With tensions related to Iran driving up the price of crude oil, the price of diesel has soared 19.5 cents in the past three weeks — the most in any three-week period since exactly a year ago during unrest in North Africa and the Middle East. The average retail price of a gallon of on-highway diesel jumped 9.1 cents to $4.051 a gallon during the week ended Monday, Feb. 27, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The average price is now the highest since mid-May 2011 and only the second time since then that the price has topped $4 a gallon. The latest price is 33.5 cents higher than the same week last year.

Prices rose in all regions, led by a 17.3-cent jump on the West Coast (excluding California). The smallest increase was 6 cents in New England. The nation’s least expensive diesel, on average, is $3.914 a gallon in the Midwest. The Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountain regions are the only other places where the average price remains less than $4 on average. The most expensive diesel on average is in California at $4.41.

Complete diesel price information is available on EIA’s Website.

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 11.6 percent higher in December 2011 than in December 2010, totaling $74.2 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The trade value decreased 3.2 percent in December 2011 from November 2011; month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported on Tuesday, Feb. 28, that the trade value rose 27.0 percent in the past two years from December 2009 and 40.3 percent from December 2008. The value increased by 25.7 percent when compared to December 2006 and also increased by 94.1 percent when compared to December 2001. Imports in December 2011 were up 85.7 percent since December 2001, while exports were up 105.2 percent.

U.S.-Canada trade reached $44.2 billion in December 2011, an 11.2 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reached $30.0 billion, a 12.1 percent increase. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada at $5.6 billion, a 19.7 percent increase from December 2010. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico at $10.3 billion, an 8.7 percent increase from December 2010.

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other modes. In December 2011, 85.5 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 10.0 percent moved by vessel, and 4.5 percent moved by air.

The Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association has named Andreea Raaber, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC vice president of business development, to its board.

At MERA, Bendix says Raaber will work with the Sales & Marketing Council on the organization’s Manufactured Again campaign, an effort she was involved in before joining the board.

“Andreea is a strong addition to MERA’s board,” says Joe McAleese, Bendix president and CEO and chairman of MEMA’s 2012 board of directors. “Andreea always has had a keen interest in this important work, and our forward momentum derives in great part from her leadership. We’re pleased that MERA recognizes the contributions she can make to strengthening remanufacturing and the industry as a whole.”

MERA is one of four market segment associations of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), a trade group that lobbies on behalf of motor vehicle parts suppliers.

Pressure Systems International recognized Werner Enterprises as its Fleet of the Year for 2011 at TMC’s annual meeting in Tampa, Fla.

Werner began spec’ing the Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) by PSI on every new trailer purchased in 2011, and the company is retrofitting the system on all of its existing 22,000 trailers, PSI says.

PSI presented Dwayne Haug, Werner vice president of maintenance, with a plaque in recognition of Werner Enterprises receiving the 2011 annual award.

“Werner was a big part of why we had record sales in 2011 and we wanted to recognize that contribution,” says Mike Niemeyer, PSI’s director of fleet sales for North and Central America. “When a fleet with Werner’s reputation for making smart decisions chooses MTIS by PSI as their automatic tire inflation system it confirms our belief that we are offering the industry a true value-added product.”

WD-40 Company is introducing WD-40 Specialist, a new line of specialty products. The new WD-40 Specialist line consists of five products: Rust Release Penetrant Spray, Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant, Protective White Lithium Grease, Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor and Rust Remover Soak.

“Trade professionals need products that work for specialized jobs and the WD-40 Specialist product line is a great arsenal to help them do their jobs better,” says Dr. Ernest Bernarducci, vice president of research and technology at WD-40 Company.

All of the new WD-40 Specialist products are 50-state VOC compliant.

The new product line includes:

• Rust Release Penetrant Spray with Blu Torch Technology is said to penetrate rust 50 percent faster than the leading competitor and also helps prevent rust and corrosion.
• Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant is said to dry fast and not leave a mess. Acording to the company, it waterproofs and protects moving parts better than leading competitors.
• Protective White Lithium Grease is designed for metal-to-metal applications and is said to provide long-lasting lubrication and superior protection.
• Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor protects metal from corrosion for up to one year outdoors and two years indoors, according to the company.
• Rust Remover Soak is made with biodegradable ingredients and a non-toxic formula, it restores rusted metal parts back to bare metal. 

Eaton Corp. announced it has agreed to acquire Polimer Kauçuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.Ş., a Turkish manufacturer of hydraulic and industrial hose. The company’s headquarters are located near Istanbul, and many of its products are sold globally under the SEL Hose brand name.

Founded in 1957, Polimer Kauçuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.Ş. employs more than 2,100 people and had 2011 sales of about $335 million. The company’s primary markets include construction, mining, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, food and beverage and chemicals. Terms were not disclosed.

“The planned acquisition of Polimer Kauçuk will significantly broaden Eaton’s portfolio of hose products,” said Alexander M. Cutler, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer. “This acquisition will also further expand Eaton’s global hose manufacturing footprint and allow us to better serve emerging markets with a range of hose solutions. We anticipate the transaction will close early in the second quarter.”

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 4.0 percent in January after surging 6.4 percent in December 2011, putting the adjusted index at 119.4, down from December’s record level of 124.4.

ATA recently revised the seasonally adjusted index back five years as part of its annual revision. For all of 2011, tonnage rose 5.8 percent, slightly lower than the 5.9 percent previously reported, and matched 2010’s gain of the same magnitude. The index increased 3.6 percent from January 2011.

The nonseasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 112.1 in January, which was 3.5 percent below the previous month.

“I’m not surprised that tonnage fell on a seasonally adjusted basis in January simply due to the fact that December was so strong,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist, noting that December’s increase was the largest month-to-month gain since January 2005. “I’m still optimistic about truck tonnage going forward. In fact, while many fleets said January was normal, they are also saying that February has been pretty good so far.”

Firestone Industrial Procucts, a manufacturer of air springs for heavy-duty vehicles, announced organizational changes to its global leadership structure. Effective March 1, Piotr Bogaczyński will assume the role of managing director of FSIP Europe.

Bogaczyński began his tenure with the tire operations of Bridgestone Poland but transitioned to FSIP to help launch the company’s manufacturing operation in Wolsztyn, Poland. Bogaczyński managed the Wolsztyn facility for eight years before completing a special assignment to launch a FSIP manufacturing unit in China in 2011.

In addition, Dan Leonard will assume the newly created position of FSIP global business development manager. Leonard has served as managing director of FSIP Europe for the past four years. In his new position, Leonard will be tasked with improving and expanding existing product lines and channels of distribution in the global market. Leonard will be based in the company’s office in Carmel, Ind.

“I am confident that these changes will streamline our global footprint and enable us to better execute our company’s strategic plan,” says John Vincent, FSIP president. “This new structure will allow us to build upon our ongoing efforts to be our customers’ clear value leader for our core product categories in all major geographic markets.”

Compli has named David Childers its new CEO. Childers comes to Compli from EthicsPoint where he also was CEO.

“David brings outstanding credentials to Compli,” says Lon Leneve, Compli. “He is a pioneer in the (government, risk and compliance) field and has a track record for being one of the most dynamic and innovative individuals in the industry. He has also been an entrepreneur and leader in a variety of successful high technology endeavors. We were focused on finding someone with David’s capabilities and experience as we searched for our next CEO, and I’m thrilled he’s on board. I’m confident that all of us at Compli will benefit from his leadership.”

Noregon Systems has hired Jeff Glatus as its brand manager.

According to Noregon, Glatus will develop and implement marketing programs to build brand awareness and support Noregon’s growth — focusing primarily on JPRO Commercial Fleet Products.

Glatus brings 23 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry to Noregon, and has worked for Eaton Corporation and Volvo Trucks North America.