International Truck and Engine Corp. and the leadership of the United Auto Workers union reached agreement on new three-year labor contracts.
Ryder System will combine its U.S. and International Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) business operations to form a single, fully integrated organization to serve SCS customers globally.
Sterling Truck Corp. announced that the Sterling Bullet – a new chassis-cab Class 4/5 vehicle introduced in March – has begun production. The trucks already have begun arriving in dealerships.
Shell Lubricants introduced Shell Spirax ASX R, a long-life axle fluid claimed to demonstrate a fuel efficiency improvement of more than one percent when compared to several products in the same application.
The Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) by PSI with ThermAlert is now the standard option for Utility trailers spec’d with automatic tire inflation systems.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber signed a one-year agreement to be the preferred tire supplier for Wabash National trailers.
SelecTrucks announced that a comprehensive protection package now will extend to 60 days. SelecTrucks’ “Buyer’s Assurance” plan previously covered heavy- and medium-duty trucks for 30 days.
Novita Technologies finalized the acquisition of Trico Electronics.
Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire and the National Football League announced an agreement making the Bridgestone brand the title sponsor of the Super Bowl XLII and XLIII “Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
The number of Idealease affiliates has more than tripled since 1982; 420 International dealers now own or operate Idealease companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Since its beginning in 1997, Michelin Retread Technologies has grown to include 45 franchisees, with 77 retread locations across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With all the recent headlines about 2010 engine technology, it’s easy to forget that fleets are only now growing accustomed to the intricacies of their ’07 engines. How are they faring?
Mike Hasinec, vice president of maintenance systems and support for Penske Truck Leasing – which has 3,500 ’07 engines of all makes in service, the highest-mileage of which has 150,000 miles – reports that there have been few problems. Regarding forced particulate regeneration, “It’s a learning curve for drivers,” Hasinec says. “But we have training videos to help.”
Fuel economy, Hasinec says, has been surprisingly good. “If the particulate
filter hasn’t been forced to regenerate (which uses diesel fuel), there’s been no degradation of economy.”
Painfully aware of latent high-underhood temperature woes encountered from 2002 engines, Hasinec says he hasn’t seen any similar problems with ’07 equipment
