Trucking news and briefs for Monday, July 11, 2022:
North Carolina-based fleet picked to haul Capitol Christmas Tree
North Carolina-based Hardy Brothers Trucking will transport the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree later this year.Hardy Brothers Trucking | Facebook
Hardy Brothers Trucking was selected as the hauler for this year’s tree at the recommendation of Kenworth Truck Company and based on industry reputation, according to Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors, a non-profit that assists the USDA Forest Service in coordinating the annual public engagement initiative.
The tree will be harvested from the National Forests in North Carolina in early November, followed by a journey with special events in communities along the way before being delivered to Washington, D.C.
Hardy Brothers also will deliver thousands of handmade ornaments made by North Carolinians, along with smaller trees for offices in the nation’s capital.
“For us to be part of the tradition of bringing the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is quite the honor,” said Eddie Hardy, president of Hardy Brothers Trucking. “Our pride in the state of North Carolina shines throughout our fleet, and we’re excited to share the experience and uplifting communities along the way.”
Doing the honors of delivering the tree for Hardy Brothers will be the husband-and-wife team Harold “Ed” Kingdon Jr. and Deborah Z. Kingdon. They have been married for 42 years and have been driving for Hardy Brothers since 2018.
Ed is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard, where he served 37 years. He worked his way through the ranks and was commissioned in 1988, retiring with the rank of colonel. Deborah primarily focused on raising their four children, including homeschooling them from 1986 to 2008.
In 1965, Ralph Hardy bought his first truck and began hauling produce throughout the East Coast. Since then, Hardy Brothers Trucking has grown to more than 100 dedicated drivers and 55 trucks pulling refrigerated trailers and hauling freight coast-to-coast.
Fifty-seven years in, the business remains a family affair. Hardy continues to work daily in the office, while Ralph’s son, Eddie, runs the day-to-day operations as president, and Eddie’s son, Ryan, serves as vice president.
Kenworth Truck Company returns for the ninth year as a major sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree program. A specially decaled Kenworth T680 Next Generation equipped with a 76-inch mid-roof sleeper and the Paccar Powertrain will transport the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
Volvo, Daimler, Traton kick off European charging infrastructure joint venture
The Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and the Traton Group on July 8 completed the final step in forming the previously announced joint venture for charging infrastructure in Europe.
The new joint venture, with Anja van Niersen as appointed CEO, is expected to have a significant role in supporting the European Union's Green Deal for carbon-neutral freight transportation by 2050.
The joint venture plans to install and operate at least 1,700 high-performance green energy charge points on, and close to, highways as well as at logistics hubs across Europe. The parties are committing to invest 500 million Euros (about $507 million) in total, which is assumed to be by far the largest charging infrastructure investment in the European heavy-duty truck industry to date.
The joint venture intends to take a catalyzing role as a charge point operator (CPO) by installing and managing charging stations for heavy-duty trucks and coaches. It will be a self-standing legal entity, operating under its own corporate identity and based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Anja van Niersen, who will be taking the helm of the new company, will bring with her a breadth of experience from the energy and charging industry sector, most recently serving as CEO and later as Chairman of the Board of a major European electric vehicle charging network provider.
