The Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations will hold its 2009 Fall Meeting – along with TMCSuperTech2009 – Sept.14-17 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C. The meeting theme, “High Performance Maintenance Strategies,” will be carried out through technical sessions on new fuels, propulsion technologies and how to assess and reduce vehicle downtime with failure analysis.

Technical Sessions
Three full-technical sessions offer timely and much needed detail on clean vehicle technologies, new California rules impacting trucking, and access to OEM repair information for increasingly complicated power systems.
A Comprehensive Review of Clean Vehicle Technologies will provide a rundown on the various hybrid technologies coming online and on the way, as well as the pros and cons of many fuels being used and considered for these technologies, including liquefied and compressed natural gas, a variety of biodiesel products, and fuel-cell and hydrogen-based technologies.
California Regulatory Tsunami: How New California Rules Will Impact Fleets Nationwide will detail the latest in a growing list of environmental regulations from California, from trailer refrigerant unit retrofitting, emissions caps, mandating retrofit of pre-2007 model year trucks and tracks with diesel particulate filters, and mandating use of approved tires and aerodynamic features such as trailer side-skirts.
The full-technical session Fleet Challenges Regarding Access to Repair Information looks closely at the problem some fleets and repair facilities have in getting necessary service information to make vehicle repairs, the Right-to-Repair Act now before Congress, and what one TMC Study Group is doing to help remedy the problem.
Study Group technical sessions include:
· Electrical Technician Training Skills;
· Prevention Tips for the Industry’s Top 10 Tire and Wheel Issues;
· Diesel Exhaust Fluid for 2010 Engines;
· The Numbers Behind the Failure – Knowing When Parts Will Fail;
· Wheel End Maintenance and Failure Analysis Strategies;
· Making Your Trailers More Fuel Efficient – CARB Compliance and Beyond;
· New Developments in Onboard Vehicle Diagnostics; and
· Specialty Vehicles and Failure Analysis – What Fails and Why.
Fleet Operator’s Forum, Fleet Talk and Shop Talk again will provide the opportunity for maintenance and equipment professionals to seek redress to equipment problems and exchange information related to equipment problems.
On Monday, Sept. 14, more than 100 Task Forces will continue work on Recommended Practices. TMC’s new Service Provider Committee will met formally for the first time as it begins working to improve efficiencies and communication between service providers and fleets. TMC’s Corrosion Control Committee and Future Truck Committee also will meet.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the speaker for the Industry Luncheon will be Jack Conlan, senior vice president of customer support for Daimler Trucks North America.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the TMCSuperTech2009 Awards Luncheon will include the announcement of the nation’s top truck technicians. Luncheon speaker will be TMCSuperTech2007 and TMCSuperTech2008 Grand Champion Bryan Lewis of Wal-Mart.

TMCSuperTech2009
Organized by TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee, TMCSuperTech2009 is designed to determine the industry’s top technician through prequalification tests and a variety of troubleshooting tests at 14 skill stations. In addition to finding this year’s top truck technicians, the competition provides a showcase for the high degree of skill and knowledge shown every day by trucking industry technicians and acknowledges the “best of the best.”
Any technician employed in the trucking industry may register for TMC’s National Technician Skills Competition. The entry fee for TMC technician members is $100. The entry fee for nonmember technicians is $200, which also includes TMC technician membership for the balance of 2009. The entry fee is waived for verified champions of 2009 state technician skills contests.
A maximum of 96 contestants (limit is tentative, subject to change depending on available resources) will advance to compete in the Hands-On Skills Challenge. Certified grand champions from State Trucking Association contests will be included automatically in the Hands-On Skills Challenge. All finalists will receive a special prize package.
All contestants will compete in a written test and prequalification challenge round on Monday, Sept. 14, consisting of a written multiple-choice examination and a hands-on skill prequalification test. Contestants will be given two hours to complete the test.
New this year, attendance at the PTDC Technician Training Fair sessions on Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, will earn contestants additional bonus points that will be counted in the scoring for the Hands-on Skills Challenge, which runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and includes the following 14 skill stations:
· Electrical/Electronics;
· Starting and Charging;
· Tires and Wheels;
· Wheel Ends;
· Trailer Alignment;
· Engine (Electronics);
· Engine (Hardware);
· Steering/Suspension;
· PMI;
· Drivetrain;
· Service Information;
· Repair Order;
· Fasteners/Fastener Repair; and
· Fifth Wheel.
Lunch will be provided for all contestants, judges and other registered guests. Spectators will be welcome on the competition floor.
TMCSuperTech2009 first-, second- and third-place winners, along with those receiving the high score at each skill station, will be announced at the Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The first-place winner will have the choice of an expense-paid trip for two to the 2010 Daytona 500 or equivalent package, plus other prizes. Second- and third-place winners also will receive trophies and valuable prizes. Individuals who are awarded “Best in Skill” category from each of the skill stations will receive a Toughbook laptop courtesy of Panasonic.

Technician Training Fair
In addition to TMCSuperTech2009, TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee will hold a Technician Training Fair on Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. The hands-on training sessions are designed for technicians, shop supervisors and fleet managers. Other TMC meeting attendees also are welcome to attend the training, which qualifies for National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation continuing education credits. The sessions will be repeated to maximize training opportunities.
Training sessions include:
· Basic HVAC Principles;
· Basic Electronics;
· Proper Tool Usage and Repair Orders;
· 2010 SCR Update;
· Proper Electronics and Wiring Repair; and
· Enhanced Safety Systems.
Meeting and registration information is available online at http://tmc.truckline.com.

Orders for heavy-duty commercial vehicles are coming in as anticipated, according to the latest edition of FTR Associates’ North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook. As a result, FTR’s forecast for 2009 calling for a decline of almost 47 percent in Class 8 truck production remains unchanged. The firm calls for a slow recovery to begin in 2010 that will regain some of the ground lost this year, but that 2010 production is still anticipated to be about 30 percent below 2008 levels.

“While the near-term picture is becoming clearer every day, there is an unusual amount of uncertainty with regard to 2011 and beyond,” says Eric Starks, president of FTR. “We are in an unprecedented economic situation where past performance does not necessarily provide relevant guideposts. The range of possible outcomes is still very wide, with either a continued slow recovery or a faster snap-back both quite possible. We are therefore urging our subscribers to remain flexible with regard to their 2011 planning at this time.”

The North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook report features in-depth analysis of the commercial vehicle industry, including forecasts for Class 8 and medium-duty trucks, as well as semi-trailers. The analysis includes FTR’s “Economically Derived Demand” analysis that looks beyond the current order activity to discern underlying equipment demand based on economic and freight trends.

FTR Associates, located in Nashville, Ind., is the publisher of the North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook and has been a provider of transportation forecasting data for more than 20 years. The company says its U.S. Freight Model collects and analyzes all data likely to impact freight movement and demand, incorporating specific characteristics for more than 200 commodity groups. In addition to commercial vehicle demand, FTR Associates says its analysis covers truck freight and rail transportation, and that specially designed reports are offered to participants in both industries.

Navistar Inc. recently presented Grote Industries with its 2008 Diamond Supplier Award, the company’s highest honor for suppliers. The award was presented in recognition of Grote’s abilities to meet and exceed Navistar’s expectations and requirements. This is the third consecutive year that Grote Industries has achieved this honor.

Navistar’s Diamond Supplier Award is an ongoing program that acknowledges exceptional performance by a supplier in the areas of quality, delivery and cost control. The award is given to providers who strategically align with Navistar’s business goals, while also demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement. Diamond Suppliers collaborate technically and commercially with Navistar and play an integral role in growing Navistar’s business.

“We are pleased that our high standards and our quality of products and services have earned us the distinction of being a Navistar Diamond Supplier again this year,” says Dominic Grote, vice president of sales and marketing for the Madison, Ind.-based company. “We look forward to continuing to bring quality and value to our relationship with Navistar.”

Parker Hannifin’s Racor Division says its new ParFit fuel filters PFF296 (replaces CAV296) and PFF297 (replaces CAV796) help protect expensive systems components from microscopic solid contaminates and damaging water. The fuel filters, which contain one of three media grades developed for optimum performance and versatility, are applicable for on- or off-highway vehicles and stationary equipment.

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

Phillips Industries has added 20-foot length options to more of its electrical and air cable products that previously were available only in 12-foot and 15-foot lengths, including ABS Lectracoil, Permacoil, ABS Permacoil, ABS Lectraflex, ABS Lectracoil with QCP, Permacoil with QCP and ABS Permacoil with QCP.

Phillips says the new 20-foot cable options offer a solution for more fleets that require the extra length for a sharper turning radius. The company says the 20-foot electrical and air products can be spec’d on new equipment or purchased through authorized Phillips dealers.

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

Del City’s battery isolators can charge two batteries simultaneously while isolating the starting battery when the truck is using power that excludes the engine. The battery isolators work on negative ground alternators and are rated from 12 to 48 volts. They can be used only with batteries that have the same voltage level.

Bergstrom Inc. announced it developed a new battery-powered air conditioning system, designed specifically for day cabs. The NITE Day Cab No-Idle System was developed in response to growing demand for solutions to reduce idling in the day cab industry, as well as increasing Federal, State and local regulations against truck idling, the company said.

“Just like their long-haul counterparts, day cab drivers are subject to state and local idling restrictions,” said Bill Gordon, national director of aftermarket and director of global marketing for Bergstrom. “This truly offers fleets the opportunity to keep day cab drivers comfortable in the hot weather while adhering to anti-idling regulations.”

The NITE Day Cab No-Idle System utilizes one or two deep-cycle absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries to power the air conditioning system. The company said this keeps the driver cool when the truck’s engine is turned off. To assure there is sufficient battery power to start the truck, the starting batteries are protected from discharge by a separator.

The system uses the same technology as Bergstrom’s popular NITE Plus unit, but is installed as a split system. The compressor and evaporator are installed between the truck’s seats, and the condenser is mounted remotely to the exterior of the cab.

According to Bergstrom, the reduced fuel consumption offered by the NITE Day Cab No-Idle System is impressive. When the system is in the air-conditioning mode, no fuel is used as the Bergstrom NITE Plus system uses deep-cycle AGM battery power. With the optional heating unit, only 0.05 gallons per hour are consumed. The battery is charged by the truck’s alternator during normal operation.

“Innovating alternative idle-reduction options for today’s Class 7 and 8 trucks are critical as drivers try to address tougher emission regulations and fluctuating fuel prices. We are confident the NITE Day Cab No-Idle System offers a solid Green solution,” said Jack Shaffer, president of Bergstrom, Inc.

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!

Weller Remanufacturing Network

The Weller Reman network has more than 12,000 rebuilt transmissions and differentials that are ready to ship. The reman program includes one-call all-makes coverage, same-day shipping, obsolete and discontinued specialists, one-year nationwide warranty, ASE-certified manufacturer-trained technicians and technical support.

• Reman Center: 800-872-6697
• Detroit: 800-473-1905
• Chicago: 888-974-9319
• Nashville: 866-426-2750
• Boise: 888-331-1051
• St. Louis: 877-992-2227
• Las Vegas: 866-764-8222
• Drive Train Denver: 800-525-6177
• Columbus: 866-771-9501
• Minneapolis: 877-530-2667
• Birmingham: 866-535-0777
• Valley-Fresno: 800-598-5715
• Tampa: 866-685-6109
• Houston: 877-677-8855

Click Here for more information about Weller!

Truck-Lite said it is now offering the “world’s smallest” LED license lamp that is the size of a penny and provides trucks and trailers with greater efficiency and the latest in white diode technology.

The new lamp is part of the company’s 33 Series line which includes marker/clearance and auxiliary lighting.

“More and more customers are looking to LED Lighting for the extended lamp life and overall cost savings,” said Jay Davenport, Truck-Lite’s national sales director. “This single diode license lamp’s low profile minimizes physical damage, typical for this application, and gives off less heat to avoid issues that stem from heat entrapment.”

The 12v mini-license lamp is composed of polycarbonate and does not require a bracket. The grommet mount lamp can be installed directly into the vehicle, easy side or top mount application options. Truck-Lite said the low-profile, stealth design is not only resistant to damage, but hides the lamp away from view to help prevent theft.

Karmak Inc. announced it will host the 2009 Karmak Technology Conference and Expo from Oct. 20-23 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Hotel in St. Louis. The company said the conference will focus on technologies to help dealers, distributors, service shops and leasing companies improve profit margins, strengthen infrastructure, control costs and create new revenue channels.

Under the theme “Driving Your Business Forward,” Karmak said the conference will feature training sessions and hands-on demonstrations of the latest software and services from Karmak, including new options for:
· Increasing parts market share using the web;
· Electronically scheduling tools, bays, technicians, customers and trucks with fully integrated repair orders;
· Increasing service sales by tracking preventive maintenance, deferred repairs and mobile repairs;
· Improving warehouse control with wireless picking; and
· Saving time and money by e-mailing invoices and statements to customers.

“We are committed to providing solutions to opportunities our customers are facing on a daily basis,” said Bill Healy, Karmak president and CEO. “This conference plays a key role in educating our customers about the solutions we can provide to keep them competitive in their market.”

Attendees also will have the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions and one-on-one help desk appointments, hear Healy outline Karmak’s strategic plans for positioning its customers for future success, and meet with manufacturer representatives, Karmak staff and other industry leaders.

More information is available on Karmak’s website at www.karmak.com.