European truck makers fined billions for price fixing

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -- The European Union is fining five truck makers nearly 3 billion euros (Cdn $4.3 billion) for acting as a cartel to fix prices of medium and heavy-duty trucks and time the introduction of technologies to comply with emissions rules. It's the highest fines ever imposed by the EU for a single cartel - twice the previous highest amount, imposed in 2012, according to Margrethe Vestager, the European Union's competition commissioner, in a statement. MAN (now owned by Volkswagen), Daimler, DAF (owned by Paccar), Iveco and Volvo/Renault -- which together account for around nine out of every 10 medium and heavy trucks sold in Europe -- had been working together for 14 years, from 1997 until the European Commission's investigation in 2011 put a stop to it.

Transporters bring the thunder to Honda Indy

TORONTO, ON - On the NASCAR circuit, support trucks are known as "haulers". Maybe because the term just rolls off the tongue with a southern accent. ("We haul, y'all.") But among INDYCAR teams, the tractor-trailers that move cars and equipment from one track to the next are known as transporters, and they're in Toronto for this weekend's Honda Indy.

Hannover Fairs, Newcom join forces for Truck World

TORONTO, ON - Hannover Fairs (Canada), a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, has acquired 50% of the Truck World commercial vehicle show from Newcom Business Media.

Trailcon purchases Stewart Trailers

BRAMPTON, ON - Trailcon Leasing has expanded its footprint in western Canada by acquiring Stewart Trailers - one of the largest welding, mobile service and trailer repair facilities in the Greater Vancouver Area.

TruckPro adds three locations, reaches 116

LONGUEUIL, QC -- TruckPro, Canada's largest network of independent heavy vehicle repair centers, has added three new members to its network.

Venue secured for first three NACV Shows

CHICAGO, IL - The Georgia World Congress Center will host the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show to be held from September 27-29, 2017 - and at least two of the shows to follow.

Everything Sells: The Ritchie Bros. auction begins

EDMONTON, AB - Everything sells. It's a firm rule at Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, and there is plenty on hand for the highest bidder. About 10,600 pieces of equipment will move through the company's sprawling Edmonton complex this week, easily setting a sales record and eclipsing last April's numbers by about 35%. Trucks dominated most of the sales on Tuesday, when close to 10,000 bidders had already registered for a piece of the action. Equipment such as cranes, rock catchers, and trailers will follow.

Cocooning: In conversation with WABCO’s Jon Morrison

LOUISVILLE, KY -- We're approaching an era when trucks act more like trusted co-drivers than equipment alone. Optional Collision Warning Systems and Lane Departure Systems use things like radar and cameras to watch the road and sound the alarm if a driver fails to notice a hazard or drifts into danger. Collision Mitigation Systems - or adaptive cruise controls -- go a step further and actually begin to slow a vehicle before a driver reacts. And the technologies all come together in prototypes for "semi-autonomous" and "platooning" vehicles that promise at times to drive themselves. "The vision is about providing that 360-degree cocoon around the truck, to enable the truck and the driver to operate as safely as they can," says WABCO Americas president Jon Morrison.

Quite Wright: Tesla co-founder sets his sights on trucks

Ian Wright co-founded Tesla Motors and developed the fastest street-legal electric car in the world. But these days he has set his sights on something bigger - an electric powertrain for commercial vehicles. Wrightspeed's range-extended electric powertrain known as the Route enters production in a matter of months, and the company CEO boldly predicts that electric waste trucks will overtake the sale of diesel models in as little as five years. There have been other attempts to electrify trucks in the past. One thing that sets the Route apart, however, is its Fulcrum turbine.

Gas Attacks: The challenges of environmental mandates

Ear worms are funny things. You know them. They're the songs that invade your thoughts. The one ringing through my head right now is crooned by none other than Kermit the Frog. Yep. The Muppet. The one who taught us, "It's not easy being green, having to spend each day the color of the leaves." If you want to know how tough it is to be green, look no further than the environmental rules and regulations affecting today's trucking industry.

FMCSA to study how to determine crash fault

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. regulators are preparing a two-year demonstration program that will help determine which "less complex" crashes should be considered preventable for the purpose of a carrier's safety rating. It's the latest step in an overhaul of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program, which scores violations under Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvements Categories (BASICS) including a "crash indicator". Carriers have for some time been asking how to remove scores for crashes that they don't believe are their fault, Joe DeLorenzo

Tremcar chairman honored for philanthropy

SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, QC - Jacques Tremblay, Tremcar's chairman, has been named Philanthropist of the Year in his hometown of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for promoting Canadian values.

Ontario company fined $100,000 for dock death

BRAMPTON, ON - An Ontario party décor business has been fined $100,000 after a temporary worker was hit by a reversing truck at a loading dock.

Suspect shot dead in armored truck robbery

EDMONTON, AB - One suspect has been shot dead during an early morning robbery of armored truck guards in southeast Edmonton, the city's police report.

Post-2010 diesels key for California freight plan: Forum

WASHINGTON, DC - The Diesel Technology Forum says the wider adoption of 2010-or-newer diesel engines will be one of the keys to meeting environmental, economic and efficiency goals under the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan.