Why Western Digital, Westport Fuel Systems, and Ferroglobe Slumped Today

Find out what sent these stocks sharply lower.

Airlines are increasingly using vouchers over cash — here are the secrets for how to use them (AAL, UAL, DAL, LUV)

As a result, these airlines can sell tickets on flights operated by their alliance partners. For instance, United, as a member of Star Alliance, routinely sells tickets on its website for flights operated by alliance partner Lufthansa. "Electronic travel certificates (vouchers) can be used for travel on United and United Express-operated flights," a United spokesman told Business Insider in an email.

Boeing set to win American wide-body jet order – sources

PARIS/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co is close to winning a keenly fought contest to supply 787 Dreamliner jets to American Airlines, beating European competition from the Airbus A330neo, three people familiar with the matter said. The deal, which remains to be finalised, also marks a victory for General Electric, whose engines are expected to power the Boeing aircraft, beating proposals from rival Rolls-Royce, they said, asking not to be identified. Shares of American Airlines closed down 2.5 percent, while shares of Boeing were up 0.4 percent.

Parkland teens keep gun-control grown-ups at arm’s length

Before the shooting had even stopped, teenagers hiding at their Florida high school were talking about gun control. Within days, they had launched a crusade against gun violence — one that will result ...

Are Truck Drivers Finally Getting the Attention They Deserve?

Truck driver pay may finally be getting the attention it needs. Photo: Dupre Logistics

I called Kyle Kottke, one of our Emerging Leaders from 2016, to talk about how things are going in the refrigerated business for an update for our upcoming May issue. Kottke Trucking is a third-generation interstate hauler, in operation since 1938.

“We're nearly turning down as much work as we're hauling,” he told me. But are they buying new equipment to handle some of that business they're turning down? No. “Our pipeline for drivers is currently not very healthy, so we're just replacing our equipment,” he said. In fact, they're looking at having their first unseated truck.

This is hardly unusual, of course. We're hearing the same story all over. Business is booming and drivers are scarce.

Many drivers, when they read articles about fleets facing a driver shortage, will tell you, it's not a driver shortage, it's a pay shortage. And we've seen a rash of pay raise announcements from fleets in the past several months like we've never seen before. Not only per-mile pay going up, but various bonuses, and some creative approaches to addressing driver benefits and overall compensation. (See my March editorial, Money Is Not the Only Thing That Speaks to Truck Drivers).

The latest release of ACT's For-Hire Trucking Index showed fleet equipment purchase intentions are strong, that they have or plan to increase driver pay, and that they currently have power in contract negotiations with shippers.

The capacity crunch is allowing fleets to charge higher rates, which in turn in many cases are being used to pay drivers more.

As part of this month's survey, ACT Research asked fleets about their drivers' pay in the past and coming three months. “It was a near unanimous response from our fleet panel that they have or plan ...Read the rest of this story

Peterbilt Gives 1 Millionth Truck to SuperFan

Peterbilt SuperFan Rick McClerkin with his fianceé Kathy Cantaloube. Photo: Jim Park

Peterbilt gave away a Model 567 Heritage truck at the Mid-America Trucking Show to Rick McClerkin of San Jose, California, for winning the company's SuperFan search in celebration of a major truck production milestone.

The grand prize, the 1 millionth Peterbilt truck, is a Model 567 Heritage equipped with a Paccar powertrain, including an MX-13 engine, Paccar Automated Transmission and the Paccar 40k rear axle. Custom chrome finishing work was provided by Chrome Shop Mafia in Joplin, Missouri.

To win the 1 millionth truck, Peterbilt accepted submissions from fans across the U.S. and Canada. People submitted stories, videos and photos to demonstrate passion for the Peterbilt brand.

During the ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Peterbilt General Manager Kyle Quinn presented the keys of Peterbilt's 1 millionth truck to the ultimate SuperFan.

“I want to congratulate Rick as the ultimate Peterbilt SuperFan. We are sure this rugged, reliable and powerful Model 567 will take his business to the next level,” said Quinn. “This was such an amazing experience, and it was truly an honor to share the stories of our five finalists. Choosing a winner was a difficult decision, because they are all so deserving in their own unique ways.”

The five finalists were chosen out of more than 1,500 submissions. While the ultimate SuperFan walked away with the keys to Peterbilt's 1 millionth truck, the four runners-up didn't go away empty-handed. Each runner-up was awarded $10,000 courtesy of the key sponsors of the grand finale, and each finalist was presented with a special commemorative gift from Peterbilt.

The four runners-up are:

• Jake Bartos of Columbus, Nebraska
• Cathy Bauder of Harmony, Pennsylvania
• Josh Hainstock of Albertville, Minnesota
• Sheldon Hyatt of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada

“All of the submissions provided great stories ...Read the rest of this story

Outgoing ATD Chairman Wants Tax on Trucks and Trailers Repealed

ATD chairman Steve Parker urged dealers to work with Congress to repeal the Federal Excise Tax on trucks and trailers. Photo: ATD

Steve Parker, chairman of the American Truck Dealers organization, urged dealers to work with Congress to repeal the federal excise tax on the sale of heavy-duty trucks and trailers.

Speaking at the ATD Show in his final address as the group's chairman, Parker called the tax outdated and harmful. Parker is the president of Baltimore Potomac Truck Centers in Linthicum, Maryland, which operates five full-service commercial truck dealership locations with Mack, Volvo, and Hino Trucks franchises in Maryland and Virginia.

The group also put its support behind recent legislation, H.R. 2946, that would eliminate the federal excise tax. The bill was introduced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and currently has 15 bipartisan co-sponsors.

“I urge you to continue reaching out to your federal legislators. Host your elected officials at your dealership. Let them meet your employees,” said Parker. “We were prepared to handle the onslaught of changes last year because we had solid grassroots.”

Park highlighted ATD's recent lobbying accomplishments, including a tax cut for pass-through entities, maintaining the LIFO inventory accounting method, and doubling the exemption on the state tax. He also spoke about growth within the organization. including adding more ATD 20 Group moderators, expanding its truck-related economic research and data, and commissioning the study, Commercial Truck Dealer Future Landscape.

“Because we've tackled the changing truck dealer landscape head-on – despite rapidly evolving times – we will continue to make headway on new issues like highly-automated vehicles, electric vehicle legislation, and the changing truck dealer role,” said Parker.

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