ATA Chief: Trucking ‘Good’ but ‘Not Great’ in U.S.
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- In a speech here at the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference and Exhibition, ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said he saw continued growth for the U.S. trucking industry and strong gains in its agenda, provided lawmakers take action on necessary legislation.
Kenworth Unveils New Services, Products at ATA
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Kenworth Truck Co. made a number of announcements in Philadelphia on Saturday, just before the start of the American Trucking Associations annual Management Conference and Exhibition while also saying its pulling out of a major trucking event next year.
Operation Safe Driver Running Now Through Saturday
GREENBELT, MD --- A period of heightened truck safety enforcement and education is going on now through Oct 24. The annual Operation Safe Driver is going on throughout North America as law enforcement is cracking down on both commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and car drivers in this event organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in conjunction with provincial, state, and local law enforcement, along with trucking industry partners. During Operation Safe Driver Week, activities will be held across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with the goal of increasing commercial vehicle and non-commercial vehicle traffic enforcement, safety belt enforcement, driver roadside inspections and driver regulatory compliance.
Oilfield Trucking Company Aveda Makes Deep Cutbacks
CALGARY, AB - The financially troubled Aveda Transportation and Energy Services Inc. is making a series of changes, including shuffling its leadership and big cutbacks. The provider of oilfield hauling services and equipment rentals to the energy industry will consolidate the majority of its U.S. corporate office in Houston, TX, including all Houston-based corporate level positions, into its head office in Calgary, AB.
Mack Celebrates New Axle Production Line
HAGERSTOWN, MD -- Mack Trucks this week inaugurated its new axle line at its Hagerstown, MD facility, with a look to its past. The new line, where Mack powertrain components have been assembled since 1961, is part of a US$30 million investment, which brought assembly of all Mack heavy-duty drive axles and machining of Mack carrier housings to the plant.
Diesel Prices Creep Higher for Second Straight Week
LONDON, ON and WASHINGTON, D.C. - National average prices for diesel are gaining momentum, hitting levels not seen in several weeks in both Canada and the U.S. In Canada, trucking's main fuel increased $0.026 over the past week, hitting $1.055 per liter, according to the petroleum information services provider The Kent Group. This marks the second straight weekly hike.
Manitoba Upgrading Major Roadways
WINNIPEG, MB -- The Manitoba government is launching the first wave of road improvements funded by the Trucking Productivity Improvement Fund, which is based on fees collected from companies that transport overweight cargo on provincial roads. It will invest $1.4 million on provincial roads across Manitoba including $750,000 for improvements and repairs to PR 384, also known as Moose Lake Road; and $250,000 improving PR 392, PR 393 and PR 395 near Snow Lake. "Through this important partnership, the province is repairing the roads that companies use to haul loads above weight limits to improve their productivity," said Premier Greg Selinger. "The fund enhances flexibility for companies, promotes economic development and creates efficiencies for regional businesses. It also ensures that a portion of cost savings to industry are reinvested in the roads that are worn in the process."
Study Looks at Montreal Drayage Drivers, Communication
MONTREAL, QC - A study that is reportedly the first of its kind offers a profile of Montreal drayage drivers and examines communication technologies currently used by them and drayage trucking companies in the region. It's a collaboration between the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table, a non-profit, regional partnership between labor, business and education/training institutions, and the Montreal Port Authority. According to the study, many drivers and employers already use smartphones to share and obtain traffic information. It also found that drivers actively using newer technology will increase and a significant percentage of drivers would prefer to use newer technologies to receive their information.
Ambassador Bridge Installing Streamlined Toll Service
ALBANY, NY, and DETROIT MI. - The owner of the Ambassador Bridge and a company that provides toll management services to truck fleets announced a collaboration to streamline toll service for commercial vehicles using the span to travel between Detroit and Windsor, ON.
Companies Ready to Start Work on New International Bridge
WINDSOR, ON - Six different teams made up of Canadian, American and international companies have offered up their services to built the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), which is managing the project to build the span connecting Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI, announced on Wednesday it received a strong response to its request for qualifications (RFQ) it made in July.
