Internet Truckstop, a provider of Internet freight matching, announced that it has joined with ALK Technologies Inc. to provide ALK’s PC Miler mileage to the list of decision support tools available to members. PC Miler routing, mileage and mapping software is the flagship product of ALK Technologies, a developer of mobile navigation and transportation technology solutions.

“We are pleased to be able to offer PC Miler mileage to our thousands of carrier members,” says Scott Moscrip, chief executive officer of Internet Truckstop. “Adding PC Miler to our suite of tools is another demonstration of our commitment to assisting our members to efficiently find and book freight.”

Through this collaboration, Internet Truckstop members have instant visibility to PC Miler mileage and routing for their critical pricing and operational decisions. “The addition of PC Miler mileage to the list of value-added tools available to our members is exciting,” says Leigh Foxall, Internet Truckstop’s director of freight matching. “Internet Truckstop is taking full advantage of the capabilities that this new integration gives our members, and we look forward to other opportunities to work with ALK Technologies in the future.”

Dana Holding Corp. on Thursday, July 28, announced it has signed definitive agreements to sell its equity in two joint ventures to Getrag. Dana says these transactions, expected to close in September and contingent upon receiving required regulatory approvals, are part of a larger transaction between Getrag and GKN plc.

Dana says it will receive $136 million in cash for the equity stakes in the two joint ventures and will use the proceeds to further strengthen its liquidity position and overall balance sheet. Dana says that immediately following the sale of its interests in the joint ventures, Getrag will sell these and other assets to GKN.

The two joint ventures, both with Getrag subsidiaries, are:
• Getrag Corp. in the United States, which produces rear axle units (also referred to as rear drive units, or RDUs) and power take-off units (also referred to as power transfer units, or PTUs) and timing gears for light vehicles. Dana holds a 49 percent interest in this venture; and
• Getrag All Wheel Drive, based in Sweden, which produces all-wheel-drive systems and miscellaneous chassis components for light vehicles. Dana indirectly owns 25.2 percent of Getrag All Wheel Drive. Dana and Getrag (via Getrag Dana Holding GmbH) together own 60 percent of Getrag All Wheel Drive, a joint venture with Volvo.

“The sale of our interests in these businesses represents a divesture of nonstrategic assets,” says Roger Wood, president and chief executive officer of Maumee, Ohio-based Dana. “Our ongoing focus will be on our core strategic products in on-highway and off-highway driveline technologies, including proprietary all-wheel-drive products and power technologies.”

Truck Parts & Service, Commercial Carrier Journal and Successful Dealer will host a state of trucking webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, August 15.

The webinar will feature Nöel Perry, managing director and senior consultant at FTR Associates and Avery Vise, executive director for trucking research and analysis for Randall-Reilly Publishing. Both men will discuss current trends in the trucking industry.

For more on the webinar, please click here or go to www.tpswebinars.com.

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (BCS), a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, is launching the premium Firestone FS507 PLUS steer/all-position radial for superior fuel efficiency and outstanding dependability. The FS507 PLUS is approved for use on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWaySM-dedicated equipment and complies with California Air Resources Board (CARB) rules.

“Fleets who rely on Firestone’s superior cost per mile and value can run SmartWaySM-verified Firestone tires on every wheel position. Using the new FS507 PLUS steer, in combination with the FD695 PLUS drive and FT455 PLUS trailer tires offers some of the best fuel efficiency in the industry,” said Bert Jones, Manager, Product Marketing, TBR, Retread and OTR, BCS.

Building on the proven performance of the FS507, the new FS507 PLUS adds advanced, fuel-efficient twin-layer tread and sidewall compounding for significantly lower rolling resistance and outstanding fuel economy.

With the top layer of its twin-layer tread formulated for longer wear, the FS507 PLUS promotes excellent mileage. The lower layer of the tread helps shield the casing from damaging heat for superior life and retreadability. Shoulder wear protector ribs minimize cupping and step-down wear while stress-relief sipes fight irregular wear and provide hundreds of biting edges to enhance traction.

For dependable performance and value, the FS507 PLUS uses a deep original tread and proven casing construction with four steel belts and an all-steel body ply.

The FS507 PLUS is available in both low profile and 90-series sizes. The low profile tread pattern has five ribs and the 90-series four ribs. Both are available in “G” and “H” load ratings.

Associated Equipment Corp.’s Intellamatic Model ESS6011 smart 12V/24V 70/35 amp charger is designed to provide a stable power supply to all battery types for extended service procedures or reflashes.

The wheeled charger provides 70 amps of charging power in 12V mode, 35 amps in 24V mode, 220 amp boost capability and 70 amps in power supply mode for 12V and 24V flooded, AGM and gel cell batteries.

East Manufacturing Corp. announced that Charlie Wells has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for all facets of direct- and dealer-based selling activities for East aluminum trailers, along with managing the marketing efforts of the company.

“Charlie has over 30 years experience in the aluminum truck-trailer industry, most of those years with East, so he has a unique perspective” says David Tate, president. “His professionalism, product and application knowledge have been a major contributor to East’s growth. We are confident his leadership ability will assist in East’s continued success as we partner with our customers to face the challenges and opportunities of the industry together.”

Wells began his career at East by gaining hands-on experience building trailers in the shop; he later was promoted onto the sales team. Wells also spent six years working for a truck dealer and another trailer manufacturer before resuming his career at East, where his sales duties were expanded to include marketing and management responsibilities. Prior to his promotion, Wells served as product manager of dump trailers and director of dealer development.

A Kenworth T370 recently was recognized as the 100,000th medium-duty truck produced at Paccar’s manufacturing plant in Ste-Therese, Quebec, which was opened as an all-new facility in 1999.

“The employees at the Paccar Ste-Therese are especially dedicated to building excellent medium-duty trucks,” says Marilyn Santangelo, Kenworth assistant general manager for operations. “We’re especially honored that a Kenworth T370 is the 100,000th medium-duty truck to roll off the production line over the past 12 years. We thank all our customers who have purchased Kenworth trucks built at the Ste-Therese facility.”

The milestone vehicle is a new Kenworth 6×4 T370 tandem tractor produced for long-time customer Altec Industries, a manufacturer of aerial lifts, derricks, truck-mounted cranes and specialty equipment for the construction and contractor, electric utility, telecommunications and tree care industries. The Altec T370 features a Paccar PX-8 engine rated at 300 hp with 1,000 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 rpm, Allison 3000RDS 5-speed automatic transmission and Dana Spicer’s D1600 16K front axle and DSP41 40K tandem rear axle. Altec plans to equip the T370 chassis with an aerial lift bucket for sale to a tree care company.

Keith Lawrence, manager of strategic sourcing for Altec in St, Joseph, Mo., and Martin Boucher, Altec’s account manager in Montreal, were presented the keys to the new Kenworth T370 by Chakib Toubal-Seghir, Paccar Ste-Therese plant manager. Also participating in the special ceremony at the plant were Santangelo; Neil Vonnahme, Kenworth general sales manager, West; and Eddie Davis, new truck salesman of selling dealer MHC Kenworth-Kansas City, Mo.

“On behalf of all Altec associates, it’s a privilege to participate in this important milestone for Kenworth and accept this very special and historic 100,000th truck built by the Ste-Therese plant employees,” says Lawrence. “Altec is proud of the longstanding business partnership we have with Kenworth. We value the importance of that relationship and look forward to continuing to jointly meet the growing needs of our customers by providing the highest-quality equipment in the market today.”

The day’s celebration also included a barbecue lunch cooked by managers for the guests and employees, and a plant tour for Lawrence and Boucher. “We’re very proud to achieve the production of 100,000 medium-duty trucks at Paccar Ste-Therese,” says Toubal-Seghir, plant manager. “This significant milestone is a tribute to the hard work and strong commitment to quality shown by our employees during these past 12 years. They are to be congratulated on their daily efforts to build outstanding trucks for customers such as Altec Industries.”

Citgo Lubricants has launched a new quart bottle design featuring an ergonomic grip, anti-glug neck and enhanced spout configuration.

Available in September, the new bottle design is said to provide and easy and faster pour. According to Citgo, the packaging of the bottles also will differentiate from other products and displays new Citgo branding.

“The packaging is much more than an aesthetic change; it’s an advancement that brings our premium products to customers in a remarkably functional and environmentally friendly bottle,” says Karl Schmidt, general manager of petrochemicals and lubricants for Citgo. “We have spent the last year perfecting the design and are excited to launch the powerful new look that is sure to get the attention of consumers.”

The new branding utilizes bold colors and a refreshed Citgo logo that is said to stand out from the new sheer white bottles. Quick Response (QR) codes displayed on the front label of every bottle also provide an interactive experience, Citgo says. When scanned by a smart phone, the QR code directs people to the Citgo website for more information on the company and its products.

TransAxle hosted the APRA (Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association) Spring Heavy-Duty Transmission Conference on May 13th at its Cinnaminson, N.J. plant.

According to TransAxle, 46 people attended the conference, which included presentations by various manufacturers regarding corrosion prevention, root cause analysis and proper fluid choices.

TransAxle also hosted a plant tour of its Cinnaminson location, where it had the opportunity to showcase its remanufacturing operations. Dave Olson, TransAxle CEO, led the tour. During the tour, Olson was able to show the conference attendees TransAxle’s remanufacturing and green capabilities.

According to TransAxle, recent studies indicate a remanufactured transmission or differential consumes 85 percent less energy than a brand new component — with no perceptible drop off in performance.

“Our newest facility that’s dedicated to remanufacturing Allison transmissions was built to ‘green building standards,’ like light sensors, low VOC paint, second life drywall and reclaimed lumber. So we are totally supportive of the green effort at every level,” says John Ferry, TransAxle general manager of branch operations.

TransAxle has five reman centers, 11 service facilities, 22 distribution centers and claims to be the largest remanufactured drive train component provider on the East Coast.

Warner Truck Center broke ground on a 62,000-sq.-ft. full-service heavy truck and trailer dealership located on 11 acres in the Crossroads Point Business Center at the intersection of Interstate 84 and Highway 93 in Idaho. The dealership, which will operate as Freightliner of Idaho, is expected to completed and operational by January 1, 2012. It will include 36 service, body, trailer and paint bays with access to 7.5 ton overhead cranes.

The parts department will be more than double the  size of the existing facilities in Twin Falls and Jerome.  Other features in the new facility will include a 500 hp dynamometer, fast lube pit, a 70-ft. paint booth , a training room capable of accommodating more than 100 people and an indoor showroom.

Bart Warner and his partners Jerry Zmyslo and Buzz Warner, general sales manager, purchased the Freightliner dealership from Orlan Stearns in July 2010. Bart Warner says, “We have been very pleased with the addition of the Southern Idaho territory to our existing operations. The quality and dedication of our employees in Southern Idaho has been a great asset to our total operation. Sales in the first year have been very encouraging with many great customers in Southern Idaho and we are excited about the prospects of what our people can do in the new facilities that they have helped us design. We plan on opening extended hours of service immediately in January. With the technical complexity of heavy trucks which now require 32 on and off board computers to program, diagnose, run and repair today’s trucks – the need is greater than ever to have facilities and equipment to match the needs of our customers and help our employees provide the type of service our customers expect with their purchase of a Daimler truck.”

Freightliner of Idaho currently employs 40 people and is planning to double the number of employees in the first two years in its new facilities. Steve Swope is the general manager of the Idaho operations.