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California is by far the national leader in enabling the use of electric cars and medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks, according to a state-by-state evaluation of electric vehicle policies and practices compiled by a leading nonprofit energy efficiency group.

Power management company Eaton Corp. reported higher fourth-quarter net income and a decline in revenue.

Ryder System Inc. expanded its truck ride-sharing program into California, Tennessee and North Carolina, the company announced Jan. 27.

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. announced its dry vans, refrigerated vans and flatbeds produced after 2002 can be retrofitted with Utility’s now-standard 7-inch deep, horizontal ICC bumper in order to exceed all rear trailer-guard safety regulations.

If a customer wants to drive one of the Class 8 trucks in Ryder’s commercial rental fleet, it will have to be one with an automated manual transmission, which shouldn’t be a problem because that’s what most customers want.

Heavy-duty truck tire maintenance is proof positive that a field can remain constant while constantly evolving. Many parts of the tire-changing process have remained static for decades. But fleets say new tire designs, tools and technologies are enhancing maintenance operations, especially for tire monitoring. 

States are working to decrease the amount of product needed to clear winter roads, implementing brine technology and adding corrosion inhibitors

Caterpillar Inc. fourth-quarter earnings beat analysts’ expectations as reopening economies stoked demand for its signature yellow machines. The company said it expects stronger year-over-year sales this quarter, led by construction industries.

Used Class 8 sales rose in December along with double-digit gains in prices as the average heavy-duty truck’s mileage and age remained below year-earlier levels, ACT Research reported.