May 2008
Editor's Note
What's all this about business being off?
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, David A Kolman
Have You heard the one: Why did God create weathermen? To make economists look good. What about this one: If all the economists in the world were laid...
Industry Watch: News
Fuel card for biodiesel
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The first-ever biodiesel fuel card has been created by the National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF). With the BioTrucker Fuel Card, fleets and owner operators...
Johnson Matthey diesel emissions system proves older can be cleaner than newer
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Johnson Matthey's latest diesel emissions technology, the SCRT system, has demonstrated in a trial, using a fleet of 16 older trucks owned by a Northern...
Great Dane Trailers honored by PSI
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Pressure Systems International (PSI) has presented its 2007 Customer Excellence Award to Great Dane Trailers, a manufacturer of dry van, refrigerated,...
Horizon unveils container ship road map
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Charles G. Raymond, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Horizon Lines Inc., outlined a road map for developing a United States Marine...
Wal-Mart developing RFID for forklifts
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Expanding incorporation of radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology into its operations, Wal-Mart is working with forklift manufacturers to capture...
Fontaine makes it five Diamonds in a row
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
International Truck and Engine Corporation has named fifthwheel manufacturer Fontaine International-North America a Diamond Supplier for 2007. Fontaine...
Sysco salutes S R Ashe for inbound services
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Sysco Corp, the Houston TX-based foodservice marketer and distributor, recently recognized S R Ashe Trucking of Albuquerque NM for excellence in providing...
Volvo seeks rapid reduction in emissions
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Through Volvo Logistics, Volvo Trucks is challenging its transporters to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent within the next two years. According...
CHEP buys LeanLogistics
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Pallet and container pooling company CHEP has acquired LeanLogistics, a provider of technology-based transport and supply chain solutions. The move was...
Textainer leases 95% of its reefer containers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Textainer Group Holdings Limited, the world's largest lessor of intermodal containers based on fleet size, has reported that 770 units out of the 800...
ArvinMeritor CVA improves customer care
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business has established an improved Customer Care Center at both its United States and Canadian parts...
Prime Inc. adds trailers to ArcticLite order
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Prime Inc., one of the largest refrigerated carriers in North America, opted to purchase 1,900 ArcticLite refrigerated van trailers from Wabash National...
Mack, Volvo offer free shipping for parts
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A new program from Mack Trucks Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America provides a higher level of support to customers. These two companies in the Volvo Group...
TIA designates 46 certified brokers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) has designated 46 industry professionals with its Certified Transporation Broker (CTB) credentials....
Break-Through Solutions
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Capping Off its 10th year as a Carrier Transicold dealership, Carrier Transicold of Utah was named 2007 North American Dealer of the Year at Carrier Transicold's...
Packerland Transport salutes its drivers' excellence at safety awards events
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Packerland Transport was privileged to honor more than 130 of its drivers at recent Driver Safety Awards events held at four locations across the nation....
American Trucking Associations projects record-high fuel expenses in 2008
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The American Trucking Associations is projecting a record-high diesel fuel bill in 2008. ATA said the trucking industry will spend $135 billion on fuel...
Industry Watch: Business
TrustHouse Services Group is established
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco CA-based private equity firm, in partnership with executive Michael Bailey, have completed the acquisition of Aladdin...
Greatwide Logistics acquires Camrett
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Greatwide Logistics Services, a Dallas TX-based provider of non-asset-based transportation and third-party logistics services, has acquired Wytheville...
Reinhart agrees to purchase Banta Foods
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
La Crosse WI-based Reinhart FoodService has agreed to acquire Banta Foods, a distributor headquartered in Springfield MO. This acquisition Reinhart's...
Nestle plans to expand frozen food plant
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Nestle Prepared Foods Company plans to invest more than $60 million to expand its frozen foods manufacturing facility in Jonesboro AR. The facility, which...
IFCO Systems agrees to acquire STECO
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
IFCO Systems has signed an agreement for the acquisition of all shares of STECO Holding GmbH and its subsidiaries. STECO is one of Europe's notable service...
Lynden acquires seafood logistics company
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Lynden International has acquired the Anchorage AK division of seafood logistics company Movers Inc. Together, the companies will provide a broad spectrum...
FreshDirect expands into Brooklyn NY
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Online grocer FreshDirect plans to expand its delivery services to reach Brooklyn NY neighborhoods including Bedford Stuyvesant (Bed Stuy), Crown Heights,...
Industry Watch: Government
Food Protection Plan aims to safeguard US food supply
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced an initiative by the Food and Drug Administration designed...
SmartWay provides finance clearinghouse
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership has launched its new web-based finance clearinghouse. Here, buyers...
International's engine plant wins award
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
International Truck and Engine Corp's Melrose Park engine plant has received the Illinois Governor's Pollution Prevention Award for the 13th time. The...
Feature Articles
Adopting innovation
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David A Kolman
For Refrigerated truckload carrier RWH Trucking, the ingredients for success are keeping employees happy, maintaining an environment conducive to achievement,...
Body swapping
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David A Kolman
Like All distributors, Atlanta, Georgia-based Republic National Distributing Company is faced with finding ways to reduce operating expenses while maintaining...
Emission solutions
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
As Heavy-Duty truck manufacturers work to position themselves as global leaders in green technology, there have been concerted efforts to develop innovative...
Owner operators
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Historically, the distribution of temperature-controlled commodities is a volatile industry. If business slows because of economic conditions such as...
Maintenance management
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
With Advances in truck equipment and technology continuing at a rapid pace, the ever-changing conditions in which trucks operate, and the steadily increasing...
Truckload Carriers Association convention
Uncertainty ahead
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
When the announcement was made that the 70th Annual Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Convention would be held at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas,...
Benchmarking performance
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A Panel of senior fleet executives presented their experience with the TCA's benchmarking program, also known as the 20 Group. The program allows the...
Driver compensation
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Another convention session dealt with one company's experience in building an entirely new driver compensation program that paid drivers differently,...
Air freight opportunities
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
An Interesting workshop at the TCA Convention was one that discussed truckload carriers expanding their transportation services to include air freight....
Highest honor
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Tca Presented the prestigious Past Chairmen's Award posthumously to Richard Jenkins, co-owner of Diamond Transportation System, Racine, Wisconsin. TCA's...
National safety awards
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Grand prize winners of the TCA 33rd Annual National Fleet Safety Awards program were Stagecoach Cartage & Distribution, El Paso, Texas, and Bison...
Outstanding service
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) presented its 10th annual Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award to Ray Haight, executive director of MacKinnon...
Top truckers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
During Its annual meeting, the Truckload Carriers Association announced the top company drivers and owner operators for 2007. Doug Ladds with MacKinnon...
New officers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Officers chosen to serve the TCA for the 2008 to 2009 term were sworn in during a ceremony at the association's annual convention. Elected as chairman...
Mid-America Trucking Show
Carrier Transicold enhances product lineup
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Carrier Transicold has enhanced RoadCare contract maintenance programs and made products for 2008 cleaner and greener. Transport refrigeration unit RoadCare...
Thermo King products, technologies showcased
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Thermo King launched several new products, among them a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and an Extreme Arctic Kit for its TriPac anti-idle solution, and...
EPA-approved Freightliner tractor available in new sleeper model
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Freightliner Trucks has come out with a new model for Class 8 Cascadia tractor and added several factory-installed options. The Cascadia tractor is available...
Mack rolls out Titan tractor
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Mack Trucks' heavy transport and heavy construction version of its new Titan model is powered by the new big-block Mack MP10 engine, a 16-liter diesel...
Brenntag launches initiative for supplying diesel exhaust fluid
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Brenntag, the world's distributor of automotive grade urea, announced that it will provide diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for selective catalytic reduction...
Navistar new products, custom parts line available
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Capitalizing on the recent launch of its new Advanced Classic International LoneStar Class 8 tractor (see Refrigerated Transporter April), Navistar International...
BlueTec system chosen for Detroit Diesel 2010 engines
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Detroit Diesel has chosen Daimler's BlueTec selective catalytic reduction (SCR) clean diesel engine technology to help it meet the upcoming stringent...
ArvinMeritor technology benefits military, commercial industry
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Arvinmeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems executives reviewed market developments and provided some insight to future plans. The company continues to...
Utility Trailer introduces new trailer and product features
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Utility Trailer Manufacturing has introduced its reengineered 4000D-X Dry Van trailer and is making Bendix brake components standard equipment. In addition,...
Great Dane composite layer improves thermal efficiency
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Great Dane Trailers displayed its ThermoGuard exclusive glass-reinforced thermoplastic interior liner for refrigerated trailers and its CorroGuard corrosion...
Changing Roles
Suppliers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
D. Mike Pennington, ArvinMeritor's senior director of global marketing communications and industry relations for Commercial Vehicle Systems, was awarded...
Information Channels
Cadec helps NFPT save $500K in fuel
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
According to a new case study, Northwest Food Products Transportation (NFPT) saved $500,000 in fuel in its first year using Cadec Global's advanced fleet...
Automated Vehicle Locator debuts
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Descartes Systems Group is introducing its latest intelligent Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) wireless services. Available on the Descartes Global Logistics...
Web site showcases Delo brand products
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Chevron Products Co offers www.DeloPerformance.com, a new web site for its Delo brand of advanced-technology engine oils, lubricants, and coolants. Specifically...
XTRA Lease updates Size & Weight Update
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The 2008 version of the Size & Weight Update, a reference guide containing state-by-state listings of size and weight regulations, is now available from...
TransCore adds ReeferTrak to portfolio
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
TransCore will add StarTrak's ReeferTrak RT-6000 to the portfolio of satellite communication products it offers to North American carriers. Customers...
Psion, AeroScout establish partnership
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Psion Teklogix and AeroScout Inc. announced a partnership to develop automated real-time asset management systems. Integrating AeroScout's Wi-Fi-based...
Product Innovations
Monitoring reefer assets from a desktop
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
SkyBitz, in partnership with StarTrak Systems, is launching the SkyBitz Reefer Control Solution, an affordable refrigeration monitoring and control technology....
Simplex truck curtains help save cool cash
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
AirBlock Refrigerated Truck Curtains from Simplex Isolation Systems maintain desired temperatures inside refrigerated and insulated trailers, even in...
KUVASAT stops cargo from walking away
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The new KUVASAT, a battery-operated, satellite-based management system, monitors and tracks high-value cargo or heavy equipment anywhere in the world,...
OTC has electronic truck diagnostic tools
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
OTC, a manufacturer and supplier of vehicle electronic diagnostic instruments, has unveiled several new scan tools that read and clear diagnostic trouble...
Supplier Showcase
Idle Reduction
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
There are numerous technologies being used to allow a driver to have climate control, as well as power to run onboard electrical equipment such as computers,...
