Monday May 19 2008

Resources

HDAW 2009 Organizing Leadership Named

ORLAND PARK, IL – May 14, 2008 – Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week’s twelve sponsoring distributor and supplier organizations met recently in Chicago to select its leadership team and kick-off the strategic planning for HDAW’09, scheduled for February 16 -19 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center.

HDAW ‘08 Chairman, Jerry Weis of Ott’s Friction, and Vice Chairman Joe Mejaly of ArvinMeritor reviewed the results of the highly successful 2008 event held in January in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 75 volunteers and association staff planned and executed the 2008 program, and a similar organizing process is planned for HDAW’09.

Commodity Cost Increases: India OEM Competitors in Joint Purchasing Alliances

NEW DELHI: The recent rise in prices of key inputs like steel has led automobile companies go for placing major bulk orders by combining their requirements and that of their key vendors.

While fighting the rising material costs, companies are increasingly focusing on new ways to keep purchasing costs low as part of efficiency measures to keep margins healthy. Community purchase, which involves adding the commodity requirements of vendors to the company's own plans, is one such way.

Shanghai Steel Futures Trading 'Soon'

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) has set out its wire rod and rebar futures contracts and formulated guidelines on delivery and risk control, its president said.

"The market conditions are right. It's a good time to launch steel futures trading this year," Yang Maijun, president of SHFE, said at the Far East Steel Conference in Beijing.

Chrysler Seeks 25 Percent Slash in Parts Prices

DETROIT — Chrysler LLC purchasing czar John Campi told hundreds of supplier executives last week that the automaker wants to cut component costs by 25 percent over three years.

Spokesman Kevin Frazier says Chrysler will make some significant changes in its manufacturing and purchasing operations to help suppliers hit the 25 percent target.

UPS Places Record Order for Hybrid Electric Trucks

UPS announced Tuesday, May 13, it has ordered 200 hybrid electric vehicles -- the largest commercial order of such trucks by any company -- in addition to another 300 compressed natural gas vehicles for its U.S. delivery fleet. The purchase of the 500 additional vehicles means the UPS alternative fuel fleet -- already the largest such private fleet in the United States -- will grow 30 percent from 1,718 to 2,218 low-carbon vehicles.

“Alternative fuel research and development is just one of the ways that UPS is mitigating climate change risks,” says Bob Stoffel, corporate sustainability officer for Atlanta-based UPS. “We also are focused on aggressive conservation programs and improving network efficiency to cut fuel use.”

Economy Continues to Hit Trucking Industry Hard

Truckload carriers should expect to face intense pricing pressure this spring after a first-quarter performance characterized by stagnant rates and deteriorating operating ratios.

A Transport Topics review of results posted by publicly traded truckload fleets showed the average operating ratio worsened by 4.1 percentage points to 98.7, and rates excluding fuel charges inched up only 0.4 percent to $1.586 per loaded mile.

OEM Insider: Final April Truck Data, Class 8 Orders Y/Y Up 77 Percent

A.C.T. released final truck data for april. Class 8 and Class 5-7 net new orders were revised up 6 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Class 5-8 builds improved YoY, up 13 percent in April, with strength being driven by Volvo (up 306 percent y/y), Navistar (up 25 percent y/y), and Freightliner (up 15 percent).

Class 8 orders were 20,099 IN April, up 77 percent y/y (vs. up 18 percent y/y in March).

Dongfeng Begins Testing All-Electric Commercial Vehicle

A subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Corporation is conducting trials of an electric-powered light commercial vehicle (LCV) model, reports. Dongfeng has developed the vehicle and is testing it around Wuhan in Hubei Province.

Details that have emerged about the vehicle are that it takes five hours to charge and that its range is between 100 and 150 kilometers (km), and it has a top speed of 80 km/h. Its price is said to be around 300,000 yuan (US$43,000), but this could fall to 200,000 yuan if it enters into full production. Two vehicles will initially be used by delivery company TNT as part of its express service.

Steel Pricing is a Global Issue, India Hit Hard by Rising Prices

Chennai: Holding on to the mesmerizing price of the Nano may be tough for Tata Motors if steel prices continue to head north.

However, it is not just Nano — all vehicle manufacturers are under pressure from their vendors to raise prices of the components they buy from them, thanks to the relentless increase in steel prices.

Settlement in US vs. Mack Trucks Civil Suit over Emissions

2008 Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. All rights reserved

Notice is hereby given of a proposed Agreement Regarding Alleged Non- Compliance with Consent Decree ("Agreement") in the case of United States v. Mack Trucks, Inc., Civil Action No. 98-01495, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The agreement was filed on May 7, 2008.

The Agreement resolves a matter involving Mack's alleged failure to comply with a 1999 Consent Decree settling claims under Title II of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq. (the "Act"), regarding the alleged use of illegal emission-control "defeat devices" on Mack's 1998 and prior heavy-duty diesel engines ("HDDEs"). Specifically at issue is Mack's omission of 5786 engines from its Low NO Rebuild Program.

Senators Warn “Cap and Trade” Bill Could Spike Gas to $5 a Gallon

Worried about gas prices hitting $4 a gallon and beyond? Imagine if they were $6, $7 or even $8 a gallon. Those levels are a certain possibility should Congress pass cap-and-trade legislation, which could face a vote in early June.

Oil is trading at record levels, in excess of $120 a barrel. Leading Republican Sens. James Inhofe (Okla.) and Jeff Sessions (Ala.) both told the Business & Media Institute (BMI) energy prices would drastically increase if the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191) is signed into law.

How to Outperform the Competition in a Tough Economy

OESA and Gerry Weinberg & Associates invite members and guests to participate in an executive sales management training seminar on July 24, 2008, in Southfield, Mich. The session, "Outperforming the Competition in a Tough Economy," is developed for presidents, general managers and sales and marketing management executives. Participants will learn best-in-class ideas and techniques on how to develop an outstanding sales team.

Gerry Weinberg, president, Gerry Weinberg & Associates, a professional sales trainer well known for coverage in Crain's Detroit Business and on WWJ Newsradio 950, will lead participants through a proven training module. Key areas include:

Freightliner - UPS Orders 2,000 Trucks to be Built at Gaffney Plant

The United Parcel Service has ordered a total of 2,000 trucks from Daimler Trucks North America's Freightliner, 500 of which are the 200 electric hybrids and 300 natural gas units announced in earlier news, Reuters has reported.

Jonathon Randall, director of sales and marketing for Freightliner, said on 14 May that the order also included 1,500 conventional diesel-powered trucks. Officials of both companies declined to discuss the value of the order.

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