TBC Offers Durable Sailun Regional All Position Tire

TBC Brands has expanded its Sailun program by introducing the S668 - a regional all position tire for use in severe trailer applications.

The S668 is a durable tire designed with contoured shoulders to withstand lateral scrubbing and built with a highly durable rubber compound to extend service life even in demanding high scrub trailer applications.

The S668 is designed for use on multi-axle and spread-axle trailers.

“We are excited to bring the Sailun S668 regional all position tire to our distribution and dealer partner network,” said Bill Dashiell, SVP of the Commercial Tire Division for TBC Brands. “This product is yet another opportunity for us to better serve our customers and provide best-in-class support services and reinforces our commitment to continued growth and excellence.”

The new S668 regional all position tire is available in the following sizes:

• 11R22.5
• 11R24.5
• 295/75R22.5
• 255/70R22.5

Sailun TBR tires feature a six-year warranty for workmanship and materials that includes a no charge replacement within the first 50% of usable tread if it becomes unserviceable due to a defect in design, workmanship, or material. The S668 offers a casing retread warranty for up to two retreads.

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Economic Watch: Retailers Expect 2018 to be Another Banner Year

One of the biggest drivers of the U.S. economy is expected to grow between 3.8% and 4.4% this year over 2017, according to a new economic forecast from the trade group the National Retail Federation.

NRF has also forecast online and other non-store sales, which are included in the overall number, are expected to increase between 10% and 12%. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.

Retail sales grew 3.9% in 2017 over 2016 to $3.53 trillion, according to the U.S. Census bureau's preliminary estimate for the year. The number is subject to revision but exceeded NRF's earlier forecast for growth between 3.2% and 3.8%.

“A robust holiday season for retail sales is just one of many barometers that points to a consumer that is clearly feeling positive about their financial health,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “With consumer confidence high, unemployment low and wages growing, there is every reason to believe that retail sales will be robust throughout the year.”

According the NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, the basis of the forecast is the underpinnings of the economy are very good and consumer spending is at the center of the group's outlook.

“The push and pull of forces both external and internal to the U.S. economy will continue to provide challenges, but on balance we expect a good year,” he said. “And as the retail industry continues to transform, retailers will leverage the new tax plan to invest in their employees, stores and new formats that engage with the ever-evolving and demanding consumer.”

NRF has also forecast the overall economy is expected to gain an average of 163,000 jobs a month this year, down slightly from 2017, but the group said this is consistent with labor market growth

Also, unemployment is expected to drop to a rate of 3.9% by the end ...Read the rest of this story

Chevin Launches Fleetwave Forms App

Chevin Fleet Solutions has launched a new data collection app, Fleetwave Forms, offering fleets the ability to custom build data collection forms.

Forms can be used to replace a manual or paper-based data collection form using mobile phones or tablets – and can even be accessed while offline, facilitating automatic uploads into FleetWave as soon as an internet connection becomes available. Users have the freedom to decide exactly what information they want to capture, and in what format with no restrictions.

Designed with drag-and-drop tools for ease of use, Chevin's form building software allows system administrators to create customized data collection tasks using features such as dropdowns questions; free text entry; date/time selection; decimals, geolocation stamping, signature capture, barcoding, photos and more.

The form creator can be used to specify who can access each form based on a variety of factors such as the drivers name, vehicle type, job/role, department and more. Workers can then simply log-in to view their forms, collect information and submit data back into FleetWave using an iOS or Android device.

Forms can also fulfil much wider job functions. Users can share and receive business-critical information such as vehicle inspections; mobile technician worksheets; driver trip records; business expenses; accident reports; safety and risk assessments; sales transactions; and proof of delivery.

Ultimately, FleetWave Forms facilitates a number of key business-boosting benefits, including:

• Improved visibility of information from field workers
• Direct and automatic integrations with FleetWave
• Enhanced accuracy and timeliness
• Creation of an auditable compliance trail
• Enforcement of financial controls
• Promotion of sustainability by the elimination of paper, digitizing information and automating data transfer
• Increased security of confidential information by eliminating postal requirements
• Elimination of double data entry

FleetWave Forms also eliminates risks and inefficiencies associated with manual labor-intensive data entry; information processing delays; workload duplications; incorrect interpretation; lengthy invoice cycles; missing or incomplete data records and potential loss or ...Read the rest of this story

Bayer offers vegetable seeds disposal to clinch Monsanto deal – sources

BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer (BAYGn.DE) plans to sell its global vegetable seeds business and allow BASF (BASFn.DE) exclusive access to its digital farming data in an effort to address EU antitrust concerns over its $63.5 billion (45.20 billion pounds) purchase of Monsanto (MON.N), three people close to the matter said on Thursday. The German drug and crop chemicals maker submitted its offer last week after the European Commission said the deal could reduce competition in pesticides, seeds and plant traits such as herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Bayer clinched a deal in October last year to sell its seed and herbicide businesses to BASF for 5.9 billion euros ($7.2 billion).