Saturday, March 24, 2007
Asset Tracking Device provides trailer and freight tracking
Pre-configured, self-powered Fleet-Link(TM) remotely monitors and manages truck trailers, freight containers, and other mobile assets from central command center. Offering solar-powered option, device communicates using MicroBurst[R] cellular network, which provides seamless coverage throughout North America. Fleet-Link can monitor and report on cargo that has been opened during transit, excess vehicle speeds, door alarms that have been activated, and distance traveled.
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Pre-configured, self-powered unit ideal for truck trailer and container applications
Las Vegas, Nevada - Oct. 4, 2004 - (TSX:CSY): CSI Wireless Inc., a designer and manufacturer of advanced wireless and GPS products used in more than 50 countries, today announced that its Fleet-Link(tm) asset-tracking product is now being shipped to application service providers, OEMs and other customers. Fleet-Link is a self-powered asset-tracking product to remotely monitor and manage truck trailers, freight containers and other mobile assets from a central command centre.
Fleet-Link cost-effectively addresses shippers' growing need to constantly track the locations of their goods. The first model of Fleet-Link - including a solar-powered option that is generating substantial interest from potential purchasers - is ideal for trucking companies and other overland shippers in the Americas. It communicates using the low-cost MicroBurst[R] cellular network, developed by Aeris.net, which provides seamless coverage throughout North America.
CSI Wireless will soon introduce a second model of Fleet-Link for the global marketplace - to serve trucking companies and other overland shippers, plus container ships and other ocean-traveling vessels. This version will communicate using the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cellular technology that is employed by almost three quarters of the world's wireless subscribers and networks.
More than 90 per cent of all goods transported internationally are carried in freight containers. In the wake of increasing terrorism activity worldwide, there is growing public concern that freight containers could be used to smuggle terrorists and/or their weapons. Fleet-Link is designed to improve logistics and security - benefiting both the shipper and security personnel. It features sufficient battery life to continue operating at the conclusion of ocean transits, which average 20 days.
Fleet-Link's competitive advantages include:
Installation in 15 minutes or less
Self-powered - featuring its own battery that can be recharged from the truck's battery or from an optional solar panel when the trailer is not connected to the truck
Efficiently powered - featuring a sophisticated power-management system and motion-sensing to maximize battery life; plus essentially unlimited power using the optional solar panel
Affordable, rugged and self-contained
Pre-configured to accommodate a wide variety of telematics and fleet or freight-tracking applications, but also well-suited to customized applications
"Fleet-Link will 'future-proof' our customers because it can be easily upgraded to digital from analog, and to 3.0G from 2.5G," said Stephen Verhoeff, CSI Wireless' President and CEO. "Our initial release is designed for analog MicroBurst use, but it can be easily upgraded to digital MicroBurst or other available technologies as customer needs evolve. We also plan to offer versions incorporating IXRTT and WiFi technologies."
Examples of conditions that Fleet-Link can monitor and report on include:
Cargo that has been opened during transit
Cargo that has stopped outside of its origin or destination for a longer-than-required time
Vehicle speeds in excess of prescribed limits
Vehicles that divert from prescribed routes
Engine use or idling time is in excess of prescribed limits
Refrigerated load temperatures that are outside of prescribed limits
Door alarms that have been activated
Distance-traveled reports, including driver hour logs
Use and location of leased assets
Fleet-Link's initial customers include Robertson Group, the Nashville, Tennessee-based application service provider and long-haul trucking company whose Best Online Tracking or "BOLT" Internet-based fleet management system is designed for small and mid-sized trucking firms, with fewer than 500 trucks.
Report on quality changes for 2005 model vehicles
The value of quality changes for a sample of 13 model-year 2005 domestic passenger cars included in the Producer Price Index (PPI) for October averaged $283.12, according to estimates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor. This change represents 73.8 percent of the average $383.86 increase in manufacturers' invoice prices for this year's models compared with last year's models.
The retail equivalent value of these quality changes averaged $310.50, representing 74.3 percent of the average $417.81 over-the-year increase in manufacturers' suggested list prices.
The $310.50 estimated retail value of the quality changes includes:
* $193.11 for federally mandated and nonmandated safety improvements, such as changes to brake and airbag systems
* $117.39 for other quality changes, such as emission improvements, changes in audio systems, and changes in levels of standard or optional equipment
The value of quality changes for a sample of 18 model-year 2005 domestic light trucks included in the PPI for October averaged $306.26. This change represents 75.7 percent of the average $404.35 increase in manufacturers' invoice prices for this year's models compared with last year's models.
The retail equivalent value of quality changes for domestic light trucks averaged $345.38, representing 75.2 percent of the average $459.28 over-the-year increase in manufacturers' suggested list prices.
The $345.38 estimated retail value of the quality changes includes:
* $18.30 for federally mandated safety improvements, such as changes to head impact protection, child seat systems, and airbag systems
* $120.43 for nonmandated safety improvements, such as changes to seatbelts, brakes, and nonmandated changes to airbag systems
* $206.65 for other quality changes, such as power-train improvement, theft protection, changes in audio systems, and changes in levels of standard or optional equipment
Estimates of the value of quality changes are based on a review by BLS of data supplied by producers for similarly equipped 2004 and 2005 domestic models priced for the PPI. Most of the estimates of quality changes in this release are derived from information supplied to the PPI for October. New vehicle quality adjustments for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) also are based on these data. However, it should be noted that, effective with the release of data for January 1999, changes made solely for the purpose of meeting air pollution standards are no longer considered quality improvements for CPI calculations.
Tools of the Trade
Customer Education Tools
Part of a suite of Internet-based tools, UnderCarInfo.NET offers access to hundreds of online videos, digital photos, animations and illustrations, which can be used to illustrate vehicle operation and service procedures to vehicle owners. The online Vehicle Suspension Adjustment Information shows owners the factoiy or aftermarket adjustments required for their vehicles. UnderCarInfo.NET also includes an online Tools & Kits feature, which lists specific hand tools, special tools and kits needed to align any vehicle in the database before the job is started. Under Carlnfo.NET is a standard feature on the company's 811P-Plus Alignment Systems. Hunter Engineering
The RPAT2 Rear Parking Assist Tester quickly checks the sensors for rear parking assist (RPA) systems without your having to remove the bumper or jack up the vehicle. The handheld tester visually and audibly indicates whether a particular sensor is working or not working. No cables, cable wire or connectors are required to use the tester, which is compatible with all ultrasonic factory systems, including models manufactured for GM, Chrysler, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles, as well as all after-market systems for commercial trucks and trailers. Snap-on Tools
The PermaDryPlus replacement intake manifold gasket is designed to solve chronic coolant leakage problems on domestic engines that rely on extended-life organic acid technology (OAT) coolant and were factory-equipped with rigid nylon and molded rubber-type intake manifold gaskets. The new gasket features a high-strength aluminized steel carrier that is edge-molded and encapsulated with a proprietary fluoroelastomer material. Three separate sealing beads around coolant ports are said to ensure a long-lasting seal. Immediate coverage is offered for General Motors 5.0 and 5.7L engines manufactured from 1996 through 2002. Additional coverage-for select Ford (3.8, 4.0 and 4.2L) and GM (3.1, 3.4 and 4.3L) applications-will be introduced in early 2005. Fel-Pro
The complete line of DieselPower! performance additives includes Complete Fuel System Treatment, Fuel Injector Cleaner, Performance Improver & Cetane Booster, Anti-Gel & Fuel Treatment and Engine Oil Treatment & Life Extender. These products are specially engineered to meet the needs of all diesel-powered light trucks and cars. They're packaged in 20-oz. bottles that will treat up to 100 gals, of diesel fuel. The engine oil treatment takes care of up to 15 qts. of oil. Gold Eagle
These booster cables offer a tangle-free way to jump-start a battery. They're very flexible, and the 100% pure copper, Easy Reach low-profile cable clamps allow you to connect in tight spaces, according to the maker. They're also color-coded for easy polarity identification and vinyl-coated for rust and corrosion resistance. Cables are available in 12-, 16-, 20- and 25-ft. lengths. Standard gauge sizes and amperages include 4 gauge/400 amps, 4 gauge/500 amps and 2This intake manifold (Part No. 106001) is designed to address the cracking and corroding problems of the original manifold, which can lead to coolant leaks. The new manifold features beefed-up internal and external ribs within the plenum, heat-stabilized nylon material and improved carrier and throttle body gaskets. A single part number covers 1995-2004 GM 3.8 engines (except supercharged). ATP-Inc.
The Model 2840 front-load automatic parts washer is large enough for engine blocks and other automotive components. It features a wash cabinet that's 40 in. high, a 28-in.-wide rotating turntable and a load capacity of 750 lbs. A removable 20-mesh debris screen prevents loose parts and heavy particles from entering the wash solution. The 3-hp sealless vertical pump delivers cleaning power at a rate of 50 GPM (gals. per minute) and 45 psi. Like all of the manufacturers parts washers, the Model 2840 is ETL safety certified to UL and CSA specifications and backed by a one-year parts and labor warranty when Cuda detergents are used. Cuda Cleaning SystemsBEA current and historical data: national, international, and regional data
This section presents an extensive selection of economic statistics prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and a brief selection of collateral statistics prepared by other Government agencies and private organizations. Series that originate in Government agencies are not copyrighted and may be reprinted freely. Series from private sources are provided through the courtesy of the compilers and are subject to their copyrights.
BEA's economic statistics are available on BEA's Web site at
The tables in this section include the most recent estimates of gross domestic product and its components. These estimates were released on November 30, 2004, and they include the "preliminary" estimates for the third quarter of 2004 and revised estimates of wages and salaries and affected income-side series for the second quarter of 2004.
The selected set of NIPA tables shown in this section presents quarterly estimates, which are updated monthly. In most of these tables, annual estimates are also shown.
New Producer Price Index for the Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers Industry—NAICS 524114
The primary output of this industry is the contractual transfer of the risk for payment of medical costs and financial intermediation. The policy underwritten by the insurer represents a unique output. The policy lists the conditions for which restitution would be made to the policyholder to cover medical costs. The amount of risk being transferred to the insurer is clearly stated in terms of covered benefits (and benefits not covered), and it obligates the insurer to pay claims for all such occurrences. The indexes for this industry measure the change in the total premium (employee and employer contribution) paid to the insurer plus the return on the invested portion of the premium.
To track price movement for the selected policy, insurance companies participating in the survey are presented with two options. With the first option, companies are asked to estimate a premium for a "frozen" policy. An actual policy is selected, and the price-determining characteristics are held constant when the policy is priced each year on its anniversary or renewal date. The companies estimate the premium using current charges applied to the characteristics of this policy.
With the second option, the insurance companies follow the selected policy over time. They are asked to provide the actual premium charged to the policyholder and to identify any modifications to the policy each year on the anniversary or renewal date. Any changes in benefits over time must be factored out so that index movements reflect only changes in price and not any additional benefits. To maintain constant quality, the companies must be able to provide the value of the risk change associated with any change to the policy characteristics.
Road worthy: auto recyclers remain competitive as suppliers of components harvested from salvaged vehicles
Auto dismantlers operate in an environment where many of their competitors as well as some of their customers are among the largest and most powerful companies in the world. The salvage and dismantling experts offer components that can compete with OEM parts made directly by the world's automakers, many of which can be found in the upper tier of the annual Fortune 500 survey.
At the same time, many of the salvaged components are purchased by auto insurance companies, several of which make appearances of their own on any "who's who" roster of corporate America.
In this land of giants, these family businesses are finding new ways to stay viable, often by sharing information, cooperating on joint marketing efforts or through the more traditional merger and acquisition route.
A tepid consumer economy combined with vehicles that are lasting longer can both help and hurt auto recyclers, according to Bob Hoffmann of Quality Replacement Parts (QRP), Schofield, Wis., a co-op with several dozen member companies.
Much as in the scrap industry, auto recyclers need generated material (in their case, scrapped or totaled cars) before they can have a product to sell.
Galvanized steel and greater attention to the quality of mechanical systems are giving cars longer life, Hoffmann notes. "Cars are staying on the road longer, with some 150,000- and 200,000-mile cars out there," he remarks. "It used to be that no one wanted to drive, or certainly buy, a car with 75,000 miles on it, especially if rust was starting to set in."
A new form of competition for totaled automobiles is coming from exporters, who are having success selling the cars to buyers in nations such as Mexico and Russia, where dealers can repair and re-sell them without having to meet the stringent safety and emissions requirements of the United States, according to Hoffmann.
On the other hand, motorists who wish to keep their current models running rather than enter the new car market can provide a portion of the overall market for recycled automobile components.
Cutthroat competition among auto insurers is another wider economic factor that is affecting auto recyclers. "They are competing hard in terms of keeping premiums down and looking to hold repair costs down," notes Hoffmann. "The term they use is 'claim severity.' If they can keep severity down, perhaps by sourcing more affordable recycled parts, then they are in a better position to keep premiums down and remain competitive."
Joe Holsten, CEO of LKQ Corp., Chicago, agrees. "Every major insurance company is focused on increasing their use of alternative parts. They're keenly focused on managing the cost side of their business, even more than in the past."
On the competitive front, auto recyclers continue to face competition from the makers of new OEM parts, who would rather have 100 percent of the market. Hoffmann says that in some markets, these efforts are getting help from auto dealership owners who are establishing delivery fleets and parts warehouses in different parts of a metropolitan market to blanket a wider geographic zone.
The variety of factors has still provided auto dismantlers with a market that is good for the resale of their parts--if they can procure enough totaled automobiles to harvest usable components for late model vehicles.
Interestingly, air bags are playing a role in the supply equation. "Air bag deployment means a car is more likely to be declared totaled because of the high cost to replace them," notes Holsten. Two air bags deploying will almost certainly tilt an adjuster toward declaring a car as totaled.
"Five years ago, the number of cars on the road with two air bags was far less; now most have two," says Holsten. This may be why statistics show the percentage of crashed cars declared as totaled rising from 8 percent to 9 percent in the late 1990s to 12 percent to 13 percent this year.
STICKING TOGETHER. Although the David-vs.-Goliath aspect of family businesses competing among corporate giants might be fun from a distance, in the trenches many auto recyclers are taking steps to make it a fairer fight.
QRP has offered a remedy through its co-op arrangement, according to Hoffmann. The co-op arrangement can provide smaller companies with access to a wider network of parts and access to other helpful information, while still allowing company owners to remain independent.
In 2004, QRP has added new member companies and also introduced a service called QRT, a towing program that can allow the small member companies in bring in vehicles from a farther distance than they may otherwise be able to reach. Hoffmann says part of the way QRT works is by arranging "backhauls" so that network member tow truck drivers will have a vehicle to tow in both directions. "It opens up the buying of salvaged vehicles to a wider geographic range," he notes. The towing companies bid to haul the cars to QRP members."
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