Mack Gets $14.5 Million Military Contract for Trucks

Mack Trucks said its defense division will supply the U.S. Army with 100 Mack Granite trucks destined for Iraq.

Mack said that it is sending Granite heavy-duty models to liquid-transport vehicle supplier West-Mark to fulfill a delivery order for the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, Mich.

The order will be filled by January 2013 and is worth about $14.5 million, including spare parts, Mack said.

West-Mark is producing water and fuel tanker trucks the Army delivers to Iraq and Afghanistan security forces. The Granite trucks in this order will be sent to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Mack said.

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Polar Tank Trailer, IAM reach agreement on five-year labour contract

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Polar Tank Trailer and the International Associations of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union have reached an agreement on a new five-year labour contract.

The agreement was ratified Tuesday through a majority vote by IAM members at Polar's manufacturing facility in Opole, Minn.

IAM District 165, Local 623, represents approximately 365 employees at Opole.

The new contract, which includes the addition of a third and fourth shift, replaces the three-year agreement that expired on Nov. 30.

"The committee worked hard to negotiate an agreement that will benefit our employees and our business," said Ted Fick, CEO of Polar Corp. "It's another step forward in our efforts to meet the quality, cost, and delivery expectations of our customers."

Last year, employees at the company's Holdingford, Minn. and Springfield, Mo. facilities each ratified a five-year labour agreement negotiated by Polar and the IAM.

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ATA renews contract of president Bill Graves

ARLINGTON, Va. -- American Trucking Associations has reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with association president and CEO Bill Graves. The announcement was made earlier this week at the ATA's annual Management Conference and Exhibition in Dallas.

"By retaining Gov. Graves, the members of ATA are sending a strong message: that despite the challenges we face in Washington, the professional staff of ATA is doing an exemplary job of advancing the goals and interests of the trucking industry," said ATA chairman Dan England. "That starts at the top with Gov. Graves and we're pleased that he'll be continuing to serve as ATA's president and CEO for the foreseeable future."

"One key part of effective leadership is consistency," said Barbara Windsor, immediate past chairman of ATA. "With this multiyear commitment, ATA ensures that we will have, strong, consistent and effective representation in Washington and I couldn't be happier to get this done as one of my final acts as ATA chairman."

After serving two terms as governor of Kansas, Graves start with ATA in 2003.

"It has been a privilege to represent such a great industry and I'm honoured that ATA's members are allowing me to continue serving them and their interests in Washington," Graves said. "As the economy continues to slowly recover and policymakers let loose with unprecedented assaults on trucking, there's never been a more critical time to advocate for the industry that delivers life's essentials more safely and efficiently than ever before."

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