Transport Topics back issues from July 2008:
CVSA Finds Fewer Violations During Annual Roadcheck
Jul 07, 2008; ... The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said 23.9% of the 52,345 vehicles that underwent comprehensive inspections during Roadcheck last month were placed out of service, the lowest percentage in the programs 21-year nistory. Overall, 20.8% of the 67,931 vehicles inspected June 3-5 were ...
May Tonnage Rises 3.3%
Jul 07, 2008; ... Increase Comes as Economic Woes Continue U.S. truck tonnage grew by 3.3% in May - the seventh straight monthly increase - according to a preliminary report from American Trucking Associations. The group said business was expanding slowly, but that high fuel prices and a weak economy ...
Navistar Intl. Returns to NYSE, Posts $162 Mln. First-Half Profit
Jul 07, 2008; ... After a notable hiatus, truck maker Navistar International Corp. has returned both to profitability and to the New York Stock Exchange. After bringing its financial reporting up to date with a June 27 regulatory filing, Navistar resumed trading on the NYSE on June 30, after a 16-month ...
Diesel Dips for Week, Down 7.8¢ in June; Gasoline, Crude Oil Rise to New Records
Jul 07, 2008; ... The average price of a gallon of retail diesel dipped 0.3 cent last week, to $4.645, making June only the second month so far in 2008 during which the average did not rise, the Department of Energy reported. Meanwhile, the average price for gasoline rose 1.6 cents to a record $4.095, DOE ...
Mack Sees Small '09 Pre-Buy, Hopes SCR Will Boost Sales
Jul 07, 2008; ... Mack Trucks is expecting only a muted pre-buy of Class 8 vehicles next year ahead of the 2010 change in federal emission rules, but the company's chief executive officer said he hopes to keep sales intact through the appeal of new engines using selective catalytic reduction even though they will ...
Alternative Fuels Not to Blame For Food-Price Spike, Govt. Says
Jul 07, 2008; ... An increase in the production and consumption or biodiesel and ethanol is not playing a significant role in food price increases, but it is bringing down the pump price of gasoline, according to a preliminary analysis by the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture. "In 2007, the ...
Contract Talks Continue Past Deadline For West Coast Port Operators, Union
Jul 07, 2008; ... West Coast maritime operators and the union representing 26,000 dockworkers continued contract talks as TRANSPORT TOPICS went to press last week, seeking to avert a service disruption in the nation's busiest international trade corridor. Both the Pacific Maritime Association and the ...
Peters: Fuel Tax May Need to Be Raised
Jul 07, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the federal fuel tax may need to be increased in next year's highway reauthorization law to compensate for rising construction costs, a departure from her previous position. "It wouldn't be my first choice," Peters said in a June 20 ...
Flood Crop Damage Less Than Feared, USDA Says, Offering Relief to Ag Haulers
Jul 07, 2008; ... Crop losses from flooding in the Midwest are not expected to be as severe as originally feared, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And while damage to highways, bridges and railroads have slowed freight movements throughout the region in recent weeks, the heavy rains ...
Congress Should Plan Commercial Corridors, While States Handle Road Upkeep, Experts Say
Jul 07, 2008; ... A strong federal role is needed to help shape a national transportation policy, but the government's efforts should focus on improving key freight corridors while leaving shorter-term maintenance needs to state and local authorities, a panel of policy experts told a congressional ...
Peters Seeks Mexico Options As Court Mulls Border Program
Jul 07, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - The Department of Transportation will consider its own legal action if a federal court rules it must scrap the Mexican trucking pilot program, Secretary Mary Peters said. In a June 20 interview with TRANSPORT TOPICS, Peters said the program could be extended beyond one year, ...
DOT Cracks Down on Drug-Test Fraud; New Rule Covers 12.1 Mln. Workers
Jul 07, 2008; ... The Department of Transportation published a new regulation aimed at reducing fraud in drug tests by transportation workers. Under the rule, testing facilities would have to examine all samples for signs of adulterants or urine substitutes. In addition, the rule beefs up ...
Millions of Truck Drivers in India Strike
Jul 07, 2008; ... An estimated 4 million truck drivers in India went on strike July 2 to protest high fuel prices and a service tax ...
Michelin to Raise Truck Tire Prices by Up to 8%
Jul 07, 2008; ... Michelin & Cie., the world's second-largest tire maker, said that it will increase U.S. commercial truck replacement tire prices as much as 8% because of higher costs for raw materials, energy and ...
ATA Seeks Data From Carriers on Driver Pay
Jul 07, 2008; ... American Trucking Associations said it is looking for data from fleets for a driver compensation study. Information provided will be confidential and individual responses will not be ...
Court Rejects Greenhouse Gas Lawsuit
Jul 07, 2008; ... A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., has rejected a petition by Massachusetts and 17 other states attempting to Force a quick decision from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how to regulate greenhouse gases. The petition alleged the agency was dragging its feet in ...
Task Force OKs Columbia River Bridge Plan
Jul 07, 2008; ... A task force has approved a plan to replace the existing Interstate 5 bridge over the Columoia River connecting Oregon and Washington state with a new 12-lane span. The task force backed the replacement bridge, which would include light rail and be built slightly downstream from the ...
California, Washington Restrict Cell-Phone Use
Jul 07, 2008; ... Laws prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving took effect last week in California and Washington state. In California, anyone driving while holding a cell phone to his or her ear will be subject to ...
Good News, Relatively Speaking
Jul 07, 2008; ... At a time when good news is in notably short supply, it's nice to be able to report several positive stories on this week's front page. One welcome story is the news that trucking's report card during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's annual Roadcheck safety blitz was among the ...
Letters & Comments
Jul 07, 2008; ... Fuel Price Crisis I am writing because I no longer can stand the rhetoric from our elected officials on both sides of the aisle. They speak of alternative fuels, and I am all for the development of any and all sources of energy, but we have to face the fact that there are but a few right ...
A Not-So-Revenue-Neutral Tax
Jul 07, 2008; ... Every family in British Columbia is going to be ahead of the game at the end of the tax year. If this is the provincial government's view on the effects of the supposedly revenue-neutral carbon tax, there is only one logical question - what does "revenue neutral" actually mean? In a ...
Bendix to Offer Automatic Braking For Heavy-Duty Trucks in 4th Qtr.
Jul 07, 2008; ... WASHINGTON - Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC demonstrated here the automatic braking system for heavy-duty trucks it will offer starting in the fourth quarter. Fred Andersky, director of marketing for the company's controls product business team, said June 24 he expects the five ...
Schneider Bulk Unit Expands Its Regional, Local Offerings
Jul 07, 2008; ... Truckload carrier Schneider National said it is expanding local and regional service offerings at its bulk transport division, which historically has focused on the longhaul market. "Today's bulk customer has a mix of long- and shorthaul needs," said George Grossardt, vice president of ...
RoadLink Buys Drayage Firm, Forms Alliance With Fastfrate
Jul 07, 2008; ... Intermodal trucking and logistics company RoadLink is strengthening its North American presence by purchasing CP Ships Trucking Ltd. from ocean shipping line HapagLloyd and creating an alliance with Canadian trucking firm Consolidated Fastfrate. RoadLink, which ranks No. 65 on the ...
Alvan Motor Freight Closes
Jul 07, 2008; ... Regional carrier Alvan Motor Freight, which ran about 400 trucks and 800 trailers mainly in the Midwest, filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations late last month. "Alvan Motor Freight Inc. has ceased operations after 67 years," a recorded message at the company's main telephone number ...
Plan to Allow 53-Foot Trailers On More N.C. Roads Advances
Jul 07, 2008; ... RALEIGH, N.C. - A plan to allow 53-foot trailers on more North Carolina roadways advanced in the House late last month, over the objections of a safety group that questioned if the bills sponsor was pushing the plan for his own personal gain. The House Transportation Committee approved a ...
IDAHO: Greenhouse Gases
Jul 07, 2008; ... BRIEFS BOISE -Idaho greenhouse gas emissions increased more than 30% from 1990 to 2005, nearly twice as fast as the national average, according to a new report. The Center for Climate Strategies attributes the increase to population growth, a thriving economy and a nigh ...
Motorists Complain About Toll Lines, Dirty Restrooms on Indiana Toll Road
Jul 07, 2008; ... Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS - Toll booth lines, high fuel prices and even an advertising mascot have drawn the ire of motorists traveling the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road across northern Indiana. Drivers have flooded several state offices with letters, e-mails and calls ...
KANSAS: Federal Funding
Jul 07, 2008; ... TOPEKA - State transportation officials are worried they won't have enough money to pay for planned highway projects because of decreased federal funds, unless Congress comes up with an additional $120 million to bridge the expected shortfall. "It has a serious impact on whether we have ...
NEW JERSEY: Travel Hotline
Jul 07, 2008; ... NEWARK, N.J. - Help for road warriors on New Jersey's busy highways is just three digits away. The state Transportation Department launched an updated 511 travel hotline in June. Drivers navigate the phone system by voice commands, ...
WASHINGTON: Border Signs
Jul 07, 2008; ... SEATTLE - Washington state has installed new signs at four Whatcom County border crossings with Canada to let travelers know the wait times at each crossing. The Department of Transportation signs are located at Interstate 5 in Blaine at the Peace Arch border crossing ...
Report Finds Poor Roads Costing Mass. Millions
Jul 07, 2008; ... BOSTON - More than a third of the state s roads are in fair or poor condition, costing the average Massachusetts driver an estimated $156 each year in repair costs, increased fuel consumption and tire wear. That's one finding of a new report on the state's potholeplagued roads, crumbling ...
Despite Millions Spent on Planning, Future of 'Bridge to Nowhere' Unclear
Jul 07, 2008; ... ANCHORAGE, Alaska After five years and $41.5 million spent on planning, one of south-central Alaska's most ambitious development dreams, the Knik Arm Bridge, is at a crossroads. Alaska's only U.S. representative, Don Young (R), five years ago was chairman of the House Transportation ...
Study Says Appalachia to See Economic Boon With Completion of Extensive Highway System
Jul 07, 2008; ... RICHMOND, Va. - The hills of Appalachia, one of the country's most poverty-stricken regions, could provide tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars after a nearly finished highway system is complete. Finishing the more than 3,570-mile Appalachian Development Highway System ...
Georgia Taxpayers Footing Bill For Motorists Who Run Out of Gas
Jul 07, 2008; ... DECATUR, Ga. - Bennie Conley gave out his first gallon of gasoline less than an hour into his afternoon shift. "I didn't get one this early yesterday," Conley said as he helped another driver stranded without fuel alongside Interstate 285 east of Atlanta. Conley works for the ...
N.H. Police Say Fuel Price Affecting Driver Behavior
Jul 07, 2008; ... Associated Press SALEM, N.H. - As fuel prices keep going up, police say some drivers are slowing down, while others are just getting angry. In southern New Hampshire, some police departments said they are seeing Fewer speeders ana more road rage. And the new state highway service ...
Safeguarding Workers, Data, Critical Part of Disaster Planning
Jul 07, 2008; ... NEW YORK - A spring that brought deadly and destructive weather to parts of the country is a reminder to small businesses that they need to prepare for disasters that could shut tnem down. Owners should try to make their companies as prepared as possible - or at the least be sure that employees ...
Line Between Parts, Service Blurs In Changing Aftermarket Business
Jul 07, 2008; ... Numerous parts distributors are jostling for position in the crowded, $107 billion heavy truck aftermarket by pursuing the same goal: to become the vehicle-repair service of choice for small, midsize and large fleet operators. The purpose is to woo truckers with both service and parts ...
Is Biodiesel a 'Green' Fuel? The Jury Is Still Out
Jul 07, 2008; ... Can biodiesel blends help reduce trucking's carbon footprint? "Yes, definitely," said Amber Thurlo Pearson, a spokeswoman for the National Biodiesel Board. "The answer is, 'It depends,' " said Joe Suchecki, spokesman for the Engine Manufacturers Association. "There is ...
Calif. Emissions Plan Pushes New Engines
Jul 07, 2008; ... First Target: Oldest Trucks California clean-air regulators propose to force all older highway trucks running within state boundaries to be retrofitted first with diesel particulate filters, costing $8,000 to $20,000 and more, and then with equipment that reduces output of nitrogen ...
Proposed Retrofit Schedule
Jul 07, 2008; ... The California Air Resources Board's latest proposal for emission-retrofit of older road tractors sets up a complicated compliance schedule. As it now stands, the regulation would require diesel particulate filters, or DPFs, to be added to pre-1994 engine systems by Dec. 31, 2010 ....
Fueling a Subsidy
Jul 07, 2008; ... Squeaky Wheel Recently, I bought my first tank-full of biomass-blended gasoline. Ethanol hasn't been widely retailed in my neighborhood until now. Over the years, I haven't heard any significant wailing or gnashing of teeth from the ethanol-purchasing public about engine ...
Up in the Air
Jul 07, 2008; ... Fleet Shops Described as 'Reluctant' to Install Heavy-Truck Lifts Ergonomics and simple practicality suggest that it's easier to work under a vehicle that is positioned comfortably for a technician standing up rather than lying on a creeper. That's why automotive shops throughout ...
All-Electric Drayage Truck Tested by Port of Los Angeles
Jul 07, 2008; ... On-Road Prototype Also in the Works, At More Than $200,000 a Copy The most powerful electric truck in the world - so it is billed by its promoters took a spin for the news media around the Port of Los Angeles, highlighting a test program that could lead to a fleet of zero-emission ...
Sterling Builds No. 250,000; Also Offers Natural Gas Engine
Jul 07, 2008; ... Sterling Truck Corp. recently rolled out its 250,000th truck and handed the keys to Con-way Freight. The milestone vehicle was a Sterling Set-Back 113-inch-BBC A-Line. The company, which has headquarters in Redford, Mich., produces Classes 3-8 work trucks for regional hauling and ...
Ontario Lawmakers Pass Bill Capping Speed Limiters
Jul 07, 2008; ... Ontario's provincial government passed a bill requiring speed limiters on most large trucks to be set at 105 kilometers (65 miles) per hour to reduce pollution and improve road safety. A speed limiter is an electronic device that caps the top speed of a vehicle. The province mandates the ...
Class 8 Afterlife: Look Overseas
Jul 07, 2008; ... It may not resemble a giant sucking sound just yet. But if you put your ear to the ground, you might hear the not-so-gentle whoosh of used Class 8 tractors heading abroad. Soaring fuel prices, a stagnant domestic economy, a weak dollar and strong demand from energyproducing nations for ...
Repair Diagnostics Becomes Bone of Contention
Jul 07, 2008; ... Independent Garages Seek Access to Certain Original Manufacturer Properties The latest in a decade of battles over access to vehicle diagnostics, pitting original equipment manufacturers and truck dealers against independent shops and parts distributors, is just now appearing on the ...
Two Ways to Avoid Retrofit Are Fleet Averaging, Attrition
Jul 07, 2008; ... Large trucking fleets probably have more flexibility, because of resources, than smaller ones for complying with California's proposed emissions-reduction retrofit requirement. "At first glance, it seems that you can .. . start off using fleet averaging, then move to age of equipment and ...
Peterbilt Adds No-Idle Power To 63-Inch Sleeper Cab
Jul 07, 2008; ... Peterbilt Motors Co. has begun production of its ComfortClass auxiliary power system for the 63-inch Unibilt sleeper configuration. The ComfortClass consists of a battery pack and a thermalstorage cooler powerful enough to run computers, microwaves and other electronic devices, and ...
Chevron Unifies Lubrications Under Corporate Name
Jul 07, 2008; ... Beginning July 14, Chevron Products Co. will unify the Chevron and Texaco Commercial and Industrial lubricant product lines under the single Chevron name in the United States and Canada. Where comparable products of both brands exist, the product that has the larger market share will ...
Aurora Network To Distribute Lufkin Trailer Parts
Jul 07, 2008; ... Trailer aftermarket supplier Aurora Parts & Accessories, Lebanon, Ind., announced it is now offering parts for trailers made by Lufkin Industries. Lufkin manufactures platform, drop-frame and high-capacity, lightweight dump ...
Canadian Ministers Approve Operation Of Wide Single Tires
Jul 07, 2008; ... Wide, single truck tires are now approved for use across Canada, following an agreement by the Council of Ministers responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety. The ministers changed Canada's memorandum of understanding on vehicle weights and dimensions to accommodate the width of ...
Rush Enterprises Expands With N.C. Acquisitions
Jul 07, 2008; ... Texas-based Rush Enterprises has acquired the assets of Peterbilt Carolina and Adams International Trucks, two Charlotte, N.C., dealerships. Purchase price for both was about $40 million, president W.M. "Rusty" Rush said. Also included in the acquisition was Adams Collision ...
Southwest Virginia, Denver Areas to Get East Trailer Dealers
Jul 07, 2008; ... Peterbilt of Bristol, serving a nine-county region surrounding Bristol, Va., has been authorized to sell and service East Manufacturing's full line of flatbeds and dump trailers. Peterbilt of Bristol has a 22-bay repair shop and also builds custom trucks. United Equipment Funding ...
The Big Green Picture
Jul 07, 2008; ... Biofuels today can make "a modest potential contribution" by repladng fossil energy and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development and the International Energy Agency, an adjunct to the OECD. Bioenergy is widely ...
The Biodiesel Idiom
Jul 07, 2008; ... There's more to biodiesel than simply the strength and purity of the blend. Here are definitions used by the Diesel Technology Forum, National Biodiesel Board and Environmental Protection Agency. * Renewable fuels - All are made from plant or animal products or wastes. EPA specifies two ...
Could Biodiesel Prompt New Lubricant Specs?
Jul 07, 2008; ... Increased use of biodiesel eventually could result in the need for a new motor oil specification, in the view of Steve Goodier, director of technology for petroleum supplier BP. U.S. energy policy, including tax credits, encourages use of biofuels. But the long-term effects on diesel ...
Uplifting Models
Jul 07, 2008; ... Vehicle lifts capable of hoisting large trucks come in a variety of different models, each with its own advantages and limitations. Here's a primer: * Inground lifts - Posts, power units and hydraulics retract into the ground. The lifts, which have two or three posts, engage the vehicle ...
Fontaine Intl. Warns About Knock-off Parts
Jul 07, 2008; ... Fifth-wheel manufacturer Fontaine International is warning about dangers inherent to replacing the movable locking jaw and wedge on its No-Slack line of fifth wheels with nongenuine components. Fontaine said there have been multiple reports of parts failure in the model, resulting in ...
Countering Fuel Speculation
Jul 07, 2008; ... OPINION As feverish commodities speculation ripples across the world and into key aspects of our economic lives, the freight transportation industry has reason to suspect that crude oil pricing is disconnected from the law of supply and demand. It doesn't take a professional ...
Events Calendar
Jul 07, 2008; ... July 10-11- Walcott Truckers Jamboree, Iowa 80 Truckstop, Interstate 80 Exit 284, Walcott, Iowa. www.iowa80truckstop.com July 11-12 - Titletown Truckers Showdown, Brown County Fairgrounds, Green Bay, Wis. www. titletowntruckersshowdown. org July 14-16-Automotive Aftermarket ...
FedEx's Smith Not Interested In Joining McCain in VP Slot
Jul 07, 2008; ... MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FedEx Corp. founder Fred Smith said he has no interest in becoming the running mate of presumed GOP presidential candidate John McCain. Responding to questions from The Associated Press, Smith issued a statement through FedEx saying he intends to continue running the ...
Banks Urged to Raise Rates To Tame Rising Inflation
Jul 07, 2008; ... The worlds central banks should raise interest rates even as economic growth slows because taming inflation is the more immediate problem, the Bank for International Settlements said. "Inflation is actually rising, while significantly slower growth remains only a possibility in many ...
U.S. Surface Trade Hits Record; Reaches $74.3 Billion in April
Jul 07, 2008; ... Surface trade of the United States with Canada and Mexico reached a record $74.3 billion in April, or 14.3% more than a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics said U.S.-Canada surface trade totaled $48.9 billion, up ...