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The Future in Your Pocket

Photo: Telogis

Late last week, I was sweating away in the gym watching two talking heads blather away on one of those stock market channels the old guys in there love to watch. And these two experts were going on about how Apple was pretty much over as a tech company – that all that could be done with a cell phone had been done and the company founded by Steve Jobs was going to have to find something new to sell to the public.

And then this week Apple announced that it sold 78.29-million iPhones in its last financial quarter. Oh, and it has $246 billion in cash on hand. And it is working away on the next generation of products and innovations.

So much for the talking heads.

This week also saw a new study from transportation analysts Frost & Sullivan landing in my inbox. Titled “Mobile Apps Driving Trucking Industry Transformation in North America, 2016-2017,” the report focuses on the use of smartphones and how they're quickly becoming a mandatory piece of equipment for pretty much anybody working in the trucking industry today.

In fact, according to this report, smartphones will likely be the foundational building blocks that take trucking into a new world of integrated operations and efficiency. In short, as every conceivable aspect of our lives becomes wired into constant-flow, real-time, fully integrated, data-driven, information stream, the smartphone will be the point of delivery and interface that allows us to navigate, update and access that virtual world.

In real world terms, the report says, this will mean the end of paperwork, while removing many of the competitive advantages that large fleets enjoy and the barriers to entry that hamper small fleets.

The result will be a technology explosion that will lead to enhanced, visibility, and competitiveness among owner-operators and small fleets. Large ...Read the rest of this story

A walk on the high-end

No visit to the annual Washington Auto Show is complete without a look at some of the high-end luxury cars from around the world, many of which are also high-end "super cars" like a modified 2015 McLaren 650 S Spider you'll meet in this gallery that sports a 765 hp gasoline engine that delivers 623 ft.-lbs. of torque. We'd expect a lot of speeding tickets to come with that particular model. (All photos by Sean Kilcarr for Fleet Owner)

Nissan at the 2017 Washington Auto Show

Nissan Motor Co. brought a cross-section of its pickup trucks and vans to the 2017 Washington Auto Show, including its compact NV200 cargo van; a van platform General Motors began using several years ago for its City Express model, via a partnership deal with Nissan. (All photos by Sean Kilcarr for Fleet Owner)

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Michelin and Bridgestone Also Increase Tire Prices

Photo: Bridgestone

Michelin North America and Bridgestone Americas Tires have both announced price increases for each company's tire lines as a result of rising material costs and other market conditions.

Michelin will increase prices up to 8% for its passenger, heavy-truck, earthmover, industrial-handling, agriculture and two-wheel segments across all brands in North America.

The company says the increase will be implemented separately by individual segments. Customers will be notified directly with specific details, but Michelin didn't say how quickly it will roll out the price hikes.

Michelin says this represents its first increase since 2012.

Bridgestone Americas Tires is also increasing prices by 8% across a range of commercial and non-commercial tire lines. The increases will also affect the company's retread products and tubes in North America.

The new pricing will take effect on March 1, 2017, and will vary by business unit and product line.

Both companies join several others that have announced price increases including Cooper Tire, Goodyear, and Yokohama.

Related: Yokohama Increases All Tire Prices

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