1) 3/4/2010 NAFTA Land Trade Sees First Year-Over-Year Boost Since Sept. 2008
In December 2009, surface transportation trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico saw its first year-over-year boost since September 2008, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. NAFTA land trade settled 10.5 percent higher than in December 2008, with a value of $58.5 billion.
However, the value of trade was still 4 percent down from the December 2007 value.
According to BTS, the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 0.8 percent in December 2009 from November 2009. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail, and pipeline. About 85 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves by land modes.
Compared to December 2004, U.S. land transportation trade with Canada and Mexico was up 12.3 percent in December 2009. In addition, it was up 36.6 percent from November 1999. Imports in December were up 37 percent compared to December 1999, while exports were up 36.2 percent.
U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada jumped 7.8 percent from December 2008, totaling $35.4 billion. The value of imports carried by truck was 2.3 percent lower in December 2009 compared to December 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck increased 11.2 percent during this period.
U.S.-Mexico land transportation trade amounted to $23 billion in December, 15 percent higher than December 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 15.5 percent higher in December 2009 than December 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 10.4 percent higher.
2) 3/4/2010 Heavy Truck Orders Jump Almost 20 Percent From January
Net orders for Class 8 trucks in February jumped 19.7 percent from January, when orders were the lowest since 2002, according to preliminary data released by FTR Associates.
In February, net orders for all major North American OEMs were at 7,628 units, which was above the February 2009 figures. However, orders were still below the 2009 average of 10,064 units, FTR said. The figure includes U.S., Canada, Mexico and exports.
"The February numbers were what we expected," said Eric Starks, president of FTR. "Our forecast models continue to predict slow recovery in new Class 8 orders impacted by 2010 EPA emission regulations and the large inventory of useable vehicles in the market. We don't expect a good bounce in Class 8 demand until 2011."
Final data for February will be available from FTR later in the month.
3) Bradford firm in multi-million pound fleet upgrade
10:15am Friday 5th March 2010
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Heavy truck and trailer hire company Hill Hire, based on Bradford’s Euroway industrial estate, has placed a multi-million pound order for 600 new vehicles to upgrade its fleet.
It is buying new high specification vehicles from Merc-edes-Benz, Scania and Renault, with additional vehicles scheduled for later this year.
Andy Mitchell, managing director, said: “We are committed to expanding our rental and contract hire base. This substantial investment in our fleet means that Hill Hire is exceptionally well placed in readiness of the upturn in the logistics market.
“Our focus for 2010 is to continue operating from a position of strength, offering new and existing customers a premium service with increased flexibility on rentals from one day upwards.”
Hill Hire offers more than 16,000 vehciles through a nationwide network of bases.
4) 04/03/2010 Email to a friend Asda has taken delivery of 150 new dual temperature refrigerated semi-trailers from Schmitz Cargobull, for fresh food distribution.
Asda chooses Schmitz Cargobull reefers for green engineeringIts trailers have been fitted with Carrier fridges and rear opening doors, and run on Schmitz's low rolling resistance Rotos axles with disc brakes.
Asda says it also went for side skirts to improve the semi-trailers' aerodynamics and cut its trucks' fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
The new trailers will operate out of Asda's regional distribution centres at Skelmersdale, Falkirk, Erith, Bedford, Lutterworth, Wakefield and Bristol.
5) Mercedes-Benz erhöht Produktionskapazität für Lkw in Brasilien Lkw-Montage im Mercedes-Benz-Werk São Bernardo do Campo.
Lkw-Montage im Mercedes-Benz-Werk São Bernardo do Campo.
Foto: Auto-Medienportal.Net/Daimler
ampnet – 5. März 2010. Mercedes-Benz will seine Produktion im Werk São Bernardo do Campo bei São Paulo aufstocken. Dort werden Lastwagen, Omnibus-Fahrgestelle, Motoren, Getriebe und Achsen produziert. Die größte und modernste Fertigungsanlage in Brasilien wird ihre Kapazität auf 75.000 Einheiten pro Jahr erweitern, um der steigenden Nachfrage nachzukommen. Das entspricht einer Steigerung um rund 15 Prozent. Mercedes-Benz do Brasil erhält von dafür von der brasilianischer Nationalbank BNDES ein Darlehen in Höhe von 1,2 Milliarden brasilianische Real, umgerechnet rund 460 Millionen Euro. São Bernardo do Campo ist das größte Mercedes-Benz Lkw-Werk außerhalb von Deutschland.
Bereits in den vergangenen Monaten hat das Unternehmen rund 1400 neue Mitarbeiter eingestellt. Im Mercedes-Benz Technology Center, dem größten und modernsten Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum für Lkw und Busse in Brasilien mit Sitz in São Bernardo do Campo, werden zudem Mittel in die Entwicklung neuer Komponenten und Technologien fließen. Das Unternehmen will damit sein künftiges Produktprogramm weiter ausbauen und verbessern. Unter anderem geht es darum, die Erfüllung der Umweltvorschrift Euro 5, die in Brasilien "Conama P7" heißt, abzusichern. Auch das Entwicklungs- und Trainingscenter für Mitarbeiter soll vergrößert werden, um künftig mehr Fachleute auf noch höherem technischen Niveau ausbilden zu können. (ampnet/jri |