(Grain Valley, Mo.) -The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) filed a class action lawsuit against the state of Minnesota seeking refunds on all commercial vehicle inspection citations issued to truckers prior to Aug. 1, 2009. The suit also seeks to expunge such citations from motor carrier and driver records. 
 
OOIDA's suit charges that the state of Minnesota never adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) regulations into state law and that the U.S. Department of Transportation never authorized Minnesota to enforce federal regulations.
 
The lawsuit is new and separate from the previous action OOIDA took against Minnesota in May 2009 with regard to a fatigue checklist.

OOIDA contends that prior to Aug. 1, 2009, there were no motor carrier safety regulations in existence that officers of the Minnesota State Patrol were authorized to enforce against interstate motor carriers or their drivers.  According to documents obtained from FMCSA under the Freedom of Information Act, Minnesota had not adopted safety regulations of its own and was not authorized to enforce federal regulations.

"The state of Minnesota finally got around to incorporating federal motor carrier safety regulations into state law this August when FMCSA threatened to cut off federal subsidies to Minnesota under MCSAP," said OOIDA President Jim Johnston. MCSAP stands for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.

"They had no authority to issue tickets or put people out of service. It's high time to give back what is owed and reverse the damage to drivers' records," added Johnston.

The OOIDA suit charges that unauthorized citations and out-of-service orders issued by officers of the Minnesota State Patrol prior to Aug. 1, 2009 deprived both drivers and interstate motor carriers of their rights to due process of law under both the United States and Minnesota constitutions.  The suit seeks damages against Minnesota officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and restitution by the state of Minnesota of fines paid.  If the suit is successful, the statute of limitations would require that all fines imposed for six years prior to the suit be returned.

The suit was filed Nov. 19, 2009 in the Minnesota District Court for the Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County).  A copy of the complaint is available on OOIDA's Web site (www.ooida.com).

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 158,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area.
 

RENTON, Wash., — PACCAR Parts recently named Fleetline and Nu-Line as its 2008 supplier of the year for providing quality fenders, excellent service to customers and dealers and timely delivery of parts.

Each year, PACCAR Parts recognizes one of its suppliers based on specific performance criteria: availability of parts, quality of materials, operation efficiency, level of support provided to customers and level of support provided to PACCAR Parts employees and dealers to name a few.

Fleetline Products is a leading supplier of quarter fenders, tandem fenders and mud flap hanger brackets to the North American commercial vehicle industry. Nu-Line Products Inc. is Canada’s leading supplier of aftermarket heavy-duty truck fenders. Fleetline and Nu-Line partnered with PACCAR Parts in 2004 to develop a complete private labeled MIRREX fender program for all-makes of trucks.

“Fleetline and Nu-Line not only supply our dealers with the quality parts customers have come to expect from PACCAR Parts, but they also work hard to keep our distribution centers and dealers well stocked with high-demand items,” said Rick Gorman, PACCAR Parts general manager and PACCAR vice president. “That’s particularly important when we need to have enough inventory on hand so that customers can take full advantage of special promotional offers and discounts through our loyalty program. That helps their parts budgets go a little further.

“We’re pleased to award a company that supports our dealers, stands behind their products and shows such a commitment to operational excellence,” Gorman added.

Fleetline and Nu-Line, along with Hogebuilt Inc., make up Fontaine Spray Suppression Company, which is part of the Commercial Truck Group within Marmon Highway Technologies. Fontaine Spray Suppression Company is the largest manufacturer in North America of spray suppression products including fenders, mud flaps, and mud flap hanger brackets and related products.

Doug Henson, president of Fontaine Spray Suppression Company, said earning the supplier award from PACCAR Parts has been quite an achievement for his company.

“Our team worked very hard over the years to achieve the PACCAR Parts supplier of the year award,” Henson said. “In our opinion, this is one of the highest honors any supplier can receive in the trucking industry because of the high standards PACCAR Parts sets.”

To meet those standards, Fleetline and NuLine use state-of-the-art equipment and process controls at every step of the manufacturing process to guarantee delivery of the highest and most consistent quality products in the industry, Henson said.

“Everyone involved at PACCAR Parts, from the PACCAR sales team to the Fleetline and Nu-Line account managers, and the dealers’ sales force, are knowledgeable,” he said. “This helps make the PACCAR Parts promotion and retail program to be one of the most successful programs of its kind in the industry.”

Selected as Driver of the Month for the Reefer/Van division was Dane DeDecker. Rick Carlson, his dispatcher, stated, "Dane has been with Decker Truck Line for four years. Dane is a very good driver who communicates with dispatch very well and is willing to do what needs to be done. He is very easy to work with."      

Drivers and owner-operators are nominated monthly by their dispatcher.  They are selected based on overall performance within all areas of the company, including operational productivity, safety record, maintenance/care of equipment (including idle time), payroll, billing and customer service.  All drivers and owner-operators selected as a Driver of the Month are eligible to be chosen as Driver/Owner-operator of the Year.

Founded in 1931, Decker Truck Line, Inc. is a diversified carrier, transporting flatbed, refrigerated and dry van freight to the 48 contiguous states and seven Canadian provinces.  Under the sole ownership of Don Decker, Decker's corporate office is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Additional terminals are in Davenport, Iowa; Mediapolis, Iowa; Mason City, Iowa; Hammond, Indiana; Masury, Ohio; Birmingham, Alabama and Hutchins, Texas.

LEWISVILLE, Texas,– Four Seasons Inc. announces the availability of its new Heavy Duty & Off Road Air Conditioning Service Parts Organizer (Part # 24815).

This portable kit contains 127 different part numbers; everything professional technicians need to complete the repair, including green HNBR O-Rings, hard to find sealing washers, orifice tubes, service caps and more. All the pieces are clearly labelled and organized so technicians won’t waste their valuable time looking for the right part.  

“The Heavy Duty & Off Road Air Conditioning Service Parts Organizer is one tool that covers it all for technicians, offering what they need to complete the repair all-in-one SKU,” said Matt Guden, marketing and business development manager, Four Seasons. “It eliminates the need for carrying multiple kits, as currently found in the market.”

For more information, contact a local Four Seasons sales representative or e-mail 4smarketing@4s.com. 

Thirty-six years is a remarkably long time to drive for a single transportation company.  Four million miles is a remarkably long distance to travel.  But to drive for 36 years and log 4 million miles without having one single accident?  That accomplishment is beyond remarkable.  And it was recently achieved by a man who considers himself anything but.

Bob Wyatt is one of just a few drivers in Schneider National’s 75-year history to achieve the 4-million safe mile mark.  He’s a down-to-earth guy with a great, dry sense of humor.  (When asked how he felt when he reached four million miles, he responded, “Tired!!”)

Wyatt started with Schneider in 1973 and stayed because of the strength, stability and security of the company.  “I found a home here,” he says.  “I work with good people who have our best interests at heart.”  And how did he achieve his milestone?  “No one can tell anyone else how to drive safely for millions of miles or even to town and back,” said Wyatt.  “You do it one mile marker at a time, keeping your mind clear and your cell phone in the trailer.”

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Schneider National, a premier transportation provider, announced today that it will take over operations of the Emerson transportation division by the end of 2009. Emerson (NYSE: EMR), a $20.9 billion global manufacturing and technology leader, is ranked 94th among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies.

Emerson, based in St. Louis, Mo., manufactures appliances and tools; electronics and telecommunications equipment; industrial automation and process control systems; and heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment. Schneider National will provide Emerson with a dedicated fleet, including approximately 300 drivers, with a majority of the work conducted by teams.

"In today's economic environment, operating a trucking company is tough enough when it's your core competency; it's even more challenging when it's not your specialty," says Mark Rourke, president, Truckload Services, for Schneider National. "Companies like Emerson know that they can deploy their people and financial resources toward core strategies and leave the transportation work to us."

According to Rourke, Schneider National plans to hire many of the drivers who previously worked for Emerson.  "Companies who transition their transportation work often assume that their professional, loyal drivers will be lost.  That's simply not the case.  Schneider National recognizes that the collective experience and company knowledge these folks bring is invaluable and must be incorporated into the new transportation approach."

"Schneider National's Dedicated Services division has a proven reputation for reliability as a global logistics and transportation leader. This was a key factor in selecting them to handle Emerson's domestic U.S. full truckload operations," said Greg Fromknecht, Emerson vice president of Global Logistics. "Their commitment to excellent service and preserving the integrity of the supply chain is critical for meeting the demands of our customers."

The Emerson Transportation Division was established in 1962 as the private fleet of Emerson. The division maintained 170 trucks in 29 locations across the United States.

Schneider National's Dedicated Services division specializes in giving companies all the benefits of a private fleet (control, visibility, superior service) without the capital investment, financial risk and liability associated with maintaining regulatory compliance, safety training, equipment maintenance and other potential costs. In addition to performing private fleet conversions for companies like Emerson, Schneider Dedicated Services offers distribution center-to-store and specialized equipment capabilities. For more information on Schneider Dedicated Services, call (920) 592-2340.

About Schneider National, Inc.
Schneider National, Inc. is a premier provider of transportation and logistics services, enhancing the standard of living worldwide. The nation's largest truckload carrier, Schneider serves more than two-thirds of the FORTUNE 500 companies and offers the broadest portfolio of services to small, medium and global shippers worldwide.

Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Schneider National has provided expert transportation and logistics solutions for nearly 75 years. A $3.7 billion company, Schneider National employs more than 19,000 transportation and logistics experts worldwide. For more information, visit schneider.com.

KIRKLAND, Wash., - Kenworth Truck Company now offers the Hendrickson PRIMAAX(R) EX suspension for vocational applications with the Kenworth T800, W900 and C500 models.
 
The Hendrickson PRIMAAX EX is a premium heavy-duty air suspension designed for the rigorous demands of vocational, severe service and heavy haul applications. The new suspension is designed to enhance stability, durability, reliability and handling. Key features include higher roll stiffness; optimized suspension geometry for increased roll stability and expanded applications; re-designed U-beam assembly, air spring, torque rod bracket, and frame bracket for enhanced robustness and durability; increased lift capacity; and no-lube, heavy duty bushings for reduced maintenance.
 
"Kenworth continues to expand its suspension offering with quality products to help meet customer requirements in demanding vocational applications," said Jason Skoog, Kenworth director of marketing planning and research. Kenworth offers the Hendrickson PRIMAAX EX in tandem configurations rated at 46,000 lbs. and 52,000 lbs., and in a tridem configuration rated at 69,000 lbs.
 
For more information, contact your Kenworth dealer or the Hendrickson Truck Systems Group (630-910-2800 / www.hendrickson-intl.com. 
 
About Hendrickson
 
Hendrickson, a Boler company, is a premier, global manufacturer and supplier of truck, tractor, bus and recreational vehicle suspensions and heavy-duty springs; trailer suspensions, controls and nonintegrated axles; truck and trailer lift axles; and bumpers and trim components to the commercial transportation industry. Hendrickson, based in Itasca, Ill., continues to meet the needs of the transportation industry after more than 95 years.
 
About Kenworth
 
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, liquefied natural gas trucks, and the Kenworth Clean Power(R) no-idle system. This year, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks, and for Heavy Duty Dealer Service. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.

Elk Grove Village, Ill.– Penray announced today that Mary Shelton has been promoted to marketing analyst, effective immediately. In this position, Shelton’s primary responsibilities include product pricing and market analysis. She reports to Chris McKenzie, director of marketing.

“We would all like to congratulate Mary on her recent promotion to marketing analyst, said McKenzie. “She has been a tremendous asset to the Penray family for the past eight years. Her extensive knowledge of the company and the heavy duty and automotive chemical industries, as well as her dedication to job excellence, has made her most deserving of this promotion.” 

 

About Penray:

WEST CHESTER, PA,- A. Duie Pyle, a leading Northeast transportation and logistics provider, opened the doors of its newly constructed 243,000 sq ft rail-sided warehouse in Westfield, Massachusetts. This is the company's seventh warehouse facility, increasing its total warehousing operation in the Northeast to over 2 million square feet.

"Our warehousing continues to grow as companies look for better business alternatives in the Northeast market," said Peter Latta, Chairman and Owner of A. Duie Pyle. Westfield's indoor rail-siding provides a comprehensive transportation solution for many of Pyle's warehouse customers, including one of its newest customers -- a leading producer of ice melt products in the U.S.  "We focus on the special needs of our customers, large and small, and then build or acquire facilities that are just the right fit. This is our second Westfield facility."  The Westfield campus accommodates both warehouse facilities, totaling 700,000 sq ft and basically sits at the geographic center of four of the company's nearby New England-based LTL Service Centers. "We ensure a reliable one-stop shop for integrated transportation and distribution services," said Latta.

Over the last two years, A. Duie Pyle has opened three new facilities in the Northeast. In addition to its recent East Brunswick, NJ facility opening, the 2008 construction of Pyle's Johnston, RI and Northborough, MA Service Centers represent a $30 million expansion for the company. Earlier this year, Pyle also acquired seven LTL terminals in a purchase-leaseback transaction that was completed with YRC.
 
 
About A. Duie Pyle
Headquartered in West Chester, PA, A. Duie Pyle is the Northeast's premier transportation and logistics provider, with extended LTL service coverage into the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. "Pyle People Deliver" is its corporate promise to customers that outstanding service will always be its first and foremost mission. A family-owned and operated business for more than 85 years, the company provides a complete range of transportation and distribution services. A. Duie Pyle LTL Services operates 17 Service Centers, strategically located throughout the region, with direct service to the Caribbean.  A. Duie Pyle Transport Services Group provides specialized truckload services to meet the short-haul needs in the Northeast.  A. Duie Pyle Warehousing and Distribution operates with more than two million square feet of public and contract warehousing space and is fully integrated with the company's LTL and TL service offerings for seamless distribution.   For information about A. Duie Pyle capabilities, visit www.aduiepyle.com or call 800-523-5020. 

 
 

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo., - Kenworth Sales Company has relocated its parts facility in Rock Springs, Wyo., to a new, much larger parts and service location near U.S. Interstate 80.
 
A member of the Kenworth dealer network of more than 300 locations in the United States and Canada, Kenworth Sales Company - Rock Springs is in a 10,000 square-foot, facility on two acres conveniently located off Exit No. 99 on I-80. The dealership's 5,000 square-foot service department has five bays and offers Kenworth PremierCare(R) ExpressLube and Air Conditioning service. The well-stocked parts department has more than 2,500 square feet of parts storage, or nearly five times that of the previous facility.
 
"We've had a terrific response from the community and our customers since we opened our new Rock Springs facility in September," said Kyle Treadway, president of Kenworth Sales Company, which operates 18 dealerships in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. "With new oil shale extraction technology making it possible to recover oil from the Green River Formation, the demand for reliable parts and service support among vocational truck fleets and operators in the area has increased significantly."

The Green River Formation reportedly has the world's largest known oil shale deposits with an estimated 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil, more than three times the amount of oil in Saudi Arabia's proven reserves.
 
Kenworth Sales Company - Rock Springs is located at 384 Blairtown Road. The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 307-362-6669. Key personnel include: Dan Bates, service manager, and Mike Fredrickson, parts manager.

The new facility is part of Kenworth's constant commitment for superior service coverage as exemplified by Kenworth and its dealer network receiving the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates award for "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Heavy Duty Dealer Service"*
 
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, liquefied natural gas trucks, and the Kenworth Clean Power(R) no-idle system. This year, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.

Anaheim, CA - ALK Technologies, Inc. has designed a new tool to visualize the interface to PC*MILER Web Services. The company introduced a new Graphical User Interface (GUI) for its users to easily access PC*MILER mileage, toll costs, map data, driving directions, and reporting functionality. Demonstrations are available during the NITL-IANA-TIA Annual Meeting and TransComp Exhibition/Intermodal Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, November 16-17, at booth 726.

Web Services enables ALK customers to access an interface to PC*MILER over the Internet through their own websites and networks. Routing and map data is hosted by ALK on Tier 1 data center servers and is delivered efficiently to users as though it is installed locally. Some key benefits of the service include reducing IT infrastructure investments, the ability to ensure server scalability and optimizing resources.

Traditionally, PC*MILER Web Services features have been integrated into customer websites by programmers through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to preserve the look and feel of the customer site. Now providers offering hosted transportation management software, for example, which use these APIs to deliver accurate routing, mileage and mapping, need not take this extra design step. The new GUI can be accessed through a web browser where ALK has completed the design work for them.

The new graphical user interface is written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and is independent of PC*MILER Web Services data and programming which are provided in universally accessible XML (Extensible Markup Language). The interface also helps those customers who are integrating PC*MILER Web Services into their own applications. Using the new GUI, programmers can better visualize how to incorporate PC*MILER Web Services for maximum efficiency.

"We've made PC*MILER Web Services more accessible to more customers," said Roy Schijns, Vice President, Sales for PC*MILER Solutions. "Now the interface can be put to work simply and quickly by virtually any company. With minimal IT support, users with multiple locations, multiple versions of PC*MILER or mixed computer systems can bring PC*MILER to more end-users through the new GUI."

PC*MILER Web Services incorporates all of the features and benefits of PC*MILER 23, an essential tool to predict and manage operating and transportation costs. It reduces out-of-route mileage, saving time, tolls, and fuel. PC*MILER 23 calculates precise truck-specific toll cost based on vehicle weight and number of axles.

PC*MILER 23 encompasses 117,000 new North American truck restrictions and 47,000 miles of new and updated truck-restricted roadway. The recently updated map data includes 2.9 million commercial truck restrictions, such as bridge heights, clearances and load limits. Its 32,600 North American hazardous materials restrictions provide more than twice the coverage of other solutions. PC*MILER is the most comprehensive and accurate truck-specific digital map data available.

PC*MILER Web Services also offers users access to multiple versions of routing and map data, now accessible in an easy to use interface. Multiple versions can also be accessed through the web service itself in the XML programming interface. Users now have the option to choose what's convenient and efficient depending on their business needs. For more information, visit www.pcmiler.com.

About ALK Technologies, Inc.
Since 1979, ALK Technologies has developed innovative mobile navigation and transportation technology solutions. ALK's award-winning CoPilot Live GPS software is the navigation based services platform of choice for mobile operators, hardware OEMs and systems integrators globally. ALK's PC*MILER routing, mileage and mapping solutions are used by over 22,000 transportation, logistics and manufacturing companies worldwide. For more information on ALK Technologies, visit www.alk.com or www.alk.eu.com.

KIRKLAND, Wash.- Kenworth Truck Company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash., has been selected to participate in a co-sponsored U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) project to provide input toward development of an international energy management standard for manufacturing plants.
 
"Kenworth is honored to be selected to participate in this prestigious Northwest Energy Management Demonstration Project co-sponsored by the DOE and NEAA," said Marilyn Santangelo, Kenworth assistant general manager for operations. "Kenworth's Renton plant is committed to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources through effective management of energy used to support the manufacturing process."
 
"Our environmental efforts are of special importance, and this project offers a significant avenue to contribute to the development of enhanced best practices in manufacturing energy efficiency," added Reid Nabarrete, Kenworth-Renton plant manager.
 
Kenworth is just one of five companies in the Pacific Northwest selected for the project. Kenworth's selection was based on its environmental accomplishments, which include the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award, and 2009 Green Washington manufacturing award from Seattle Business magazine. Kenworth's Renton plant holds the prestigious ISO 14001:2004 certification for effective environmental management systems established to help build Class 8 trucks in an environmentally sustainable manner. The plant also earned a 2009 Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction Award from King County's Solid Waste Division, and a King County Industrial Waste Program Commitment-to-Compliance Award for five consecutive years of outstanding compliance with the plant's industrial wastewater discharge permit.
 
Participating companies will be among the first in the United States that may become certified under the pending American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited plant certification, which includes conforming to ANSI's Management System for Energy standard. This standard will serve as U.S. input for an even more far-reaching international energy management standard known as ISO 50001, which is expected to be released by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2011. 
 
Upon successful completion in 2011, project participants will have embedded sustainable energy management strategies and systems that lead to continuous energy savings, reduced operational costs and significant reduction of carbon emissions. These results will showcase the tangible advantages of energy efficiency as a sustainable and profitable business model and bolster the competitiveness of participating companies within the global marketplace.  More information about the project is available at www.NWEMDemo.org.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
 
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a private non-profit organization funded by Northwest utilities, the Energy Trust of Oregon and the Bonneville Power Administration. NEEA works in collaboration with its stakeholders and strategic market partners to accelerate the sustained market adoption of energy-efficient products, technologies and practices. NEEA's market transformation efforts address energy efficiency in homes, businesses and industry.  For more information about NEEA, visit www.nwalliance.org.
 
About Kenworth Truck Company
 
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, liquefied natural gas trucks, and the Kenworth Clean Power(R) no-idle system. This year, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks, and for Heavy Duty Dealer Service. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.

Middlesex, N.J. - Aljex has integrated driver texting into its hosted broker and dispatch application. Now a broker or dispatcher can send text messages to driver cell phones directly from his or her Aljex dispatch screen with a couple of keystrokes. Preformatted messages include pick-up addresses, reference numbers, contact information, and more.

Aljex Software is the industry-leading provider of hosted management software for freight brokers, 3PLs, and other transportation providers.

To text a driver from an active load screen, an Aljex subscriber simply selects "forms," chooses the appropriate preformatted message, then presses "send." Aljex automatically populates the text message with the correct information for that load and sends the message to the cell phone number of the assigned driver.

Text messages reside in a driver's phone until the driver can safely deal with them. No response is necessary; in fact it's a one-way service - to the driver. One selectable text message requests that the driver call the broker or dispatcher for further instructions.

"Texting is an excellent tool for getting accurate information to drivers on the road. You don't waste phone time spelling things out over the phone, and the driver doesn't make mistakes writing them down. What the driver gets is exactly what you sent from your Aljex screen," said Tom Heine, president of Aljex.

Since Aljex is hosted on the Internet, driver text messages are actually sent from Aljex servers; an Aljex user can text a driver from any Internet connected computer. No phone connection is required. Also because Aljex is hosted, driver texting - like all Aljex upgrades - is available immediately to all Aljex subscribers.

About Aljex Software Inc.

Aljex Software based in Middlesex, N.J., leads the transportation industry with innovative software and business systems for third-party logistics firms and carriers. Clients include freight brokers, rail inter-modal, airfreight forwarders, container draymen, and logistics companies. Aljex has been perfecting smart, intuitive management solutions since 1996. For more information, visit www.aljex.com or contact sales@aljex.com.