UPS Trucks: A Different Type of Alternate Energy

photo from UPS

The push for new energy sources and vehicles continues to gain momentum. Sometimes the new technologies sound more like science than science fiction...but they are not

According to Truckinginfo.com UPS is purchasing vehicles that use stored hydraulic energy to power the vehicle. What makes this really interesting is that the trucks are powered by a device that does not involve the motor...and it works!

This kind of technology can reduce fuel economy by around 30% and reduce emissions by about 30% and there is much less dependence on volatile price fluctuations in oil.
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Trucking earnings up despite soft economy

From Fleet Owner Magazine

Jul 2011 12:02 PM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor 

Overall, carriers are reporting strong gains in revenues and earnings for the second quarter this year, with expectations that this trend should continue despite a softening of the U.S. economy.

“I would characterize the overall second quarter freight environment as a little choppy, but moving in an upward direction [while] pricing continued to be strong,” noted Henry Gerkens, chairman, president & CEO of Landstar System Inc., in the company’s quarterly earnings report.

Despite that “choppiness,” though, Landstar posted net income of $29.6 million on revenues of $675.6 million in the second quarter, compared to net income of $24.4 million on $541.7 million in revenues during the same period last year – contributing to a 27% jump in earnings per share, which Gerkens’ described as “the best second quarter earnings per share [62 cents] in Landstar history.”

He added that “recent trends in June, and thus far in July, indicate continued strength in revenue per load with a relatively stable increase in the number of loads hauled month over prior year month. I expect these trends to continue throughout the third quarter.”

To read the full article click Here
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Are bigger trucks the answer?

Business pushes Congress to clear bigger trucks

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON | Tue May 3, 2011 2:24pm EDT
Image via Wikipedia 

(Reuters) - Manufacturers, retailers, and other businesses are quietly working with truckers in renewing a push for government permission to operate bigger and heavier rigs, to the dismay of unions and safety advocates.
Lobbying coalitions for hundreds of companies hope an improving economy will underscore the case that inefficiency associated with trucking capacity shortages and higher fuel expenses adds costs for shippers and consumers.

They are behind proposals taking shape in Congress to lift size restrictions. They also want to restore the flexibility of states to decide which trucks can operate on their roads.

Union and safety groups vocally oppose any change, saying bigger trucks would erode hard-won regulations and pose new hazards for truck drivers and other motorists just as U.S. traffic deaths are falling noticeably.
Also, smaller independent truckers say new size allowances would hurt their businesses by adding costs for equipment necessary to win business and compete with bigger rivals.

Randy Mullett, government relations vice president for trucking company Con-Way Inc, said business interests are working together on a range of changes in law that would affect regions and businesses differently.

"We don't want to run triples (trailers) through Washington, D.C., but we might want to in the cornfields of the Midwest," said Mullett, whose company is based in Michigan.

Mullett added the larger goal is to "find a way to make this part of the supply chain more efficient," especially with diesel fuel prices above $4 per gallon and other costs going up.

Shipping costs rose by almost 35 percent from 2004 through 2006, which translated into a 2 percent price increase for retail goods. A decrease during the subsequent economic downturn has been followed by an 8 percent shipping cost rise since 2009 due to capacity shortages, higher fuel prices and other factors, according to FTR Associates.

to read the full article click HERE
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