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Push for LCVs begs the question: Where are they going to park'em?
The renewed push by big trucking and shipper groups for longer combination vehicles – or LCVs – has OOIDA leaders questioning where they are all going to park. OOIDA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Joe Rajkovacz said that if Congress passes federal legislation allowing more states to have LCVs, few states have adequate truck parking spaces to accommodate trucks longer than 80 feet.
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From the LL blog: The environment and longer, heavier trucks
Associate Editor Dave Tanner wants to know where the proponents of longer, heavier trucks get their environmental statistics from … and why some agencies and lawmakers take the bait.
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First look at the House's four-year transportation bill
At first glance, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s four-year surface transportation bill contains some wins for small-business trucking, but will those be enough to overcome possible deal breakers such as longer and heavier trucks on federal highways? Here’s a look inside the bill. OOIDA leadership continues to review the contents of the 700-plus page bill.
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Could Washington state soon reclassify port truckers as employees?
Port truckers in Washington state would be reclassified as employees in a bill moving through the statehouse. The House Labor and Workforce Development Committee voted Monday, Jan. 30, in favor of a revised bill that would deem drayage truck operators, as well as any owner-operators going onto a port, to be employees of companies that “directly engages the services.”
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Tennessee man sentenced to 10 years in sex trafficking case
A Memphis man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday, Jan. 27, for violating the Mann Act. Charles Kizer, 53, of Memphis, pleaded guilty in federal court on Aug. 31, 2011, to violating the Mann Act by “transporting a woman across state lines for the purpose of having her engage in prostitution.”
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Committee to address sleep apnea, EOBR driver harassment issues
A federally appointed committee meets in early February to finalize recommendations for a rulemaking on obstructive sleep apnea and commercial vehicle operators. The committee is also addressing a court mandate that ensures EOBRs are not used to harass vehicle operators. OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer is a member of the 18-member committee.
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Pennsylvania law covers medical certification, red-light cameras
Pennsylvania lawmakers beat the clock with the deadline to comply with a federal truck rule. Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill into law Jan. 27 to bring Pennsylvania in line with federal rules on medical certification. Separate provisions in the bill extend the Philadelphia red-light camera program and increase the fine for out-of-state trucking operations that avoid licensing.
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Applications due Feb. 1 for OOIDA Mary Johnston scholarships
High school seniors still have time to submit their applications for financial assistance from the OOIDA Mary Johnston Scholarship fund. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Feb. 1, for the 2012-2013 school year.
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St. Christopher fund offers unique $10,000 scholarship to truckers
Medical conditions sideline numbers of professional truck drivers each year. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund is now accepting applications for a one-of-a-kind scholarship fund to help those drivers move forward with their lives.
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The 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show countdown is on
We are counting down until the 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show. Now is the time to start planning your trip. The 41st anniversary of MATS is set for March 22-24 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY.
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PeopleNet announces integration partnership with Easy Manifest
Easy Manifest, provider of a scalable, web-based service designed to make it easier for carriers to prepare and submit error-free eManifests to American and Canadian customs agencies, is the newest PeopleNet integration partner, according to a release from PeopleNet, a part of Trimble’s international Transportation and Logistics division, today.
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Even the old world runs on trucks
Got the good fortune to take a brief stroll through Dusseldorf, Germany, earlier this week – the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, center of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, and home to some 1.5 million souls; making it the 7thlargest city in Germany. read more
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Push on to test truck drivers for drugs via hair-testing
Meanwhile, NTSB pushes for lower BAC limit and other alcohol-related rule changes for motorists
While the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) newly released report onactions needed to eliminate alcohol-impaired driving by motorists has naturally garnered much media attention this week, the American Trucking Assns.(ATA) is prodding the Dept. of Transportation to take action to further curb truck impaired driving by truckers.
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Truck capacity: Hang on to your hats
PRINCETON, NJ. The balance between available freight and truck capacity is so close to equilibrium that a natural disaster or other “even slightly meaningful disruption will put us in a state of flux,” according to Tommy Barnes, president of Con-way Multimodal, a provider of third-party carrier services. “Hang on to your hat,” he warned during a transportation and logistics executive panel at the 2013 ALK Technical Summit.
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A stroll through Dusseldorf
Trucks of all sizes play are vital to the fucntion of today's urban centers -- even for those, such as Dusseldorf, Germany, that trace their beginnings back to the Middle Ages. Here's a look at some of the many truck types key to keeping a modern city up and running.
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Extra-long ratchet
Snap-on is offering an extra-long, 3/8 in. ratchet for increased access and leverage.
The FLL80 includes the exclusive Snap-on Dual 80 ratchet design with an 80-tooth gear with dual pawls. The dual pawls engage seven teeth with the gear at all times for improved performance and durability, the company said.
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Air intake throttle
An air intake throttle from Norgren is said to precisely regulate airflow so emissions control systems operate at peak efficiency.
Managing airflow is essential to boosting the EGR while maintaining high exhaust temperatures for maximum SCR and DPF efficiency, Norgren said.
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TODCO adds key leadership members
The Overhead Door Corp. (TODCO) has added two new members to its leadership team.
Joe Owen has joined the company as division president, bringing more than 25 years of manufacturing experience with him. He most recently worked for Columbus McKinnon Corp. as vice president of supply chain management. Prior to that, he spent eight years with Ernst & Young.
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Cummins Power South launches diesel engine tech program
Cummins Power South (CPS) has started a comprehensive diesel engine training program. The three-month graduate program, entitled CPSUniversity (CPSU), is designed to provide rigorous in-depth training on Cummins heavy-duty and mid-range engines and is currently being offered to diesel engine technology students who have completed a qualified diesel technology program.
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Double Coin adds regional fleet managers
Double Coin Tires and CMA has hired John Ramaika and Tom Rozuk as Double Coin’s newest regional fleet managers.
Ramaika has 33 years of tire industry experience, beginning with Bridgestone Tire in 1980 as a sales coordinator. He quickly moved up the ranks to district manager in 1985. He was most recently district sales manager for the Northeast Region of the U.S.
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Pegasus TransTech improves image quality of Transflo Mobile app
Pegasus TransTech has updated the Transflo Mobile smartphone app to improve the optimization of document images, resulting in crisper and higher quality images.
Transflo Mobile allows users to scan and submit documents electronically using only a smartphone.
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Washington state troopers to team with truckers to ticket aggressive four-wheelers
Washington State Patrol troopers will team up with the trucking industry May 20-24 to nab four-wheelers driving aggressively around big rigs as part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Project.
Troopers will ride along with truckers to look for motorists who are driving unsafely around big trucks. When a trooper spots a car speeding, cutting others off or driving aggressively around a truck, the trooper will radio ahead to fellow officers to stop the motorist.
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Fifth trucking company sues Pilot Flying J in wake of rebate investigation
A fifth trucking company has filed suit against Pilot Flying J in the wake of a federal investigation into charges that the truck stop chain swindled truckers out of fuel rebates due them.
In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Alabama, lawyers for Osborn Transportation of Gadsen accused Pilot Flying J of breach of contract, unjust enrichment fraud and violations of consumer protection statutes, according to a report in The Tennessean.
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TMW study finds TL carriers eager to diversify
Survey also reveals maximizing miles is a key to driver retention
According to the results of TMW Systems’ first annual Transportation & Logistics Study – North America For-Hire Truckload Carrier Benchmarking Survey, truckload carriers continue to innovate to remain profitable— especially via service diversification and efforts to improve driver retention.
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The new Sprinter
Mercedes Benz's Claus Tritt talks about the new 2014 model year Sprinter van.
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Powertrain changes for the new Sprinter
Mercedes Benz engineers delved into powertrain changes made to the 2014 model year Sprinter van.
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Design by light
A special 3D light display highlights some of the many changes made to the 2014 model year Sprinter van.
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The 2014 Sprinter rollout event
Content Source:
Fleet Owner
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The 2014 Sprinter unveiling
Mercedes-Benz rolled out the new 2014 model year Sprinter van at a special press event held in Dusseldorf, Germany.
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Digging into the new Sprinter van
One of the interesting things about Mercedes-Benz’s revamped 2014 model year Sprinter van is how “hauling cargo” remains the primary function envisioned for this vehicle – with said function thus driving many of the design changes made to what the OEM dubs the “third generation” of its hard-working van platform.
Claus Tritt, general manager of commercial vehicles for Mercedes, touched on such themes during his overview of the new Sprinter, as you can see in the video clip below:
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Navistar sells off RV business
Calling it “another important step in the company’s turnaround plan,” Navistar Inc. announced today it has sold certain assets of its Navistar RV operation to Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV).
Navistar RV manufactures motorized and towable recreational vehicles, including the Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision brands.
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Scenes from the Sprinter “Ride & Drive” event
From Dusseldorf to Indemann, Aldenhoven and back to Dusseldorf again, reporters put various configurations of the new Sprinter van through its paces on the fast-moving Autobahn, as well as on a closed test track and crowded city streets to get a feel for how the redesigned vehicle handles.
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The New Sprinter
Mercedes Benz said its newly redesigned Sprinter, unveiled in Europe this week, is the third generation of this particular style of commercial van – a design first introduced in 1995, almost two decades ago. Yet the main reason Mercedes decided to craft a “third generation” Sprinter rests with the need to incorporate a range of new technologies that only became practical for use in commercial applications over the last few years.
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Club NAFA to recognize association’s members
NAFA Fleet Management Assn. is starting Club NAFA to recognize the work of 30-year-plus NAFA members.
There are 60 members now in Club NAFA.
“Club NAFA members have played important roles in the history of the association and in the history of fleet management as well,” said Phillip E. Russo, CAE, NAFA’s executive director. “It’s important for NAFA to not only recognize these folks, but to begin utilizing the vast wealth of knowledge and experience that these long-standing members hold.”
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Meijer now accepting cards from Voyager network
Meijer fuel stations in the Midwest are now accepting U.S. Bank’s Voyager network cards at its retail locations.
Meijer’s 189 locations now accept U.S. Bank Fleet Cards or any of those issued by the bank’s Voyager network. Meijer has locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
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Adapter cable for 2013 Volvo trucks
Nexiq Technologies has released a new adapter cable that is compatible with 2013 model year Volvo Trucks.
The new OBD II adapter cable interfaces with Volvo Trucks with Volvo engines, enabling a link between the USB-Link and the truck.
Technicians can now use either the Nexiq USB-Link or the Wireless Vehicle Link (WVL2) to connect OEM diagnostic tools to 2013 Volvo Trucks, Nexiq said.
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IPA releases digital flow meter nozzle
Innovative Products of America (IPA) has introduced the high-flow digital meter nozzle. The nozzle is for transferring common fuels while monitoring volume in real-time.
The nozzle integrates a high-quality digital flow meter into a low-profile fuel nozzle.
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Zero-emission step van passes durability testing phase
AMP Holding, under the Workhorse brand, has announced that its all-electric medium-duty step van has completed durability testing at Transportation Research Center (TRC), an independent testing lab in East Liberty, OH.
TRC tested the vehicle under an accelerated testing protocol designed to determine the durability of the vehicle by simulating a 20-year service life. The testing ran for 4,000 miles during the Ohio winter from February to April, AMP said.
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Fleets shrinking quietly
PRINCETON, NJ. Although fleet bankruptcies get most of the attention, the slow, steady and largely unnoticed downsizing of fleets will have a major impact on freight capacity as tonnage picks up, according to Derek Leathers, president and COO of Werner Enterprises.
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TireStamp offers consulting services
TireStamp is making its staff of tire and wheel maintenance experts available for consulting to fleet clients interested in improving their tire and wheel maintenance procedures and reducing costs.
The company will offer the following services:
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A Truck Tailgate Party: Fire Up the Grilles
 With trucks locked in ever-fiercer sales battles, their grilles have grown larger and more eye-catching — like modern, motorized battle shields.
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Trucking Industry Is Set to Expand Its Use of Natural Gas
 Natural gas is expected to gain popularity as a truck fuel for a number of reasons, including its low cost and demand from companies that ship goods.
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Heavier Trucks From Mexico Could Prove a Boon for Texas
 A Texas lawmaker has filed legislation that would allow trucks to pay an $80 fee in exchange for crossing the border overweight.
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A Busy California Port Seeks to Grow, but a Neighbor Objects
 Plans for a new railyard at the Port of Los Angeles have struck a nerve in the city of Long Beach, whose working-class neighborhoods are nearby.
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Worker Is Crushed by Garbage Truck Compactor in Brooklyn
Luis Camarillo, 18, was standing at the rear of a truck that had been loaded with recycled paper when he was struck by the compactor and killed, the police said.
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Fresh Prince of Pickups
 The pickup truck market is crowded with many formidable competitors, but the 2013 Ram 1500 trumps them with an impressive blend of comfort and convenience.
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Trucks in Waiting: What’s Coming Next
 The Ram 1500 was the first revamped full-size pickup to reach showrooms, but competitors have been working to update their trucks as well.
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New Hubs Arise to Serve ‘Just in Case’ Distribution
 Flexible planning helps retailers keep merchandise on the shelves in the event a disruption in the supply chain affects a major market.
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Stretching Trucks’ Mileage
 The TrailerTail developed by ATDynamics was designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag generated at the rear of trailers.
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Those Madmen Driving Our National Highways
 In “Killer on the Road,” Ginger Strand examines the links between random killings and the soullessness bred by the Interstate System.
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Lucas Oil sponsoring car in Indy 500
Lucas Oil will be the primary sponsor for rising race star Tristan Vautier, driving the No. 55 Honda-powered Dallara, in the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.
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LETTER: Do unto drivers as you would have done unto you
A sort of mild-nightmare scenario at a receiver for Prime driver Bob Sauter leads to larger thoughts on the terrible treatment many drivers see from shipping/receiving facility personnel.
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Thrill-seeking, Vegas style
"Try wearing flip-flops while walking around the Fremont Street Experience. You're trapped in a giant hangar with 11 million people who are looking straight up into the air as they mill about."
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Nominee for DOT head set for Senate committee hearing
The Senate's Committee on Commerce will be questioning Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx Wednesday, May 22, as part of the preliminary stages of the required Senate confirmation
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Poll: What is the best venue for trying terrorism suspects?
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, where do you stand on whether to try the suspects, and others accused of terrorism, in U.S. courts or military commissions?
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Looks like we got ourselves a parade!
Overdrive reader Kyle Cantor remembers the convoys of old, and proposes a new one: "Hey drivers, let's get a Memorial Day convoy going for the Thursday before...."
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What have you done to prepare for the new hours rule?
This poll looks at the ways carriers and drivers have been preparing for the July 1 enforcement/compliance date for FMCSA's latest hours of service changes.
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Finalist Annette Dellinger: ‘I can always turn people around with my smile’
Having only been on the road for two years, top ten finalist Annette Dellinger refers to herself as the “baby of the bunch.” Her daughter and son had grown and moved out of the house, and Dellinger’s husband had recently started driving. He had been solo on the road for about six months when the two decided to form a team and see the country together.
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Pilot CEO says he did not know about scheme, all rebates will be repaid
Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam said he "was absolutely unaware" of the fraudulent fuel rebate withholding scheme his company and its salespeople allegedly participated in in recent years.
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Floods, bad weather pushed freight availability down in April
Freight volumes on the spot market were down — out of trend — 16 percent in April of this year from April 2012, according to the DAT North American Freight Index, which says that bad weather — like floods in the Midwest — could have been one of the driving forces in the decline. According [...]
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New Home Sales Drop 13% in January
New home sales decreased 13% in January, the Commerce Department said Thursday.Source:
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Jobless Claims Drop for Week
Initial jobless claims decreased 22,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.Source:
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Durable Goods Orders Grow in January
Durable goods orders rose 2.7% in January, the Commerce Department said Thursday.Source:
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Navistar Enters Engine Deal with EcoMotors
Navistar International Corp. has reached a development agreement with EcoMotors International to help commercialize the engine maker's "opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder" engine technology.Source:
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Oil Hits $100 a Barrel
Crude oil hit $100 per barrel Wednesday in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Bloomberg reported.Source:
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Diesel Rises 3.9¢ to $3.573 a Gallon
Diesel increased in price for the 12th straight week, gaining 3.9 cents to $3.573 a gallon, the Department of Energy said.Source:
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ATA Supports Hand-Held Phone Ban for Truck Drivers
American Trucking Associations has told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that it supports the proposed ban on hand-held phone use by commercial vehicle drivers.Source:
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TransForce Completes Acquisition of Dynamex
Canadian trucking firm TransForce Inc. has completed its acquisition of logistics and delivery firm Dynamex Inc., Dynamex said Wednesday.Source:
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Existing Home Sales Hit 8-Month High
Existing home sales rose 2.7% in January to the highest level in eight months, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.Source:
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US 1 Accepts Buyout Offer from Executives
Logistics firm US 1 Industries has accepted a buyout offer from a company owned by two of its top executives.Source:
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Arkansas Best Corporation Announces Changes To Its Nonunion Pension Plan
[PR Newswire] - FORT SMITH, Ark., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) announced today that it has adopted changes to its nonunion defined benefit pension plan ("the Plan"). ...
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YRC Worldwide to Present at Wolfe Conference
[PR Newswire] - OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- YRC Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: YRCW) Chief Executive Officer James Welch and Chief Financial Officer Jamie Pierson will deliver a company presentation at ...
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Show Me the Money, Universal Truckload Services
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Is Swift Transportation Going to Burn You?
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Are You Missing Something Easy at Marten Transport?
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Bulls Take the Wheel in Trucker Con-Way
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Bulls take the wheel with Con-Way
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Werner Enterprises to Co-Sponsor Community Safety Day and Werner Roadeo at Werner Park
[Business Wire] - Werner Enterprises , a premier transportation and logistics provider, will co-sponsor its Community Safety Day and Werner Roadeo at Werner Park on Saturday, June 29, from 2 p.m.
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. to Participate in 6th Annual Wolfe Research Global Transportation Conference
[Business Wire] - J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. announced today that Terry Matthews, president of intermodal for J.B. Hunt, will participate as part of a joint company panel presentation at the Wolfe Research 6th Annual Global Transportation Conference on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 11:25 a.m.
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Knight Transportation Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend
[Business Wire] - Knight Transportation, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has declared the company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock. This quarterly dividend is pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors.
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Swift Transportation Co (SWFT): Today's Featured Transportation Winner
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Saia, Inc. declares three-for-two stock split
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Saia Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split
[Marketwired] - Saia, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a three-for-two stock split, which will be effected June 13, 2013, for shareholders of record as of the close of business on the record ...
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Con-way Chief Financial Officer To Address Wolfe Research Conference
[PR Newswire] - ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW) announced today that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Stephen L. Bruffett will participate in a panel discussion ...
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Menlo Completes Registered Agent Certification for Dutch Facilities
[PR Newswire] - AMSTERDAM, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Menlo Worldwide Logistics (Menlo), the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW) has recently completed the certification process for its Rotterdam ...
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CAPScall of the Week: Heartland Express
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Wednesday Sector Leaders: Trucking, Transportation Services
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Con-way Freight Wins LTL Carrier of the Year Honors from Technicolor
[PR Newswire] - ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Con-way Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), has been named LTL Carrier of the Year by Technicolor Home ...
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Old Dominion Keeps Chugging Along
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Celadon Group Inc. Extended and Increased to $200 Million Its Current Credit Facility
[Business Wire] - Celadon Group, Inc. today announced that it has increased its credit facility to $200 million and reset the term on its five-year, revolving credit facility agented by Bank of America.
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Landstar Announces Its Mid-Quarter Conference Call
[PR Newswire] - JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ-LSTR), a non-asset based provider of integrated supply chain solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation and logistics ...
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Old Dominion Freight Line Affirms Expectations for Second-Quarter Tonnage Per Day Growth in Range of 4.5% to 5.0%
[Business Wire] - Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. today affirmed its previously discussed expectations for growth in second-quarter 2013 tonnage per day and revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharges.
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