NRS is also a corporate partner of TRYP, an informational Web-based tool for owner-operators that can be accessed from a smartphone or computer. When a truck is broken down on the side of the road and they are not a current NRS member, they can access the TRYP site and find contact information for needed services.

Mitchell 1 customers must have purchased Repair-Connect in order to qualify for a one-year listing on TRYP. NRS says the listing, which specifically targets truck drivers, will provide customers with a source of extra revenue and give them the opportunity to be in front of thousands of owner-operators. NRS also says this offering will aid Mitchell 1 in selling the Repair-Connect product to its customers.

According to Haldex, its Pressure Protection Valves feature:

• E-coated zinc die-cast bodies for exceptional corrosion resistance;
• Premium Nitrile diaphragms for long life and reliability;
• Durable designs to increases life and reduce replacement costs; and
• Designs for use in air suspensions, air seats and cab isolation systems.

The pressure protection with one-way check valve prevents reverse air flow and has exceptional corrosion resistance, the company added.

For additional information please call Haldex at 1-800-643-2374 or visit www.haldex.com.

SCR technology doses hot diesel fuel with a urea-based diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). The resulting chemical reaction reduces emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx) pollutants to levels mandated by EPA’s 2010 diesel emissions regulations.

Concerns about SCR’s environmental compliance were brought to CARB’s and EPA’s attention by truck and engine manufacturer Navistar International, which uses a competitive technology, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to meet EPA 2010 regulations.
At an air resources workshop in El Monte, Calif., Navistar representatives contended that independent test findings show new commercial vehicles that must contain liquid urea to meet federal NOx emissions standards continue to operate effectively when urea is not present. At such times, Navistar said, the vehicles throw off levels of NOx as much as 10 times higher or more than when urea is present.

The research cited by Navistar was conducted by EnSight, an independent environmental consulting firm, using two long-haul vehicles and one heavy-duty pickup, all of which used SCR.   According to Navistar, EnSight’s research showed that when liquid urea was not present, there was little or no effect on the vehicles’ operations; this included long periods of time when the vehicles’ urea tanks were empty or were refilled with water instead of urea. Navistar said one truck tested appeared to operate indefinitely with water and as a result without any functioning SCR NOx control; that truck has accumulated more than 13,000 miles with its SCR NOx emissions control turned off.

“Navistar first identified these loopholes to the agencies and also presented our concerns at the workshop,” said Jack Allen, president of Navistar’s North American truck group. “We will be working with the EPA and CARB to ensure full environmental compliance.”

“While others are saying there are ‘loopholes’ in the current 2010 regulations, we don’t agree with that terminology at all,” said Annette Hebert, chief of CARB’s mobile source operations division. “What we are doing is looking at tightening up SCR certification requirements and clarifying the guidelines so that manufacturers know exactly how to meet them.”

Hebert said CARB’s initial focus is on the time, speeds and mileage SCR trucks can operate once the DEF tank is empty. “We also want to make certain the trucks cannot operate when they are out of spec – if water has been placed in the DEF tank or the SCR system has been tampered with in any way,” she says. “Our goal is to minimize the time and speed a truck can operate and create driver inducements that are stringent enough to encourage them to keep DEF in the system and avoid any performance penalties.

“We’re looking at the information they (Navistar) have given us, and we need to add to that information,” Hebert said. “There are details missing, and CARB will certainly have to look into those issues for ourselves. For example, are drivers or fleets tampering with SCR systems? And if they are, at what level is this alleged tampering taking place? We simply don’t know the answer to those questions right now.”

John Mies, vice president of corporate communications for Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America, responded strongly to Navistar’s claims. “Thanks to billions of dollars in investment, and millions of engineering hours around the world, SCR manufacturers have successfully introduced into the North American market the cleanest diesel engines in the world,” Mies said. “Despite all the technical challenges, the introduction is probably the smoothest the industry has ever seen. And every single thing we’ve done – including the DEF inducement strategy – was done with the full cooperation, knowledge and approval of both the EPA and the California ARB.

“In the midst of all this good news for our industry and the environment, we learned a few weeks ago – not even six months after the implementation date for the new technology – that the regulations we followed in good faith were to be reconsidered,” Mies said. “And why? In large part because of concerns being raised by a single competitor. A competitor that says it is concerned about the environment, but whose US10 engines will emit two-and-a-half times the 2010 NOx standard and are only certifiable with emissions credits.”

Mies openly questioned Navistar’s motivation in raising SCR compliance issues with EPA and CARB, noting that the “competitor” challenging current SCR standards:

• Said it was ready for the new standards, yet lobbied for a delay in implementation, and when that failed, resorted to lawsuits against the regulators;
• Apparently believes that most of its customers, and the trucking industry as a whole, are “hell-bent” on illegal circumvention of emissions controls; and
• Has only been able to compete in the market this year by selling thousands of pre-2010 engines.

“The fact is that a Mack or Volvo truck running at 0.2 grams is and will continue to be much better for the environment than a Navistar truck running at 0.5 grams – and no amount of changes to the inducement strategies will change that,” Mies said. “As we have always done, Volvo will cooperate fully with the EPA and CARB as you consider this issue. But let’s make sure that what we do is truly in the interest of the environment and the public. And let’s not penalize those who have worked with you in good faith, and reward those who are trying to manipulate the system for their own competitive advantage.”

Allen countered that truck owners are paying a substantial price to comply with 2010 NOx requirements. “They, and the public, deserve to know that the new equipment they are purchasing actually works as promised to curb pollution,” he said. “It’s obvious, however, that these trucks can operate effectively without liquid urea, and that under these and other conditions, SCR NOx emission control is turned off. We’re calling on the EPA and CARB to assure that all vehicles, not just ours, work when they are supposed to be working.”

Both companies were recently approved for membership by CVSN’s board of directors.

Bett’s Truck Parts is headquartered in Fresno, Calif., and has eight distribution and service locations in the West Coast region. The company is run by President Mike Betts, a former Truck Parts and Service Distributor of the Year winner.

TransAxle is headquartered in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, and has 15 locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. It is run by President and CEO Dave Olsen.

“We are extremely delighted to have both Bett’s and TransAxle as part of our growing list of quality independent aftermarket distributor member companies,” said CVSN Executive Vice President Angelo Volpe.

The Aftermarket Distribution Summit, Sept. 12-15, is expected to draw hundreds of truck industry aftermarket professionals to The Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis. The event combines the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network’s annual fall meeting and Truck Parts & Service magazine’s Truck Parts Seminar. Additional details for distributors and suppliers, including registration information, is available at either www.AftermarketDistributionSummit.org or www.cvsn.org.

For each fleet that orders the system, ISG will provide a site evaluation and recommend the most efficient system to match a fleet’s tractor and trailers to nitrogen. ISG also will provide onsite training and review, as well as ongoing inflation hardware and maintenance offerings.

According to the company, when used in the drive-axle position, the new BDR-HG (Bandag Drive Regional – High Grip) tread promotes best-in-class traction both new and as the tread wears.

“Bandag BDR-HG is a problem solver for fleet customers who operate in a variety of weather conditions,” said Chris Hoffman, manager, TBR & Retread Product Marketing, BBTS. “A year-round tread, BDR-HG offers excellent performance for fleets who operate in snow, as well as those who move between wet and dry climates.”

The BDR-HG features an open-shoulder, and full-depth voids and sipes, which maintain a true lug throughout the life of the tread, the company said.

“Typically, when most treads wear, block edges become worn, sipes disappear and the lugs begin to turn into ribs, all which contribute to reduced traction. The new BDR-HG is designed to maintain its traction as it wears; keeping its grip on snow-covered routes and slushy terminals throughout its life, giving drivers the confidence to meet delivery schedules,”  said Hoffman.

For more information on Bandag BDR-HG, contact your Bandag dealer, contact your BBTS sales representative or visit www.bandag.com.

According to the announcement, the deal enables J.J. Powell to distribute BlueSky throughout 15 counties covering the region from Lewistown and Phillipsburg to Bellefonte and Clearfield. The company is the largest distributor of lubricants, diesel fuel and heating oil to commercial, fleet and industrial consumers in the region and has been a Prime Lube partner in these efforts for more than 30 years. J.J. Powell operates nearly a dozen Pacific Pride stations in the area.

“BlueSky is the perfect DEF product to complement our existing fleet lubrication business,” said J.J. Powell President Jeff Powell. “Through Prime Lube’s manufacturing partnership with Kruse, we have the advantage of dealing directly with the manufacturer, providing our customers with a higher-quality product and at a better price than our competitors.”

For more information about Prime Lube and BlueSky DEF, call 800-634-4615.

• Products & Services – ArvinMeritor’s global product portfolio now is organized by product type, with the option to view by application. Also, the company’s Aftermarket section has been categorized by region – and brand – in multiple languages to provide customers with direct access to the information they need;
• Customer Center – Customer support and product information now is segmented regionally, providing more product detail, literature, warranty support and training opportunities;
• Advanced Solutions Lab – ArvinMeritor’s commitment to safety, efficiency and reliability is demonstrated through an interactive module that highlights the company’s global network of technical centers, advanced manufacturing processes, safety systems and hybrid technologies;
• Work with Us – For potential employees, the Careers section offers information on college recruiting programs, career development and a new Apply Online system that makes it possible to explore opportunities in all regions of the world;
• Our Vision – Provides the company’s vision, mission and core values in seven languages;
• Our History – Highlights from the company’s 100-year heritage;
• Our Global Reach – Interactive module providing detail on each of the company’s 94 locations;
• News – Press releases, events calendar, videos, white papers and a new searchable photo library; and
• Sustainability – Information on the company’s sustainability approach is categorized into three key areas, including Social Responsibility and Governance, Operational Excellence and Innovative Product Design.

“We set out to create a Web site that is rich in content, easy to navigate and visually appealing,” says Chip McClure, chairman, chief executive officer and president of the Troy, Mich.-based company. “We believe this site captures the purpose of ArvinMeritor as we continue to evolve and focus ourselves on leading the industry in drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets.”

The latest reduction lowered the SA index from 110.1 in May to 108.5 in June. The non-seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 115.9 in June, up 6.5 percent from the previous month.         Compared with June 2009, SA tonnage climbed 7.6 percent, which was just below May’s 7.7 percent increase and the seventh consecutive year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, tonnage is up 6.6 percent compared with the same period in 2009.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello says the two sequential decreases reflect an economy that is slowing, and that growth in truck tonnage is likely to moderate in the months ahead as the economy decelerates and year-over-year comparisons become more difficult.           Nevertheless, Costello believes that tonnage doesn’t have to grow quickly at this point since industry capacity has declined so much. “Due to supply tightness in the market, any tonnage growth feels significantly better for fleets than one might expect,” he says.

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

During the session, which is sponsored by HDX Services, Munn will focus on technology capabilities and trends as they relate to improving business competitiveness and profitability.

“Wayne Munn is a business focused, technology thought leader experienced in partnering with world-leading enterprises to define and implement business-critical solutions,” says Edward Kuo, executive director of HDX Services. “Recognized as a crossover business/IT professional, Wayne communicates the value proposition of technology in pragmatic terms to business leaders.”

According to the announcement, Munn will provide attendees with actionable insights into how to leverage the business-enhancing capabilities of existing solutions to successfully meet customer requirements regardless of prior technology experience and with limited resources. The presentation will conclude with a question-and-answer session.

The Aftermarket Distribution Summit, September 12-15, is expected to draw hundreds of truck industry aftermarket professionals to The Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The event combines the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network’s (CVSN) annual fall meeting and Truck Parts & Service magazine’s Truck Parts Seminar. Additional details for distributors and suppliers, including registration information, is available at either www.AftermarketDistributionSummit.org or www.cvsn.org .
HDX Services is a subsidiary of Datalliance.