News
Celadon continues to refinance, replace personnel
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Embattled Celadon Group is adding more changes in its efforts to refocus amid an investigation by the Secuurities and Exchange Commission in the United States. The group made tow announcements last week including the appointment of Vincent Donargo as the new vice president and Chief Accounting Officer, effective Nov. 30. Celadon said Donargo brings with him over 30 years of accounting and financial leadership experience, including serving as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Beaulieu Group, a North American carpet and flooring manufacturing company, before taking on his new position.
No date for Gordie Howe Bridge with project problems
WINDSOR, ON - Both Canadian members of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Untied States' representatives of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) were on-hand Wednesday to ask members of the media to use their imaginations to get the full picture of their expansive vision. The WDBA gave a technical update and showcased key locations for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which aims to connect the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway - the Windsor extension of Ontario Highway 401 - and Interstate Highway I75 in Michigan, to add another port of entry to the busiest Canada-U.S. border crossing. Set to be one of the top five longest bridges in North America once completed, the vision for the bridge includes two huge plazas - one on each side of the border - with 36 inspection booths, of which an estimated 18 will be dedicated to commercial vehicle use. The project also plans to feature staging areas with facilities for commercial vehicle drivers in between the primary and secondary checkpoints. Although the U.S. side of the bridge won't feature a duty-free shop, or other amenities for those making the crossing, the WDBA says the addition of a shop or other faculties like a place to grab food or a coffee would be part of any package chosen through the on-going Request For Proposals (RFP).
Mack partners with Petty’s Garage, eyes growth
OAKLAND, CA - Mack Trucks is once again turning to the power of celebrity partnerships as it looks to expand its share of a growing North American truck market. The truck maker is now an official sponsor of Petty's Garage, the high-performance speed shop established by NASCAR's Richard Petty. Under the deal, the Garage receives a 2018 Mack Pinnacle Axle Back model with an MP8-445C engine to move cars to public events as part of the Performance Tour. This build's on Mack's established relationship with the NASCAR race series, which has it providing 10 Pinnacles to haul gear, equipment, and other technologies. For Mack customers, the NASCAR relationship means opportunities to ride in pace cars or see drivers load in equipment at track level. Now appearances by Petty - one of the biggest names in auto racing - will be included as well. This build's on Mack's established relationship with the NASCAR race series, which has it providing 10 Pinnacles to haul gear, equipment, and other technologies.
Path to electrification not straight to linehaul: Mack
OAKLAND, CA - Mack Trucks continues to see a healthy future for diesel engines, even as alternatives like electrification begin to emerge. "Diesel today, it's performing extremely well. It's cleaner than it's ever been, it's robust, it's versatile," said Roy Horton, director - product strategy, during a briefing in Oakland, California. As for talk about electric trucks? "It's almost a little bit of an uphill battle there." Electrification is "on the bubble, and it's something everyone is looking at," he said, admitting that the recent unveiling of Elon Musk's Tesla Semi attracted attention. "It's definitely going to be part of our future." Just not for longhaul. Not right away. Mack believes the earliest adopters of electrification will be operations with the chance to charge at a home base and not depend on general infrastructure for fuel. That includes refuse, local delivery, and public transportation fleets.
