kenn1973

[kenn1973]

Navistar counters Traton’s ‘final’ offer

LISLE, Ill. – Navistar International’s Board of Directors has responded to Traton’s final buyout offer of US$43 per share, saying it will accept US$44.50.

Navistar says the $44.50 price has the support of Navistar’s two largest shareholders.

In a letter to Traton, Navistar asked the company to publicly announce an extension to negotiations so the two sides can finalize a deal at the new proposed price.

Earlier this week, Navistar was given until noon Eastern today to accept a US$43 per share offer from Volkswagen’s Traton for all outstanding shares.

Traton first offered $35 per share on Jan. 30, but increased its offer on Sept. 10.

“As we have indicated in our discussions, our findings in due diligence lead us to believe that our price of $43 per share fully values the Company,” Traton said in a letter to Navistar, posted on its website. “We still believe that this price of $43 per share reflects an extremely attractive premium to Navistar shareholders.”

Traton said its $43 per share offer represented its “best and final offer.”

If not accepted by Traton’s deadline, the company said its offer would be withdrawn, “unless prior to that time you have notified us in writing of your willingness to proceed with discussions with a view to entering into a transaction at that price.”

If that is not the case, Traton said it will terminate discussions between the companies.

The market seemed optimistic a deal would get done, with NAV shares trading up 21% at the time of this writing, at US$42.84.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Pride Group opens U.S. HQ in Dallas

DALLAS, Texas – Pride Group Enterprises (PGE) has opened its American headquarters in Dallas.

The Mississauga-based company said Wednesday the new location will also serve as its rental and leasing supercenter.

The 20,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art facility features five service bays, a wash bay and a parts shop on six acres of land.

The site, located at 34880 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy., is PGE’s 12th location in North America and sixth in the US.

“We are excited to announce the opening of our Dallas location as the demand for our full-service and rental programs continues to grow,” said Sam Johal, president of PGE.

“Our focus remains on strengthening our presence across North America so that we can continue delivering a one-stop solution for our clients no matter where they are domiciled or where they operate geographically.”

The company is also a member of NationaLease, offering customers access to a network of more than 900 service support locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

PGE operates various businesses including equipment sales, rentals, financing and leasing, logistics, wholesale diesel and many others.

It was ranked No. 28 on Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies List last year.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Commercial vehicle market rebounded sharply, but full recovery not imminent

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The commercial vehicle market bounced back much more quickly and strongly than expected, but it will be late 2021 before it reaches pre-pandemic levels.

During an FTR Engage webinar, the industry forecaster gave an updated outlook on the commercial vehicle markets. Truck loadings are what drive Class 8 truck demand, and FTR chief executive officer Eric Starks pointed out loadings have recovered strongly since falling off the cliff in the second quarter. But they have only recovered halfway from pre-pandemic levels.

“This is telling us the market is not back to normal in any way, shape or form,” Starks said.

But there’s a disconnect between various data points. For example, the spot market is back above pre-pandemic levels. But in terms of total truck loadings, Starks said it will be the second half of 2021 before pre-pandemic levels are reached.

Also of concern to commercial vehicle manufacturers and dealers, total transportation revenues are down by more than 15% year-over-year, meaning fleets have less cash to deploy on new equipment purchases.

Class 8 market outlook

Don Ake, vice-president, commercial vehicles, explained the Class 8 market suffered from a flash recession caused by a global natural disaster in Covid-19. FTR has been increasing its market forecast since April, since the U.S. economy has continued fighting back even through a second wave of Covid cases.

By September, FTR forecast 192,000 factory shipments of Class 8 trucks for 2020, up from an earlier forecast of 150,000 in April. There’s no comparison to previous recessions. Ake noted it took 48 months for Class 8 builds to fully recover during the 2000 recession, but this year Class 8 build has already climbed back to within 8% of pre-pandemic levels.

However, said Ake, “our production forecast is expected to be flat for a while.”

Class 8 order activity rebounded sharply to more than 20,000 units in August, which Ake expects to hold fairly steady. Ake warned of high Class 8 inventories, which hit a record in August 2019 and remain bloated. Inventory levels were reduced as truck production was halted during the worst of the pandemic, but they’re now creeping back up as order activity is now being supported by large fleets that prefer spec’ing trucks to their requirements rather than buying off the lot.

“We still do not have enough small and medium fleets buying out of that inventory,” Ake warned.

Retail sales are expected to be strong in August, which will help draw down inventories slightly, but Ake said the inventory-to-sales ratio has been too high for five to seven months.

“There is an inventory problem we expect to drag on production until it’s resolved,” he said.

Ake projects Class 8 factory shipments will be flat until the second quarter of 2021, when things will begin to “break loose.” Expect 192,000 factory shipments this year, 222,000 in 2021, 295,000 in 2022, 348,000 in 2023 – finally nearing 2019 levels of 349,000.

Trailer outlook

Trailer demand has also bounced back strongly, after “barely positive” orders in April and three months of “very poor order activity,” Ake said. August orders totaled 28,000 units, and dry van and reefer orders led the recovery.

The flatbed market remains in a rut, because it is tied to the still-struggling industrial sector. FTR is predicting a “fantastic” 2023 for trailer orders with 330,000 units being built, up from 191,000 this year.

For this year, Ake expects refrigerated van trailers to lead the way as restaurants reopen and the food supply chain ramps back up. In Canada, trailer production will total 14,000 units this year, growing to 17,000 next year, Ake predicted.

The medium-duty outlook

The Class 5 category continues to lead the way in the medium-duty segment, thanks to a surge in e-commerce deliveries, FTR reported. But the overall medium-duty segment has seen a “muted” recovery.

North American Classes 4-7 factory shipments went from 55,000 in the first quarter to 29,600 in Q2. FTR expects a rebound to 52,000 in Q3 and fairly consistent results through 2021.

The downside risks to its commercial vehicle forecasts include: Covid-19 persistence; a lack of government aid to support the economy; continued high unemployment; and delays in getting a vaccine. Upside risks are the exact opposite of all those factors, Ake said. They could swing demand up or down by 20,000 units annually in each forecast.

The upcoming U.S. election isn’t factored in, as Ake said the “outcome and response is unknown.”

He doesn’t anticipate a short-term impact but will evaluate the longer-term impact once the result is known.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Teamsters, safety groups challenge U.S. hours of service change

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Less than two weeks before revised U.S. hours of service rules are set to take effect, a coalition of safety groups and the Teamsters union has challenged them in court.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Parents Against Tired Truckers, and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways filed a petition Sept. 16 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking to invalidate the rule. The parties are represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group.

The changes, announced in May and scheduled to go into effect Sept. 29, were welcomed by many in trucking as a way to get more flexibility under the electronic logging device mandate.

However, according to a release, the groups charge that “the changes will further exacerbate the already well-known threat of fatigue among commercial motor vehicle drivers by significantly weakening current HOS rules.

Specifically, provisions that ensured drivers receive a brief 30-minute break after being on duty for eight hours and that govern the operations of drivers who start and return to the same location and remain within a defined geographic area known as “short haul” operations were significantly altered. In proposing these revisions, the FMCSA contradicted its own prior conclusions on these very issues and failed to undertake a proper analysis of the impacts the rule will have on truck drivers and the motoring public.”

Teamsters general president James Hoffa said in a release, “By issuing this HOS regulation FMCSA has bowed to special trucking industry interests at the expense of highway safety, seeking longer workdays for drivers who are already being pushed to the limit.”

The final rule was published in the Federal Register on June 1. The safety groups filed a joint petition for reconsideration of the final rule with FMCSA on July 1, which FMCSA denied on Aug. 25, according to the legal filing.

In the petition to the FMCSA, the safety groups said, “In eviscerating numerous critical provisions of the HOS rules, the agency repeatedly relies on the baseless claim that driver fatigue and the crashes it causes will not increase because the Final Rule does not permit additional driving time beyond the limits provided in the current regulations…

“The revisions to the HOS regulations contained in the Final Rule are based on nothing more than unfounded claims, misinterpretations, and incorrect reinterpretation of research. In fact, a number of statements contained in the Final Rule and the [Notice of Proposed Rule Making] directly contradict earlier agency findings.”

The groups take issue with the agency’s explanation in the rule that more flexibility was needed because electronic logging device mandate “highlighted the rigidity of HOS provisions and the practical ramifications drivers faced.”

The petition says, “the striking and candid acknowledgment by the FMCSA that the introduction of ELDs, which did not change the HOS rules, is the main impetus for this rulemaking raises significant safety concerns. The falsification of paper log books has been long identified as a serious problem.

“Thus, if the primary justification the agency can muster for further eviscerating the HOS rules is that CMV drivers now have to accurately record their driving time and can no longer falsify their logs, the Final Rule is fatally flawed and clearly in violation of the Agency’s mission of protecting public safety. Of further concern is the fact that the FMCSA has exempted a large swath of the industry from having to use ELDs as part of this rulemaking.”

Here, they’re referring to the expansion of the short-haul exemption. This is one area where another trucking group, which is pro-ELDs and other safety mandates, also has concerns.

Heavy Duty Trucking magazine asked the Alliance for Driver Safety and Security, known more commonly as the Trucking Alliance, for its reaction to this litigation.

While it has not reviewed the litigation, it responded, “we have consistently opposed a portion of these rule changes, which allows drivers in short-haul carrier operations to expand their on-duty number of hours to the same limits as long-haul drivers, but yet these short haul drivers aren’t required to install electronic logging devices in the trucks to verify compliance. FMCSA missed the safety mark on that one,” said Lane Kidd, managing director, in an email.

Under the new rules, shorthaul carriers, which are not subject to the ELD mandate, will now be permitted to return to their normal work reporting location within 14 hours instead of the present limit of 12 hours, and the definition of short-haul operations has been extended from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.

The safety groups say the rule “dismisses a sound and thoughtful analysis conducted by the well-renowned and well-respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) which identified that a sample of trucks actually using the short-haul exemption exhibited an increased crash risk of 383%.”

The change to the 30-minute break rules also drew criticism. These changes call for the break to be taken after eight hours of driving time, not on-duty time as with the current rule, and allow any non-driving status to qualify as a break. The petition for reconsideration said the rules “defy logic and suggest that the agency considers all on-duty work (including loading/unloading vehicles, stocking shelves, making deliveries) non-fatiguing.

“Under this objectionable and ill-advised change to the regulation, a driver could conduct on-duty non-driving work for 10 hours straight without any break and then get behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound CMV and drive for four hours (or more if “adverse driving conditions” were encountered).”

The petitioners also oppose the proposed changes to the split sleeper berth provision, which will allow drivers to split their required off-duty time into two periods. The shorter must be no longer than 3 hours and can be off-duty time, with the longer period being sleeper berth time.

“Lowering the minimum length of the anchor (longer) split sleeper berth period from eight to seven hours risks reduces the opportunity for drivers to obtain the rest necessary to combat fatigue,” says the petition. “In addition, the Final Rule fails to adequately address the concerns raised by drivers that these changes could allow carriers to demand or coerce drivers to maintain fatiguing schedules.”

FMCSA told Heavy-Duty Trucking it could not comment on litigation. However, the magazine obtained a copy of the agency’s response to the petition for reconsideration.

“The agency has completed its review of the petition and compared the arguments you made with those submitted to the rulemaking docket in response to the August 22, 2019, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Your petition does not present any new data or information concerning the rulemaking, and we stand by the statements and analyses made in the preamble of the Final Rule.

“FMCSA acknowledges your concerns. However, the agency continues to believe that the changes adopted by the Final Rule will not result in adverse safety consequences. None of the revisions allows truck drivers additional driving time beyond the current regulations. Except for the adverse driving conditions provision, none of the revisions allows drivers to operate a commercial motor vehicle after the 14th hour after coming on duty.

“None of the revisions allows the use of multiple or intermittent off-duty breaks to extend the work-shift. Furthermore, none of the revisions relieves motor carriers and drivers of the explicit prohibitions against (1) operating commercial motor vehicles while ill or fatigued, or (2) coercing drivers to violate Federal safety rules. Therefore, the basic parameters of the HOS rule that are essential to safety remain unchanged.”

One source who did not wish to be identified told Heavy-Duty Trucking that given the last-minute nature of this litigation and the need to show that the new rules would cause irreparable harm, it seems unlikely that an emergency stay would be ordered.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Freightliner, Western Star tap FleetNet for roadside assistance

PORTLAND, Ore. – Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is partnering with FleetNet America to provide emergency roadside assistance for Freightliner and Western Star trucks.

Available services include towing and recovery, mobile truck repair, tire repair and more, the company announced. The deal covers Canada and the U.S., and replaces previous plans from the truck makers.

“While unanticipated breakdowns are an unfortunate reality of driving a truck, we want to give customers peace of mind that their issue is being addressed immediately and effectively,” said Paul Romanaggi, chief customer experience officer, DTNA. “FleetNet’s vast resources and 24/7 availability will help maximize uptime and get trucks back on the road as fast as possible to help our customers keep the world moving.”

DTNA says the new programs offer a seamless customer experience, with real-time updates available through the FleetNet app, online, through text or email, or through the fleet’s custom communications system.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Tire Safety Week is underway

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has kicked off its annual tire safety awareness campaign.

National Tire Safety Week will run from Aug. 31 through Sept. 6. The event was originally due to be held in late May, but was postponed due to Covid-19.

The association said the overarching message of the campaign is “Check your tires”, and it applies to all drivers, including truckers.

“National Tire Safety Week is an initiative that educates drivers about the critical role they play in maintaining tire safety, and ensures they have the information they need to successfully prioritize safety on the road,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA.

A number of member companies, including Bridgestone, Continental Tire, Cooper Tire, Michelin, Pirelli Tire and Yokohama Tire, have developed their own initiatives focused on the safety campaign.

As the week begins, consider the following tips that apply where the rubber literally meets the road.

Tire tips for commercial vehicles Set and maintain correct inflation pressures Goodyear experts point out maintaining proper inflation pressure is the “single most effective practice that a fleet or driver can employ to impact tire wear, casing life and overall performance.”

But accurate readings rely on the use of a calibrated air gauge. Also, be sure to measure the inflation pressures when the tires are cold, before a trip begins.

Watch your speed Highway speed limits are increasing in many parts of the U.S., but your truck tires may not be rated to travel at those speeds. Remember to abide by the tire’s maximum recommended speed.

Create a tire management program A comprehensive tire management program will track inflation, tread depths, and wear patterns alike. Consider establishing a tire manual as well, identifying key information about recap spec’s and when tires should be pulled.

Take a closer look Every pre-trip inspection will involve the search for under-inflated or damaged tires. Keep an eye out for cuts, cracks, blisters, bulges and other issues, including unusual wear patterns such as cupping and feathering.

Keep everything in line A regular alignment schedule can help prevent irregular tire wear. Supplementing a traditional front-end alignment with a drive axle alignment can also help to boost fuel economy.

Match the tires on dual assemblies Dual assemblies that include tires with diameters that differ by little more than one-quarter of an inch can lead to unwanted scrubbing patterns on the smaller of the two tires, because it won’t maintain constant contact with the road.

When choosing tires for an assembly, consider the tire size, load-carrying capacity, and type of service the tires are designed for.

Sources: Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone

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[kenn1973]

Driver assistance systems deliver immediate ROI, JB Hunt executive says

WASHINGTON, D.C. – JB Hunt has seen a direct return on its investments into advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), says senior vice-president – safety, security and driver personnel Greer Woodruff.

Building on the widespread adoption of tools like automatic emergency braking (AEB) and forward-facing cameras, the fleet plans to begin spec’ing blind spot detection systems by the end of this year. Another pilot project is testing cameras mounted on A-pillars.

Truck Safety Summit Truck Safety Summit speakers see a benefit in today’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). But the technology also continues to evolve. (Screenshot) While Woodruff is excited about technologies to come, he also stresses the need for used truck buyers to prepare for the equipment they will inherit.

“They have to maintain it. They have to make sure they know how it works,” he said during the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Truck Safety Summit, referring to the future vehicle owners. Drivers will need to learn how it works as well.

The fleet has been deploying forward collision warning systems since 2011, and seen the technologies evolve to incorporate feature such as adaptive cruise control, braking on stationary objects, and in some cases pedestrian protection.

Forward collision warning systems can now be found on 98% of the JB Hunt trucks, and the technology has been credited for helping slash the number of rear-end crashes in half, while also reducing the severity of collisions that do occur.

“I’ve seen experienced drivers who have had years of safe driving have a momentary lapse or a circumstance that unfolds, and this has saved them.”

– Greer Woodruff, JB Hunt “I’ve seen experienced drivers who have had years of safe driving have a momentary lapse or a circumstance that unfolds, and this has saved them,” he added, referring to AEB. Forward-facing cameras have also helped to exonerate drivers and fleets alike after incidents that did occur.

Still, he reinforced the need for trained drivers at the wheels of these trucks.

“I understand the value of having a skilled driver applying defensive driving practices behind the wheel,” he said.

In the case of forward-facing cameras, now installed in 84% of the fleet’s Class 8 trucks, JB Hunt drivers have responded well to the benefits of instant replay, he said, likening the technology to an athlete reviewing game film. “Our drivers are similar in that they can refine their skills if they can go back and see what was going on.”

‘Drivers are key’ “Drivers are key. Driver training, driver capability is very key to these systems,” agreed Richard Beyer, Bendix vice-president – engineering, research and development.

While advanced driver assistance systems such as lane-keeping assistance are steps in the journey to autonomous vehicles, they still require drivers to remain engaged, he explained.

Like Woodruff, Beyer also described advances in the underlying technologies. Fused camera and radar, for example, have helped to minimize the number of false detections and interventions, he said. “The sensors themselves are getting better from generation to generation … even the existing sensors that are there will improve with software and confidence.”

Developing such systems has been no small task, however.

“The real world is actually a very random place. It’s difficult to design for,” said Ritchie Huang, Daimler Trucks North America’s executive manager – advanced safety systems and autonomous driving.

One of the ongoing challenges in developing AEB systems is the diverse nature of trucks, Huang said as an example. Plows and buckets are also added to vehicles after they roll off the assembly line. Smaller vehicle classes of trucks face barriers like the lack of electronic stability controls.

“It’s very challenging to really develop a system that operates in all conditions,” he said.

There are regulatory barriers to the evolution of these systems as well, Huang added, citing windshield glazing rules that restrict the location of cameras near windshield wipers.

“This technology is still evolving,” he said. “We also know it’s not perfect.”

But Huang said the OEM believes in it.

If JB Hunt’s experience is any indication, it’s not alone in that belief.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Truck market recovering, but not ‘out of the woods’ yet

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Economic uncertainty continues to keep many truck buyers on the sidelines, but attractive incentives from OEMs are helping to move inventory.

Magnus Koeck, vice-president of product strategy and brand management for Volvo Trucks North America, said during a market update related to new VHD and VAH updates, that it’s difficult to predict when the truck market will fully recover.

Normally, Volvo Group provides a market forecast following each quarterly report. “We haven’t done that this time, because we don’t know where 2021 is going to take us,” Koeck admitted.

Volvo has had to make tough choices, including laying off 4,100 employees globally, many in North America. But on the positive side, it has used its facilities to produce personal protective equipment such as faceshields, has given back to drivers in the form of free meals on the road, has kept its uptime services functional remotely, its parts supply has remained steady, and it has continued to invest in future technologies.

As many as 3,000 Volvo employees have worked from home through recent months, but “our Uptime Center, where we monitor customers 24/7 has worked seamlessly,” Koeck noted.

(Photo: Volvo Trucks North America) One disruption impossible to avoid is Volvo has had to discontinue invites to its Customer Center, where buyers can review the initial builds of an order and ensure they’re getting the exact truck they expected. Those reviews are now being done virtually.

“It has proven to work very, very well. Sometimes even better,” Koeck said, noting the tiny cameras used to show individual items can get into places that are difficult to see in person. “Of course, we hope we can open up for physical visits going forward.”

The downturn in the market, however, couldn’t have come at a worse time. Truck orders were already declining due to the normal cyclical nature of the truck business.

“We had a very high market coming down to more normal levels,” said Koeck, referring back to an update given at the 2019 North American Commercial Vehicle Show. “What we didn’t plan for was the Covid situation.”

“The overall industry inventory of trucks has come down significantly from pretty much record levels.”Magnus Koeck, Volvo Trucks North America The virus affected all global markets, and all of Volvo’s segments. The truck maker, and its competitors, began offering incentives to kickstart sales and orders, which Koeck said have proven effective, especially in reducing inventory from dealer lots to healthier levels.

“The overall industry inventory of trucks has come down significantly from pretty much record levels,” Koeck explained. He anticipates the effects of some of those incentives will be seen in summertime order activity – barring another widespread economic shutdown.

“It’s way too early to say we’re out of the woods,” he acknowledged. “We may see another forest coming up, but in principle, yes we see positive signs.”

Source

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[kenn1973]

Howes adds Iowa 80 Truck Stop to its Hall of Fame

Lubricants producer Howes has named the Iowa 80 Truck Stop as its third inductee in the Howes Hall of Fame, which the company launched in March to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The iconic truck stop in Walcott, Iowa, opened in 1964 as a single building, up and running before I-80 was completed. At the time, Iowa 80 founder Bill Moon was responsible for finding land and building truck stops for Standard Oil. He located the spot for Iowa 80, and they built and opened it at what is now Exit 284 off I-80.

In 1984, after nearly 20 years of managing the place, Bill and his wife Carolyn convinced Standard Oil (now Amoco) to sell to them the land and buildings of their beloved truck stop. These days, Iowa 80 is overseen by the second generation of the Moon family. The Moon’s daughter, Delia Moon Meier, is the truck stop’s senior vice president. Iowa 80 is home to the annual Walcott truckers Jamboree.

Women in Trucking President and CEO Ellen Voie and trucking singer-songwriter Tony Justice were the first two inductees into the Howes Hall of Fame.

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[kenn1973]

ATA Opens 2020 MCE Registration, Addresses COVID-19 Challenges

The American Trucking Associations recently opened registration for the 2020 ATA Management Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for October 24-27, while also addressing concerns related to the current coronavirus pandemic.

“The safety and health of our attendees if first and foremost of highest importance to ATA,” said ATA in a statement to HDT. “ATA will continue to work with the state of Colorado, the city of Denver and the Gaylord Rockies Resort to keep our attendees informed and safe. We are excited to provide a safe environment for our attendees and enjoy the first in person trucking event since COVID-19.”

This year’s theme, “Moving Forward from Crisis to Recovery,” will focus on what fleets and the industry needs to do to continue delivering goods across the nation.

“Each year, MCE is a touchstone event for trucking and never has that been truer than this year,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We anticipate MCE will be one of the first opportunities for our industry to come together and meet face-to-face and begin mapping our road to recovery from this pandemic and its economic impact.”

According to ATA, the event hotel, the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, is elevating its cleanliness standard and have put in place a multi-pronged approach designed to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19.

“This event is an important part of keeping our industry strong and unified,” said ATA Chairman Randy Guillot, president of Triple G Express. “I look forward to joining my fellow ATA members in Denver this October to continue the work of moving our industry forward.”

In addition to opening registration, ATA announced some of its guest speakers, including former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, former Senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) and nationally renowned pollster Neil Newhouse.

Even though registration is open, attendees may defer payment until September 1.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Truckers Jamboree latest trucking event to move online

One of the largest and most popular trucking industry events will be held online this year.

Organizers of the 2020 Walcott Truckers Jamboree today announced the event normally held at the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa is going virtual this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus. There will be an online Antique Truck Show; Super Truck Beauty Contest; Trucker’s Best Friend Pet Contest and free meals for drivers from July 9-11.

Numerous other truck shows have been canceled with some being held online.

“It was made clear yesterday by Governor (Kim) Reynolds’ order that we will not be allowed to hold our massive, in-person event this year. The good news is we will most definitely continue with our long-standing tradition of celebrating America’s truckers,” said Heather DeBaillie, vice president of marketing for Iowa 80 Group. “While we can’t host 45,000 people at Iowa 80 to celebrate, we will take the Jamboree virtual and still celebrate the important job of the professional driver!”

The Antique Truck Display will move online for this year with a slideshow of all who want to provide photos and information about their antique trucks. Likewise, this year’s Super Truck Beauty Contest will also be a virtual event. Drivers will have the opportunity to enter online, choose competitive categories, submit photos and the public will vote on their favorites. Winners will be announced on July 11.

The same process will be used for the Trucker’s Best Friend Pet Contest. Drivers are encouraged to register their pet and submit the requested photos or video to compete. Entries will be voted on and prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed, Owner Look-alike, and Best Trick.

Registration for all competitions will open no later than June 1 with an entry deadline of June 30.

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum will also celebrate the 100th birthday of its 1920 GMC with a video event to be posted on the museum’s Facebook page on Friday, July 10. The truck will still be featured in the lobby of the museum for visitors who would like to see it in person.

All CDL professional driver customers visiting Iowa 80 on July 9-11 can receive a free meal in the Iowa 80 Kitchen restaurant. Meal certificates will be available during those three days at the fuel center, service center, Truckomat Truck Wash and Super Truck Showroom.

“We want drivers to know how much we appreciate the hard work they do,” said Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president of Iowa 80 Group. “This certainly isn’t the way we thought our 41st Jamboree would play out, but we care about drivers and their families and we still want to celebrate them. We truly hope everyone understands and we hope that you will join us in spirit and online July 9-11 in celebration of trucking. We look forward to seeing everyone in person in 2021.”

The Jamboree Program will be printed and available at Iowa 80 Group locations starting late June. All concerts are being rescheduled for 2021. More details and a schedule of online events can be found at truckersjamboree.com.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Trump calls truckers ‘foot soldiers’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump on Thursday praised America’s 3.5 million truck drivers as “foot soldiers” in the war against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The president was speaking at a special ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, celebrating the industry.

“In the war against the virus, American truckers are the foot soldiers who are really carrying us to victory, and they’ve done an incredible job,” he said.

“Every trucker listening over the radio or behind the wheel, I know I speak for the 330 million plus Americans, and we say, ‘Thank God for truckers.’” – President Donald Trump The ceremony was also attended by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and industry executives.

“Every trucker listening over the radio or behind the wheel, I know I speak for the 330 million plus Americans, and we say ‘Thank God for truckers,’” the president said.

“I don’t know if they call me essential. I’m not sure about that. But you are essential. That I can tell you.”

Trump spoke a day after appointing five executives from the industry to a large panel of leaders charting the country’s recovery from Covid-19.

American Trucking Associations president and CEO Chris Spear is among those appointed to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which was excluded from the group, has demanded representation. The association represents some 160,000 truckers.

Secretary Chao said the Department of Transportation has been working hard at the president’s direction to help the drivers do their job.

“Truckers are playing a heroic role in helping America cope during this crisis.”– Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. “We are so grateful for what you do,” she said.

“Truckers are playing a heroic role in helping America cope during this crisis, and truckers will be a critical part in helping our economy recover,” Chao said.

Trump said the truckers have never wavered at all, and predicted that they will have a key role in the country’s economic recovery.

“Truckers are playing a critical role in vanquishing the virus, and they will be just as important as we work to get our economic engines roaring which is happening very quickly, you watch.”

“But once we get going, the truckers are going to be working so hard you’re not going to be able to take a day of rest,” the president said.

Drivers from UPS, DHL, ATA and FedEx were given special keys as a token of the president’s appreciation. Trump also gave keys to Chao and Spear.

Trucking moves more than 70% of America’s freight. In 2018, the industry hauled 11.5 billion tons of goods.

Source

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[kenn1973]

ECONOMIC WATCH: ATA Truck Tonnage Index rises 1.2% in March

ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 1.2% in March after increasing 1.8% in February.

In March, the index equaled 120.4, compared with 119 in February, ATA said.

“March was the storm before the calm, especially for carriers hauling consumer staples, which experienced strong freight levels,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.

But he said there was a huge divergence among freight types. While freight to grocery stores and big box retailers was strong in March, freight was anemic in other supply chains.

“Because of this, and the continued shuttering of many parts of the economy, I would expect April tonnage to be very soft,” he said.

Compared with March 2019, the SA index increased 4.3%, which was preceded by a 2.6% year-over-year gain in February, ATA said.

During the first quarter, the index rose 1.5% compared with the fourth quarter of last year and 2.4% from a year earlier.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 120.9 in March, 11.8% above the February level (108.2).

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 71% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods.

Trucks hauled 11.5 billion tons of freight in 2018.

Source

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[kenn1973]

With A Few Great Tips, You Can Save A Lot On Truck Insurance

Your truck, like you and your family, is an important part of your life. Just like you, it needs to be insured to with an truck insurance policy. You need to research all kinds and find the best ones that offer affordable rates and coverage should anything happen to your vehicle. These tips below can help you with that.

You should always check the possible insurance rates if you are purchasing a new vehicle. You can contact your insurance company or use online resources for information about which vehicles have lower premiums. Whether you are looking at new or used trucks, you can make a much better decision if you take insurance rates into account. By purchasing a truck that has a good safety rating, you can save a lot on your truck insurance.

To save money on truck insurance, consider setting a higher deductible of what you would pay out of pocket, in the event of an accident. The insurance company prices policies based on what they expect to pay out if you make a claim and reducing that amount, translates to lower premiums for you.

To get the most for your money when pricing truck insurance, be sure to consider the extras that are included with some policies. You can save on towing costs with emergency roadside assistance that is included by some insurers. Others may offer discounts for good drivers or including more than one truck on your policy.

A simple way to save a bit of money on your truck insurance, is to find out whether the insurance company gives discounts for either paying the entire premium at once (most will give you a small discount for doing this) or taking payments electronically. Either way, you will pay less than shelling out each month’s payment separately.

If you are married, you can drop your monthly truck insurance premium payments by simply putting your spouse on your policy. A lot of insurance companies see marriage as a sign of stability and assume that a married person is a safer driver than a single person, especially if you have kids as a couple.

If you can afford it, try to pay your truck insurance premium in full. By paying in full, you may be able to avoid the interest charges that may be added by paying with monthly payments. Some companies will also provide you with a discount for paying your premium in full.

In order to save money, consider switching from a monthly payment plan to a yearly or semi-annual payment plan. If you’re currently paying premiums by the month, you may be paying extra for the additional handling required to process your monthly payments. If you can afford to pay your premiums up front for a year, for example, you may gain significant savings.

Do not buy your teenager a truck. Instead, have them share a truck the family already owns. It will save you a lot of money to add them to your insurance policy. If your teenager is on honor roll, it might be good enough for a discount.

If you are in an accident, report it. Even if there aren’t any injuries that are obvious at the time. It doesn’t mean you are necessarily filing a claim, just letting your insurance company know what happened in case a claim is filed by the other party at a later time.

When you are checking rates with different truck insurance companies, make sure your information is consistent with every quote you get. This way you can be sure you are getting the best quotes possible with each company you get quotes from. Then, you can accurately choose the company with the best rates.

The cost of your truck insurance will be impacted by the number of tickets and points on your driving record. To get your best rate, you must wait until your driving record is clear and then look for a new truck insurance provider. The cost will be significantly lower; you will save a lot on your premiums.

If you are a person who has had truck insurance for years but never had an accident then an insurance company who offers vanishing deductibles may be perfect for you. If you are not getting in accidents then you should be rewarded, and this kind of program offers you a reward.

Be sure to understand the terminology used in your truck insurance policy. Even when you talk to your agent, he will be talking about things like comprehensive, collision, and liability. Make sure that you understand what is meant by all of this, this way you will be able to ask all the questions you may have and understand the answers that you will be getting.

Truck insurance companies often offer discounts for particular careers and professions. You should remember to consider not just your own line of work, though; if you have a spouse or other family member working in an insurance-friendly field, consider bringing them on board your truck insurance policy to get a professional discount.

There are many different truck insurance firms and once in a while you will come across a very attractive lucrative discount from an unknown insurer. If you are considering such an offer, you should definitely contact your state’s insurance department first. Every insurance company is required to register with the states in which they provide insurance. You want to be certain that the insurer is indeed licensed in your state and that the offer is not a scam!

If you are looking to cut the cost of your truck insurance, consider dropping some non-essential extras. Most insurance companies offer coverage for things like road side assistance or towing services. Talk with your insurance agent to see exactly what you are paying for and determine if there is anything you want to off the policy.

Getting truck insurance for your truck ensures that if anything happens to it, it can be fixed. That may not work the same as with a human life, but similar to insurance for people, it is really important to your future. So, do yourself a favor and do your research and apply the above tips to your policy hunt.

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[kenn1973]

OOIDA calls on Trump to help truckers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has written a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, asking for help to support the continued movement of goods during the Covid-19 crisis.

“Truckers are a vital component of the supply chain, hauling loads that help keep hospitals prepared, manufacturers productive and grocery stores stocked,” wrote OOIDA president Todd Spencer. “Unfortunately, our members are encountering many challenges that unnecessarily slow the movement of goods, limit the effectiveness of response efforts and jeopardize their personal health and safety. The federal government can take steps to immediately alleviate many of these problems, and coordination with state and local governments, as well as the business community, will help address many more.”

Specifically, OOIDA called on the Trump administration to discourage states from closing rest areas and other truck parking facilities, while encouraging states to open weigh stations, inspection facilities and other government-owned sites for parking.

OOIDA also called for a lifting of hours-of-service requirements for all freight. Waiving HoS requirements for the shipment of certain emergency supplies only has caused confusion in the industry, Spencer wrote.

The organization also called on government to allow carriers with satisfactory safety ratings to bypass weigh stations if they are hauling emergency supplies. “Except in the case of imminent safety concerns or obvious defects, Level 1 and all roadside inspections must immediately be suspended,” OOIDA contended.

Lastly, the group voiced concern about truckers being banned from shipper/receiver facilities, including restrooms.

“The federal government must work with the logistics community to ensure truckers have access to restrooms,” Spencer wrote. “Some businesses are claiming to limit access as a means to control the spread of the virus to their employees. These claims are both counterproductive and insulting. As the most transient community in America, truckers must have the capacity to wash their hands after handling freight, paperwork and business equipment to help contain the spread of the virus.”

Source

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source https://www.truckinsuranceaaa.com/ooida-calls-on-trump-to-help-truckers/

[kenn1973]

Hyundai Translead names Sean Kenney CSO

San Diego, Calif. — Hyundai Translead has appointed Sean Kenney chief sales officer, replacing Stuart James who is retiring in March.

Kenney, who joined the company this week, will serve as senior vice-president until he assumes the new role in April.

James will remain in the company as an executive advisor, the company said Tuesday.

Kenney will be responsible for all sales operations including Hyundai Translead’s dealer network and customer support teams. He will set long-term strategic sales objectives and drive corporate priorities.

“With Mr. Kenney at the helm as our new CSO, the strength of our market leadership, innovation and exceptional team, all point to a positive future,” said CEO Bong Jae Lee.

A fully owned subsidiary of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Translead manufactures dry and refrigerated trailers as well as flatbeds, chassis and dollies.

It was established in 1989, and is headquartered in San Diego, Calif.

Source

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[kenn1973]

Regulators look to further reduce NOx in truck exhaust

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to further reduce the NOx produced by heavy trucks – particularly under low-load conditions when the vehicles are idling, moving slowly, or in stop-and-go traffic.

Details of the regulatory plans have emerged in a call for comments on the agency’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative, under an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule (ANPR).

Ongoing Canadian-based research into medium-duty vehicles will also have a role to play in the process. The EPA plans to use Environment and Climate Change Canada’s full vehicle testing being performed on this side of the border, exploring advanced technologies available in the market today.

“EPA expects this study will inform our baseline engine performance for medium-heavy duty engines,” the EPA says.

While NOx emissions in the U.S. have dropped by more than 40% over a decade, heavy-duty vehicles are expected to continue to be a leading mobile source in 2028. Those NOx emissions contribute to unwanted ozone and particulate matter.

“There is more work to be done,” the EPA says in the submission, noting that the EPA last revised the NOx standards in 2001. “We have an opportunity to modernize the requirements to better reflect the capability of available emissions control technologies.”

The EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, and the Southwest Research Institute, are now investigating technologies such as cylinder deactivation and intake valve closing to reduce airflow and increase exhaust temperatures. That is expected to help aftertreatment systems control emissions while also reducing fuel consumption – the primary focus of current emissions-related programs. The latest generation of aftertreatment configurations and formulas are also being investigated.

For gasoline engines used in heavy-duty applications, regulators are looking to keep three-way catalysts warm for improved cold starts and low-load emissions, as well as material changes to reduce the need for engine protection modes that increase emissions during high-load applications.

Another study is looking at the accuracy, repeatability, noise, interference and response times of current NOx sensors.

To help manufacturers, meanwhile, the EPA is looking for a way to demonstrate aftertreatment durability through an accelerated catalyst aging procedure.

“We have the opportunity to build on and repeat our past success, but to do so we need the agency to lead a collaborative, data-driven process to determine both the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of any future regulations,” said Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. “Through the Cleaner Trucks Initiative, EPA can assure that any future regulations are not only cost-effective, but also provide sufficient regulatory lead time, stability and certainty.”

It wasn’t the only organization to comment.

“Since 1985, newly manufactured trucks have reduced NOx emissions by over 98%, but our work is not yet done,” said American Trucking Associations executive vice-president of advocacy Bill Sullivan. “ATA is committed to continuing to work closely with EPA on developing the next generation of low-NOx emitting trucks through the Cleaner Trucks Initiative. To this end, the trucking industry seeks one national, harmonized NOx emissions standard that will result in positive environmental progress while not compromising truck performance and delivery of the nation’s goods.”

Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said that “serious problems with earlier rulemakings have left small-business truckers justifiably wary of new emissions reduction proposals. However, over the last year, representatives of the EPA have gone to great lengths to fully understand how new policies may affect our members, which wasn’t standard practice under previous administrations.”

More information is available through the Cleaner Trucks Initiative web page.

Source

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