Equipment

Advanced transportation management systems (TMS) have long provided automation and functionality that help plan, optimize, manage and execute transportation more accurately and productively than — to be blunt — a human being.

Of course, concerns persist about electronic onboard recorders (“FMCSA Drops Its 2012 Electronic Log Rule Aimed at Carriers With Major HOS Offenses,” 11-21, p. 3). EOBRs are unconstitutional and should be outlawed.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said it was chosen to be the principal supplier of wide-based truck tires for Con-way Truckload.

Fleets today are running their trailers longer than they ever have, and they expect trailer suppliers to make products that can meet higher standards.

New orders for commercial trailers dipped 0.8% in October from the year-ago level after a rise in cancellations, but manufacturers and retail sellers reported strong late October and early November activity.

Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region declined this month but showed expansion, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said.

Private equity firm Harvest Partners said it completed its acquisition of aftermarket heavy-duty truck parts distributor TruckPro Inc.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said its third-quarter net income and sales rose to records.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. said its third-quarter earnings fell to $17 million, or 27 cents a share, from $45 million, or 71 cents, a year ago.

Commercial Vehicle Group reported third-quarter income of $7.4 million, or 26 cents per share, up from to $1.1 million, or 4 cents, a year ago.