FleetOwner.com
While it’s certainly not boom times for truck and trailer manufacturers, orders for equipment of both stripes continues to strengthen as freight haulers generate strong revenues and remain optimistic about the health of the U.S. economy.
“We see a number of factors coming together to keep orders strong – not just for Class 8 trucks, but for trailers too,” Kenny Vieth, senior partner and gm for ACT Research Co., told FleetOwner.
FleetOwner.com
Bob Glenn, director of remarketing for Penske, told Fleet Owner that a year and one-half ago, the company’s used-truck inventory included just over 10,000 units listed for sale. By the fourth quarter of last year, however, that inventory had fallen to 2,800 units and remains at low levels. Altogether, Penske sold approximately 23,000 used trucks in 2010.
“Pent-up demand started in the first quarter last year and hasn’t stopped,” Glenn said, with tandem and single axle Class 8 day cab tractors displaying the most strength, though all models of used trucks in Penske’s inventory are selling well.
ETrucker.com
Net orders of commercial trailers rose 25 percent to 21,990 in February from January, ACT Research Co. reported.
Meanwhile, factory shipments in February increased 105 percent over the same month last year.
Etrucker.com
At the ConExpo construction show March 22 in Las Vegas, Navistar senior vice president Jim Hebe showcased the company's long-awaited EGR 15-liter diesel engine for severe duty vocational applications.
Hebe noted, “This is Navistar engine technology and expertise built upon a proven Caterpillar platform.”
Truckinginfo.com
Mack Trucks has re-entered the "Baby 8" market with a medium-heavy duty version of its Granite vocational model. The Granite MHD is aimed at municipalities and other customers who don't need a large-bore engine or high gross-weight capabilities.
Granite MHD is available in axle-forward and axle-back configurations, is powered by a Cummins ISL9 diesel, and is offered with Eaton manual or Allison automatic transmissions.
Pantagraph.com
The chairman and CEO of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. is raising the specter of moving the heavy equipment maker out of Illinois.
In a letter sent March 21 to Gov. Pat Quinn, Caterpillar chief executive officer Doug Oberhelman said officials in at least four other states have approached the company about relocating since Illinois raised its income tax in January.
Transport Topics Magazine
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of some of its authority but would not block a proposal to regulate heavy- and medium-duty truck greenhouse gas emissions.
On March 15, the committee, by a 34-19 vote, passed the Energy Tax Prevention Act, which prohibits the agency from limiting carbon dioxide emissions by large stationary sources.
Marmon Highway Technologies (MHT) companies announced they will no longer sign multi-year supply agreements with OE customers that call for annual mandatory price reductions or "cost downs" and prevent full recovery of unavoidable cost increases.
MHT companies must maintain reasonable margins in order to continue to develop innovative, high-quality products for the trucking industry, said MHT President Kelly Dier.
ETrucker.com
When Caterpillar announced in 2008 it would enter the on-highway truck market, there was speculation as to just how much of a Caterpillar truck the final product would be. Cat was partnering with Navistar to produce the new truck. The two companies share a long history of collaboration on engine projects and high-pressure fuel system development.
The new Caterpillar CT660 vocational truck, introduced March 20 at the ConExpo construction equipment show, isn’t simply an International Workstar with shade of yellow lipstick. Caterpillar engineers say their new truck is "essentially new from the frame rails up."