Rotella T Synthetic

Rotella T Synthetic is Shell's first fully synthetic heavy-duty engine oil. It's formulated to flow better than conventional oils under cold start conditions and meets virtually every advanced original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specification in the U.S. And as a reward to fans of Rotella T products, until Oct. 31, 2003, you can earn points for Rotella T Gear by paying to have your truck's fluids changed at truckstops, truck dealers, and truck repair shops using eligible Shell lubricants and coolants. See participating locations for a catalog or visit www.rotella.com.

Calling All Marmons

Ken Matuszak, owner of the last Marmon truck built, is organizing a Marmon Truck Gathering April 19-20 at the Sun Power Travel Plaza at exit 471 off I-35 in Denton, Texas. The event will feature both his truck and a Marmon-Herrington truck bearing serial number 17 and owned by Donald Chew. For more info, call (972) 924-4204.

Eaton VORAD Now an OEM Option

The Eaton VORAD EVT-300 Collision Warning System is now available as a production option on all North American Class 8 and medium duty tractors and straight trucks. Some also offer EVT-300 with SmartCruise, an adaptive cruise control that coordinates the obstacle detection system with engine and transmission electronics to maintain safe following distances. For more info, visit www.eaton.com.

9-11 Salute

Noted truck artist Jim Shively created the stunning murals on Donnie and Diane Harper's 2002 Peterbilt 379 and its 166-inch ICT sleeper. The Harpers say they wanted to create a rolling memorial to the heroes and victims of Sept. 11. The tractor is leased to Reliable Carriers, Canton, Mich.

CAT Scale Turns 25

It's been 25 years since CAT Scale installed the first totally automated, full-length platform scale in South Holland, Ill. The company plans to celebrate its silver anniversary with a special Weigh To Win® CAT Cash Sweepstakes for drivers beginning in June.

PACCAR Picks Tundra Fridges

PACCAR will use Tundra refrigerators as original equipment in new Kenworth and Peterbilt sleepers. The fridges will also be sold in the aftermarket through the PACCAR Parts program.

Bright Idea

Taylorbrite has introduced a new generation of UL-listed high-efficiency interior lights for trucks. They claim brighter illumination, longer life, lower heat and less power draw than other interior lighting systems. The lights come with stainless-steel bezels in chrome, gold or white powder-coated finishes and can be surface- or flush-mounted. For more info,see www.taylormadegroup.com.

EveryTruckJob.com

EveryTruckJob.com offers more than 50,000 listings for all kinds of trucking industry jobs, from driving to managing. It also offers tips for job hunters, such as how to create a résumé or where to find a driving school.

PocketMail Makes E-mail Easy, Simple

Want e-mail but don't want to lug a laptop? PocketMail is an affordable, mobile, pocket-size e-mail composer that works from virtually any phone – including cell phones – using one toll-free number. The PocketMail composer is easy to use, with plenty of features to make e-mailing simple. Road King staffers tried it and loved it. Unlimited e-mail service is $14.95 per month; less expensive plans available. It also includes an address book and a scheduler. The units sell for $99 and service is extra. Call (800) 584-3529 or see www.pocket mail.com.

Route Tools Now for Small Fleets

Rand McNally has released its RouteTools Small Fleet Edition routing software for fleets with up to 25 trucks. It includes hazmat routing capabilities, lowest cost routing options, features such as driver break scheduling and rate calculators, and more. Call (800) 333-0136, ext. 6171 or visit www.randmcnally.com.

NHTSA to Probe Alleged Defects in Volvos; Recalls Some Western Star Trucks

In response to a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in January began investigating several alleged defects in Volvo trucks. OOIDA said it had complaints about steering problems, front u-bolt problems and sleeper berth fires; NHTSA was already investigating complaints of rear u-bolt problems.

In a statement, Volvo said, "NHTSA routinely considers such petitions, regardless of merit. While Volvo Trucks believes the petition is without merit, the company will continue to work with NHTSA and comply with all of their requests.Volvo Trucks is confident in the quality and safety of our product and is anxious for NHTSA to publish its findings on the subject. Furthermore, if any Volvo owner believes there is a problem with a vehicle, they are encouraged to contact a credible source for complete information on the subject. A network of authorized Volvo Trucks dealers is ready to assist Volvo Truck owners."

NHTSA also has recalled some 3,500 Western Star trucks equipped with Caterpillar 3406E and C-15 engines. The positive battery cable can chafe against the electronic control module, which could cause a short circuit and possibly a fire. The recall affects series 4900, 5800, 5900 and 6900 trucks with model years 1998-2000. Dealers will handle repairs. Call Freightliner at (800) 547-0712 for more info.

0% Loans on New Internationals

For a limited time, International is offering one-year 0% financing on 60- and 72-month loans to qualified buyers. The "Catch It While You Can" program applies to new International and American Transportation vehicles and is good on up to 10 trucks. The effective APRs are 4.71% for 60 months and 5.10% for 72 months – savings of $5,000 to $10,000 over the life of the loan. Alternate deals if you don't go the 0% route include $1,000 to $2,000 in parts and service credit, or a $3,000 trade-in allowance on a 9000 or 9000i series vehicles.

Halfpayments Says It Can Shorten Loan

Halfpayments Inc. offers owner-operators the chance to split monthly truck payments into a half payment every two weeks, which can trim as much as six months off a five-year loan, effectively reducing the interest rate and saving thousands of dollars in the process. Halfpayments takes over and automatically makes your payment for you. Call toll free at (866) PAY-HALF (729-4253), detailed information at www.halfpayments.com.

Ol' Blue Coloring Book

Ol' Blue, USA has added an online coloring book to its Big Wheels, Little Kids School Program. The free downloadable coloring book is intended to help teach kids about safety around large vehicles. You can print it out from the Ol' Blue USA Web site at www.olblueusa.org/coloringbook.