BREAKING: Navistar CEO steps down; interim replacement named

LISLE, Ill. -- Navistar has appointed Lewis B. Campbell, former chairman, president, and CEO of Textron, as executive chairman of the board of directors and interim CEO for the company. Daniel C. Ustian has informed the board that he is retiring as chairman, president, and CEO, effective immediately. He is concurrently leaving the Board of Directors. The company also announced that it has promoted Troy A. Clarke, currently president of truck and engine operations at Navistar, to the position of president and COO of Navistar.

The announcement comes shortly after the company’s decision to change gears with its engine platform, adding selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment to its engine line after originally committing itself to achieving EPA2010 emissions standards using only advanced exhaust gas recirculation.

"Lewis Campbell is a high-calibre executive who brings to Navistar deep and broad strategic, technical and operational skills and a proven track record of leadership with global industrial companies – including 24 years of experience in product design, engineering and manufacturing in General Motors' automotive, trucking and component businesses and seventeen years in senior leadership positions at Textron including more than 10 years as chairman, President and CEO.  We are very pleased to have him join the team," said Michael N. Hammes, Navistar's independent lead director. 

"We are also pleased to promote Troy Clarke to president and COO in recognition of the significant contributions he has made in challenging assignments since joining the company in early 2010. Our board and management are aligned around a clear path forward, and we are confident that under the leadership of Lewis and Troy, Navistar will make continuing progress in executing its near-term strategic priorities, driving growth and creating shareholder value."

Hammes added: "We appreciate Dan's many contributions and accomplishments during his 37-year career at Navistar. Under his leadership, Navistar's revenue grew from approximately $7.7 billion to approximately $14 billion as the company significantly expanded its global reach and diversified its product portfolio, including the addition of Navistar's military business. We thank Dan for his dedicated service and wish him all the best in the future."

"I am honoured to join the board of Navistar in the new role of executive chairman and to serve as CEO," Campbell said. "I look forward to working with Navistar's strong leadership team and talented employees, as we continue to take steps to provide dealers and customers with best-in-class products, enhance the company's competitive position, and build on Navistar's platform for generating profitable growth. At the appropriate time, we will conduct a search for a long-term CEO, which will include internal and external candidates."

Campbell, 66, served as chairman of Textron, a $12 billion publicly traded industrial company, from 1999 to 2010, CEO from 1998 to 2009 and president for most of the period from 1994 to 2009.  Prior to joining Textron, Campbell spent 24 years at General Motors, where he served in a variety of roles including vice-president and general manager for the company’s Flint Automotive Division for Buick/Oldsmobile/Cadillac, as well as vice-president and general manager for GMC Truck. Campbell holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Duke University.

Campbell currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, where he has been lead independent director since 2008.  He is also a member of the board of directors of Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. and the board of trustees of Noblis, a not-for-profit science, technology and strategy organization.

Prior to his appointment as president of truck and engine operations at Navistar, Clarke, 57, served as president of the company's Asia Pacific operations. Clarke joined Navistar in January 2010 as senior vice-president of strategic initiatives.  Previously, Clarke spent more than 35 years with General Motors where he served in a variety of roles, including president of General Motors North America, president and managing director of GM's Mexico operation, vice-president of manufacturing and labour relations, and president of GM Asia Pacific. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute, as well as an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

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Fifty-year veteran of the highway named 2012 O/O of the Year

FERGUS, Ont. -- Fifty years on the road without an accident, a history of stopping to help others when needed and a commitment to professionalism have earned Harvey McDonald of Brantford, Ont. the 2012 Truck News Owner/Operator of the Year award.

McDonald was presented with the award July 27 at the Fergus Truck Show.

Through this career, McDonald has owned 12 trucks, yet has committed to never going into debt to fund a new ride, methodically stepping into newer and nicer trucks through his career.

McDonald has been leased to TransX for the past four years and before that, spent 10 years with Transport America. Now, McDonald routinely runs from Ontario to Winnipeg, down into the States and then back to Canada. McDonald has run about four million miles over his career. He refers to his logbook as his ‘Bible’, commits himself to complying with all the rules and regulations and yet won’t hesitate to stop to help others when the opportunity arises.

He recalled coming across a cowgirl near Edmonton who was struggling to round up a herd of cattle that had escaped onto the highway. McDonald rounded up the cows and then remained behind to help rebuild the fence.

McDonald has four adult children and a new bride (he re-married in mid-June) and has in the past volunteered to work through Christmas and other holidays so drivers with young families could remain at home during these occasions. He usually travels with his poodle Micky, who has accompanied him everywhere from Yellowknife, NWT to Laredo, Texas.

The Owner/Operator of the Year Award is sponsored by Castrol, Goodyear and Mack Trucks and supported by the Owner-Operators Business Association of Canada. McDonald won $6,000 cash, a diamond ring and an assortment of other prizes from the sponsors. You can read a complete profile on this year’s winner in the September issues of Truck News and Truck West.

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N. Yanke Transfer driver named Highway Angel

SASKATOON, Sask. -- Gyslain 'Juice' Lemelin, a driver for N. Yanke Transfer, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) after he helped save a couple and their belongings from their burning pick-up truck.

Lemelin was driving on the Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 23 of this year when he passed to motorists in a pick-up, who were travelling with their two dogs and pulling a camper.

As they passed Lemelin, he recognized the burning, chemical-like odour of a burning transmission.

"I had a feeling they weren't going to get very far," said Lemelin, who has had training as a mechanic. "I've smelled that smell before. I knew it was the transmission - transmission fluid is highly flammable."

Lemelin decided to follow the vehicle and soon after, he saw a puff of white smoke and knew they were in trouble. Lemelin pulled up to the vehicle and by then flames had spread all over the pick-up truck's hood. The battery was melting and the ground underneath the truck was on fire.

Lemelin used his fire extinguisher to put out the blaze while the motorists removed their valuables from the camper. He then remained at the scene and let them use his cell phone to call for help.

The motorists later wrote a letter to N. Yanke Transfer, praising Lemelin for his actions.

"Please tell (Lemelin) that random acts of kindness don't go without notice, and we are both grateful that he didn't just drive on by like everyone else," they wrote.

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SCOOP!! New Mercedes Benz Actros named Truck of The Year 2012

Congratulations!! Well deserved in my opinion. Whether you love it or hate it you can’t deny either way it is the most striking looking truck sine the launch of the Renault Magnum. Agree or disagree? Leave a comment or send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk

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Schommer Named President of CRST Malone

CRST International said it named Jim Schommer president of its CRST Malone flatbed unit.

Schommer, has more than 25 years of experience in the trucking industry, was most recently vice president of operations for CRST Malone, the company said late Thursday.

Schommer and has held leadership roles at CRST for the past 13 years including its truckload unit CRST Expedited Inc., the company’s largest operation.

Privately held CRST International, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is ranked No. 26 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

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