FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALIFORNIA FLEET SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES THE “2010 FLEET SOLUTIONS WORKSHOP SERIES”
“Created to help truck operators and owners successfully navigate the complicated worlds of regulatory compliance, grant funding, and vehicle financing.”

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA—June 29, 2010—California Fleet Solutions (CFS), a division of Whittier, California-based Velocity Vehicle Group (VVG), today announced a “Summer Roadshow” event series with six educational workshops taking place between July and September in locations throughout California. This series consists of half-day events in key locations along goods movement corridors, each providing regulatory updates, information on funding programs, financing resources, and equipment updates.  In addition to short presentations and guest speakers, workshop attendees will also be able to ask questions in both group and one-on-one settings, enjoy a Ride & Drive opportunity, and will receive lunch and all conference materials, including a take-away funding application kit.  There is no fee to attend the workshop, but pre-registration is required.

CFS is a true “one-stop” resource and information center for California’s truck and bus fleet operators.  “CFS is backed by the exceptional brands and expertise behind Velocity Vehicle Group,” said Jeff Macartney, President of Crossroads Lease & Finance and one of the key organizers behind the CFS endeavor.  “We are a local, California-based business here to serve the needs of California truck operators in need of solid information and solutions to run their businesses.  The workshop series is our way of bringing expertise directly to the fleets and making the compliance choices clear and the funding application process as simple as possible,” Macartney added.

The workshop series was created as a means to educate fleet operators about the more than $500 million in funding that is available to purchase new clean trucks.  On June 24, 2010, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced the release of an additional $200 million in Proposition 1B funds to cut harmful emissions from heavy-duty trucks and other sources in the state’s four busiest trade corridors.  Well over half of this funding will be made available to truck and fleet operators for the purchase of new clean trucks and retrofits.  ARB also has available a $28 million Voucher Incentive Program to assist small fleet operators to purchase new trucks and after-treatment devices. 

“With more than $500 million in ARB grant funds available over the next two years, and millions more in other local, state and federal incentives, California truck and buses owners have never had such an opportunity to secure new clean vehicles in order to comply with California’s Truck & Bus Rule,” noted Macartney. “We are excited to assist our customers to make the most of this opportunity via our planned California Fleet Solutions Summer Roadshow event series.” 

The first CFS workshop will be held in the Avalon Room at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 from 8:30am to 12 Noon.  The program agenda to designed to provide a concise look at ARB fleet rules, compliance deadlines and enforcement, the Prop 1B and Voucher Incentive Program application processes, and financing programs.  The workshop will create opportunities for question and answer exchanges, both in group and one-on-one formats, and will showcase the latest in equipment options from partners under the Velocity Vehicle Group umbrella.

Additional workshops are scheduled for August and September in Stockton, Hayward, Fresno, Riverside, and San Diego/Imperial Counties with dates and specific locations to be announced shortly.  For more information or to register, please visit www.cafleetsolutions.com or contact the event hotline at 888.993.0302.

About Velocity Vehicle Group
Velocity Vehicle Group, through its subsidiaries, operates as a commercial vehicle and bus dealer providing new or used trucks, motor homes, alternative fuel trucks, engines, and buses. It also provides accessories, air conditioning equipment, air lines, bearings and seals, brakes, bus parts, electrical parts, engines, fan drives, hoses and fittings, lighting products, mirrors, radio products, safety, seating, snow chain systems, starters and alternators, steering and suspension products, tools, trailer parts, trailers, and wheels and drums. In addition, the company offers truck rental and leasing, maintenance and repair, roadside assistance services, transportation consulting, and financing. Velocity Vehicle Group is based in Whittier, California with locations in Long Beach, Fontana, Ontario, Carson, Hesperia, San Diego, Caruthers, Woodland, and Rancho Cucamonga, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as warehouses in Sacramento and San Diego, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.  www.velocityvehiclegroup.com.

About California Fleet Solutions
As part of Velocity Vehicle Group, California Fleet Solutions (CFS) is backed by the resources of California’s strongest network of manufacturers, dealers, and parts suppliers.  Representing the best brands and the most competitive products in all classes, CFS’ goal is to provide California fleets with equipment and financing options that work within budget and to maximum advantage.  CFS supports vehicle leases or purchases with competitive service and maintenance options and provides a comprehensive suite of strategic consulting services, with most of these at no cost to the client.  www.cafleetsolutions.com.
 

The California trucking association held a technician skills competition last weekend at the Santa Anita race track parking lot. The Velocity Group entered 5 technicians and all 5 finished in the top 20. I am extremely proud of our guys and it shows how skilled they are.

Please join me in congratulating Roy Quintana from the High Desert for finishing in first place!! and Ed Sanchez for finish in 3rd..

Roy will represent California and the Velocity group in North Carolina this September for the TMC National Skill Competition.

Good luck Roy and Great job guys..

Roy Quintana

Ed Sanchez

Devon Beck

Ben Pangan

Cody Smith

Scott Zeppenfeldt

Vice President of Service Operations

www.velocityvehiclegroup.com

Excerpt below is from California Trucking Association

Thank you goes out to everyone that sponsored, volunteered and competed at our First 2010 CTA Super Tech Competition June 5 and 6. These are the results from our Northern, Southern and Final Competition. Pictures are from Southern only.

Northern California Winners

1st Gadihel Flores with Swift Transportation 2nd Larry Parker with Walmart 3rd Jose Flores with Swift Transportation 4th Alex Johnson with Gordon Trucking

Southern California Winners

1st William Moran with Scully Transportation 2nd Ed Sanchez with High Desert Truck/LA Freightliner 3rd Roy Quintana with High Desert Truck/LA Freightliner 4th Martin Reed with Johnson Power Systems

2010 CTA Super Tech Finals

1st Place Roy Quintana with High Desert Truck/LA Freightliner 2nd Place Larry Parker with Walmart 3rd Place Ed Sanchez with High Desert Truck/LA Freightliner

Company Orders 750 Freightliner Cascadia Tractors Equipped with BlueTec Selective Catalytic Reduction Emissions Technology

PORTLAND, Ore. –  Freightliner Trucks today announced that Penske Truck Leasing has ordered 750 Freightliner Cascadia^® tractors equipped with BlueTec^® selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions technology. This purchase makes Freightliner Trucks the majority supplier of 2010 EPA-compliant tractors to Penske Truck Leasing.

Penske Truck Leasing offers commercial and consumer truck rentals, full-service leasing, contract maintenance, transportation and supply chain management solutions to individuals, small companies and multinational organizations. Its order includes 50 Cascadia 113-inch single-axle day cab tractors equipped with Detroit Diesel DD13^™ engines; 450 Cascadia 125-inch tandem-axle day cab tractors equipped with DD13^™engines; and 250 Cascadia 125” tractors with a 72-inch raised roof and Detroit Diesel DD15^™ engines.

Penske Truck Leasing customers have also ordered an additional 132 Freightliner Business Class^® M2 106 trucks with SCR-equipped Cummins engines and 50 Cascadia tractors to-date, equipped with a combination of Cummins ISX, DD13 and DD15 engines.  

The aerodynamic Cascadia was specially designed to incorporate EPA 2010 emission engines. BlueTec emissions technology – Daimler’s solution for meeting the 2010 EPA emissions standards – reduces emissions to near-zero levels of NOx and particulate matter as measured at the tailpipe and increases fuel economy by up to five percent over other emission treatment systems.  

According to Marc Althen, senior vice president, administration and procurement for Penske Truck Leasing, fuel efficiency is a priority to Penske customers, making the 2010-ready Cascadia an ideal choice.

“Based on our own research and field testing, we determined that SCR emissions technology was the right fit for Penske and our customers to comply with the 2010 standards,” said Althen. “And, when coupled with the advanced performance of the Cascadia, our customers get a powerful and efficient business tool that positively impacts their bottom line.”

A Freightliner Trucks customer for more than 25 years, Penske Truck Leasing and Freightliner Trucks together hosted a 16-city tour in late 2009 to educate Penske customers on the benefits of BlueTec SCR technology.

“We are pleased to build upon our long-term relationship with Penske Truck Leasing by supplying the majority of their 2010 solution,” said Mark Lampert, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. “By selecting our proven BlueTec SCR emissions technology, Penske Truck Leasing and its customers will continue to experience the superior performance they’ve come to expect from Freightliner Trucks.”

For more information on Freightliner Trucks, go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com.  

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America.  Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture of Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric.  A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. 

Velocity Vehicle Group is pleased to announce that James K. Blakely “JB”has joined the Fleet and Government sales department of Los Angeles Freightliner. JB brings nineteen years of experience in the industry.

He will offer the following products to serve your needs:


You may contact JB at:

LA Freightliner
2429 S. Peck Road, Whittier CA 90601
Office: (562) 447-1200 Cell: (714) 357-0024
Email: jblakely@lafreightliner.com

www.LAFreightliner.com

We are pleased to welcome Charlie Cox & Bob Towle to our Emissions Specialists Team

Charlie Cox is an Emissions Compliance Specialist with Velocity Vehicle Group.  Charlie has a great deal of experience designing compliance strategies for clients who are subject to diesel emission regulations from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), as well as local air pollution authorities like the South Coast AQMD.  He is a member of CARB's Off-Road Implementation Advisory Group (ORIAG) and currently serves as the first chairman of the ORIAG retrofit subcommittee.  He has developed emissions compliance plans for several of the largest construction and trucking companies in the United States representing more than 100,000 vehicles and has contributed to several industry publications on the subject of emissions regulations and retrofit technology.

Charlie's experience in working with grants and funding programs makes his consulting experience highly relevant in the current regulatory climate.  He has been invited to speak before local, state and regional-level events conducted by the Associated General Contractors of California, Faster Freight/Cleaner Air, Californa Trucking Association, Great West Truck Show, AQMD, California Bus Association, California Dump Truck Owners Association, Clean Cities Coalition, National Pavement Expo and numerous educational events on the subject of emissions compliance.

Bob Towle has been worked in the diesel filtration market for twenty years and diesel emission reduction for the past seven.

His involvement in the emission technology started in the voluntary markets from the Ports of Long Beach to Oakland along with School Bus fleets. When the first regulations from the California Air Resource Board were mandated to the Solid Waste Collection industry, he worked with the majority of these fleets on a statewide basis.

As regulations developed with municipalities, utilities, off road and LSI, he has continued to worked with some of the largest fleets in the state with compliance strategies and programs. With new regulations addressing PM and NOx, he felt that it was important to offer all aspects needed to be in compliance.

With Velocity Vehicle Group, Bob can assist with sound compliance strategies that offer PM retrofits, EPA 07 Gliders, newer used vehicles,  and new vehicles. This “total package approach” is what is needed to meet the new regulations.

Emissions Hotline (888) 578-2430 www.cleanandgreenvehicles.com

VELOCITY VEHICLE GROUP PROVIDES TOTAL SALES, PARTS AND SERVICE SUPPORT ALL THE BRANDS BELOW,
THROUGH OUR VAST RANGE OF DIVISIONS
• LA Freightliner • South Bay Truck Center • San Diego Freightliner • Silver State Truck & Trailer • High Desert Truck & Trailer • Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance • BusWest • Fleetlogic • SelecTrucks • TransWest Truck Center

We are pleased to welcome Pat Avery to our autocar Parts team!

Pat Avery, formally with Autocar, has joined Velocity Vehicle Group as our Autocar parts specialist.
Pat’s years of experience with Autocar, and specifically the refuse fleets in Southern California, is yet another way we are working to provide you,
our valued customer, with the best service in the industry!

Please join us in welcoming him to our team and don’t hesitate to call him with any parts or technical needs.
Parts Hotline (866) 213-6646  Direct (909) 786-3095

Download pdf announcement flyer.

We are very pleased to announce the we have added Trans-West Truck Center in Fontana to the Velocity Vehicle Group.

The addition of Ford with their broad line of commercial vehicles will greatly expand the range of products that we can offer our existing customer base.  Trans-West has access to almost the full line of Ford products, including trucks from Ranger, F150 and up to F750, vans from the new little Transit van to the E350, cab and chassis products for our bus division and SUVS and Crossovers including the Expedition, Explorer, Escape and the hot new Edge and Flex.  Sorry no Mustangs or Tauruses as the “car” products are not covered by this dealership. The company will be owned by a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Los Angeles Truck Centers, Transwest Truck Center, LLC.

This marks the second acquisition this year for VVG after the earlier purchase of Diversified Truck Center’s Autocar business.  The company is pleased to be in a position to take advantage of opportunities to grow and position ourselves to increase our leadership position in the commercial vehicle industry.

Please note, in the coming weeks we shall be updating all of V.V.G.s websites to reflect the additional truck sales, parts and service location in Fontana, including a revamped Trans-West website coming soon.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BusWest Introduces High-end Galaxy Coach Product Line

Carson, California, June 12, 2009 —BusWest, headquartered in Carson, CA, is pleased to announce its appointment as authorized dealer for Galaxy Coach Enterprises for the entire State of California.  Galaxy Coach Enterprises is located in Santa Ana, California and has been manufacturing specialized motor vehicles since 2003.

The high-end Galaxy product offers all the advantages of styling, visibility and drivability of a full size coach for smaller group transportation.  The beautiful 35-foot Coachliner is designed from the start for luxury transportation.  The Coachliner is manufactured to world class standards with European aerodynamic looks which are aesthetically pleasing.  The interior amenities make travel easy and stress free for passengers with great sightseeing capabilities.  The Coachliner features industry standard components including Carrier Air Conditioning, Freedman Seats, RCA Floor Rubber, Kenwood Audio and REI Video systems.  Abundant under-floor and overhead luggage space puts the Galaxy Coachliner on par with full-size motorcoaches.

Brent Phillips, Vice President of Sales for BusWest comments, “We are excited to partner with Galaxy Coach. BusWest and Galaxy Coach share the same commitment when it comes to delivering a quality, competitively priced coach and above all serving our customer.”

“It is comforting to partner with Galaxy Coach who not just shares our customer commitment but who can quickly manufacture a custom coach to the demanding needs of the marketplace without compromising quality and reliability,” adds James Bernacchi, President of BusWest.  “The integration of the Freightliner Custom Chassis has been carefully performed and this through assures our ability to support the customer as an authorized Freightliner service center.”

“As we begin to strategically sign dealers nationwide, we are fortunate to partner with BusWest a company with an excellent reputation for customer service with such a clear vision of the future of the bus industry,” Tim Tang, President of Galaxy Coach stated.  “The bus industry is evolving rapidly and BusWest recognizes the fact their customers are continually expecting better value.”

Galaxy Coach will manufacture and warrant the buses ordered by customers through BusWest.  BusWest will arrange for delivery, financing and provides factory authorized service and product support.

BusWest the passenger transport equipment division of Velocity Vehicle Group.  BusWest has four dedicated bus facilities in California and Nevada and works closely with sister Freightliner locations to ensure the highest level of product service and parts support.  Velocity Vehicle Group companies include BusWest, Los Angeles Freightliner, Las Vegas Freightliner, San Diego Freightliner, Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance, Performance Truck and Trailer, Refuse, Parts and Maintenance and others. Velocity Vehicle Group also distributes commercial vehicles for Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Autocar, Hino, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi. Velocity Vehicle Group is a leader in clean fuel technology for commercial vehicles.

# # #

As part of the overall effort to cut down on pollutants stemming from port activities, SCAQMD will co-sponsor the demonstration of four compressed natural gas (CNG) drayage trucks at a cost not to exceed $421,250 from the Clean Fuels Fund. Other partners in the almost $2-million project include SoCalGas, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, AutoCar, California Cartage Co. and L.A.Freightliner.

The project is the first to demonstrate the use of CNG in drayage trucks at the ports. A small refueling station will also be installed for the trucks' use.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) heavy-duty trucks are already in use at the port. SCAQMD's goal is for the ports to convert half of their trucks to natural gas. "In light of a predicted rapid increase in trade at the two ports, reducing port pollution has become the number one priority for our agency," said Barry Wallerstein, SCAQMD's Executive Officer. "These CNG trucks have the potential to help provide cleaner air for the community and a cost savings to the truck operators."

Approximately 65 percent of containers being moved from San Pedro Bay ports by truck are delivered within 25 miles of the harbors. There are about 16,500 of these so-called drayage trucks that move goods from wharves to warehouses and train yards south of downtown Los Angeles.

CNG technology can provide the neccessary power and range needed to make these short-haul deliveries from the port while having 33 percent lower life-cycle costs than a comparable new diesel truck.

Article sourced via SCAQMD flyer © Matt Miyasato

— Southbay Truck Center Service has been selected for the 2008 Best of Carson Award in the Repair Shops category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net
URL: http://www.USLBA.net

###

WHITTIER - When truck retail giant Los Angeles Freightliner opened for business 30 years ago, a big rig's smog controls weren't exactly a big selling point.

Dealers moved trucks by touting raw horsepower, reliability and comfort.

While power and economy are still important today, new air quality regulations have made emissions a top feature - particularly for the estimated 14,000 drivers hauling goods in and out of the sprawling Long Beach-Los Angeles seaport.

"Back then, (drivers) were interested in air suspension, big power and power steering," said Dean Kitakis, a Freightliner dealer who has sold trucks in Southern California since the early 1980s.

"I can't remember anybody being concerned about emissions. Now, they tend to ask," he said.

The sea-change in attitude about emissions has been prompted by recent clean-air proposals by port authorities on both sides of San Pedro Bay. Under pressure from community groups concerned about soot-spewing trucks, port commissioners are seeking to ban access to marine terminals by the most-polluting rigs (those built before 1990) starting Jan. 1, 2008.

The ban would grow progressively stricter through 2012, when all harbor drayage trucks would need to meet 2007 EPA emissions standards - either through vehicle replacement or, in the case of trucks built after 1994, retrofit with a particulate filter.

If the plan withstands potential legal challenges by the trucking industry, many of the estimated 16,000 trucks currently doing business in the harbor will be phased out in the next half-decade.

Economists put the cost of such a fleet turnover at more than $1.5 billion - nearly half of which is expected to come from grants provided by public agencies.

For dealerships like Los Angeles Freightliner, the pending changes could mean a windfall in sales in the near future.

"We're getting a lot of interest from drivers and motor carriers curious if there's enough trucks available and cost and things like that," said Kitakis during an interview inside the company's Whittier headquarters. "We think (our) supply chain could handle an order of 500 or more trucks very fast."

L.A. Freightliner is counting on long-term relationships in and around the harbor to secure business during the changeover.

The company estimates it has sold several thousand trucks that immediately or eventually went into service in the harbor, including more than 500 to drivers using port-sponsored grants since 2002.

Those grants, offered through the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, provide drivers with highly subsidized newer trucks - often exceeding 80 percent of the total purchase cost - in exchange for their old beaters.

Joe Palma, a harbor trucker for 35 years, purchased a truck from Freightliner in 2004 using a Gateway grant.

In exchange for his 1983 Kenworth, Palma received $38,000 in credit toward a greener truck. He picked out a 2000 Freightliner retailing for $52,000, applied the credit and took out a loan for the remaining $14,000.

The newer truck, which is more than five times cleaner environmentally, required no down payment.

"I didn't have to pay anything out-of-pocket except for a few dollars for (administrative) fees," said Palma, who works as an independent contractor in the port. "I was skeptical when I first heard about the program, but it's been good. My truck has been great, and the mileage is much better."

The Gateway program often offers drivers more trade-in credit for trucks burning the most fuel and spitting out the most smoke.

For example, a smog-spewing clunker from the late 1970s can fetch substantially more than a mid-1990s model, even though both are much more polluting than a new truck.

But because pre-1989 trucks had virtually no emission controls to trap hazardous diesel particulate matter, they are considered the most dangerous - and therefore the most valuable to take off the road.

Beginning in 1994, federal air quality regulations placed the first emission controls on heavy-duty trucks. This engineering feat will allow mid-'90s and later models to undergo a retrofit to be accepted in the port plan, but at a cost of around $15,000 to $20,000 per vehicle.

As yet, grants have not been made widely available for retrofitting and interest is weak, but L.A. Freightliner is gearing up for such projects.

The company is working with Cleaire, a particulate filter production company, for retrofitting on a large scale, Kitakis said.

As for sales, the company believes it can provide several hundred trucks on short notice, and maintains an inventory of several dozen new and used trucks at its Whittier lot.

Smaller lots in Long Beach and Fontana can also accommodate a rush.

"We have a large staff that understands this industry, what (drivers) need and what kind of financing they would be comfortable with," said Freightliner Account Manager John Cannon.

Always the consummate salesman, Kitakis said the new trucks are not only less-polluting, but average more miles per gallon, have better turning radius and are more reliable.

"When these guys trade in their old trucks, which a lot of times are being held together by rubber bands and glue, they feel like they've died and gone to heaven," Kitakis said. "It's that much of a difference."

Author: Kristopher Hanson