Monday September 28 2009

Resources

Bendix Issues Business Financing Fraud Alert

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems (Bendix CVS) and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, is warning its employees, customers, and other consumers about a business financing scam that has appropriated the companies’ identities.

The companies recently learned about the fraudulent activity when consumers began calling their headquarters to inquire about letters and, more specifically, checks they had received that were marked with the names and logos of both Bendix CVS and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, a Bendix joint venture with Dana Commercial Vehicle Products.

35 Logistics CEOs Survey Looks at Key Trends Affecting Global Supply Chains

A survey of logistics executives revealed that continued pricing compression, reverse globalization and a commitment to green initiatives are key trends affecting global supply chains.

Results from the "2009 3PL Provider CEO Perspective" surveys were presented by Dr. Robert Lieb, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Northeastern University, and Joe Gallick, Senior Vice President of Sales for Penske Logistics, at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Annual Global Conference in Chicago last week.

Senate OKs Budget Funding for DOT

The Senate has approved legislation that would increase the funding for the Department of Transportation in fiscal 2010 and would allow Maine to raise the truck weight on Interstate 95 as part of a pilot program.

The bill, which made annual appropriations for DOT and other agencies, passed 73-25 on Sept. 17. It provides $122 billion for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments in fiscal 2010 — 12 percent more than in the current budget.

HDAW 2010 One-on-One Meeting Supplier Registration Deadline is Sept. 30

One-on-One meeting supplier registrations for Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week are still open for the January 2010 conference. One-on-One meetings are a series of pre-scheduled and pre-arranged meetings between exhibiting heavy duty supplier and distributor executives held in private meeting suites during the conference.

HDAW 2010 will be held at Monday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 at The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nev.

Bosch Sells North American Foundation Brake Business Akebono

The planned takeover includes the business with products such as brake calipers, disc brakes and drum brakes. The total sales volume in 2009 was $580 million.

The Bosch Group foundation brakes business in North America is to be sold to Tokyo-based Akebono Brake Industry. AftermarketNews.com first reported in July that Bosch was exploring options for the business. Akebono and Bosch have signed an agreement in New York regarding the sale.

EPA Greenhouse Mandatory Gas Registry Finalized

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule. This new rule will require thousands of facilities to monitor and report their annual emissions of several major GHG. The registry should provide much of the detailed, facility-level information needed to develop policies to reduce emissions. Several major changes were made to the proposed rule, mostly in favor of industry. The changes appear to have reduced the amount of facilities covered and the amount of greenhouse gases tracked.

When EPA first proposed the mandatory registry, it estimated that "85-90 percent of total national U.S. GHG emissions, from approximately 13,000 facilities, would be covered by the proposed rule." Now, following the changes that appear in the final rule, the agency claims "an estimated 85 percent of the total U.S. GHG emissions, from approximately 10,000 facilities, are covered by this final rule."

Reminder to Complete HDMA’s Q3 2009 Supplier Barometer Survey

HDMA has been conducting a quarterly Supplier Barometer for the past two years. A detailed analysis is distributed after each Barometer survey to those who participate. Participants have responded very positively to the ability to benchmark other HDMA members in the commercial parts industry.

Our barometer includes a set of repeating trend measurements and a final section addressing a specific and related topic. This quarter, HDMA is measuring member responses on Class 5-6-7 and on Class 8 truck builds for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

EPA Mandates Greenhouse Gas Reporting by Manufacturers

In an effort to find out where greenhouse gas emissions are coming from, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule, requiring large emitters of heat-trapping emissions, including manufacturers heavy-duty trucks and engines, to report emissions data annually.

Thanks to lobbying efforts by the trucking industry, trucking companies will NOT be required to report their GHG emissions under the final rule.

Utilities Join for $600-Million Green Fleet Makeover

The FPL Group and Duke Energy are planning to jointly invest $600 million in their fleets, transitioning cars and trucks to plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles starting Jan. 1 next year.

The two utility companies said the vehicle conversion plan involves more than 10,000 vehicles and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 125,000 metric tons over the next 10 years.

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Improves: Smallest Drop Since November ‘08

U.S. truck tonnage fell 7.5 percent in August from the same month last year, the best year-to-year showing since November 2008, American Trucking Associations said Friday. ATA’s seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index improved 2.1 percent in August from July, the same increase as the previous month.

The index fell to a reading of 104.1, with the year 2000 as the base year at 100. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, was 105.8 in August, down 0.5 percent from July. The month-over-month increase is a “positive sign” for the trucking industry, said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The gains in tonnage during July and August reflect a growing economy and less of an overhang in inventories,” Costello said in a statement, adding that he is hopeful that tonnage will continue an upward trend in the coming months.

Arvinmeritor Opens New Tech Centre in Bangalore India

ArvinMeritor has officially opened its new technical centre in Bangalore to develop axle and brake parts for commercial and other vehicle applications in Asia Pacific markets.

"Growth in Asia Pacific, particularly India and China, is a key component of our business strategy," said the supplier's chief for the region, Tim Bowes.

HDAW Offers Early-Bird Registration Incentives, Contest

HDAW’10 announced several incentives for the upcoming Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, Jan. 18-21, at the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas. These include a deferred billing option, reduced early registration prices and a contest for registering early.

Those who register by Oct. 31 are automatically entered for a chance to win:

Daimler Recognizes 35 Suppliers as Masters of Quality

Daimler Trucks North America recognized 35 North American manufacturers that provide components for Freightliner and Western Star truck brands as recipients of its Masters of Quality supplier quality award for 2008. The Masters of Quality award is the highest recognition that Daimler Trucks North America gives to its suppliers.

"In light of the current downturn in global economy and its impact on truck markets and our suppliers, this is no easy accomplishment," said Roger Nielsen, chief operating officer for DTNA. "The Masters of Quality winners are the role models for our entire supplier base."

ACT: US Trailer Market Continues to Trend Upward

The commercial trailer segment saw a boost in net orders in August, up 14 percent from July and 69 percent from the year-ago period. August 2008 marked the early phase of a subdued commercial vehicle market, according the latest State of the Industry: U.S. trailers by ACT Research.

August was the second straight month to see year-over-year gains for the trailer industry, in comparison to a depressed second half of 2008. However, year to date ending August, net orders are 35 percent below the same period in 2008. For the three months ending August, net orders for trailers are up 16 percent from the same period of 2008.

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