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Penske Truck Leasing Launches New, Improved Customer Extranet

READING, PA. -- Penske Truck Leasing today announced the launch of its new customer extranet site MyFleetAtPenske.com. The site, exclusively developed for Penske Truck Leasing's U.S.-based customers, boasts an array of tools and applications designed to provide fleet managers with practical tools and information they can use to manage their Penske account, maximize fleet efficiency and improve compliance and driver safety.

"We want to provide customers with online functionality and information that makes managing their fleet easier," said Ann Walsh, Vice President, Interactive Marketing - Penske Truck Leasing. "MyFleetatPenske.com does just that. We're pleased to offer our customers this enhanced site and will unveil added functionality and performance enhancement tools throughout the year."

Through the site, Penske's U.S. full-service lease and contract maintenance customers may now access all their fleet's detailed information in one spot. Site features include online preventive maintenance appointment scheduling, real-time emergency roadside assistance call status, detailed Penske fuel stop locations, driver safety training programs, fleet compliance programs, detailed reporting, and a host of on-board fleet technology solutions. Penske also offers exclusive Webinars, information and performance enhancement tips via the site.

Penske customers interested in learning more about enrolling for MyFleetAtPenske.com should call 1-888-234-5339 or their lease sales account executive. To view a free, online demonstration visit: http://www.gopenske.com/activate/press_release.html

Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, transportation and warehousing management, and supply chain management solutions. Visit www.GoPenske.com to learn more about the company and its products and services.

Website: http://www.GoPenske.com/

Rand McNally Announces Corporate Headquarters Relocation

New Office Accommodates Technology Needs of America's Favorite Mapmaker

SKOKIE, IL. -- Rand McNally today announced it has moved its world headquarters to a modern, state-of-the-art location in Skokie, Ill., a Chicago suburb where it has been a corporate resident since 1952. The company's first day in its new headquarters, located at 9855 Woods Drive, Skokie, Ill. 60077, is January 26, 2009.

The former Rand McNally headquarters building, located at 8255 Central Park Avenue in Skokie, was built by the McNally family in the early 1950s to accommodate the company's growing printing and book-manufacturing operations.

"Rand McNally is a dramatically different company than it was five decades ago," said Andrzej Wrobel, Rand McNally president and chief executive officer. "Today, all of our maps and travel content are created digitally, so the focus is on having a modern and efficient technology infrastructure. Fortunately, we found the perfect building located just a couple of miles from our former headquarters."

Rand McNally's Skokie employees will occupy 82,400 square feet of the six-story Woods Drive building, which is located on a serene office campus bordering the Harms Woods Forest Preserve. The space, featuring up-to-date computer and telecommunications systems, accommodates the growing needs of the company's various business lines, including digital, consumer retail, e-commerce, commercial trucking, and education.

"Although Rand McNally may be most famous for its print maps and atlases, our product line has constantly expanded," added Wrobel. "Our products now range from navigation solutions for truckers to online education services for students and teachers to an upcoming line of consumer and commercial GPS devices. The new office configuration is more conducive to the teamwork and innovation we require to meet the changing navigation and trip-planning needs of our customers."
 
Rand McNally also has a product development office in Irvine, Calif., as well as a distribution warehouse in Richmond, Ky. The company's former building in Skokie was sold to the Ida Crown Jewish Academy in early 2008. Driving directions to the new headquarters office at 9855 Woods Drive are available at the company's enhanced website, www.RandMcNally.com, featuring 1 million additional home addresses and over 22,000 more miles of roads not found on any other online maps and directions service.

About Rand McNally
From America's number-one-selling Road Atlas, The Thomas Guide(R), fabMAP(R) and Goode's World Atlas to StreetFinder(R) Wireless and IntelliRoute(R) trucking software, Rand McNally has been an industry leader in the mapping, routing, geographic reference and trip-planning tool marketplace for more than 150 years. With More Roads-Better Directions(TM), the company's products are sold in more than 50,000 retail outlets, directly to business, and are distributed to 98% of schools across the U.S. Rand McNally is the premier resource for online travel planning as well as maps and directions. For more information, please visit www.RandMcNally.com, call 800-333-0136 or buy maps and travel gear online at http://store.randmcnally.com/.

The Thomas Guide, StreetFinder, IntelliRoute, FabMAP and More Roads - Better Directions are registered marks and/or trademarks of Rand McNally. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Rand McNally

TMC Recognized as a National Apprenticeship Provider

DES MOINES, IA. -- TMC Transportation, the largest privately-held flatbed carrier in the nation, is now recognized by the US Department of Labor as a partner in the National Apprenticeship Program.

This program allows new and current TMC drivers to be recognized and receive accreditation through the US Department of Labor. Through the program, apprentices become invested in improving their skills and in achieving a Certificate of Completion, a nationally recognized credential. Apprentices not only learn the techniques of the occupation, they also understand why they do what they do.  They become good problem solvers, work better as team members, and demonstrate better interpersonal skills. 

TMC, the nation’s largest privately-held provider of flatbed transportation, provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. TMC, founded in 1972, is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers. You can visit the TMC web site at – www.tmctrans.com.

20 Ruan Drivers Receive Million Mile Safety Award

DES MOINES, IA. -- Ruan Transport Corporation recently honored a group of drivers by awarding them with the Ruan Million Mile Safety Award. This award recognizes drivers’ achievements of one, two and three million miles of accident-free driving. 

The following Ruan Seattle-based drivers have all been with the company over five years and have achieved this remarkable milestone:
• Craig Kvam, 3 million miles
• Dick Growden, 2 million miles
• Ed Aboen, 2 million miles
• John Ziltener, 1 million miles
• Tony Honeywell, 1 million miles
• John Iacolucci, 1 million miles
• Angel Suarez, 1 million miles
• Dave Blake, 1 million miles
• Rick Romanowski, 1 million miles
• Larry Hopkins, 1 million miles
• Marty McLean, 1 million miles
• Dave McCourt, 1 million miles
• Noel Beauregard, 1 million miles
• Don Laird, 1 million miles
• Tor West, 1 million miles
• Mike Ragland, 1 million miles
• Vern Skrdlant, 1 million miles
• Sherman Peterson, 1 million miles
• Pat Tuttle, 1 million miles
• Joe Wheeler, 1 million miles.   
 
Terminal Manager Nick Anton selected each award-winning driver to receive this prestigious award. Anton said the drivers, “are an amazing group when you look at the challenges these professionals face on a daily basis. Hauling a 53 foot triple axle trailer around western Washington and the Seattle area takes experience and skill.”   He also stressed how remarkable it is that these drivers make multiple stops each day and unload the trailers themselves.

Jim Mulvenna, Vice President of Safety and Administration, emphasized the prominence of this award and accomplishment. “This is quite an achievement in the career of any professional driver and is one of the many reasons I’m so proud to be associated with Ruan.  Professional and disciplined drivers such as these are the most important element in achieving and maintaining our world-class safety performance.” 
 
These drivers were presented with their award at their annual safety recognition banquet in December, where they received a personal plaque of recognition honoring their accomplishment.

About Ruan  
Ruan Transport Corporation is one of the largest privately owned transportation service companies in the United States. With more than 75 years of transportation management experience, Ruan provides dedicated contract carriage services as well as bulk transportation and Ruan Certified Brokerage Services. Through strong customer partnerships, Ruan adds integrated services such as logistics, warehousing, cross-docking and others to provide customers with individualized and scalable supply chain solutions. For more information about Ruan, visit www.ruan.com.

Carriers Honored by Compliance Safety Systems

Compliance Safety Systems has announced the recipients of their inaugural annual awards to their customers that exemplify dedication to safety and overall compliance to the D.O.T. regulations.

 

Compliance Safety Systems, (CSS), honored J.B. Hunt Transport, Maverick Transportation, Dart Transit, US Xpress, WSE Transportation, and USA Truck. These carriers received a beautiful clear optical crystal piece for their trophy case as well as a framed certificate acknowledging the reason for the award.

 

David Saunders, President of Compliance Safety Systems stated that he “wanted to honor these outstanding fleets with this award for their day-in and day-out dedication to going above and beyond the required regulations in keeping our highways safe.”

 

Dean Newell of Maverick Transportation said that he was very pleased and honored to receive the award from CSS. "Maverick has taken advantage of the services offered by Compliance Safety Systems since 2002. We have developed a strong partnership with them as their service saves Maverick a good deal of time, effort and money. The system they employ is very user friendly and provides us with better control and documentation of our required drug and alcohol testing.”

 

Chawna Buck, Sr. Compliance Manager of JB Hunt Transport stated "I was surprised and honored to accept the award presented to our department.  It makes me proud for us to be recognized as a group committed to Compliance and Safety." 

 

Elaine Briles, Director of Safety and Compliance of Dart Transit, was thrilled to receive this honor and award from CSS. “We really appreciate the services and enjoy the relationship we have with CSS and their staff.”

 

John Horne, Safety Manager of USA Truck said he was honored that CSS has noticed their dedication to safety and compliance of the regulations.

 

Richard Crook, Vice President of Safety and Recruiting of WSE Transportation, was grateful to be acknowledged by CSS saying, “We have been a customer of CSS for many years and really appreciate this honor as we know that CSS is all about safety and compliance.”

CSS also presented 10 other fleet customers with appreciation awards for their five-year tenure as a customer of Compliance Safety Systems. Those 10 customers are McGuire Transportation, Cinco J, Schmidt Brothers, Christenson Transportation, Jupe Transportation, Builders First Source, Missouri Eagle, James D. Vandever Trucking, Jason’s Deli Distribution, Bilbo Transport, C.A.R Transport, Vitran Express and Marrlin Transit. 

Compliance Safety Systems is a leading third party administrator of drug and alcohol testing services. CSS uses a server based process and the leading safety technology coupled with world class customer services to help fleets better manage, document and control their required drug and alcohol testing. You can learn more about CSS and what they can do to assist your firm at www.ComplianceSafety Systems.com or contact Terry Lewis at 817-276-5678.

Accuride Ends Joint Venture

EVANSVILLE, IN. -- Accuride Corporation (OTCBB: AURD) and Benecor, Inc., announced today that they are ending their UREA distribution partnership. The companies entered into a joint venture partnership in March of 2008 to focus on building a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF, also known as UREA) dispensing infrastructure.

“The cessation of the venture allows Accuride to focus its time and resources on our core businesses,” said Stephen Martin, Accuride’s General Counsel.

“We look forward to continuing Benecor’s commitment to the DEF industry,” said Brendan Foster, President of Benecor. “We will continue to provide total DEF dispensing solutions to the diesel market and have already seamlessly transitioned current orders to Benecor,” said Foster.

About Accuride Corporation – Accuride Corporation is one of the largest and most diversified manufacturers and suppliers of commercial vehicle components in North America. Accuride’s products include commercial vehicle wheels, wheel-end components and assemblies, truck body and chassis parts, seating assemblies and other commercial vehicle components. Accuride’s products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride, Gunite, Imperial, Bostrom, Fabco, Brillion, and Highway Original. For more information, visit Accuride’s website at http://www.accuridecorp.com

About Benecor, Inc. – www.benecor.com

Benecor is a national company that supplies products and services to the emerging Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF/UREA) market. Benecor’s total solution offerings fulfill DEF market needs from small-scale barrel and tote pumps to large-scale, above-ground dispensing systems for fleet and retail sectors.

About the Diesel Exhaust Fluid Market

Engine and truck manufacturers have spent tremendous resources developing engine offerings that comply with new emissions standards that become effective in 2010. Many have adopted Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology that requires DEF (UREA) as a central operating fluid that virtually eliminates nitrous-oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines. In addition to having equipment on a vehicle that provides emissions compliance, it is equally important to have easy access to the fluid required to operate this system.

Source: Accuride Corp.

Truckload Carriers Association Announces Top Six Finalists in 2008 Driver of the Year Contests

Grand prize winners for Company Equipment Driver and TCA Owner Operator of the Year to be announced during TCA’s Annual Convention
 
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has finished judging the applications for its prestigious Driver of the Year contests and is pleased to announce the names of the 2008 finalists.  One of three driver finalists in each contest—the Company Equipment Driver of the Year contest (co-sponsored by TCA and Truckers News) and the TCA Owner Operator of the Year contest (co-sponsored by TCA, International Truck and Engine, and Overdrive)—will be awarded the Grand Prize during TCA’s Annual Convention, March 8-11, 2009, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The overall goal of both contests is to recognize and pay tribute to the outstanding company equipment and owner operator truck drivers who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation's goods.  The finalists and subsequent grand prize winners will be recognized and honored based on their performance record, ability to operate in a safe manner on the public highways, efforts to enhance the public image of the trucking industry, and positive contributions to the community in which they live.
 
To be eligible for the contests, driver applicants had to meet certain minimum criteria, including having driven one million consecutive, accident-free miles and being employed by or leased to a TCA-member trucking company.  Trucking companies were limited to nominating only five drivers for each contest.
 
Each of the three driver finalists for each contest was judged on his final application form, which includes operating information, verification of work history, safety record, equipment specifications (pertains to the Owner Operator contest only), a 300-word essay explaining why the entrant should be a candidate for the grand prize, and a 300-word essay explaining how the entrant is a good "Trucking Citizen."

The grand prize winner of the Company Equipment Driver of the Year contest will receive a Cummins engine-powered Dodge Ram pick-up truck.  The TCA Owner Operator of the Year grand prize winner will receive a new International LoneStar tractor (prize includes payment of the Federal excise tax), with a Cummins ISX-550 HP engine, an Eaton transmission, and Goodyear G300 series Fuel Max tires.
The second and third place winners in each contest will also receive a variety of spectacular prizes.
 
The following drivers are finalists in the two contests:

Company Equipment Driver of the Year Contest Finalists
(listed in alphabetical order)

Ralph Boles
Bison Transport, Inc.
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Mr. Boles has driven more than 4.5 million accident-free truckload miles over the past 34 years.  His awards include seven safe driving awards and two Driver of the Month awards from the Manitoba Trucking Association.  He sits on his company’s Driver Advisory Board and the Accident Review Committee and has just become an in-cab instructor for Bison’s new driver training program.

Robert Harmeyer
Batesville Casket Company
Batesville, Indiana

Mr. Harmeyer has driven more than 2.4 million accident-free truckload miles since 1988.  He has received an Indiana Motor Truck Association Driver of the Month award and participates in the Indiana State Truck Driving Championships and the Trucker Buddy program.

James Loveland
WSE Transportation, LLC
Elm Springs, Arkansas

Mr. Loveland has driven 1.6 million accident-free truckload miles over the past decade.  His awards include a 10-year safe driving award, his company’s Driver of the Year award, and membership in the 1.5 Million Mile Club.  He has been active in helping with Hurricane Katrina FEMA support in 2005 as well as FEMA pet recovery for Hurricane Gustav in 2008.

TCA Owner Operator Driver of the Year Contest Finalists
(listed in alphabetical order)

Gerald Clouse
Dart Transit Company
Eagan, Minnesota

Mr. Clouse has driven 3.4 million accident-free truckload miles and has been leased to Dart Transit Co. for the past 22 years.  He has received the National Safety Council’s Three Million Mile Safety Award and Dart Transit’s 20-Year Truck Trophy Safety Award.  In addition, he has been named a Dart Contractor of the Month and has received Dart’s President’s Safety Award and Hall of Fame Safety Award.

Clark Lett
Dart Transit Company
Eagan, Minnesota

Mr. Lett has driven 3+ million accident-free truckload miles over the past decade.  His awards include 17 consecutive safety awards from Dart Transit, as well as 18 consecutive safety awards from his previous trucking company.  When not on the road, he is actively involved in youth baseball and basketball teams, serves as a deacon, choir member and trustee of his church, and is also a Master Mason Pilgrim.

Wayne Lowe
FFE Transportation Services, Inc.
Lancaster, Texas

Mr. Lowe has driven 4.5 million accident-free truckload miles and has been associated with FFE since 1967.  He was selected as the 2007 Texas Motor Transportation Association Driver of the Year and has received many awards from FFE Transportation Services, including a 4 Million Mile Safe Driving Award and first place in the company’s Truck Rodeo.

TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry.  The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada.  Representing operators of more than 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce annual revenue of more than $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.

Truckload Carriers Association Selects Fleet Safety Award Division Winners

Eighteen trucking companies to be honored for outstanding accident frequency ratios
 
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is pleased to announce the 2008 division winners of its highly coveted National Fleet Safety Awards. The Awards recognize those companies that show a superior commitment to safety and accident reduction.
 
Fleets applying for the awards have completed the first of a two-step process. First, their accident frequency per million miles driven was calculated for each of six mileage divisions (listed below). The top three division winners were selected and have been audited by an independent expert to verify their accident frequency numbers. Ratios per million miles for all division winners ranged from zero to 0.37 with an average of 0.29. The 18 companies will be recognized at an awards ceremony to be held during TCA’s Annual Convention, March 10, 2009, at the Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, Florida, as well as during TCA’s Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting, May 17 – 19, 2009, in Louisville, Kentucky.

The division winners are now eligible to compete for two grand prizes, one in the “under 25 million annual miles” category and one in the “over 25 million annual miles” category. To win the grand prize, companies will be judged on their overall safety programs, both on- and off-highway, including employee driver/independent contractor selection procedures, training, supervision, accident investigation, inspection and maintenance of equipment, and outside activities including general highway safety. As with the division winners, the two grand prize winning companies will be announced and honored at an awards ceremony to be held during TCA’s Annual Convention and then again during TCA’s Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting.

Below are the names of the 2008 top divisional winners based on low accident frequency ratios per million miles:

Division I Winners (under 5 million miles)
1st Place: Rocha Transport - Modesto, CA
2nd Place: Crown LSP Group, Inc. - Rocky Mount, NC
3rd Place: Frerichs Freight Lines, Inc. - Belleville, IL

Division II Winners (5 - 14.99 million miles)
1st Place: Stone Belt Freight Lines, Inc. - Shoals, IN
2nd Place: Glass Operating Group, LLC - Newkirk, OK
3rd Place: Landstar Gemini, Inc. - Jacksonville, FL

Division III Winners (15 - 24.99 Million Miles)
1st Place: Stagecoach Cartage & Distribution LP - El Paso, TX
2nd Place: Witte Brothers Exchange - Troy, MO
3rd Place: CRST Dedicated Services, Inc. - Birmingham, AL
 
Division IV Winners (25 - 49.99 Million Miles)
1st Place: MacKinnon Transport Inc. - Guelph, ON
2nd Place: Freymiller, Inc. - Oklahoma City, OK
3rd Place: Kennesaw Transportation - White, GA

Division V Winners (50 - 99.99 Million Miles)
1st Place: Carter Express, Inc. - Anderson, IN
2nd Place: Landstar Inway, Inc. - Jacksonville, FL
3rd Place: Navajo Express, Inc. - Denver, CO

Division VI Winners (100+ Million Miles)
1st Place: Bison Transport Inc. - Winnipeg, MB
2nd Place: Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, WI
3rd Place: Hogan Transports, Inc. - Bridgeton, MO

TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry.  The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada.  Representing operators of more than 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce annual revenue of more than $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.

DUECO, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Odyne Assets

WAUKESHA, I. -- One of the largest final-stage manufacturers of medium and heavy duty trucks in the U.S. and one of the largest utility truck rental companies announced that an affiliate has acquired most of the assets of Odyne Corporation and will produce plug-in electric hybrid drive systems for medium and heavy duty trucks.

Under the terms of a transaction that closed Jan. 20, a separate affiliate of DUECO, Inc. and Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation has acquired Odyne Corporation's intellectual property, proprietary software and components, and selected inventory and equipment assets. The application of Odyne's plug-in technology enables truck fleets to significantly reduce fuel consumption, emissions, noise and brake wear.

Joe Dalum, Executive Vice President of DUECO, said, "This acquisition strategically expands our ability to provide our customers with state of the art plug-in hybrid technology. DUECO has been a leader in providing plug-in hybrid medium and heavy duty trucks to the utility industry during this time of increased focus on improving our environment and reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil. The synergies created by this acquisition will allow us to accelerate development and deployment of proprietary new hybrid technology for segments of the truck market with strong demand for cleaner, more efficient vehicles. We are very excited about this significant opportunity to grow our business and create new jobs. We expect the transition to be seamless and transparent to our customers, including service and parts support."

About DUECO, Inc.

DUECO, Inc., the largest privately owned final-stage manufacturer of Terex Utilities products in the U.S., is a family owned company with over 54 years of experience in the design, production, sale and service of aerial devices, digger derricks, cranes and other equipment. Committed to customer satisfaction, DUECO serves a variety of markets, including the electric and gas utility, telecommunications, contractor, government and tree care markets. DUECO has been a leader in innovative, green technology solutions for fleets. DUECO employs more than 300 people and operates out of 15 states. Visit DUECO on the Web at http://www.dueco.com.

About UELC

Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation (UELC) has been renting and leasing utility equipment nationwide and internationally for more than 40 years. UELC has established numerous plug-in hybrid rental programs with major utilities across the country. For more information, please visit UELC on the Web at http://www.uelc.com.

About Odyne Corporation

Odyne Corporation, a clean technology company incorporated in New York, developed and manufactured propulsion systems for advanced Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), specifically for medium and heavy duty trucks and buses. The company developed a proprietary system combining electric power conversion, power control and energy storage technology, with standard electric motors, storage batteries and other off the shelf components that enable vehicles to have lower fuel, operating and maintenance costs with substantially lower emissions.

Website: http://www.dueco.com/

Hill Bros. Transportation Receives Carrier Of The Year Award

OMAHA, NE. -- Hill Bros. Transportation has been awarded ConAgra Foods 2008 Temperature Carrier of the Year award.   

Mike Liebherr, vice president for Transportation for ConAgra Foods said, “Hill Bros. great service and focus on helping ConAgra Foods take advantage of supply chain opportunities are what makes Hill Bros. such a good partner.  We appreciate their commitment to excellence and total team approach.”

Brian Stoufer, director of Procurement presented the award to Albert Hill, president of Hill Bros. Transportation.  “We are honored to work with ConAgra Foods Transportation team.  The level of respect and communication between us has been outstanding,” said Mr. Hill.

Hill Bros. Transportation is a temperature controlled and dry van carrier headquartered in Omaha providing long haul, regional, and dedicated logistic services. For more information visit www.hillbros.com.