Equipment

The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill to create a national freight program that its sponsors said would boost America’s global economic competitiveness, improve its mobility and promote energy conservation.

The overall size of the U.S. Class 8 fleet continued its downward slide since peaking in 2008, R.L. Polk & Co. said in its latest report, which showed the number of U.S. Class 8 vehicles in operation fell 4.2% in the third quarter.

Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region increased in December, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

Truck component makers Eaton Corp. and Dana Holding Corp. said Tuesday they will end the marketing relationship between the two companies by the middle of 2012.

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.