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The Federal Maritime Commission judge overseeing the $1.8 billion case between the Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference of American Trucking Associations and the Ocean Carriers Equipment Management Association has rejected OCEMA’s appeal to have the case stayed.

Ryder System Inc. expanded its truck ride-sharing program into California, Tennessee and North Carolina, the company announced Jan. 27.

Dana Inc. announced an expanded family of TM4 Sumo HP electric motors and inverters specifically designed for battery-electric, range-extended and fuel-cell vehicles.

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. announced its dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds produced after 2002 can be retrofitted with Utility’s now-standard 7-inch deep, horizontal ICC bumper in order to exceed all rear trailer-guard safety regulations.

If a customer wants to drive one of the Class 8 trucks in Ryder’s commercial rental fleet, it will have to be one with an automated manual transmission, which shouldn’t be a problem because that’s what most customers want.

Heavy-duty truck tire maintenance is proof positive that a field can remain constant while constantly evolving. Many parts of the tire-changing process have remained static for decades. But fleets say new tire designs, tools and technologies are enhancing maintenance operations, especially for tire monitoring. 

Keeping roadways free of snow and ice is critical for safety, but the de-icing products states use — mainly chlorides — are notorious for causing truck corrosion, creating a significant risk to equipment.

States are working to decrease the amount of product needed to clear winter roads, implementing brine technology and adding corrosion inhibitors

Michael Freeze reflects on a recent podcast conversation about the trucking industry and logistics.