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Freightliner Trucks Teams Up With Rolling Strong

LAS VEGAS, NV, -- Freightliner Trucks is teaming up with Rolling Strong, the leader in driver wellness programs, to bring national awareness to professional drivers through the 2012 Rolling Strong(TM) Driver Wellness Tour. The 2012 Rolling Strong Driver Wellness Tour kicked off on April 18, 2012, and will continue nationwide through December 12, 2012, at Pilot Flying J locations.

Freightliner Trucks will be supplying a Cascadia(R) truck for each of the nine events to be used as a workout demonstration with Bob Perry, "The Trucker Trainer(TM)," showing drivers how they can exercise while on the road.

Additionally, Freightliner Trucks has collaborated with Rolling Strong to provide 50 drivers at each event a one year membership in the Rolling Strong Driver Wellness Tool Bag Program. Drivers will have the opportunity to take advantage of the only driver-designed driver wellness program that provides access wellness tools where they work, on the road.

"Providing drivers with the opportunities to learn about and embrace a healthier lifestyle while on the road is an important initiative that we are proud to support," said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. "We are pleased to partner with Rolling Strong in its mission and on its 2012 Driver Wellness Tour."

Together, Freightliner Trucks and Rolling Strong will be working with each of the drivers to help educate them on tools to improve their life on the road.

"This is an industry game changer having a global brand such as Freightliner Trucks to set the bar for others to follow that the message today is all about driver health," said Bob Perry, "The Trucker Trainer(TM)" and chairman of the American Trucking Association's Safety Management Council's Health & Wellness Working Group and President of Rolling Strong. "Once again this shows the level of awareness and importance of providing drivers with the tools they need to keep them on the road to better health and get them home safely to their families."

Download Rolling Strong's first wellness "RoadApp" for the transportation industry at http://rollingstrong.com/app to find the closest 2012 Rolling Strong Driver Wellness Tour location or visit http://rollingstrong.com/news/category/on-the-road/. View pictures and video from each tour stop on Rolling Strong's Facebook www.facebook.com/rollingstrong.

Wabash National Honors Longtime Innovator

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) recently opened the doors to its new Innovation Center designed to showcase company contributions to the transportation industry and recent innovations, as well as incubate and launch future customer solutions.

"This venue celebrates the past, present and future of Wabash National," said Dick Giromini, president and CEO, Wabash National. “It is a place for customers, suppliers, associates and others to come together to share knowledge, create new products, enhance existing offerings and continue to develop innovation that moves industries forward. And it will evolve as the organization continues to evolve.”

During the dedication ceremony, the building was named for one of the trailer manufacturing industry’s most innovative leaders, Rodney Ehrlich. Currently serving as chief technology officer, Ehrlich has authored more than 50 patents since he was asked to start the first engineering department at Wabash National 27 years ago by founder and brother, Jerry Ehrlich, who was also recognized during the event.

"Rod's contributions over the last three decades have helped shaped this organization, solved countless problems for customers and truly transformed the industry," said Giromini as he unveiled a plaque commemorating Rod Ehrlich’s major innovations and patents.

“Wabash National is deeply dedicated to its business, to ongoing research and development, to introducing industry breakthroughs, to diversifying the products and markets it serves, and to getting the job done,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “Today marks a milestone because Wabash National is spotlighting its achievements while unveiling this new facility.”

The 20,000-sq.-ft. previous warehouse space is now transformed to include interactive areas featuring an innovation timeline and company history wall, informational kiosks, product showcase, a large theater area that seats 300 and conference rooms with video conferencing capabilities.

About Wabash National Corporation
Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National® Corporation (NYSE: WNC) is one of the leading manufacturers of semi trailers in North America. Established in 1985, the company specializes in the design and production of dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, flatbed trailers, drop deck trailers, truck bodies and intermodal equipment. Its innovative core products are sold under the DuraPlate®, ArcticLite®, FreightProTM, Eagle® and BensonTM brand names. The Company operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Transcraft® Corporation and Wabash National Trailer Centers, trailer service centers and retail distributors of new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the U.S. To learn more, visit www.wabashnational.com.

Truck Driver Helps Diabetic Motorist

Jonathan Bennett named TCA’s latest Highway Angel

Alexandria, Va. – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is pleased to announce the name of its latest Highway Angel: Jonathan W. Bennett, a professional truck driver for Walden Haulers Group, Inc., of Harriman, Tenn.

In the late morning of November 9, 2011, Bennett was traveling on I-40 eastbound through the gorge between North Carolina and Tennessee. All the lanes were closed down while authorities cleared snow and rocks that had slid down the mountain onto the roadway.

While he waited in his truck, a woman got out of her car and approached several drivers in front of him. She seemed frantic about something. She soon came to Bennett and asked if he had candy, food or anything to drink. Bennett said she could have an orange juice from his cooler. The woman explained that her sister, who was traveling with her, was a diabetic and had been without food for too long. Her glucose level was very low, and she was about to slip into a diabetic coma.

Bennett told the woman that he is a licensed emergency medical technician and asked for permission to examine the sister. After getting her to drink the orange juice and checking her vital signs, he determined that the sister did not need medical treatment. She eventually returned to normal, so Bennett recommended that they stop for food within the hour and described which exits had restaurants. Before leaving, he provided the women with another orange juice in case of emergency.

“They offered me money, but I didn’t take it,” said Bennett. “I told them, ‘I took an oath in school to help all people in need and do no harm. By sheer coincidence, I was able to do this for you.’”

For his efforts that day, Bennett has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Walden Haulers Group also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.

To view archival copies of past Highway Angel press releases, visit www.truckload.org/newsroom. To learn more about the program or to nominate a driver, go to www.truckload.org/highway-angel or visit the Angels’ Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tcanews. For additional information, contact TCA at (703) 838-1950 or angel@truckload.org.

Melton Truck Lines Welcomes New Benefit Manager

TULSA, Okla. – Melton Truck Lines Inc. a premier air-ride flatbed carrier based in Tulsa, OK, recently welcomed Shelly Fisher to the position of Benefits Manager.  Fisher has an extensive history in HR and benefits administration.  In her position she will be responsible for managing health care costs, streamlining benefits enrollment, increasing driver and staff retirement planning and helping drivers and families navigate through the insurance world. 

Fisher previously managed Benefits at Love’s Travel Stop in Oklahoma City, and has 12 years experience in HR. She managed benefits administration for an average of 8000 employees, as well as coordinated all of the compliance of 401K, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Privacy laws, leave, disability benefits, and wellness initiatives.  Prior to that, she spent five years involved in numerous aspects of human resources for a large, multinational investment firm in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and on the Board of Directors for the South West Benefit Association.  

Company Information

Headquartered in Tulsa, OK, Melton Truck Lines Inc. is an award-winning leader in the air-ride flatbed industry and services the United States, Canada and Mexico.  In business for over 55 years, Melton has offices and terminals in Tulsa, Dallas, Laredo, El Paso, Birmingham and Masury.  For more information, please visit www.meltontruck.com.

TCA Files Motion to Intervene with Federal Court in HOS Challenge

Alexandria, Va. – This morning, Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) filed a motion to intervene with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in litigation challenging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) recently published hours-of-service (HOS) regulations.

The suit that TCA seeks to join was initiated by American Trucking Associations against the FMCSA on February 14, 2012.

“Since the 2004 hours-of-service rule went into effect, we have experienced a year-over-year decline in crashes and fatalities involving commercial vehicles on our nation’s highways,” said Chris Burruss, TCA’s president.  “Safety is paramount to the trucking industry and while we remain committed to continuing to reduce accidents, we believe the new rule will take us backward, not forward.  We have an obligation to protect our drivers and the motoring public, and we believe this rulemaking stands in conflict with that obligation.”

TCA’s Executive Committee decided on March 14 to file the motion in the interest of developing a rule that is based on sound science, advances public safety, and meets the operational needs of its members.

“TCA feels passionately about this issue and is participating as a party to litigate for the benefit of the association and its members,” said R Eddie Wayland, TCA’s general counsel and a partner at King & Ballow.

ATA Truck Tonnage Retreated 4% in January

ARLINGTON, Va., -- The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 4.0% in January after surging 6.4% in December 2011. The latest contraction put the SA index at 119.4 (2000=100), down from December's record level of 124.4.

ATA recently revised the seasonally adjusted index back five years as part of its annual revision. For all of 2011, tonnage rose 5.8%, slightly lower than the 5.9% previously reported, and matched 2010's gain of the same magnitude. The index increased 3.6% from January 2011.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 112.1 in January, which was 3.5% below the previous month.

"Last month I said I was surprised by the size of the gain in December. Today, I'm not surprised that tonnage fell on a seasonally adjusted basis in January simply due to the fact that December was so strong," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. Costello noted that December's increase was the largest month-to-month gain since January 2005.

"I'm still optimistic about truck tonnage going forward. In fact, while many fleets said January was normal, they are also saying that February has been pretty good so far," he said.

Note on the impact of trucking company failures on the index: Each month, ATA asks its membership the amount of tonnage each carrier hauled, including all types of freight. The indexes are calculated based on those responses. The sample includes an array of trucking companies, ranging from small fleets to multi-billion dollar carriers. When a company in the sample fails, we include its final month of operation and zero it out for the following month, with the assumption that the remaining carriers pick up that freight. As a result, it is close to a net wash and does not end up in a false increase. Nevertheless, some carriers are picking up freight from failures and it may have boosted the index. Due to our correction mentioned above however, it should be limited.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 67.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 9 billion tons of freight in 2010. Motor carriers collected $563.4 billion, or 81.2% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

N. Yanke Transfer Driver Extinguishes Flames, Saves Couple’s Dogs, Truck and Trailer

Gyslain “Juice” Lemelin is named TCA’s latest Highway Angel  

Alexandria, Virginia – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is pleased to name Gyslain “Juice” Lemelin, a professional truck driver for N. Yanke Transfer of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as its latest Highway Angel.

On October 23, 2011, at about 9:15 a.m., Lemelin was heading west on the Trans-Canada Highway outside of Virden, Manitoba, Canada, when he was passed by two people in a pick-up truck. Accompanied by their two dogs, couple was on their way home from a wedding and were towing a camper filled with belongings.

As they passed by, Lemelin smelled a burning, chemical-like odor coming from the pick-up. He told his friend (who was talking to him on a headset at the time) that he planned to keep an eye out for the couple. Just moments later, he saw a puff of white smoke in the distance and knew the motorists were in trouble.

“I had a feeling they weren’t going to get very far,” said Lemelin, who has had training as a mechanic. “I’ve smelled that smell before. I knew it was the transmission – transmission fluid is highly flammable.”

By the time Lemelin pulled up at the scene, flames had already spread all over the pick-up’s hood, the battery was melting, and the ground underneath the vehicle was on fire. Had another few minutes gone by, the engine would surely have exploded, and the couple could have lost the contents of their truck and trailer, or worse. Lemelin used his fire extinguisher to put out the flames while the motorists frantically removed their dogs and valuables from the vehicle. When the fire was out, he allowed the couple to use his cell phone to call for assistance.

The grateful motorists later wrote a very complimentary e-mail to N. Yanke Transfer praising Lemelin for his quick actions. “Please tell [Lemelin] that random acts of kindness don’t go without notice, and we are both grateful that he didn’t just drive on by like everyone else,” they said.

For his efforts that morning, Lemelin has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. N. Yanke Transfer also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel. 

Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.

To view archival copies of past Highway Angel press releases, visit www.truckload.org/newsroom. To learn more about the program or to nominate a driver, go to www.truckload.org/highway-angel or visit the Angels’ Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tcanews. For additional information, contact TCA at (703) 838-1950 or angel@truckload.org.

Trucking Industry Encouraged to View New Highway Angel

As video gains popularity, another step is taken towardgoal of changing trucking’s image!

Alexandria, Virginia – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has an important job for each and every person reading this story:  Help change the public’s perception of trucking by watching Lindsay Lawler’s brand new “Highway Angel” music video at www.youtube.com/highwayangelvideo and forwarding the link to everyone you know.

Lawler, a country singer who has a strong following within the trucking community, wrote and recorded “Highway Angel” as a tribute to TCA’s Highway Angel program. The lyrics applaud the many professional truck drivers who stop each day to help motorists in trouble on the highways.

“This song sends a strong, positive message about the good people of the trucking industry and deserves to be seen and shared by all of us. We hope everyone will share the link with their friends through Facebook and other social networking sites,” said Gary Salisbury, TCA’s chairman and the president and CEO of Fikes Truck Line, Inc., of Hope, Ark. “People are always asking me what they can do to change the image of trucking. This is something that is quick, easy to do, and doesn’t cost anything. The more people who spread the link, the more ‘buzz’ we can generate to help boost our industry in the eyes of the general public.”

According to Salisbury, TCA’s goals are to spread the video’s link virally to as many people as possible before the end of 2011 and have millions of views recorded by YouTube. It is hoped that the video’s popularity will catch the notice of the country music recording industry and result in additional exposure for the song, Lindsay Lawler, and the entire trucking industry.

In conjunction with the YouTube post, TCA and Highway Angel program sponsor Internet Truckstop hosted a special launch reception for the new video December 8^th in Nashville, Tenn. Representatives from the Great American Country network, MTV, and several other music industry entities were invited, and TCA members from in and around Nashville attended.

The video will be played for the 30,000 fans in attendance at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at 3:30 p.m. MST at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. During the Bowl, TCA and Internet Truckstop will recognize Marcus Beam, a driver for Epes Transport System, Inc., as TCA’s 2011 Highway Angel of the Year. Beam pulled a mother and two young children from an overturned car while others stood by, refusing to help.

“Beam's story is amazing, and I used many stories such as his to find inspiration to write this song.  The video shows a situation similar to Beam's, and I, the driver, am rescued by a Highway Angel,” said Lawler. “This kind of stuff happens every day. Highway Angels are out there helping people who may be lost, stranded, injured, or even dying. I wanted to record a song for them, a song that truly portrays them as the Angels they are.”

Iowa 80 Truckstop®, The World’s Largest Truckstop®, Chooses TerraCair® Ultrapure Diesel Exhaust Fluid

The Iowa 80 TA Truckstop, the World’s Largest Truckstop, located in Walcott, Iowa, has signed a distribution agreement with Terra Environmental Technologies (TET), a CF Industries Company, to supply all its Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) needs.  This multi-year agreement will ensure that TET’s TerraCair ¹ is available to customers at the island, in the store and at all Iowa 80 Group locations.

“Here at Iowa 80, we are pleased to offer our customers TerraCair DEF.  Part of our mission is to make trucker satisfaction our number one priority,” said Delia Moon Meier, Iowa 80 group senior vice president.   “TerraCair is the brand that is currently most popular with our driver customers, as well as leading truck manufacturers.  Offering TerraCair brand DEF is one more way that we can make each of our locations places where people want to stop.”

Said Barry Lonsdale, TET president, “TET appreciates being Iowa 80’s choice for its long-term diesel exhaust fluid supply needs.    Both companies share a focus on quality for their customers.    We welcome Iowa 80 Group’s recognition that TET has made that commitment to quality.   TET has the flexibility to ensure quality and supply by sourcing TerraCair from a number of CF Industries’ seven North American nitrogen product manufacturing facilities. As the DEF market demand grows, TET will have the production capacity to supply the Iowa Group and the trucking industry with TerraCair.”

As a leading North American DEF producer, TET has developed a complete supply chain solution that includes manufacturing and distributing the product, recommending DEF-compatible storage and dispensing equipment, and providing field services and employee training.  

TET also provides the DEF factory fill and is the dealership choice for Daimler Trucks North American LLC; Volvo Group North America, Inc.; Mack Trucks, Inc., and Ford Motor Company. 

1.  Under the Clean Air Act, all new on-road diesel vehicles sold in North America beginning January 1, 2010, are required to meet more stringent emissions standards. Most manufacturers are accomplishing this by using SCR technology.  DEF is a liquid solution that, when used in conjunction with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, converts harmful emissions to pure water and nitrogen.  TerraCair® Ultrapure DEF is an ultrapure urea solution whose quality is certified by the American Petroleum Institute.   

About TET

TET, a CF Industries company, provides emissions control solutions and a broad range of technical, engineering and logistical services.  TET serves the mobile market customer which includes all businesses involved in supplying diesel exhaust fluid to consumers who use it to reduce harmful emissions from the exhaust stream of diesel engines.  These include truck stops, automotive fluid distributors, a variety of retail outlets and original equipment manufacturers.  TET was incorporated in 2007, and has access to the full range of CF Industries Inc.’s services.  Terra Environmental Technologies’ Web site is at www.TerraCairDEF.com 

About the Iowa 80 Group

The Iowa 80 TA Truckstop is part of the Iowa 80 Group that also owns Joplin 44 Petro, Joplin, Missouri; Oak Grove 70 Petro, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly 95 Petro, Kenly, North Carolina; Truckomats in: N. Little Rock, Arkansas; Temple, Georgia; Effingham, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Walcott, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly, North Carolina; Hebron, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Laredo, Texas; CAT Scale Company, Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and IOWA80.COM mail-order trucking accessories catalog.  Web site is at www.iowa80truckstop.com.

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