Equipment

Tire maker Michelin said Thursday it earned about $750 million or $5.20 a share in 2006, down from $1.17 billion or $8.04 in 2005.

Ryder System said Monday its board approved a 3-cent increase in its dividend, boosting the payout to 21 cents a share.

Tire retreader Bandag Inc. reported fourth-quarter net income of $10.9 million or 56 cents a share, compared with $12 million or 62 cents a year earlier.

Analyst Says More Ethanol Won’t Stem Consumption • Extol to Provide Software to C.R. England • J.B. Hunt Chooses PAR System for Reefer Tracking

Trailer-tracking technology maker SkyBitz Inc. and has teamed with Stemco LP to offer mileage readings in conjunction with real-time trailer tracking for commercial fleets and trailer leasing companies, the two said Monday.

While other carriers were debating whether to buy even one Class 8 truck with a 2007 EPA-certified engine, Mike Hasinec at Penske Truck Leasing Co. was knee-deep in testing 2007 engine performance.

Components maker ArvinMeritor Inc. said Friday it plans to sell its emissions technologies business to a private equity firm for $310 million.

Ryder System’s fourth-quarter profit rose 12% to $65.8 million or $1.08 cents a share, from $58.8 million or 92 cents a year earlier.

Less-than-truckload carrier Saia Inc. said Thursday it has acquired Wisconsin-based LTL company Madison Freight Systems for about $2.5 million.

Truckload carrier Landstar System’s fourth-quarter net income fell to $28.7 million or 50 cents a share, from $41.8 million or 70 cents a year earlier.