NEWS IN BRIEF, Continued from page 11
gram aims to provide affordable used trucks with strong vehicle uptime. Even though the trucks are used, Navistar hopes to deliver the “new truck experi- ence.”
Following a 180-point vehicle
and engine inspection process, eli- gible used trucks undergo refurbish- ment at Navistar’s Used Equipment Reconditioning Center (UERC) in Indianapolis, Ind. The center cleans or replaces diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation catalysts, calibrates EGR software updates, checks and repairs brake systems and even con- ducts major body repair among other refurbishing needs. They have already reconditioned 1,200 units to “Diamond Renewed” standards. Navistar’s effort in the used truck
market is dovetailed with continued strong demand, as data tracked by ACT Research Co. indicates that the volume of used Class 8 trucks sold in June rose 10 percent above May’s volume. “While one month does not make
a trend, it confirms that demand in the used truck market remains strong,” Gerrard said.
MAVERICK OPENS NEW TRAINING FACILITY Maverick recently hosted the open-
ing of their newly expanded training center with more than 13,000 addi- tional square feet. The $4 million center now has multiple adjustable classrooms and five new training bays, enough to train 210 drivers at any time.
Maverick, predominantly a flatbed
carrier, requires highly structured train- ing. Proper load securement and an emphasis on safety have always been hallmarks of Maverick’s training pro- gram. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe
was also on hand to speak to the capac- ity crowd and praise Williams for his efforts. While Beebe’s remarks may have been brief, he made it clear thatWilliams and Maverick don’t take any shortcuts. “They are the best I’ve ever seen at what they do. He’ll pay more, he’ll do more, and he’ll respond more. It’s easy for folks to take the low road. It’s never been an option for this company,” Beebe said. “Arkansas is noted for great trucking companies, but this is absolutely the best.” Seventy-five percent of Maverick’s
drivers come to the company without previous experience, so the cost for training them is expensive. Williams estimates the number to currently be approximately $10,000 per driver. “And we don’t know if that indi- vidual, once they graduate, get the keys to that truck, will be with us one day or the rest of their lives,” he said.Williams added retaining over- the-road drivers can be tough when the natural gas industry can pay its drivers much better wages.
I-40 TOLL LANES Results of a study ordered by the
Maverick training facility
Arkansas Highway Commission show tolls could pay for extra lanes on Interstate 40 between North Little Rock and West Memphis. Currently, the 110-mile section has just two lanes in both directions. Despite the
study’s findings, federal law bans charging tolls on interstates, except under lim- ited circumstances. However, the fed- eral transporta- tion department is
12
I-40
TOLL LANE
allowing three states to pilot the con- cept of funding interstate infrastructure costs through tolls. Missouri, Virginia and North
Carolina have been selected to test the project by adding a toll lane, but the states have been slow to make prog- ress. “[Arkansas is] ready if one of the other states drops out or the federal government (eases its) restrictions,” Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Randy Ort said in a Little Rock meeting when the study was released. The study determined that a toll
cost of 9 cents per mile (or $9.90 for a one-way trip between North Little Rock and Memphis) for cars and 27 cents per mile (or $29.70 for the whole stretch) for commercial trucks would provide the funding for an extra lane in each direction of the 110-mile section. There are no current plans to create
toll roads, and Danny Straessle, AHTD spokesman, said that the study was just to explore the feasibility of such a project. Shannon Newton, president of the
Arkansas Trucking Association, said the industry would instead favor raising the federal tax on diesel fuel.
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 4 2014
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