Author: Vitaliy Dadalyan

Paccar Reports ‘Strong’ Q2 Revenues and Profits

Truck and engine maker Paccar (Nasdaq:PCAR), parent of Kenworth and Peterbilt, announced on July 25 that for the second quarter of 2017, it achieved net sales and financial services revenues of $4.70 billion compared to $4.41 billion in the same period a year ago.

The company said it earned net income of $373.0 million ($1.06 per diluted share) in Q2 of this year compared to net income of $481.3 million ($1.37 per diluted share) in the same period of 2016.

The OEM largely credited this positive performance to increased truck deliveries and record aftermarket parts revenues in the global markets it serves.

Paccar CEO Ron Armstrong said in a staement that the company “achieved strong quarterly revenues and net income in the second quarter,” with those results reflecting “increasing North American truck production and market share, strong European truck markets, and higher global aftermarket parts sales.”

According to Paccar, other highlights of its Q2 earnings release include:

Truck, Parts and Other gross margins of 14.6%Record Paccar Parts revenues of $823.1 millionRecord Paccar Parts pre-tax income of $152.4 millionFinancial Services pre-tax income of $63.0 millionManufacturing cash and marketable securities of $3.00 billionQuarterly cash generated from operations of $574.7 millionRecord stockholders' equity of $7.50 billion

Paccar also stated that U.S. and Canada Class 8 truck industry orders increased 44% in the first six months of 2017 compared to the same period last year. Kenworth and Peterbilt achieved 31.7% share of U.S. and Canada Class 8 truck orders and 29.6% share of U.S. and Canada Class 8 truck retail sales in the first half of this year.

“Kenworth and Peterbilt's medium- and heavy-duty truck deliveries increased in the second quarter of 2017 by 25% compared to the first quarter of this year,” said Gary Moore, Paccar executive vice president. “Class 8 truck industry retail sales for the U.S. and ...Read the rest of this story

TMAF Holds Online Poll to Name New Mascot

<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-trucky-jpeg-1.jpg" border="0" alt="

TMAF is holding an online vote to determine the name of its mascot.

Photo: TMAF

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Advocacy group Trucking Moves America Forward is holding an online vote to determine the new name of its mascot.

TMAF is holding an online vote to determine the name of its mascot.

Photo: TMAF

">TMAF said that it received thousands of submissions from across the trucking industry, and has narrowed the ultimate choice down to five finalists, which individuals can vote for.

The finalist names for the mascot are:

AxleBob TailSafety SammySeymour S. MilesWheels

You can vote here for the name you like best, The winner will be unveiled next month.

TMAF bills itself as a long-view industry-wide movement. According to the advocacy group, it was established specifically to create a positive image for the industry; ensure that policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation's economy, and build the political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry in the future.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

...Read the rest of this story

Former Pilot Flying J Execs Take Plea Bargain in Fuel Skimming Scandal

<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-pilot-flying-j-6.jpg" border="0" alt="

Pilot Flying J paid $85 million to settle with customers affected by a fuel rebate scandal and an additional $92 million in fines. Photo: TruckingInfo.com

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Pilot Flying J paid $85 million to settle with customers affected by a fuel rebate scandal and an additional $92 million in fines. Photo: TruckingInfo.com

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In a case dating from 2012, four former Pilot Flying J executives accused of skimming money in a diesel fuel rebate scam have struck a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with federal investigators.

According to The Washington Post , vice president of sales for the company, John Freeman, who authorities say was the mastermind of the scheme, former regional sales manager John Spiewak, former direct sales group supervisor Vicki Borden, and former sales representative Katy Bibee have all agreed to the plea bargain.

A federal investigation into the fuel scam led to criminal charges against executives at the company, resulting in an $85 million settlement with some of the defrauded customers as well as a $92 million penalty to the government. Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam claims to have had no knowledge of the scheme.

In statement, the company said it was “sadden” by the admission of wrongdoing and noted it has taken steps to “make whole every customer negatively affected” by the scandal and taken steps to make sure such activity never happens again.

The company also said that "It is Pilot Flying J's commitment to be a great partner to trucking companies across North America, always focusing our undivided attention on the best interests of our customers, team members and business.”

Trial is set in Federal court in Chattanooga, TN, for the remaining Pilot Flying J executives indicted in the scandal, including former Pilot president Mark Hazelwood, former vice president Scott “Scooter” Wombold, and two other former members of the sales team, Heather Jones and Karen Mann, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Related: Date and Location Set for Pilot Fuel Rebate Fraud Trial

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