People in the News
Following are personnel changes and announcements in the trucking industry:
· WABCO Holdings Inc. announced its board of directors appointed CEO Jacques Esculier to the additional role of chairman of the board.
· Pitts Enterprises appointed Randall Hall to director of sales for the company’s Dynaweld Trailers Division.
· John Wensel, owner of Wensel’s Truck and Car Repair in Spring City, Pa., was named Truck Pride’s 2008 Service Expert of the Year during the Independent Warehouse Distributors’ (IWD) 25th annual meeting. Truck Pride is the heavy-duty truck division of IWD.
Old World Enters DEF Market with Blue DEF
Old World Industries announced plans to distribute its BlueDEF brand of diesel exhaust fluid to meet the demands of the North American commercial diesel vehicle industry beginning in 2010.
The company said its established supply network of 10 production locations and more than 4,500 distribution points will enable truck stops, fleet operators, dealerships and truck manufacturers to maintain DEF inventory.
“The challenge for the industry will be to maintain ample and uninterrupted supply as demand for DEF grows,” said Kal Mahmood, senior vice president of commercial sales for Old World, based in Northbrook, Ill. “Our extensive supply chain offers an established distribution infrastructure.”
BlueDEF is a urea-based fluid formulated to convert pollutant NOx into harmless nitrogen and water in selective catalytic reduction emissions-control systems. It is required to help nearly all diesel-powered commercial vehicles meet new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards taking effect in 2010.
“Few manufacturers have the opportunity to supply and distribute to so many diverse networks as we do,” Mahmood says. “Our expertise and relationships across the heavy-duty market allows us to provide BlueDEF through an already established network.”
Luber-finer to Offer Davco Products
Luber-finer, a division of Champion Laboratories, Inc., has announced that it will now offer replacement elements for its line of Davco fuel/water separator fuel filters across all current market applications, including on- and off-highway, industrial, gen set, construction, military, marine, bus and coach.
The Davco fuel filters will be available in two media types: cellulose, with micron ratings between 2 and 50, and capacities of 37 to 52 grams, and synthetic, with micron ratings between 2 and 50, and capacities of 60 to 63 grams. The synthetic filters also feature a pressure differential valve.
Michelin, Love’s Open 25th Truck Tire Center
Michelin Americas Truck Tires and Love’s Travel Stops announced the opening of the 25th truck tire service center under a joint venture between the two companies announced in May 2008. The new location is in Memphis, Tenn., and according to the announcement, two more locations – one in Magnolia, Miss., and one in Lake Havasu, Ariz. – are expected to open soon.
“Since we began offering Michelin tires, emergency roadside assistance and on-site tire care service at our travel stops last year, the response from customers has been very positive,” said Frank Love, president of Love’s Operating Companies. “Our customers are discovering this new service while taking advantage of the value and convenience we provide.”
With its 25 new truck tire care service locations, Love’s has provided more than 6,000 hours of training to its certified truck tire care employees. Love’s now provides on-site truck tire care service along the following corridors:
- I-20 (Shreveport, La., to Abilene, Texas)
- I-40 (Memphis, Tenn., to Tucumcari, N.M.)
- I-35 (Tonkawa, Okla., to Ardmore Okla.)
“Love’s has earned a reputation of excellence in delivering much needed products and services for the over-the-road customers,” said Guy Pekle, vice president of replacement sales, Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “Their commitment to providing outstanding service to the trucking community mirrors that of Michelin, which makes this partnership very attractive for truckers coast-to-coast.”
FleetPride Opens Regional Distribution Center in Visalia, Calif.
FleetPride Inc., an independent aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, announced the opening of a new 110,000-square-foot regional distribution center in Visalia, Calif., that will serve the heavy-duty transportation market in the western United States.
The company says Visalia’s inventory includes more than 30,000 SKUs and reflects the demand of its regional customer base. The facility also will offer axle assembly, kitting and light packaging.
“FleetPride chose this location because it is centrally located in California, allowing for one-day transit anywhere within the state,” said Robert Lindley, vice president of supply chain for FleetPride, based in The Woodlands, Texas. “From Visalia, we can also deliver to any of our 43 Western Region company-owned branches in two days or less. Visalia is FleetPride’s third distribution center in the U.S., and it is another significant move to streamline FleetPride’s national heavy-duty truck and trailer parts logistics network.”
The Visalia regional distribution center will be led by Brian Chupp, Western Region distribution manager, who will oversee a team of 15 employees; assisting him will be warehouse manager Tammy Figueredo.
“Quickly getting the right parts in the right place at the right time is crucial to keeping our on-time delivery promise to our customers,” said Todd Dunn, FleetPride president and chief executive officer.
TA and Petro Locations Stock DEF
All TravelCenters of America (TA) and Petro Stopping Centers (Petro) locations are now stocked with 2.5-gallon containers of DEF for retail sale, TravelCenters of America announced. DEF also is available to all emergency roadside assistance vehicles at TA and Petro locations for trucks that run out of DEF on the highway. TA and Petro are the first travel centers to offer these containers, TravelCenters of America said. The vented bottle style, supplied by Colonial Chemical Company of Tabernacle, N.J., includes an extended nozzle.
ArvinMeritor Receives Recognition for Military Support
ArvinMeritor, Inc. announced it received the Pro Patria award from the Michigan Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for “providing exceptional support to its Guard and Reserve employees.” Additionally, the company is in contention for the national Employer Support Freedom Award from the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
ArvinMeritor was selected over 26 other Michigan nominees in the large business category.
“We’re pleased the committee has recognized ArvinMeritor’s efforts to support our employees who serve in the military. The real honors, however, should go directly to those brave and loyal service members who put themselves at risk day after day for our country,” said Chip McClure, chairman, CEO and president. “ArvinMeritor is proud of its long history of supporting our men and women in uniform, but we don’t view it as simply an obligation. We believe it’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s a rewarding way to sustain and encourage them while they’re serving, and to welcome them back and thank them for their service when they return.”
Snap-on Unveils New Corporate Innovation Center
Snap-on Inc. – a global manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostics and equipment solutions – announced the official grand opening of its “Innovation Works” facility in Kenosha, Wis. The opening, presided over by Snap-on Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Pinchuk and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, took place in front of more than 600 Snap-on associates and retirees, as well as state and local officials from industry, education and government.
“The Snap-on ‘Innovation Works’ is a functioning example of our commitment to the continued development of industry-leading products, processes and technologies,” Pinchuk said. “This is truly a unique facility that will provide our associates with the critical resource needed to further accelerate Snap-on’s global innovation.”
Snap-on says the new 15,000-square-foot facility provides a resource for its entire global organization and includes several defined areas, each specifically designed to support a vibrant user-centered innovation process. Included is a state-of-the-art service garage, prototyping room, 3-D modeling facility, display and application room, customer observation room, innovation library and training room.
White House Reviews Stopping-distance Rule
The Obama administration apparently has picked up where the Bush administration left off on a major regulation that could affect the design of braking systems on heavy-duty trucks, and eventually how those systems are supported in the aftermarket. On June 10, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a long-awaited final rule to reduce the mandated stopping distance for truck tractors equipped with air brake systems.
Last fall, the USDOT submitted a final rule to the OMB, but the White House agency was focused on completing more controversial measures before the end of the Bush administration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed to change the existing requirements in December 2005, but by then the matter already had dragged on for years. In its monthly report on significant rulemakings, USDOT said this month that it expects a final rule to be published in September.
For a copy of NHTSA’s proposed rule and comments regarding it, go to www.regulations.gov and search NHTSA-2005-21462.
