Industry news

Light & Medium Truck, Nov 2003

Daimler Cancels Plan For Van Plant

DaimlerChrysler AG has decided against building a factory to manufacture delivery vans near Savannah, Ga., Bloomberg reported.

The factory would have built Sprinter vans, to be sold under the Dodge and Freightliner brands. Earlier this year, Daimler canceled a plan to build a plant for pickup trucks in Ontario.

Outside North America, the Sprinter is sold under the Mercedes-Benz name. Cargo versions of the van come from Germany and are assembled at the Freightliner Custom Chassis plant in Gaffney, S.C.

Reading Body Changes Name, President

Service-body manufacturer Reading Body Works Inc. has changed its name to Reading Truck Body Inc. as part of several changes that included acquisition of a distributor group and naming a new president.

Irving Suknow, company owner, acquired Crest Truck Equipment, four Reading distributor locations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and formed a new company, Reading Equipment & Distribution. Reading Truck Body, the manufacturer, and Reading Equipment & Distribution were merged under the Reading Group.

Dan Perlman, formerly vice president of manufacturing at Reading, was named president of the Reading Group.

Peterbilt to Offer Natural Gas Engines at Factory

Truck-maker Peterbilt Motors Co., a subsidiary of Paccar Inc., said it would soon offer factory installation of natural gas engines for its low-cab-forward Model 320 truck. Refuse haulers often use the model.

Peterbilt said it would begin limited production later this year of the Model 320 with the Cummins-Westport C8.3G natural-gas engine using a liquid-natural-gas fuel system. Full production is scheduled for the first quarter of 2004.

A diesel and LNG-fueled Caterpillar C-11 engine would be offered later in 2004, the company said.

Maintenance Suppliers Offer Eaton Diagnostic Tool

Two tool and maintenance service suppliers announced they are offering Eaton's mobile diagnostic system through their networks.

Tool supplier Matco Tools, Stow, Ohio, announced a partnership in which Matco distributors will offer Eaton's MD mobile diagnostic computer tool, and Matco tools will be available through Eaton's Web site.

Matco sells tools through about 1,500 independent distributors who deliver products to technicians.

Diagnostic Innovations, Southfield, Mich., a diagnostic and maintenance software supplier, said it would also offer the MD series in addition to its diagnostic products.

Eaton's MD is a hand-held diagnostic tool that can monitor vehicle components for all North American truck models.

Navistar Targets Military Business

Navistar International Corp. announced that its operating division, International Truck and Engine Corp., established a business unit to sell medium-duty trucks and engines, and services, to the U.S. military.

The company is working on the design of a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (Humvee) which would include an International 4.5-liter V-6 engine and a hybrid electric drive.

"This is a natural area of growth for International," said Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar president, in a release. "We already have all the platforms that the U.S. military and other NATO countries could leverage for products and services."

International will also offer Telematics systems, including communication devices that report driver and vehicle conditions, vehicle tracking, security and equipment usage.

U-Haul Parent Files Bankruptcy Recovery Plan

Amerco Inc., the bankrupt owner of the U-Haul truck-rental business, filed a recovery plan that pays creditors owed more than $884 million, Bloomberg reported.

Amerco sought Chapter 11 protection in June after failing to refinance $866 million of debt. U-Haul was not included in the filing.

Court approval would allow Amerco to complete its reorganization and come out of bankruptcy in less than seven months, Bloomberg said.

UPS Cuts Delivery Time in 20 Cities

Package delivery carrier United Parcel Service Inc. said it would reduce delivery times by one day for some ground shipments in 20 metropolitan areas, covering about 3.7% of daily package shipments.

Credit Financing Company Formed

A company that will specialize in financing medium-duty truck purchases for high credit risk customers in the Midwest was formed.

Lease Alliance LLC, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., will specialize in "blemished credit" leasing for specialty vehicles that will generate income, including tow trucks, dump trucks, bucket trucks, cranes and crane-trucks, according to a company announcement.

The company will be targeting truck buyers and new and used truck dealerships, according to a release.