trucks world news: September 2006

30.9.06

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* UK - GM reportedly demands billions for tie-up
London,UK -MarketWatch/The Wall Street Journal -Sep 27, 2006: -- General Motors is reportedly demanding a "multibillion" dollar payment from Renault and Nissan as the price to join the French and Japanese companies' alliance, according to a published report on Wednesday... GM executives say they deserve a payment -- which would come on top of any share purchases made by Renault and Nissan -- because they enjoy a stronger global reach... Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of both Renault and Nissan, reportedly has expressed disappointment so far in GM's approach... GM shares moved up 1% in early trading Wednesday in New York, building on a 2.6% gain in the previous session. Nissan's U.S.-listed shares rose 2.1%... Renault shares edged up 0.4% in Paris...

* USA - Wagoner says we don’t need a partner
USA -Automotive Blog/VaroomVroom -Sept 29, 2006: -- Rick said it; General Motors does not need a partner to complete its recovery. According to an interview with Wagoner by Automotive News, the CEO of GM thinks ‘It’s not logical or responsible to say we must have a partner to recover.’... Wagoner’s interest in any venture, simply put, is about selling more vehicles. As for any new deal with Ford, Wagoner says “who knows?... Let’s face it, Nissan and Renault are small potatoes compared to GM. Wagoner is pretty confident that they can turn around their fortunes in North America...

* USA -Ford, GM Can Run With New Mechanics
USA -RealMoney.com/TheStreet.com, by Jim Cramer 29 Sept 2006: -- Is anyone at Ford actually making cars? How overstaffed is this place? I thought they had done repeated restructurings, and yet they still have thousands of redundancies?.. It is amazing to me that no matter how many people Ford or General Motors seem to layoff, it doesn't seem to impact the companies... These stocks don't have just further to run, they can run much further. Since GM was at $18, I have said it is going to $40. I believe that's totally true today. Ford feels like it can go up 50% before it is fully valued... Don't forget, we have not yet seen GM's earnings without these people. I think they will be terrific...

* USA - GM to Employ Global Design in US
USA -dexigner.com -30 Sept 2006: -- General Motors will build at least one car from its new global family of rear- and all-wheel-drive cars in the United States, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz revealed in an interview at the Paris auto show Thursday...

* USA - Ford Motor Credit to cut 2,000 jobs
DETROIT,Mich,USA -Reuters -Sep 28, 2006: -- Ford Motor Credit, the financial arm of Ford Motor Co. on Thursday said it would cut 2,000 jobs -- almost a quarter of its staff in North America -- and close branch offices in order to cut costs... Ford said the planned job cuts, which follow a similar program of cost-cutting by Ford's loss-making auto operations, would be made through a combination of attrition, early retirements, voluntary separations and, if necessary, involuntary separations...

* China - Chinese Automaker Likely To Pair With Chrysler
Shanghai, China -All Headline News, by Nicole King -Sept 30, 2006: -- Automaker DaimlerChrysler AG is in talks with China's Chery Automobile to offer their cars for sale in the U.S. The deal could be finalized soon... A source close to the investigation says the two are in talks to make subcompact cars together. One option is for Chery to provide models and have the cars made at their plants, but funded by DaimlerChrysler and sold in the U.S. under the Chrysler brand...

27.9.06

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA - Ghosn to GM: Deal could save $10B yearly
Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Bill Vlasic & Christine Tierney -27 Sept 2006: -- Carlos Ghosn was expected today to tell General Motors Corp. Chairman Rick Wagoner that GM could save at least $10 billion a year by entering into an alliance with Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co., according to people close to the situation... Ghosn, the chief executive of Renault and Nissan, was prepared to lay out the blockbuster savings target in a critical meeting with Wagoner this morning at Renault's headquarters near Paris... Nissan-Renault's estimate that GM could save $10 billion annually within five years underscores Ghosn's belief that an alliance would reshape the global auto industry and boost the fortunes of all three automakers...

* USA - Lawsuit on Auto Emissions Advances
USA -Bloomberg News -Sept 27, 2006: -- General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and other automakers have won a court bid to challenge California rules limiting tailpipe emissions linked to global warming... A federal judge in Fresno, in a ruling filed Monday, turned down California's request to dismiss the case, saying the issues raised by the auto companies in the 2004 lawsuit should be decided in a trial... U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii did not rule on the merits of the case. A trial is scheduled for Jan. 16... The auto industry sued California in 2004 to block a law that mandates a nearly 30% reduction in heat-trapping gases emitted by passenger cars and trucks...

* USA - Ford's problems could affect Volvo's product plans
USA -AutoWeek, by JAMES R. CRATE -25 Sept 2006: -- Volvo has launched an ambitious product-based plan for turning around its fortunes in the United States... The carmaker's U.S. sales fell 11.1 percent last year and were off 9.3 percent to 79,997 units in the first eight months of 2006... Even with the lower volume and a weak dollar, which has hammered profits on U.S. sales, America remains critical for Volvo because it usually accounts for about 30 percent of the automaker's total global volume...

* USA - Small cars stage a big turnaround
USA -USA TODAY, by Chris Woodyard -26 Sept 2006: -- Small-car sales could set a record this year, a comeback from decades of being disparaged as unsafe, cramped and poorly built... This year will see the highest percentage of small cars, compacts and subcompacts sold since at least 1987, predicts consultants AutoPacific. Small cars will account for 31.5% of the total passenger car market, up a percentage point from last year. Market share will keep climbing through 2010, AutoPacific says...

* France - French impress at Paris Motor Show
Paris,France -BBC News, by Jorn Madslien -27 Sept 2006: -- French carmakers are pulling out all the stops at this year's motor show in Paris... Faced with tough competition, the firms are unveiling butch new models they hope will help them survive amid the turmoil that has shaken the car industry in recent months... Peugeot is taking a bold step into muscle car territory with its aggressive looking 908 RC, powered by a 700bhp diesel engine that aims to showcase its diesel technology... Sister marque Citroen is pushing the technology one step further, in a somewhat different direction, with its C-Metisse hybrid that combines a diesel engine with electric motors... Rival Renault is showcasing a convertible luxury concept designed to rival Bentley's Continental GTC and help push the brand into more upmarket niches in order to boost flagging demand...

* VietNam - Low priced Malaysian cars to start engine
Hanoi,VietNam -The VietNam Economy -27 Sept 2006: -- A Malaysian-invested car manufacturer began operating in the central province of Phu Yen on Sept. 26, targeting the low-priced market... The JRD-Vietnam Joint Venture Company, which was built on 100 ha in An My commune, Tuy An district, has been invested with US$100 million from the JRD group of Malaysia. Its existing annual capacity of 15,000 vehicles will be increased to 30,000 units in the near future. By 2008, the company will produce 50,000 vehicles a year...

* India: Small Cars Are on a Roll
NY,USA -Bussiness Week (USA), by Nandini Lakshman -Sept 26, 2006: -- Fueled by huge investment—and cuts in excise tax—the subcontinent's small-vehicle market is expected to double in the next four years... Small is beautiful when it comes to India's car market. Though India's auto industry is nowhere near as developed as China's, investment is starting to pour into the small-car segment. Global auto companies such as Hyundai and Honda and local ones such as Tata Motors and Maruti Udyog, a subsidiary of Japan's Suzuki Motor, are rushing forward with plans to launch small car models they hope will click with India's emerging middle class...

Dark News - USA - Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bill That Could Raise Revenue, Cut Smog

Additional Shipping Fee Vetoed

Long Beach,CAL,USA -10News.com (San Diego,CAL) -Sept 23, 2006: -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have raised $500 million a year to fight smog and improve security at the nation's busiest port complex... The governor Friday rejected a measure adding a fee of $30 to each cargo container going through the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles... He said it would hurt overseas trade and might harm local job growth if shippers decided to use other ports... Local communities around the ports fought for the measure because they have long complained of serious air pollution from trucks, trains and ships...

BORDER TRUCKS TROUBLES WORLDWIDE

* Russia - Demands compensation for expenses on “customs clearance” of food for its military bases
Moscow Russia -Regnum (RUSS) -23 Sept 2006: -- The Russian side has decided to pay the 200,000 lari ($115,000) the Georgian side charges as customs tax for importing food for its Georgia-based military bases by the two trucks detained by the customs authorities in Borzhomi (Kvemo Kartli) and Batumi (Ajaria) on Sept 19... As they in the Customs Department of the Georgian Finance Ministry told, the “customs clearance” of the truck standing in Borzhomi with a 16-ton cargo is over, and it has already gone to the Akhalkalaki military base. The Department says that the Russian side paid not only the customs tax but also fine for standing on the border. The second truck waiting in Batumi also with a 16-ton cargo will be “cleared” soon to proceed to the Batumi military base. It will also have to pay fine... The Russian trucks with food for the Russian bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi were detained because of the Russians’ refusal to pay taxes for the cargo. Their argument was that, according to the agreement on the withdrawal of the Russian bases from the territory of Georgia, the cargo was “a material support” and should be exempted from any taxes. The Georgian side objected: they said that only cargoes used immediately for the stoppage of the bases’ activities, such as fuel, spare parts, etc., are exempt from taxes, while food is not such a cargo...

23.9.06

Stand-Up Right-Hand Drive - USA - Freightliner offering stand-up service for business class trucks

Portland,Ore.,USA -Truck News (CAN), by Steven Macleod -22 Sept 2006: -- Freightliner Trucks has introduced the availability of Stand-Up Right-Hand Drive (SURHD) as a factory-warranted option for Business Class M2 106 and 106V truck models... SURHD is an option designed for refuse, recycling and other specialized medium-duty applications requiring curbside entry and exit. The option comes with a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty...

Link Sentry - USA - Volvo Trucks adds service, tracking features to '07 models

Greensboro,NC,USA -Triad Business Journal -22 Sept 2006: -- Volvo Trucks North America announced that all of its 2007 heavy-duty trucks will come with instant access to around-the-clock support services and technical expertise... All new trucks will come with Volvo Link Sentry, a two-way satellite communication system that allows for remote monitoring of driver and truck efficiency by transmitting data from the truck to technical personnel while the truck is in operation... That data will warn truck drivers, trucking companies and Volvo of potential technical problems with the truck. Fleet managers will also get regular notification on how the truck has operated based on fuel efficiency, distance traveled and the time the truck has spent traveling at preferred speeds...

Problems - Japan - Nissan Recalls 2,166 Buses, 96 Trucks

Tokyo,Japan -The Associated Press -Sept. 21, 2006: -- Nissan Motor Co. said it is recalling 2,166 buses because of a door defect and 96 trucks for a loose bolt problem... The recall affects Civilian small-sized buses, and Atlas trucks... Also recalled are 112 Journey small buses sold by Isuzu, a model that is made by Nissan and identical to the Civilian but marketed and branded by Isuzu, according to the transportation ministry...

GreenNews - Canada - CTA urges feds to consider environment when developing budget

OTTAWA, Ont.,CAN -Truck News, by James Menzies -22 Sept 2006: -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is urging the federal government to get serious about improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gases when it introduces its 2007 budget... The association suggests accelerating the capital cost allowance rates for new trucks with low-emissions engines to fast-track their penetration into the marketplace. The CTA also wants the Natural Resources Canada rebate program for auxiliary power units to be reinstated...

Customs Value - Russia - To introduce unified rate for importing trucks on Jan 1

Moscow,Russia -Interfax -Sep 21 2006: -- The Russian government has approved a resolution that will balance out the import duty for both individuals and legal entities in importing trucks and special equipment to Russia... This affects trucks, special equipment, except that used for transporting passengers or cargo, transport vehicles that are not equipped with freight devices or used at factories, warehouses, at ports or airports to transport cargo over short distances... Individuals currently pay a customs duty of 30% of the customs value. After January 1, both individuals and legal entities will pay a duty and tax based on the age, value and tonnage of the vehicle...

Production Plans

* S. Korea - Hyundai Motor to launch new heavy-duty truck range
Seoul,S.Korea - Deutsche Presse Agentur -Sept 20, 2006: -- Automotive group Hyundai Motor announced plans Wednesday to launch a new range of heavy-duty trucks in order to win back its share of the domestic market... The company noted that over the past 15 years, it had seen its share of the home market shrink to 35 per cent due to inroads by foreign competitors... The new family of trucks under the brand-name Trago "includes cargo, tractor and 8x4 tipper/dump trucks which ... have been engineered to match or exceed the durability and reliability benchmarks set by Hyundai's European rivals in the local marketplace notably Volvo, Scania and Mercedes-Benz," the company said...

* USA - Toyota To Consider Diesels Made by Supplier
ANN ARBOR, Mich.,USA -Automotive News, by Richard Truett -Sept 20, 2006: -- Could Toyota break with 50 years of business practices and go outside the company for an engine? It's not out of the question for the diesel engine being planned for the new generation of Toyota's Tundra pickup... Gary Convis, Toyota's executive vice president of engineering and manufacturing for North America said that more than likely, Toyota will develop its own diesel or lean on its heavy-duty commercial-truck division, Hino, for diesel technology...

Market Shares - USA - Paccar initiated with "underweight"

New York,NY,USA -Newratings.com -Sept 20, 2006: -- Analyst Igor Maryasis of Prudential Financial initiates coverage of Paccar Inc with an "underweight" rating... The target price is set to $45... In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the impact of the decline in heavy-duty truck demand in North America is likely to be offset by the company's global presence and the performance of its financial services and parts business. Although Paccar's operating and financial execution has improved, the analyst believes that the company's stock is overvalued at present...

Markets - Germany - Volvo sees '07 global truck market "a bit" softer

Hanover, Germany -Reuters, by Michael Shields -Sep 20, 2006: -- Volvo, the world's second-largest truck maker, expects global demand for trucks to ease next year but to remain lively in Europe, it said on Wednesday... Volvo earlier this year raised its 2006 forecasts for its main heavy-duty truck markets to 280,000 to 290,000 trucks in Europe and 350,000 to 360,000 in North America, including exports to other markets... Market demand has swelled in recent quarters as customers rushed to buy older, cheaper trucks ahead of new tougher emissions legislation set to be introduced in Europe in October and at the turn of the year in the U.S....

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA - FedEx profits continue to rise; pressure to expand portfolio grows
USA -FedEx (PR) -22 Sept 2006: -- FedEx has continued its run of strong growth and improving profitability, with 1st Quarter revenue up significantly... There is also speculation about the future corporate development of the company and which sectors it will focus on...

* Japan - AsPac shipping conference to reduce Europe service
Tokyo,Japan -Hanjin (PR) -22 Sep 2006: -- The CKYH Alliance (COSCON, "K" Line, Yang Ming, and Hanjin Shipping) plans to reform its Asia/Europe service strings starting from November, 2006... Currently CKYH operates 7 strings in Asia/Europe service. After reviewing calling ports in each of the existing services and reforming many duplicated port-pairs, CKYH will operate 6 strings in Asia/Europe service in the year 2007...

* Holland - DHL initiates new generation of global shipment management
Holland DHL (PR) -22 Sept 2006: -- DHL has initiated a new generation of global shipment management system known as Quality Shipment Monitoring System (QSMS) across 10 countries in its Asia Pacific network...

* Japan - Schenker/Seino reconfirm global cooperation
Ogaki City,Gifu Prefecture,Japan -Schenker (PR) -22 Sep 2006: -- Seino Holdings Co., Ltd., Deutsche Bahn AG and Schenker have recently reconfirmed their global cooperation by signing an Alliance Agreement at Seino's head office... Since 1999, Schenker and Seino have a strategic alliance for integrated logistics and freight forwarding. With a workforce of approximately 22,000 employees at about 420 locations and a sales volume of over three billion euros, Seino is one of Japan's leading carriers... Schenker-Seino Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture with Seino in 2002...

* USA - Con-Way warns of falling trucking volumes
Portland, Oregon -Con-Way(PR) -22 Sep 2006: -- Con-way Inc. has announced that third-quarter earnings from continuing operations are expected to be between $1.10 and $1.15 per diluted share... The revised earnings guidance reflects business volumes below expectations at Con-way Freight, the company's less-than-truckload operating unit. Third quarter tonnage levels at Con-way Freight are expected to show a mid-single digit decline compared to the 2005 third quarter, which posted a record tonnage gain... The new guidance is also as a result of changes to the recognition of earnings for Vector SCM, the logistics joint venture with General Motors Corp. Con-way is removing Vector's expected profit contribution of five cents per diluted share from its 2006 third quarter guidance. Following the terms of the Vector agreements, under which GM exercised...

* USA - UPS assembles defence logistics team
USA -UPS (PR) -22 Sep 2006: -- UPS has assembled a team of 18 transportation, logistics and IT companies with extensive expertise to bid on the Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative (DTCI), a major programme by the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve visibility, predictability, reliability and efficiency by streamlining the movement of material within the United States...

* USA - UPS starts negotiations with Union
USA -USPS (PR) -21 Sep 2006: -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and UPS have opened negotiations on a new contract to replace a six-year pact that expires July 31, 2008...

* USA -USPS signs exclusive deal with fashion etailer
USA -USPS (PR) -21 Sep 2006: -- One of the fastest growing Internet-based companies in the US has signed an arrangement with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver all international online sales... eFashionSolutions will use the Postal Service's Global Shipping Solution (GSS) exclusively for all orders placed through its 26 websites destined overseas. eFashionSolutions designs and manages the fulfillment for the leading designer, luxury and celebrity-licensed brand fashion apparel...

* UK - Norbert Dentressangle revenues strong in first half
London,UK -Norbert Dentressangle (PR) -21 Sept 2006: -- Norbert Dentressangle Group has delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2006, with revenue up by close to 16%...

* China - Cosco profits fall by two thirds
Hong Kong,China -Cosco (PR) -21 Sept 2006: -- COSCO Holdings Company Limited, the largest container shipping company in China, has announced its financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2006. Profits have slumped as growth in capacity outstrips demand...

* China - Sinotrans has entered into a joint venture with Korean Air
HK,China -Sinotrans (PR) -21 Sept 2006: -- Sinoair, a non-wholly owned subsidiary of Sinotrans, has announced the creation of a new joint venture with Korean Air to be called the International Air Cargo Transportation Company...

* Holland -TNT expands network to North Africa
Holland -TNT(PR) -21 Sept 2006: -- TNT Express has announced it has extended its Express Road Network (ERN) into Africa by starting an international road line haul connection to Casablanca, Morocco...

* Singapore - Container rates continue to slide for NOL
Singapore -NOL (PR) -20 Sept 2006: -- Shipping group NOL, owner of APL and APL Logistics, has released details of its operating performance. Its Liner division saw year to date container volumes grow by 7% year on year while August volumes increased 11%... Year to date average revenues per FEU declined 6% while August average revenues per FEU declined 9% over the corresponding period last year...

MARKET
* UK - India's economy at risk from poor port investment, high costs
London,UK -Transport Intelligence -21 Sep 2006: -- A lack of world-class infrastructure and high port and inland costs continue to limit India's economic progress, a senior executive of global shipping company, APL, has asserted... At a recent conference, APL President for South Asia, Kenneth Glenn, said that as global sourcing and manufacturing continued to shift to Asian locations, foreign investors will choose to invest near ports with world-class efficiency in port infrastructure... India's export-driven progress is also hampered by some of the world's highest port and rail costs, according to Mr Glenn. He cited the fact that the cost of transporting one TEU one kilometre in India is 53% higher than in the United States... Mr Glenn also told the conference that rather than reducing costs, the proposed enactment of the Shipping Trade Practices Bill could cause a cascade of cost increases across the supply chain... "The experience in other countries shows that a bureaucratic approach to the regulation of pricing will not have the intended effect of limiting costs, but will disadvantage India's global competitiveness," concluded Mr Glenn...

Scania's size - Germany - Big enough to go it alone, executive says

Hanover,Germany -Reuters - Sept 20, 2006: -- An executive at Scania, object of an unsolicited bid from Germany's MAN, has rejected market speculation that Scania may be too small to remain independent and successful over the long term... "I'm convinced Scania can continue to grow organically, as we have done over the years," Hasse Johansson, head of research and development and group vice president, told... "We have the knowledge and we have the resources to meet the technical challenges ... I'm convinced we will continue to develop in a positive way, I mean profitable growth."... In a meeting on Sunday, Sept. 17, Scania's board unanimously rejected an unsolicited $12.2 billion (9.6 billion euros) takeover offer from its German rival that would create the European truck market leader...

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA - California AG sues automakers over vehicle emissions - It's part of a strategy to address global warming
CAL,USA -The Associated Press, by SAMANTHA YOUNG -Sept 20, 2006: -- California's attorney general on Wednesday sued the six largest U.S. and Japanese automakers, including GM, Ford and Toyota, for damages related to greenhouse gas emissions... The federal lawsuit alleges that emissions from their vehicles have harmed Californians' health, damaged the environment and cost the state millions of dollars to combat their effects... 'It's part of a strategy to address global warming,' Attorney General Bill Lockyer told in a telephone interview. 'The goal of this one is to hold these automobile manufacturers accountable for the monies taxpayers are spending to address these harms.'... The lawsuit is the latest effort from California to combat the effects of global warming...

* USA - Plan would offer Detroit automakers credit help
Washington,DC,USA -Reuters -Sept 21, 2006: -- A proposal to offer up to $20 billion in U.S. loan guarantees to automakers to develop alternative fuels, hybrids and other energy saving technologies is expected to be introduced in Congress next week... The plan by Rep. Mike Rogers, is specifically aimed at the struggling Detroit 3 -- General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler group... It is the first large-scale government proposal designed to help Detroit's auto sector since its financial troubles became more acute this year...

* USA - Chrysler Will Cut Shipments by 90,000
USA -The Associated Press, by SARAH KARUSH -Sept 19, 2006: -- "After the disappointing sales performance in July and August, we had to finally bite the bullet" ... DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will cut deliveries to dealers by 90,000 vehicles, or nearly 24 percent, in the third quarter, as falling sales of trucks and SUVs have left it with bloated inventories, DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche said Tuesday... For the entire second half of the year, Chrysler plans to bring retail shipments down by 135,000 units from its previous target. It has also scaled back production for the rest of the year...

* USA - Mulally already shaking up Ford: "That doesn't work for me" - In ways big and small, new CEO sets tone for change at ailing automaker
Flint,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Bryce G. Hoffman -Sept 22, 2006: -- Alan Mulally took one look at the jam-packed executive meeting schedule at Ford Motor Co. last week and shook his head... "That doesn't work for me" he said... That's a favorite phrase of Ford's new president and CEO -- his way of saying things are going to change in Dearborn -- quickly... Mulally told executives there are too many meetings and he asked when they found time to focus on the customer... So he implemented a standing Thursday meeting of his senior leadership team where he expects them to show up prepared and ready to take action...

* USA - State hopes to limit Ford job cuts -- Granholm said $151 million in tax incentives still on the table if automaker invests in Mich. factories
Flint,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Bryce G. Hoffman -Sept 23, 2006: -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Friday that a $151 million tax incentives offer to Ford Motor Co. is still on the table, and she continues to work with the struggling automaker to save as many Michigan jobs as possible... Last week, Ford announced an accelerated North American restructuring plan that aims to eliminate as many as 44,000 jobs by the end of next year and idle 16 plants by the end of 2012...

* USA - Ford expects plants at full capacity by '08 - Automaker predicts its U.S. operations will run at peak potential after plant idlings, shift cuts
Detroit,Mich,USA -Associated Press -Sept 21, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. predicted on Wednesday that its North American manufacturing plants will be running at 100 percent capacity by 2008 following its restructuring plan that expects to shutter 16 plants within the next six years... Ford said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it planned to build 3 million vehicles without paying overtime while its "maximum installed" capacity would be 3.6 million vehicles, which would include overtime...

* Japan - Mitsubishi to Recall 27,367 Minivans
Tokyo,Japan -The Associated Press -Sept 22, 2006: -- Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will recall more than 25,000 minivans over an airbag defect, the transportation ministry announced Friday... Mitsubishi Motors, Japan's fourth-largest automaker, will be recalling 27,367 'i' minivans due to a defect in how passenger-side airbags were packed that could prevent them from inflating fully, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement...

* Japan - Toyota Prius Production Increased By 50%
Tokyo,Japan -Reuters/The Auto Channel/dailyNihon Keizai business-Sept 22, 2006: -- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to increase production of its popular Prius hybrid cars in Japan to 300,000 units in 2007, a rise of 50 percent, reported on Friday... Japan's top auto maker dominates the market for hybrid cars, which twin a conventional engine with an electric motor to improve mileage, and is keen to spread the system as the main alternative to today's internal combustion engines... It forecast its group global vehicle sales will grow 11 percent to 9.8 million units in 2008 from an expected 8.85 million units this year, supported by the planned addition of 1.13 million units in output capacity worldwide by then... That goal means Toyota is more likely than ever to overtake General Motors Corp. as the world's top seller of automobiles -- a position GM has held for 75 years...

* Japan - Nissan to sell own hybrid car in 2010 - paper
Tokyo,Japan -Reuters/daily Yomiuri Shimbun -Sep 23, 2006: -- Nissan Motor Co. plans to sell a hybrid vehicle developed in-house in 2010, limiting its licensing ties with Toyota Motor Corp. to the Altima sedan due in the United States next year, reported on Saturday... Japan's two biggest car makers signed a deal in 2002 under which Toyota would sell its hybrid system to Nissan... Nissan, held 44 percent by France's Renault SA, has lagged in the development of the powertrain, which twins a gasoline engine with an electric motor to save fuel...

* USA - Yahoo says ad slowdown in auto, to crimp sales
San Francisco,CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Ben Charny -Sep 19, 2006: -- Yahoo Inc. shares fell more than 11% Tuesday and took other Internet stocks with them after the company's chief financial officer warned that a slowdown in auto and financial advertising spending will crimp third-quarter sales... Speaking to investors in New York at a conference sponsored by Goldman Sachs, Chief Financial Officer Sue Decker said weak sales of online automotive and financial ads during the last three to four weeks will cause the Internet giant's revenue to "come in at the bottom half" of the $1.11 billion to $1.22 billion range that Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo had forecast in July...

* Germany - Union extends Volkswagen ultimatum to Wednesday
Hanover,Germany -Reuters -22 Sept 2006: -- German engineering union IG Metall has extended until Wednesday, Sept. 27, its ultimatum to Volkswagen to provide binding and concrete investments that will secure jobs for its German workforce... The union, which represents the 100,000 staff at VW's six western German plants, said that the second round of key talks on cutting labor costs ended today without a result...

AUTOS' COMMENTS & OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

* Can China Gear Up to Sell Its Cars to U.S. Consumers? Quality Is Key
USA - By Knowledge@Wharton -Sept 20, 2006: -- First it was textiles and consumer electronics. Next may be cars. China is once again looking to target a key consumer market in the U.S. Yet while low wages and government support could ultimately make China a powerhouse in the global automotive industry, Wharton faculty and industry analysts say it will take some time to reach that goal... China needs at least another decade, according to these analysts, to overcome a long list of obstacles, including poor quality, high costs, weak design and a lack of distribution networks, before Chinese companies can compete with Japanese and Korean carmakers... So far, Chinese exports are only trickling out to a few spots in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, but the chairman of DaimlerChrysler has confirmed that the company is in negotiations with companies in China and elsewhere to manufacture DaimlerChrysler models abroad for export to North America... China's first problem in becoming a major exporter is quality. Last year, the European New Car Assessment Program, which monitors auto safety for governments on the continent, gave its lowest score ever -- zero -- to a Chinese SUV... Still, Susan Helper, an economics professor at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and an IMVP researcher, says expects demand to continue in China, despite Western concerns about the environment. "China quite rightly has said, 'You shouldn't ask us to not develop because you have messed up all the air,'" she says. "There are going to have to be drastic changes made in terms of how we use energy, and the transportation sector is a big piece of that. It's going to affect total auto demand and will, to some extent, affect where the cars are made."...

* USA - Experts: GM-Ford Talks Sign of the Times
USA -The Associated Press, by DAVID N. GOODMAN -Sept 18, 2006: -- I don't see it from a business standpoint... General Motors' talks with Renault and Nissan on a possible alliance and reports Ford may be pursuing a big deal with one or more of the three are examples of how today's automakers constantly look for ways to collaborate even amid fierce industry competition... GM and Ford declined comment Monday on an Automotive News story that their high-level executives discussed a merger or alliance. Ford Motor Co. also declined comment on last month's Wall Street Journal report that Ford proposed its own deal with Renault and Nissan... In July, General Motors Corp., Renault SA of France and Nissan Motor Co. of Japan announced a 90-day review of a possible alliance among them... Auto executives talk frequently about 'what-if scenarios' and possible deals large and small, said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor... 'These kind of discussions go on all the time,' Cole said. 'Collaborating ... is part of how they're doing things.'...

* USA - Alliance talks bog down
USA -autospies.com -21/2006: -- The teams from Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. arrived in Detroit on Aug. 28, ready for the first face-to-face alliance talks with their counterparts from General Motors Corp... But instead of generating momentum, the meeting demonstrated just how far apart GM and the Renault-Nissan partnership are from forming the world's largest auto alliance... These talks have yielded a growing number of joint efforts on everything from hybrid vehicles to better automatic transmissions, he said... two of the eight areas being studied, Renault, Nissan and GM are assessing fuel-cell and hybrid vehicles, developing markets such as China, India and Russia, and engines and powertrains -- an area where GM already has several successful joint ventures... GM and Renault-Nissan are also examining whether underutilized GM plants in North America could be used to build Nissan models. Ghosn has said Nissan may need more production capacity in North America, and could subcontract some vehicle production to underutilized GM factories, lowering costs for both automakers...

* USA - Is Chrysler next? - First GM restructures, then Ford, now everyone wonders
Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Josee Valcourt -20 Sept 2006: -- Three years since its last turnaround, DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will make deep production cuts and consider more restructuring moves as it braces for big losses... DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche said Tuesday that the automaker will cut output by 90,000 vehicles in the third quarter -- up from previous estimates of about 75,000 -- and another 45,000 in the fourth quarter to bring dealer inventories more in line with consumer demand and make room in showrooms for new models that will roll out later this year... Zetsche also said the Auburn Hills-based automaker may have to take more drastic cost-cutting measures in the wake of last week's announcement that Chrysler will lose $1.5 billion in the third quarter, more than double its July estimate of $600 million in red ink, and report a loss of $1.2 billion for the year...

* USA - Japanese makers give ethanol a gander
McLean,VA,USA -USA TODAY, by Chris Woodyard -21 Sept 2006: -- While Detroit ballyhoos ethanol, Japanese automakers are quietly positioning themselves in case the gasoline alternative becomes more popular... Nissan just introduced its second flex-fuel vehicle capable of burning either E85 ethanol or gas. Toyota says it is studying "very seriously" whether to ready its first flex-fuel entry. Honda has announced it has found a breakthrough in making ethanol out of plant waste... For now the three biggest Japanese makers' efforts are puny compared with the major ethanol campaigns being mounted by General Motors, Ford Motor and DaimlerChrysler. Detroit has built nearly all of the 6 million flex-fuel vehicles capable of consuming E85, a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gas. But more flex-fuel vehicle choices from the Japanese likely would encourage the building of more E85 filling stations... There are now 971 E85-equipped fueling stations nationwide, says the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. The greatest concentration is in the Midwest, close to most of the facilities that distill ethanol from corn...

20.9.06

Production - South Korea - Hyundai Motor to Use Home made Engines for Big Trucks in 2008

Seoul,South Korea -The Korea Times, by Kim Yon-se -19 Sept 2006: -- Hyundai Motor said it will not use imported engines in its production of commercial vehicles any more from 2008... Korea’s largest automaker yesterday unveiled its Trago series, a large truck developed completely with its own engine technology for the first time. Hyundai also plans to complete development of engines for its small and medium sized trucks by November 2007... (Photo: Models pose with Hyundai Motor’s new truck, a series of the Trago fitted with madein- Korea engines)

Dangerous Drivers - USA - Two semi trucks collide; one killed

Semi slams into second semi

PAULDING COUNTY,OH,USA -The Times Bulletin (Van Wert,OH) -129 Sept 2006: -- The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a two-vehicle semi crash that occurred early Monday morning... According to reports, the accident happened at 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18 on U.S. 24 west of milepost 14 in Paulding County near the Paulding-Defiance county line... Both vehicles were traveling westbound on U.S. 24. The first westbound semi, a 1999 Sterling hauling molten aluminum, was driven by Terry Manning, 31, of Edon. Reportedly, Manning had stopped to turn left into a private business and was waiting on oncoming traffic to clear... The second semi was a 1997 International carrying automobile parts and was driven by Danny Pavao, 30, of Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Pavao was also westbound on U.S. 24 and failed to slow for the stopped truck in the roadway... Pavao's vehicle then struck the rear of the stopped tractor-trailer and immediately caught fire...

Safety ? - USA - Current Federal Regulations Create Danger on Maine's Secondary Thoroughfares.

The Heaviest Trucks Belong on the State's Biggest Roads

Portland,OR,USA -The Portland Press Herald -19 Sept 2006: -- In the interest of highway safety, federal regulators have banned heavy trucks from the roads best able to handle them safely. This backward policy causes more hazards than it prevents... Trucks that weigh more than 80,000 pounds are banned from travel on federally regulated Interstate highways north of Augusta. That means 100,000 behemoths travel secondary highways, sometimes with disastrous results... A more dangerous alternative would be truck companies' putting a greater number of slightly lighter trucks on the Interstates to be able to use the faster highways, adding to traffic and pollution...

Petitioning - USA - Carriers join special interest group

For made-in-America speed limiter rule

GREEN BAY,Wis.,USA -Today's Trucking -19 Sept 2006: -- Some of the largest for-hire carriers in the U.S. are urging government to legislate mandatory use of speed limiters on all trucks in the nation... Schneider National -- along with eight other carriers, including J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., CR England Inc., Covenant Transport Inc. and Dart Transit Company -- have joined public safety interest group Road Safe America in petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to mandate electronic speed governors set at no more than 68 mph... American carriers are now on the speed limiter bandwagon... the OTA -- which has argued speed limit set at 105 km/h would reduce accidents, save fuel, and cut emissions -- has been successful in getting the endorsements of other provincial trucking associations and continues to market the idea nation wide under the banner of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. .. As for the environmental claims, OBAC Executive Director Joanne Ritchie finds some of them dubious. She says, by the carrier community's own admission, the large of majority of truckers currently don't go over 105 km/h, and would therefore not cut down on the hundreds of kilotonnes of greenhouse gases the associations insists would be saved...

Keep on Trucking... - UK - ... Along Nicely ?

High costs aside, interesting developments take place in UK truck market

Essex,UK -Tyres & Accessories -19 Sept 2006: -- Although demand for road freight transport in Europe is predicted to increase substantially by 2020, the road ahead looks difficult for many established transport companies. Spiralling fuel prices, increased competition following enlargement of the EU and stricter environmental and safety legislation are squeezing margins... As a result price and overall economy are as important as ever for truck tyre consumers. Tyres & Accessories collated all the recent UK market data and asked what effect this ‘cost culture’ is having on the UK market... (Photo: The UK truck tyre market has remained stable at around 1.3 million units, but there have been movements in all three of the market's levels - premium, mid-range and economy)

Co's News - Germany -

* VW commercial vehicles ops aim for 9 pct return on investment by 2010
Hannover,Germany -Forbes/AFX (USA) -19 Sept 2006: -- Volkswagen AG's commercial vehicles division head Bernd Wiedemann said the division is aiming to achieve a 9 pct return on investment by 2010... A spokesman said the company has not disclosed the ROI for last year. Commenting on earnings for the full year for the division, Wiedemann said he expects the 'positive trend' to continue, noting that in the first half of 2006 the commercial vehicles division achieved an operating profit of 85 mln eur, 75 mln more than in the same period in 2005... He said there has been a 'strong positive trend' in the order intake from all markets and for all model ranges, without providing specifics...

* DaimlerChrysler to boost 2006 trucks profitability
HANOVER, Germany -Reuters -Sept 19, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler's trucks business will improve its profitability in 2006 and be able to withstand weaker market conditions next year, division head Andreas Renschler said on Tuesday... The market-leading trucks business has been seeking efficiency gains to allow it to keep making money when the cyclical market swings lower, and this will bear fruit in 2007, he said...

Products - Germany - DaimlerChrysler at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2006 in Hanover

Hannover,Germany -Autochannel (press release- USA) -19 Set 2006: -- 50 vehicles occupying 11,000 m2 in Hall 14/15 from Mercedes-Benz alone; divided into trucks, vans, special-purpose vehicles and buses and coaches; three thematic islands presenting competence in technology and innovation... (Photo: World debut at the IAA International Commercial Vehicle Show: new, compact Unimog)

Transportation Fatalities - USA - Safety Board Reports shows: Up in 2005

San Diego,CA,USA -Insurance Journal -Sept 18, 2006: -- Transportation fatalities in the United States increased last year, according to preliminary figures released today by the National Transportation Safety Board... Deaths from transportation accidents in the United States in 2005 totaled 45,636, up from 45,092 in 2004...
Highway transportation, which by far accounts for the largest portion of fatalities, rose to 43,443 in 2005 from 42,836 in 2004. Motorcycle fatalities jumped substantially to 4,553 in 2005 from 4,028 the previous year. Buses, light trucks and vans, medium and heavy trucks, and pedestrian deaths also showed increases. However, passenger car fatalities fell from 19,192 in 2004 to 18,440 in 2005...

Co's Story - USA - Akron's Motor Cargo Inc. was a pioneer in U.S. trucking industry

Akron,OH,USA -The Akron Beacon Journal, by Mark J. Price -Sep. 18, 2006: -- Bertha, Belinda and Dinah were grande dames of the U.S. trucking industry. The iron ladies hauled enough freight in 1931 to turn a side business into a commercial giant... Akron businessman Owen O. Orr convinced his father, James H. Orr, president of the Orr Coal Co., that they could make extra money in the summer if they converted their dump trucks into freight haulers... They removed the bodies, hooked up trailers and went into the trucking business. In 1931, they formed the Akron Motor Cargo Co.... (Photo: Akron Beacon Journal file - Paul M. Bair, manager of the Orr Service & Supply Co. station at 700 Carroll St. in Akron, pumps 120 gallons of fuel into the tank of Motor Cargo driver Dana Bond's truck in 1948. The service station was in front of Motor Cargo Inc.)

Dangerous Roads - USA - Shifting load, wind overturn truck

Coldwater,KS,USA -The Coldwater Daily Reporter, by Don Reid -Sept 19, 2006: -- A shifting load and heavy winds combined to overturn a trailer load of scrap aluminum at the Aleris plant on Butters Avenue, south of Garfield, just before noon on Tuesday... Officers from the Coldwater Police Department closed Butters Ave. for a couple of hours while firefighters from the Coldwater Fire Department stood by. Crews cleaned out the bed of the long dump truck so wreckers could right the vehicle... (Photo by Don Reid / The Reporter: CFD firefighters and CPD officers were on-hand at the incident on Tuesday)

GreenNews

* USA - Giants of the road in drive to be green
USA -Financial Times Deutschland, by von Jonathan Birchall (Germany) -18 Sept 2006: -- Fleet operators in the U.S. start looking at commercial applications for hybrid systems. In 2003, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, heavy duty trucks accounted for around 15 per cent of of total US greenhouse gas emissions.. The eighteen-wheeler truck, with a 500hp tractor pulling a 53ft long trailer, is the workhorse of the US economy - and the bane of environmentalists. Every day thousands barrel across the US interstate highway system, consuming diesel fuel at the rate of around six miles per gallon - compared to around 55 mpg of petrol for an, admittedly, far smaller Toyota Prius, the best selling electric hybrid car... But now Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, is working on making its fleet of over 7,000 trucks just a little more like a four door Prius, supporting the development of the first-ever hybrid system for America's largest trucks... Brian Wynne, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, sees Wal-Mart's interest as part of a "second wave" of the development of the hybrid power systems that capture and store energy generated by braking, using it to augment engine power...

* USA - Bill expands tax credit for gas-saving cars, trucks - Sen. Ron Wyden says cutting a tax break for large oil companies would pay for the legislation
Washington,DC,USA -OregonLive.com (Portland,OR), by JEFF KOSSEFF -Sept 19, 2006: -- A bill introduced Monday by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, would give tax credits of as much as $1,860 to consumers who buy fuel-efficient vehicles... It would fund the program by eliminating a tax break for large oil companies... Wyden said the bill could subsidize the purchase of 1.8 million fuel-efficient vehicles a year for five years...

Jobs - USA - Schneider National plans on hiring 375 new drivers in Ohio

Oshkosh,WIS,USA -The Oshkosh Northwestern, by Richard Ryman -Sept 20, 2006: -- The Ashwaubenon-based company is holding job fairs in that state today and Thursday to support its growth fueled by new and expanding business... Inexperienced drivers will earn an average of $35,500 to $43,500 a year the first year. Experienced drivers can earn an average of $49,500 to $58,500, and may also qualify for a $5,000 signing bonus. Owner-operators can average $105,000 to $115,000 a year... Schneider operates in more than 28 countries and has revenue of $3.5 billion annually...

Celebration - Canada - National Trucking Week

Toronto,ON,Canada -Truck News, by Adam Ledlow -18 Sept 2006: -- The Ontario Trucking Association is currently celebrating its proud industry with National Trucking Week Sept. 17-23... The annual event highlights the important contributions made by the 400,000 men and women who work in the industry and to raise awareness of the importance of the industry...

Keep on Trucking - USA - Businesses fear freight will be stuck in traffic

The U.S. economy won't be able to keep on trucking unless America's highway system is expanded to accommodate the boom in freight traffic...

Washington,DC,USA -Dayton Business Journal (Dayton,OH), by Kent Hoover -Sept 18, 2006: -- That's the message business groups are sending Congress a year after it passed a $286 billion bill funding transportation improvements through 2009... That legislation "barely maintains" America's existing road network, says Douglas G. Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight Corp. "It certainly won't expand it."... Expansion is necessary because the U.S. Department of Transportation projects freight tonnage will increase by 70 percent by 2020. Most of this freight now travels over roads because shipping by truck is faster and more reliable than rail, Duncan says... By 2025, there will be twice as many cars and trucks on the road as there are now, he says... Through its highway bill, Congress created a commission to look at the nation's surface transportation needs and how to fund them... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is working to quantify the bottom-line impact of freight congestion on businesses and will use that information to "motivate real change" when Congress takes up its next highway bill, Janet Kavinoky, transportation lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, says...

Jobs - USA/Canada - DRIVERS's SHORTAGE

* USA - Trucking Companies Need More Drivers - Turn to Northeast Technical Institute to Hire the Region’s Top CDL Graduates

Scarborough,ME,USA -PR Web (press release- Ferndale,WA) -Sept 18, 2006: -- Many of the nation’s best truck load carriers look to Northeast Technical Institute, with locations throughout Maine and Massachusetts, for help in filling driving jobs... Government and industry figures show a need for at least 80,000 new truck drivers each year. These are new positions that reflect industry expansion, not simply replacements for drivers who leave the field or retire. A career as a professional truck driver offers many advantages like great pay, benefits, and the comfort in knowing that you have a job that is nearly immune to lay-offs and downsizing... To learn more about the many employment opportunities available in the trucking industry and training information, contact Northeast Technical Institute at (800) 447-1151 or visit them online at www.NortheastTech.com...

* USA - Most drivers would rather be home with family than on road
Rockford,IL,USA -The Rockford Register StarBy Craig W. Larson -September 18, 2006: -- Dan Bryant teaches people how to be truck drivers. You’d figure the call of the open road would be music to the ears of members of the class... But mostly, the guys Bryant teaches want a good job that doesn’t keep them away from home at night. Long weeks behind the wheel aren’t what they want from a job... They’re not alone... Through not critical, it’s an issue freight handlers are facing right now... Saying goodbye to the family and climbing into an 18-wheeler for weeks is appealing to fewer people... But, reflecting the findings of the ATA report, local students attending the course in Rockford are also looking at local and regional positions as opposed to OTR... “Anything regional would be fine,” said Tom Blanco of Poplar Grove. “I would choose a local carrier first, regional second. I would like to be home with my family as much as possible.”... Ahmad Mubarak, a driver student from Rockford, sees truck driving as having more options. “There seems to be an abundant amount of trucking jobs available right now. After I finish, I want to secure a job, something local. Eventually I want to buy my own truck.”...

* Canada - 'Tug of war' emerging among truckers: OTA boss -- Is the qualified driver shortage good or bad for the industry?
Toronto,Ont,CAN -Today's Trucking -19 Sept 2006: -- It's a question carriers have begun asking themselves and each other with no clear consensus, says Ontario Trucking Association President David Bradley... In fact, he says there's a "tug of war" within the truck carrier community in terms of competition, pricing strategies, and growth plans based on those who see the driver shortage as a good thing and those who see it as a major problem and want to improve the quality of truck drivers... Is the driver shortage a good thing for business? Bradley says those who say so refuse to adapt to change... Some carriers privately express that the driver shortage is keeping capacity tight and therefore freight rates strong. Others insist that's short-term thinking, and successful carriers are going to need to secure and retain quality drivers if they want to continue doing business in the future.....

19.9.06

Watch Market - USA

* U.S. stock futures flatten out
Los Angeles,CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Simon Kennedy -Sep 18, 2006: -- In auto-related news, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have discussed a merger or alliance, Crain's Automotive News reported on its Web site, citing sources familiar with the talks. According to the report, one source said there's a slim chance the talks will lead to anything... GM's stock, a component of the Dow industrials, and Ford shares were up fractionally in pre-open trading...

* Ford, in focus
Los Angeles,CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Abby Deveney -Sep 18, 2006: -- Global markets: ... while DaimlerChrysler added to Friday's losses after lowering its profit outlook. Sweden's Scania rejected a $12.2 billion takeover offer from Germany's Man AG... - Broker action: Analysts at Thomas Weisel cut Ford Motor Co. to underperform from peer perform, saying the automaker's recovery is expected to be delayed, and also to be more gradual than is widely expected...

* MOVERS & SHAKERS
Los Angeles,CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Michael Baron -Sep 19, 2006: -- Con-way Inc. lowered its view for third-quarter earnings per share from continuing operations to a range of $1.10 to $1.15 from its prior outlook of $1.21 to $1.29. The freight transportation company cited issues such as business volumes that are lower than expectation at the company's less-than-truckload operating unit...

18.9.06

Responsability? - USA - TXI trucks involved in 31 accidents over the last two years

Los Angeles,CA,USA -The Dallas Morning News, by Gregg Jones/Trading Markets -Sep 17, 2006: -- Texas Industries Inc. is a major player in North Texas' building boom, producing and hauling sand, gravel, crushed rock and concrete to area construction sites... Its TXI Transportation Co. unit has a fleet of more than 150 leased trucks and more than 330 drivers, which traveled nearly 32 million miles in Texas and surrounding states last year, according to federal data... Federal data show that TXI trucks sometimes get stopped for speeding, running stop lights, following too closely and getting involved in crashes -- 31 that left people injured over the past two years and two that resulted in fatalities...

Women Drivers - USA - More hit the road as truckers

Cherry Hill,NJ,USA -The Cherry Hill Courier Post, by RAJU CHEBIUM and MATT KATZ -Sept 17, 2006: -- Women are increasingly getting behind the wheel of trucks small and large, from tractor-trailers that haul merchandise across North America to smaller delivery trucks on local roads... There were 129,000 women drivers in 1995 and 154,000 last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Trucking Associations. Their numbers peaked at 183,000 during the post-Sept. 11, 2001, economic doldrums before falling back... The number of women is expected to climb as the trucking industry targets female retirees and empty-nesters as part of a strategy to fill thousands of driver vacancies. Millions of more trucks are expected on the nation's roads in the coming years because retailers rely on them to keep their shelves stocked as Americans buy more... Women no longer endure as many stares, or hear as many propositions or sexist comments, female truckers say. But they still feel the need to prove themselves to male drivers, especially since truck driving remains a male-dominated profession -- about 5 percent of the more than 3 million U.S. truck drivers are women... (Photo by AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post -- Lillian Santiago of Camden navigates an 18-wheeler at Smith & Solomon Commercial Driver Training in Cherry Hill)

Kids on Trucks - USA - Big wheels = big fun for

Rochester,NY,USA -The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, by Diana Louise Carter -Sept 17, 2006: -- Truck horns tooted and parents snapped pictures of pint-size "drivers" as kids climbed all over a variety of trucks Saturday at Strong — National Museum of Play... Five-year-old Joshua Neuser had a hard time deciding which one he liked best — the firetruck or the Wegmans tractor-trailer... The truck event has been an annual feature, except during construction last year, for about four years, said Bethany Adams, coordinator of the museum's public programs... (Photo by KARIN von VOIGTLANDER - Sean Murphy, 2, of Chili tests his driving in a firetruck at Strong — National Museum of Play on Saturday)

Covenant - USA - Retracts outlook; to buy trucking firm

Chattanooga, Tennessee,USA -Reuters -Sep 14, 2006: -- Covenant Transport Inc. on Thursday said it is retracting its prior 2006 forecasts and announced the acquisition of truckload carrier Star Transportation Inc. for about $40 million in cash... Covenant expects to record goodwill and other intangible assets of about $23 million in connection with the transaction. The deal is expected to immediately add to Covenant's earnings...

Not To Support - Sweden - Scania rejects MAN offer

Stockholm,Sweden -Scania P.R. -18 Sep 2006: -- On 13 September, 2006 the Board of Directors of Scania AB received a letter from the Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN AG, describing a possible offer on Scania... At a Board meeting held on 17 September, 2006 the Board of Directors studied the contents of the letter and have, after having engaged professional advisors to assist in its review and assessment of the proposal, unanimously decided not to support the proposals outlined therein. On Sunday 17 September, the Board of Scania informed MAN AG of its decision...

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Deutsche Post World Net and UNICEF bid to reduce child mortality
Berlin,Germany -Transport Intelligence (UK) -18 Sept 206: -- Deutsche Post World Net and UNICEF have launched a global partnership under the motto "We deliver help"... The goal of the initiative is to reduce child mortality around the world...Together with UNICEF, Deutsche Post World Net will focus on improving medical care in regions where child mortality is high. To this end, the Group will provide its core competencies as an in-kind donation to UNICEF and also contribute additional financial support for example for projects against malaria. UNICEF's existing logistics processes will be analyzed and, if necessary, improved - for example, the storage and distribution of temperature-sensitive vaccines...

* UK - Airlines settle in Air Cargo price fixing investigation
Wiltshire,UK -Transport Intelligence -18 Sept 206: -- Four airlines at the centre of a price fixing enquiry held by both the US Government and the EU have settled their cases... United and American have closed their cases without having to pay any penalties to the US Justice Department. Lufthansa paid $85m/€67m in penalties on Monday. It is believed that Virgin Atlantic has also been fined, however the sum involved is unknown... SAS British Airways, Air France and Cargolux are amongst the airlines also to have been questioned by the authorities over the price rigging allegations...

* Germany - Global operations critical to new Schenker auto parts contract
Cologne,Germany -Transport Intelligence -18 Sept 206: -- A major new contract awarded by Visteon, one of the world's leading global automotive suppliers, to a subsidiary of Schenker, indicates the growing importance of global logistics operations in the auto spare parts sector, despite the predominance of regionally based vehicle manufacturing...

* Swiss - K+N open Ukrainian facility
Swiss -Transport Intelligence (UK) -18 Sept 206: -- Logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel has announced that it is investing in Ukraine... Kuehne + Nagel has invested more than 10 million euros in its new logistics facility built on a 60,000 sqm plot in Gostomel, Kiev Region, to accommodate the dynamic business performance...

* UK - Union votes to strike over DHL Exel mega-contract
UK-Transport Intelligence (UK) -17 Sep 2006 : -- DHL Exel's giant new contract with the National Health Service in the UK is facing sustained opposition from unions which could disrupt the out-sourcing of the £1.6 billion business... The union at the heart of attempts to prevent the out-sourcing of UK's NHS Logistics to DHL Exel has named the dates of the strikes...

* Bangladesh -WTO reports infrastructure hinders growth
Bangladesh -Transport Intelligence (UK) -18 Sept 206: -- The WTO has released its latest Trade Policy Review on Bangladesh. It states that the country has pursued prudent structural reforms in priority areas and trade liberalization however infrastructure bottlenecks persist... The report also says that the economic performance in the last few years, together with the authorities commitment to reform, the strengthening of the legal system and the promotion of exports and market diversification should lead the country towards sustained growth and poverty alleviation...

* Sweden - Schenker awards contract for parcel sorting system
Stockholm, Sweden --Transport Intelligence (UK) -18 Sept 206: -- FKI Logistex, the material handling solutions provider, has announced that it has been awarded a contract from Schenker for a parcel sorting system at its distribution centre in Stockholm, Sweden...

* UK - Logistics company invests in new facilities
UK -Transport Intelligence (UK) -18 Sept 206: -- Ramage Group, a leading logistics company in the UK, has invested more than £7m with the opening of two new logistics centres...

17.9.06

Production - Turkey - Mercedes-Benz has this market Squarely in its Future Plans

Istanbul,Turkey -Zaman Online, by Isa Sezen (Aksaray -Sept 16, 2006: -- German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz is celebrating its 20th year of manufacturing in Turkey... Hubertus Troska, head of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Business Unit, announced they would continue their investments as part of efforts to become an active part of the Turkish truck market in the next 20 years...

Drivers' Demand - Canada - Trucks need to see light

Regina,Saskatchewan,Canada -Regina Leader/Post, by Robert R. Hepting - 16 Sept 2006: -- On Sept.9, the Leader-Post's Weekender had several articles about Saskatchewan transportation. One was entitled, "Share the road safety with trucks"... My question is, why are so many trucks sharing our roads without daytime running lights?... Last winter, I was southbound on Lewvan Drive at the Trans-Canada Highway waiting for a traffic break, before turning east onto the highway. It was a snowy day making it hard to see oncoming traffic, especially the ones without running lights. Lo and behold, just as I was thinking of crossing the westbound lane, a white truck boomed out of the snow without lights. I thought, "What an idiot." Driving a white semi in snow without lights. I started to watch for trucks on the Ring Road and feel only about 20 per cent of semi-trailer trucks appear to use daytime lights. Why?... Until I see every semi-trailer truck traversing this province with their headlights on, please do not bring me more stories like, "Trucking industry overhauling image." What I want to see is the headline, "Every truck now using daytime lights"...

Event: "Driving the Global Economy through China" - USA - Global Thought Leadership Conference in Shanghai

Hosted by Schneider National and The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech

Green Bay,Wis./Atlanta,USA -Layover -Sept. 14, 2006: -- Schneider National Inc., a premier provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services, and The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech today announced they are hosting the fourth annual transportation and logistics thought leadership event at the epicenter of the shifting global supply chain. This year's event, titled "Driving the Global Economy through China," will be held in Shanghai, China, October 23 through 25...

New Port Security Bill - USA - Amendment Firmly Plants Trucking Protections in

USA -Layover -Sept. 15, 2006: -- Officials with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association say a bill approved this week by the U.S. Senate takes critical steps in making trucking security an essential part of our overall national security plan... OOIDA worked with two senators to get trucking protections firmly planted in a key amendment added to the port security bill on Wednesday, Sept. 13... The Senate passed the sprawling bipartisan bill Thursday, Sept. 14, that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to spend $6.7 billion over six years for port security and calls for 100 percent of cargo to be inspected in the foreseeable future...

Truck science - USA - Volvo's new lab helps cut emissions

WASHINGTON COUNTY,MD,USA -The Hagerstown Morning Herald (Hagerstown,MD), by ANDREW SCHOTZ -16 Sept 2006: -- Precision is needed to meet upcoming federal emissions mandates, a Volvo Powertrain official said Friday as the company dedicated its new Washington County test lab... When it comes to testing for tiny particles, "We are, more or less, measuring nothing," said Sten-ke Aronsson, Volvo Powertrain North America's senior vice president... At the lab, Volvo Powertrain will work to meet tighter standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is phasing in... Engines must produce 90 percent less particulate matter, or soot, and about 50 percent less nitrogen oxide, another pollutant, by January... The standards will be stricter in 2010, he said... (Photo by Kevin G. Gilbert / Staff Photographer -- Engineer Brian Mace, left, guides Sten-ke Aronsson, senior vice president of Volvo Powertrain North America, through an engine analysis Friday at the company's new engine development laboratory)

16.9.06

Story - USA - Prayers or grief for icon? --

Entity of Ford is our patron

Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit Free Press, by Laura Berman -Sept 16, 2006: -- Ill automaker's legacy and influence has made a lasting imprint on Metro Detroit, residents and workers... We -- all of us who live in this area -- are gathered at the bedside of a gravely ill family member... Not mother or father or brother but a company that has defined us for a century... Some of us grew up here, as did Bob Balaka, a 50-year-old manager at Ford. He lives in Dearborn, at once surrounded by all things Ford and also oblivious to them... Balaka's father was a skilled tradesman who made wood models for Ford. The son attended Clara Bryant Junior High School -- "although I didn't realize until I brought friends home from college that she was the wife of Henry Ford."... Now he drives his Ford Escape two miles down Ford Road every day to get to the company's iTech Center... His wife, Wendy, describes herself as "terrified," anxious about an uncertain future. With four school-age children, she worries the family may have to move out of state. "You can't believe how many houses are for sale in Dearborn," she says... Like it or not, choose it or not, drive it or not, the entity of Ford is our patron... But the name that once stood for great expectations -- for a soaring belief in the future, for a can-do working man spirit -- doesn't stand for that anymore... In speeches yesterday, William Clay Ford Jr., the chairman, and other Ford executives made it clear that they're downsizing not only the company but their dreams... The cuts are dramatic. And even the most optimistic out there must feel the ground trembling... Even the leaders at Ford are saying their ambitions are limited, their hopes curtailed... In the Balaka household, Bob Balaka remains optimistic: In traumatic change, he sees hope for the future... Even if we're not all officially dwelling in the world of Ford, we cannot escape the company's legacy and influence. The Ford name is everywhere, including the institutions that mark our rites of passage, from the hospital where your babies are born, to the wedding chapel; on the auditorium and fountain at the riverfront, even on assisted living facilities... Henry Ford, the founder, famously said that "history is bunk."... It's not -- but when you need to reinvent yourself, it can be a burden. That's where the company is, where we all are now, trying to extract ourselves from the weighty past and look ahead, to the next size-to-be-determined thing...

"GreenNews" - Taiwan - Garbage trucks go green in

Kaohsiung,Taiwan -The Taiwan Headlines -Sept 15, 2006: -- The Kaohsiung City Government announced on Thursday that an experimental biodiesel project was launched this week, converting most of the city's garbage trucks to biomass energy... Chang Feng-teng, director of the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, said the project would last a year, involving an estimated distance of 4.9 million kilometers. The city government has earmarked about NT$20 million (US$610,000) to cover extra expenses in converting to biodiesel... Chang said this time that switching 306 out of the total 390 city-owned trucks to biomass energy would make it the largest project of its kind so far in Taiwan...

India - High growth in commercial vehicle sales

India -Myiris.com -15 Sept 2006: -- Commercial vehicle (CV) sales are a lead indicator of economic growth... The growth in CV sales in the current fiscal, 46% for medium and heavy CVs, and 39% for light CVs in the April-August 06 period, is a good sign... Major trucking companies say the increase is because of a sustained growth in bulk cargo businesses like coal, steel and construction which need large trucks...

Trucking policies encourage speeding, endanger children

In 2005, 11 children were killed, on foot or bicycle, by motor vehicles in Travis County, the highest number in 10 years.

Austin,TX,USA Austin American-Statesman (subscription), by Marcia Zwilling -Sept 15, 2006: -- When 10-year-old Autumn Daily from Pleasant Valley Elementary School was killed last year by an 18-wheeler, officials asked, "Could this death have been prevented?"... Last month, a similar tragedy was in the making... The same type of truck that killed Autumn was speeding through my neighborhood's 35 mph zone — headed, ironically, to the excavation site of a new elementary school on Nuckols Crossing Road... David Greear, traffic engineer with Travis County, went to the school site and spoke to representatives of VRW Construction, asking them to redirect traffic to adjacent Slaughter Lane, a four-lane divided highway with a 55 mph speed limit... Our neighborhood apparently is winning the battle against dangerous trucks, and we urge the city, county and state Legislature to develop laws that would protect other neighborhoods in Texas... Ending the pay-per load policy would be a good start...

Enterprise - UK - Keep on trucking

Llantrisant,Wales,UK -British Industry -Sept 2006: -- Ideas are fantastic, but knowing exactly what you’re going to gain by them is the key to success, as Dion Stuifmeel told Caroline Merz... Waste management is one of the most important items on the agenda of any business these days. But for the Geesink Norba group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of equipment for the refuse industries, it’s the raison d’etre. The group, a member of Oshkosh Truck Corporation, makes a complete line of refuse collection vehicles and static and portable compactors to meet a growing variety of applications... Geesink Norba is represented in the UK by a sales, distribution and service presence in Llantrisant, Wales; its manufacturing plants are located in the Netherlands, Sweden and Romania...

Trickle down - USA - Trucking company lays off dozens

Norfolk,VA,USA -WVEC.com/13News, by Patrick Terpstra -Sept 15, 2006: -- The trickle down from Ford's announcement has begun... Allied Systems Ltd., a trucking company, immediately laid off 55 people Friday... “I’m not freaking out, but I’m not freakin’ happy,” said Donald Schneider, a professional car hauler from New York who is based in Norfolk... 30 employees, selected by years of service, will stay on until the Norfolk plant closes next year... Allied is offering transfers to the Petersburg office 85 miles away, but employees would lose their seniority...

On Road - USA - Navistar to restated results

Warrenville,Ill,USA -The London Free Press, by AP -Sept 14, 2006: -- Truck and bus maker Navistar International Corp. reiterated its fiscal 2006 earnings guidance yesterday and said it is making progress toward restating nearly four years of financial results... Navistar, parent of International Truck and Engine Corp., declined to say when the restatement will be filed or estimate the impact of revising results from fiscal years 2002-04 and the first nine months of fiscal 2005... The company said in a quarterly update to investors it expects 2006 earnings to exceed $5.38 US a share when it files the annual report in mid-January...

AUTOS' COMMENT & OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

Detroit is running low on optimism

* USA - Ford, DaimlerChrysler face tough day in credit arena
San Francisco CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Simona Covel -Sep 15, 2006: -- The credit community cast a wary eye toward the automotive sector Friday, as Ford Motor Co.'s latest restructuring plans met with skepticism and a ratings agency knocked healthier DaimlerChrysler AG rating a notch closer to dreaded junk status... Ford, for its part, announced expansions to its ongoing restructuring plan - but ratings agencies and analysts deemed the cuts too little. DaimlerChrysler - in recent years considered the most stable of the Detroit-linked auto makers - was chastised by ratings agencies after executives slashed the company's profit outlook due to troubles in the U.S. Chrysler unit... Though investor sentiment in the auto sector has improved in recent months, Friday's events served as a reminder that in North America, auto makers remain under relentless pressure from high gas prices, labor costs and a shift in consumer tastes away from larger, higher profit-margin trucks and sport utility vehicles... The General Motors Corp. front was quiet, an ongoing period of calm for Detroit's largest auto company, which is undergoing its own attempt at a renaissance... Moody's Investors Service knocked DaimlerChrysler a notch to Baa1 - which gives the company two more rungs until it hits speculative grade. The new lower rating is on review for yet another cut, Moody's said... Rival ratings agency Standard & Poor's, which rates DaimlerChrysler a notch lower than Moody's new level also offered warnings. S&P analysts noted they've "been skeptical of Chrysler's long-range prospects for a long time," revising the parent company's outlook to stable, from positive... Fitch, which affirmed its ratings of the company at triple-B-plus, struck a more upbeat note, saying "good performance of the group's other divisions... mitigate somewhat the deterioration at Chrysler"...

* USA - Detroit Flails in Latest Effort to Reinvent Itself
Detroit,Mich,USA -The New York Times (NY,USA), by Micheline Maynard -Sept 16, 2006: -- Despite insisting all this year that they had solutions to their financial struggles well in hand, both the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Group conceded Friday that the steps they had taken were not working and that more bad news was coming in one of the deepest auto industry crises in Detroit’s history... Ford, which has held second place behind G.M. for 70 years, admitted for the first time that it would inevitably be ceding that spot to Toyota because of slumping sales and its decision Friday to close more factories and cut thousands of additional jobs. It also said it did not expect to make a profit in North America until 2009... At the same time, the Chrysler Group, also pummeled by the decline in sales of big sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, said it would report a loss for this summer of $1.5 billion, more than double what it had originally anticipated... Its parent, DaimlerChrysler, also signaled that it did not see how to build a subcompact car profitably in North America, forcing it to turn to China or another Asian carmaker to help build one overseas... For its part, G.M., which is cutting 30,000 jobs and closing nearly a dozen plants, is set to decide within a month whether it wanted to link with a Japanese and a French auto company, a prospect that has rattled union members as well as state officials where G.M. employees live and work...

* USA - Business as usual is dead in Detroit
Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit Free Press, by Daniel Howes -16 Sept 2006: -- Detroit's way of doing business received its death sentence Friday, a generation later than it should have... If there's a message in Ford Motor Co.'s accelerated restructuring, painful and speedy as it is likely to be over the next year, it's that the Dearborn automaker existed in a fantasy world rooted in another century. There, market share was more important than profitability, capital was routinely destroyed and the Detroit way thumbed its collective nose at accepted business practices... Only in Detroit do they pay people not to work... "We really knew this was coming," said David Cole, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. "None of it was a surprise. What's unfortunate is you can't get people to react without a crisis."... With so much bad news coming from Detroit these days, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that the only future in the American auto industry is one of decline... But that's not true -- certainly not for Detroit's foreign-owned rivals and it doesn't need to be for Detroit, either... "One of the messages here," Cole said, "is you've got a crisis. Use it well."...

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* China - DaimlerChrysler Opens New China Factory
Beijing,China -The Associated Press By JOE McDONALD -Sept 15, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler AG on Friday formally opened its first factory to make Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler sedans in China, joining a rush of foreign automakers scrambling for a share of the booming Chinese car market... DaimlerChrysler said the factory in suburban Beijing is part of a 1.5 billion euro ($1.9 billion) investment in China... (Photo: DaimlerChrysler's Chairman Dieter Zetsche, left, flashes a thumbs-up sign to a Chinese worker as he tours its new manufacturing facility in Beijing)

* Germany - Chrysler group to post $1.5 billion loss in third quarter
Frankfurt,Germany -Reuters -15 Sept 2006: -- Mounting losses at the Chrysler group forced DaimlerChrysler to cut its 2006 operating profit forecast by around $1.27 billion (1 billion euros) today. The automaker predicted the Chrysler group could lose $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) in the third quarter and $1.27 billion (1 billion euros) for the year...

* USA - DaimlerChrysler cuts 2006 outlook - Shares slide amid tougher competition; Moody's lowers debt rating
San Francisco,CAL,USA -MarketWatch, by Sarah Turner & Jim Jelter -Sep 15, 2006: -- Shares of DaimlerChrysler took a tumble Friday after the German-American auto maker slashed its earnings outlook for 2006 as its struggling U.S. operations appear headed for a hefty loss... DaimlerChrysler revised its full-year operating profit to about 5 billion euros, or $6.4 billion, down from it previous forecast of more than 6 billion euros. The warning triggered a big sell-off in the company's German shares, shedding 6% in Frankfurt... The drop was even steeper for the company's New York Stock Exchange-traded shares, which fell nearly 7% to close at $49.36...

* China - Daimler Looking Outside U.S. for Source of Subcompacts
Beijing,China -The New York Times, by KEITH BRADSHER -Sept 16, 2006: -- DaimlerChrysler is in talks with companies in China and elsewhere for the export of subcompact cars to North America, the company’s chairman said here on Friday in comments that could renew anxieties in Detroit about competition from China...

* USA - Lutz: I'll push GM board for fuel cell car production
USA -Reuters -14 Sept 2006: -- General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz says he will push for the company's strategy board to fund full-production versions of GM's upcoming fuel cell vehicles even if it means a slight delay for mainstream products. GM expects to have fuel cell technology ready for production in 2010...

* Japan - Nissan to test network for safer roads
Yokohama, Japan -Reuters -15 Sept 2006: -- Nissan Motor Co. said today it would test a new car-to-road communication system over the next few years aimed at making Japanese roads safer and less congested...

* Japan - Honda develops new way to make biofuel
Tokyo,Japan -The Associated Press -16 Sept 2006: -- Honda Motor Co. has developed a way to make ethanol fuel from plant waste matter in a process that has the potential to expand the use of biofuels that fight global warming... Existing bio-ethanol production faces supply limits because it uses sugar and starch of sugarcane or from corn, both of which are also utilized as food. By tapping far greater supplies of inedible plant matter, such as stalks, leaves and rice straw, the new fuel takes a step toward making biofuels more practical, Tokyo-based Honda said in release...

FORD - USA - In Troubles

* Overhauls Way Forward plan
Cuts include 14,000 white collar jobs, fourth-quarter dividend; North American operations likely not profitable before 2009; market share expected to be around 15 percent
Detroit,Mich,USA -Automotive News, by Amy Wilson -Sept 15, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. said today it will cut its operating costs by $5 billion and cut its salaried work force by one-third, or about 14,000 positions, as it speeds up its Way Forward restructuring plan... Ford also said it will not pay a stock dividend for the fourth quarter and made no commitment to future dividends, and will sell or close all former Visteon plants by the end of 2008 and close other plants... Company officials also said the automaker does not plan to sell off any part of its finance arm, Ford Motor Credit, and that the Jaguar brand is not for sale at this time... Ford will offer early retirement and buyout packages to its white-collar employees to try to achieve the planned job cuts of about 14,000 to its North American salaried work force... That 14,000 number already includes the equivalent of 4,000 positions eliminated in the first quarter of 2006... That means Ford has another 10,000 positions to trim... If it can’t achieve that number through voluntary departures, Ford said it would use involuntary separations... Most employees are expected to depart by the end of the first quarter of 2007... The white-collar job cuts come on top of a buyout offer Ford made Thursday, Sept. 14, to its 75,000 UAW members in the United States. That buyout offers up to $140,000 to get hourly workers to leave the automaker...

* To cut as many as six executive positions this year
Reductions start with resignations of Anne Stevens, Dave Szczupak
Detroit,Mich,USA -Automotive News, by Amy Wilson -Sept 15, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. will eliminate as many as six senior executive positions between now and the end of the year. The initiative, part of the struggling automaker's revised restructuring plan, began Thursday, Sept. 14, with the announced exits of Anne Stevens and Dave Szczupak, two key Ford manufacturing experts... The reduction will include at least one executive exiting at each of the following levels: executive vice president, senior vice president, group vice president and vice president, Laymon said. The total officer reduction, including Stevens and Szczupak, will total no more than five or six, he said...

* No North America profitability before 2009
Detroit,Mich,USA -Automotive News, by Amy Wilson -Sept 15, 2006: -- The automaker now acknowledges that it won't return its North American automotive unit to profitability by the end of 2008 as previously planned. Because of further expected market share declines, Ford now says that full-year profitability for the unit is not expected before 2009...

* Is Jaguar an endangered species for Ford?
Detroit,Mich,USA -Reuters -Sept 15, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. refuses to give up the luxury car Wall Street says it can no longer afford to keep. Ford, which unveiled its third restructuring plan in five years today, said its Jaguar luxury brand was not for sale, although it said it would continue to study options for the money-losing luxury car line...

* Canada - Ford union urges action on auto imports
Toronto,CAN -Reuters -Sept 15, 2006: -- The Canadian government must do more to support the domestic auto industry or risk facing more plant closures such as the one announced by Ford Motor Co. today, the head of the Canadian Auto Workers said...

* Shares meet 'disappointing reality'
New York,NY,USA -MarketWatch, by Padraic Cassidy -Sep 15, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co.'s shares wilted Friday, suffering a punishing 13% drop, their biggest decline since trading resumed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001... Unless newly appointed Chief Executive Alan Mulally can push through more changes, big name investors said the stock could fall further. Merrill Lynch advised clients to sell Ford shares, with a stark cut to a sell rating. The shares had climbed in anticipation of the announcement Friday but met with "disappointing reality," the analysts wrote... The surprise, according to analysts, was the suspension of the automaker's dividend and the admission that its market share would fall to the low 16% range from the year-to-date mid-17% estimate -- not to mention Ford's long term goal of 14% to 15% market share. North American capacity is being cut to 3.6 million units by the end of 2008. That's 26% fewer than in 2005... Not all analyst reaction was negative. If the shares touched below $8 -- which they did soon after trading began Friday -- Goldman Sachs recommended Ford for investors "playing the restructuring theme" on hopes Mulally could make some headway in turning the automaker around...

15.9.06

Prognosis - USA - Highways face crushing weight of a million more trucks by 2016

Think the highways are getting crowded with 18-wheelers? Just you wait...

Shreveport,LA,USA -The Shreveport Times, by Anubhav Tagore -Sept 14, 2006: -- ... One million more of the big rigs are expected to ply the nation's highways by 2016, up from 2.7 million operating today, according to American Trucking Associations... "It's a big concern of the industry as a whole," said BJ Gorman, president of Tango Transport Inc., headquartered in Shreveport... A number of reasons are behind the expected increase: a strengthening economy, inventory advantages of using the road, and new rules that prohibit drivers from doing more than 11 hours a day and 70 hours in an eight-day period... "The new hours and service rules from the DOT (Department of Transportation) ... - it cuts down on their (drivers) productivity. So, where it used to take me a 100 trucks to run 'x' amount of business, now it takes me a 150," said Gorman... (Photo Gannett News Service, by Bill Clark -- Jeff DuBois, 41, gets back in his truck after taking a break July 24 at a Maryland rest stop off Interstate 95 between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore)

GreenNews - USA - Portland Water Bureau fleet shifting to 99% bio-diesel

Portland,OR,USA -The Portland Business Journal -14 Sept 2006: -- The Portland Water Bureau, effective Sept. 26, is converting its fleet of diesel-powered vehicles to B99 -- a fuel more than 99 percent bio-diesel... The bureau's diesel-powered fleet has run on B20 (20 percent biodiesel/ 80 percent petroleum diesel) since August 2004... City Commissioner Randy Leonard, who heads the water bureau, said the bureau's 84-vehicle diesel fleet will be the largest in the country running on B99...

Markets - USA - Scania Not Seen As Solution To MAN's Problems

Apparently bigger isn't always better

USA -Forbes, by R.M. Schneiderman -14 Sept 2006: -- A Wednesday report by UBS Investment research suggests that the German truck giant MAN’s expected takeover bid for its smaller Swedish rival Scania offers few benefits for the potential acquirer... "The new entity is unlikely to be the solution to MAN's (or Scania's) structural problems," Michael Hagmann, an analyst for the research firm, wrote in a research report... "The combined entity would be the new market leader in Western Europe, but lack significant presence outside the region and still trail both Daimler-Chrysler and Volvo by some distance when it comes to heavy-truck volumes. It would also remain subscale in the medium-duty-truck segment."...

Fight - USA - Proposal aims to combat trucker license fraud

Washington,DC,USA -The Arkansas News (Little Rock,AR), by Aaron Sadler -Sep 14, 2006: -- With the Senate focused this week on port security, Sen. Mark Pryor on Wednesday proposed legislation to tighten restrictions on foreign truck drivers... Pryor, said the U.S. Department of Transportation has not done enough to prevent fraud among applicants for commercial driver's licenses and has not properly regulated truck drivers from Mexico allowed to carry cargo through the United States... The legislation was offered as an amendment to a broad port security bill being debated in the Senate. Pryor's amendment could be considered Thursday, a spokeswoman said... The trucking industry backs the legislation to require the transportation department to implement its own recommendations from 2004 to eliminate fraud...

MDOT 'too cozy' - USA - Weight limit increase foes

Augusta,ME,USA -The Brunswick Times Record, by Victoria Wallack -14 Sept 2006: -- Advocacy groups opposed to raising the truck weight limit on Maine's interstate highway system on Wednesday accused state transportation officials with being "too cozy" with the trucking industry and are doing its bidding... In a joint press conference, a coalition of five consumer groups charged that three transportation officials went on a "lobbying junket" to Washington, D.C., planned and paid for in part by state and national trucking associations... Transportation Commissioner David Cole responded by saying that characterization demeans an important economic and safety issue for Maine...

* NEW - Group says heavy trucks make highways unsafe
PORTLAND, Maine,USA -The Portsmouth Herald News (Portsmouth,NH)/AP -14 Sept 2006: -- A coalition of advocacy groups said Wednesday that raising truck weight limits on the interstate in northern Maine would make the highway more dangerous... Efforts to allow trucks up to 100,000 pounds on federal highways in Maine are a threat to public safety and road infrastructure, said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group in Washington... U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said an accident in May where a fuel truck killed an elderly woman underscores the need to get large trucks off of secondary roads...

14.9.06

Study - USA - On-board recorders boost driver morale

USA - eTrucker -14 Sept 2006: -- Few fleets use electronic on-board recorders, but those that do report increased driver morale, according to a new study... The American Transportation Research Institute, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, released the results Sept. 12 of its industry analysis of using the recorders to monitor driver hours... The project included surveys and interviews of users, non-users and vendors, as well as analysis of secondary research and comments submitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is expected to rule on the devices this fall... The research indicates that on-board recorder use is low for several reasons, including cost, a lack of return on investment, and uncertainty about what standards might be mandated by the FMCSA... The enforcement community also is concerned about data privacy and data access issues, since few policies and protocols exist... However, the ATRI research does contradict perceptions that the devices would hurt driver morale and retention. A surprising 76 percent of users said the recorders had improved driver morale, and 19 percent said they had improved driver retention. No users said driver retention had been harmed by the devices...

Change your behavior - USA - A refresher course on getting better mileage

Louisville,KY,USA -WHAS 11.com (subscription)/AP, by ANN JOB -Sept 13, 2006: -- With gasoline prices refusing to come down, more drivers are looking for ways to get the most out of every gallon of fuel. But they may not like what experts recommend: Change your behavior... "There is a direct correlation between fuel economy and the driver's behavior and vehicle care," said Stephen Hunter, Ford Motor Co. hybrid vehicle engineer... From keeping a car well-maintained to driving at a more controlled pace, motorists can have a noticeable impact on the kind of mileage they get. According to Eric Kaufman, engineering manager for fuel economy and drive quality at General Motors Corp., motorists need to look at vehicles, as well as driving, the way experts do: in terms of energy consumption...

Markets - Thailand - Hino expanding use of Thai base

Locally made trucks bound for Australia

Bangkok,Thailand -The Bangkok Post -14 Sept 2006: -- Hino, a Japanese truck and bus manufacturer, plans to resume the export of Thai-made trucks to Australia, where it dominates the market... Most of the trucks sold in Australia are currently exported from Japan, but to take advantage of the Asean Free Trade Agreement (Afta), Hino Motors, a member of Toyota Motor Group, plans to make Thailand its production base for Asia and Oceania in the near future... Hino Motors Manufacturing Thailand Co, a subsidiary of Hino Motors (Thailand) Co, operates a truck plant, built a few years ago at the cost of 2.5 billion baht, at Amata Nakhon Industrial Park in Chon Buri. It will manufacture more than 20,000 trucks a year for the export plan...

Product - USA - GM has high-dollar truck for heavy-duty hauling

A pickup on steroids

ARLINGTON,TX,USA -Fort Worth Star Telegram (Fort Worth,TX), by BOB COX -Sep. 13, 2006: -- ... A Michigan company has teamed with General Motors to offer a truck that meets the needs of drivers who need a really, really big pickup... A pickup on steroids, you might say. Except the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Topkick are designed to fit and to drive so easily that a small person can comfortably drive one down the highway... For a price that can approach, or even surpass, $90,000, Monroe Truck Equipment of Flint, Mich., will take a basic medium-duty GM truck -- the kind otherwise meant to haul freight or become tow trucks, snowplows and the like -- and turn it into a luxurious but powerful tool for towing large, heavy trailers long distances... (Photo: GM Medium Duty with Crysteel 5YD Tipper Body.)

Production - China - Volvo AB partner to boost output

Beijing,China - Reuters /just-auto.com (Bromsgrove,Worcs,UK) -12 September 2006: -- The Chinese partner of Volvo AB is to double the capacity of an engine plant in an effort to boost truck sales. China National Heavy-Duty Truck Corp (CNHTC) is to commit US$252m to the expansion... The plan will involve moving a plant from the city of Hangzhou to its outskirts. The capacity will increase to 100,000 units per year from 40,000 units now... Work on the expansion will begin in July 2008... CNHTC and Volvo each own 50% of the joint venture...

Driving Habits - USA - Cat driver shares tips on achieving better fuel mileage

PEORIA,Ill.,USA -Truck News, by James Menzies -12 Sept 2006: -- Modifying your driving habits can result in significant fuel savings, says Russ Siegel, test and demonstration driver with Caterpillar On-Highway Engines... Cat engines with ACERT technology must be driven differently than their predecessors, Siegel says, in order to obtain maximum fuel mileage... Siegel also insists drivers can improve their fuel economy by better managing their speed while cruising down the highway... Drivers should avoid running the fan while driving, unless its required, since the fan draws horsepower. Siegel suggests leaving the fan switch on automatic mode. He also reminds drivers to reduce idling, as the new engines dont require long cool down periods...

Study - USA - Waking up to sleep apnea dangers

Studies have suggested that as many as one-third of commercial truck drivers suffer from sleep apnea

Northbrook,Ill.,USA -Truck News, by James Menzies -12 Sept 2006: -- A joint task force south of the border has recommended that motor carriers screen their drivers for sleep apnea symptoms... The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) combined to offer an updated approach to the screening and management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators... The task force recommends a screening process should be put into place by carriers and that drivers who suffer from severe sleep apnea should be prevented from working until they receive a medical evaluation. The task force also suggests expanding the screening process to identify risk factors such as body mass index, neck circumference and the drivers family history... Recommendations include a more thorough screening and evaluation process, modified criteria for returning to work after treatment and they provide follow-up and recertification recommendations...

Revenues & Expenses - Canada - No improvement in operating ratio for top carriers

OTTAWA, Ont.,CAN -Truck News, by Lou Smyrlis -7 Sept 2006: -- The nations top 91 for-hire motor carriers saw their revenues rise by 5.7% in the second quarter compared to the same period the previous year. Unfortunately, their expenses also rose by the same percentage, according to data released today by Statistics Canada... As a result, the top for-hire carriers' operating ratio (operating expenses divided by operating revenue) remained at 0.94, similar to the second quarter of 2005. A ratio greater than 1.00 represents an operating loss... Arguably, a ratio of 0.95 or better is considered healthy for the trucking industry, although many industries operate at more profitable average margins... The countrys largest trucking companies (Canadian-based trucking companies earning $25 million or more annually) generated operating revenue of $2.4 billion and expenses of $2.2 billion in the second quarter. Average per-carrier revenues were $26.3 million and expenses $24.6 million... The second quarter of 2006 data on the top for-hire carriers, taken from the Quarterly Motor Carriers of Freight Survey, provide results from 64 general freight carriers and 27 specialized freight carriers...

Market Weight - USA - Banc of America initiates transports at

New York,NY,USA -MarketWatch, by Padraic Cassidy -Sep 13, 2006: -- Banc of America Securities initiated coverage of the air freight and surface transportation sector Wednesday with a market-weight rating... The analysts' top pick is buy-rated UPS Inc. while FedEx Corp. is neutral... Three trucking companies, J. B. Hunt Transport Inc., Werner Enterprises and Con-Way are rated sell; Swift Transportation is rated neutral... Railroads are all viewed favorably, but the brokerage stuck to a neutral rating. Its top picks there are Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern... Freight forwarders C. H. Robinson Worldwide, EGL Inc. and Expeditors International of Washington are all rated neutral as well...

TRANSPORT NEWS WORLWIDE

* Germany - New cargo record for Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt,Germany -Fraport PR -14 Sep 2006: -- Frankfurt Airport has achieved a new record high in cargo throughput in August although management say new capacity is needed...

* USA - US retail ports' volumes reach new high
USA -The National Retail Federation PR -14 Sep 2006: -- Traffic at the USA's major retail container ports has already topped the highest level hit during 2005 and will set additional new records before the 2006 peak shipping season is over...

* USA - TNT chooses Unisys for air cargo
USA -Unisys PR -14 Sep 2006: -- Unisys Corporation has announced that TNT Express Worldwide has chosen its Logistics Management System (LMS) to manage its air cargo operations...

* Germany - Trans-o-flex buys DHL subsidiary
Germany -(PR)trans-o-flex -14 Sep 2006: -- German express operator trans-o-flex Group has signed an agreement for the purchase of Vfw-ThermoMed GmbH & Co. KG from DHL Exel...

* USA - FedEx distributes Hasbro game in US
USA -FedEx -14 Sep 2006: -- FedEx Corp. has announced that it has commenced the coordinated shipping effort for the new MONOPOLY: Here & Now edition to retailers across USA...

* China - Kerry Logistics expands in Europe
Hong Kong,China -Kerry Logistics (PR) -14 Sep 2006: -- Hong Kong based logistics provider Kerry Logistics Network has announced it is establishing a pan European presence with the opening of initial offices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...

* Canada - Transforce purchase of Howard's Transport completed
Montreal,Ont.,CAN -Truck News, by Lou Smyrlis -13 Sept 2006: -- TransForce Income Fund has completed the acquisition of Howard's Transport Services Inc... Generating annual revenues of approximately $20 million, Howard's Transport Services is a specialized trucking company with a fleet that moves a variety of heavy oilfield related equipment, including drill rigs...

* Swiss - Panalpina wins new business from Schlumberger
Swiss -Panalpina (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- The global transport and logistics group Panalpina has been awarded new business from its customer Schlumberger Oilfield Services...

* China - Sinotrans volumes on the up; profits down
Hong Kong,China -Sinotrans (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- Sinotrans the largest Chinese logistics company, has released details of its first half performance. Volumes have driven ahead but profits have dropped...

* Netherlands - TNT wins forwarding contract from Electrolux
Hoofddorp,The Netherlands -TNT (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- TNT Freight Management has secured a large-scale global contract with Electrolux Global Logistics...

* Netherlands - TNT buys in express company in India
Hoofddorp,The Netherlands -TNT (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- TNT N.V. has announced the acquisition of ARC India Limited which operates under the trade name Speedage Express Cargo Services, one of the leading road express companies in India...

* France - Geodis profits jump by 20%
Paris,France -Geodis (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- French based logistics provider Geodis has released its results for the first half of the year showing a jump in operating profit...

* USA - Stonepath sells international subsidiary
USA -Stonepath (PR) -11 Sept 2006: -- Stonepath Group, the US based logistics services organization, has announced that it sold Stonepath Logistics International Services, Inc...

* USA - Target Logistics' profits soar
USA -TL (PR) - 11 Sept 2006: -- Target Logistics, Inc., a US domestic and international freight forwarder and logistics provider, has announced an increase of 27% in net income...

Markets - Germany - Isuzu sets up German truck sales company

Tokyo,Japan -Reuters -Sept 13, 2006: -- Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd. said today it has set up a sales company in Germany with trading house Mitsubishi Corp. to enter the German market for pickups and light trucks... It will target sales of 400 Elf series light trucks and 900 D-MAX pickups in Germany and Austria next year, raising the figure to 800 and 2,300 units respectively in 2010, Isuzu said in a statement...

Acquisition? - Germany - MAN aims to buy Scania, create European truck leader

Frankfurt,Germany -Reuters -Sept 13, 2006: -- Truckmaker MAN wants to acquire Swedish rival Scania to create a market leader in Europe that can stand up to bigger global rivals, the German company said today... "Together MAN and Scania would become Europe's leading truck business, creating a platform for profitable growth," MAN said, adding it would have more to say on the issue next week... A source close to the matter said MAN has sought support from key Scania shareholders for a possible bid, which analysts estimate could be worth up to $15.2 billion (12 billion euros)...

AUTOS' WORLD NEWS

* USA - Ford may lose up to $9 billion this year
New York,NY,USA -The Detroit News/Reuters -Sept 14, 2006: -- Ford Motor Co. could post a pretax loss of $8 billion to $9 billion this year because of losses at its automotive operations and charges for restructuring, reported today, citing unnamed Ford sources... Automotive operations are projected to rack up pretax losses of $5.6 billion to $5.9 billion, according to a Sept. 6 internal report prepared by CFO Don Leclair's office, according to the report... "We're not commenting on speculation," Ford spokesman Oscar Suris told...

* USA - NHSTA Could Mandate Stability Control
USA Today -11 Sept 2006: -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) could propose, as soon as this week, that every passenger vehicle sold in this country be outfitted with stability control... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a separate research group, estimates 10,000 lives could be saved each year if the systems were made standard equipment... The new NHTSA rules would likely take three years or more to implement... The paper adds automakers aren't likely to balk at the rule but may ask for more time to implement the feature, which is interdependent with anti-lock braking... More than 80 percent of all vehicles now offer anti-lock brakes as standard...

* USA - Ford Making Stability Control Standard
USA -The Car Connection -12 Sept 2006: -- In advance of an expected mandate from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford Motor Company says it will make stability control standard on all its vehicles by 2009. All Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will have the features, while Volvos and Jaguars already offer the system... The agency is expected to announce the new rule on Thursday morning, giving automakers at least three years to install the systems on their vehicles... Safety officials from the NHTSA and insurance groups estimate stability control could save 10,000 lives each year if made standard...

* USA - Toyota sees U.S. sales up 3-5 percent in 2007
Detroit,Mich,USA -Reuters -13 Sept 2006: -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s vice president of external affairs said the automaker "can envision" a 3 percent to 5 percent U.S. sales increase in 2007... "I don't believe that anyone in our organization believes it's going to be in the 10 to 12 percent range that it has been in the last couple of years," Irv Miller said...

* USA - GM on track to sell 3 million vehicles in '06, exec says
Detroit,Mich,USA -Reuters -13 Sept 2006: -- General Motors is on track to sell 3 million vehicles in the United States this year, almost flat from last year, while its new warranty program will likely boost market share in the full-sized pickup segment, an executive said today... "We're on track for 3 million retail sales in 2006," said Brent Dewar, GM's vice president of sales, service and parts...

* Germany - Toyota on track to hit German sales target
Frankfurt,Germany -Reuters -12 Sept 2006: -- Toyota Motor Corp. remains on track to hit its 2006 target for selling 140,000 units in Germany, Europe's biggest auto market, the world's second-largest carmaker said today...

* Germany - BMW to roll out hydrogen-powered 7 series in April
Munich,Germany -Reuters -12 Sept 2006: -- BMW will roll out the world's first hydrogen-burning car in serial production early next year, the automaker said today, eager to put its stamp on cars with green credentials. The specially equipped 7-series sedans emit only water vapor when running on hydrogen...

* China - Honda's China car sales up 17 percent through August
Shanghai,China -Reuters -12 Sept 2006: -- Honda Motor Co.'s China sales rose 17.1 percent in the first eight months of 2006, lagging a faster expansion in the overall market where car sales jumped nearly a third. In the first eight months, Honda sold 193,582 vehicles in China, up from 165,270 units a year earlier, the Japanese firm said today...

* Russia - AvtoVAZ to pick investor, will not sell stake
Moscow,Russia -Reuters -14 Sept 2006: -- AvtoVAZ, Russia's No.1 carmaker, will select by mid-October a strategic investor from a number of foreign auto firms but will not consider an equity deal, a senior government official said today...

* Japan - Honda co-develops process to make biomass ethanol
Tokyo,Japan - Reuters -14 Sept 2006: -- Honda Motor Co. said today it has co-developed the world's first practical process for producing ethanol out of cellulosic biomass in what would be a big step toward using non-edible plant materials as fuel...

AUTOS COMMENTS & OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

* USA - GM To World: We're Better Than You Think - Buyers are not stupid. They pay for what they get, and, for cars a reputation for reliability is crucial !!
By Jonathan Fahey/Forbes - USA - 6 Sept 2006: -- The complaints from General Motors insiders have gotten ever more shrill over the past five years, both in public and in private: The world is against us! Media! Analysts! Customers! We make good cars, dammit!... "We've been saying for a long time our quality is equal to or better than the Japanese," says GM sales and marketing chief Mark LaNeve. "Now we are putting our money where our mouth is."... GM says all its 2007 vehicles will come with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty that covers the so-called power train--engine, transmission and other parts that move the car from point A to point B. Moreover, the warranty goes with the car--even if it's sold... The overall goal here, of course, is to get GM's vehicles to start earning a meaningful return. As is now stands, GM has to coax too many buyers with low prices or rebates. This eats away at what are already meager profit margins because of GM's high fixed costs. GM desperately needs people to pay full price... Buyers are not stupid. They pay for what they get, and, for cars a reputation for reliability is crucial... Here's how it works for Honda and Toyota: People scramble for used Hondas and Toyotas, because their reputation for quality is so high. This keeps resale values high for buyers of new cars. If a new car buyer knows he can get a pile of cash for the car when he wants to sell it, he'll be willing to pay more for it at the dealership. This puts profits in the pockets of Honda and Toyota... It will take time. Time for GM to flush the duds from its lineup. Time for resale values to climb. And time for people to start believing in their bones that GM's vehicles can compete...

* USA - A Dreamliner For Ford? -- Bill Ford will retreat to the chairman role
By Jonathan Fahey & Joann Muller/Forbes -USA -9 Sept 2006: -- When Bill Ford took over as chief executive, he was seen by many, both inside the company and out, as a savior. Indeed, he moved quickly to restore profits by selling noncore businesses and cutting 35,000 jobs worldwide... But at times he has seemed overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. His management team has been a revolving door, leading to hiccups in product development that caused Ford to lose precious time bringing new vehicles to showrooms... Meanwhile, the family's company, under his watch, has slid into one of the most difficult periods of its 100-year life. Its North American auto operations lost $2.5 billion in 2005 and $1.3 billion through the first half of this year. And Ford's market share has been eroding steadily for years. So far this year, Ford has lost another point of market share, to about 18%. A decade ago, Ford had 25% of the auto market... Though he was one of the first to warn that higher gas prices would slow sales of big sport utilities, he was blindsided by how quickly Ford's market share collapsed as a result. In September, North American boss Mark Fields is expected to announce details of a new strategy to cut costs, speed up product development and restore profits. Alan Mulally (Newest Ford's chief executive ) said that from what he's seen of the new plan, Ford is making the right moves... While Mulally and Fields work to save the company, Bill Ford will retreat to the chairman role he has had since 1999, where he has always seemed more comfortable. So there will still be a Ford at the top...

* USA - The Man From Boeing -- So what does Mulally have going for him?: Ford management has been a snake pit, well known for backstabbing. Watching your back has always been Job 1 at Ford
By Jerry Flint/Forbes -USA -9 Sept 2006: -- The first thing to say about Alan Mulally, Ford Motor's new president/chief executive, is that he revolutionized the way Boeing produced airplanes... Under his leadership, the 787 Dreamliner, which Boeing is currently developing, has been outsourced and off-shored as never before. In some ways, Boeing is more of a project manager on the 787 than a manufacturer. The wings will come from Japan; an Italian company is the key contractor on the fuselage; designers are working on the 787 in Moscow. The new plane uses composite materials as never before, too, meaning Mulally pushed for ways to leap forward in technology... Would that work in the auto industry? Carmakers buy lots of parts, yes, but with rare exceptions, they make their own engines, their own frames and chassis, and put all the pieces together. A company like Ford sells millions of mass-produced vehicles a year to individual consumers; Boeing sells a few hundred multimillion-dollar jet airliners to a few dozen airlines... It will be interesting to see if the new Ford chief tries to duplicate his apparent success by dramatically changing auto manufacturing... Considering that Mulally is an outsider who doesn’t know the auto business and that Ford is in such deep trouble, his task in turning around the company is enormous... So what does Mulally have going for him?... Ford management has been a snake pit, well known for backstabbing. Watching your back has always been Job 1 at Ford...

* Germany - Acts of desperation in Dearborn
By Guido Reinking/Automobilwoche -Germany -13 Sept 2006: -- When two people interested in cars find themselves sitting next to each other, the question often comes up: Which U.S. car company has bigger problems: General Motors or Ford Motor Co.? And which one will solve its problems more quickly -- or, in other words, survive?... Judging from the news that's been coming out of Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., over the last couple of weeks, GM might have a slight edge in this life-or-death game...

* USA - Investor sees limited GM-Nissan-Renault alliance
DETROIT,Mich,USA -Reuters -Sept 13, 2006: -- Ongoing talks between General Motors, Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA could lead to a limited partnership on specific models, but is unlikely to produce a broad alliance, a leading private equity investor said... "I am not sure where the GM-Nissan-Renault thing goes," said Tom Stallkamp, an industrial partner with Ripplewood Holdings, at the Reuters Autos Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 12. "There is so much overlap on that."... Stallkamp said he sees more of a product-related partnership, as seen in Europe where rival automakers have collaborated on powertrains and other components... Stallkamp, who is a former Chrysler president, said there may be opportunities for the three companies to partner in new markets such as India or China... GM and Nissan-Renault have launched a 90-day study into the possibilities of a three-way alliance, and small teams of executives will report back to the chief executives in mid-October...

* USA - Ford may redefine a 'run' to the bathroom
By Edward Lapham/Automotive News/The Detroit News -USA -Sept 12, 2006: -- You know times are tough when a company keeps track of how much time its employees spend in the restroom... Last week The Detroit News reported that management at Ford Motor Co.’s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich., is cracking down on employees who spend too much time heeding nature’s call... Contractually, employees are allowed up to 48 minutes per shift for bathroom breaks. That seems fair... A couple of longtime suppliers to Ford calculate that the restroom breaks add about $165 to the cost of each Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUV produced at the Michigan Truck Plant, assuming every worker uses the full 48 minutes... In case you wondered, the suppliers also calculate that reducing toilet time by just three minutes per worker per shift would save more than $10 per vehicle... It may not seem like much, but Ford supervisors at the plant intend to monitor how much time workers spend on bathroom breaks... Makes you wonder how much that will cost, doesn’t it?...

13.9.06

TRANSPORT NEWS WORLDWIDE

* UK - Analysis: Auto Logistics sector faces hazardous future
London,UK -Transport Intelligence -11 Sept 2006: -- The global automotive industry is undergoing dramatic changes. This will have an inevitable impact on supply chains with consequences for many of the world's largest logistics operators...

* USA - Congress moves to address port security
Washington,DC,USA -Transport Intelligence -12 Sept 2006: -- The United States Congress is presently considering its Port Security Improvement Act. The legislation is the product of the often highly charged debate in the US over the security status of its ports... The present bill requires the US Department of Homeland Security to create a plan to enable trade to resume quickly after a security incident at an American port... It also establishes on a legal basis the 'Container Security Initiative' which already targets certain types of container traffic, particularly that originating from certain – unnamed areas- of the world. The US will also establish scanning for radioactive materials in containers in all of its major ports...

* USA - Atlas Air places major freighter order
Purchase,NY,USA -Transport Intelligence -13 Sep 2006: -- Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of global air cargo services, has announced that it has placed an order with Boeing for 12 new 747-8 Freighters, valued at about $3.4 billion at list prices, with options and rights to acquire up to 14 additional aircraft...

* South Korea - CMA CGM places order for 8 super-large containerships
Ulsan, Korea -Transport Intelligence -13 Sep 2006: -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. has contracted an order for eight 11,400TEU containerships with its long-time client, CMA-CGM in France. The order is valued at US$1.2 billion and is the largest newshipbuilding order as a single contract in the world...

* France - CMA CGM launches new intermodal joint venture
Marseille,France -Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- CMA CGM, the third leading container shipping group in the world, and Veolia Environnement have decided to cooperate, through their respective subsidiaries, Rail Link and Veolia Transport, in developing a new rail transportation service for sea containers...

* Holland - TNT wins new entertainment media contract
Amsterdam,Holland -Transport Intelligence -13 Sep 2006: -- TNT Express Services UK & Ireland has sealed a three-year deal with the Pinnacle-Arvato Group to deliver more than 100 million home entertainment products a year to more than 2,000 UK retail outlets... TNT won the contract from the Pinnacle Arvato Group to make overnight deliveries to independent retailers and major High Street chains, stocking music, film entertainment and computer games...

* Holland - TNT improves in Sustainability Index
Amsterdam,Holland -Wincanton/Transport Intelligence -13 Sep 2006: -- For the second consecutive year TNT has been designated leader in its industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index... TNT scored 84 points out of a possible 100, up nine points from last year's score. In six out of 18 criteria the Dutch mail and express company reached the highest score in its sector, Industrial Transportation...

* China - Hong Kong sees air cargo growth
HK,China -Transport Intelligence -13 Sep 2006: -- Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited has announced that its air cargo tonnage throughput for August was 210,426 tonnes, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.1%. The cumulative tonnage from January to August of 2006 was 1,612,960 tonnes, up 4.7% compared with the same period last year...

* UK - Wincanton wins Czech contract with Toshiba supplier
Chippenham,Wiltshire,UK-Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- Wincanton, the European logistics provider, has recently gained the contract for the storage and distribution of goods with the supplier of Toshiba branded goods in the Czech Republic, Schuss Praha, spol. s r. o...

* UK - Wincanton completes WEEE trial with Argos
Chippenham,Wiltshire,UK-Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- Following the launch of its WEEE recycling facility earlier this year, European logistics provider, Wincanton, has completed a three-month trial with UK retailer Argos to recycle the retailer's electrical and electronic returns...

* Chile - LAN Airlines reports increased cargo
Santiago,Chile -Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- LAN Airlines S.A., one of the leading airline groups in Latin America, has reported its preliminary monthly and accumulated traffic statistics for August 2006...

* USA - UPS to roll out new technology to recent acquisitions
Atlanta,GA,USA -Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- In a new technology initiative, UPS will complete in 2007 the deployment of its signature handheld computer for drivers - the DIAD or Delivery Information Acquisition Device - to employees of several important acquisitions, including two in Europe. LYNX Express, Ltd. is the largest package delivery provider in the United Kingdom and the Messenger Service Stolica S.A. is one of the leading parcel and express delivery companies in Poland, Central Europe's largest economy...

* Austria - Gebrüder Weiss launches new intermodal service
Lauterach,Österreich -Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- Austrian logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss and Intercontainer Austria have launched a new rail connection for seafreight containers from Hamburg...

* India - GeoLogistics appoints Finnish partner
Mumbai,India -Transport Intelligence -12 Sep 2006: -- GeoLogistics Pvt. Ltd. Corporation has appointed Oy O. Nystroem & Co Ab as its strategic partner in Finland...
* UK - RH Freight seals alliance with German operator
UK -Transport Intelligence -11 Sep 2006: -- UK road haulier RH Freight has established a partnership with transport operator Cordes and Simon in the Black Forest region of Germany...

* UK - Industry body welcomes proposals for lorry charging scheme
UK -Transport Intelligence -11 Sep 2006: -- The UK's Freight Transport Association has welcomed proposals for the introduction of a revised form of the Lorry Road User Charge scheme similar to that scrapped by the present UK Government in July 2005...

* USA - FedEx completes acquisition of Watkins
USA -Transport Intelligence -11 Sep 2006: -- FedEx Corp. has announced it has completed the $780 million cash purchase of the LTL operations of Watkins Motor Lines and certain affiliates...

12.9.06

GreenNews - USA - New ethanol plants in Michigan, other locales in the U.S.

USA -AutoblogGreen, by Sebastian Blanco -Sep 11, 2006: -- On Thursday, US BioEnergy will open a new ethanol plant in Woodbury, Michigan. The Michigan plant will be able to produce 50 million gallons per year from 16 million bushels of corn... Right now, US BioEnergy Corporation operates two ethanol plants and has two additional ethanol plants under construction... Meanwhile, Bunge North America is teaming up with Carlyle/Riverstone Renewable Energy Infrastructure Fund to build ethanol production plants in the U.S. adjacent to Bunge grain facilities... The plants will be able to produce several hundred million gallons each year by the end of 2008. Exactly where these plants will be located has not yet been announced...

Troubles - Finland/Russian Border

* Finland -

Russian Customs partly to blame for lorry backlog
Helsingi,Finland -The Helsingin Sanomat -11 Set 2006: -- Russia's Minister of Transport Igor Levitin has conceded that the Russian Customs Service is one of the reasons for the chronic backlog of trucks at the Russian border... Another factor stretching out the lines of trucks is the almost exponential growth in goods traffic between the two countries... Earlier in the week the line of lorries queueing to enter Russia via the Vaalimaa border crossing further south exceeded 40 kilometres... (Photo by LEIF ROSAS - The backlog of lorries waiting to cross into Russia at the Vaalimaa border station had eased by Wednesday afternoon. Nevertheless it was still about 20 kilometres long)

* Finaland - Finnish haulage companies declare boycott of Vaalimaa crossing
Helsingi,Finland -The Helsingin Sanomat -7 Set 2006: -- A group of Finnish trucking companies declared a boycott of the Vaalimaa crossing between Finland and Russia on Wednesday... The firms concerned are tired of constant backlogs of trucks, which they see as a serious security risk to their drivers and vehicles... In response to the repeated delays, they said that they would refuse to bring goods to or from the Vaalimaa goods terminal... (Picture: Highway 7 is the main route to Russia along the south coast. Suomi = Finland, Venäjä = Russia)

DANGEROUS ENTERPRISES

* USA - Trucking firm lags in driver safety - Company whose Canton Twp. driver was in crash that killed 5 is one of nation's least safe
Detroit,MI,USA-The Detroit News, by Ronald J. Hansen -Sept 11, 2006: -- The company a Canton Township trucker was driving for when he was involved in an accident that killed five people in Indiana, including a college student from Michigan who was tragically misidentified for weeks, is rated one of the worst in the nation for driver safety, federal transportation records show... The safety rating for Mike Brooks Inc. was based in part on the April 26 accident in eastern Indiana, but also included 35 other accidents involving its rigs in a 30-month span... Mike Brooks, president of the Knoxville, Iowa, company that bears his name, did not return repeated calls for comment about the safety record. The company has also declined to comment about the accident...

MARKETS

* Initial Public Offering - Russia - Kamaz truck maker to IPO in Russia, abroad in early 2008
KAZAN,Russia -RIA Novosti (Moscow,RUS) -Sept 11, 2006: -- Kamaz, Russia's leading truck maker, will conduct an initial public offering in Russia and abroad in early 2008, Russia's economics minister said Monday... Russian companies are believed to be heavily undercapitalized and in need of funds to face increasingly fierce competition from Western firms...

* USA - Navistar Sells Retail Note Receivables
SCHAUMBURG,Ill,USA -The Houston Chronicle (Houston,TX)/AP -Sept. 11, 2006: -- Truck manufacturer Navistar International Corp. on Monday said its Navistar Financial Corp. subsidiary has sold its retail note finance receivables for $443 million to ABN AMRO Bank NV, parent of LaSalle bank and a Navistar creditor...

* India - L&T, via Scania, will enter big trucks space
Mumbai,India -The Daily News & Analysis, by Rabin Ghosh -Sept 11, 2006: -- The competition in the heavy commercial vehicle space is set to become more intense with engineering-and-construction-major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) throwing its hat into the ring... With this, Scania joins the ranks of major commercial vehicle manufacturers establishing their presence in India. While players like DaimlerChrysler and Volvo are already present here, others like MAN and International Trucks are coming through the joint venture route...

Asphalt Cracks - Russia - Truck Falls Down 10m Deep Crater on Main Moscow Street

Dangerous Streets

Moscow,Russia -MosNews/RIA Novosti -11 Sept 2006: -- A heavy-duty Kamaz truck and a compressed air plant fell through the ground as asphalt gave way in northern Moscow, forming a 10-meter deep crater... The incident happened on Sunday night at a secondary road to Leningrad highway, one of Moscow’s busiest roads... The two vehicles that had been parked on the road fully disappeared in the enormous break... Moscow prosecution are reported to have an explanation for the accident, but preferred not to make it public.

R&D - USA - The PowerLabs homebuilt Jet Turbine research

Beverly Hills,CA,USA -American Chronicle -10 Sept 2006: -- On this page you will see how we went about converting a turbocharger into a homebuilt turbine. DISCLAIMER: This is a very dangerous project... "The initial goal of this project was to construct a reliable turbine from a diesel truck turbocharger. This essentially entails the creation of a means to deliver and ignite fuel into a custom made combustion chamber, creating a high pressure oil delivery system for the turbo shaft and bearings, a thrust nozzle and all other associated equipment required to safely and reliably convert the turbo into a self sustaining turbine..."
(Photo: Osanan L. Barros Neto, Mechanical Engineering (right) & Joe Studinger, also a Mechanical Engineer at Michigan Technological University (left): "The complete turbine after its first run")

GreenNews - USA - Compressed Natural Gas is a future fuel now

Providence,RI,USA -The Providence Journal, by Peter C.T. Elsworth -Sept 10, 2006: -- Compressed Natural Gas stands out as an alternative fuel because it is very clean – the so-called darling of the environmental movement – and there is plenty of it available. But it has always suffered from range problems because the storage tanks take up so much room... Nationwide, there were about 130,000 CNG vehicles in 2005, with about one in five new transit buses now powered by CNG, and 5 million worldwide, according to Kolodziej... There are also about 1,300 CNG fueling stations nationwide. In Rhode Island, the state has a handful of stations with the only station currently open to the public located at T.F. Green Airport where CNG is currently priced at the equivalent of $2.69 a gallon... (Photo by Kris Craig/The Providence Journal -- A RIPTA trolley stands at the Allens Avenue Compressed Natural Gas refueling station)

Purchases ? - USA - Illinois National Guard Faces Equipment Problems

Shortage Because Many Items Are Left Behind During Service In Iraq
WASHINGTON,DC,USA -NBC5.com (Chicago,IL) September 9, 2006: -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Illinois National Guard troops are facing a severe equipm çent shortage at home because of the many items left behind during their service in Iraq... Durbin said estimates show -- for example -- less than 10 percent of the Army Guard's necessary medium and heavy trucks and only 65 percent of its required light trucks are available... The Illinois Democrat said he was particularly alarmed about what impact equipment shortages would have in case of state emergencies...

Controls - Canada - A third of trucks inspected fail tests

London,CAN -The London Free Press, by RANDY RICHMOND -Sept 9, 2006: -- One-third of the trucks inspected in a one-day blitz were taken off the road for safety violations, London police said yesterday... Fifty commercial vehicles were stopped and 30 were pulled over for a closer inspection. Of those, 10 were pulled off the road for various infractions, such as brake problems, insecure loads and improper labelling of dangerous goods...

Global Warming - Jamaica - More trucks needed to deliver water to desperate St. Mary residents

St. Mary,Jamaica -Radio Jamaica - Sep 9, 2006: -- Mayor of Port Maria, Bobby Montaque, is once again appealing for more trucks to be allocated to assist the more than 30 communities being affected by drought in the parish of St. Mary... Mayor Montaque says since last week there has been an increase in the number of trucks delivering water but says that this is still not enough... He is calling on the entities to supply water to everyone in need...

Drivers Overweight - USA - Volunteers sought for weight-loss program

USA -eTrucker -Sept 2006: -- A staggering number of truck drivers are overweight, while more than half can be medically classified as obese. With poor eating habits and a lack of exercise, extra weight can lead to health problems such as heart trouble, hypertension, stroke and diabetes... Those chosen will participate in a year-long weight loss and fitness program individually designed by a dietitian, a fitness expert and a medical doctor. The truckers’ progress will be covered in a series of articles in the magazine...

HOS - USA - FMCSA responds to hours challenges

USA -eTrucker, by Jill Dunn -9 Sept 2006: -- Arguments made by Public Citizen and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association against the current hours-of-service rule are hollow, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stated in its response to the groups’ petitions... The agency filed its response in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in August... Public Citizen’s petition should be denied because regulators properly measured the risk of driving 11 hours instead of 10, the FMCSA stated. “Even if there is an increased risk associated with driving 11 hours, the costs of imposing a 10-hour limit far outweigh the safety benefits,” the FMCSA stated... Moreover, evidence indicates the 34-hour recovery period is sufficient, the agency argued. Major improvements in truck design and more opportunity for rest under the new rule also influenced the agency’s decision, the FMCSA stated... OOIDA’s petition is without merit because loading and unloading time already was taken into account and discussed in the rule’s preamble, the agency stated...

Guinness Records - USA - World's Largest Truck Convoy rolls Sept. 16

USA -eTrucker, by Brittani Tingle -9 Sept 2006: -- The Manitoba segment of the World's Largest Truck Convoy in 2006. On Sept. 16, stretches of highway throughout North America will be lined with an expected 4,000 trucks as they convoy to support the athletes of Special Olympics and attempt to maintain their status as the World’s Largest Truck Convoy in the Guinness Book of World Records... (Photo by Joseph David).

Jobs - USA - For-hire trucking shows dip in

"Trucking has had significant employment growth in 2006, adding more jobs than manufacturing"...

USA -eTrucker, by Jill Dunn -9 Sept 2006: -- The for-hire trucking industry decreased employee payrolls for the first time in a year, the American Trucking Associations reported, but a spokesman warned against interpreting a one-month change as a trend... The industry reduced August payrolls by 2,600, according to the Sept. 1 ATA Weekly Economic Recap. This was the largest tightening since payrolls fell by 10,000 in April 2003... But Bob Costello, the association’s chief economist, said that trucking has added 19,000 more employees to the payroll this year. Trucking has had significant employment growth in 2006, adding more jobs than manufacturing, he said...

11.9.06

Feminine Touch - USA - Truck driving gets it

These women represent the changing face of the American trucking industry

CARLISLE, Pa.,USA -USA Today/Gannett News Service, by Raju Chebium -9 Sept 2006: -- Seized by the all-American impulse to hit the open road, Jackie Walker quit her paramedic job and began driving 18-wheelers three years ago... Divorced and childless at age 69, Nancy Finley logs 10,000-12,000 miles a month driving across the United States and Canada... Toni Chandler began driving big rigs to earn more than the $7.50 an hour she was making as a security guard and to see the country on her employer's dime... The driver of that big rig on the interstate may not necessarily be a man. Women are increasingly getting behind the wheel of trucks small and large, from tractor-trailers that haul merchandise across North America to smaller delivery trucks on local roads... (Photo, by Heather Wines, Gannett News Service - Jackie Walker, 30, of York, Pa., has spent the last three years driving a truck for Schneider International in Carlisle, Pa. She first hauled loads from Texas to Maine to Florida, but now she drives shorter distances and return home every night, though she still puts in 14-hour days)

PURCHASES

* Indonesia - To Buy EUR22.4 Million Renault Trucks For Lebanon Operations
JAKARTA,IND -Dow Jones -Sept 8, 2006: -- The Indonesian government will spend EUR22.4 million for 32 Renault Trucks defense-manufactured armored vehicles needed to equip a pending peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon, a senior Ministry of Defense official said Friday...

Operation - USA - Law Agencies Target Illegal Trucking Activities

Dallas ,TX,USA -CBS 11 News, by Raquel Eatmon 8 Sept, 2006: -- Dallas Police and several other agencies have teamed up to track down illegal activity on North Texas highways. It’s called “Operation Rolling Shield” and, over the past three days, authorities have made more than 300 traffic stops... The three-day operation ended Thursday at midnight. Authorities say that it was very successful, and the number back up that claim... Of the 312 traffic stops that were made, 135 citations were issued, and 3 arrests were made...

8.9.06

TRANSPORT NEWS

* Ukraine and Russia - Plan New Silk Road
Moscow,Russia -TNN (UK) -6 Sept 2006: -- The Ukraine and Russia have signed a joint protocol in Moscow, which could lead to the creation of a "new Silk Road" for transportation of goods in special freight platforms through the territories of the two countries... After holding talks, as part of a meeting of the Yushchenko-Putin Intergovernmental Commission's sub-commission on transportation, the two countries moved a step closer to opening up the region...

Job Cuts - Canada - 600 face layoff at Sterling Truck plant

Like other plants, Sterling Truck in St. Thomas is hit hard by new vehicle emission regulations

London,Canada -The London Free Press, by NORMAN DE BONO -Sept 7, 2006: -- More than 600 Sterling Truck workers in St. Thomas face job cuts as the downturn in the regional manufacturing industry grows... Bracing for a sales slump in the new year, the truck assembly plant will cut about a quarter of its workforce, Richard Laverty, chairperson of Canadian Auto Workers Local 1001, said yesterday...

Warn - Qatar - Police will confiscate trucks

Dubai,Qatar -Gulf news, by Alia Al Theeb -7 Sept 2006: -- Police will confiscate trucks, including large pick-ups, if they park in residential areas, a senior police official said on Wednesday... Brigadier Eisa Aman, Acting Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said traffic control teams have been fining trucks for the offence. Police will start confiscating such vehicles from next week and trucks will be impounded for three months... Brigadier Aman said the first eight months of this year reported around 5,052 offences by truck drivers... He said other traffic fines issued against truck drivers included; 43 fines for not covering the load, two for overloading, 365 fines for trucks who did not abide by the road signs and traffic instructions, 116 fines for loading the truck in a way that made them a road hazard and 501 for driving vehicles that do not have the correct safety measures... (Photo: An accident near Deira City Centre caused by a truck being recklessly driven)

500,000 Trucks Registered for German Toll

London,UK -Transport News Network -6 Sept 2006: -- More than 500,000 trucks have been signed up to Germany's HGV toll scheme, LKW Maut, since its introduction in January 2005... The German system has so far raised about £2.7bn from lorries on 7,500 miles of motorways and a number of regional roads... Hauliers can pay automatically by fitting the black box, which records the vehicle's movements and transfers the data to a control centre, which then sends out monthly bills. Charges vary according to emissions and the number of axles, but range from 6p to 9.5p per kilometre... Foreign lorries not fitted with the boxes can pay in advance over the internet or at toll machines. It is those manual payers who need to be policed - by overhead gantries, which photograph number plates and check in a fraction of a second if the toll has been paid. If it hasn't, they are pulled over and fined... Since the introduction of the scheme, freight carried by rail has increased by seven per cent and the number of lorries running empty has gone down by 15 per cent. Orders for low-emission lorries have also increased...

Markets - Australia - Isuzu rejigs models, launches Care program

Australia - Australasian Transport News (subscription) -8 Sept 2006: -- Facing a hotly competitive light and medium truck market, Isuzu Trucks Australia has rejigged its model line-up and launched an after sales care program... Isuzu is leading the light and medium truck markets for its 18th year and is 3rd in the heavy truck market in Australia... The model changes include: ... Isuzu will also launch a second generation hybrid, currently in final development in Japan, which offer offer better fuel economy and reliability than models currently being offered...

Competitivity - UK - Double-decker trains promote rail over roads

Weybridge,UK -Environmental Transport Association -6 Sept 2006: -- Network Rail has moved to issue a series of measures to help the country's rail network cope with increasing numbers of passengers and freight and maintain the more environmentally-friendly mode of transport... With cargo expected to rise by around 30 per cent over the next ten years and ever more passengers travelling by train, Britain's railway operator said drastic changes would be needed to keep the network afloat and prevent an increase in trucks on the roads... Double-decker trains for passengers and tracks adapted for special tall cargo containers were among the suggestions made by Mr Armitt, chief executive of Network Rail, who warned that the upgrades would come at a price... Space will be made for an extra 120 freight trains daily by 2015, with each one carrying 2,000 tonnes – equivalent to 100 lorry loads apiece...

GreenNews - USA - State wants trucking firm to clean acid spill at Silver City

SILVER CITY,NM,USA -The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe,NM)/AP -Sept 6, 2006: -- The state Environment Department is requiring a tracking company to clean up groundwater contamination from a spill of sulfuric acid in a crash near Silver City... The acid flowed along N.M. 90 and about a half mile down an arroyo on Phelps Dodge Mining Co. property 10 miles south of town after an Aug. 14 crash between two vehicles -one of them a Chemical Transportation Inc. truck hauling the acid for Phelps Dodge-... About 3,000 gallons of sulfuric acid spilled, lowering the soil's pH, the Environment Department said... Low pH in groundwater is not a primary health concern, but such low pH causes contaminants such as heavy metals to more easily dissolve into groundwater, the agency said... Although Phelps Dodge is not responsible for the spill, the mining company is helping the trucking firm with cleanup, Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry said Wednesday...

Production Plans - Russia - Japan's Isuzu mulls building truck plant in

Moscow,Russia -RIA Novosti -Sept 6, 2006: -- Isuzu, one of Japan's leading truck producers is considering building a truck plant in Russia, a government official said Wednesday... Russian car manufacturer Severstal Avto and Isuzu signed a deal in February to begin the production of Isuzu trucks in Russia. The two companies will be producing medium-duty Isuzu NQR 71 trucks, with a carrying capacity of about five metric tons, and heavy-duty Isuzu CXZ 51 trucks, with a carrying capacity of about 20 metric tons...

Production - USA - Freightliner LLC Chooses IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and Cactus Commerce

For RFID Work-in-Progress Efficiencies

Portland,ORE,USA -MoreRFID (TX,USA) -6 Sept 2006: -- Louis Fleischer is on a mission. As an automation engineer for the Portland Truck Plant, he has the dubious task of helping keep the production line moving for Freightliner LLC, a DaimlerChrysler company... Freightliner LLC is the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading producer of medium-duty trucks and specialized commercial vehicles... Starting in April 2005, Louis kick-started an automation initiative for chassis and cab queuing, to improve the synchronization with the production schedule... About IDENTEC SOLUTIONS: Is a leading provider of high-performance RFID solutions that offer real-time visibility of company assets and activities had been on the preferred vendor list for over three years... About Cactus Commerce: Is an e-business software and services company with over 10 years of experience integrating Microsoft solutions...

Biofuels -USA - Redesigning Crops to Harvest Fuel

More miles to the bushel
NY,USA -The New York Times, byANDREW POLLACK -Sept 8, 2006: -- That is the new mission of crop scientists. In an era of $3-a-gallon gasoline and growing concern about global warming from fossil fuels, seed and biotechnology companies see a big new opportunity in developing corn and other crops tailored for use in ethanol and other biofuels... Syngenta, for instance, hopes in 2008 to begin selling a genetically engineered corn designed to help convert itself into ethanol. Each kernel of this self-processing corn contains an enzyme that must otherwise be added separately at the ethanol factory... Just last week, DuPont and Bunge announced that their existing joint venture to improve soybeans for food would also start designing beans for biodiesel fuel and other industrial uses... (Photo: Brian Ray for The New York Times -- William S. Niebur of DuPont says the very hardy corn needed to make ethanol could force farmers to abandon crop rotation, straining the soil)

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA - GM Hopes Hyundai's Turnaround Plan, Adopts South Korean Automaker's Warranty Deal to Signal Improved Quality
Detroit,Mich,USA -AdAge.com, by Jean Halliday -Sept 06, 2006: -- General Motors Corp., battling long-term misperceptions about the quality of its vehicles, is adopting a powertrain warranty similar to the one that helped Hyundai Motor Corp. execute one of the industry's most stunning turnarounds... Deutsch gets the assignment Saying "we believe in our cars and our trucks," Rick Wagoner, GM's chairman-CEO, today said the automaker would beef up its powertrain warranty to 100,000 miles or five years on all its 2007 models. The coverage on most of GM's models was 36,000 miles or three years... (Picture above)

* Germany - BMW's Real-Time Traffic With Inrix Dust Network
Germany -Techno Ride (New York,NY,USA), by Bill Howard -7 Sept 2006: -- Real-time traffic information (RTTI) took a big leap forward in accuracy today: BMW announced that it will offer RTTI as a free service on most 2007 BMWs equipped with a navigation system... BMW is the first automaker to adopt the so-called Dust Network, created by Microsoft spinoff Inrix Traffic Services... (Picture below)

* USA - Dodge trucks recalled for air bags
WASHINGTON,DC,USA-The Detroit News -7 Sept 2006: -- Chrysler said Wednesday it was recalling about 145,000 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups to replace the passenger air bag pack and reprogram the air bag's computer system...

* USA - GM extends warranty to 100,000 miles
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Detroit News -7 Sept 2006: -- General Motors Corp. rolled out a 100,000-mile warranty Wednesday designed to convince skeptical consumers of the improved quality of its 2007-model cars and trucks...

* USA - No deal for DaimlerChrysler, union says
DETROIT,Mich,USA -The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, by TOM KRISHER/AP -Sept 8, 2006: -- The United Auto Workers will not give the same health-care concessions to DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group that it gave to General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the union’s president said Thursday... Ron Gettelfinger, speaking to reporters after a midday speech at the Detroit Economic Club, said the UAW analyzed Chrysler’s finances and determined the concessions weren’t in the union’s best interest...

* Japan - Mazda Reaches One Millionth Axela Produced in Japan
Tokyo, Japan -JCN Newswire -Sept 8, 2006: -- Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that total production of the Mazda Axela (known as Mazda3 in overseas markets) in Japan reached the one million unit milestone at the end of August 2006... This achievement comes three years and two months after production of the Axela started at Mazda's Hofu Plant No.1 (H1) at the end of June 2003 and establishes a new record for the fastest time to produce one million units of a Mazda vehicle...

* France - Peugeot Chief Folz to Retire; Successor by Year-End
Paris,France -Bloomberg, by Alan Katz -Sept. 8, 2006: -- PSA Peugeot Citroen Chief Executive Officer Jean-Martin Folz, who has overseen a three-year decline in the carmaker's profitability, will resign in January. The shares rose the most in almost a year... Folz, who has been CEO since 1997, told the board before he went on vacation Aug. 4 that he plans to leave in January 2007, when he turns 60 and becomes eligible for retirement...

AUTOS WORLDWIDE: COMMENT & OPINIONS

* USA - By Daniel Howes - A new leader at Ford, Alan Mulally: A can-do guy
Dearborn,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Daniel Howes -7 Sept 2006: -- If there's any "we-can't-do-it" in Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co.'s new CEO, you couldn't find it in his first town hall meeting Wednesday with employees... Greeted by cheers and a standing ovation, Mulally invoked humor, the language of teamwork and a Dilbert reference to stoke hope in apprehensive employees laboring with rampant rumors and scary change as the company prepares to announce more cutbacks in coming weeks... It was a pivotal moment in Ford's 103-year history -- an outsider with no ties to Ford becoming its CEO -- ... "There's no reason we can't do this," he told me later, countering the conventional wisdom that Ford is doomed to decline. They said the same about his former employer, Boeing Co., an Old Economy behemoth beset with expensive labor contracts, fierce global competition and declining demand for its aircraft... The guy Chairman Bill Ford Jr. wooed from a 37-year career at Boeing and named CEO Tuesday told me "the biggest thing that I can contribute (to Ford) is to move from worrying, from being afraid, back to their roots. We've done this in the past."... To the employees, he promised to work with Ford's unions, not fight them. He embraced Ford's current leadership instead of signaling that he was preparing to assemble his own team and broom the rest. He didn't dwell on how and where Ford screwed up, but instead focused on the opportunity to retool it for the future... (Photo by David Coates / The Detroit News: -- Ford's new CEO Alan Mulally, left, and Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. lead a town hall meeting Wednesday for employees, where Mulally fielded questions about the company's future and aimed to set anxious minds at ease)

* USA - New Ford CEO pay package to be rich
WASHINGTON,DC,USA -The Detroit News -7 Sept 2006: -- Alan Mulally was Boeing's second-highest paid executive in 2005, with a compensation package of $9.9 million, which included $7.6 million in long-term incentive stock grants...

* USA - By Joel A. & Marti Barletta: Was it women who led Honda, Toyota's rise?
USA - The Car Blog, by Joel A. & Marti Barletta of Brandweek -Sept 8, 2006: -- Marti Barletta of Brandweek voiced something that I've always suspected: Honda and Toyota built their cars to women's taste and destroyed the domestic car industry... According to the Marti Barletta of Brandweek, women are the decision makers for over 80 percent of any major (and many minor) household purchases. This includes cars, where 60 percent new car buyers are women... Yet most car ads target men, who tend to read, browse, and discuss cars frequently. However, women, when interested, will actually make a purchase... Barletta discuss some steps for marketers to consider when developing car ads towards women including:
* Women do consider the environment such as pollution.
* Women tend to be more interested in a car’s interior.
* Women don’t care about how many seconds it takes to reach 60 mph.
* Women care about vehicle safety; specifically, what happens when her car’s hit, not if she can avoid it.
Barletta provides more advice at the article...

* USA - By Robert Farago: The Truth About GM’s New Powertrain Warranty
USA -The Truth About Cars, by Robert Farago -Sept 7, 2006: -- It's clear that GM's new powertrain warranty– 5 years, 100k miles– has set TTAC tongues wagging. To get on top of the story, I phoned Philip Reed, Consumer Advice Editor at Edmunds.com... Reed has written a book called Strategies for Smart Car Buyers, which covers the entire car buying process: selling, leasing, buying, used cars, certified cars, the whole schmeer. Reed knows what's what when it comes to warranties and, equally important, their value to both customer and manufacturer... According to Reed, GM's announcement could well be a great landing at the wrong airport...

* USA - New technology takes driving away from drivers - Cars of the future may park themselves, cruise through city traffic and warn of curves ahead
New York,NY,USA -The Wall Street Journal, by Stephen Power and Jennifer Saranow -6 Sept 2006: -- If you think driving is a drag and parking even more so, take heart: Automakers are coming up with ways to shift a lot of the work from the driver to the car... BMW AG, DaimlerChrysler AG and Toyota Motor Corp. are among the makers of premium models that are starting to market cars that automate many parts of the driving experience: self-parking cars (with the driver inside or out); parking guidance systems (for the less-lazy driver); enhanced cruise-control systems that work in stop-and-go-traffic and maintain a safe distance between cars; and warning systems that tell you when you've strayed from your lane...

6.9.06

Sales - Russia - KamAZ sells 37.7% more trucks in 8M06, y-on-y

MOSCOW,Russia -RIA Novosti -Sept 5, 2006: -- KamAZ, Russia's largest truck producer, said Tuesday delivery of trucks rose 35.4% in the first eight months of 2006, year-on-year, to 26,582... The company said domestic sales in the reporting period increased 37.7%, to 19,733... Total sales from January until August 2006 were at 36.3 bln rubles ($1.35 bln), up 28.7% on the same period last year...

Troubles - Australia - NSWRTA calls for cash to fight union

New South Wales,Australia -ATN -6 Sept 2006: -- A trucking employer group has called for donations from members to help fight the Transport Workers Union (TWU) extending redundancy provisions to sub-contractors... The New South Wales Road Transport Association (NSWRTA) today called for member donations to fund a legal battle against the TWU’s claim in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC)... The TWU has lodged an application with the IRC of New South Wales to establish contract determination, which would introduce a scale of redundancy payments to sub-contractors, similar to regular employees... The TWU’s Federal Assistant Secretary, Michael Kaine, says the application is about giving owner-drivers and small businesses a level playing field to compete with big operators...

Sales - Belarus - BelAZ supersize mine trucks to bring almost USD176 million in 2006

Minsk,Belarus -National Legal Internet Portal -5 Sept 2006: -- This year BelAZ heavy-duty truck producer plans to earn almost USD176 million in foreign currency by selling high payload capacity trucks. The statement was made on September 5 during a public discussion of BelAZ project nomination for this year’s state award at Belarusian National Technical University... The project is titled “Development and assimilation of mine trucks with extra high payload capacity and electromechanical transmission”...

Production - India - Truck-making made simple

A small-scale truck manufacturer introduces a new range of heavy-duty commercial vehicles

Chennai,India - domain-B, by Venkatachari Jagannathan -5 Sept 2006: -- Thirty one year old Anirudh Bhuwalka, promoter and director, Asia MotorWorks Limited (AMW), Mumbai, over simplifies the truck-making process... He would probably describe the process as "simply zero in on the top manufacturers of engines, gearboxes, axles, clutch, cabins and other components and mount them together on a chassis." ... Bingo! And you have a global truck... Sounds as simple enough as a child making a toy truck out of plastic parts. That is precisely what Bhuwalka is doing at his Bhuj plant... Sourcing mission-critical components — engines from Cummins, clutch from Valeo, axles from Arvin Meritor, gearbox from ZF, cabin from FAW, China — he rolls out trucks with carrying capacities ranging between 25 tons to 49 tons. With a localisation level of around 95 per cent, the company's tag line says AMW-The global truck... In five months, the company will launch a 300hp vehicle. Other models due to be rolled out are the 2518 HL, a 6x2-wheel haulage, the 4018 TR and the 4930 TR...

Infraestructure - Canada - Comprehensive study announced for Que highway extension

OTTAWA,BC,Canada -Today's Trucking -31 Aug 2006: -- An extension to the main trade corridor between Montreal and New England is closer to reality now that Environment Canada has initiated an environmental assessment of the project... The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a comprehensive study is appropriate for the proposed extension of Highway 35 in Quebec... The highway would be extended between Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Philipsburg, Que. at the Vermont border, to complete the highway system in the trade corridor between Montreal and Boston...

Business - China - Iveco's Changjiang stake sold for $1

Shanghai,China -ATN (Australia)/The China Daily -6 Sept 2006: -- Commercial vehicle firm Iveco, a division of Italian industrial group Fiat, has pulled out of a bus joint venture in East China's Jiangsu Province... A source says Iveco had sold its 50 percent stake in the bus venture to the Chinese side, Changjiang Bus Group, based in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, for just US$1... The move will be an advantage for Iveco's truck-making partnership with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) China's top vehicle producer... Iveco agreed formed a joint venture with SAIC last month, investing 120 million euros in a new heavy-duty truck plant in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality...

Hybrid Prototype - USA - Freightliner revs up medium-duty one

PORTLAND,ORE,USA -Today's Trucking -4 Sept 2006: -- Freightliner LLC President and CEO Chris Patterson recently introduced a proof-of-concept prototype utility truck and discussed the company's plans to bring medium-duty hybrid vehicles to the market... The prototype vehicle – a Class 7 Business Class M2 106 -- is an example of how Freightliner can integrate engine, powertrain and other vehicle functions with industry-leading and environmentally responsible technology... The prototype is a full-parallel hybrid, similar to hybrid electric cars, with regenerative braking that recharges the batteries and electric launch functionality. It has an integrated electric motor in line with the engine and transmission, enabling operation with electric or diesel power, either separately or in combination. The truck launches with electric power and the diesel engine provides additional torque as required... (Testing shows that the hybrid achieves significant fuel economy improvements over conventional diesel engines)

Security - USA - New anti-terror program in Illinois will target trucking

Chicago,IL,USA -ABC7Chicago.com -Sept 4, 2006: -- In the continuing fight against terrorism, Illinois state troopers will be taking an extra look at commercial trucks rolling through the state... Next month, the Illinois State Police will launch a 145-thousand-dollar program dubbed "Operation Desert Snow."... The program will train police departments how to conduct detailed roadside interviews, identify suspicious vehicles and detect signs that a vehicle has been altered to create hidden storage compartments...

TRANSPORT NEWS WORLDWIDE

* NAFTA: Surface trade jumps
WASHINGTON,DC,USA -Today's Trucking -31 Ago 2006: -- Surface trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico rose 12.6 percent in June compared to the same month in 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported this week... Surface trade, which makes up about 90 percent of shipments between the three countries, mainly includes freight movement by truck, rail, or pipeline... U.S. imports by truck rose 10 percent from last year $24.4 billion, while truck exports to the U.S.'s NAFTA partners rose 14.2 percent to $23.3 billion...

* Canadá - Contrans buys LTL logistics firm
WOODSTOCK,Ont.,CAN -Today's Trucking -5 Sept 2006: -- Contrans Income Fund, one of Canada's 10 largest for-hire carriers, has completed the acquisition of LTL specialist Cornerstone Logistics Inc. of Oakville, Ont... Cornerstone is a third party logistics provider whose customers require various transportation services within North America, including direct service with no transfers or terminals...

Lawsuit - USA - Freightliner accuses GM of antitrust violations

MI,USA -MLive.com, by Matthew Kish -Sept 04, 2006: -- Freightliner LLC has filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing General Motors Corp. of price discrimination and predatory conduct... While the antitrust lawsuit doesn't seek a specific monetary award, it could cost Detroit-based GM millions. The suit asks for attorney fees and court costs as well as treble damages -- a legal term that means triple the amount of any jury award... The complaint alleges that GM has prevented Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. from gaining a foothold in the market for automatic transmissions for heavy-duty equipment and trucks by forcing contractors like Freightliner to exclusively offer GM transmissions... Contractors that don't are subject to higher pricing by GM, the complaint alleges...

Fees - Canada - USDA to charge truckers new inspection fees

TORONTO,ONT,CAN -Today's Trucking/Canadian Press -5 Sept 2006: -- Canadian trucking companies and airlines are calling a new USDA levy on agricultural shipments nothing more than a cash-grab... The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to tack on new user fees for air passengers and trucking companies to pay for yet another security requirement... The U.S. says it is stepping up agricultural inspections of both travelers and commercial shipments at the Canada-U.S. border to prevent the threat of bioterrorism, pests, and disease...
To pay for the $77 million enforcement plan, people traveling by air from Canada to the U.S. will be charged $5 US, and truckers crossing the border will pay $5.25 US per crossing, or $105 annually...

GreenNews -

Canada - Anti-emissions rule takes effect - Time for Quebec trucks to quit smoking
QUEBEC CITY,Canada -Today's Trucking -4 Sept 2006: -- La Belle Province is truly becoming non-smoking. Cigarette smokers have been forbidden to blow smoke in public areas since May, but now it's truckers' turn to stop fumes from their trucks in the province. This past weekend, Quebec’s road inspectors began giving tickets under the new anti-truck pollution program, Programme d'inspection et d'entretien des véhicules automobiles lourds (PIEVAL)... This heavy-duty vehicle inspection and maintenance program -- which takes effect anywhere in Quebec below the 55 parallel -- was officially launched on June 1st, and enforcement began on Sept. 1st... Truck owners could face fines up to $3000 for not repairing emission control components in QueTargeted by the PIEVAL are the vehicles weighting over 3,000 kg, including trucks, bus, emergency vehicles and municipal vehicles... (Foto: Truck owners could face fines up to $3000 for not repairing emission control components in Que)

* USA - Volvo, Mack engines ready for '07 EPA certification
GREENSBORO,N.C.,USA -Today's Trucking -5 Sept 2006: -- Applications have been filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to certify to 2007 emissions standards the new family of engines manufactured by Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks... Volvo and Mack are subsidiaries of AB Volvo... The applications cover the Volvo D11, D13 and D16 engines -- as well as the Mack MP series -- with emissions control technologies to meet the very strict new standards taking effect on diesel engines manufactured after January 1, 2007...

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30.9.06

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

27.9.06

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

Dark News - USA - Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bill That Could Raise Revenue, Cut Smog

BORDER TRUCKS TROUBLES WORLDWIDE

23.9.06

Stand-Up Right-Hand Drive - USA - Freightliner offering stand-up service for business class trucks

Link Sentry - USA - Volvo Trucks adds service, tracking features to '07 models

Problems - Japan - Nissan Recalls 2,166 Buses, 96 Trucks

GreenNews - Canada - CTA urges feds to consider environment when developing budget

Customs Value - Russia - To introduce unified rate for importing trucks on Jan 1

Production Plans

Market Shares - USA - Paccar initiated with "underweight"

Markets - Germany - Volvo sees '07 global truck market "a bit" softer

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS WORLDWIDE

Scania's size - Germany - Big enough to go it alone, executive says

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

AUTOS' COMMENTS & OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

20.9.06

Production - South Korea - Hyundai Motor to Use Home made Engines for Big Trucks in 2008

Dangerous Drivers - USA - Two semi trucks collide; one killed

Safety ? - USA - Current Federal Regulations Create Danger on Maine's Secondary Thoroughfares.

Petitioning - USA - Carriers join special interest group

Keep on Trucking... - UK - ... Along Nicely ?

Co's News - Germany -

Products - Germany - DaimlerChrysler at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2006 in Hanover

Transportation Fatalities - USA - Safety Board Reports shows: Up in 2005

Co's Story - USA - Akron's Motor Cargo Inc. was a pioneer in U.S. trucking industry

Dangerous Roads - USA - Shifting load, wind overturn truck

GreenNews

Jobs - USA - Schneider National plans on hiring 375 new drivers in Ohio

Celebration - Canada - National Trucking Week

Keep on Trucking - USA - Businesses fear freight will be stuck in traffic

Jobs - USA/Canada - DRIVERS's SHORTAGE

19.9.06

Watch Market - USA

18.9.06

Responsability? - USA - TXI trucks involved in 31 accidents over the last two years

Women Drivers - USA - More hit the road as truckers

Kids on Trucks - USA - Big wheels = big fun for

Covenant - USA - Retracts outlook; to buy trucking firm

Not To Support - Sweden - Scania rejects MAN offer

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS WORLDWIDE

17.9.06

Production - Turkey - Mercedes-Benz has this market Squarely in its Future Plans

Drivers' Demand - Canada - Trucks need to see light

Event: "Driving the Global Economy through China" - USA - Global Thought Leadership Conference in Shanghai

New Port Security Bill - USA - Amendment Firmly Plants Trucking Protections in

Truck science - USA - Volvo's new lab helps cut emissions

16.9.06

Story - USA - Prayers or grief for icon? --

"GreenNews" - Taiwan - Garbage trucks go green in

India - High growth in commercial vehicle sales

Trucking policies encourage speeding, endanger children

Enterprise - UK - Keep on trucking

Trickle down - USA - Trucking company lays off dozens

On Road - USA - Navistar to restated results

AUTOS' COMMENT & OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

FORD - USA - In Troubles

15.9.06

Prognosis - USA - Highways face crushing weight of a million more trucks by 2016

GreenNews - USA - Portland Water Bureau fleet shifting to 99% bio-diesel

Markets - USA - Scania Not Seen As Solution To MAN's Problems

Fight - USA - Proposal aims to combat trucker license fraud

MDOT 'too cozy' - USA - Weight limit increase foes

14.9.06

Study - USA - On-board recorders boost driver morale

Change your behavior - USA - A refresher course on getting better mileage

Markets - Thailand - Hino expanding use of Thai base

Product - USA - GM has high-dollar truck for heavy-duty hauling

Production - China - Volvo AB partner to boost output

Driving Habits - USA - Cat driver shares tips on achieving better fuel mileage

Study - USA - Waking up to sleep apnea dangers