Trailer/Body Builders Magazine
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has received the largest single order for the 4000D-X Composite dry van from Ryder System, Inc. Ryder, which recently extended a full-service lease contract with CEVA Logistics, purchased 1,044 Utility 4000D-X Composite dry vans to support CEVA’s domestic U.S. ground and freight management operations across North America.
“We are extremely excited that Ryder and CEVA have selected Utility’s 4000D-X Composite dry van to support their expanding fleet needs,” said Mike Ashe, Manager of National Accounts from Utility. “Early on in this process, both Ryder and CEVA determined that the 4000D-X Composite’s durability and its innovative composite sidewall was the best trailer for them due to its low tare weight, superior strength, flexible load securement capability and lower operating costs. This order supports the trend that the 4000D-X Composite has become the fastest growing model in our history.”
Just-Auto.com
Navistar has been awarded a development contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for delivery vehicles. The project is intended to significantly reduce the escalating service and fuel costs associated with the ageing fleet.
USPS will deliver one of its long life vehicles (LLV) to Navistar Engine Group's engineering and technical center in Melrose Park, Illinois, where the company's in-house re-power engineering department will develop, install and test a diesel powertrain that includes Navistar's MaxxForce 3.2-litre turbo diesel engine. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Transport Topics Magazine
With Congress slated to spend its summer on budget negotiations and the debt ceiling, legislative leaders said reauthorization of transportation funding has been crowded off the agenda until September, if not later.
Reauthorization was not on the list of summer legislative priorities that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) sent to lawmakers recently, even though temporary funding for the nation’s transportation system runs out Sept. 30.
Federal News Service
Panel 1 of a hearing of the regulatory affairs, stimulus oversight and Government Spending Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Subject: Lasting Implications of the General Motors Bailout Chaired by: Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Witnesses: Ron Bloom, special assistant to the president of the United States; Vincent Snowbarger, deputy director for operations at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Location: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. Time: 1:30 pm EDT Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011. (Part 13).
Dow Jones Business News
Deere & Co.'s (DE) U.S. farm machinery business plowed through the economic recession mostly unscathed, but the business is now attracting increased scrutiny because of concerns that farmers' appetites for new equipment is reaching its limit.
Unlike other types of capital equipment, sales of high-horsepower tractors and harvesting combines didn't collapse during the U.S. recession. Elevated crop prices provided farmers with the income and incentive to keep buying through the downturn. Sales of high-horsepower tractors in recent years have been running well above historic rates. By some estimates, farmers haven't added so much horsepower since the 1970s. North American sales of high-horsepower tractors this year are projected to reach almost 40,000 units, the highest volume since the early 1980s.
Trailer/Body Builders Magazine
Accuride Corp. has acquired most of the assets of Forgitron Technologies LLC, including an 80,000-square-foot forged aluminum wheel manufacturing facility in Camden, SC.
Accuride plans to convert the production of the facility to Accuride-branded aluminum wheels for the commercial vehicle market.
Fleet Equipment Magazine
A partnership project with government agencies and Freightliner has led to the deployment of natural gas-powered vehicles in Southern California. In what is being described as a “groundbreaking, innovative and large-scale natural gas truck deployment project,” Ryder System Inc. has begun fielding 182 NG-powered tractors in its SoCal operations network. The order is part of Ryder’s agreement with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) to launch a natural gas truck rental and leasing project for commercial fleets in Southern California.
“The project with SANBAG demonstrates our commitment to deliver innovative alternative fuel solutions that bring long-term, sustainable fleet advantages to our customers,” said Robert Sanchez, president of global fleet management solutions for Ryder. “We are excited to be leveraging the latest vehicle technology to help our customers realize the predictable, cost-efficient and environmental benefits of natural gas.”
By: Bret Jensen*, via: SeekingAlpha.com
The last 8 weeks have not been kind to investors in the market. Nor have they been kind to the prospects for robust economic growth going forward. Unfortunately, these disappointing trends are likely to continue over the next six months. I don’t think we should look for good performance in the market or in the economy for the second half of the year. 10 reasons to be cautionary about the second half of the year: