image courtesy of Utility Trailer

Net orders of commercial trailers of 21,314 units in November increased 23 percent over October, which was the strongest month in more than two years, ACT Research Co. said. November net orders more than tripled from the same month last year.

In the latest release of State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers, ACT noted the surge has been led by a strong rebound in dry van trailers, the largest segment of the commercial trailer market. Over the last three months, net orders for the dry van segment are up 217 percent from the same three months in 2009. On a year to date basis, all eight trailer types are up from 2009, although grain trailers and platform (flatbeds) are up only modestly.

“An appropriate description of 2010 trailer net orders would be ‘in like a lamb, out like a lion’,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst with ACT Research. “With rising trucker profits and deferred capital investment, the stage is set for healthy trailer demand in 2011. History shows that when the industry cycles, it is typically a two- to three-year process.”

Diesel prices continued their steady rise as the national average retail price rose 4.6 cents to $3.294 during the week ended Monday, Dec. 27, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The average price is more than 34 cents higher than the level at the end of September when prices began their recent upswing. Diesel prices are 56.2 cents higher than they were during the same week last year and are at their highest level since late October 2008, when prices were plunging from their all-time high that summer.

Prices rose in all regions. The largest jump was in California, where the average price soared 6.3 cents. The next-largest increase was in the Lower Atlantic, where prices rose 5.9 cents. Rocky Mountain states saw the smallest increase at 2.1 cents. As usual, the nation’s most expensive diesel was in California while the least expensive diesel was in the Gulf Coast region.

Complete diesel price information for the week ended Dec. 27 is available on the EIA’s website.

Wisconsin Kenworth has moved its full-service Kenworth dealership to a new, larger remodeled location in Menonomie, Wis.
 
 Wisconsin Kenworth – Menomonie is located on a 9-acre site near Exit 45 on I-94, which connects Minneapolis-St. Paul and Milwaukee. The facility also is close to U.S. Highway 12.

“Everything we do is geared to helping our customers’ bottom line. That means providing the best possible on-time service and parts availability. The new facility gets us closer to that goal,” says Jim Moeller, vice president of Wisconsin Kenworth and president of CSM Companies Inc. at company headquarters in Madison. CSM operates five Wisconsin Kenworth dealerships in Green Bay, Madison, Menomonie, Milwaukee and Wausau. The company also operates Kenworth dealerships in Gaylord and Grand Rapids, Mich., through its Michigan Kenworth subsidiary.

“The new facility gives our technicians and parts people a much more efficient workplace. That translates into good customer service,” adds Steve Stead, branch manager for Wisconsin Kenworth – Menomonie.

 Wisconsin Kenworth – Menomonie features a 20,000-square-foot facility with a 12-bay service shop, a large parts department and a comfortable customer lounge. The dealership offers a wide selection of Kenworth heavy and medium trucks, Kenworth PremierCare parts and service programs, and Paccar Financial support with flexible retail loans, leases and insurance products for the transportation industry. Also available are Paccar Leasing transportation solutions, including truck rental and full-service leasing.

Wisconsin Kenworth – Menomonie is located at 5913 3M Drive. The dealership is open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The phone number is 715-235-5000. The Wisconsin Kenworth website is www.wisconsinkenworth.com/. Key personnel include Steve Stead, branch manager; Ben Blado, service manager; and Todd Blomberg, parts manager.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) now just needs President Obama’s signature for the bipartisan legislation to be reauthorized for five more years as the U.S. House of Representatives approved DERA by a voice vote.

 “Today’s passage of DERA is a significant environmental and political accomplishment for the U.S. Congress.  The House and Senate have proved that bipartisanship can be attained on major environmental initiatives,” says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

“Passage of the DERA reauthorization will play a major role in our nation’s effort to expand our clean air initiatives.  In its first five years, DERA has proven to be one of the nation’s most successful clean air programs.  In addition, DERA has provided an average of $20 worth of environmental and health benefits for every $1 spent.  That’s a tremendous return on investment for any federal program.

“The bipartisan action by the House and Senate will benefit communities in every state in the nation.

DERA (H.R. 5809) is a five-year reauthorization of the highly-successful program created in 2005 to establish voluntary national and state-level grant and loan programs to reduce diesel emissions by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment.  The bipartisan legislation was introduced on November 18th by U.S. Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) and cosponsored by several of their colleagues including Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK).  The House sponsors were U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Laura Richardson (D-CA).

DERA is being supported by a unique and diverse coalition of more than 500 environmental, health, industry, labor and government organizations.

Bill Gordon, national director of aftermarket and director of global marketing for Bergstrom Inc., has been elected chairman of the Heavy Duty Marketing and Sales Forum, a peer council of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association.

As the chairman of HDMA’s HD Marketing and Sales Forum, Gordon will lead the group of industry’s top marketing and sales executives in reviewing market trends and business cycles. This action-oriented, executive forum meets semi-annually and via conference calls throughout the year, discussing best practices and providing assistance with HDMA’s sales trending and market research reporting.

“It’s quite an honor to be elected to this post,” says Gordon. “I will be leading this Forum during a particularly exciting time. The recent economic challenges have made marketing and sales initiatives even more vital to HDMA members, and I look forward to developing strategies and tactics that can help make an impact.”

The City of Bowie, Md., has extended its contract with Fleetpro to provide on-site maintenance and inspection of city-owned vehicles through 2015. The extension ensures that Fleetpro will continue to service approximately 113 public works, sanitation, transportation, and recreation and parks vehicles to Prince George’s County’s largest municipality, as it has since 1996.

“Bowie’s vehicles are located throughout the city and unable to be worked on during regular business hours because they are in operation,” says Jackie Tayman, Fleetpro contact manager. “The comprehensive off-hours service offered by Fleetpro is cost-effective and allows for more productivity by city employees because their vehicles remain available to them when they most need them.”

The partnership between Bowie, which has grown into the third-largest and fifth most-populated city in Maryland, and Fleetpro has lessened Bowie’s need for big-ticket capital expenditures while freeing up city-employed maintenance personnel for other important assignments.

Fleetpro has worked closely with Bowie since 1996 and, in 2005, was awarded a five-year contract with a five-year option to handle maintenance and inspection of city-owned vehicles. In May, the town’s government voted to exercise the option, which runs through 2015.

Baltimore-based Fleetpro is under contract to perform similar maintenance with other jurisdictions, including Berwyn Heights, Hyattsville and College Park in Prince George’s County; Chevy Chase in Montgomery County; the City of Baltimore; and the District of Columbia.

Detroit Diesel announced that Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls’LongMile diesel particulate filter containing Detroit Diesel’s sintered metal filter technology  has been verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as Level 3+. This designation – the highest level of certification from CARB – means that the filter has successfully demonstrated diesel particulate matter emission reductions of more than 85 percent while meeting the NOx emission standards.

Developed and manufactured in Detroit Diesel’s state-of-the-art Redford, Mich., facility, the filter, which is supplied to Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, is an integral part of Cleaire’s LongMile retrofit emission control system. The LongMile system can be installed on older diesel engines to achieve essentially equivalent to 2007 EPA particulate matter emissions standards. The new CARB verification enables the LongMile system to be installed on 1993 through 2006 model year engines from displacements of 5.3 to 16 liters.

“The Level 3+ CARB certification of our sintered metal filter means more customers with older vehicles have the option to retrofit their engines to bring them into compliance throughout the nation as mandates come into effect,” says Daniel Haggerty, director, aftermarket marketing, Daimler Trucks North America. “We’re committed to working with Cleaire to develop cost-efficient and effective solutions to help our customers meet emissions standards and navigate the ever-changing emissions landscape.”

Cleaire retrofit systems are designed to reduce emissions caused by diesel-powered vehicles. Local, regional and state government agencies are regulating the emissions from in-use diesel engines. Cleaire’s retrofits have been specifically developed to help all-makes of pre-2007 trucks and buses meet those evolving regulations.

 E Tip, Inc. announces the availability of the Universal Low Watt Density (LWD) Preheater Kits for engines, transmissions, hydraulics, gear boxes, bulk oil tanks, reservoirs etc. Kit sizes are based on the 120v or 240v energy needed for the capacity of the housing.

The flexible silicone/fiberglass heating pad mounts permanently to the outside of the housing using a permanent adhesive. A specialized flexible ceramic insulation is mounted on top of the preheater keeping the electrical energy draw low. The LWD design is said to use a third less energy than conventional block heaters and in-line coolant heaters. The unit converts the metal of the housing into a heat transfer element eliminating burning the oil by exposing a large square inch surface of oil to low watt heat.

It is suited to air-cooled engines and comes has a three year warranty. No drilling or welding is required as the Universal Preheater mounts to the outside of the housing using a permanent peel and stick adhesive. A typical installation takes from 15 minutes to 60 minutes. There is no risk of engine or hydraulic oil or coolant leaks because no system is invaded.

The LWD Universal Preheater is said to reduce the cold start load on the engine electrical system, too. Battery and starter life is extended. Wear and tear on the engine itself is reduced because the heated oil provides instant lubrication even in the coldest weather, according to the company. Hot oil helps that last engine bearing on start up to get lubrication sooner and to last longer.