BIG TRUCKS: FIRST GAIN IN 3 YEARS
2010-03-01
According to Automotive News, sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks rose in January for the first gain in three years. The rise in commercial-truck sales, a leading economic indicator, may point to an improving economy.
Sales rose 3 percent in January from the year-earlier level to 17,557 trucks. The last rise in commercial-truck sales was in January 2007.
January's rebound came across all size classes except the smallest medium-duty trucks.
ECONOMY GROWS AT 5.7%
2010-01-29
The economy in the U.S. expanded in the fourth quarter at the fastest pace in six years as factories cranked up assembly lines and companies increased investment in equipment and software. The 5.7% increase in gross domestic product marked the best performance since the 3rd quarter of 2003.
BEER SALES FALL
2010-01-21
U.S. beer sales volumes fell 2.2% last year, the highest rate since the 1950s, with demand worsening late in the year. The decline, the industry's first since 2003, raises demands for industry leaders Anheuser-Bush InBev NV and MillerCoors LLC to rethink recent price increases, said retailers and analysts.
The two giants increased prices by about 5% last year. Anheuser and MillerCoors control nearly 80% of U.S. beer sales. "When you raise prices that much, there are going to be consequences," said Marc Greenberg, an analyst with Deutsche Bank.
[Wall Street Journal]
OMAHA LEADS U.S. IN RECOVERY
2009-11-20
When it comes to riding out the Great Recession, we're No. 1. Forbes on Thursday put Omaha-Council Bluffs at the top of its list of the nation's fastest-recovering major metropolitan areas. Magazine editors said the area's diverse economy, stable housing prices and low unemployment helped it rate the best in their study of the 100 largest metro areas.
Forbes said there is a lesson to be learned from top-ranked cities: "Rather than chasing rising home prices or apparently plentiful jobs in one-industry towns, families looking for long-term economic stability should seek spots where industry is diverse and housing price shifts are benign."
[Omaha World Herald]
FREIGHTLINER LIBERAL LLC
2009-10-14
Omaha Truck Center, Inc., in business since 1975, has sold its Kansas Truck Center dealership in Liberal, Kansas to Maupin's Truck Sales, which also has a dealership in Dodge City, Kansas. Going forward, the dealership will do business as Freightliner Liberal LLC, a subsidiary of Maupin's Truck Sales.
"After talking with Maupin's Truck Sales management, I became convinced that it was in the best interests of Omaha Truck Center, Inc. and the Liberal employees to accept Maupin's offer," said Trey Mytty, OTC, Inc. president. "I know we're leaving the employees in good hands."
Mytty added that the Maupin and OTC dealerships have a good working relationship and he expects that to continue. "We can send work their way in southwest Kansas, and they will do the same for us in our locations in eastern Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa."
"Our plans are to grow the Omaha Truck Center family of dealerships in markets that make geographic sense and offer solid opportunities for growth," Mytty said.
WHY OMAHA?
2009-10-07
Omaha, Nebraska ranks #1 in the U.S.A for the lowest unemployment rate when compared to 100 of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Omaha's cost of living is 10-13% below the national average. The median household income in Omaha is 10% higher than the national average while the median price on existing home sales is 34% below. Omaha is a great place to live, work and play!
NAVISTAR CALLS SCR VIABLE
2009-09-18
The Truck Rental and Leasing Association hosted a presentation by all of the major heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers for its members regarding the EPA mandated 2010 emission changes.
Navistar intends to be the sole U.S. truck manufacturer not to use selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to meet 2010 diesel emissions requirements. The company has instead chosen to use high levels of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to meet new NOx emissions limits.
Before reaffirming Navistar's choice to use EGR, Tim Shick, director of business and product strategy at Navistar, told the TRALA audience that Navistar thinks SCR is a very viable technology, and "We can't find anything negative about it."
FLEETS LEAN TOWARD SCR
2009-08-11
Heavy Duty Trucking, July 2009 issue, reports a national research study conducted in May shows more than half (51.2 percent) of all respondents said thay are likely or very likely to consider SCR for their EPA 2010 engine purchase, compared to 31.2 percent that are likely or very likely to consider increased EGR.
IS THE EARTH FLAT, OR ROUND?
2009-08-04
Dave McKenna, director of powertrain sales and marketing for Mack, said in the August 3, 2009 Transport Topics -- "There are us folks who believe that the world is round and that SCR is good technology, and there are those who believe the Earth is flat and that massive EGR is the best technology. I challenge anyone who thinks the Earth is still flat to a fuel economy test."
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT CENTER
2008-04-07
Omaha Truck Center, Inc. has opened a training center for diesel technicians next to its corporate headquarters to address what it calls a nationwide shortage of such skills.
The truck dealer - which operates 11 locations in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas - built the facility at 10560 I St., which replaced its training facility in Lincoln.
The company considered seeking State of Nebraska accreditation for its technician program but is leaning against taking the extra step, said Trey Mytty, president.
Instead the company will work closely with community colleges to train technicians without competing with the college programs, Mytty said. Community colleges don't have the same equipment and tools that the truck center offers, he said.
The Omaha Truck Center can offer classes that count toward associate's degrees, even though it doesn't have accreditation, Mytty said. "If we're an accredited location, then we're in competition with community colleges."
The Omaha Truck Center also is providing information about diesel technicians jobs to area high school guidance counselors and contacting former members of the military who may have mechanical experience but need training to work on over-the-road tractors.
The 9,000 square-foot facility includes two classrooms, shop space for four tractors and room for stand-alone engines, rear-ends and other equipment.
The facility is the company's response to changing technology, growing freight demand and more trucks on the road, Mytty said. "Our need for technicians seems to grow all the time."
TREY MYTTY NAMED NEW OWNER
2008-01-01
Trey J. Mytty is the new owner of Omaha Truck Center, Inc., a leading Freightliner dealer based in Omaha, Neb. Mytty purchased the business in January 2008.
Employed full-time with Omaha Truck Center since 1996, Mytty has held several increasingly responsible positions, most recently as executive vice president. He previously worked at OTC part time while obtaining his marketing degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mytty was named the Midlands Business Journal's Young Business Person of the Year for 2006. He and his wife Jennifer have three children, Avery, Talen and Beau.
