ATD Commercial Truck of the Year winners announced Feb.5
The winners of the American Truck Dealers Commercial Truck of the Year will be announced at the Las Vegas Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 5. The award recognizes the top truck entries in the heavy- and medium-duty categories. Nine trucks were nominated for the award.

The heavy-duty (Class 8) truck entries are the Freightliner 114SD conventional dump truck, International ProStar Plus tractor with MaxxForce 15 engine, Kenworth T660 Regional Hauler with Paccar MX engine, and Peterbilt 587 SmartWay conventional tractor. The medium-duty (Class 3-7) truck entries are the Fuso Canter FE160 low cab forward, Isuzu NPR-HD Gas, Kenworth T440 Conventional, Peterbilt Model 210 low cab forward, and UD 2600 low cab forward.

Trucks were judged on overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck, and convenience of maintenance.

Four journalists on the judging panel test drove the trucks on an eight-mile course that included rural and highway driving in Dallas last fall. Key judging factors included the trucks’ overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck, and convenience of maintenance.

The judges were Paul Abelson from Land Line magazine, Tom Berg from Heavy Duty Trucking, Paul Hartley from Fleet Equipment magazine, and Jack Roberts from Commercial Carrier Journal.

 

Thanks to truck stops, Subway is bigger than ever
“Five, five, five dollah foot-longgg” …The next time you order one of those at a Subway, you’ll be dining in the world’s largest restaurant chain. Subway is even bigger than McDonalds, with more than 37,000 sandwich shops in 98 countries.

One of the reason they’ve now topped all the others, in terms of units, is they are willing to operate Subway shops in so many non-traditional locations, like truck stops. Out of the more than 8,100 non-traditional locations with Subway restaurants, more than 4,100 locations are in convenience stores and truck stops.

Les Winograd with Subway’s franchise world headquarters in Milford, CT, told Land Line that the exact number of truck stop locations isn’t clear, but confirmed that Pilot Flying J and Love’s Travel Stops are among the top three non-traditional franchisees in the U.S.

“In the U.S. Pilot is the largest non-traditional franchisee, but they are our second largest non-traditional franchisee worldwide,” says Winograd. “The number one overall non-traditional franchisee worldwide is Couche Tard convenience stores, with 173 Subway franchises. The majority of Couche Tard’s Subway locations are in Canada with 108 franchises versus 65 in the US, which is why Pilot beats them out if you are only looking at the U.S. store counts.”

Winograd reports that Pilot currently owns and operates a total of 170 Subway franchises, all in the U.S. except one that’s in Canada.

 The Pantry Inc. comes in next with 150 to rank the second largest U.S. non-traditional franchisee and the third largest non-traditional worldwide.

Next is Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. with 131 franchises open and operating. Love’s is the third largest non-traditional franchisee in the U.S. behind Pilot and The Pantry, and the fourth largest non-traditional franchisee worldwide.

The most non-traditional location is neither a truck stop nor convenience store, but the True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY.

 

Don Schneider dies at age 76
Alzheimer’s Disease has claimed the life of former Schneider National president and chief executive officer Donald Schneider. He died Jan. 13 at age 76.

Schneider was named president of the Wisconsin-based trucking company in 1976 and stayed at the helm for more than 25 years. He retired from the daily operational responsibilities at Schneider National in 2002.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The company was founded by his father, Al Schneider.

 

Dana, Eaton end alliance for marketing drivetrain components
Dana Holding Corp. and Eaton Corp. jointly announced in December that while they still have “deep respect for one another,” the marketing relationship between the two companies will end by the middle of 2012. Over the next six months, each company will be preparing to sell, market, and service customers independently of each other.

Eaton will continue to provide field services and support for all Eaton and Dana products through the middle of 2012 under the Roadranger brand, after which Dana will have the support systems in place to effectively service and support its customers independently.

 

Old Roadway HQ in Akron will be sold
Trucking company YRC Worldwide Inc. said recently it is selling the former Roadway headquarters in Akron, OH, to the developer of a new Goodyear headquarters.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, about 100 other YRC Worldwide employees will transfer to office space at company truck terminals in nearby Copley and Richfield, with another 50 getting offers to relocate to jobs in Kansas, South Dakota and Iowa.

According to the Beacon Journal, the former Roadway has a lengthy history in Akron, going back to its founding as Roadway Services in 1930.

YRC Worldwide was formed in 2003 when Yellow Freight bought Roadway for $1.1 billion.

 

Pilot Flying J offering free 2012 winter diesel additive program
Pilot Flying J has announced its annual winter diesel additive program at participating Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J Travel Plazas in colder climates across the U.S. The additive program, which is being offered free of charge, helps reduce winter-month breakdowns due to fuel line and filter freezing and corrosion.

Hydrocarbons prevalent in diesel fuel have poor solubility at low temperatures and are the first molecules to precipitate from fuel as it cools. This precipitate, in the form of wax crystals, can accumulate on filters and restrict fuel flow, resulting in a loss of power, engine stalling or the inability to start. The additive is very effective at improving the low-temperature operability of a fuel to combat these problems and is added directly to the fuel.

The additive will be available at any location with a temperature posting of 15 degrees or below and will be continuously provided through March 1 at locations known for harsh winters, such as those in Colorado, New York, Minnesota and Wyoming among other northern tier states.

For more information, visit www.pilotflyingj.com.

 

Pilot Flying J completes purchase of Bosselman travel centers
Pilot Flying J and Bosselman Travel Centers Inc. announced in early January that the sale of seven Bosselman travel centers in the Midwest to Pilot Flying J is a done deal.

The centers are located in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and are open for business Thursday, Jan. 5, as Pilot Travel Centers.  

In addition to Pilot Flying J’s acquisition, the companies agreed to expand Bosselman’s Boss Truck Shops repair facilities to 20 additional Pilot Flying J locations across the country.

The newly acquired centers are located in Des Moines (Altoona), IA; Colby, KS; Salina, KS; Rapid City, SD; Big Springs, NE; Wood River, NE, and Elm Creek, NE.

 

Another Yokohama Tire price adjustment coming in February
Yokohama Tire Corp. will implement another price increase of up to 8 percent on all of its commercial truck tires in the U.S., effective Feb. 1. A spokesman for Yokohama confirmed that this represents the fifth increase since January 2011.

The tire company upped the price of its commercial tires 6 percent in January 2011, 8 percent in April, in July and again in October.

Rick Phillips, director of Commercial Sales cites costs of manufacturing and logistics, and domestic and global economic pressures.

 

Florida company develops ‘no fuel’ reefer
A Florida company has applied for a patent on a system that it says can power a reefer unit with batteries that are powered by the kinetic energy generated by the spinning of the truck’s wheels.
Emerald Technology Partners says the Wedway Refrigeration Power System refrigeration unit can run up to 10 hours after the truck has stopped. Or, the company says, it can be run off shore power.

With a Wedway-equipped refrigeration unit, the company claims the cost of operation is greatly reduced by doing away with the fossil fuel, lowering the overall weight of the system and allowing for more cargo weight.  

By Emerald’s calculation, there are more than a million reefers on the road that consume nearly $13 billion dollars worth of fuel each year.

 

Paccar parts to please
TRP Aftermarket Parts from Paccar recently announced a line of chrome-plated and stainless steel accessories. TRP parts are manufactured with tested 304-grade or 430-grade stainless steel to resist corrosion, while the chrome plating provides a uniform, attractive finish. Axle and hub covers feature screw-on wheel nut covers instead of pop-on installation features and are less likely to fall off.

TRP chrome and stainless parts include exterior accessories such as fenders, bumpers, kick panels, steps, skirts and toolboxes, and interior accessories such as knobs and panels. TRP also offers accessories designed specifically for popular Kenworth and Peterbilt models.

TRP Aftermarket Parts are available through authorized retailers including Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF dealerships. Visit TRPParts.com for a location near you.

 

2012: Kenworth will again offer $1,000 rebate to OOIDA members
Kenworth Truck Company announced that it will extend a successful rebate program with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association through 2012.

Originally introduced 10 years ago, the program offers a $1,000 rebate to OOIDA members on qualifying purchases of new Kenworth sleeper trucks. Under the program, OOIDA members have purchased more than 7,300 Kenworth trucks during that period.

Eligible Kenworth trucks include the Kenworth T660, T800 and W900 with 72-inch AeroCab or 86-inch Studio AeroCab sleeper, and the T700 with 75-inch Aerodyne sleeper. Buyers must show their OOIDA membership card to their Kenworth dealer at time of purchase in 2012.

“Kenworth is pleased to offer owner-operators a $1,000 rebate on qualifying new Kenworth truck purchases in cooperation with OOIDA during 2012,” said Erik Johnson, Kenworth on-highway marketing manager. “More than 350 OOIDA members benefited from this successful program in 2011. We appreciate the loyalty of owner-operators.”

Other limitations apply on the Kenworth rebate program. OOIDA members can check with Kenworth dealers for further details.

YRC sells Glen Moore assets to Celadon
Financially struggling less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide has sold off its Glen Moore truckload unit to Celadon Group Inc. for an undisclosed price. Glen Moore has about 600 tractors and 1,900 trailers.

It was bought by USF in 1998, and USF was bought by YRC in 2005. Glen Moore lost $10 million in the first nine months of this year. YRC lost $120 million in the third quarter of this year.

 

Trucking executive Patrick Quinn dies of cancer
Patrick E. Quinn, co-chairman and president of Chattanooga-based U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc., died Tuesday of brain cancer. He was 65. Quinn co-founded the company, along with Max Fuller, in 1985 with 48 trucks. Today, the Chattanooga, TN-based carrier has about 8,500 trucks and more than 10,000 employees. According to the Journal of Commerce, the company is the fourth-largest truckload carrier ranked by revenue and the 10th-largest trucking enterprise. Quinn was a major player in the trucking industry and served as chairman of the American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers Association. It is reported that Quinn handed most of his responsibilities at U.S. Xpress to Fuller after he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

 

Volvo Trucks offers Bluetooth as standard on two models
In advance of the federal ban scheduled for Jan. 1, 2012, on commercial drivers’ use of hand-held mobile devices while driving, Volvo Trucks in North America will now offer its Bluetooth-equipped radio as standard equipment on all VN and VHD models.

Volvo’s standard Bluetooth radio package includes a radio unit, microphone mounted in the overhead console, and full audio delivered through the truck’s speaker system. The integrated design allows drivers to see pertinent incoming and outgoing call information on the vehicle’s Driver Information Display.

The system extends the phone’s features, such as answering the phone by pushing one button, as required in the regulation.

In addition to the Bluetooth mobile phone system, the radio features AM, FM, CD and MP3 capabilities, accessible through an auxiliary and USB connector installed in a dash switch location.

 

IdleAir extends price freeze through end of May
IdleAir has announced an extension of the 2011 Price Guarantee Program, which freezes current prices through May 31, 2012.

IdleAir Premium Service will remain at $1.99 an hour through May 31, 2012, and IdleAir’s Extended Stay Service for continuous stays beyond the first 10 hours will remain at $1.25 an hour through May 31, 2012. Drivers and fleets with different discounted rates will automatically receive the lowest hourly rate.

 

Freightliner design contest for college students

Freightliner Trucks has announced its “Design the Future of Pride & Profit” truck design contest. Open to college students studying within North America, entrants are invited to submit original designs for the owner-operator-style truck of the future.

The company is sponsoring a contest to see which college student can submit the best original design for a new truck – one that’s good looking, aerodynamic and user-friendly for owner-operators. The goal is to help generate out-of-the-box ideas for what owner-operators want.

Judging criteria will cover a broad spectrum of required skills, including concept, overall product appearance, originality, power of emotion, and illustration quality.

The contest runs from now through February 2012.

Three finalists, selected by a panel of commercial vehicle design experts, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show, where their designs will be on display at the Freightliner Trucks booth. The winner will receive a $20,000 scholarship fund and option for a paid internship at Freightliner Trucks.

For more information about the competition and a complete list of rules, go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com/TruckDesignContest.

 

Love’s upgrades ‘Connect’ smartphone app
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores recently announced a few upgrades to its Love’s “Connect” application for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones. The enhanced app provides professional truck drivers with a button to instantly contact Love's nationwide dispatch service for roadside assistance if they run into problems on the road.

Other upgrades include DEF pricing and information on available truck parking spaces at each site.

“Our customers let us know which features they want to see on the Love’s Connect app, and we listen,” said Dave Frankenfield, director of marketing for Love’s, in a release. “Our roadside assistance team is ready to roll when drivers contact us instantly through the app. Parking is always top of mind for professional truck drivers.”

According to Love’s website, the Connect app first debuted in June 2011. The free app includes a locator map of all of the locations with real-time updated fuel prices, restaurant offers and other features.

 

Freightliner sponsors design contest with big rewards
If you have a kid in college who could use a $20,000 scholarship and a paid internship at Freightliner, Freightliner may have just the thing.

The company is sponsoring a contest to see which North American (U.S. or Canada) college student can submit the best original design for a new truck – one that’s good looking, aerodynamic, and user-friendly for owner-operators.

The contest runs from now until the end of February and the winner will be announced at next year’s Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville. Three finalists will get a paid trip to MATS.

For more information about the competition and all the rules, go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com/TruckDesignContest.

 

Nine commercial trucks nominated for national award
The American Truck Dealers have announced the nominees for a national award that recognizes the top truck entries in the heavy- and medium-duty categories.

Nine trucks were nominated for the 2012 ATD Commercial Truck of the Year.

The heavy-duty (Class 8) truck entries are the Freightliner 114SD conventional dump truck, International ProStar+ tractor with MaxxForce 15 engine, Kenworth T660 Regional Hauler with Paccar MX engine and Peterbilt 587 SmartWay conventional tractor.

The medium-duty (Class 3-7) truck entries are the Fuso Canter FE160 low cab forward, Isuzu NPR-HD Gas, Kenworth T440 conventional, Peterbilt Model 210 low cab forward and UD 2600 low cab forward.

“The nine trucks in the competition for 2012 are the most since the competition began four years ago,” said Tom Berg, senior editor of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine and the contest’s head judge, adding that the award program is becoming better known among truck manufacturers.

Four journalists on the judging panel test drove the trucks on an eight-mile course that included rural and highway driving in Dallas on Oct. 14.

Berg said key judging factors included the trucks’ overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck, and convenience of maintenance.

The other judges are Paul Abelson from Land Line magazine, Paul Hartley from Fleet Equipment magazine, and Jack Roberts from Commercial Carrier Journal.

The annual award, which recognizes a winner in both the heavy- and medium-duty truck categories, will be presented at the 2012 ATD Convention and Expo, which is being held for the first time in conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Association’s annual convention in Las Vegas Feb. 3-6.

 

Kenworth recognized for energy conservation program
The US department of energy has recognized the Kenworth manufacturing plant in Renton, WA, for its energy conservation program.

In the past three years, the plant has achieved a 35-percent increase in its so-called ‘energy intensity,’ which measures how much energy is used in the production process. Kenworth officials say they lowered the plant’s energy consumption with more efficient heating and lighting systems and by constantly monitoring energy use.

The plant has won a number of awards from local government and media for being a model of green manufacturing.

 

Pilot Flying J partners with Truckers Against Trafficking
In an effort to help raise awareness about human trafficking along America’s roadways, Pilot Flying J has partnered with Truckers Against Trafficking to expand education for employees and outreach to customers.

Truckers Against Trafficking ia an organization dedicated to educating, equipping, empowering and mobilizing the trucking industry to fight human trafficking. It recently received its nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service, making it a 5019(c)(3) organization.

Pilot Flying J posted information from the growing organization in its more than 550 travel centers and travel plazas across the U.S. These posters provide the national hotline number that individuals should call to provide an anonymous tip if they witness or suspect human trafficking. The number is 888-373-7888.

Professional drivers are encouraged to pick up a Truckers Against Trafficking wallet card at Pilot Flying J locations, which along with the national TAT hotline number provides an email contact, tips on trafficking red flags and specific information to provide to law enforcement with each tip.

Pilot Flying J also now includes general training about human trafficking and the organization’s resources to all company employees.

 

Bosselmans to sell seven locations to Pilot-Flying J
By Land Line staff

Truckers shouldn’t see any big changes when Pilot-Flying J takes over seven of the eight  Bosselman Travel Centers early next year.

Charlie Bosselman explained to Land Line Now that the group had a previous relationship with Pilot Corp. and that, taking a hard look at the economy, they just didn’t see a lot of growth potential for the truck stops.

That doesn’t mean the Bosselmans are leaving the industry all together. In fact, he said that the group will be keeping their flagship truck stop in Grand Island, NE, and the Boss Truck Shops will still be around.

In fact, while the truck stop business may not have had the growth potential to suit the Bosselmans, the Boss Shops show real potential, he said. In fact, they see potential to increase from 34 locations to 60 or more within three years.

Still, he notes that the Bosselman family has been operating truck stops for 63 years.
“It’s a sad day for us, a lot of those locations we’ve been operating since the late ’60s. We’ve remodeled several times; built from the ground up; and put a lot of work into it,” Charlie told Land Line Now. “We’re still going to be in those facilities, still going to operate the restaurants, still going to operate the Boss Shops. We still have hotels on the property. We’re going to be in and around them quite a bit.”

Bosselman’s is based in Grand Island, and has about 1,400 employees at eight Midwestern locations. Charlie Bosselman said that the majority of the employees will be keeping their jobs through the transition.

Pilot-Flying J is out of Knoxville, TN, and has about 18,000 employees at more than 550 locations in the US and Canada. 

Land Line Now News Anchor Reed Black contributed to this report.

 

Get ’em while they’re hot: 2012 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendars
Twelve of the sweetest rigs on the road grace the pages of the 29th anniversary edition of the Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar.

Calendars are free with a minimum purchase of a 10-gallon heavy duty oil change of Shell Rotella T Triple Protection, Shell Rotella T5 or Shell Rotella T6 at participating service facilities through Nov. 30.

The 2012 calendar includes many winners from SuperRigs, the premier working truck beauty contest, held earlier this year at the Kenly 95 Petro in Kenly, NC.

Seven OOIDA members are featured on the pages of the 2012 calendar. They are Jerry Kissinger and his 1991 Mack Superliner; Jake Lindamood and his 2011 Peterbilt 389; Micheal LeJeune and his 1987 Peterbilt; Bill Warner Jr. and his 1989 Ford LTL; Wayne Baker and  his 2011 Peterbilt 389;  Jeremy Heiderscheit and his 2003 Peterbilt 379, and Vinnie Diorio (and Cory Radke) and their 2007 Peterbilt 379.

On the cover is Joe Rondeau’s 2011 Peterbilt 389. Other trucks of the month featured in the 2012 calendar are owned by Scott Diller, Randy Supak, Ron Elledge and Ray Graves.

The trucks were photographed in scenic locations near Kenly. All of them are actively working trucks.

Calendars are available for order online beginning Dec. 1. Visit rotella.com to order. The cost is $10 plus shipping and handling. For more information on Shell Rotella or SuperRigs, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Icahn buys 10 percent of Navistar’s stock
The man who some people blame for dismantling Trans-World Airlines years ago and selling off its most valuable assets has purchased nearly 10 percent of the stock of Navistar, the parent company of International Truck and Engine Co.

The Wall Street Journal reports Carl Icahn thought the company’s stock was undervalued and now wants to get people on the board of directors who agree with his approach to business.

This summer, Icahn bought nearly 10 percent of the stock in Oshkosh, which mainly makes specialty vehicles, including military trucks.

 

Daimler brings the cloud to the cab
You know that “cloud” word you are always hearing in ads about the Internet? Now it’s coming to trucking. A strategic agreement between Daimler Trucks North America and a company called Zonar promises to offer some Freightliner drivers Virtual Technician, which DTNA says is the industry’s first real-time remote diagnostic system. They say it will be standard equipment on 2012 Freightliners equipped with Detroit Diesel BlueTec engines.

By leveraging Zonar cloud-based (Internet) technology with the Virtual Technician system, DTNA can provide immediate and proactive diagnostic service to their customers. The Virtual Technician transmits real-time engine diagnostics with vehicle performance indicators to the Detroit Diesel Customer Support Center. The support center then proactively communicates with fleets and vehicle owners regarding potential performance issues and service scheduling.

 

Volvo goes for better mpg, sweet spot
Volvo says its new powertrain, the XE-13, will improve fuel efficiency by 3 percent or more in its VN series trucks. A Volvo press release says the system produces a low-rpm cruising speed while increasing torque. The company says the result is that the engine runs at its ‘”sweet spot” at all speeds.

 

Goodyear blog lets trucking professionals interact with tire expert
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has launched the fleetHQ “Ask The Tire Answer Man” blog, exclusively available at http://blog.fleethq.com/.

“This unique blog gives fleets and owner-operators an opportunity to interact with Tim Miller, Goodyear’s ‘Tire Answer Man,’” said Bruce Woodruff, director of business solutions marketing, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. 

A 30-plus-year commercial tire veteran, Miller also serves as marketing communications manager for Goodyear's commercial tire business.

“Having spent his career working with original equipment truck manufacturers, fleets and owner-operators in a variety of capacities from engineering to national account sales, Tim will draw upon his vast knowledge of the tire and trucking industries to discuss issues that are important to transportation professionals,” said Woodruff.

Goodyear’s fleetHQ program offers a variety of tools and benefits, including the 24/7 fleetHQ Solution Center, which dispatches service technicians to downed trucks. It also offers TV Track, a powerful online management tool that helps fleets monitor tire conditions and performance, among other functions; Gold Medallion retreaded tires; the fleetHQ Truck Stop Network, which encompasses more than 300 locations; and more.

 

Rebates available to help truckers ‘electrify’
Truckers needing a cost-effective way to purchase anti-idling equipment for their rigs may want to check into a new rebate program being offered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The manager of the DOE grant program is Cascade Sierra Solutions of Eugene, OR, which announced the $10 million Shorepower Technologies Electrification Project – or STEP. The goal is to provide “idle reduction equipment rebates for devices on medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks that incorporate electric standby operation or run on battery power to eliminate engine idling during mandated rest periods,” according to Cascade’s press release on Aug. 15.

The STEP plan is to “locate and install 50 truck stop facilities over the next 18 months” in busy freight corridors.

Individual rebates can be as much as 20 percent of the “installed equipment price.”

Owner-operators operating in the lower 48 states will be eligible to apply for the program. Small fleet owners may also apply, with a maximum of 25 rebates per fleet.

“Equipment purchases must be pre-authorized by Cascade Sierra Solutions with a rebate certificate prior to installation,” Cascade’s release stated. Those selected must agree to use STEP project “electrified truck parking where available until June 2014.”

According to the release, the types of equipment eligible for the rebates, and the maximum payments, include auxiliary power units or generator sets with electric stand-by options, $2,000 max; battery HVAC systems, $1,600; battery evaporative cooler systems, $700; thermal storage systems, $260, truck cold plate systems, $3,200; trailer transport refrigeration units with electric stand-by options, $5,000; and e-Hybrid transport refrigeration units with electric stand-by options, $5,000.

The equipment must be SmartWay-approved technology. Click here for the list.

 

Freightliner aims for 8 mpg in 2015
The people at Freightliner say they’ve set a goal of improving the fuel efficiency of the Cascadia by 5 percent every two years. If they can pull it off, it will mean the Cascadia’s fuel use will improve from 6.7 miles per gallon in 2010 to almost 8 mpg in 2015.

Freightliner says it’s already boosted the tractor’s mileage with aerodynamic fairings and expects to introduce more aerodynamic improvements as well as mechanical advances and things like switching to a 5W-30 engine oil.

 

Super Bowl XLVI will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium
News for pro football fans from Lucas Oil: Super Bowl XLVIwill be played in Indianapolis on Sunday Feb. 5, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Three cities bid, but Indianapolis won out for Super Bowl No. 46.

Lucas Oil Stadium is a multipurpose sports stadium that replaced the old RC Dome as the home field of the Indianapolis Colts. The stadium features a retractable roof. In early 2006, Indiana native Forrest Lucas announced that his company, Lucas Oil, had purchased the naming rights for $121 million over 20 years. Lucas, who began his career as a trucker, is a longtime support member of OOIDA.

 

Truckers Helper Giveaway 2011
The 2010 Truckers Helper Giveaway was a success so Truckers Helper Online is doing it again with a giveaway at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville March 22-24, 2012. Last year Dan Smith, a leased owner-operator who runs for Magnum Express, won a Netbook valued at more than $500. This year Truckers Helper Online will be awarding a $1,000 cash prize to the winning trucker.

If you register at the website and put the Truckers Helper sticker on your truck, trailer or car, you’ll be in the running.

Established in 1994 by OOIDA Life Member John Ewing, Truckers Helper has been a constant leader in bringing truckers the tools they need to stay legal and profitable. Offering trucking software for drivers, owner-operators and small fleets, Truckers Helper is working with all segments of the trucking industry. The newest version, Truckers Helper Online, brings the best of the highly successful box version of the program to the Web.

Truckers Helper will be at the Great American Trucking Show Aug. 25-27, 2011, in booth number 25010.

 

Ontario seeks to recoup investment in Navistar facility
The provincial government in Ontario says it’s investigating to determine whether Navistar violated any funding agreements when it announced the permanent shutdown of the International truck assembly plant in Chatham.

“With the announcement of the immediate permanent closure of the Navistar truck facility in Chatham, Navistar has failed to meet their commitments under the agreement they signed with the Ontario government in 2004,” Member of Parliament Pat Hoy told the Windsor Star.

“Navistar has been notified they have failed to fulfill their obligations and therefore our government will be pursuing our right to recover funds as outlined in our agreement with Navistar. While it is unfortunate that Navistar has made this irresponsible decision we must continue to act in the best interests of taxpayers and recover public funds that were intended to provide support to a vital industry over the long term in Chatham.”

Navistar received $65 million in government grants in 2003 as an incentive to keep the Chatham plant open. It also got $41 million in concessions from workers.

 

Freight Wing offers OOIDA member discounts on side skirts
Owner-operators who own their own trailers can save on their fuel bills if they run with aerodynamic trailer side skirts. If they happen to be OOIDA members, they can save even more, thanks to a 15 percent OOIDA member discount being offered by Freight Wing, the company that manufactures EPA SmartWay-verified Aeroflex side skirts.  

New rules in California are requiring pre 2011-model year 53-foot dry van trailers to have aerodynamics by Jan. 1, 2013. New trailers must be spec’d with side skirts now.

For those running more than one trailer (up to 20), you can phase in trailer side skirts, but you must file a compliance agreement by Jan. 1, 2012. Refrigerated trailers must also comply, although the deadline varies by model year. For complete CARB requirements, go to the CARB web site: http://www.arb.ca.gov and click on The Truck Stop icon.

To learn more the OOIDA discount, go to the OOIDA website, www.ooida.com (click on benefits and services and go to discounts), or contact Freight Wing at 866-464-9464 or info@freightwing.com. 

 

Good FAQ for CSA lighting info
Truck-Lite’s user-friendly website, Truck-Lite.com/CSA, is a good place to go for CSA lighting related FAQs. Check out the truck-lite.com website.

 

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