NAS Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles

The National Academies of Science Committee for Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicleswill meet in Detroit area next week on April 7-8, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn. Meetings are open to public, but can only observe. If you’re interested in attending, you must register.

Parts Suppliers Plan Sixth Annual Legislative Summit:

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) will honor Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) as the 2009 recipient of the Joseph M. Magliochetti Industry Champion award. The award will be presented during MEMA's annual Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C. on April 30. All AASA, HDMA and OESA members are strongly encouraged to send representatives to this important industry event.

Diesel Technology Forum to Host Free Webinar

The Diesel Technology Forum announced it will host a free webinar on April 9 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (ET). The focus of the webinar is the new generation of clean ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, which was introduced in 2006. ULSD now fuels the majority of all highway vehicles and has enabled a new generation of fuel efficient, low-CO2 clean diesel vehicle choices for consumers.

MEMA Database Provides Details on Federal Business Services

MEMA has identified more than 200 federal programs that provide services to support the business sector, several of which provide services specifically to small businesses engaged in manufacturing while others target manufacturers regardless of their size.

Some of the programs provide primarily non-financial technical assistance to help firms improve the efficiency of their manufacturing operations and their quality control processes as well as to solve specific manufacturing problems.

US Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Rise 3.4 Percent

Bloomberg News (3/25, Schlisserman) reported orders for US durable goods unexpectedly rose in February, a 3.4 percent increase, "the biggest gain in more than a year and the first in seven months." The gains "followed a 7.3 percent decrease in January," on a rebound in demand for machinery, computers and defense equipment. This increase "combined with reports showing improvements in retail sales, residential construction and home resales," indicate that "the economy is stabilizing after shrinking last quarter at the fastest pace in a quarter century." Stephen Gallagher, chief US economist at Societe Generale in New York, said, "It's not going to be downhill forever. Once businesses achieve a reduction in their inventories they will pick up their new orders and production."

Navistar’s CEO: Trucking Key to Economy

Trucking is at the heart of our nation’s economy and is key to our economic turnaround, Dan Ustian, chairman, president and CEO, Navistar International Corp., told attendees at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association Breakfast & Briefing last Friday. The breakfast is held annually during the Mid-America Trucking Show.

While headlines focus on what’s wrong with the economy – the housing market, credit crisis, unemployment, consumer spending – “What’s missing is truckers,” he said. “Who knows better the state of the economy?”