Construction Fleet News

TORONTO, CANADA – Dodge continues to build on its presence in the commercial vehicle market with the all-new, super-sized Sprinter. Compared to the previous model, the all-new 2007 Dodge Sprinter features increased width (two inches), interior height (11 inches), exterior height (13 inches), cargo area length (19 inches), vehicle length (30 inches), cargo volume (127 cu. ft.), and towing capacity (2,500 lbs.).

BOISE, ID – State legislation supported by the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) that would provide for permanent registration for trailers and semi-trailers has been approved by the Idaho Legislature.

OSHAWA, TORONTO – General Motors will build hybrid versions of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks at the Oshawa truck assembly plant east of Toronto.

KALAMAZOO, MI – Eaton Corp. has introduced its next generation VORAD safety system, VORAD VS-400. The product will be available on a limited basis beginning in April, with full production to ramp up in June.

OSKALOOSA, IA - It is no small feat to engineer an efficient bed lift for a massive medium duty truck chassis. Kelderman Suspension Systems, an established manufacturer of quality air ride suspensions for light and medium duty trucks, has engineered a hydraulic bed lift with a 5,000 lb. load capacity for popular Ford 650/750, International CXT and Freightliner trucks.

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Dodge has launched the all-new 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs, which were recently revealed at the Chicago Auto Show.

NASHVILLE, TN – Nissan Motor Co. may sell a lower-price, less powerful version of its full-size Titan pickup truck as early as next year to increase sales to small U.S. business fleets.

CHICO, CA – Transfer Flow, Inc., a manufacturer of aftermarket and OEM fuel tank systems, has introduced 30-gallon and 50-gallon toolbox and refueling tank combos. The 30-gallon unit will fit short- and long-bed pickups, while the 50-gallon unit will fit long-bed pickups only.

CALGARY, AB – Budget Waste Inc. (BWI) in Calgary has initiated the process to update its existing fleet of approximately 125 vehicles, including tri-axle, tandem axle, single axle, and one-ton waste removal, water, hydro vac, and crane trucks.

HOUSTON, TX – Shell Lubricants has announced that Shell ROTELLA T with Triple Protection technology heavy-duty motor oil meets new Caterpillar specifications, ECF-1-a, ECF-2 for pre-2007 on- and off-highway diesel engines.

HOUSTON, TX – The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo 2007 opened with a record crowd, including members of Congress and celebrities.The attendees included farmers, equipment makers, and environmentalists, as well as investment bankers, risk-management consultants, and software providers.

TAMPA, FL – International was on-hand at the recent Technology and Maintenance Council meetings in Tampa to showcase its ‘Innovation 2' interactive technology truck.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Seventeen major biodiesel producers, representing 40 percent of the market, are now certified as meeting the National Biodiesel Board's BQ9000 quality standard..

ORLANDO, FL – General Motors (GM) and Lowe's Home Improvement Centers are offering eligible National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) members that qualify for GM's Business Choice program a $700 Lowe's gift card when they take delivery of an eligible 2006 or 2007 Chevrolet or GMC vehicle before Mar. 31. This is in addition to a current $500 offer already available to NAHB members.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Garbage trucks could be the next big thing in hybrid vehicles, as fuel cost pressure, pollution problems, and promising technology is drawing many U.S. trucking industry's leading makers and fleet owners to hybrid trucks.

BELLEVUE, WA – PACCAR Leasing Company (PacLease) has published a newsletter detailing telematics and its role in improving productivity for fleets. The newsletter provides information on telematics and discusses how systems such as PacLease's PacTrac system, powered by PeopleNet, can help improve productivity in all areas

ORLANDO, FL - General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations revealed the new 2007 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Pickups at the 2007 International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida.

NEW YORK CITY – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to install a ring of sensors around New York City to detect nuclear or dirty bombs, Washington officials said.

MT. LAUREL, NJ – Automotive Resources International (ARI) has expanded its in-house heavy-duty truck licensing capabilities, expediting the process and shouldering weighty jurisdictional regulations for companies with commercial vehicles that cross U.S. state lines or province boundaries in Canada.

HOUSTON – Cat Lift Trucks now offers the ES3000–ES5500 series electric counterbalanced Stand-up End Control lift trucks, with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 lbs. The ES3000–ES5500 series features electric power steering, low step height, and knee, hip, and elbow padding to help reduce operator fatigue over long shifts.

TORONTO – TransCore, which operates a North American freight-matching logistics service, adds Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) integration to its Link OpsCenter product, now a part of TransCore's 3sixty Operations Management.

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Heil Environmental has expanded the territory covered by its longtime distributor Cherokee Truck Equipment, LLC to include most of the state of Georgia. Cherokee has been a distributor of the Heil refuse collection vehicles since 1981, serving southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia.

MONROE, MI – Monroe Commercial Vehicle replacement shock absorbers now include advanced application-engineered internal valving to deliver the OEM-specified ride and handling profile to any medium- or heavy-duty vehicle. The new Monroe application-engineered shocks include Monroe Gas-Magnum, Monro-Magnum, and Severe Service products.

COLUMBUS, IN – Cummins QSB3.3 engine earned the title of “Diesel of the Year 2007” recognition from a leading European publication. The award recognizes the technology that enables the 110-hp (82 kW) rated 3.3L engine to offer equivalent performance to that of larger 4.0 to 4.5L engines, but with a 30 percent smaller and lighter installation package.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Trucking Associations' Truck Tonnage Index rose 3.9 percent in December after falling 3.6 percent in November. The December jump was the largest month-to-month increase in tonnage since January 2005.