Fleet Maintenance Magazine
Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of trucking company executives surveyed by GE Capital Transportation Finance expect business conditions to improve in 2011, but they are concerned about the impact of external and internal factors on their profit margins.
The rising price of diesel, a nationwide shortage of drivers and the twin costs of complying with government regulations and maintaining their own aging fleets are all significant concerns.
Truckinginfo.com
Net orders and shipments of commercial trailers continued their robust performance during March, according to ACT Research. Net orders rose 21 percent from February levels, while shipments were more than 33 percent above the previous month. ACT also noted that shipments for the first quarter of 2011 were up 109 percent compared to the same quarter last year.
The solid, broad-based industry performance was reported in ACT's latest "State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers," published April 27. While all trailer categories are showing substantial improvement compared to last year, the dry van segment continues to set the pace, with shipments up 198 percent year-to-date.
Manufacturing Close-Up
FleetPride, Inc., an independent aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, announced the opening of its new 150,000 square foot regional distribution center in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
According to a release, located at 2406 Tech Center Parkway, this regional distribution center will service the heavy-duty transportation market in the southeastern U.S.
Business Wire
Oshkosh, Wis., Apr 28, 2011 () -- Oshkosh Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, today reported fiscal 2011 second quarter net sales of $1.75 billion and net income attributable to Oshkosh Corporation of $67.9 million, or $0.74 per share. This compares with net sales of $2.86 billion and net income of $292.6 million, or $3.22 per share, in the prior year second quarter.
"During the second quarter, we continued our transition from high volume production of MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs) to the gradual launch of production of the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTVs), which will negatively impact our quarterly earnings comparisons throughout fiscal 2011," said Charles L. Szews, Oshkosh Corporation president and chief executive officer. "The launch of FMTV production has been challenging, but we made good progress late in the second quarter and expect our FMTV sales to rise sharply in the second half of fiscal 2011. Oshkosh is the sole supplier of the FMTV through fiscal 2015.
Associated Press
Wabco Holdings Inc. said Friday its profit nearly quadrupled in the first quarter as growing truck and bus production helped stoke demand for the commercial vehicle parts maker.
The company reported net income of $114.7 million, or $1.66 a share, for the three months ended March 31. That compares with net income of $30.7 million, or 47 cents a share, in the same period last year.