inspector Mark Johnson checks out Lacey resident Fred Francis' vehicle. Francis was entering Port Angeles from Victoria, B.C., by car ferry)

Transaction - China/Canada - Grand Power Logistics Completed the Macau Acquisition

Hong Kong,CHINA and Calgary,Alberta,Canada -CCNMatthews -Apr 12, 2006: -- Grand Power Logistics Group Inc., is pleased to announce that the Corporation and its wholly-owned Hong Kong based subsidiary, Grand Power Express International Limited , have completed the acquisition of Grand Power Express Forwarders Co. Ltd of Macau... The effective closing date for this transaction is January 1, 2006...

TechnoNews - USA - Next Generation System for On-Board Computing and Communications

Anderson Trucking Service Selects DriverTech as Its in Its Fleet Operations

SALT LAKE CITY,UT,USA -Business Wire -Apr 11, 2006: -- DriverTech, a technology leader, providing hardware and software solutions of onboard computers for the trucking industry, and Anderson Trucking Service, a leading specialized carrier in North America, announced today the deployment of DriverTech's DT4000 new in-cab computer and tri-mode, communication system...

Trucking Convention - Australia - Transport operators gearing up for

Broadbeach,Australia -Supply Chain Review - 11 Apr 2006: -- Over 700 of Australia's leading road transport operators, suppliers and government representatives are expected to meet at the trucking industry's national annual convention next week... Hosted by the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the Australian Trucking Convention will be held over four days, running from Wednesday, April 19, to Saturday, April 22, 2006 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Father Urges - New Zealand - Ban one-man rubbish trucks

Wellington,New Zealand -Stuff.co.nz -11 Apr 2006: -- The father of a three-year-old girl run over and killed by a rubbish truck in Stokes Valley has called for the sole-manned vehicles to be banned... Ruby Gooch-Wood died instantly when she was struck by a nine-tonne Waste Management truck that ran over her head outside her Greenwich Rd home in September... The Wellington Coroners Court was told the dual left and right-steering truck was being operated by Campbell Aitchison, who was using the left-hand side controls... The court was told that if Aitchison had been sitting in the usual right-hand driver's seat there would have been a greater chance that Ruby would be spotted... Mr Wood said the practice of sole rubbish truck drivers should be banned...

Blockade - Australia - 100 trucks caught in protest

Queensland,Australia -NEWS.com.au/AAP -Apr 11, 2006: -- MORE than 100 trucks were caught up in a protest action in NSW for several hours after four semi-trailers blocked a major highway.Trucks carrying aid for cyclone-ravaged parts of north Queensland were believed to be among the dozens of heavy vehicles stuck on the Hume Highway near Gundagai from about 8pm (AEST) yesterday... Police were called to the scene to negotiate with the truck divers who stopped in the middle of the Sheahan Bridge, blocking traffic in both directions, reportedly protesting over freight haulage rates... The spokeswoman said police had concerns for livestock loaded onto several B-double trucks which were not involved in the protest action but had become gridlocked south of the bridge...

Discuss - Ireland - Council meets over HGV strategy

Dublin,Ireland -RTE.ie -10 Apr 2006: -- Dublin City Council will hold a special meeting this evening to discuss its Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Management Strategy for the city... The strategy aims to limit the movement of trucks in the city centre after the Port Tunnel opens later this year... The Dublin Port Company has described the effects of the proposed strategy as disastrous...

TechnoNews - USA - Heavy hybrid hitting trash routes

USA -Fleet Owner, by Jim Mele -Apr 10, 2006: -- Intended at least initially for Class 8 refuse truck applications, a new diesel hybrid system uncouples the engine from the drivetrain and replaces the transmission with a hydraulic pump and hydrostatic engines... Specialty truck manufacturer Autocar LLC and its partner in the project, Parker Hannifin Corp., unveiled a working prototype of the E3 heavy-duty hybrid truck that, it said, has recorded up to a 50% decrease in fuel consumption tests under stop-and-go conditions typical of a refuse collection route... In addition to its significant fuel savings, the E3 significantly reduces brake wear and operating noise, according to Autocar...

Truckmaker - Germany - MAN to use India as base

MUNICH,Germany -Economic Times (India), by GOURI AGTEY ATHALE -Apr 11, 2006: -- India Man Nutzfahrzeuge, the E 7.3-bn heavy commercial vehicle and transport solutions German major, will use its India base to address markets outside Europe and North America... “India is our second production line,” Anton Weinmann, chairman of the executive board, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, said... But, it is not just trucks in the 16-49 tonne category that will be sourced from the euro 150m, 70:30 JV, MAN Force Motors...

Licensing System - Canada - Vancouver cracks down on container truck

Vancouver,B.C.,Canada - Logistics Management (Newton,MA,USA), by Leo Ryan -10 Apr 2006: -- The Vancouver Port Authority has introduced new and stronger rules to its mandatory Truck Licensing System, aimed at reducing congestion at peak times in the container terminals of Canada's largest port, writes. The measures include rigorous safety, security and environmental standards that will apply to all container trucks and container truck operations at Lower Mainland ports in British Columbia... Container truck operators will have 60 days to comply with changes designed to improve the flow of container truck traffic on lower mainland roadways, reduce wait times at truck gates, reinforce safe driver behaviour, and reduce emissions... The new requirements take effect on May 25, preceded by a 60-day transition period effective March 27...

Safety - Canada - Unsafe trucks targeted

Surrey,British Columbia,Canada -The Leader, by Dan Ferguson -Apr 09 2006: -- One out of every four big rigs failed a safety inspection during a three-day blitz by the Delta Police traffic section that ended Thursday... Police, along with the provincial Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) branch, pulled over 389 trucks between Tuesday and Thursday, failing 101... Police estimate the municipality averages 1,200 to 1,400 truck trips to and from the Deltaport container terminal every day...

Road remains bumpy long after cargo containers are off ships

Torrance,CA,USA -Daily Breeze, by Josh Grossberg -Apr 10, 2006: -- The containers have been scanned, scoured and searched. Officials are satisfied that there's nothing illegal inside and they're free to be sent anywhere in the United States... Once the containers reach the open road, they face a different kind of threat. Often filled with valuables, they are ripe pickings for thieves and hijackers looking for an easy score... Stolen cargo costs the trucking industry, railroads and insurance companies more than $10 billion annually, according to official estimates... Crimes include kidnapping, armed robbery and driving off with an unattended truck at night. Unsupervised trucks can be found in almost any shopping center parking lot and are often filled with valuable items... And to make off with a truck, all one needs to be able to do is drive it... (Photographs by Sean Hiller / Daily Breeze - Right : With a low-intensity light glowing onto the deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, crew member Anthony Colon makes his way below deck during a routine vessel search off of San Pedro - Left: Ernie Lopez uses a handheld device to scan the contents of this container for radioactive material as it passes through the Port of Los Angeles)

Trucks needed - Nepal - To run cargo service between Nepal and China

KATHMANDU,Nepal -Xinhua/www.chinaview.cn -Apr 9 2006: -- A Nepali transport company is seeking government funds to purchase new trucks to run cargo service between Nepal and China... Sajha Yatayat, a state-owned transport company, submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management recently, seeking funds for the purchase of 50 trucks for running cargo service in different parts of the nation, and between Nepal and China...

Warning Device - USA - Truckers try new fatigue one

Privacy issues a concern

PITTSBURGH,OH,USA -The Mercury News, by MICHAEL COWDEN/Associated Press, -Apr. 09, 2006: -- ... Fatigue plays a role in 13 percent of all truck crashes, according to a March report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the government estimates about 15,000 people are killed each year in fatigue-related accidents involving cars, trucks or other motor vehicles... Now, Paul Chapman,48, a veteran trucker who does night runs for Pitt Ohio Express, is helping test a new warning device that could help truckers avoid disaster by tracking how often they blink and how long their eyes stay shut - if they would be willing to accept such monitoring, which an independent researcher questions. What may happen to the data is a cause for concern for truckers... The device, designed by former Carnegie Mellon University professor Richard Grace, is about the size and shape of a Web cam. It is mounted on the dashboard, powered by the truck's cigarette lighter, and uses infrared technology to monitor blinking... Sean Flynn, a hazardous materials trucker for Coraopolis-based MC Tank Transport Inc., said drivers might use a device like Grace's, but only if they could be sure the data it recorded wasn't turned over to their employers... (Photos: www.fmcsa.dot.gov - 2A: bright-eye image 2B: dark-eye image 2C: difference image)

AUTOMAKERS' short news

* Ford plans cuts in Chicago
Chicago,Ill,USA -The Chicago Tribune, by Rick Popely -Apr 8, 2006: Declining demand hits Torrence plant... Ford Motor Co. said Friday that it will lay off an undetermined number of workers at its Chicago assembly plant by October as it trims production of the Five Hundred sedan to match declining demand... The layoffs will be the first since the plant received a $400 million overhaul in 2004 to become a flexible manufacturing facility that can produce several models on the same production line...

* Why Toyota’s nearly No. 1
Toyota, Japan -The Washington Post, by Anthony Faiola -8 Apr 2006: By combining efficiency and quality control, the Japanese automaker is soon to be world’s largest... Toyota is poised to overtake ailing General Motors this year as the world’s largest automaker in terms of units sold. It is a title, industry experts say, that the 69-year-old company could win through a combination of efficiency, flexibility, quality control and, most importantly, an uncanny sixth sense for what consumers want...

* Mercedes Car Group vehicle sales rise
Frankfurt, Germany -businessweek.com -8 Apr 2006: DaimlerChrysler AG said Friday its Mercedes Car Group, which includes its marquee Mercedes-Benz line, sold 17 percent more cars in March on demand for its S-Class sedan and 12 percent more for the first quarter... The German-American automaker said that Mercedes group car sales rose to 138,400 cars in March from 118,000 cars sold a year ago...

* GM to cooperate with creditors of Delphi
New York,NY,USA -fortwayne.com, by Paulette Chua/AP Apr. 07, 2006: General Motors Corp. has agreed to cooperate with unsecured creditors of Delphi Corp. that are looking to challenge GM if the auto maker attempts to seize big payouts from a restructured Delphi, attorneys in the case said Friday...

* GM Plans to Build New Plant in Russia
Moscow,Russia -mosnews.com -7 Apr 2006: General Motors Corp. is considering building an auto plant of its own in Russia amid mounting problems at its joint venture there, sources that wanted to remain anonymous told the Wall Street Journal... GM’s $340-million joint venture with Russian auto giant OAO Avtovaz began producing Russian-designed Niva compact sport-utility vehicles under the Chevrolet brand four years ago...

* Big 3 can turn junk vehicles into gas
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -Apr 07, 2006: Research group unveils green technology that converts some of landfill's trash into oil, fuel, carbon... Parts of that old clunker, destined for the scrap heap, might end up back in a gas tank, under new technology unveiled by Detroit automakers this week in Detroit... Every year 15 million vehicles are scrapped in the United States and nearly all are recycled. But a quarter of the content -- such as glass, rubber, tires and foam -- ends up in landfills to the tune of nearly 8 billion pounds a year...

* Smart cars could save lives
Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Christine Tierney and David Shepardson -Apr 06, 2006: -- Latest safety devices can detect when drivers tire... Automakers and suppliers are working on features to monitor drivers, such as rapid blinking that denotes fatigue, and flash warnings... The focus on driver behavior is part of a broad industry push to help motorists avoid accidents -- not just survive them when they occur... Using electronic systems, sensors and cameras, automakers have devised ways to help prevent vehicles from skidding, improve visibility, notify drivers of obstacles ahead or vehicles rushing up from behind... In 2004, the latest year for which U.S. figures are available, more than 42,000 people were killed in road accidents, which totaled 6.2 million... But automakers are careful about introducing new technologies that would go further, allowing a vehicle to wrest control of the steering or brakes from the driver, for fear of litigation... If such a system reacted to a false alarm, lawsuits would undoubtedly ensue, said Priya Prasad, a technical fellow in safety research at Ford Motor Co... Some drivers also resent the intrusion...

BE WORRIED, VERY WORRIED !! - USA - Climate has business thinking green

Sirocco of change

Santa Monica,Cal,USA -MarketWatch, by Thomas Kostigen -Apr 7, 2006: -- Last week, Time magazine exclaimed on its cover: BE WORRIED. BE VERY WORRIED. "Climate change isn't some vague future problem -- it's already damaging the planet at an alarming pace. Here's how it affects you, your kids and their kids as well"... The clarion call to action was part of a special report on global warming, with features on earth at the tipping point, the threat to your health, how China and India can help save the world or destroy it and climate crusaders... That may all sound alarming. But these are understatements, not overstatements. Climate change is a fact. Even many skeptics have come around to admitting the earth is in danger from excess carbon emissions... Last fall, The Business Council, which represents Fortune 500 executives, endorsed Ceres -- principles and programs for environmental stewardship and sustainability reporting. Wal-Mart is even "going green". Time quoted Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott as saying "One little change in product packaging could save 1,500 trees ... If everybody saves 1,500 trees or 50 barrels of oil, at the end of the day you have made a huge difference"... If that isn't testament to global warming hitting Middle America where it shops, I don't know what is. Consumers -- yes, you -- will now be impelled to get more involved in the environmental movement... Sure seven out of 10 of consumers would choose the greener product over its less-green counterpart if it were offered to them. And about three Americans in four call themselves "environmentalists". But until now, the green movement has been fringe. Vague notions of global warming and climate change have been associated with kooks. Not anymore. That's because the capital markets are getting involved... Ideas turn into policies that turn into programs and products. Green products are coming, from tennis shoes to toys (just check out Plenty magazine). There will be, I have no doubt, entire stores dedicated to selling them... There are those who may never believe climate change is real (just check out csrwatch.com). Nor will they ever become believers in socially responsible investing. In fact, many believe companies doing good are actually bad... Every one is entitled to an opinion. After all, there are people still plodding around on some island rocks in Hawaii trying to disprove the fact that astronauts actually landed on the moon... What can't be ignored is the effect climate change is having on the economy. It will spawn a lot more products than the moon program's Tang. And it will hopefully redirect the reckless consumption of the earth's resources... Green, in other words, is good -- even if you don't believe in global warming...

Reorganization - USA - Navistar to Restate Results Back to 2002

Chicago,Ill,USA -Washington Post, by DAVE CARPENTER /AP -Apr 7, 2006: -- Truck and bus maker Navistar International Corp., which has been sorting through accounting problems for months, said Friday it has dismissed its auditors and will restate financial results dating back to 2002... The restatements will cover fiscal years 2002-04 and the first nine months of fiscal 2005, Navistar said... As part of accounting overhaul, the parent of International Truck and Engine Corp. said its board of directors has fired Deloitte & Touche as its auditor and hired KPMG... The Warrenville, Ill.-based company said that because of the change in auditors, it still doesn't know when it will file its overdue 2005 annual report or issue first-quarter results for 2006...

Report - UK - More Foreign Trucks on UK Roads

USA -World Trade -Apr 6, 2006: -- The latest transportation statistics for 2005 indicate an increase in the number of foreign trucks working on UK roads... The UK’s Freight Transport Association (FTA) estimates that over one in ten of the heaviest vehicles operating in the UK come from overseas. And, most of the new traffic is coming from the new EU accession states, which joined in May 2004... Their numbers jumped by 62 percent last year compared to a 4 percent drop from other EU member states...

Business - USA - Lockheed selected to build military trucks

Contract may lead to production of 120 vehicles

OWEGO,NY,USA -Press & Sun Bulletin, by My-Ly Nguyen -Apr 7, 2006: -- The Marine Corps has awarded Lockheed Martin a $2.1 million contract to manufacture Lightweight Prime Mover trucks to tow the new M777 155-mm lightweight artillery howitzer... The low-rate initial production contract is for four vehicles... But the Marine Corps has the option for full-rate production of 120 LWPM vehicles, which represents a potential value of about $30 million...

Market - South Africa - Third more trucks sold in March

Port Elizabeth,Eastern Cape,South Africa -The Herald Eastern Cape -7 Apr 2006: -- The domestic truck market recorded considerable growth during March, with sales increasing 33,3% over March last year, says the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers... The 2 744 units sold in March bring sales in the year so far to 6 936 units, which was 26,8% higher than sales recorded in the first quarter of last year...

Trucking Associations - USA/Canada - Pursue liberalized rules for moving empty trailers

OTTAWA,Canada -Staff Logistics Management -Apr 6, 2006: -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations have launched a lobbying campaign to push for more flexibility in the movement of empty trailers by foreign truck drivers... Current immigration laws in both the United States and Canada do not allow for foreign drivers to reposition empty trailers if they have been disconnected from the power unit that brought them across the border. Immigration restrictions in both the U.S. and Canada hamper the ability of carriers to spot trailers, which for many of their customers is part of an inventory management system, said a CTA news release...

Cargo - USA - 22 held in human smuggling attempt

SEATTLE,Wash,USA -cnews.canoe.ca. by TIM KLASS/AP -6 Apr 2006: -- Twenty-two Chinese nationals were in custody Wednesday after they apparently let themselves out of a 12-metre cargo container that had been used to smuggle them from China, officials said... The shipping container, the second from the bottom in a stack of four, had been flagged for a special examination, but that had not been conducted before the group was caught, Milne said... It had been loaded on the ship in Shanghai and had water bottles, food, blankets and toilet facilities... It was believed to be the first detection of a human smuggling attempt via cargo container in Seattle since a flurry along the U.S. and Canadian West Coast in 2000 and 2001. Almost all of those caught were deported. Three found in a shipping container had died before reaching Seattle in January 2000... (AP Photo/U.S. Customs and Border Protection - The interior of a 40-foot cargo container used to transport 22 Chinese nationals believed to be part of a human smuggling operation)

AUTOMAKERS' short news

* GM, Ford March U.S. sales fall
DETROIT,Mich,USA -(Reuter, by Poornima Gupta -Apr 5, 2006: -- General Motors Corp., and Ford Motor Co., posted lower March U.S. sales on Monday, as consumers favored Asian vehicles and the top two U.S. automakers held back on less-profitable fleet sales... DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit, was the lone Detroit automaker to post a sales rise, of 2 percent... U.S. sales dropped 14.6 percent for GM -- its biggest slide since October -- and 4.5 percent for Ford, despite leading the industry in offering hefty consumer rebates last month...

* GM could be crippled by Delphi strike
Chicago,Ill,USA -The Chicago Tribune, by Rick Popely and Jim Mateja -Mar 30, 2006: -- General Motors Corp. depends so heavily on Delphi Corp. to supply parts for its vehicles that it cannot afford to face a Delphi strike for more than two weeks without the risk of shutting down all of GM's production, analysts say... If union workers strike Delphi, some critical parts could run out in a matter of days, halting production at some GM plants. All of GM could grind to a halt in a week or two, said Catherine Madden of industry forecaster Global Insight...

* Is GM pushing offshore outsourcing?
USA -autoserviceworld.com -6 Apr 2006: -- According to reports in a Detroit newspaper, some of U.S. auto giant General Motors Company's parts suppliers, are being sent a very clear, if not explicit message: outsource to cheap labour nations, or lose the business altogether... After an internal investigation by GM, it was learned that a single employee sent out the policy in question and had suggested that suppliers find parts form a list of countries such as China and Namibia...

* GM chief plans keep all key jobs, at least until reforms done
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Detroit Free Press, by Michael Ellis -5 Apr 2006: -- Exactly one year after taking day-to-day control over General Motors' troubled North American operations, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said Tuesday that he needs to keep the job during the current restructuring, but not for long...

* GM rivals roll out incentives
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Detroit Free Press, by SARAH A. WEBSTER -5 Apr 2006: -- Dodge, Toyota, Ford offering deep discounts ahead of new Silverado, Sierra releases... General Motors Corp.’s new full-size pickups, which are headed for an early release this fall, seem to have the competition running scared — and heaping thousands of dollars in discounts on their trucks... The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which will be built off GM’s crucial new GMT900 platform, are scheduled for release in the fall and might be the most awaited — and feared — new vehicles in years...

* And finally, GM's Wagoner: "Now is not time to panic"
USA -crossingwallstreet.com, by Eddy Elfenbein -5 Apr 2006: -- When asked whether anybody had been disciplined for the new accounting problems, he said, "I've never been a big believer in public executions. Having said that, we have a pretty proactive woodshed."... However, no executives have lost their jobs, GM spokesman Jerry Dubrowski said...

* Bankruptcy news - USA - Bill Ford rules it out
USA -crossingwallstreet.com, by Eddy Elfenbein -5 Apr 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. Chairman and CEO Bill Ford said Wednesday that bankruptcy isn't an option for the nation's No. 2 automaker, which is struggling to return its North American division to profitability... Nonetheless, Ford's North American division lost $1.6 billion last year, and the automaker's debt rating has been slashed to below investment grade. Ford also is steadily losing U.S. market share. The company now has around 18 percent of the U.S. market, down from 26 percent a decade ago...

* Sweden's Volvo Eyes Future Acquisitions Apr 5th
GOTEBORG, Sweden -wtopnews.com (Washington,DC,USA)/AP -5 Apr 2006: -- Swedish bus and truck maker AB Volvo will consider making major acquisitions as the industry moves toward increased global consolidation, Chief Executive Leif Johansson said... He did not specify what kind of acquisitions the company may consider, but Volvo is increasingly looking to Asia and particularly to China for growth of its key truck business. Last month it will buy 13 percent in Nissan Diesel Motor Co. Ltd. from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. for 1.5 billion kronor ($195 million)... Volvo also said it will investigate possibilities for cooperation with China's largest truck maker, Dongseng Motor Co. Ltd... Dongseng has around one-third of the Chinese market in both heavy and medium heavy trucks...

Prognosis - USA - Tight market, higher costs to keep pressure on rates

PHOENIX, Ariz.,USA -Truck News, by Steven Macleod -5 Apr 2006: -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO joined the American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves to discuss current challenges in the North American trucking industry during the annual meeting of the Transportation Sales and Marketing Association... With all the major components of operating costs continuing to rise and capacity tight, freight rates and other charges have no direction to go but up, David Bradley, CEO of the CTA, told delegates during his presentation...

Alternative - USA - Biodiesel moving again

Fledgling state industry gets past March without any complaints

St. Paul,MN,USA -Pioneer Press, by TOM WEBB -Apr. 05, 2006: -- March was a quiet month for Minnesota's biodiesel industry — which is the best news it could possibly get... After a winter besieged by quality problems, clogged filters and angry truckers, the biodiesel industry is optimistic it has finally solved its start-up headaches. Last fall, Minnesota became the first state to require biodiesel blended into all diesel fuel — and then became the first state to waive its law. Twice... But now, even the state's truckers have no complaints about the soybean-based fuel. And the lessons learned are guiding other states as they follow Minnesota's biofuels lead, officials say... Minnesota's bumpy rollout has drawn much attention from other states debating their own mandates...

Purchases - USA - Council approves for new trucks

Lake Forest,CAL,USA -Pioneer Press Online, by LINDA BLASER -6 Apr 2006: -- Three vehicles -- including a garbage truck -- to cost $520,000; upcoming federal emissions standards help prompt decision to buy... The Lake Forest City Council voted 8-0 Monday night to purchase three public works vehicles for $520,000, prompted in part by dramatic changes in federal emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks that will take effect Jan. 1, 2007...

Protesters - Australia - Residents tell traffic to truck off

Yarraville,Victoria,Australia -The Age (Melbourne.Au), by Jesse Hogan -Apr 5, 2006: -- A group of protesters who blocked an inner-western suburbs intersection during peak-hour this morning has labelled Steve Bracks "complacent and aloof" for allowing thousands of trucks in his own electorate to pass their homes every day... But the Premier has defended the trucks' use of Francis Street in Yarraville, stating residents have understood "for time immemorial" they were living along a commercial traffic route... (Photo: Jason South - Around 200 residents staged a protest this morning against heavy truck traffic in Yarraville)

After Theft - Canada - Man struggles to keep business afloat

Canada -Canada East/dailygleaner.com, by JOEL O'KANE -Apr 4, 2006: -- The owner of Brewer Foundations says his business is still trying to recover after some of its heavy equipment was mysteriously driven away and stolen in the fall of 2004... Wayne Brewer said it wasn't easy for the Zealand-based business after it lost about $100,000 worth of vital work equipment for several months, including a dump truck, bulldozer and trailer... Brewer said he doesn't hold a grudge against anybody and he hopes his business will recover... He also hopes others can learn from what happened to him and protect their equipment... (Photo: The Daily Gleaner, by STEPHEN MACGILLIVRAY - Truck recovered: Wayne Brewer, owner of Brewer Foundations, climbs into his truck that he recovered after it was stolen. The trailer behind the truck was also stolen, along with a bulldozer)

Breaker! Breaker! - USA - More people are needed to go on the road again as truck drivers

Wilson,NC,USA -Wilson Daily Times, by Laura Keeter -4 Apr 2006: -- The truck driver shortage isn't as grim in Wilson as in some places across the nation, however — mainly because Wilson trucking companies aren't sending drivers out on the road for weeks at a time... Also, eastern North Carolina is a better location for retaining truck drivers compared to more metropolitan areas, says John Lineberger, manager of sales and service at Old Dominion Freight Lines in Elm City... As a result of the national shortage of truck drivers, drivers have received improved benefits and pay. Drivers are paid a percentage of the company's freight rate, so when a freight rate increase is negotiated, the drivers get a pay raise... However, is actively looking for owner-operators, drivers who own their own rigs. He now employs 90 drivers, 47 of whom are company drivers... "Owner/operators are becoming more difficult to find because there are fewer of them," he said. "The cost of fuel is probably contributing factor; company drivers don't pay for the fuel. I do."...

Request - Canada - Driving the Message Home

Prince George,British Columbia,Canada -Opinion250 News -4 Apr 2006: -- The newly elected President of the Prince George Trucking Association, Stan Wheeldon, says if the Federal government and the Province want to improve safety on the roads, they should reduce the number of hours the Forestry truck drivers are working every week... "We need to have 12 hour days, five days a week with a longer hauling season" said Wheeldon . He said the National Safety Code is looking at 13 hours driving time a day, plus one hour in service a day, Maximum 70 hours a week, with 36 consecutive hours of rest a week... The BC Forest Safety Council he says is looking at 13 hours of driving time plus 2 “in service “, hours per day with a maximum of 80 hours a week and 30 consecutive hours of rest every seven day week... (Photo: Opinion250 file: Logging Trucks off the highway)

Order - USA - Oshkosh Truck inks Army's $54M

OSHKOSH,Wis,USA -The Post-Crescent -Apr 5, 2006: -- Oshkosh Truck Corp. has received an order from the U.S. Army for the rebuilding of heavy equipment transportation vehicles, cargo trucks and other equipment valued at $54.8 million, according to the U.S. Department of Defense... Under the firm-fixed-price contract, Oshkosh Truck will rebuild M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter and M1074 and M1075 palletized load system trucks, fuel tank assemblies, and palletized load system trailers...

Recall - USA - Nissan recalls 44,000 pickup trucks

Grand Rapids,MI,USA -WZZM -4 Apr 2006: -- Undated- Nissan is recalling about 44,000 Frontier pickup trucks in North America... The automaker says the truck's fuel cap could come off, allowing gasoline to spill if the vehicle gets involved in a severe side crash... The recall affects 2005 and 2006 models of the Frontier King Cab pickup...

Opinion - USA - Baby steps won't cure U.S. addiction to oil

Everett,WA,USA -The Herald -Apr 4, 2006: -- Many took it as a pleasant surprise when President Bush admitted in his State of the Union speech that America is "addicted to oil." ... As interventions go, however, last week's announcement of new federal fuel-efficiency standards for sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans was a disappointment. Rather than a serious attempt to address an addiction, it was akin to advising an alcoholic to just cut back on the booze a little... But higher mileage standards need to be a bigger part of the solution. Modern engines are much more fuel efficient than years ago, but the weight of bigger passenger trucks and SUVs has undermined the benefit... Our addiction to oil has gotten worse. To cure it, we need more than the baby steps that were announced last week...

Market - USA - Volvo Trucks sees slight demand increase

Greensboro,NC,USA -The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area -4 Apr 2006: -- Volvo Trucks North America Inc. saw a 5 percent increase in truck deliveries during the first two months of 2006... The company delivered 5,284 trucks to dealers and customers in January and February, up from 5,018 during the same two months last year... Worldwide, Volvo Trucks saw an 11 percent decline in deliveries during January and February when compared with 2005...

Infraestructure - India - Logistics sector could choke in a decade

Kolkata,India -The Business Standard -Apr 05, 2006: -- Cargo shipments costs would rise 15-20 per cent in less than a decade unless urgent measures like the integration of information technology (IT) tools with transport systems, double stacking of railway container trains and further widening of the road network were taken up immediately, a logistics expert said here today... Speaking ahead of the seminar on 'Role of IT and infrastructure in logistics- Towards a high-growth economy', S K Acharya, managing director and chief executive officer of Vie Trans Ltd., said 10 per cent economic growth meant nearly 20 per cent growth in passenger and cargo logistics volumes, which would choke all existing infrastructure despite new highway construction...

Discrimination - USA - Trucking firm accused of

Cleveland,OH,USA -WKYC/TV -3 Apr 2006: -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against trucking firm Pitt Ohio Express Inc., accusing the Pittsburgh-based company of discrimination... The federal lawsuit filed Friday in Cleveland says the company refused to hire to women seeking jobs as truck drivers and dockworkers at Ohio terminals. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says the trucking company hired men over women who were equally or better qualified dating back to 1997... Pitt Ohio Express did not immediately return a call seeking comment...

Figures - USA - Tonnage index falls for first time since August

USA -eTrucker, by Lance Orr -3 Apr 2006: -- The Truck Tonnage Index fell 2.5 percent in February, its first monthly decline since August 2005, the American Trucking Associations reported... This dip put the index at 115.1, its lowest level since September 2005... The index had seen increases for five straight months, totaling 3.3 percent before the February contraction. The February index was 0.2 percent lower than it was a year before...

Jobs - USA - Truck driver turnover reaches record level

Memphis,Tenn,USA -Memphis Business Journal, by Einat Paz-Frankel -Apr 2, 2006: -- The truck driver turnover rate just reached an all-time record as trucking companies are investing millions of dollars in ongoing recruiting efforts... In the fourth quarter of 2005, the annualized national truck driver turnover rate at large truckload carriers was 136%, according to the American Trucking Associations. Based on these figures, trucking companies with 1,000 drivers saw an average of 1,360 turnovers during 2005...

Prominent - Australia - Highway favourite in for the long haul

Australia -CARSguide, by Patrick Whiteley -1 Apr 2006: -- Freightliner's Aussie invasion was evident on a recent Sydney-Melbourne drive. They were among the most prominent truck marques on the Hume Hwy, behind Kenworths, and this reflects a booming sales year in 2005... The high take-up of the US truckmaker's three models also signals a major comeback after engineering problems forced recalls and caused headaches for truckies... Freightliner overcame the mechanical problems in the late 1990s and early 2000s and has now become the thoroughbred performer in DaimlerChrysler's stable...

Atshoooo... !!! - USA - Is that the sound of the truck market catching a cold?

UK -Big Lorry Blog, by Brian Weatherley -3 Apr 2006: -- Like the little girl with the curls, when the US market is good it's very good. But when it's bad...well most people tend to lose their lunch with the notable exception of Paccar... And when it IS bad those European manufacturers like Volvo and Mercedes which own large US subsidiaries (e.g. Mack and Freightliner respectively) invariably have to brace themselves for a torrid time and a big hit on their bottom lines... Meanwhile thanks to my journo colleagues on Commercial Carrier Journal in the States I'm told that Freightliner's Class 8 (that's heavy trucks to us European's) factories are preparing for a 40-50% decrease in output in 2007...

Market - USA - '07 downturn looms, but no consensus on how severe

LOUISVILLE, Ky,USA -Today's Trucking -3 Apr 2006: -- Truck OEM representatives agree the industry is bracing for a downturn in 2007, however estimates on how serious the heavy-duty fall would be varied among truck manufacturers and suppliers... The Class 8 sales slump for next year is predicted to be anywhere from 30 to 50 percent... Starting this January, all diesel engines on the market will have to cut particulate matter by 90 percent of 2004 levels to 0.01-g/hp-hr, and 0.02-g/hp-hr by 2010 for NOx. All engine OEs -- including cat, which uses its proprietary ACERT technology instead of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) -- have added diesel particulate filters (DPF) to meet this standard...

Product - USA - Emitec PM METALIT(R) Reduces Up to 80 Percent of Diesel Particulates

Detroit,Mich,USA -PRNewswire -Apr 3, 2006: -- Emitec, Inc. manufactures particulate matter (PM) METALIT®, an innovative type of PM filter catalyst, which significantly reduces diesel particulate emissions and is easy to retrofit... The PM METALIT® works on the principle of a partial flow filter, diverting a portion of the exhaust gas as it travels down each channel of the substrate through a stainless steel, sintered fleece fiber material. PM from the exhaust gas is then deposited in the fleece material for oxidation through a combination of heat and nitrogen dioxide...

Strike - Bangladesh - Trucks Owners'

500 trucks stuck on Dinajpur highway

Dinajpur,Bangladesh -The Daily Star -3 Apr 2006: -- A 48-hour strike by Dinajpur Truck Owners Association, which started yesterday, stranded at least 500 goods laden trucks from different districts on the Dinajpur highway.
Outgoing and incoming trucks and oil tankers at Thakurgaon and Panchagarh were also stranded due to the strike... Dinajpur Tank-lorry Owners Association also went into a 48-hour strike from yesterday expressing solidarity with the truck owners protesting rampant hijacking of rice laden trucks and killings of at least two persons in Dinajpur in the last eleven days... (Picture: Bangladesh police baton-charge protesters amid general strike)

Study - USA - Cars vs. trucks

When it comes to accidents, who's really to blame?

Stockton,CA,USA -Stockton Record, by ERIN SHERBERT -Apr 3, 2006: -- When it comes the motorist at fault in the accident that just halted traffic during your evening commute, researchers say it's more likely to be a car's driver than a truck's... But only slightly... A new study on driving behavior found that automobile drivers were to blame 56 percent of the time, truckers 44 percent, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation... The study, released in late March, looked at 967 collisions between trucks and cars. The purpose of the study was to analyze driving behavior among all drivers and investigate cause and contributing factors to injury and fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration investigated a national sample of crashes involving at least one truck weighing more than 10,000 pounds. The study was conducted from 2001 to 2003 across 17 states...

Biodiesel - USA - Soybeans help power county trucks

Road commission testing if 'biodiesel' is better for equipment

Port Huron,MI,USA -Port Huron Times Herald, by ANDREA MASON -2 Apr 2006: -- What do you get when you cross soybeans with truck fuel? ... It's not a punch line; it is biodiesel, and it's gaining popularity... Some who use the oil-and-diesel blend include the county road commission, which is looking to biodiesel to possibly make its trucks and graders last longer. Most are farmers who feel they're supporting their fellow farmers every time they fuel up... The most common form of biodiesel is made by combining vegetable or animal fat and diesel fuel. Soy oil is extremely common in these blends. Although anywhere from 1% to 99% oil can be mixed with the diesel, the most common blend is 20% soy oil and 80% diesel... (Picture: Times Herald, by TONY PITTS - SOYBEAN POWER: Tom Green, a truck driver for Blue Water Oil Company, pumps soy-based oil into a tanker. The company mixes the oil with diesel fuel to create a biodiesel blend)

Welcome - Australia - Fuel tax changes, despite admin headaches

Australia -Australasian Bus and Coach -3 Apr 2006: -- The trucking industry has welcomed changes to the fuel grants scheme, despite the administrative headaches it could present to some operators... Legislation currently before parliament will increase record keeping requirements and encourage participation in accredited maintenance programs and other government environmental initiatives... Although all trucks with an emission standard of Euro 1 and later will automatically receive the on-road grant, trucks manufactured prior to December 31, 1995 will have to meet an emissions requirement by either being a member of an audited maintenance scheme, passing an emissions test or undertaking scheduled maintenance on their vehicle in accordance with a government-approved schedule...

Revising - Canada - More uniform tank trailer rules don't go far enough

Ottawa,Canada -Today's Trucking -4 Apr 2006: -- US DOT is revising its rules dealing with Canadian and domestic-built tank trailers used for bulk shipments in North America, but not nearly enough to truly harmonize the use of these trailers for the transport of dangerous goods, says the Canadian Trucking Alliance... While a recently published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the announces the US DOT’s plan to allow for tank trailers constructed under Canadian standards to transport dangerous goods to Canada from the US and vice-versa, CTA is concerned the revision still does not allow for these trailers to be used by U.S. nationals to transport dangerous materials from point to point in the U.S. -- a common scenario for international carriers who employ both Canadian and American drivers in their cross- border operations...

Research - USA - To study 2006 HOS effect

ALEXANDRIA, Va.,USA -Today's Trucking -3 Apr 2006 : -- The American Transportation Research Institute is seeking motor carrier data for a new survey that measures the effects of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s sleeper berth amendment to the hours-of-service rules... ATRI, a non-profit group that researches freight transportation’s role in maintaining a safe and efficient system, will collect data quarterly in an effort to track changes in driver safety performance and measure it against the overall safety impacts of the previous 2004 hours-of-service rules, which included a more flexible sleeper berth provision...

Committee - Canada - To oversee highway vehicle recovery practices

Toronto,Ont,Canada -Today's Trucking -3 Apr 2006: -- At the request of the Ontario Trucking Association, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar will create a working group to review how highway traffic incidents in Ontario are handled, and to develop a solution to control potential abuses of the selection of recovery companies at roadside... OTA wants to make sure the party with the deepest pockets isn't liable for all recovery fees... OTA has been urging checks and balances in regards to Bill 169, the Transit & Safety Act, which attempts to accelerate clean-up following a highway accident by empowering police officers to call in recovery companies at their own discretion. The association feared the law, which holds vehicle owners responsible for all costs, could lead to gouging of fees charged by recovery firms under the orders of police...

Cabotage Rules -Canada - Trucking associations want liberalized ones

Ottawa,Canada -Today's Trucking -3 Apr 2006: -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations have launched a joint lobbying campaign for more flexibility in the movement of empty trailers by foreign truck drivers... Immigration laws in both Canada and the U.S. currently do not allow foreign drivers to reposition empty trailers from point to point if they have been disconnected from the power unit that brought them across the border. Indeed immigration restrictions in both Canada and the U.S. hamper the ability of carriers to spot trailers, which for many of their customers is part of an inventory management system...

Watch - USA - CBP Officers Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt

Los Angeles,CA, USA -Los Angeles Chronicle -2 Apr 2006: -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers apprehended two Guyanese nationals as they attempted to enter the United States illegally as stowaways aboard an inbound commercial truck. CBP Officers using gamma-imaging technology discovered the two individuals hiding in a container of Styrofoam trays... On March 29, 2006, at 12:30 a.m., Mootilan Ramphal, a Trinidadian national with Landed Immigrant Status in Canada, applied for entry into the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Ramphal presented a manifest and invoice for Styrofoam trays and window hardware. CBP officers selected the shipment for a secondary enforcement exam... During the course of the inspection, CBP officers utilized the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS), a passive, non-intrusive inspection (NII) device employing gamma-ray technology to produce a high-resolution image of the conveyance's contents (see photo). The scan produced anomalies consistent with that of stowaways in the nose of the container. A physical inspection of the container resulted in the discovery of two Guyanese nationals commingled within the legitimate freight. Both individuals were taken into custody without incident...

Questions - USA - How Easy Would It Be For Terrorists To Enter ?

Borders Wide Open

Hartford,Conn,USA -Hartford Courant, y SCOTT BATES: is the former senior policy adviser of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee and a former Democratic Secretary of State of Virginia. He is now vice president of the Center for National Policy in Washington, a think tank -Apr 2, 2006: -- In the spring of 2004, I was part of a team that studied our southern border for the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee. What we found was profoundly disturbing... Our borders are effectively wide open - although they are the last line of defense against the terrorists of al-Qaida... First, we should double the number of Customs inspectors and Border Patrol agents on America's southern border... Second, we should enhance databases and merge terrorist watch lists... Third, we would deploy technology in the form of cameras, sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure 24/7 monitoring of the southern border... A passionate and important debate is raging on what to do about 10 million illegal immigrants who live in the United States. It is important for all sides to agree that stronger border controls are required now. We cannot pretend that our homeland is secure if our border is not...

Certification - Canada - Cummins LNG engines ready for commercial market

Vancouver,BC,Canada -Today's Trucking -30 Mar 2006: -- Alternative fuel-power supplier Westport Innovations from Vancouver has received the California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification for its High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology adapted to the Cummins ISX heavy-duty truck engine... "CARB certification represents the major milestone required for us to make the heavy-duty Cummins ISX HPDI LNG (liquefied natural gas) engine and fuel system available to commercial fleets in California for deployment in 2006," stated Michael Gallagher, president & Chief Operating Officer of Westport...

Ethanol-based fuel - USA - Gets Senate approval

Arizona,PH,USA -The Arizona Republic, by Casey Newton -Apr. 5, 2006: -- An effort to permit the use of an environmentally friendly fuel in Maricopa County won the support of the state Senate... The Senate voted 24-5 to pass House Bill 2590, which classifies ethanol blend E85 as a motor fuel and permits it to be used in Maricopa County... A version of 2590 passed the House in February. The bill now moves back to the House to reconcile the two versions... E85 contains 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol, an alcohol-based alternative fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops. The fuel burns cleaner than traditional gasoline...

Mobile Source Emissions - USA - Past, Present, and Future

USA -Enviromental Protection Agency Home -5 April 2006: -- What are Mobile Sources? "Mobile sources" is a term used to describe a wide variety of vehicles, engines, and equipment that generate air pollution and that move, or can be moved, from place to place... "On-road," or highway, sources include vehicles used on roads for transportation of passengers or freight. This category of mobile sources includes light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, and motorcycles, used for transportation on the road. On-road vehicles may be fueled with gasoline, diesel fuel, or alternative fuels such as alcohol or natural gas... Heavy-duty vehicles: Vehicles of 8,501 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight and higher that are equipped with heavy-duty engines. Examples of heavy-duty vehicles include large pick-ups, buses, delivery trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), and semi trucks...

TechnoNews - USA - Hydrogen to boost mileage by 30%

USA -consumerguide.com, by T.O. Whenham -Apr 5, 2006: -- The problem with hydrogen as an alternative fuel source up to this point has been availability... Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a new technology that creates its own hydrogen. It uses a fast response on-board reformer to generate a small amount of hydrogen from gasoline. That hydrogen is then added to the air/fuel mixture of a normal engine. The improvement comes without an increase in the NOx emissions that are a problem for diesel engines... That mileage improvement comes from a device that is, in prototype form, just 18 inches long and 4 inches wide and just bolts onto the engine. Auto industry supplier ArvinMeritor is working with MIT to perfect the technology. The first production application may still be four years away...

Programs - USA - PACCAR Accelerates Hybrid Vehicle

Onboard energy management systems are being developed for its premium vehicles

BELLEVUE, Wash.,USA -BUSINESS WIRE -Mar 31, 2006: -- "PACCAR has targeted an ambitious goal of 30 percent improvement in vehicle fuel efficiency for selected medium-duty applications over the next seven years utilizing hybrid technology as a key contributor to achieving this objective," said Mark C. Pigott, PACCAR chairman and chief executive officer... "PACCAR's comprehensive global hybrid program is aimed at commercializing energy management systems that provide benefits to both our customers and the environment." ...

South Korea - Cargo union launches a general strike

Seoul,South Korea -Korea Herald (subscription) -31 Mar 2006: -- Nearly 1,000 unionized truck drivers launched a general strike in the city of Gwangju today raising fears of disruption to cargo transportation. The Korea Cargo Transport Workers Federation originally planned to walk off the job on April 3 but brought the strike date forward after militant members urged prompt action, sources said... Unionists in Busan, Ulsan and other major transportation centers participated in the walkout that began in Gwangju... The government prepared alternative transport trucks and large-size tow trucks to pull illegally-parked cars on roads. In a walkout by the cargo union in 2003, the truckers blocked major roads and ports, causing chaos...

Idle - USA - Reduction is hot (and cool)

USA -Fleet Owner (subscription), by Wendy Leavitt -Mar 31, 2006: -- The sudden growth in demand for idle reduction solutions is creating a dynamic and expanding marketplace, which can make it even more difficult for carriers to identify the best solution for their particular operation... All told, there are about 40 different aftermarket idle reduction solutions available in the U.S. and Canada today... These can be roughly divided into seven categories: integrated auxiliary power units (APUs), self-contained generator systems, fuel-fired heaters, battery-based systems, engine idle management or “idle shutdown” systems, stationary electrical or “shore power” solutions and other. There are also a growing number of hybrid solutions available that combine various elements from one or more categories...

Streak ? - USA - Mack Trucks streak finished in February

The streak is over...

Chicago,Ill, United States -The ChicagoTribune, by Dan Shope -Mar 31, 2006: -- For more than two years, Mack Trucks of Allentown, Pa., delivered more trucks each month than it had 12 months prior... The year-over-year gains came to a halt in February. Mack's deliveries dropped 3.1 percent from February 2005, Mack's corporate parent, Volvo AB, reported Thursday... Does this indicate a slowdown for Mack?.. Not necessarily... Deliveries should stay high for much of the year, industry analysts said. But one expert said shipments might drop in the fall...

Safety - USA - Oregon Department Of Transportation Offers Tips For Passing Trucks

Salem,OR,USA -MedfordNews.com (Medford,OR) -31 Mar 2006: -- Approximately 40 percent of all crashes involving cars and trucks are caused by cars. From 2002-2005, improper passing by passenger car drivers caused more than 700 crashes resulting in 207 injuries and 30 deaths... "While most people realize that it's more difficult to drive a truck than a car, many don't know what a truck's limitations are in terms of maneuverability, stopping distances and blind spots," said ODOT Motor Carrier Safety and Federal Programs Manager David McKane. "When cars cut in too soon after passing or abruptly change lanes, truck drivers are forced to compensate with little time or room to spare. Sometimes they can't compensate and a crash or roll-over occurs."... ODOT's Motor Carrier Transportation Division offers tips for passing trucks safely:...

Concerns - USA - Oshkosh 'Not Aware' of Regulatory Issues

OSHKOSH, Wis.,USA -AP -Mar 30, 2006: -- Oshkosh Truck Corp., a maker of heavy-duty vehicles, on Thursday discounted speculation that regulatory concerns arose in its unsuccessful buyout talks with military vehicles company Stewart & Stevenson Services Inc., saying it isn't aware of any such regulatory issues...

Sales - India - Volvo plans mining truck exports to Indonesia,Vietnam

Mumbai,India -Moneycontrol.com -30 Mar 2006: -- Volvo India is evaluating the possibility of exporting mining trucks it produces at its plant near Bangalore to Indonesia and Vietnam... Last year, Volvo India exported 150 units of its tipper truck — FM 12 — to Korea... Volvo is looking at its option to export to Korea this year too. However, a decision on this is expected only in the second half of the year... This was because there was a product change and the company was studying the costing aspects before finalising its export strategy, he said...

Group Reports Drop in Trucking Shipments

Washington,DC,USA -AP, by BRAD FOSS -Mar 28, 2006: -- U.S. trucking industry shipments declined in February for the first time in five months, a trade group said Tuesday... The American Trucking Associations said in a monthly report that its seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index fell by 2.5 percent in February versus the previous month...

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28.4.06