Great Dane Recognizes 100,000th Trailer Built on Assemblyline
Great Dane’s Terre Haute, Ind., manufacturing facility celebrated the completion of its 100,000th trailer. The 17-year-old plant was the site of a ceremony and press conference last Wednesday to commemorate the milestone.
The 100,000th trailer to come off the line was a Champion CP freight van built for Celadon Group, a customer of Great Dane since the early 1990s. Great Dane builds more than 8,000 trailers annually.
Ray Harlin Named President of U.S. Xpress Enterprises
U.S. Xpress Enterprises promoted Ray Harlin to president of the company. Harlin joined Chattanooga, Tenn.-based U.S. Xpress in 1997 as an executive vice president and the company’s chief financial officer. In addition to his duties as president, he will continue in his position as the company’s CFO.
“Ray Harlin has played an important role in the growth and development of U.S. Xpress Enterprises over the past 15 years,” says Max Fuller, chairman and CEO. “Ray has a proven track record as an effective leader, and we believe he will excel in his new position with the company.”
ATD Names Truck Dealer of the Year
Terry Dotson, president, chairman and CEO of Prestonburg, Ky.-based Worldwide Equipment Enterprises, Saturday was named the American Truck Dealers/Heavy Duty Trucking Truck Dealer of the Year.
“To remain both adaptive and proactive, I am constantly looking for inventive, new ways to better serve our customers and our employees,” Dotson says. “In this age of instant gratification everything is better, cheaper, stronger, and faster. Our position is to provide a source of value.”
Nominees are evaluated based on several categories, including dealership performance, civic contributions and industry leadership.
Cummins Reports Record Profits for 2011
“Cummins had its best year ever in 2011, despite economic uncertainty in a number of regions,” says Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO. “We continue to benefit from our leading position in a number of end markets and geographies. Revenue in the United States grew 53%, and international revenue grew 27% year-over-year.”
Fourth quarter revenue of $4.9 billion increased 19% from the same quarter in 2010 and set a new quarterly record for the company. The increase year-over-year was driven by higher demand in truck, construction, power generation and oil and gas markets in North America. The company also experienced strong growth in global mining markets. Growth in these markets offset weaker demand in the construction market in China and power generation in India.
Revenue for the full year was $18 billion, up 36% from 2010, with strong growth in most geographic regions. Cash flow from operations more than doubled to $2.1 billion.
Based on the current forecast, Cummins anticipates that total company revenues will increase 10% in 2012.
Washington State Prepares Trucking Legislation This Week
Washington state lawmakers are debating several transportation regulatory bills this week. One of particular interest is with the worst of the worst trucking operations who ignore out-of-service orders. Another effort would extend by one year how long most driver’s licenses are valid.
State lawmakers are pushing legislation to authorize confiscation of license plates from motor carriers that continue to operate with a revoked registration. The bill known as SB6206 requires the Washington State Patrol, city police and county sheriffs’ deputies to take plates off trucks in operation while the vehicle registration is revoked, suspended or canceled. The authority to pull plates would apply to trucks and tractors. Law enforcement would be instructed to recycle or destroy plates on all vehicles in an affected fleet.
It’s a good commonsense bill. We don’t want these guys out there driving if their license has been revoked or suspended, Sen. Tracy Eide, D-Federal Way, told lawmakers before the committee vote.
SB6206 is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor. The companion bill “ HB2459 “ is on its way to the House floor.
A separate initiative would lengthen the time period between license renewal periods. The proposed change would affect commercial and personal licensing. Washington state now requires licenses to be renewed every 5 years. Multiple bills at the statehouse would increase the time period to 6 years.
TravelCenters of America Donate Record Amounts to Saint Christopher Foundation
TravelCenters of America finished its second annual “Band Together for SCF” campaign with $212,538.87 in donations to support the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund, benefiting truck drivers suffering from financial hardship due to medical problems. Donations for the campaign came from customers and employees of TA during a six-week period.
“With the very generous help of TA and Petro customers and employees, the SCF has helped more than 470 drivers and their families,” says Dr. Donna Kennedy, executive director of SCF. “This donation will allow us to help many more with utility bills, mortgage payments and other monthly bills.”
TravelCenters began its annual SCF fundraiser in 2010 and generated $211,115 in donations, the largest single donation the SCF had received to date. The 2011 campaign donation has topped that.
FMCSA Shuts Down Carrier in Indiana for Multiple Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Tuesday shut down an Indiana trucking company for repeated violations of federal regulations. The agency ordered U & D Service Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind., to immediately cease all transportation services in or affecting interstate commerce, declaring the commercial truck company an imminent hazard to public safety.
FMCSA officials said the order followed an extensive review of the company’s operations, which found multiple federal safety violations including a continuous pattern of using drivers without valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and using drivers that do not meet federal English proficiency requirements.
Baylor Trucking Announces Driver Salary Increase 
Baylor Trucking Inc., based in Milan, Ind. today announced a pay raise for company drivers allowing them to make up to 44 cents per mile. Effective Feb. 1, Baylor also instituted a minimum weekly pay of $1,000.