Fleet Owner Magazine
According to an article in China Daily, Chinese heavy-duty truck maker, Beiqi Foton Motor Co. is planning a vehicle for the U.S. and Western European market. The Auman GTL (which stands for global technology leader) was designed for the strict environmental requirements of the U.S. and Europe, the company said.
“Foton has already established a good presence in the Southeast Asian, South American and African markets, but it barely achieved anything in developed economies,” Wang Jinyu, president & CEO, told China Daily. “Now we are endeavoring to enter the mature markets including the U.S., Europe and Japan.”
Transport Topics Magazine
A continued shortage of available low-mileage used Class 8 trucks is being blamed for lower sales and higher prices in July, industry executives and dealers said.
“There is absolutely still a shortage of used heavy-duty trucks,” Rick Clark, president of the Used Truck Association, told Transport Topics. “Prices are higher too, though it depends on the truck and what the buyer is looking for. If you suddenly run across a small group of low mileage trucks, it’s almost certain they’ll be offered at a very high price.”
NEW ALBANY, OHIO, September 6, 2011 – Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVGI) announced today that it has entered into a joint venture (the “Joint Venture”) with Hema Engineering Industries Limited (“Hema”) for the production of seats and seating components for the India commercial vehicle market and for the supply of seats and components to other global CVG locations. CVG holds a 90 percent ownership and Hema holds a 10 percent ownership in the Joint Venture.
The Company will lease a production facility in the Delhi NCR (Gurgaon) region of India, where Hema has its existing manufacturing facilities. Hema will initially supply components to the Joint Venture. The Company has been awarded India truck seating business and expects to begin production of this business in early to mid 2012. The Company will also transfer existing business to the Joint Venture where it will be manufactured and supplied to other global CVG locations. The Company stated that tooling for certain of its products has already been shipped to India to support its global requirements, including the development of new markets in India.
Bob McKenna, President & CEO, MEMA
Today the White House withdrew the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed ozone standard. MEMA has worked with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and other organizations in opposing this standard. The action by the Obama administration comes at a time when Congress will be considering legislation to review a wide range of regulations including provisions from the EPA and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Your continued support of MEMA allows us to work with the business community on these important issues. Our continued vigilance on these issues is essential. Please visit the MEMA Web site, www.mema.org, for the latest information and to learn how you can get involved.
Research Triangle Park, NC - The Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas, TX on Wednesday, August 24, and Thursday, August 25 was a resounding success, with well over 350 attendees participating in the 2011 conference.
Those registered to attend represented the following:
• Fleet Owners/Operators of 58,502 trucks, an increase of 60% over CVOC 2010 and representing $5.85 billion in trucks.
• Owners/Operators of 185,043 trailers, an increase of 151% over CVOC 2010 and representing $2.775 in trailers.
J.D. Power and Associates
Heavy-duty truck engine quality has improved from 2010, after technology changes related to emissions standards revisions caused a spike in engine-related problems during recent years, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Heavy-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission Study(SM) released today.
Now in its 14th year, the study measures satisfaction among primary maintainers with engines and transmissions in heavy-duty (Class 8) trucks that are one model-year old. Satisfaction is measured based on eight key factors: engine reliability and dependability; engine warranty; acceleration when fully loaded; electronic control module; accessibility to components for service or maintenance; vibration at idle; maintaining speeds on grades; and average fuel economy.
Etrucker.com
The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.3 percent in July from June after rising a revised 2.6 percent in June over May.
The July index was 3.9 percent higher than a year earlier, ATA reported.
June’s increase was slightly less than the 2.8 percent ATA previously reported. The latest pullback put the adjusted index at 114 in July, down from the June level of 115.5. Tonnage has fallen in three of the last four months over the preceding month.
Fleet Maintenance Magazine
Alliance Truck Parts, a leading provider of replacement parts for the commercial transportation industry, now offers radiator replacements for all makes of medium and heavy duty trucks and buses, and a charge air cooler product line for most makes and models of Class 6 to 8 commercial trucks and buses.
The new replacement radiators meet or exceed OEM specifications and are completely cycle and leak tested to ensure consistent product quality.