Allied closing Janesville

Vehicle hauler to shut down Janesville terminal - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

Allied Systems Holdings Ltd., a provider of vehicle-hauling services, has informed the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that 100 jobs will be lost when it closes its terminal in Janesville at the end of February 2010.

In a mass layoff notice filed this week with the agency, Allied Systems Holdings, based in Atlanta, said its terminal operations at 544 Kellogg Ave. in Janesville will shut down on or around Feb. 26.

Stolen Car Hauler!

Got this in an email this morning:

Sunday, December 12, our unit was Stolen from Manheim Statesville. I would appreciate it if you could post the following information on your site. I am also attaching pictures. If you cannot post this, I would appreciate your prayers and letting others know by word of mouth. Thank you!

June

2005 Peterbilt 379 EXHD Red vin#5N848819 C-15 Cat Engine, 10 Speed Trans. Burgundy and Grey Interior

2005 Cottrell High Rail Red Vin #5G005629

Tow dolly straps for all your friends...

This Christmas, why not buy your friends some tow dolly straps? Sure, it might sound like a lame gift, but a new set of tow dolly straps might keep their vehicle in tow from coming loose and passing them on the highway... which is what happened to the last customer I talked to on the telephone!
So... if you have friends who participate in the RV lifestyle... or who just tow stuff around for the hell of it, think about ordering them some replacement tow dolly straps before they become a headline! For a massive list of tow dolly straps.... from demco to uhaul to mastertow, etc.... go HERE.

Post loads automatically to central dispatch, carloadusa and more

I probably should have written about long ago, since I've been friends with these guys for about five years! CarloadUSA has worked out several really neat ways to post loads to their loadboard as well as others like central dispatch, 123loadboard, and more. If you have your broker authority, or have friends that do, pass this link on to them! It's a big time-saver.

And of course, if you're a driver looking for loads, you should try them out for a month or two, and see if they have loads in the lanes you run. Can't hurt, right?

How to find loads that pay.

Bogus hauler steals luxury cars from dealerships

Donna Harris
Automotive News
December 2, 2009 - 1:18 pm ET

The FBI confirms it is investigating a bogus car hauler who has stolen at least a dozen luxury vehicles from auto dealerships in several states.

FBI spokesman Ross Rice, in the agency's Chicago region, refused to discuss details of the pending case.

The National Auto Auction Association issued an alert to dealers and auctions the week before Thanksgiving warning that a thief or group of thieves stole the identity of a legitimate hauler, Atlas Towing and Recovery of Illinois. .

"If anyone does attempt to pick up (vehicle) releases using this company name, notify local law enforcement immediately," the alert says.

Alan Walker, director of security for Manheim Auto Auctions, said he believes the recent thefts are related to a similar transporter scam that occurred at an auction during the summer. Thieves posed as a hauler authorized to deliver vehicles to dealers who bought them at an online auction, he says. The thieves accessed data on the vehicles and the dealerships using the Internet.

GST

Heard GST is moving to California to pick up the Toyota business from Allied. Supposed to happen early next year. All company trucks and no owner ops. Kind of reverses some of the trends in the last few years, but who knows? Still hasn't happened.

What Boydstun is up to these days.

A new model - Oregon Business
PORTLAND When Rob Boydstun’s autocarrier manufacturing company near the Port of Portland was going the way of the rest of the auto industry, he decided to ditch it and re-create his business.

He chose an industry you wouldn’t expect in this recession — the housing industry.

Just in case you were wondering what Rob is up to these days.

Manheim Orlando Truck Theft Problem

Just spoke to a customer who said their Peterbilt was stolen at 8:00 in the morning last week at the Orlando Manheim auction. She said the police said that theirs was the 18th stolen truck this year. I don't know what you can do to guard against something like this... maybe put a denver boot on your truck or something.

Check your wheel bearings!

Terre Haute News, Terre Haute, Indiana- TribStar.com - Two vehicles destroyed when semitrailer burns

Boydstun screw truck maintenance tip

Are the screw actuators on your Boydstun screw truck squealing like pigs? Try getting the SL-3195 Stayplex red grease... made by Staylube. You can get it at most NAPA stores. It is water repellent and should last you a couple weeks between applications. IF you want to save money, you can get a 120 lb keg of it for around $400.

This is the stuff they're using on the Toyota car haulers.

11/09/09 Addendum: More Boydstun parts available again here.

Sales UP

Light & Medium Truck | U.S. Auto Sales Increase in August
U.S auto sales increased 1% in August, the first time since 2007 that monthly sales figures increased versus year-ago levels, Bloomberg News reported.

Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. all posted gains for the month, as the federal government’s “cash for clunkers” program brought shoppers to showrooms. While these gains were offset by sales declines for General Motors Co., Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co., the boon created by “clunkers” pushed total industry sales to 1.26 million, a 1% increase over August, 2007 levels, Bloomberg said.

Just last week, a full boat of Toyotas hit the west coast-- 5000 Scions, Lexus, and FJ cruisers were moved out of the port in the space of four days!

Border ban

BBC NEWS | Americas | Border ban angers Mexico truckers

OK, but if you read the article, it talks about the Mexican driver being on the road without significant breaks for 18 hours!  If it comes down to a choice between providing opportunity for Mexican trucking companies and public safety, public safety must always win. 

Another Case of Maag & Wendler

Cottrell, URS Midwest named in another injury suit | Madison/St. Clair Record
Cottrell, URS Midwest named in another injury suit

7/24/2009 10:44 AM
By Kelly Holleran

A man and his wife have filed suit against two trucking companies after they say the man fell from the top of a rig.

Dale and Lori Presnell claim Dale Presnell worked as a car hauler for URS Midwest and was using a Cottrell trailer on Dec. 18 when the incident occurred.

"Plaintiff, while attempting to maneuver on the upper deck of the rig in the course of his duties as a truck driver, sustained severe and permanent injuries when he fell from the top of the rig," the suit states.

Tennessee couple sues Cottrell, Nissan in St. Clair County | Madison/St. Clair Record

Tennessee couple sues Cottrell, Nissan in St. Clair County

7/22/2009 2:49 PM
By Kelly Holleran

A Tennessee man and woman say the man was permanently disabled while performing his normal work duties as a car hauler.

Jeffrey T. and Angela Ellis filed a lawsuit July 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Hansen and Adkins Auto Transport, Nissan North America and Cottrell.

The plaintiffs claim Jeffrey Ellis was originally hired by Premium of Tennessee but was leased to Hansen to perform car hauling duties.

While operating a ratchet and tie down system as part of his duties on July 21, 2008, Jeffrey Ellis received disfiguring and permanent injuries because of the force he was required to exert on the system, according to the complaint.