Monday August 30 2010

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More U.S. Goods Face Tariffs in Mexican Trucking Dispute

The Mexican government last week imposed a second round of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports to protest the closing of the common national boundary to cross-border trucking and said the United States has yet to propose a plan to allow trucks from Mexico to deliver in the United States.

Pork, cheese, pistachio nuts, ketchup and citrus fruits are among the new products subject to levies as high as 25 percent.

ATA Exec Praises CSA 2010 as a Step in the Right Direction

Rob Abbott, American Trucking Associations' vice president of safety policy, reviewed a number of safety-related issues facing the trucking industry, including Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010), electronic onboard recorders and the pending hours-of-service rulemaking, during a presentation at the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference Aug. 26 in Dallas.

More Fuel Savings Seen in Trucks' Future

Equipment 10 years from now will be much more fuel efficient, thanks to technologies coming into acceptance and others yet to be introduced, executives said Thursday, Aug. 26.

The forecasts were made at the "SuperSession: Tomorrow's trucks and trailers,"sponsored by Shell Lubricants at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

Medium-Duty Truck Sales Soar in July

U.S. retail sales of medium-duty trucks "” Classes 3-7 "” jumped 54.5 percent in July from the corresponding month a year ago, the largest year-over-year gain since mid-2005 and the biggest sales month this year,WardsAuto.com reported.

Medium-duty sales were 24,586 units in July, and the total sold this year through July was 148,103, a 23.9 percent increase from the same 2009 period, Ward's said.

EPA, CARB to Review SCR Policies

The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have agreed to begin a "thorough review"of their policies regarding the operation of selective catalytic reduction-equipped heavy-duty diesel engines when diesel engine fluid tanks run dry.

Cummins Manufactures 26,000 EPA '10 Engines

Cummins announced that by the end of August it will have manufactured 26,000 medium- and heavy-duty engines equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technologies that comply with 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards.

Medium and Heavy Duty Fuel Economy Rules Submitted for Review

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have sent their proposed fuel economy and emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to the White House for review by the Office of Management and Budget.

Peterbilt Dealers, Technicians Ready to Support MX Diesels, Builder Says

Service departments at Peterbilt dealerships are ready to support the new Paccar MX diesel, say executives at the builder's headquarters in Denton, Texas. Dealers will also begin using Paccar's Engine Rapido program, an online shop manual originated by Paccar's DAF subsidiary in The Netherlands, and DAVIE, a truck-laptop interface device.

Trainers in Denton have instructed more than 1,500 technicians on the ins and outs of servicing and repairing the engine's systems, and each tech has attended a five-day class. Dealers, meanwhile, have been stocking special tools and parts at 674 locations.

Major Fleets Discuss Cost, Productivity, Capacity Challenges

A panel of fleet executives talked about the changes they made to their operations during the recent recession, what they are doing today during the transition and what they see for the future with the cost and productivity challenges they will face.

Max Fuller, co-chairman of U.S. Xpress; Leo Suggs, chairman and CEO Greatwide Logistic Services; and Tom Kretsinger, president and CEO of American Central Transport, shared their strategies and ideas in a panel discussion during the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference at the Great American Trucking Show Aug. 26.

PACCAR's Sobic: Quality, Cooperation Key to Economic Rebound

Kicking off the inaugural Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Dan Sobic, executive vice president of Paccar Inc., set the stage for a recovering truck market that will demand the highest levels of quality and cooperation from vehicle and supplier manufacturers.

White House to Meet with Groups about Truck Buying Incentive

A coalition of trucking groups pushing for a tax break for truckers to buy new trucks are tentatively scheduled to meet with staff members at the White House this week.

Marmon Appoints President for New Brake & Wheel Ends Group

J.T. Weis has been appointed president of the newly formed Brake & Wheel Ends Group (BWE). BWE is a part of the Commercial Vehicle Undercarriage business unit under parent Marmon Highway Technologies.

ATA Chairman Hodges: Trucking Looking Up, But Faces Challenges

American Trucking Associations Chairman Tommy Hodges on Thursday, Aug. 26, offered the approximately 330 in attendance a guarded assessment of the trucking industry during the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas.

About 5,500 carrier failures have led to nearly 200,000 fewer trucks in the marketplace. This tightening of capacity and stronger consumer confidence has Hodges more optimistic for the short-term outlook.

Truck Industry Analyst Sees No Double-Dip Recession

"Why do you buy a truck?"FTR Associates President Eric Starks asked a gathering of well over 300 fleet, truck-maker and supplier executives and others on hand for the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas Aug. 25. "To move freight"came the answer from the audience, prompted by a message lit up on dual video screens behind the presenter.

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