Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) received the Delivery Achievement Award from Hino Motors Manufacturing for 100 percent on-time delivery and 100 percent delivery accuracy. The award recognizes BBTS truck and bus tire deliveries to Hino’s assembly plants in North America for 2007.

“We are proud to be recognized for our contributions,” said John Carr, North American sales manager, truck and bus original equipment. “Everyone on our team – from product distribution and inventory control, warehouse and distribution, customer service, sales, to our senior management – works hard to ensure the continuous and accurate supply of Bridgestone truck and bus original equipment tires to our customer.”

Hino Motors Manufacturing is a division of Hino Motors Ltd., the truck, bus and light commercial vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corporation. Hino Trucks is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

To help educate trucking fleet managers and owner-operators about how synthetic lubricants may help enhance the performance and reliability of their vehicles, as well as potentially deliver fuel economy benefits, ExxonMobil has introduced a new six-page color brochure for its flagship Mobil Delvac synthetic commercial vehicle lubricants.

The Mobil Delvac lineup of the fully synthetic heavy-duty lubricants includes Mobil Delvac Synthetic Transmission Fluid, Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil, Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF and Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40. Available in print or online here, the brochure details how using high-quality synthetic lubricants, such as Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40, may help fleet managers and owner-operators extend drain intervals, enhance soot handling and minimize wear, leading to lower maintenance costs and downtime.

In addition, the brochure provides key data, with accompanying graphics and detailed charts, that show how Mobil Delvac’s full range of synthetic oils have performed in the most challenging OEM and industry-standard benchmark tests, such as Sequence IIIG Oxidation Test, CEC L60-1 Thermal Oxidation Test and Cummins ISB Wear Test. According to ExxonMobil, test results show that Mobil Delvac 1 ESP, Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oils and Mobil Delvac Synthetic Transmission Fluids, when used in combination, can help trucking fleets and/or owner-operators generate up to 3 percent fuel savings compared to conventional mineral lubricants.

“As the trucking industry continues to become more competitive, and the technology used in today’s vehicles continues to become more advanced, fleet managers and owner-operators are increasingly looking at ways to lower their costs by maximizing the performance of their vehicles and enhancing fuel economy,” says Yeong Kwon, commercial vehicle lubricants product offer adviser for Fairfax, Va.-based ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Co. “With our full lineup of Mobil Delvac-branded high-performance synthetic lubricants, we continue to extend our legacy of being at the forefront of lubricant technology, providing the marketplace with a range of products that deliver outstanding oxidation resistance, wear protection and viscosity stability, as well as improved fuel economy.”

Sellick Equipment recently expanded its S Series product line by adding a 16,000-pound-capacity model. By steering both axles, the S160-4 — which has full-time four-wheel drive and four equal-sized wheels — has a tight turning radius of 150 inches, according to the company.

The S160-4 is powered by the Dieselmax 444 Turbocharged Tier III diesel engine, producing 114 hp, and is coupled to a fully automatic power-shift transmission. Axles feature enclosed wet disc brakes to facilitate extended life, and limited slip differentials for added traction and maneuverability.

Consistent with the S Series product line, the operator platform of the S160-4 is mounted to the frame on isolators that help reduce noise and vibration for the operator. Standard features include frame leveling, tilt-steering column with full instrumentation, light package and backup alarm; options include full cab, air conditioning, side shift and fork positioning carriages, and a variety of lift heights and fork lengths.

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

Clevite

MAHLE Clevite has been involved in the Heavy Duty aftermarket now for over 50 years and offers a wide range of replacement parts for Heavy Duty engines found in Agriculture, Construction, Trucking, Marine and Oil Field operations.

Click Here for more information about Clevite!

Genuine BOWER tapered roller bearings

Recognized for their high precision and excellent performance, genuine BOWER bearings are the brand of choice for many professionals in the heavy-duty truck market.

All BOWER tapered roller bearings are made from high-quality carburized steel and have greatly increased durability and extended life span. The bearings are produced in the United States under stringent quality standards and are available in a wide range of sizes for wheel (truck & trailer), transmission, differential and engine applications. In addition, the unmatched local inventory of BOWER bearings allows for prompt, reliable delivery and helps you reduce your freight costs.

For your nearest dealer call 800-323-2358 ext 20813 or visit www.genuineBOWERbearings.com.

Fourteen states, three counties and two parishes competed for and will receive $14.7 million in Rural Safety Innovation Program (RSIP) funds to improve safety on rural roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday, Aug. 27.

“Making one road safer is important, but making rural roads around the country less deadly is absolutely essential,” said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett, who presented awards to officials in Raymond, Miss. “Thanks to these funds, our rural roads are on their way to becoming as safe as they are beautiful.”

Rural roads carry less than half of America’s traffic but account for more than half of the nation’s vehicular deaths. Last February, DOT launched the “Rural Safety Initiative” to address this issue. Though last year’s fatality rate – 1.37 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled – is the lowest in the nation’s history, the 41,059 fatalities in 2007 remain “entirely too high,” Barrett said. “The RSIP program will help us put a national focus on a local problem.”

The awards, made possible by funds from DOT’s Delta Region Transportation Development Program and Intelligent Transportation Systems Program, are part of a $287 million effort to help local and state governments reduce crashes on dangerous rural roads.

The National Accounting & Finance Council of the American Trucking Associations will be addressing the financial impacts of the greening of the supply chain, among other issues, at its annual Executive Education Forum, set for Sept. 7-9 in Indianapolis.

Customers and shippers are beginning to demand environmental assurances when shopping for transportation services. Clean air initiatives are coming from federal and state governments, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay and San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. These and other factors are quickly influencing financial decisions and impacting the emerging field of environmental accounting.

Entitled “Managing Costs, Emissions and Profits: A New Paradigm,” this forum will help educate trucking industry chief financial officers and other financial professionals of the relevance of environmental accounting to the industry, according to NAFC.

Other topics to be discussed include: Fuel Markets and Costs, Risk Management, Credit Markets, and economic and regulatory updates. Economist Noel Perry – founder of Transport Fundamentals, with 30 years of prior experience with Schneider National, CSX and Cummings Engine Co. – will discuss the economic outlook of the trucking industry.

Complete conference information and registration forms are available online at http://nafc.truckline.com.

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.3 percent in July, marking the first month-to-month drop since April. The seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled 116.2 in July, while the nonseasonally adjusted index fell 0.1 percent to 119.7.

The seasonally adjusted index was 4.4 percent higher compared with July 2007, marking its ninth consecutive year-over-year increase, although the gain was a full percentage point lower than the improvement in June. Year-to-date, the index was up 3.6 percent compared with the same period in 2007. Tonnage contracted 1.7 percent and 1.5 percent in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said July’s tonnage reading matched several anecdotal reports from motor carriers that freight was softer in July than the previous month. Costello cautioned that truck tonnage could be volatile in coming months because the economy is expected to soften further before improving. However, slight declines in fuel prices and tightening capacity could help offset softer freight volumes, he said.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons and key financial indicators. The baseline year is 2000.

ArvinMeritor dedicated its new $30 million manufacturing facility in Ciénega de Flores, Nuevo Le

Datalliance, an independent provider of vendor managed inventory (VMI) and other e-commerce services, announced that it will acquired the assets of HDeXchange, Inc. (HDX), a provider of e-commerce solutions to the heavy-duty truck parts supply chain, and will assume control of all activities related to both HDeXchange, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, HDX Services.

HDX will continue to operate as the industry’s voice for electronic commerce initiatives, as well as maintain its full suite of services, but will be financially backed by Datalliance. Edward Kuo will remain executive director on a long-term basis, and Datalliance will retain the services of the current HDX Board of Directors on a short-term basis.

“Datalliance has been one of HDX’s best supporters over the years as both a customer and a vendor partner, so this is an ideal fit,” said Jay Johnston, chairman of the HDX Board. “HDX will benefit from the years of experience Datalliance has in running a technology-based company, as well as the additional strategic and financial resources it brings to the table,” he added.

“HDX has affected a significant amount of change in this industry over the last 10 years,” said Kuo. “With Datalliance, we increase our financial backing, giving us an opportunity to expand the reach of our services and support of those services.”

“I’m excited because this enhances the long and beneficial history between HDX, Datalliance, and the heavy duty truck parts industry,” said Carl Hall, president and chief executive officer of Datalliance. “With this and other initiatives, it’s our goal to build on our position as a trusted third party to provide a range of related e-commerce services within industry-specific supply chains. ” he added.

The acquisition will be effective September 1, 2008. HDX headquarters will remain in Ada, Mich., with some administrative services being transferred to Datalliance headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) and the organizers of HD Aftermarket Week ’09 (HDAW ’09) are working together with the Freeman Companies to reduce the cost for suppliers exhibiting at both events.

Both are to be held in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) during the weeks of February 9 to 12 (TMC) and February 16 to 19 (HDAW) consecutively.

Because both events are held at the OCCC, but in different buildings, The Freeman Companies have made accommodations to move exhibitor materials from the TMC event, store for a brief period and then deliver them to the hall in OCCC for HDAW ’09 at no additional charge. Recognizing that the 2009 schedule presents challenges for their mutual exhibitors, both organizations have worked together with the trade show contractor to reduce costs.

Both TMC and the organizers of HDAW ’09 thank the Freeman Companies for their additional efforts to accommodate both events.