Rush Enterprises, 3M to partner on natural gas transportation fuel systems
3M and Rush Enterprises announced an agreement to pursue the design, manufacture and installation of a portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks and fuel systems for use in Class 6-8 vehicles in North America. The agreement allows for 3M to supply tanks with proprietary technology and for Rush Enterprises to provide enhanced fuel systems,
Fleet Talk: Proper practices—Just do it
Because of the various skill levels of mechanics and the increasing demands for vehicle uptime, there is usually a high degree of flexibility in the way employees perform in their jobs. Is this good or bad? In this article we will discuss the second principle of business evaluation—process. PROCESS: Procedures Required to Operate Consistently in Every Service Segment By having processes in
Navistar inks largest one-time sale of International LoneStar trucks
Navistar Inc. announced that it has completed its largest one-time sale of International LoneStar trucks. Celadon Trucking Services, one of North America’s largest truckload carriers based in Indianapolis, has purchased nearly 500 International LoneStar on-highway tractors with Cummins ISX15 engines. “Celadon is a true partner and this is another example of the confidence the market
Jeff Jones to retire from Cummins Inc.
Cummins Inc. announced that Jeff Jones, vice president of North American engine business and marketing communications, will retire from the company on June 30, 2014. “While we are excited for Jeff as he heads toward a well-deserved retirement, the company will miss his leadership,” said Rich Freeland, president – engine business, and vice president –
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index reflects stressed supply conditions
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) in March rose more than one point to a reading of 8.69, reflecting the extremely tight capacity in the Truckload sector. There is a possibility for some relief of the tight truckload capacity over the next few months if freight growth slows as expected in the second quarter, the company
Optimizing wide base tire options for weight reduction, fuel savings
Adoption of wide-base tires has increased since their entrance into the market in 2000. At first, fleets were hesitant to adopt these tires at first, primarily because there was initially a learning curve that needed to be addressed. Now that fleet operators know and understand the basic benefits of wide-base tires, the conversation has turned
JohnDow adds SMART Cabinet to its Smart Storage Solutions line
JohnDow Industries (JDI) has added a second major product to its expanding Smart Storage Solutions product line. In December of last year, SMART Wall, a better option for storage of tools and parts, was introduced. Now, JDI is adding the SMART Cabinet, a new concept for hose reel storage that makes the installation and servicing of reels fast
Yokohama Tire Corp.’s ultra wide base tires now available at Love’s Truck Tire Care locations
Fleets looking for Yokohama Tire Corp.’s (YTC) ultra wide base (UWB) tires have a new source: Love’s Travel Stop network. YTC announced that Love’s – which has 191 Truck Tire Care locations nationwide – will carry two UWB tires—the TY517 (drive) and RY407 (trailer). Both tires are available in size 445/50R22.5. “This is great news
Fleet Sentiment Survey reveals impact of driver shortage on equipment purchases
The Q2 2014 Fleet Sentiment Report survey conducted in April by CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR) revealed how widespread the driver shortage is and how it is likely to impact future vehicle purchases. In answer to multiple questions regarding the current environment at trucking fleets, many and varied types of operations reported that the inability
ACT Research: April Classes 5-8 preliminary orders 10th best month in eight years
April North American Classes 5-7 net orders are expected at 17,800 units (±5%) and Class 8 net orders are expected at 24,400 units (±5%), when actual data are released mid-month, reported ACT Research, a publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market. “Total
