Technology Briefs - Feb. 25 - Feb. 27
The Latest Headlines:

Oshkosh Demonstrates Electric Hybrid-Drive Truck

Oshkosh Truck Corp. said Wednesday it had demonstrated the first heavy-payload defense truck with an electric hybrid drive, which may one day be used in commercial vehicle applications.

The ProPulse system consists of a diesel engine, which turns a generator that powers electric motors at each differential. The company said in a release that this increases fuel economy by up to 40%.

It also reduces life cycle costs because there are no batteries to maintain, less fuel is needed and engine wear is reduced. Transport Topics

(Click here for the full press release.)

Logistics.com Launches New Versions of Software

Logistics.com Inc. said Tuesday it is rolling out new versions of its real-time truckload motor carrier optimization solutions, called OptiYield Driver&Load 6.0 and Drop&Swap 3.0.

The Burlington, Mass.-based company said that Driver&Load gives the best possible assignments of drivers to loads and then Drop&Swap monitors dispatched trucks to find opportunities for service improvements at low cost.

"We're committed to advancing the state of the art in truckload optimization, while reducing the cost of installation to make this crucial technology affordable for more motor carriers," Joe Wagner, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, said. Transport Topics

(Click here for the full press release.)

Carrier Installs Wireless Communications System

Hahn Transportation Inc. is installing MobileMax2, a wireless communication system made be Aether Systems Inc. in its fleet of 172 trucks, Aether announced Tuesday in a press release.

Based in New Market, Md., Hahn uses tank trucks and some flatbeds to haul petroleum products, asphalt, dry bulk products and milk throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

The information provided by MobileMax2 allows companies to evaluate individual driver and vehicle performance, notify operations when a vehicle engine exceeds specified parameters, and calculate the distance vehicles travel in each state.

Hahn plans to plans to complete installations during the first half of 2002. Transport Topics

(Click here for the press release.)

TRW Fails to Respond by Deadline

Auto parts manufacturer and defense contractor TRW Inc. said that its board discussed an unsolicited purchase offer by Northrop Grumman Corp., but would not commit to meeting the deadline of Wednesday that Northrop had imposed, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

TRW makes technology products, including vehicle-tracking equipment, for the automobile and truck markets.

The $5.9 billion offer was made last week after TRW's chairman and chief executive officer, David M. Cote, resigned to take a position at Honeywell International Inc., the AP said. (Click here for an earlier story on this subject.)

Analysts are doubtful that the takeover bid will acted on quickly because TRW may wish to explore other options, the AP reported. One option open to the company would be to sell its defense and aerospace divisions and continue operations as an auto parts maker exclusively. Transport Topics

Penske Logistics Signs Deal With Xata

Penske Logistics said Tuesday that it has signed a software license agreement with XATA Corp. to equip a portion of its fleet with XataNet software applications.

This will enable Penske to automate driver logs, monitor state line crossings and calculate fuel tax, the company said in a release.

"We reviewed the leading onboard software solutions available and selected XataNet for the platform and network independence, as well as the strong functionality it offers," said Peter Smith, senior vice president of logistics technology at Penske Logistics. Transport Topics

(Click here for the full press release.)

FedEx to Test Hybrid Electric Trucks

FedEx Corp. said Monday that it will begin testing hybrid electric delivery trucks this fall for its FedEx Express unit, the Journal of Commerce reported.

Three competing teams, the Allison Transmission Division of General Motors, BAE Systems Controls and Eaton Corp., have agreed to produce prototype vehicles for the Memphis-based company to test.

These vehicles could increase fuel efficiency by 50% and reduce emissions by 90%, the JoC said.

The company wants to replace 35,000 medium-duty vehicles in its 45,000-truck FedEx Express fleet, and this technology could one day be used by other FedEx companies. Transport Topics

TRW Faces Takeover Bid Deadline

Auto parts manufacturer and defense contractor TRW Inc. is facing a Wednesday deadline to respond to an unsolicited purchase offer by Northrop Grumman Corp., the Associated Press reported Sunday.

TRW makes technology products, including vehicle-tracking equipment, for the automobile and truck markets.

The $5.9 billion offer was made last week after TRW's chairman and chief executive officer, David M. Cote, resigned to take a position at Honeywell International Inc., the AP said.

Analysts are doubtful that the takeover bid will acted on quickly because TRW may wish to explore other options, the AP reported. One option open to the company would be to sell its defense and aerospace divisions and continue operations as an auto parts maker exclusively. Transport Topics

ComRoad Facing Stock Manipulation Charges

Embattled vehicle-navigation system manufacturer ComRoad AG is facing complaints from a German state, Bloomberg reported Monday.

The company's auditor quit last week, prompting more questions about its accounting practices. The questions have led to complaints from the German state of Hesse that the company violated stock market rules and attempted to manipulate the price of its stock.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that the German financial Web site Boerse Online said KPMG had resigned because it was unable to find the address or telephone number of an unidentified partner in Hong Kong, following an investigation.

The company admitted that one of its Hong Kong-based suppliers no longer exists. (Click here for the previous story.)

German newspapers reported that ComRoad has admitted to gaps in its accounting, Bloomberg said. Transport Topics

IBM Unveils Superfast Chip

IBM Corp. said Monday that it has built the world's fastest microchip, which will enable communications systems to run more quickly, news services reported.

The chip runs at more than 110 gigahertz, or 110 billion cycles per second, making it easier for businesses like trucking to do important transactions faster.

It is based on silicon germanium chip-making technology and will be used in data communications equipment like switches and routers that are used in optical communication networks, Reuters said.

IBM said it expects its 110 gigahertz chip to be available by the end of the year. Transport Topics

Trans Ocean Carrier Inks Deal with FreightDATA

FreightDATA software announced recently it has entered into an agreement to provide its transportation software by Trans Ocean Carrier, Inc., a harbor drayage company based in Long Beach, Calif.

FreightDATA said in a press release that its suite of software is specifically geared toward small-to medium-sized trucking companies, and offers a specialized package of software for drayage haulers.

Trans Ocean said it made the deal because its current generic, custom DOS-based system was too cumbersome and slow to effectively handle the 3,000 shipments per week the company carries. Transport Topics

Matson Introduces New Online Tracking

Matson Intermodal System Inc. said Monday that its Web site now gives customers the ability to track shipments using a wide variety of search options including order number or shipper name.

The improved site also allows customers to access data in real time for all equipment in Matson's system.

Matson plans on introducing an "alert process" function, which will improve the ability to monitor the estimated time of arrival of a shipment. Transport Topics

(Click here for the full press release.)

Truckers B2B Adds Executive Threesome

TruckersB2B Inc., Indianapolis, a business-to-business provider of pre-negotiated savings on operating products and services, has added three executives.

Michael Dunlap was named president and chief operating officer. Previously, he was vice president and treasurer of Celadon Group Inc.

Dunlap is a 17-year veteran of the trucking industry. He has held various management positions in the truckload and less-than-truckload sectors.

Jon Russell was named executive vice president of finance and administration.

Kevin O’Donohue was added as director of marketing. He is a 14-year veteran of marketing and advertising experience in corporate, agency and consulting environments.

He was a vice president with the Corporate Investment Bank of Citigroup. Transport Topics

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