Recent truck orders foretell soft start to ’09

CHICAGO -- Heavy-duty truck sales in 2008 fell for the second straight year, to their lowest level since 1992, while Class 8 orders for December were lower than expected.

SPECIAL REPORT: Dealers ponder next move after RigMaster shuts down

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- One of Canada's largest APU manufacturers has been permanently idled, leaving some dealers wondering where to turn for product support.

Shouldn’t he use an air horn?

NEW YORK -- Bill Russell, the president and CEO of Celadon Trucking, has been invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this Friday, in honor of his company's 15th year as a public company and 24th year in business.

Class 8 orders lowest since ’06; Canada forecast weak

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Class 8 net orders for December 2008 were even softer than estimated, totaling 8,649 units, reports FTR Associates of Nashville, Tenn. in their current North American Commercial Truck and Trailers Outlook service.

Kenworth closes Vancouver Island dealership

NANAIMO, B.C. -- Inland Kenworth has closed down its Port McNeill facility due to weak demand in the beleaguered forestry sector.

Stimulus spending details emerge; Hwy 407 expansion too

OTTAWA -- The federal Conservatives recent budget pledged billions of dollars in infrastructure funding in an effort to stimulate the economy, but only a few projects were actually listed.

Vitran plays it again for Sam

TORONTO -- Vitran Corp., the parent of Canada's second-largest for-hire carrier, has spent years making its presence known in its home province. And now the LTL giant hopes to make a big splash in another Ontario -- this one a little more to the south.

Uncertainty, overcapacity issues like a ‘falling knife’: Analysts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Forecasting firm FTR Associates painted a picture of a challenging 2009 economic environment, with many uncertainties affecting predictions for the end of this recessio

Wal-Mart checks hybrid trucks off shopping list

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is set to test two new types of heavy-duty commercial hybrid trucks and two different alternatively fueled heavy-duty trucks as part of the company's efforts to having a more sustainable trucking fleet.

US businesses glum on worsening recession: Survey

WASHINGTON -- As if we needed further confirmation, a survey released by the National Association for Business Economics concludes that the U.S. recession deepened in the fourth quarter of 2008, depicting the worst business conditions since the survey began in 1982.

First ’09 truck orders weakest in 30 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Preliminary January numbers show Class 8 vehicle total net orders for all major North American OEMs at 7,608 units, down 12 percent from December 2008 and the weakest January in the 30 years t

Vitran hurdles over tough 4Q

TORONTO -- Despite a nearly 12-percent fourth quarter loss in 2008, Vitran Corp. was able to ride more than a 50-per-cent jump in logistics revenue to finish the year in the black.

Detroit Diesel takes on SCR-DEF ‘myths’

ORLANDO, Fla. -- At a press conference held to introduce its new lineup of 2010 BlueTec engines , Detroit Diesel used the opportunity to counter what it says is misinformation floating around about the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology

Companies align to develop non-urea SCR system

LAKE FOREST, Ill -- Tenneco and GE Transportation have signed a joint agreement to develop a proprietary selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment technology designed to reduce and control diesel engine emissions without the use of urea.

Challenges, yes, but CEOs see light in the distance

TORONTO -- Chief executives in the global transport and logistics industry admit they are less optimistic about growing their business than they were last year, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).