Songwriting Contest
Howes Lubricator has teamed up with the Truckin’ Bozo Radio Network to launch its annual songwriting contest for CDL holders. The winner will receive a free trip to Nashville, Tenn., along with other prizes. To enter, send a tape or CD of an original song along with a printed copy of the lyrics to: Howes-Trucking Bozo Song Writing Contest; c/o Sound Control Studios, 2824 Dogwood Palace, Nashville, TN, 37204. The contest ends Aug. 31. For more information, call (800) GET Howes or visit www.howeslube.com.

EPA Head Quits
Christie Todd Whitman has resigned as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. No reasons for her exit were given in her resignation letter that became effective June 27. She said she plans to return to her “home and husband in New Jersey.” No successor had been named at press time.

Truck Tonnage Up
Trucks carried 5.4 percent more cargo in April than in March, according to the American Trucking Associations’ preliminary April data for its Truck Tonnage Index, which is seasonally adjusted. Unadjusted for seasonal factors, the index increased 4.9 percent this April compared with April 2002. The index, based on a member survey, peaked in December 1999, but tonnage dropped the next two years.

Pete 379X Tour
Peterbilt will take its 379X special edition truck on a summer trade show tour. It can be seen at the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, Walcott, Iowa, July 10-11 and TruckerFest at Hot August Nights, Reno, Nev., Aug. 6-9. The truck showcases polished aluminum-on-chrome special edition themes in the truck’s interior and exterior and is equipped with a 70-inch Unibilt UltraCab sleeper. Production begins in September. For more information, visit www.peterbilt.com/Model379X.

Cannon Express Majority Sold
The founders of Cannon Express have sold 60 percent of the truckload carrier’s outstanding stock to Arizona Diversified Equity. Dean and Rose Cannon founded the irregular-route carrier, which serves the 48 states, Mexico and Canada, in 1981. John Pacheco, Arizona Diversified president and founder, became Cannon’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Partner Insights
Information to advance your business from industry suppliers

TA, Petro Offer TripPak Scanning
TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers have reached agreement with TMI to offer TripPak scanning stations at their full-service facilities. The two chains are joined by independent truckstops partnering with TripPak for drop-box placement at each facility and a fully integrated, cashier-assisted document-scanning service. The service started in June at some locations. Drivers can drop trip envelopes in a TripPak box to be scanned overnight or submit documents to scan at the truckstop. Images captured at a truckstop can be merged with images processed in the TripPak scanning center and exported to participating carriers, with original documents kept by TripPak. For additional information, visit www.trippak.com

Interstate Connections Partners With TA
Interstate Connections announced it has teamed up with TravelCenters of America to provide 67 retail locations inside participating TAs over the next 12 months. Interstate Connections specializes in sales and service of wireless communication products including satellite TV, cellular telephones, satellite radio and other electronic accessories. Interstate Connections also is located in many Petro Stopping Centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.icrocks.com.

IdleAire Opens Second Thruway Location
IdleAire Technologies Corporation and the New York State Thruway Authority announced the opening of IdleAire’s second Thruway location, Chittenango Travel Plaza.The IdleAire system delivers heat, air and communications and entertainment packages to the cab via a module that fits in the truck window using a $10 adapter that drivers carry. IdleAire also has locations in Knoxville, Tenn, Atlanta and in the South Bronx, N.Y. For more information, visit www.idelaire.com.