January 31, 2011

Resources

December Class 8 Orders Skyrocket to Over 25,000

Transport Topics Magazine Orders for new Class 8 trucks in North America more than doubled in December from the same month in 2009 and totaled more than 25,000 units, two research organizations reported.

ACT Research Co., Columbus, Ind., reported Jan. 5 that truck manufacturers had received orders for 25,500 new Class 8 vehicles in the month, up 115% from the previous December.

HDMA Members Invited to Exhibit at the MEMA Legislative Summit 2011

The MEMA Legislative Summit will be held Wednesday, March 2, to Thursday, March 3, in Washington DC.

HDMA member companies will again have the opportunity to provide exhibits during the Congressional Reception and Supplier Fair. Participation in the Supplier Fair gives companies a greater opportunity for visibility at the Summit and provides reception attendees with an opportunity to learn about the many facets of the supplier industry.

Navistar Expects Traction from Engine Strategy in 2011

Dow Jones News Service Navistar International Corp. (NAV) Chairman and Chief Executive Dan Ustian is swimming against a current of skepticism about his company's engine strategy.

Since 2008, when the commercial truck maker opted to address the latest federal standard for nitrogen oxide emissions in diesel-engine exhaust with a treatment system different from the approach used by the rest of the truck industry, Ustian has been subjected to ceaseless second-guessing by others in the industry and the company's investors.

Commercial Vehicle Group Announces Acquisition of Bostrom Seating

NEW ALBANY, OHIO, January 31, 2011 – Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVGI) announced today that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Bostrom Seating, Inc.(“Bostrom”), a seat supplier to the North American heavy truck, aftermarket, bus and specialty vehicle markets. Bostrom, a division of Accuride Corporation, Inc. (NYSE: ACW), has one owned manufacturing facility in Piedmont, Alabama which employs approximately 135 associates and an engineering office in Wixom, Michigan.

“This acquisition further expands our North American presence in certain key end markets and enhances our overall aftermarket position with the addition of the Bostrom Seating brand of products,” said Mervin Dunn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Vehicle Group. “Bostrom’s product offering and position in the commercial vehicle seating market, along with our existing operations and strong National and KAB Seating brands make this a strategic opportunity for us. We look forward to working with Bostrom’s employees, customers and suppliers as we move forward together,” added Dunn.

December Truck Tonnage Grows 4.2%

Transport Topics Magazine Truck tonnage rose 4.2% in December from a year ago to its highest level in more than two years, American Trucking Associations said Tuesday.

The upturn left the index at a reading of 111.6, ATA said in its monthly seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage report. The index uses the year 2000 as its baseline reading of 100. It was the highest level since September 2008.

Daimler Trucks North America Celebrates 1000th Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Truckinginfo.com Daimler Trucks North America is marking the production of its 1,000th hybrid electric vehicle with a celebration at its Mt. Holly, NC plant. The 1,000th vehicle - a Freightliner Business Class M2 106 Hybrid truck, manufactured at the Mt. Holly plant. "DTNA has worked closely with our partners and customers to develop leading-edge hybrid solutions that shape future transportation by maximizing fuel efficiency while also benefiting the environment," said Mark Lampert, senior vice president of sales and marketing for DTNA. "And it is because of the shared dedication between us, our partners and customers that we were able to reach this important 1,000thvehicle milestone."

Infrastructure Gains on Obama Agenda

Light & Medium Truck President Obama said he will intensify efforts to repair the nation’s roads, bridges and mass transit systems, calling the work necessary to create jobs and compete with nations that have made those investments, Bloomberg News reported.

In his State of the Union address Tuesday, Obama said he will look to attract more private capital for big projects. Details on the spending and programs won’t be provided until the budget is released next month, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said before the speech, Bloomberg said.

Navistar: 50,000 Orders for New Trucks with MaxxForce Engines

Transport Topics Magazine An executive with Navistar Inc. said the company has received orders for nearly 50,000 International trucks with its 2010-compliant MaxxForce engines and already has shipped 26,000 of them to customers.

The company also said last week it expects strong earnings for the full fiscal year.

U.S. Government Still Sitting on Billions of Dollars of "Green" Loan Money

IHS Global Insight Daily Analysis Initiated in late 2007 by then president George W. Bush, the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program is still languishing, and it has yet to disburse any more money from the US$25-billion fund beyond the US$8.3 billion it has given to Ford, Nissan, Fisker, Tesla, and Tenneco.

Implications: Over 100 applicants have applied for money, but only the aforementioned five have received any in over two years, prompting dozens of terse inquiries by senior members of the U.S. Congress, but nothing in the way of visible results.

Keller Brothers Inducted Into the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame

Truck Parts and Service Magazine Las Vegas - Don and Wayne Keller, formers owners of Keller Truck Parts, Baltimore, Md., were presented with the 2011 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame Award in recognition of their contributions to the industry. Presented by R.L. Polk & Co. at the HD Aftermarket Week, 2011 industry awards luncheon, the award recognizes an individual’s length of service, impact on and commitment to the industry, as well as thought leadership.

Oshkosh Corporation Reports Results for Fiscal 2011 First Quarter

Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, today reported fiscal 2011 first quarter net sales of $1.70 billion and net income attributable to Oshkosh Corporation of $99.6 million, or $1.09 per share. This compares with net sales of $2.43 billion and income from continuing operations of $172.5 million, or $1.90 per share, in the prior year's first quarter. Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 include $0.13 per share of restructuring charges, net of income tax benefits. First quarter of fiscal 2010 results included per share charges of $0.20, net of income tax benefits, for the non-cash impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets. Excluding asset impairment charges1 of $23.3 million, the Company reported income from continuing operations of $191.2 million, or $2.10 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

Cummins Selling Exhaust Business to Global Tube

Cummins has entered into an agreement to sell its exhaust business to Global Tube so Cummins Emission Solutions can put a greater emphasis on products that are critical to its growth strategy, such as diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems.

Global Tube is a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Chicago. The sale to Global Tube affects Cummins' acoustic exhaust operations in Stoughton, Arcadia, Black River Falls and Viroqua, all in Wisconsin, as well as in Scoresby, Australia, and Daman, India.

Navistar Outlines Fiscal 2011 Earnings Guidance

Automotive World Navistar has announced it expects substantial gains in its earnings in fiscal 2011 (12 months ended 31 October 2011), reflecting the successful implementation of its three-pillar growth strategy and improving economic conditions.

Navistar has forecast that net income attributable to the company in fiscal 2011 will be between US$388m and US$466m, equal to US$5 to US$6 diluted earnings per share, excluding transition costs associated with the integration of the truck and engine engineering operation and the potential positive impact of income tax valuation adjustments.

From: 
Email:  
To: 
Email:  
Subject: 
Message: