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Enforcement Agencies Conduct Thousands of Surprise Passenger Carrier Safety Inspections Nationwide

Strike Force Inspections Remove 289 Unsafe Passenger Buses and Drivers 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its state and local law enforcement partners across the nation recently conducted 2,782 surprise passenger carrier safety inspections over a nine-day period that resulted in 289 unsafe buses or drivers being removed from our roadways.

The unannounced inspections took place from March 28 through April 6, 2011, as part of FMCSA's ongoing efforts to strengthen passenger carrier safety nationwide.The coordinated enforcement strike force issued out-of-service violation citations to 156 drivers and 262 vehicles.

Previously, from March 12 to March 28, an estimated 3,000 passenger carrier safety inspections were conducted across the country, resulting in nearly 300 passenger carrier vehicles being put out of service during the 17-day timeframe.

"Safety is our number one priority," said Secretary LaHood. "We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to shut down unsafe passenger bus companies that place motorists at risk and remove drivers from our roads who put passengers in harm's way."

Virginia Tech and OnStar Partner on In-Vehicle Navigation Study

DETROIT – Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and OnStar partnered to conduct a study that found voice-based telematics systems are a safer form of in-vehicle navigation.

The study evaluated 24 participants, aged 25 to 55, as they used the five different navigation options while driving. Inside the vehicle, audio and video footage of the drivers was captured, as well as the vehicle's key performance data. Researchers examined video of the driver's face, forward view, and movements for analysis of eye glances and other motions.

The OnStar-commissioned study evaluated a cell phone-based navigation application, a personal navigation device (PND), OnStar Turn-by-Turn directions, and OnStar Destination Download, as well as printed driving directions.

When asked about their preferences, 86.5 percent of participants liked "simple, quick instructions," and 80.8 percent indicated that they wanted the "least-complicated option." The study showed that drivers value visual information in addition to voice control. Additionally, all systems tested except OnStar Turn-by-Turn navigation required more than 20 seconds of total glance duration while entering a destination.

"VTTI's research showed that participants seemed to favor the presence of visual information to accompany the audio directions," said Miguel Perez of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. "Additionally, the results of the study showed sizeable advantages in the use of voice control for destination entry, suggesting that systems that offer an array of navigation options are preferred by drivers." 

Go to What’s New at VTTI for More Information.

B.R.A.K.E.S. Relocating to Concord

Beginning Monday April 11, Doug Herbert Performance will be located in a new location adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway.  The high performance warehouse, which had been located in Lincolnton, N.C., since 1991 will now be based in the heart of the racing industry.

“I’m very excited about the move,” stated Doug Herbert.  “We were looking at ways to be more efficient, streamlined and customer focused and I’m certain that the move will deliver on those objectives.”

The first event at the new location will be the 20^th Annual Doug Herbert Performance Open House and Super Sale on May 7.  For more information about this event visit www.dougherbert.com.

“Being right next to Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMAX Dragway will be very beneficial for us,” added Herbert.  “We’ll be open just in time for the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA 4-wide Nationals in April and we look forward to having our customers stop by our new location for the Open House.”

B.R.A.K.E.S. is the 501(c)(3) charity Herbert founded in 2008 in memory of his two sons who were killed in a car accident.  The nonprofit has provided free, advanced driver training to over 2,000 teenagers from 15 different states.

Effective April 11, the address for Doug Herbert Performance and B.R.A.K.E.S. will be 4030 Concord Parkway South, Concord, NC 28027. 

2nd Annual Hot Rods and Hot Cakes

B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner again to hold the Second Annual Hot Rods and Hot Cakes Breakfast on Saturday April 16 at zMAX Dragway, Concord, NC, during the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

The pancake breakfast fundraiser will be in Don Schumacher’s Napa Hospitality Tent from 8-10am.  NHRA drivers, owners and crew chiefs will join fans for the breakfast, which will raise funds to benefit both nonprofit organizations.

“Last year we weren’t sure what to expect with the pancake breakfast but we had such a great turnout.  The fans really came out to support us,” said Doug Herbert, Founder of B.R.A.K.E.S.  “We had about 15 drivers there to eat breakfast and hang out with the fans; we even had Shirley Muldowney serving pancakes!”

Tickets for the event may be purchased in advance for $10 at www.charlotte.speedwaycharities.org or the day of for $15 at the door.  Sponsorships are available.  For more information contact Sara Fensterer at B.R.A.K.E.S. at (704) 732-8950.

Caterpillar Unveils New Cat Vocational Trucks

Cat Vocational Truck line will be sold and serviced exclusively through the Cat North

American Dealer network with customer delivery expected later this year

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Caterpillar Inc. unveiled its first Cat®

Vocational Truck, the Cat CT660, at a CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 media

event hosted by the company in Las Vegas.

“This is an exciting and historic milestone for us,” said Caterpillar Vice President

Steve Gosselin who has responsibility for the On-Highway Global Truck Group. “The

CT660 is a natural expansion of our product line and a perfect complement to other Cat

equipment. Its introduction today is a direct result of our commitment to continuously

develop new products that accelerate the business success of our customers.”

The Cat Vocational Truck line will be sold and serviced exclusively through the

Cat North American Dealer network, with production beginning after CONEXPO for

customer delivery later this year. The Class 8 vocational trucks will offer custom

solutions, including many different body types like dump, refuse, hauler and mixer, for a

large variety of job applications.

Navistar shows prototype dual-fuel engine

LOUISVILLE, KY. Navistar showed a prototype dual-fuel 13L MaxxForce engine in a 2011 International ProStar Plus at Mid-America Trucking Show March 31-April 2. The engine, which runs on diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG), was built in partnership with Clean Air Power.

“Recognizing the abundant supply of natural gas in the United States and Canada, we feel compelled to invest in our products in such a way that enables our customers to expand their usage of very low emissions technologies through our engines,” said Jim Hebe, senior vice president, North American sales operations, Navistar. “The use of natural gas certainly accomplishes this and we are proud to be developing the broadest, most energy-efficient line of trucks in the industry, helping deliver real-world savings to the bottom line.”

The engine is being tested in a 2011 ProStar Plus model, a 122-in. BBC tractor with 430 hp. and 1,550 lbs.-ft. of torque. It uses diesel pilot injection for combustion on the compression stroke and mixes air and LNG on the intake stroke. The result is an engine that runs on a mixture of 15% diesel and 85% natural gas.

Minimal changes to a stock 13L MaxxForce engine are required, the company said, other than the addition of a natural gas injection system. Chassis changes include the addition of a 26-in. diameter, 119-gal. LNG tank that provides a 400 mi. range, a coolant heated fuel vaporizer, and an LNG regulator and filter.

Navistar said it is working with the EPA to define the regulatory requirements of an EPA-compliant dual fuel engine.

Clean Energy to Build & Operate New CNG Fueling Facility to Support Tulsa, Oklahoma Transit Authority's Transition to a 100% CNG-Powered Bus Fleet

The Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) of Tulsa, Oklahoma has awarded Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) a contract to design, build, operate and maintain a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station to support the agency's growing fleet of CNG-powered buses and paratransit vehicles.

Slated to open in September 2011, the new Tulsa Transit fueling facility will be  equipped with 39 time-fill posts and one fast-fill CNG dispenser. The new station, located at MTTA's vehicle maintenance facility, will support the agency's accelerating program to replace 100% of its diesel-powered bus fleet with clean, green, cost-efficient CNG models. Currently Tulsa Transit deploys 63 fixed-route buses and 49 paratransit vehicles in a 197-square-mile area that includes the communities of Tulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs. Annual ridership tops 2.8 million passenger trips.

In 2011, Tulsa Transit expects to add 35 new CNG paratransit vehicles and 15 CNG buses to its fleet, replacing diesel models as they are retired from service this year.

Costing less than diesel, natural gas fuel produces up to 23% lower greenhouse gas emissions in medium to heavy-duty vehicle applications. U.S. Department of Energy reports estimate that 98% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is sourced in the U.S. and Canada. Using natural gas fuel can eliminate tons of emissions from entering the atmosphere throughout the operating life of a typical bus fleet, while also lowering a transit agency's operating costs significantly.

James Harger, Chief Marketing Officer, Clean Energy, said, "Tulsa Transit places significant value on the reduced operating costs and environmental benefits offered by natural gas. Across the United States, Clean Energy is partnering with many leading public transit agencies like Tulsa Transit to reliably fuel over 5,500 buses daily. We commend the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority for taking such strong, positive action to bring the benefits of clean-burning natural gas fuel to the communities they serve."

For more information, go to www.cleanenergyfuels.com.