Problem Solvers Aim to Pave Way for Infrastructure Bill

Could an actual piece of infrastructure legislation soon appear on the horizon in Washington, DC?

The last we heard anything definitive about even just the extreme possibility that the Trump Administration and the GOP Powers That Be on Capitol Hill might be inching toward at least introducing infrastructure legislation was back in late October.

That was thanks to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, who offered a succinct update on where things then stood with that trillion dollar all-things-infrastructure package of public and private investment first floated as a priority by President Trump on the day after his election victory.

In her October address to the American Trucking Associations' annual meeting in Orlando, Chao stated that “You won't see an infrastructure funding proposal until after Congress reforms the tax code.”

Then she admitted that she had at one point hoped to roll out the administration's infrastructure plan in detail by “late fall” of this year. But the disaster that was the attempt to roll back Obamacare erased that timeline. Chao told the ATA audience that Congress was now focused on pushing through a rewrite of the outmoded federal tax code before the year is out.

As of this writing, late in the afternoon of Dec. 1, the House has passed its tax-reform bill and the Senate is reportedly about to pass its version. Once that happens, the differences between the bills will have to be ironed out in committee before final legislation is sent to President Trump to sign.

The hell-for-leather and completely partisan path that has brought tax reform this far this fast may well deliver it by year's end, as GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have promised their supporters and donors.

Once tax reform is passed or shelved, although the latter result is far beyond unlikely, then perhaps ...Read the rest of this story

Old Dominion Delivers Vice President Pence’s Christmas Trees

Photos: Old Dominion

Old Dominion yesterday delivered the official Christmas trees to the Vice President's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

Vice President Mike Pence's wife Karen was on hand to welcome the Old Dominion driver from the Manassas, Va., service center who delivered the trees. The four 12-foot Christmas trees were transported by Old Dominion across the country from the State of Washington for the special delivery.

<img src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-old-dominion-christmas-tree1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="

Karen Pence (right) poses with Old Dominion driver Preston after taking delivery of the official Christmas trees for the Vice President's residence. 

The Christmas Tree delivery is an annual tradition for the vice president's home. The trees came from Hedlund Trees in Montesano, Wash., the same farm that produced the official White House Christmas trees for the Clinton and Bush families.

In case you were wondering, the vice president's official residence is known as Number One Observatory Circle. It is a large home that was built on the northeast grounds of the U.S Naval Observatory in 1893. It originally housed the U.S. Naval Observatory superintendent. until it was later designated for the use of the Chief of Naval Operations.

In 1974, Congress established the home as the vice president's residence. Walter Mondale was the first vice president to live in the residence with his family. Every vice president since Mondale has lived there.

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Cummins Westport Names New President, Makes Board Changes

Bart van Aerle has been appointed president of CWI, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Photo via LinkedIn. 

Cummins Westport Inc. has announced changes in its senior management and board of directors that are to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018 as part of the 50/50 joint venture agreement between Cummins and Westport Fuel Systems.

Bart van Aerle has been appointed president of CWI after previously serving as the vice president and managing director of Prins Autogassystemen BV, a Westport Fuel Systems company based in the Netherlands.

Chad Mobley has been appointed controller of CWI. He served previously as the controller of central supply chain operations for Cummins.

They are replacing Rob Neitzke and Pervez Akhtar, respectively. Both Neitzke and Akhtar will be returning to management positions at Cummins and Westport Fuel Systems, respectively.

“The Board of CWI would like to sincerely thank Rob Neitzke and Pervez Akhtar for their strong leadership of the business over the past three years,” said Jim Arthurs, chairman of CWI. “During that period CWI has sold over 23,000 natural gas engines and continued to successfully penetrate key markets including transit buses, refuse collection trucks and on-highway trucks.”

CWI also made changes to its board of directors, adding Lori Thompson as the new chairman of CWI for a three-year term, replacing Jim Arthurs who will remain on the board.

In addition to Thompson and Arthurs, the following have been elected to the CWI Board of Directors for a one-year term:

• Ashoka Achuthan, Chief Financial Officer, Westport Fuel Systems
• Roe East, Director, Medium Duty/Light Duty Product Management, Cummins
• Timo Lehtiniitty, Controller – Joint Ventures, Engine Business, Cummins
• Jim Mancuso, General Manager, GFI Product Line, Westport Fuel Systems

“We welcome Bart van Aerle, Chad Mobley, Timo Lehtiniitty and Jim Mancuso to their new roles with CWI,” stated Lori Thompson, Chairman-elect. “All of them bring excellent skills and ...Read the rest of this story

Squeeze More Miles from Every Gallon

5 Ways Truckers Can Enjoy Holidays on the Road

Photo of Coca-Cola truck lit up in the holiday spirit courtesy of Wiki Commons: Stengaard

No one likes to spend the holidays at work, let alone on the road, far from family and friends. But, that's the fate of many truck drivers. It's hard, no doubt about it, but there are things drivers can do to make these mobile holidays easier for themselves and their families.

Be Flexible

You don't always control your own schedule, so plan accordingly. Don't overschedule holiday activities if you don't know for sure that work will allow you to attend. It's better to have to schedule something at the last minute than to make big plans and be forced to cancel. Allow some flexibility as to where and when the activities will take place.

Ignore the Calendar

Yes, the calendar tells us that Christmas is always December 25, New Year's Eve is December 31 and Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, but since when have truckers played by the rules?

If your schedule doesn't allow you to be home on the holiday calendar dates, reschedule them. Holidays are about getting together with family and friends and if that means Christmas comes on December 26 or Thanksgiving is on the fourth Tuesday, that's okay. Not being home on a certain date doesn't mean you have to skip the holiday altogether.

Use Technology

You don't have to settle for a phone call. Social media and technology make it possible to do everything but smell the turkey. Many drivers use Skype, Facebook, Instagram and other means to participate vicariously in holiday celebrations they can't attend. Streaming video and Snapchat can put you right at the table.

Find Company

You're not the only driver on the road or at the truck stop. Get out of your cab and share ...Read the rest of this story

Minimizer Offers Fenders for Wide-Base Tires

Minimizer has launched its aftermarket Super Single Fenders line, designed for trucks with wide-base tires.

“This is something we've been working on for a long time,” said Craig Kruckeberg Minimizer CEO and chief visionary. “We had a lot of requests for fenders designed specifically for wide-base tires and didn't want to release anything that wasn't up to our usual tested & tortured standard.”

Four Super Single Fender models – 2221, 9021, 4021, and TR4021 – measure 19 1/2 inches wide and are specifically designed for wide-base tires. All four Super Single Fender models are available in standard Minimizer colors and specialized finishes, with the exception of the 9021, which is not available in green.

“Lots of fleets and owner/operators run wide-base tires,” said Kruckeberg. “This is a large part of the marketplace that we have yet to explore. Our Super Single Fenders will fit those trucks and trailers perfectly.”

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Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Taps Palmer as New Chief

Photo: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America

Justin Palmer has been named president and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, effective immediately, according to the company.

He succeeds Jecka Glasman, who has left Fuso to return to her home country of Israel for family reasons.

Palmer has been the company's director of business operations for the past two years, responsible for strategic business planning as well as managing and developing the organization improvement process and improving growth and customer satisfaction.

“We will miss Jecka. She did a fantastic job of managing Fuso through a transitionary period as we developed the new eCanter all-electric truck, as well as the coming gasoline-engine FE Series,” said Michael Kamper, senior vice president and head of sales and marketing at Daimler Trucks Asia and Japan-based Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. “But we're also very fortunate to have Justin available to step into the role as president and CEO, to lead our North American operations going forward.”

Palmer joined MFTA in 2015, bringing broad experience in retail and distribution networks as well as a background in international operations and business development at multinational corporations. Palmer will operate from thecompany's U.S. headquarters in Logan Township, N.J.

“He has already contributed greatly to our strategic planning and business operations improvement, and he has developed a thorough knowledge of where we need to be as a company,” said Kamper. “We look forward to a prosperous future for Fuso under his leadership.”

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