J.J. Keller Offers Injury Prevention Training

J.J. Keller & Associates has released the Injury Prevention for CMV Driver training program to help transportation companies reverse costly, non-fatal injuries often sustained by truck drivers.

The training program helps drivers adopt safe work practices and prevent injury while performing routine, non-driving tasks like mounting and dismounting a tractor trailer, loading and unloading cargo, using landing gear and pulling releases, and protecting against extreme weather conditions.

The training will also instruct drivers to learn to mitigate the impacts of whole body vibration by maintaining the proper seated position while driving.

Injury Prevention for CMV Drivers is available in DVD, pay per view, online course, and video training book formats. The DVD program includes a trainer guide, trainer tools CD, driver skill cards, and an awareness poster. Select formats also include a message to management video containing information about the business implications of driver injuries. Two additional titles, Injury Prevention Around Flatbeds and Injury Prevention Around Tankers are included with most formats or available as separate online courses.

“Driver injuries can cost companies thousands in compensation claims, insurance premiums, and lost workdays — not to mention the loss of drivers in a time when qualified drivers are hard to find,” said Tom Bray, lead transportation editor. “This training helps drivers of all experience levels put the appropriate injury-prevention techniques in place, and ultimately, protect the company's bottom line.”

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J&J Truck Bodies and Trailers Adds to Dealer Network

J&J Truck Bodies and Trailers, a manufacturer of trailers and truck bodies, has appointed Kahn Truck Equipment and Stainless & Repair to its dealer network.

Both companies will represent J&J's full product line in each dealer's respective territories. Kahn will be responsible for certain counties in Missouri and Illinois while Stainless & Repair will service customers in counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.

St. Louis, Mo.-based Kahn Truck Equipment specializes in customized truck body design and installation. It offers mechanic and service trucks, railroad trucks and other specialty vehicles for a variety of industries. The addition of the J&J dump body line will diversify Kahn's current product line.

Stainless & Repair, based in Marshfield, Wis., has been providing transportation solutions to trucking for over 40 years. Their product offerings include tank bodies, dump bodies, fire engines, service bodies, and municipal trucks.

"We are excited to partner with these companies that share our vision of providing the highest quality products, excellent customer service, and competitive truck equipment solutions to truck dealers and operators," said Jason Cornell, director of business development at J&J. “As customer demand continues to grow, J&J is committed to expanding their dealer network to support customer sales and service in new territories.”

Related: Spec'ing Work Trucks

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FCA’s Jeep Expansion Includes Pickup Truck

Photo courtesy of FCA.

Fiat-Chrysler will invest $1 billion in a Jeep expansion initiative that will lead to the production of three new vehicles, including a pickup truck and two larger SUVs, FCA announced ahead of the Detroit auto show.

FCA is retooling plants in Michigan and Ohio, and will add 2,000 jobs as it increases production to produce a Jeep pickup truck, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Jeep previously produced vehicles using the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for variously sized SUVs. The Grand Wagoneer was produced a limited edition Grand Wagoneer in 1993 that was a special luxury version of the Grand Cherokee with simulated wood grain body cladding.

FCA is modernizing its Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan to produce the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. The pickup truck will be built in the updated south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex. Work should be completed by 2020.

"The conversion of our industrial footprint completes this stage of our transformation as we respond to the shift in consumer tastes to trucks and SUVs, and as we continue to reinforce the U.S. as a global manufacturing hub for those vehicles at the heart of the SUV and truck market," said Sergio Marchionne, FCA's CEO.

The investment will give FCA the flexibility to move production of the Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups to Warren, said Jodi Tinson, an FCA spokesperson. The trucks are now being produced at Saltillo Truck Assembly in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

In July of 2016, FCA announced it would invest another $1 billion to expand Jeep production at its Illinois and Ohio plants, as well as $1.5 billion in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan to build the next-generation Ram 1500.

FCA introduced the 2017 Jeep Compass compact SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November that will replace the Compass and Patriot.

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ATA Holds Final Round to Select America’s Road Team

The Volvo VNL 780 donated to America's Road Team. Photo: Volvo Trucks

The American Trucking Associations is currently in the final round of the America's Road Team selection process, which includes evaluation of candidates by industry veterans.

A panel of judges, including trucking executives and industry journalists, will evaluate each of the finalists on his or her knowledge of trucking, their ability to effectively express thoughts on transportation issues, and their overall safe-driving records.

This last round of judging runs from Jan. 8-10 and concludes with the announcement of the final team on Jan. 10.

In October, ATA narrowed the field to 33 finalists, made up of truck drivers from across the U.S. from large and small carriers. The finalists are to represent the entire trucking industry and reflect a full cross-section of the 3.5-million truckers in the U.S.

“The 33 drivers who were selected as finalists are all expected to be strong contenders for the next America's Road Team,” said Elisabeth Barna ATA COO and executive vice president of industry affairs. “Each of the finalists is a great ambassador for our industry and, whether selected to the team or not, will continue to represent trucking and build on their impressive safety records.”

To be nominated as an America's Road Team Captain, a truck driver must be employed by or leased to an ATA member company. Each nominee must have an excellent safety record and should be able to communicate his or her commitment to safety and passion for the industry. Nominees should also portray a positive image of a truck driver in all that they do.

Related: ATA Names 33 America's Road Team Finalists

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