With this agreement and including the acquisition of management rights for Amficon’s container fleet, announced April 16, 2009, Textainer has added 300,000 TEU to its fleet.

Circle Foods doubles
production capacity
Circle Foods, the tortilla and ethnic food company owned by Stephen Bronfman, has christened its new state-of-the-art production facility in Otay Mesa CA in San Diego County. The company is now doubling its production capacity with the new building.

The firm has a number of positions open and expects to increase its staff by 30-50 positions this year.

Penske Truck Leasing, IFDA
promote truck driver safety
Penske Truck Leasing and the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) announced they’ve teamed up to promote driver safety. Penske is the leading sponsor and primary vehicle provider for IFDA’s 2009 Food Industry Truck Driving Championship to be held September 11-13, 2009, at the Orange County Convention Center and the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando FL.

This is the only national-level competition held for the food distribution industry.

Florilli Transportation renews
XATA MobileMax contract
Florilli Transportation LLC has renewed its contract for XATA Corp’s MobileMax fleet operations system. The carrier will also run a pilot program with XATA’s navigation feature running on XATA’s TREQ-L color display.

The Iowa-based company, which specializes in delivery of temperature-controlled commodities, uses MobileMax by XATA to help use its 224-truck fleet more efficiently.

Kroger’s net earnings rise
in fiscal 2009 first quarter
The Kroger Co has reported net earnings totaling $435.1 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 ended May 23, 2009. This compares with net earnings of $386.0 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the same period of 2008.

Total sales, including fuel, in the first quarter were $22.8 billion versus $23.1 billion for the same period a year ago.

Crown FC 4500 forklift truck
showcases fuel cell innovation
At the recent Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium, forklift manufacturer Crown Equipment Corporation demonstrated how emerging fuel cell technology can be used to power industrial vehicles, including Crown lift trucks. On display at the symposium was a fuel cell-powered Crown FC 4500 Series counterbalanced forklift used by a Parma OH-based manufacturer.

The FC 4500 Series counterbalanced forklift truck comes in 4,000-, 5,000-, 5,500-, and 6,000-lb capacities.

Horton DM Advantage
delivers in two-year test
For the past two years, Zeitner & Sons logged almost 1.5 million miles on five trucks equipped with Horton’s DM Advantage on/off fan drives. The trucks included four Kenworth T2000s and one T600 model—all with Cummins ISX engines.

Zeitner & Sons, a Midwest refrigerated truckload carrier, agreed to test the DM Advantage after having some issues with the previous on/off fan drive.

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The six-month enforcement grace period for the in-use diesel-fueled Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) ends July 16, 2009.

Refrigerated Transporter is planning a July 9 web-based seminar (webinar) by California Air Resources Board (CARB) officials providing an update and answering questions on the ATCM for TRUs and TRU gensets. David A Kolman will be the moderator. There is no charge to participate in this event. To register for this free webinar, click here.

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Online

An online opportunity:
RT’s Featured Product
Here’s an ideal opportunity to promote your new product—free of charge—right on Refrigerated Transporter’s website home page. Try running it in our Featured Product section.

Each Featured Product we choose will run by itself with a photo in a special section of RT’s home page for one week, then the article enters the section’s Featured Product archive for easy online access at any time thereafter.

Want to receive some valuable exposure for a new product? Just e-mail Jay Miller at jay.miller@penton.com with information about your product along with a photo file (JPEG, GIF, BMP, or TIF) of the item—and we’ll do the rest.

Products submitted should be used in refrigerated transportation, warehousing, supply chain management, or commercial trucking applications.

Now online!
Public Refrigerated
Warehousing
& Distribution Directory
Updated for 2009, the annual directory is a compilation of public refrigerated warehouses (PRWs) throughout North America that offer or arrange some type of transportation service. This list is arranged geographically by state and includes Canada. Listings include address, phone, and a comprehensive list of services offered. Access http://refrigeratedtrans.com/directory/warehouse-distribution/.

Access RT’s 2009
Refrigeration Unit
Repair Directory
Updated for 2009, the directory is the most all-inclusive listing of refrigeration unit repair facilities in North America. This list is arranged geographically by state (including Canada and Mexico). Listings include phone, fax, and a comprehensive list of services offered. Access http://refrigeratedtrans.com/refrigeration_repair/refrigeration_repair_directory/.

Photo gallery displays
industry’s images
Photo images can portray the essence of a company’s overall image, and can capture the core of any news event. Refrigerated Transporter’s online photo gallery has been enhanced, and is now being continually replenished with new images of companies highlighted in previous issues, as well as photographs of current news and events coverage. Access the photo gallery at http://refrigeratedtrans.com/photo_galleries.

Gross Revenue Reports available
Dating back to 2001, these annual revenue reports for the leading refrigerated carriers can be accessed online and downloaded as PDFs by clicking on www.refrigeratedtrans.com/ar/rtgrevrpts/.

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2010 Emissions: MaxxForce
Advanced EGR Solution

Navistar Engine Group discussed the 2010 MaxxForce Emissions Solution--Advanced EGR and explained the difference between technologies available for 2010, and which road will be best for your business. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session. Click here to view the webinar.

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Coming Events

Nearly in view:

July 16-18, 2009
American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) annual convention and suppliers’ exhibition, Quest Center, Hilton Omaha, Omaha NE. Access www.aamp.com

July 24-26, 2009
Produce Marketing Association (PMA), 2009 Foodservice Conference & Exposition, Monterey CA. Access www.pma.com

July 26-28, 2009
International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), Sales & Marketing Conference, Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA. Phone 703-532-9400 or access www.ifdaonline.org

Webinars
Webinar on California
TRU emission regulations
Refrigerated Transporter recently put on a webinar entitled “California emissions regulations for transport refrigeration units.”

This webinar, with officials from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), covered all facets of CARB’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure for In-Use Diesel-Fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRU) and TRU genset regulations.

Particular attention was paid to how the phased-in compliance works, and to the various options for meeting engine performance standards.

There was also the opportunity for attendees to have their questions on the matter answered.

A recording of the webinar, which was sponsored by Johnson Truck Bodies, Proventia, and Reviva, is available at http://refrigeratedtrans.com/webinars/.

Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies offers a full line of refrigerated truck bodies and all-electric truck refrigeration solutions, including the new RouteMax clean and green refrigeration system.

Proventia develops diesel emission control systems to meet CARB regulations, including the CARB-approved Proventia Flow Through Filter for TRUs.

Reviva, the largest independent remanufacturer of gas and diesel engines in North America, is now offering CARB-approved remanufactured diesel-fueled TRU engines.