Stertil-Koni USA, a provider of heavy-duty lifts for the vehicle maintenance industry, has announced the completion of two key acquisitions.

On July 1, Stertil-Koni USA’s parent company, Stertil B.V., acquired ALM Corp., based in Streator, Ill. ALM, a 23-year-old manufacturer of lifts, has been noted for quality manufacturing. Stertil-Koni says the ALM acquisition fulfills its goal of establishing a world-class manufacturing presence in the United States and a platform from which to supply the increasing global demand for the company’s full range of products.

On July 2, Stertil B.V. acquired the full assets of Fleet America Service Technology, a Maryland corporation located in Manheim, Pa. Fleet America Service Technology is responsible for the development and fabrication of an innovative shallow pit-designed heavy-duty scissors lift. The patent-pending multi-scissors lift is designed to offer the optimum in axle-based vehicle lifting. The proprietary lift will continue to be manufactured in the Manheim facility, located one hour east of Harrisburg.

“Stertil-Koni’s strategic goal was to manufacture and market a full range of high-quality lifting devices for the heavy-duty user, and that remains our strategy today,” says Jean DellAmore, president of Stevensville, Md.-based Stertil-Koni. “The integration of these two companies into Stertil-Koni’s portfolio allows the company to offer the widest spectrum of heavy-duty lifting devices available anywhere on the planet. It fulfills Stertil-Koni’s long-term objective of becoming the global one-stop shop for all potential users of heavy-duty lifts.”

Acting Federal Highway Administrator Jim Ray has issued a “call to arms” on highway safety, urging state Departments of Transportation to adopt more coordinated, systemwide approaches to reduce crashes.

“Safety is our top priority, and while the fatality rate on our nation’s roads is the lowest in history, we are always seeking new ways to prevent tragedies where lives are lost,” says Ray, the nation’s top highway official. “We owe it to the traveling public to work even more creatively.”

Each year, nearly 43,000 people – motorists, passengers and pedestrians – die on America’s roads. Though the fatality rate – 1.41 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled – is the lowest in the nation’s history, the number of fatalities has hovered at about the same point for nearly five years.

FHWA safety officials met with transportation officials and safety experts Friday, July 25, in an online conference – a webinar – as part of a new effort to improve roadway safety nationally. In it, the agency strongly recommended better use of nine tools that are key to reducing roadway fatalities each year:
· Roadway safety audits – State DOTs should formalize the use of these audits, which are comprehensive evaluations of existing or planned roads or intersections to identify potential safety improvements.
· Rumble strips and rumble stripes – Used in centerline and shoulders, these cost-effective devices have shown demonstrable improvement in warning drivers of lane departure, reducing by 14 percent head-on collisions and opposite-direction sideswipe crashes. Shoulder rumble strips and stripes have shown a 38 percent reduction in run-off-road crashes on freeways, and between 13-18 percent on rural roads.
· Median barriers – Used to separate opposing traffic on divided highways, these barriers have a long track record of reducing cross-median collisions. States are encouraged to consider using cable median barriers where appropriate to further heighten roadway safety.
· Safety Edge – This paving technique, giving a 30- to 35-degree slope to the road’s edge, reduces the risk to drivers if their tire inadvertently falls over an otherwise near-vertical road edge, leading to loss of vehicle control and rollover crashes. Safety Edge makes such notoriously severe crashes far less likely.
· Roundabouts – Roundabouts have demonstrated a 60- to 87-percent reduction in crashes.
· Turning lanes at stop-controlled intersections – At intersections with significant turning volume, turning lanes for right- and left-turns on major road approaches can reduce crashes dramatically – in some cases, by as much as 55 percent.
· Yellow change intervals – Red-light running crashes at intersections, which too frequently result in fatalities, can be reduced by setting yellow-light signals properly. Studies show a one-second increase in the yellow signal interval can reduce red-light violations by as much as 50 percent.
· Medians and pedestrian refuge areas in urban and suburban areas – Raised medians or pedestrian refuge areas at pedestrian crossings at marked crosswalks have shown a 46 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes. FHWA recommends that medians be between 4 and 8 feet wide to improve pedestrian safety.
· Walkways – Ensuring a sidewalk or pathway exists near a roadway can reduce pedestrian crashes by as much 88 percent. FHWA recommends a pathway of at least 4 feet wide of stabilized or paved surface in areas routinely used by pedestrians.

To review the FHWA’s new policy, go to safety.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/memo071008.htm.

New federal data showing further steep declines in the number of miles Americans are driving is additional proof that the country needs new means — other than the gas tax — to finance the nation’s transportation infrastructure, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Monday, July 28.

“By driving less and using more fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans are showing us that the highways of tomorrow cannot be supported solely by the federal gas tax,” Peters says. “We must embrace more sustainable funding sources for highways and bridges through more sustainable and effective ways, such as congestion pricing and private activity bonds.”

According to Federal Highway Administration data, Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) in May 2008 than in May 2007. This is the largest drop in VMT for any May, which typically reflects increased traffic due to Memorial Day vacations and the beginning of summer, and is the third-largest monthly drop in the 66 years such data have been recorded. Three of the largest single-month declines — each topping 9 billion miles — have occurred since December.

VMT on all public roads for May 2008 fell 3.7 percent as compared with May 2007 travel, Peters says, marking a decline of 29.8 billion miles traveled in the first five months of 2008 than the same period a year earlier. This continues a seven-month trend that amounts to 40.5 billion fewer miles traveled between November 2007 and May 2008 than the same period a year before, she says.

As Americans drive less and rely increasingly on mass transit, carpooling or other options, the federal Highway Trust Fund receives less revenue from gasoline and diesel sales — 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon, respectively. “Less driving means less money for the Highway Trust Fund,” says acting Federal Highway Administrator Jim Ray. “The status quo cannot and will not work in the 21st century.”

To review the FHWA’s “Traffic Volume Trends” reports for May 2008, go to www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/tvtpage.htm.

Cummins Inc. announced Friday, July 18, that it has concluded its joint ventures with CNH Global N.V. (CNH) and Iveco N.V., two Fiat Group companies. Under the new agreement, Cummins will purchase CNH’s equity stake in Consolidated Diesel Co. and will sell its interest in the European Engine Alliance.

CDC, which is located in Whitakers, N. C., will become a wholly-owned entity of Cummins Inc. Cummins, based in Columbus, Ind., entered the joint venture with Case Corp. in 1980 and has produced more than 2.7 million mid-range engines. Cummins will purchase CNH’s 50 percent interest in CDC.

The European Engine Alliance was established in 1996 as a joint venture between Cummins and two Fiat Group companies, Iveco N.V. and New Holland, which is now CNH Global N.V., to develop a new generation of 4-, 5- and 6-liter engines. EEA includes manufacturing assets in Turin, Italy. Cummins will sell its one-third interest in the EEA to Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

“We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with our partners,” says Jim Kelly, president of Cummins Engine Business. “This change will essentially be transparent to the CDC employees and to our customers. On July 1, we celebrated the 25th year of CDC’s successful production of engines and components with our employees there, and we look forward to continuing this success together well into the future. Our customers can continue to depend on Cummins and CDC for the quality products and support they have always received.”

Delco Remy has introduced the new 28SI high output alternator to address vehicle applications that require higher electrical output, but also want lower weight, improved temperature capability and fuel savings. This alternator is the ideal solution for school bus, shuttle bus and recreational vehicles, and is also a good choice for trucks that have high electrical loads, says the company.

Vehicles, such as school buses, not using a premium high output alternator likely will experience premature failures caused by high under-hood engine temperatures. Premature failures can be costly and create unexpected downtime. Delco Remy says that the 28SI high output alternator provides the answer to this problem while improving fuel savings at the same time.

Key features and advantages of the high output Delco Remy 28SI alternator are said to include:
· 180 and 200 Amp options with three mounting styles allow flexibility when upgrading.
· Remote Sense technology provides accurate voltage readings and optimizes battery state-of-charge resulting in improved efficiency and overall battery life.
· The high efficiency, lightweight design offers improved fuel economy.
· The Dual Internal Fans (DIF) design protects the alternator from today’s high under-hood engine temperatures.

For more information, visit www.delcoremy.com.

Karmak recently expanded its sales force by adding two regional managers to the company’s sales team. The new additions will increase Karmak’s presence in the Central and Southwest U.S. regions.

Phillip Hirsch is Karmak’s new Regional Manager for Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Hirsch brings more than 20 years of senior management experience in the commercial truck industry, including executive positions with major rental, leasing, finance, and insurance companies. He is a former member of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association, and served on various committees within that organization. With a proven track record for expanding business, increasing revenue, and maximizing productivity on the local, national, and international scale, Hirsch was an ideal candidate for the position, says Karmak.

Steven Stockdale joined Karmak as the Regional Manager for California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. Stockdale comes to Karmak with considerable experience in the heavy-duty truck market. His career includes many years in the heavy-duty truck dealership and original equipment manufacturer industries, including general management, new and used vehicle sales management, parts management, and district management. Formerly, Stockdale served in various positions of significant responsibility for Volvo Truck Corporation. His extensive knowledge of truck dealership operations from varied perspectives will serve as an asset to both Karmak and its customers, says the company.

Both managers will establish new regional offices in their respective territories.

New enforcement regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allow Hunter’s B400T Brake Tester to be used to test brake compliance without a follow-up physical inspection to take non-complying vehicles out of service, the company announced Wednesday, July 23. In a mere 30 seconds, the B400T determines whether a vehicle can continue to its destination or be taken out of service for further inspection and repair, according to the company.

The B400T utilizes a PC-based system with Hunter’s proprietary WinSI software to measure brake forces and vehicle weight at each wheel on multi-axle vehicles such as tractors and semi-trailers, tandem-axle tractors and buses; and two-axle vehicles such as passenger cars and light trucks, the company says. Single-, tandem- and triple-axle vehicles can be tested with full loads.

To perform the test, a technician drives the vehicle onto the tester plates and applies the brakes, according to Hunter; the precision load cells within the plates automatically measure a variety of brake performance conditions, which then are digitally transferred to the computer, analyzed and displayed on the monitor in color-coded charts.

Hunter says the B400T identifies many conditions that affect brake performance:
· Axle-to-axle imbalance: Tests unequal brake performance by comparing axles to determine if one would lock up first, causing a loss of steering control or jackknife;
· Left-to-right imbalance: Tests unequal brake performance by comparing each side of the vehicle to find a pull and potential to skid;
· Static weight, dynamic weight and weight shift: A measurement of weight of the vehicle and load at a stop, weight of the vehicle and load when braking, and rear-to-front weight shift when braking;
· Rollover propensity: With the various weight measurements, the software can determine the vehicle’s center of gravity and potential of rollover; and
· Parking or emergency brake: A test for both mechanical brakes on straight trucks and spring brakes on air-brake systems.

For more information, go to www.hunter.com.

The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and the South Coast Air Quality Management District recently approved grant awards of $3.6 million to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to help fund nine new natural gas fueling stations in Southern California.

In addition, SCAQMD announced grants totaling $7.7 million to assist a number of Clean Energy’s customer companies with the purchase of clean-burning natural gas-powered heavy-duty fleet trucks, full-size buses and taxis.

Andrew Littlefair, the company’s chief executive officer, says the grants would help fund public and private liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas fueling stations in locations that include West Los Angeles, Fontana, Norwalk, Burbank, the Port of Long Beach and the Ontario and Palm Springs international airports.

Clean Energy’s grants department also helps fleet operators identify, apply for and secure grant funding for equipment powered by natural gas. The grants department has helped secure more than $107 million in funding for Clean Energy and its customers.

Delphi Corp. and Peterbilt Motors Co. announced Tuesday, July 22, the successful demonstration of a Delphi solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit (APU) powering a Peterbilt Model 386 truck’s “hotel” loads. During recent testing at Peterbilt’s Texas headquarters, the Delphi SOFC provided power for the Model 386′s electrical system and air conditioning and maintained the truck’s batteries – all while the Model 386′s diesel engine was turned off, according to the companies.

This demonstration, held in June, leveraged development supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and Fossil Energy Solid State Energy’s Conversion Alliance (SECA) program. Delphi says its SOFC technology directly addresses increasingly stringent anti-idling legislation and other proposals addressing commercial truck emissions, noise and fuel consumption.

Delphi says its SOFC converts chemical energy in conventional fuels directly into useful electrical power without combustion. A SOFC operates quietly and at a higher efficiency level than traditional internal combustion engines, according to the company; by limiting idling time and running a SOFC instead of the main engine, emissions are reduced, noise is nearly eliminated, and operators realize significant fuel savings, according to Delphi.

Delphi says the new technology will have the capability of using a variety of fuels, including natural gas, diesel, biodiesel, propane, gasoline, coal-derived fuel and military logistics fuel. In addition to its fuel flexibility, the SOFC will be compact in size, according to the company.

Peterbilt and Delphi say the test replicated a typical trucker’s day to evaluate the real-world usefulness and capacity of the SOFC:
· To begin, the SOFC APU was brought to operating temperature with the truck’s main engine running. This simulated starting the SOFC APU during normal, on-road driving conditions;
· Once the SOFC APU was at temperature and available to provide power, the Model 386′s main engine was turned off, simulating the beginning of a rest period;
· During the rest period, the SOFC APU powered the 386′s electrical loads, including the electric air-conditioner, radio, citizens band radio and lights. It also charged the truck’s battery;
· After 10 hours (representing running overnight), the Model 386′s main engine was restarted to simulate the driver beginning his drive for the next day; and
· Throughout the test, the SOFC APU provided an average of 800 watts of electricity to the Peterbilt Model 386.

“The Delphi SOFC passed this test, standing up to the demands of a typical truck driver’s day,” says Mary Gustanski, Delphi Powertrain Systems director of engineering. “We are encouraged by the performance of the demonstration, especially given the 95-degree Fahrenheit Texas heat. Additionally, we thank everyone at Peterbilt for participating in this evaluation and for echoing our enthusiasm for the further development of eco-friendly solutions.”

“The SOFC system provides a technologically-advanced solution to meet anti-idle requirements while surpassing expectations for reduced emissions, noise and fuel consumption,” says Landon Sproull, Peterbilt chief engineer. “This system has the potential to revolutionize future APUs by setting new benchmarks for performance and ease of operation with no adverse effects on the environment.”

The companies say the Peterbilt Model 386 was chosen as the test bed for the SOFC due to its aerodynamic and fuel-efficient performance. It merges conventional Peterbilt styling with aerodynamic design and has been recognized as fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program.

A bill to help prevent a shortfall in transportation funding won overwhelming approval Wednesday, July 23, in the House of Representatives. The final vote total was 387-37.

The bill, H.R. 6532, restores $8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund to avert an expected revenue shortfall in the coming fiscal year that is projected to be as high as $14 billion, more than one-third of the originally projected revenues. This would have a disastrous impact on transportation projects across the country and cost up to 380,000 family-wage jobs, the bill’s supporters say.

“Earlier this year, the president’s budget estimated a shortfall of $3.2 billion by the end of FY 2009,” said Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Since then, gas prices have risen dramatically, and Americans are driving less. In fact, Americans have driven 20 billion fewer miles overall this year.”

As a result, gas tax revenues are down, said Oberstar, who noted that $2 billion less was collected during the first eight months of FY 2008 compared to the same period in FY 2007. “This unexpected and severe decline in revenues makes it even more critical that we take decisive action now to ensure the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund,” he said.

The bipartisan bill, which restores $8 billion in highway user-fee revenue that was taken from the trust fund in 1998, is designed to ensure that the trust fund remains solvent through the current authorization period, which ends on Sept. 30. The bill now goes to the Senate.

“This is not the time to reduce our pathetic investment in infrastructure,” said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. “There are 150,000 structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges on our roads today, trucks are being rerouted because of weight restrictions, and people are wasting hours and high-priced gas idling in traffic.”

DeFazio said that without H.R. 6532, Oregon was facing a loss of $139 million in funds for highway projects and nearly 5,000 living-wage jobs. “I am pleased the House has acted to restore these funds to the Highway Trust Fund,” he said.