Articles

NCTA Maintenance Council Hosts CSA Seminar and Training Program

The NCTA Maintenance Council is sponsoring a Fleet Talk Seminar at 9:00AM, Tuesday April 26 at Covington Power Services, 8015 Piedmont Triad Parkway in Greensboro, NC.

The subject of the program will be CSA In Real Time – Strategies and Best Practices and include discussions on the new CSA Regulations and strategies to help fleet owners operate safely and efficiently.

In addition, North Carolina DMV personnel will conduct an Inspection Clinic and give participants the opportunity to get hands on experience with vehicle inspection procedures.

ArvinMeritor, Inc. Changes Its Name to Meritor, Inc. Announces “MTOR” as NYSE Ticker Symbol 

TROY, Mich., (March 30, 2011) – ArvinMeritor, Inc. has officially changed its name to Meritor, Inc. As a result, Meritor’s ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange is MTOR (NYSE: MTOR), effective at the start of trading today.

With the divestitures of its light vehicle businesses now completed, the company is focused on commercial vehicle and industrial markets in every major region of the world. “Changing the company’s name back to Meritor gives us the opportunity to leverage the strength of the brand and build on it as we go forward,” said Chip McClure, chairman, CEO and president.

 The company initially assumed the name Meritor following the spin-off from Rockwell International Corp. in 1997. It remained Meritor until the merger with Arvin Industries in 2000. Since that time, the company has marketed and sold product under the Meritor brand.

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Central Piedmont Community College Partners with Carolina CAT to Create Service Technician Program

Carolina CAT gives $20,000 in funding to support student scholarships for program; courses designed to prepare students for careers in the heavy equipment industry

Open House Scheduled for April 2

The heavy equipment industry is anticipating significant growth over the next few years. To meet the expected demand for these high-tech and hands-on careers, Central Piedmont Community College’s (CPCC) Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology (HEATT) Department announced today that it is partnering with Carolina Tractor, the Caterpillar dealer for Western North Carolina, to establish the Carolina CAT Service Technician Program at the College’s North Campus in Huntersville, N.C. To show its support of the program, Carolina CAT presented CPCC with a check for $20,000 to provide student scholarships for the program.

“This new 12-month program will blend Carolina Tractor’s industry techniques with CPCC’s state-of-the-art facilities to create a unique learning experience for students,” said Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of CPCC, at the joint press conference event. “Upon completion of the program, students will earn a curriculum diploma and be prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level service technician in just 12 months.”

Program features include:

·       Courses focused on heavy equipment sold and serviced by Carolina Tractor.

·       Hands-on activities, including training on Caterpillar and allied equipment.

·       Classes led by CPCC’s quality faculty and Caterpillar technical trainers.

·       An eight-week Cooperative Education Experience with Carolina CAT.

·       A convenient location (classes will be offered at CPCC’s North Campus).

“We’re excited about this new partnership with CPCC,” said Ed Weisiger, Jr., president and CEO for Carolina CAT. “Not only will students learn industry-leading techniques from our highly qualified trainers, but they will also be given the opportunity to participate in an eight-week Cooperative Education Experience with Carolina Tractor that will give them the real world experience they need to be successful in the heavy equipment industry.”

CPCC and Carolina CAT will hold an open house this Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the College’s North Campus for those who may be interested in the new program.

The College’s new Carolina CAT Service Technician Program begins August 2011. Individuals interested in beginning the application process may visit www.cpcc.edu and use keywords “heavy equipment.”

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.

Clean Energy Signs Agreement for Atlanta Area CNG Fueling Stations

ATLANTA (March 28, 2011) – PS Energy Group, Inc. is pumping up the supply of a cleaner, cheaper alternative fuel for fleets and vehicles by working with Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the company founded by Boone Pickens.

Clean Energy has signed a 15-year agreement to develop and operate compressed natural gas (CNG) facilities at PS Energy Group’s metro Atlanta fueling stations or Unattended Fuel Outlets (UFO). Clean Energy will increase dispensing capacity of CNG at the Whitehall Street site in downtown Atlanta and add CNG facilities at the East Point, Lithonia and Tucker, Ga. locations. By fall 2011, fleets and individuals with CNG vehicles will be able to fill up at any time at any of these computerized fueling stations.

“By expanding the availability of compressed natural gas at PS Energy Group’s fueling stations, we encourage individuals and fleets to reduce their petroleum consumption and impact on the environment by switching to cleaner, alternative fuels,” said Livia Whisenhunt, president, CEO and founder of PS Energy Group.

This project is part of the $39.5 million Clean Cities Atlanta Petroleum Reduction Program, a local public/private partnership co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Clean Cities Initiative to support clean fuels, vehicles and infrastructure development to improve fuel economy and air quality in metro Atlanta. Clean Cities supports local decisions to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector through the use of alternative fuels, advanced technology vehicles and fuel economy measures.

“Clean Energy is working with PS Energy Group to respond to the growing demand for CNG by fleets powered by clean-burning, natural gas,” said James Harger, chief marketing officer of Clean Energy. Construction is projected to begin in second quarter 2011 at PS Energy Group’s fueling stations.

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Volvo Trucks Starts Selling Heavy Hybrid Trucks

As part of the Volvo Group’s focus on hybrid vehicles, Volvo Trucks is now commencing sales of heavy hybrid trucks, under the name Volvo FE Hybrid, to customers in selected European markets. The hybrid trucks permit fuel savings of up to 30 percent and will be used primarily in distribution and refuse operations in an urban environment.

"Our new Volvo FE Hybrid is a fantastic high-tech truck, which has already created a large amount of interest. It's clear that there is a great demand for heavy hybrids," says Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks' Europe Division.

The application of hybrid technology is best suited to densely populated areas, which involve the highest incidence of vehicle starts and stops. Volvo FE Hybrid is referred to as a parallel hybrid, which is a technology entailing that energy from the diesel engine and electric motor is used either simultaneously or independently of each other. The technology switches automatically between the two power sources. Volvo's hybrid technology has also been developed to maximize recycling of energy generated from braking. No extra charging from external sources is required. Electric power also cuts noise levels. 

"The hybrid truck whispers its way around the streets, which improves the environment for the residents and, of course, for the people who operate the vehicle every day. During acceleration, the noise level is half that of a conventional diesel truck," says Claes Nilsson.

FMCSA Extends EOBR Comment Period

 The Department of Transportation is giving the public more time to comment on a proposal that would require electronic onboard recorders in most heavy trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended to May 23 the comment period on its proposed onboard electronic recorder mandate.

FMCSA had originally set an April 4 deadline for comments to its proposal released in late January that would expand an EOBR mandate to about 500,000 carriers, from an estimated 5,700 under an earlier plan.

Truckload Carriers Association Supports Electronic Logging Devices

3/14/2011, San Diego, California:

The Board of Directors of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) voted to support legislation and regulations that would mandate the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs). The Board approved the new TCA policy on March 13, 2011, at the association’s Annual Convention in San Diego, California. This new policy is consistent with the industry’s commitment to cooperative measures for ensuring compliance with hours of service regulations. 

ELDs are used by motor carriers to ensure compliance and reduce paperwork inefficiencies. Their installation is the target of a recent proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. While TCA now supports the mandatory use of such devices, the association’s new policy specifies several areas for consideration in the development of laws or regulations that would mandate them.

“We believe that this new policy is reflective of today’s operating environment,” said TCA President Chris Burruss. “The Board of Directors thought it was important that our members lead on this issue.”

PlugShare App Now Available for iPhone and iPod Touch

Community-Driven Electric Vehicle Charging Network to Accelerate EV Adoption

PALO ALTO, Calif. /PRNewswire/ -- Xatori Inc., an electric vehicle software company, today announced that the PlugShare App is now available for iPhone and iPod touch in the iTunes App Store. The application is free and available for download here.

PlugShare is a community-driven electric vehicle (EV) charging network that allows iPhone and iPod touch owners in the United States to share their outlets with one another. PlugShare users can choose to share 240v J1772 plugs (compatible with the latest generation of EVs, such as the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt) or standard 120v outlets. PlugShare also includes an up-to-date listing of public charging stations.

With the PlugShare App, users can:

·     Share electricity with others

·     Browse a listing of public charging stations

·     View profiles of other PlugShare members

·     Call or text other PlugShare members

·     Search for places to charge

·     Connect with other EV owners and enthusiasts

·     Set privacy and notification settings

·     Get directions to shared outlets or charging stations

Users can freely browse the map of PlugShare members and charging stations, but must create a PlugShare account to view address and profile information. Users do not need a special outlet or an electric vehicle to sign up.

By crowd-sourcing the EV charging infrastructure problem, PlugShare will reduce "range anxiety" or the possibility of running out of power; a common concern associated with EV ownership. PlugShare also offers a direct communication channel for EV owners and enthusiasts interested in accelerating EV adoption and ushering in the new era of oil-free transportation.

"Many people won't have EVs right away, but everyone has an electrical outlet," said Forrest North, CEO. "Sharing electricity from a standard outlet only costs about $0.15 an hour, a small price to lessen our dependence on oil."

For more information please visit the website at www.plugshare.com or follow PlugShare on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plugshare.

TravelCenters of America Launches TruckSmart™ i-Phone Application

More features and functions reflect the full service advantage of TA and Petro.

WESTLAKE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) announced it has launched a new smart phone application called TruckSmart™.

With TruckSmart™, professional drivers can access:

·       an interactive map displaying all TA and Petro locations;

·       a location list by radius of current location in addition to a State by State site location lookup;

·       current posted fuel prices;

·       available showers, both in total and the number available currently at any location;

·       turn by turn directions to any location;.

·       current location weather conditions;

·       estimate (generally within last two hours) of available truck parking spaces by location;.

·       a complete amenities and services list by location;

·       current special offers at TA and Petro restaurants, travel store and truck maintenance centers;

·       a link to the RoadSquad® national network of roadside assistance services.

FMCSA Reaches Settlement Agreement in National Association of Small Trucking Companies Litigation on the Compliance Safety Accountability Program

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced it has reached a settlement agreement with three trucking associations that will end litigation over information published on the website of FMCSA’s motor carrier enforcement program, Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA).

"CSA is a safety-critical program that helps to reduce commercial motor vehicle-related crashes and save lives,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Through this settlement agreement, we addressed the concerns raised by petitioners without compromising the CSA program and its safety benefits.”

The National Association of Small Trucking Companies, Inc. (NASTC), the Expedite Alliance of North America (TEANA) and the Air & Expedited Motor Carriers Association (AEMCA) filed suit on Nov. 29, 2010 challenging FMCSA’s CSA program. Under the agreement, FMCSA will make changes to CSA’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) public website to address concerns regarding the display of information on a commercial motor carriers’ safety performance.

CPCC and Carolina CAT Launch Service Technician Program

Partnership creates diploma program for an in-demand career

To meet the demand for qualified technical personnel to support the significant growth the heavy equipment industry is expecting in the next few years, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in Charlotte, NC and Carolina CAT, the Caterpillar dealer for Western North Carolina are launching a new partnership program.

The Carolina CAT Service Technician Program will be offered through CPCC’s Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology (HEATT) program on the College’s North Campus in Huntersville, NC.

An event marking the official launch of the program will be held at the CPCC North Campus on Tuesday, March 29 at 10:00 a. m.

Contact CPCC (Kathy.Rummage@cpcc.edu) for more information.

CSA’s Safety Measurement System Generates Industry Interest

On December 12, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched its new Safety Measurement System (SMS) and industry interest has been strong.  FMCSA solicited safety stakeholders’ input during CSA’s design, development, test, and implementation phases, and it paid off with an unprecedented number of visits to the SMS Website following its launch.  In the first six weeks after SMS replaced SafeStat:

·    The A&I Online Website, which is the system that houses SMS, experienced more than 5 million “hits.”

·    Nearly 11,000 unique carriers logged in (four times the volume from the previous six weeks) on almost 40,000 occasions (six times the number from the prior six-week period) to view their safety data.

·    The CSA “Question and Answer” function, where anyone can directly ask questions by phone or through an online form, experienced a sustained, significant increase in the volume of questions and FMCSA Division Offices across the country reported a similar increase.

Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions over the past few months are provided below.

Q. Why is SMS updated monthly?

A. The monthly SMS update timeframe allows FMCSA to prioritize motor carriers for safety interventions and to schedule FMCSA resources to conduct those interventions.  FMCSA uses this timeframe to carefully validate information and review SMS results before using them and posting them to the A&I Online Website.

Q. Are there plans to update SMS more frequently?

A. At this time, FMCSA does not plan to update the SMS results more often than monthly.

Q. Some third-party vendors provide more frequent “CSA scores.”  Does FMCSA use or validate any analyses provided by third-party vendors?

A. FMCSA does not use, validate, or vouch for any third-party vendor’s information related to SMS results. The monthly results displayed on A&I Online are the only SMS results that FMCSA uses.

To learn more about SMS or to get answers to other FAQs, visit the CSA outreach website at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov.

HOS Public Comment Period Ends Friday

The public comment period for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed hours-of-service rule ends Friday at midnight.

FMCSA published the proposed rule affecting truck drivers’ hours of service in the Dec. 29 Federal Register.

The agency originally set a Feb. 28 deadline for public comments, but it later pushed it back until March 4.

The proposal retains the 34-hour restart provision that allows drivers to restart their weekly clocks after 34 consecutive off-duty hours, though the agency said the restart will have to include two consecutive off-duty periods from midnight to 6:00 a.m.

Click here for a short description of the Federal Register notice on the hours of service rule.

Click here to view the full Dec. 29 Federal Register notice on the hours of service rule. (HTML version.)

Click here to view the full Dec. 29 Federal Register notice on the hours of service rule. (PDF version.)

Midwest Wheel Companies Celebrate 100^th Anniversary

Des Moines, Iowa – Midwest Wheel Companies marked their 100th anniversary today.  Midwest Wheel Companies began business in Des Moines as Iowa Vulcanizing Company on March 1, 1911.  The company was founded by Fred Prior and George Koons when they moved west from Akron, Ohio.  It was the first rubber vulcanizer west of the Mississippi River. 

Mr. Koons was the first generation owner of the family to serve as President; Mike Callison, the current President, is the fourth generation owner and the great grandson of Mr. Koons.  A fifth generation member of the family is also employed by the company.

The company has expanded during its 100 year history and is now the largest truck parts distributor in the Midwest.  Midwest Wheel Companies employs 180 employees in seven locations in Iowa (Des Moines, Clear Lake, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Sioux City)and Missouri (Kansas City and Grandview).

As part of their year-long celebration, the company has made a $20,000 donation to the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s Iowa Motor Carrier’s Foundation and a $10,000 donation to Des Moines Area Community College.  “As we turned 100 years young, we felt that it was appropriate to show our appreciation of the trucking industry by establishing scholarship programs to promote the industry,” said Mike Callison.

“We want to thank all of our employees, customers, and suppliers for their support over the past 100 years, said Callison.  “They are the people who have made us ‘100 Years Strong’.”

CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) website updated

The CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) website has been updated with the February 10, 2011 snapshot.  Check your safety assessment now at: http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms.

NOTE TO CARRIERS: To login into the SMS website and see all of your safety data, you will need an FMCSA-issued U.S. DOT Number Personal Identification Number (PIN) (NOT a Docket Number PIN). If you do not know or have forgotten your PIN, you can request one via http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/ and select 'Click here to request your Docket Number PIN and/or USDOT Number PIN.' Be sure to request a U.S. DOT Number PIN, NOT a Docket Number PIN.

Also, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new tipsheet helps motor carriers understand what a warning letter is and recommends actions they can take to improve safety compliance.  Warning letters are an important part of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) interventions process.  FMCSA sends warning letters to motor carriers who have identifiable, but not yet severe, safety problems. 

The new tipsheet, which will be useful for motor carriers who receive a warning letter, can be found at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/WarningLetterTipsheet.pdf.

In addition, a more general factsheet about the warning letter intervention can be found at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/CSA2010_WarningLetterFactsheet.pdf.  This factsheet provides a sample warning letter and some frequently asked questions. 

Caterpillar to Sell Carter Machinery

Senior Management Team to Continue Leading Dealership

PEORIA, Ill. – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced it has reached an agreement to sell Carter Machinery Company Inc. Carter Machinery is a Caterpillar dealership headquartered in Salem, Virginia, and has operations and stores covering Virginia and nine counties in southeast West Virginia.

The current senior management ofCarter Machinery, which led the buy-out of Carter Machinery from Caterpillar, will remain in place. Jim Parker, a retired Caterpillar Vice President, will become CEO of Carter Machinery and will be the principal owner going forward.

Caterpillar has owned Carter Machinery since 1988. It is the only Caterpillar dealership in the United States that is not independently owned.

“Over the last 20 years, Carter Machinery has consistently been an excellent performing dealership, but as we updated our corporate strategy in 2010, it was clear that continued Caterpillar ownership did not align with our core strategic plans,” said Stu Levenick, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for customer and dealer support.

“We are pleased the management team will remain with the dealership and believe Jim Parker’s strong customer-focus makes him an ideal fit for this business. With this transition, Carter Machinery customers should expect to receive the same high level quality, service and support that they have come to expect from Carter Machinery and Caterpillar products,” Levenick added.

The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011 and is subject to appropriate regulatory reviews and approvals.

“I am honored to be joining the Carter team and we expect there will be a seamless transition for customers as we look to continue to provide world class sales and product support for Caterpillar customers in Virginia and southeast West Virginia,” Parker said.

Rush Enterprises Acquires Ford Franchise in Orlando

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rush Enterprises, Inc., which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, announced today that its subsidiary, Rush Truck Centers of Florida, Inc., has acquired certain assets of Heintzelman's Truck Center, a Ford truck dealer in Orlando, Florida. Rush will operate this newly acquired location as Rush Truck Center — Orlando, offering Ford trucks, parts, service, leasing, financing and insurance. The purchase price for this acquisition was approximately $4.7 million.

"We remain committed to growing our commercial medium-duty truck business across the country and are excited to add our fourth Ford truck franchise," said W. M. "Rusty" Rush, President and CEO of Rush Enterprises, Inc. "Equally important, we are pleased to add another dealership to our 14-state contiguous network."

The newly acquired dealership is the company's third dealership location in the greater Orlando area. Rush also operates Ford truck franchises in Denver, Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Rush Enterprises, Inc. owns and operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, representing truck and bus manufacturers including Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, Mitsubishi, UD, Blue Bird, IC, Diamond and Elkhart. The Company's dealerships are strategically located in high traffic areas on or near major highways in 14 states throughout the southern and western United States. These one-stop dealerships offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs -- from sales of new and used vehicles and equipment to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations plus a wide array of financial services, including financing, insurance, leasing and rental.

For more information, please visit www.rushenterprises.com.

Expanding UPS Green Fleet Travels 200 Million Miles

New Investments Being Made in LNG and Electric

UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced its fleet of alternative fuel and technology delivery vehicles has driven 200 million miles since 2000. The alternative fuel fleet (AFV) now numbers more than 1,900 and another 62 vehicles have just been ordered.

The total mileage accumulated by UPS's "green fleet" is the equivalent of nearly three round trips to Mars or circling the Earth more than 8,600 times. UPS estimates that its fleet of alternative fuel and technology delivery vehicles will drive the next 200 million miles by 2017.

"UPS operates AFVs in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Brazil, the UK and Hong Kong," noted Mike Britt, UPS's director of vehicle engineering. "The 200 million mile benchmark proves a number of AFV technologies are viable over the long term in a variety of working environments and so we'll continue to expand the AFV fleet."

So far this year, UPS has announced the purchase of 48 new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tractors for the United States to operate in northern California, including the construction of a publically accessible LNG fueling station. In addition, UPS has purchased 14 cutting-edge Modec electric vehicles for its operations in London.

To date, UPS has explored eight different alternative fuel technologies, starting with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and propane technologies in the late 1980s.  Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) were introduced to the fleet in 1998. UPS invested in all-electric vehicles in 2004 and then deployed the first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tractors to its fleet. UPS uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas trucks in Korea and has experimented with hydraulic-hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Caterpillar Truck Video

Caterpillar has posted a video that provides a first visual look at it's soon-to-be-introduced vocational work truck. The video of the Cat CT660 is now posted at Cat On-Highway Truck.

Navistar Reaches Development Agreement with Ecomotors International on Groundbreaking Engine Design

EcoMotors International’s Opposed-Piston, Opposed-Cylinder Engine Promises to Revolutionize Commercial Vehicle Design with Powerful, Lightweight, Fuel Efficient, Low Emissions Engines

WARRENVILLE, Ill. – (Feb. 22, 2011) – Navistar International Corporation announced it has reached a development agreement with EcoMotors International™ in support of the company’s opoc® (Opposed Piston-Opposed Cylinder) engine architecture.

EcoMotors International’s first product targeted for commercial application is a turbo-diesel version of the innovative opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine.

“We continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and our development agreement with EcoMotors once again demonstrates our commitment to develop new, innovative approaches to the commercial vehicle industry,” said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Our company has a long history of pushing the envelope to deliver state-of-the-art, customer-focused solutions and we see great promise in EcoMotors’ breakthrough engine design.”

Khosla Ventures’ Vinod Khosla, EcoMotors primary investor along with Bill Gates, sees the Navistar-EcoMotors alliance as a reflection of the disruptive nature of the opoc® technology.

“We are delighted that Navistar, a global leader in the commercial vehicle industry, has recognized the game-changing promise of opoc®,” said Khosla. “The only truly disruptive technologies are those that can provide not only rapid payback but also economic and carbon benefits to large segments of the world's population without the need for subsidies or massive infrastructure investments. Among next-generation propulsion systems, the opoc® engine is broadly applicable and can provide lower carbon emissions than almost any other technology.”