August 15, 2011
UPDATED -- It seems these days the only thing Congress can agree on is that they disagree on most everything. Now that the debt ceiling crisis has passed, the next battle could affect you
Tags: Government
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Monday, August 15, 2011 11:49 AM | » Comments(1)
August 11, 2011
We've been hearing a lot about the use of natural gas in vehicles, either in compressed or liquefied form. But Shell is ramping up production on a plant that turns natural gas directly into a diesel-type fuel and lubricants
Tags: Going Green
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Thursday, August 11, 2011 8:35 AM | » Comments(0)
August 1, 2011
Four years ago this week, the eight-lane, 1,907-foot-long I-35W highway bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis experienced a catastrophic failure in the main span of the deck truss, with more than 100 vehicles on the 1,000-foot span when it collapsed.
Tags: Government
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Monday, August 1, 2011 2:36 PM | » Comments(0)
August 1, 2011
In interviewing security experts for our July cover story on cargo security, I learned about some of the latest tricks being used by cargo thieves
Tags: Safety & Compliance
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Monday, August 1, 2011 2:06 PM | » Comments(0)
July 29, 2011
You've heard of zipper ruptures; ever seen one? Me, neither -- until now
Tags: In The Shop
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, July 29, 2011 8:03 AM | » Comments(2)
July 29, 2011
The history of many companies in the trucking business is often colorful. I had no idea Horton's history went back so far, but it turns out the company is celebrating Its 60th anniversary this month
Tags: Business
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, July 29, 2011 7:31 AM | » Comments(0)
July 26, 2011
With the large number of reality-based TV programs out there, it seems trucking is getting a lot of exposure
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, July 26, 2011 11:40 AM | » Comments(0)
July 22, 2011
This month in Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, I explained how carriers can comply with forthcoming hands-free-only regulations on mobile devices
Tags: Safety & Compliance
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, July 22, 2011 2:17 PM | » Comments(1)
July 21, 2011
The obituary of a former journalist with an unusual name yesterday tickled my memory
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Thursday, July 21, 2011 7:56 PM | » Comments(1)
July 20, 2011
I'm not sure whether this will paint trucking (or the Show-Me State) in a favorable light, but from the trailer, it's bound to be interesting
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Wednesday, July 20, 2011 9:00 AM | » Comments(0)
July 13, 2011
Like many commuters that drive to work, I sometimes fantasize of a futuristic car that drives itself from my parking space at home to the Heavy Duty Trucking office 25 miles away in suburban Chicago
Tags: Infotech
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Wednesday, July 13, 2011 2:06 PM | » Comments(0)
July 13, 2011
When people ask me about trucking, I often tell them it's not like "Smokey and the Bandit." But if you read this article in the Wall Street Journal, you'd think the average trucker wishes they were out there speeding down the highway and outwitting the bumbling sheriff
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Wednesday, July 13, 2011 12:00 PM | » Comments(1)
July 11, 2011
"You get in the water and it is an instant shock. You come out and your arms and feet don't work," said Eric Jorgensen, president and CEO of JX Enterprises in Hartland, Wis
Tags: Heroes & Villains
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Monday, July 11, 2011 12:50 PM | » Comments(0)
July 7, 2011
Here's a fun bit of video for your summer vacation watching pleasure: Mike Ryan taking his modified Freightliner race truck up narrow, winding, paved and dirt roads in the 2011 "Climb to the Clouds" Mt. Washington Hillclimb, one of America's oldest auto races
Tags: Special Specs
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:26 AM | » Comments(0)
June 21, 2011
We've seen a lot of interest in electric trucks this past year or two, especially package vans -- the Transit Connect Electric, Internationals' e-Star, the Smith Newton, Freightliner Custom Chassis' MT45-EV. But did you know there were electric delivery trucks 100 years ago
Tags: Special Specs
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, June 21, 2011 9:11 AM | » Comments(2)
June 20, 2011
What a great idea to help educate the public about trucking: Get reporters behind the wheel of a big rig
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Monday, June 20, 2011 8:05 AM | » Comments(0)
June 17, 2011
On the radio this morning, I heard a report about a young woman who drove her rental SUV right off of a boat launch while trying to use a GPS unit to find her way to a conference
Tags: Safety & Compliance
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, June 17, 2011 9:52 AM | » Comments(5)
June 12, 2011
"Although semi trucks can be intimidating, most truck crashes turn out to be the fault of the passenger car driver.
Tags: Safety & Compliance
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Sunday, June 12, 2011 2:05 PM | » Comments(0)
June 7, 2011
Mack Trucks delivered a special educational vehicle, the Shuttle Blake, to Kennedy Space Center for the final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour
Tags: Special Specs
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, June 7, 2011 9:11 PM | » Comments(0)
June 2, 2011
The bus industry is not having a very good year. Tuesday's crash of a tour bus that killed four was only the most recent of a string of highly publicized tragic crashes where driver fatigue or other avoidable problems appear to be a factor
Tags: Safety & Compliance
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Thursday, June 2, 2011 2:27 PM | » Comments(0)
May 20, 2011
When The History Channels' "Ice Road Truckers" series premieres Sunday, June 5, there will be a new woman trucker in the mix: Maya Sieber, age 27
Tags: In the Media
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, May 20, 2011 1:51 PM | » Comments(4)
May 20, 2011
A Milwaukee-area truckstop recently pulled some not-so-humorous bumper stickers targeting illegal aliens from its shelves after a threatened protest. The incident got me thinking about the attitude of some in our industry toward our neighbors south of the border
Tags: Heroes & Villains
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Friday, May 20, 2011 8:50 AM | » Comments(12)
May 18, 2011
This weekend will mark the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, and Cummins has been highlighting its history with the iconic race
Tags: Heroes & Villains
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Wednesday, May 18, 2011 2:04 PM | » Comments(0)
May 10, 2011
When you see drawings or mockups of futuristic trucks, one of the things you'll notice is there's virtually no gap between the tractor and trailer
Tags: Equipment
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 1:54 PM | » Comments(3)
May 10, 2011
An aging fleet, the high cost of fuel, sticker shock on new trucks, and a recovering economy are driving interest in leasing, according to Olen Hunter, director of sales at PacLease
Tags: Business
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 12:33 PM | » Comments(0)