Freightliner starts building the new Cascadia

Spot Truckload Rates Fairly Stable Despite Lower Freight Volume

Spot truckload freight volume continued a seasonal decline, falling 12% for the week ending Jan. 28 compared to the previous week, but overall rates moved little, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.

Unlike this time last year, spot freight activity did not drop off sharply toward the end of January as truck capacity increased 4.8%.

Van load posts were 9% lower last week as truck posts increased 4%, which sent the load-to-truck ratio down 13% to 2.5 loads per truck. The national average van rate edged down 1 cent to $1.69 per mile and is down 8 cents from the week of Jan. 7 while slipping again in key markets:

While Houston was one of a few major van markets where prices did not decline last week, unchanged at $1.54 per mile, outbound lanes from Dallas fell off the pace with Dallas-Houston falling 6 cents to $2.09 per mile and Dallas-Chicago down 1 cent to $1.13 per mile. All rates include fuel surcharges.

In the reefer market, while volumes actually improved on the top 72 lanes for refrigerated freight, the reefer load-to-truck ratio fell a full 20% to 5.3 to 1 nationally as the number of posted reefer loads declined 14% and capacity rose 8%. The average reefer rate lost just 1 cent to $1.97 per mile but is 6 cents less than it was three weeks earlier.

No single market or region is driving produce freight right now, so volumes are shifting around the country, accordign to DAT. Last week, the big swings were in the Midwest. The average rate from Grand Rapids-Madison, Wisconsin rose 31 cents to $2.71 per mile while Green Bay-Des Moines ...Read the rest of this story

Dexter Axle buys Tie Down's axle, brake and actuator business

Dart Transit Names New Executive VP & COO

James Langley Photo: Dart Transit

Truckload carrier Dart Transit has announced that James Langley has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer.

In his new role, Langley is tasked with overseeing operations, pricing sales and recruiting for Dart Transit and maximizing the company's collaboration with Dart Advantage Logistics. He will also play an instrumental role in the Dart Network's overall strategy, according to Dart Transit.

Langley has more than 24 years of experience in the transportation field, working for companies such as J.B. Hunt, U.S. Xpress, UPS, and TMW Systems over the course of his career. He has 14 years of experience in logistics engineering and operations and over 12 years of executive management experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Transportation & Logistics, from the University of Arkansas.

“Mr. Langley is an industry leader, with the highest integrity, who has shown positive commitment to our organization,” said Donald G. Oren, Dart Chairman. “We are pleased to have an individual with his background in a leadership role.”

Related: Remote Diagnostics Add Up for Dart Transit

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Ford Relaunches Commercial Vehicle Dealer Program

Photo of Commercial Vehicle Center interior courtesy of Ford.

Ford is launching the Commercial Vehicle Center dealer program that will replace the Business Preferred Network (BPN) and offer improved service, better parts availability and a new loyalty program, Ford announced.

The program is rolling out at 650 of Ford's more than 3,000 dealers in the U.S. and replaces a program that was heavily used by smaller fleets to set up work trucks and vans.

Much like a BPN dealer, a Commercial Vehicle Center will offer sales, service, and financing support for commercial buyers.

"Nearly 30 years ago, Ford established its first program to improve the purchase experience for our commercial vehicle customers," said John Ruppert, Ford general manager, commercial vehicle sales and marketing. "Now we are introducing the next chapter in our commercial vehicle story, not only by rebranding the program, but by further expanding a number of program elements to improve the overall customer experience."

A Commercial Vehicle Center will offer a service counter that's open at least 55 hours per week and new stocking programs that will improve parts availability, according to Ford.

Ford is also offering a new Commercial Advantage Rewards loyalty program that allows customers to earn various factory benefits that can be redeemed at a Commercial Vehicle Center location. Dealers can offer their own rewards through the program.

The centers will support Ford's commercial vehicles, including Transit Connect compact vans, full-size Transit cargo vans, F-150 pickups, Super Duty chassis cabs, as well as F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks. Commercial Vehicle Center dealers will also offer the best selection of in-stock Ford commercial vehicles, and a range of financing options and incentives, according to Ford.

Related: Ford Offers Replacement Parts for Non-Ford Vehicles

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Yokohama Increases All Tire Prices

The Yokohama 104ZR urban/regional all-position/steer tire (photo courtesy of Yokohama Tires). 

Yokohama Tire Corporation announced that it will increase prices by up to 7% on all of its tires sold in the U.S., including commercial, off-the-road (OTR), and consumer. The increase will go into effect April 1.

“This pricing action is necessitated by the high cost of raw materials and freight expenses that have impacted us in 2016 and will continue to be a factor in the business,” said Rick Phillips, Yokohama Tire vice president of sales. “As always, Yokohama will continue to bring the best product to market at competitive prices.”

Phillips added that some in-line adjustments across commercial, OTR, and consumer lines will be determined within the month.

For more information on Yokohama's product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Related: Improve Fuel Efficiency by Maximizing Tire Life

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Ridewell Approves Bendix Trailer Air Disc Brake For its Axles

Photo: Bendix 

Ridewell Suspensions has approved the Bendix ADB22X-LT air disc brake for use with its 5-inch and 5.75-inch trailer axles, the company announced.

The ADB22X-LT was engineered specifically for trailers. It is based on the design of the Bendix ADB22X and weighs 40 pounds less per tandem axle. The reduction in weight delivers increased payload capacity and value for trailers that are particularly sensitive to brake weight. Lighter-weight wheel ends can also benefit fleets through improved overall fuel efficiency.

“Ridewell is committed to delivering the best to their valued vocational trailer customers, and we appreciate their vote of confidence by offering the Bendix ADB22X-LT air disc brake product as part of the Ridewell trailer axle wheel end package,” said Keith McComsey, director, marketing and customer solutions, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake. “With an ADB22X-LT-equipped trailer, Ridewell customers will reap the benefits of lower TCO associated with LT's longer-service-life pads, payload capacity opportunities with lower weight, as well as the overall payback of pairing this trailer brake with the Bendix ADB22X air disc brake on tractors.”

The Bendix ADB22X-LT offers quicker pad replacement than foundation drum brakes, taking about a quarter of the time once the wheel is removed, according to Bendix. The brake was also designed with an adjustment mechanism that supports longer service life, which it achieves by extending friction life through reducing the risk of brake drag.

The ADB22X-LT features a new brake pad, the Bendix BX276, that Bendix says has 8% more wearable volume and up to a 40% improvement in wear rate. In fleets that pair the ADB22X-LT with trucks using the ADB22X, upkeep and technician training can be streamlined since the two brakes share replacement wear items and use the same installation and maintenance skill sets.

“As interest in air disc brakes continues to increase in the North American ...Read the rest of this story