Trucks World News: April 2011

Apr 29, 2011

TRUCKING & MAFIA * Italy - Takes Over Mafia-Run TNT Subcontractors

Justice Ministry to run six firms infiltrated by crime syndicate

Rome,Italy -The Journal of Commerce Online, by Bruce Barnard -Apr 22, 2011: -- Italy's Justice Ministry took over the operation of six TNT Global Express subcontractors that have been infiltrated by a mafia organization... The ministry said it will run the delivery companies in the Lombardy region surrounding Milan for an initial six months as it attempts to dismantle the crime network within TNT... The Justice Ministry launched an investigation into TNT subcontractors after Italian and German police arrested 35 alleged member of the 'Ndrangheta, a crime syndicate based in southern Italy, in March... TNT believed the subcontractors were independent companies, but they were a cover for organized crime. The couriers wore TNT uniforms and drove TNT badged vehicles... The 'Ndrangheta, which is based in the province of Calabria, is estimated to have an income in excess of $50 billion and has spread into northern Italy in recent years... The syndicate controls Gioia Tauro, the southern Italian transshipment port that handles over 3.5 million containers a year, according to a parliamentary report in 2008...

Labels: mafia's trucking

ENGINE MAKERS * USA - Cummins’ 1Q Profit More Than Doubles

Engines Sales Soar 68% on Global Truck Demand

Columbus,IND,USA -TTNews -26 April 2011: -- Engine maker Cummins Inc. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit more than doubled from a year ago as international markets soared... Cummins earned $343 million, or $1.75 per share, up from $149 million, or 75 cents, a year earlier. Sales jumped 56% to $3.9 billion... Non-U.S. markets accounted for 61% of its first-quarter revenue, the company said. Sales rose 66% in China, 31% in India, 39% in Brazil and 40% in Africa and the Middle East... Cummins forecasted $17 billion in sales for 2011, up from $13.23 billion last year... Engine shipments in the global heavy-duty truck market more than tripled year-over-year, while medium-duty truck engine shipments more than doubled, the company said...

Labels: engine makers

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA - Good first quarter for Paccar

Bellevue,WA,USA -Truck & Business (Belgium), by Michel Buckinx -29 April 2011: -- American manufacturer Paccar has announced improved turnover and net profits for the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year. This is explained by increased heavy trucks sales in Europe and North America, and by an improvement in financial services and in the spare parts division. Turnover thus reached 2.3 billion dollars, and net profits 193.3 million dollars. The European share of DAF in the over 15 tonnes segment currently stands at 16%... (Image from Paccar: A Kenworth model Paccar's truck)

* Isuzu offers telematics option

Anaheim,CAL,USA -Fleet Owner -May 3, 2011: -- Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has added Teletrac’s Fleet Director telematics system as either a port or dealer-installed option for its 2011 and 2012 model year N-Series medium-duty trucks... Teletrac said the most recent version of its system, Fleet Director 8.2, not only locates, tracks and monitors the position and operation of fleet vehicles, but also provides flexible “at-a-glance” dashboards and safety scorecards along with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) reporting... All of the analytics are available in real time using data captured by Teletrac and is viewable through any web browser. The data includes speeding miles, severe speeding miles, harsh braking events, harsh acceleration events, and bad cornering events...(Photo from 3.bp.blogspot: Family Isuzu trucks)

* California - Isuzu re-starts production of gasoline-powered medium-duty models

Anaheim,CAL,USA -Fleet Owner -May 4, 2011: -- For the first time in two years, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America is in full production of gasoline-powered N-Series medium-duty trucks at the Spartan Motors factory in Charlotte, MI... The new 2012 N-Gas models are powered by the Vortec 6.0-liter small-block V8 engine that produces 297 horsepower at 4,300 rpm and generates 372 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive and lock-up torque converter for enhanced fuel economy and performance, Isuzu noted. This is an upgrade; previous N-Series gasoline models offered only a four-speed automatic...

* USA - Recall Alert: Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti QX4

(Photo: 2002 Infiniti QX4 Luxury)

Washington,DC,USA -The Car Connection -25 April 2011: -- Nissan is issuing a recall for nearly 200,000 sport-utility vehicles sold in the U.S. under both its Nissan and Infiniti brands... The vehicles affected include 195,991 copies of the 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and the 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4. Only vehicles sold or currently registered in northern-tier states are included in the recall. Those states include: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin--as well as the District of Columbia... In both, the vehicles could be exposed to heavy road salt, which could in turn find its way into the struts. The intrusion can lead to rusting inside the strut tower housing--which may cause cracking and failure, and a loss of steering control...

* Ford Reports Best 1Q Since 1998

Dearborn,MICH,USA -Bloomberg/TTNews -26 April 2011: -- Ford Motor Co.’s first-quarter profit rose 22% to the highest level in 13 years, the company said Tuesday... Net income rose to $2.55 billion, from $2.09 billion a year ago, the No. 2 U.S. automaker said in a statement. Sales rose 4.7% to $33.1 billion, following last year’s sale of Volvo cars... CEO Alan Mulally put the company’s focus on fuel economy and raised U.S. prices twice this year as the cost of gasoline has risen 26%. Consumers paid $900 million more worldwide for Ford’s vehicles in the quarter than a year ago... Ford “introduced new cargo truck in Brazil, representing our commitment to competitiveness in a critical segment in South America” and said it “expects U.S. full-year industry volume will be in the range of 13 million to 13.5 million units and, for the 19 markets Ford tracks in Europe, in the range of 14.5 million to 15.5 million units, including medium and heavy trucks” ...

* DC - NHTSA Probing GM over Faulty Gas Gauges

Washington,DC,USA -Detroit Free Press - April 30, 2011: -- NHTSA opened investigation into whether nearly 1M GM vehicles may have faulty gas gauges. Agency estimates 865K vehicles could be affected... NHTSA investigators said, "Consumers have reported incidents of inaccurate and random fuel level reading while driving, resulting in the vehicle running out of fuel and causing vehicle stall with no restart" ... Received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving.
Model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7x... Of complaints, 58 involved stalls, and 43 driver specifically reported fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability... NHTSA said at least 1 crash allegedly took place when vehicle ran out of gas...

Labels: truckmakers news USA, trucks' recalls

Apr 28, 2011

GREEN NEWS * France - Considers city centre car bans

Paris,France --Fleet Europe, by Tim Harrup -6 April 2011: -- The French Ecology Minister is to put forward a proposal which would see certain high polluting vehicles banned from eight of the largest city centres in France. According to calculations made by ‘Le Parisien’, some 10 million vehicles currently on the roads could be affected. Both heavy goods vehicles and passenger cars will fall under any new legislation, along with certain motor-bikes. The cars in question are over 13 years old and are too old to be fitted with particulate filters. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and five other cities have decided to create priority zones for air quality, known as ‘Zapa’... The minister points out that France risks a record fine for non-conformity with EU regulations in the domain of air quality. The testing of the scheme will begin by 2012 and last three years, before being potentially rolled out into other cities...

Labels: green news

BATTERY * Germany - Standardisation on the way?

Berlin,Germany -Fleet Europe, by Tim Harrup -14 April 2011: -- The German Automobile Industry Association (VDA), Hans-Georg Frischkorn, spoke about the future of electric vehicles, and in particular batteries. He said that at the moment, the desire was to arrive at standardisation for lithium-ion batteries, but that future new standards for new types of batteries was a possibility. He went on to point out that he proposed standard will define cell dimensions and not requirements for technical features (material usage) or technological features (energy density, lifetime cycle or charge and discharge rates). The main benefit would be in cost, he believed, as the battery represents such a major proportion of the cost of an electric vehicle. He also said that standardisation would lead to clearer competition between battery suppliers...

Labels: battery

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA & Canada - Deadline nears for YRC Worldwide to avoid bankruptcy

The trucking company has until the end of July to complete a deal

Overland Park,KN,USA -The Dayton Business Journal -April 23, 2011: -- YRC Worldwide Inc. said it is making progress in negotiations as an April 29 deadline to finalize a deal to restructure its finances and avoid bankruptcy nears... With the deadline coming next week for YRC, the trucking company said in a news release Friday that it has made "significant progress" in its efforts to restructure its finances although there were few details... YRC warned investors last month it may seek bankruptcy protection after missing a key milestone in its restructuring efforts... In Friday's news release, John Lamar, YRC’s chief restructuring officer, said the company has been working with its secured lenders, pension funds and the negotiating arm of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on a deal, reached "in principle" in February, that would inject new capital and reduce the company's existing debt...

* YRC Worldwide Reaches Restructuring Agreement

Overland Park, KN,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -Apr 30, 2011: ... New debt restructuring agreements YRC Worldwide reached with lenders and pension funds will allow the carrier to meet a key deadline in its bid to avoid bankruptcy... The company announced late Friday more than 95 percent of its lenders approved the restructuring plans, along with all of its multi-employer pension funds... The agreement includes an exchange offer that will give the company’s lenders approximately 72.5 percent of the carrier’s common stock after the restructuring is complete... The company’s existing shareholders would retain approximately 2.5 percent of the company’s outstanding common stock, subject to further dilution by a management incentive plan and the conversion of certain new securities, the company said... The agreements signed Friday also anticipate $100 million in new capital through additional stock sales, and increased liquidity from a new asset-based loan facility. The restructuring agreements are scheduled to be in place by July 22... The agreements cleared a potential obstacle to financial restructuring at the nation’s largest pure trucking operator, which has lost more than $2.5 billion since 2006... Teamster multi-employer pension plans in March said they wanted a higher interest rate on deferred pension obligations owed by YRC Worldwide...

* Carriers going without brokers

New York,NY,USA -Fleet Owner, by Wendy Leavitt -Apr 25, 2011: -- According to several recent studies, carriers are reducing their reliance on brokers to fill their trucks as freight demand continues to exceed trucking capacity... In its First Quarter Business Expectations Survey, Transport Capital Partners, LLC (TCP) reported that 87% of the carriers polled said they have used broker services less during the past three months, with 40% noting that broker freight services account for less than 5% of their revenues and another 35% of respondents adding that only 6% to 15% of their revenues come from brokers... Other surveys note that the profit margins for brokers are also in decline as capacity continues to be in short supply... As an indicator of truckload demand and capacity on the spot market, load-to-truck ratios on TransCore’s DAT network increased to an average of 5.5 loads per available truck listed in 2010, up from just 1.8 loads per truck in 2009. This was due primarily to a year-on-year increase of 133% in truckload freight availability, coupled with a 27% decline in capacity, the firm said...

* EZE Trucking Acquires Patterson Motor Freight

Rialto,CA,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -May 2, 2011: -- Heavy haulers to merge, expanding EZE's capacity, reach in Western U.S... Transportation acquisition activity reached the heavy haul trucking industry with EZE Trucking's purchase of Bakersfield, Calif.-based Patterson Motor Freight... Terms of the deal were not disclosed... The combined companies will operate in five states. A logistics operation will broker freight throughout the U.S. and across the border into Canada and Mexico... (Photo from ezetrucking: Heavy haul oversize)

* Canada - TransForce takes over domestic operations of DHL Express Canada

Montreal,QUE,Canada -Truck News -29 April 2011: -- TransForce and DHL Express Canada have announced a 10-year strategic alliance that will see the two companies integrate their domestic and international shipping and logistics offerings... TransForce will purchase the assets of DHL Express Canada's domestic business and will take over its domestic operations through Loomis Express, a newly formed subsidiary of TransForce, the companies announced... DHL Express Canada will focus exclusively on the Canadian international shipping segment. Under the agreement, the companies claim Loomis Express and DHL Express Canada will offer Canadian businesses a fully integrated international and domestic suite of shipping and logistics services... (Photo from hankstruckpicture: A Transforce Ganeca Peterbilt 387 that came down from Canada)

* Canada - Titanium Trucking Services buys Flex-Mor Industries

Oakville,ONT,CAN -Truck News -4 Mat 2011: -- Spara Capital Partners, an Oakville-based investment and merchant banking firm, has announced the acquisition of carrier Flex-Mor Industries by Woodbridge-based trucking company Titanium Trucking Services... Acting on behalf of Titanium, an asset-based trucking company with a freight brokering division, Spara was charged with finding a suitable acquisition to complement Titanium's growth strategy. The Flex-Mor transaction will expand Titanium's fleet to more than 90 trucks and more than 400 trailers with larger service capability...

* Canada - Mullen Group to acquire Hi-Way 9

Okotoks,Alberta,Canada -Truck News -4 May 2011: -- Mullen Group has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Drumheller, Alta.-based LTL carrier Hi-Way 9 and its subsidiaries... The deal includes Hi-Way 9 Express, Load-Way, Streamline Logistics and 1006213 Alberta Ltd... Hi-Way 9 is a privately held, family-owned LTL carrier that's been in business since 1969 and is a fixture on the Alberta trucking landscape...

Labels: trucking industry news USA and CAN

TIRES * Europe - Study: 71% of european drivers need more air in their tires

(The Bridgestone study checked 38,000 cars in 9 European countries)

London,EN,UK -Gizmag, by Bridget Borgobello -April 27, 2011: ... a very effective way to reduce fuel consumption and cut emissions is right in front of us – air. A study recent study by tire manufacturer Bridgestone suggests that it's not only easy to forget, most of us do forget. The company checked 38,000 cars in 9 European countries during 2010 with results showing that 71% of the drivers were driving on under-inflated tires... Bridgestone equates the 71% figure to wasting €2.8 billion per year (2 billion liters) due to improper tire usage. And the environmental impact – 4.8 million tons of additional and preventable carbon emissions per year or 1.8g/km for every car on the road... Low tire inflation means poor tire rolling resistance, which is a major factor in how much fuel a car uses. Bridgestone estimates that taking into account road and weather conditions, tire rolling resistance represents 18% to 26% of the total force on a car. Low tire pressure also impacts on safety by reducing a vehicles' handling ability, increasing drifting and making tires wear out faster... Other key findings of the study include:

• 7.5% of vehicles checked were using seriously under inflated tires (0.5 % severely under inflated)

• 1 out of 14 motorists are putting their safety at risk due to seriously under-inflated tires and/or worn out tires

• 2% of the tires checked have 30% reduced mileage due to under inflation

• 11.7% of tires checked had a tread depth below the legal level of 1.6 mm

• 12.2 million tires are lost because of premature wear

• 7.5% of checked drivers face significantly higher fuel consumption because of low inflation pressure.

* France - Michelin’s Sales Jump 28% on Higher Truck Demand

Paris,France-Bloomberg/TTNews -22 April 2011: -- Tire maker Michelin & Cie. said its first-quarter revenue rose 28%, led by surging demand in truck tires and a general economic rebound... Sales rose to 5.05 billion euros ($7.36 billion) from 3.94 billion euros a year earlier, France-based Michelin said in a statement... It forecast a full-year volume gain of at least 6.5% as the economic recovery boosts sales to European trucking operators... The company said tire price increases, announced or already implemented, will offset about 80 percent of the estimated full- year costs through higher raw material costs... (Image from Michelin)

Labels: study tires

TRUCKING INDUSTRY NEWS * UK - Goodyear Dunlop chooses Mercedes-Benz

Birmingham ,Midlands,UK -HGV UK -April 22, 2011: -- Tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop made tracks straight to Mercedes-Benz when it needed a new fleet of vans... The 20 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIs are based across TruckForce’s 15 operating centres, which act as hubs for some 100 satellite depots across England and Wales... The Sprinters are fitted with engine-driven PTOs which power on-board compressors, as well as Hope Safe-T-bar rear safety bumpers and roof-mounted flashing beacons. They have replaced a fleet of similar-sized vehicles by another manufacturer...

Labels: truckmakers news UK, tyre makers

TRUCKERS' SAFETY * Switzerland - New truck driver safety checklists

Geneve,Switzerland -HGV UK -April 19, 2011: -- The International Road Transport Union (IRU) in conjunction with the International Union of Professional Drivers (UICR) have produced two new professional truck driver-safety checklists, on the topics of ‘Vehicle Safety’ and ‘First Aid’... These checklists aim to best equip drivers with sufficient knowledge to avoid accidents on the roads and be prepared in emergency situations to save lives... These checklists are available free of charge for download through the IRU’s bookshop in English, French, and German... The checklists can be downloaded at IRU blog, by clicking here...

* USA - Study claims traffic violations raise risk of future crash

Arlington,VA,USA -Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr -Apr 21, 2011: -- A new study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is finding a high degree of correlation between the number and type of traffic convictions received by commercial truck drivers and their risk of being involved in a crash down the road... ATRI’s study examined data on 582,772 U.S. truck drivers between 2007 and 2009 and found a dozen specific behaviors and convictions that, in aggregate, raise a driver’s risk of being involved in a truck crash by more than 50%... Broken down individually, the group’s analysis discerned that a “failure to use/improper signal” conviction increased likelihood of a future crash by 96%. Ten additional convictions were also significant crash predictors; of these, eight had an associated crash likelihood increase between 56% and 84%, while two registered between 36% and 40%... In relation to driver violations, an improper passing violation had the strongest association with crash involvement, ATRI noted. Drivers with this violation were 88% more likely than their peers to be involved in a crash. Seven additional violations had significant crash associations, with five ranging in magnitude between 38% and 45%, and a further two ranking between 18% and 21%... Finally, the results indicated that drivers who had a past crash also had an 88% increase in the likelihood of a future crash, ATRI’s research noted...

* USA - Keeping Eyes on Distracted Driving’s Toll

New York,NY,USA -The New York Times, by JANE E. BRODY -April 11, 2011: -- While driving a car, have you ever:

• Reprogrammed your GPS device?

• Retrieved something you or a child dropped?

• Searched for a particular CD?

• Put on makeup or shaved?

• Struggled to open a package of nuts or chips?

Perhaps you never have texted or talked on a cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. But if you engaged in any of the above activities, you are just as guilty of distracted driving as if you had...

Labels: truckers' safety

TRAILER MAKERS * Europe - East European trailer market on rebound

Brussels,Belgium -Fleet Owner, by Brian Straight -Apr 21, 2011: -- A new report suggests that the recovery in the East European trailer market is underway, with 28.1% growth in heavy trailer demand in 2010 alone. Report prepared by the consulting firm Clear, is predicting 2011 growth to exceed 20%... In spite of that growth, though, four countries – Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, and Russia – all saw declines... The indications of growth are a positive sign for the market, which saw a 61% drop in 2009. That followed a drop of 11% in 2008. Clear is forecasting it will take until 2014 for the market to reach the levels it saw in 2006, which was just short of 90,000 units... Trailer demand grew rapidly following 2004 when many East European countries joined the European Union. Compound annual growth from 2002 to 2007 was 25.7% with more than 100,000 trailers in 2007... (Photo from roadtransport: Kögel is building trailers in Poland)

* UK - SDC Trailers launches skeletals for container market

Toomebridge,Co. Antrim,Northern Ireland,UK -Road Transport, by Kevin Swallow -28 April 2011: -- Body and trailer manufacturer SDC Trailers has launched two skeletal trailers for the container market... The manufacturer used Multimodel 2011 to exhibit a low-ride extendable trailer, capable of housing an independent generator and designed to carry ISO reefer containers. The trailer is one of 16 delivered to David Nestor Freight Service... The second skeletal trailer is a splitter container trailer designed to transport two 20ft boxes. It has a 24-tonne front section capacity and air-operated chassis lock pins... (Photo from sdctrailers: Blue Skeletal Trailer)

* Germany - Schmitz Cargobull and Dongfeng sign joint venture

Bahnhofstraße,Horstmar,Germany -Road Transport, by Kevin Swallow -22 April 2011: -- German trailer builder Schmitz Cargobull has signed a letter of intent with Chinese motor manufacturer Dongfeng to establish a joint venture to build semi-trailers in China... Schmitz Cargobull board member Andreas Schmitz says the company sees a great opportunity in the growing transport market of China...

Labels: trailer makers news worldwide

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * Europe - Truck sales jump as industry profits surge

Berlin,Germany/Stockholm,Sweden -M & C, by Andrew McCathie and Lennart Simonsson -Apr 27, 2011: -- The recovery in Europe's new commercial vehicle market is gaining ground with year-on-year registrations bounding ahead by 9.7 per cent in March and two leading truck makers on Wednesday reporting a surge in profits... Releasing its latest commercial vehicle data, the Brussels-based European automobile association (ACEA) said first quarter new registrations raced ahead by 14.7 per cent to 499,456 units, compared with the same period last year... The ACEA data showed commercial vehicle registrations in the region's biggest markets rising strongly during the first quarter. This included a 30.9-per-cent rise in Germany, a 30-per-cent increase in Britain and a 11.6-per-cent gain in France... The increases were more marked in the Baltics, with total new commercial vehicle registrations soaring by a staggering 321.6 per cent and by 302.8 per cent during the first three months of the year. Sales were up 112 per cent in Estonia... While registrations in Greece plunged by 56 per cent, Portugal recorded a 9.2-per-cent drop and Ireland, a 1.1-per-cent decline. All three nations have moved to tap the European Union-lead bailout fund to help their meet their debt commitments...(Photo from blog.mercadovial: A Scania truck)

* China - DAF exhibits at Shanghai auto show

Shanghai,China -HGV UK -April 26, 2011: -- PACCAR is showcasing its premium DAF product line at the Auto Shanghai exhibition, the world’s largest international automotive show... The DAF vehicles on display include the LF series for urban distribution applications, the versatile CF series for regional and vocational applications and the flagship XF105 for longer haulage. All DAF vehicles are equipped with PACCAR engines. PACCAR’s engines have been honored with the “Bus Engine of the Year” award at Busworld Asia for five consecutive years...

* Germany - Daimler and Bosch to establish joint venture for electric motors

Stuttgart,Germany -Fleet Europe, by Steven Schoefs -12 April 2011: -- German car manufacturer Daimler and automotive & technology specialist Bosch plan to cooperate in the development and production of electric motors for all-electric vehicles in Europe. The companies have signed a letter of intent and begun negotiations to establish a new 50:50 joint venture. Both companies aim, by bundling their competencies, to accelerate development advances in electric motors as well as to make accordant synergies accessible. According to their letter of intent, joint production should start in 2012. It is envisioned that the electric motors developed will be used in Mercedes-Benz and smart electric vehicles from 2012... (Photo from Guide to Green Rides: Plug-In Hybrid Pickup Truck Concept)

Labels: truckmakers news worldwide

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA - Truck Maker Paccar Profit Nearly Triples

Net income rises 183 percent to $193.3 million on 47 percent increase in sales

Bellevue,WA,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -Apr 20, 2011: -- Strong heavy-duty truck sales drove first-quarter revenue up 47 percent to $3.28 billion at Paccar. Excluding financial services, net sales were up 53 percent... The manufacturer's net profit soared 183 percent, rising from $68.3 million a year ago to $193.3 million. Higher utilization of truck facilities increased gross margins... Paccar builds and sells Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in the U.S. and DAF trucks in Europe. The truck brands are sold in other overseas markets as well...

* USA - Recall Alert: 2011 Toyota Tundra Pickup

(Photo: 2011 Toyota Tundra Angular Front Exterior View)

Torrance,CA,USA -The Car Connection -26 April 2011: -- Toyota is announcing a voluntary safety recall for certain 2011 Tundra pickups, based on a rear driveshaft production lot number... At issue is a slip yoke that may have been improperly cast during the manufacturing process, and Toyota is aware of just one failure to date in a customer owned vehicle. No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this condition, and no other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are impacted by the recall... Toyota says while approximately 51,000 Tundra pickups will be recalled, less than five one-hundredths of a percent are expected to have the potentially defective part....

Labels: truckmakers news USA

TRUCKERS' STRIKE * China - Clashes erupt in Shanghai as truck drivers strike near port

China said in early April it would increase retail gasoline and diesel prices by 5-5.5 percent to record highs

(Photo by Carlos Barria/REUTERS: Truck drivers stand at an area used to park their container trucks near a port in Shanghai, April 21, 2011)

Shanghai,SH,China -Reuters, by Royston Chan and Carlos Barria -Apr 21, 2011: -- A two-day strike over rising fuel prices turned violent in Shanghai on Thursday as thousands of truck drivers clashed with police, drivers said, in the latest example of simmering discontent over inflation...

(Photo by Stringer/REUTERS: Policemen take away a truck driver and his wife holding their child, near a port in Shanghai, April 21, 2011)

About 2,000 truck drivers battled baton-wielding police at an intersection near Waigaoqiao port, Shanghai's biggest, two drivers who were at the protest told Reuters...

(Photo by Carlos Barria/REUTERS: People walk along an unfinished road being used by truck drivers to park their container trucks near a port in Shanghai, April 21, 2011)

The drivers, who blocked roads with their trucks, had stopped work on Wednesday demanding the government do something about rising fuel costs, workers said... China's state media has been silent on the protest, underscoring the sensitivity of unrest for the ruling Communist Party, which normally stamps out protests fearing a threat to stability... Last May, a burst of labour disputes disrupted production for many foreign automakers including Toyota and Honda, which laid bare the rising demands of China's 150 million migrant workers and raised questions about the region's future as a low-cost manufacturing base...

* Striking Shanghai truckers return to work

(Photo: Trucks loaded with containers could be seen flowing out of the Waigaoqiao cargo terminal on Monday)

Shanghai,SH,China -AFP -26 April 2011: -- Shanghai truckers said Monday they have halted a strike over high fuel costs after authorities met their demands amid fears of wider inflation-related unrest... The Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority published a set of proposals late Friday in response to the strikers' demands, abolishing or reducing various fees incurred by drivers. Authorities would cancel some container yard fees and reduce select toll charges by about 10 percent... Wang said drivers resumed work because they were satisfied with the government's offer... China's government is on edge over spiralling prices, particularly after inflation became a factor in the popular uprisings that have rocked the Arab world... The government has raised petrol and diesel prices three times since December...

Labels: strikes and protests, strikes worldwide

Apr 20, 2011

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS * WORLDWIDE

Briefing Weekly News

* APM Terminals acquires majority stake in eastern Black Sea port

- APM Terminals has acquired an 80% share in Poti Sea Port on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Read full news here

* ICTSI takes over Croatian terminal

- International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) has officially taken over operations at the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT). Read full news here

* Damco opens mega warehouse in Vietnam

- Damco has officially opened a new 26,000 m² distribution centre in Binh Duong to support its growth in both its international and domestic volumes. Read full news here

* Lufthansa Cargo launches flights to Bangladesh

- Lufthansa Cargo is expanding its route network in Asia with the launch of its first flights to Bangladesh. Read full news here

* New / upgraded ocean services

- Evergreen, Wan Hai and Interasia Lines launch a Taiwan-Madras Trunk service; Swire Shipping upgrades it South East Asia service. Read full news here

* Seafast Celsius expands in Felixstowe; partners with Solstor UK

- Seafast Holdings' subsidiary Seafast Celsius has just completed a phase of expansion at its Felixstowe Port-based temperature-controlled facility, which sees its capacity almost double in size. Read full news here

* MOL and Hafnia to jointly operate new LR1 pool

- On May 1st, Straits Tankers - a strategic joint venture set up in Singapore by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Hafnia Management, will be ready to market 25 coated LR1's, entered into the Straits Tankers LR1 Pool. Read full news here

* Panalpina strengthens cold chain to support healthcare sector

- Swedish cool-chain logistics specialist Envirotainer has confirmed Panalpina's accreditation of twenty additional stations as Qualified Envirotainer Providers (QEP), making the company one of the world's biggest QEPs for active cooling solutions. Read Full news here

* FS Mackenzie launches Western Europe – Iraq trailer service

- Following lengthy trials, FS Mackenzie has launched guaranteed twice-weekly express road trailer services between Western Europe and Iraq. Read full news here

* OOCL launches North Europe – East Med / Indian Subcontinent service

- OOCL will begin a new service from the UK and Ireland to the Eastern Mediterranean and Indian Subcontinent on May 2nd. Read full news here

* Qatar Airways expands freighter routes

- Qatar Airways Cargo is expanding its dedicated freighter routes with new services to Hanoi, Kozhikode and Bengaluru, and has confirmed an order for three more Boeing 777 Freighters. Read full news here

* Two contracts approved for Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal improvements

- The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority has awarded a US$33.2 million contract for the construction of the Phase 3 entry and exit gate at the Bayport Terminal. Read full news here

* Kuehne + Nagel reports strong Q1 results

- Kuehne + Nagel maintained its growth momentum in the first three months of 2011 and gained market share in all business units. Read full news here

* Free GPS tracking software for small fleets

- GpsGate has released GpsGate Server with five free user licences without time limitation, which will enable small companies to run GpsGate Server without licence costs. Read full news here

* CEVA reunites London Marathon runners with their bags

- CEVA Logistics played a part in the smooth running of the 31st London Marathon, taking care of and reuniting 35,000 runners with their personal effects. Read full news here

* Kuehne + Nagel commissions QC facility Shanghai

- With the commissioning of a quality control centre in Shanghai, Kuehne + Nagel China has further expanded its range of value-added services and is among the first logistics companies to provide in-house quality control services in the city. Read full news here

* Study measures truck turnaround times at Port of LA/LB

- PierPass and Ability/Tri-Modal Transportation Services have released the results of a study that used GPS tracking installed in 250 trucks to measure truck queuing and terminal visit times at the Port of Los Angeles & Long Beach. Read full news here

* FedEx introduces Boeing 777F service in India

- FedEx Express has launched a new intercontinental flight route that will provide significant service improvements for customers shipping between the US, Middle East, India and Europe. Read full news here

* Wincanton secures 3-year contract with Comet

- Wincanton has been appointed Comet's sole UK warehouse and distribution partner, with a new three-year contract renewal and expansion. Read full news here

* GAC and Ultramar Logistics team up in Latin America

- GAC Energy & Marine Services (GEMS) and Ultramar Logistics (U-LOG) have joined forces to offer integrated logistics solutions to the oil & gas and mining sectors in Latin America. Read full news here

* JV plans new facility near Heathrow

- Heathrow Cargo Handling (HCH) has taken a lease for a new warehouse facility near Heathrow Airport. Read full news here

* ECS Group expands in Vietnam

- ECS Group is continuing the expansion of its global network with the opening of new offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam under the name of Globe Air Cargo Vietnam. Read full news here

* GEFCO UK launches new EuroDailyService

- GEFCO UK has launched a new daily departure and delivery service from the UK to fifteen countries across Europe, with enhanced journey times and cost efficiencies for its customers. Read full news here

* DHL launches direct LCL services between El Salvador with Asia Pacific

- DHL has launched new direct LCL services that connect San Salvador in El Salvador with Hong Kong and other major markets in North and South Asia Pacific. Read full news here

* New ships for Hanjin and General Maritime

- Hanjin Shipping has received two more 8,600 TEU class containerships, and General Maritime Corporation has completed its acquisition of seven modern tankers. Read full news here

Labels: transport and logistics news

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