Heavy Duty Dialogue Registration Still Open, New Contributor Added to Lineup

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Heavy Duty Dialogue ’09, with the theme of The Commercial Vehicle Industry in Transition, announces the addition of David Andrea, vice president, industry analysis and economics for the Original Equipment Manufacturers Association (OESA) as a contributor on the event Industry/Market Forecast panel.

In his position with OESA, Andrea administers several councils, coordinates research with outside consulting firms, assists with media relations and other special projects. Prior to joining OESA, Andrea was chief financial officer and director of the forecasting group at the Center for Automotive Research. Andrea was also chief economist with CSM Worldwide, equity investment analyst with Roney & Co. (now Raymond James) and with AutoPacific, Inc. Andrea also worked for eight years with the University of Michigan's Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation.

Caterpillar to Cut 20,000 of 113,000 Jobs

Heavy construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. said Monday, Jan. 26, it would cut 20,000 jobs this year through layoffs and buyouts.

The Peoria, Ill.-based company said the job losses would take place in all of its businesses and in all of its facilities. It will cut about 4,000 production employees and around 7,500 management and support staff. Another 8,000 contractors not directly employed by the company will lose their positions. Most of the job reductions will happen in the first quarter.

The 12,000 company jobs represent about 11 percent of the company’s total workforce. Caterpillar currently employs about 113,000 workers.

Graves Outlines ATA’s Priorities

Speaking to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, American Trucking Assns. (ATA) president & CEO Gov. Bill Graves detailed ATA’s priorities at the onset of the Obama administration and what he hopes can be accomplished over the next few years.

Graves said that ATA’s biggest priorities include the implementation of a national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol use; employer notification of road offenses, and tougher safety standards for new entrants.

Copper, Aluminum Pace Decline in Metals as U.S. Housing Shrinks

Copper, aluminum and nickel led declines in industrial metals in London on speculation that demand will weaken as the U.S. housing slump worsens. U.S. housing starts and permits to begin building probably dropped to record lows last month, economists said in Bloomberg News surveys before the Commerce Department report in two days. Construction is the biggest use for copper in the U.S., and prices slid 54 percent last year as the American recession reduced home buying.

Mack, Volvo Will Add OBD to 13L Diesel First

Recently issued Federal rules requiring on-board diagnostics (OBD) for heavy-duty diesel engines will be met with a combination of existing sensors already in place and “a handful of new sensors,” according to Steve Berry, director of government relations for Volvo Powertrain North America, the subsidiary that builds engines for both Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America.

Navistar Defense Lands $79 mil Army Contract

Navistar Defense has been awarded nearly $79 million by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to provide 328 fuel trucks and 277 water tankers, all customized from the WorkStar platform, for use by U.S. troops overseas.

Under the terms of the contract, Navistar will provide the Army with approximately 40 percent of the vehicles in 2009, with the remaining units to be delivered by the end of July 2010. The award is in addition to $2.3 billion in military contracts for 2009 announced earlier this month.

Navistar and Ford Revise Their Collaboration Agreement

Ford Motor Company and Navistar International have reached an agreement to restructure their ongoing business relationship and settle all existing litigation between the companies. As a result of the agreement, the companies will end their current diesel engine supply agreement effective Dec. 31, 2009. However, they will continue to collaborate on a range of initiatives, including their existing Blue Diamond Truck and Parts joint ventures.