June 1, 2008
Editorial
Remembering the Alamo at TTMA
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, by Bruce Sauer
In 1836, people from various parts of the United States and a few from foreign countries gathered together in San Antonio...
Industry Newsdesk
GM plans to close four truck plants, response to demand for fuel-efficient vehicles
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
General Motors announced a range of strategic initiatives to respond to growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles — including the closure of four truck plants...
First Student signs potential $1.2 billion purchase agreement with Navistar's IC Bus
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
In one of the largest fleet purchase deals the school bus industry has ever seen, First Student Inc., a subsidiary of FirstGroup America, has signed an agreement for IC Bus LLC...
New trucks revised up for April
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Class 8 and Class 5-7 net new truck orders were revised up 6% and 13%, respectively, for April 2008. Class 8 orders were 20,099, up 77% year-over-year...
UPS places with FCCC the largest order of alternative-fuel vehicles on record
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The largest order of alternative-fuel commercial vehicles to date was placed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) by UPS recently. This...
Great Dane Trailers honored by PSI
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Pressure Systems International (PSI) has presented its 2007 Customer Excellence Award to Great Dane Trailers, a manufacturer of dry van, refrigerated, and platform trailers...
Utility Trailer plant again gets TTMA award
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
For the fourth time in the past five years, Utility Trailer's manufacturing plant in Paragould AR was awarded the Plant Safety Award by the Truck Trailer...
AT&T to add 105 green vehicles
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
AT&T Inc. announced plans to add 105 alternative-fuel vehicles to the corporate fleet of its operating companies. The vehicles, which will roll out in...
Trailer orders decline 9% in April 2008
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Total trailer orders were 10,845 in April 2008, down 9% year-over-year (versus up 36% year-over-year in March)...
Commercial Vehicle Group opens HQ
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Commercial Vehicle Group Inc. has moved into its newly opened corporate headquarters and research and development center in New Albany OH...
WABCO wins new business in Beijing
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
WABCO Holdings Inc. announced that the Beijing Public Transport Corporation (BPTC) has awarded the company a new contract to provide braking products and aftermarket services for BPTC's fleet of more than 20,000 buses...
Doonan acquires assets of Chaparral
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Doonan Specialized Trailer LLC has acquired the assets of Chaparral Manufacturing Inc. Chaparral has been producing a line of all-aluminum platform trailers...
Japanese firm buys RoadRailer demo set
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Wabash National Corporation announced that Japan's Shiga Transport Company Ltd. purchased a demonstration set of RoadRailer intermodal equipment. Shiga...
Hayes Lemmerz to close Georgia facility
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. will close its aluminum wheel facility in Gainesville GA by the end of December 2008. The closure is the result of global...
Beall Corp. appoints Canadian distributor
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Tank and trailer manufacturer Beall Corporation announced the appointment of Krohnert Industries Inc. to be the distributor of Beall products for Canada,...
ArvinMeritor to spin off its LVS business
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
ArvinMeritor Inc.'s board of directors has approved a plan to spin off its Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business to ArvinMeritor shareholders, with the...
Hybra-Drive plans hydraulic hybrid
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A government-corporate partnership led by CALSTART has selected a Michigan firm to build three identical hydraulic hybrid delivery trucks for real-world...
Transfer Flow celebrates a quarter century as a successful, family-owned business
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Now in its 25th year, the Chico CA-based company employs 90 skilled craftsmen — 35 of which have 10 years of seniority or more — and has grown to include two facilities with a total of nearly 70,000 square feet...
AL-KO Kober Corporation acquires RBW Industries
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
As a result of the acquisition RBW, a manufacturer of recreational vehicle accessories, becomes a part of the AL-KO Kober Group...
Michelin, Love's sign service agreement
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Michelin Americas Truck Tires and Love's Travel Stops have signed a cooperative agreement that will expand service to the trucking industry. Effective...
Trudell Trailers acquires all Mid Michigan Great Dane operations
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Trudell Trailers has acquired all operations of Mid Michigan Great Dane Inc., including its sister firm, Michigan Trailer Service Inc. All operations...
FleetPride purchases Keller Truck Parts
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
FleetPride Inc. has completed the acquisition of Keller Truck Parts Inc, which has 11 locations across Delaware and Maryland. Locations in Maryland include...
SAF-Holland, DAF Trucks reach aftermarket deal
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
SAF-Holland S.A. and DAF Trucks have agreed on an aftermarket cooperation deal. DAF Trucks will integrate SAF-Holland parts in its Truck and Trailer Parts...
Features
Building the plastic platform
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
When it comes to selecting a material to build a platform body, steel seems to be the simple choice, with aluminum serving the needs of those who want...
Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association Convention
TTMA rallies in Alamo City
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The Outlook for trailer demand, an analysis of the global economy, and tips for managing younger employees were among the topics presented at the 65th...
Trailer demand subdued, for now
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Rick Weber
Trailer demand likely will be until economic uncertainty passes, according to Ken Vieth, senior partner/general manger of A.C.T. Research Co LLC. In his...
We aren't there yet
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
A section of Don Reynolds' Web site offers that clients and media have described him as near clairvoyant, uncannily precise, and brilliant. TTMA members...
Managing Generation Y
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
Bruce Tulgan doesn't have all the answers. But he has all the questions. Tulgan, a leadership and performance-management expert and founder of Rainmaker...
A look at new trailer products
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, BY RICK WEBER
Each of the participating associate members at the convention had four minutes to explain a product and its benefits. Here are the 12 who offered an update:...
Product Profiles
Product Profiles
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Unidex enhances Model ECL Series Unidex Inc introduces its enhanced new Model ECL Series Electric Column Lift Manipulator, a fine-height lifting system...
Trailer, truck & body OEMs
Trailer, truck, & body OEMs
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Heil Trailer International announces the addition of Greg Hewitt as president-North America, responsible for North American operations, sales, and growth...
Component manufacturers
Component manufacturers
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has named Jerry Gleisner vice president of sales, Eastern Zone, and he will be based in Clayton NC. He was most recently...
Dealers/distributors
Dealers/distributors
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
U.S. Trailer Parts & Supply Inc. announces that Christopher Holmes has been hired as director of outside sales and will be based at the Chicago IL office....
Obituaries
Obituaries
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
John P. Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment (Westbrook ME) and president of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) in 1992-1993, died...
New on Wheels
Western Star, J&J Truck Bodies team up
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Western Star Trucks is collaborating with Somerset PA-based J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers to build a truck for extreme-duty mining and quarry applications....
SCRAPMAC has 90 cubic yards of capacity
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
MAC Trailer Manufacturing has introduced its steel dump trailer. The SCRAPMAC, manufactured with 450AR steel in a half-round configuration, boasts 90...
CHEREAU designs directional chassis
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
CHEREAU chassis are specifically designed for refrigerated transport, and they also contribute in various other ways to the overall quality of the equipment....
