Cenex Harvest States Cooperative Chooses Eaton Fleet Advisor to Improve Fleet Efficiency and Productivity.

CLEMMONS, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1998--Eaton Corporation's (NYSE: ETN) Trucking Information Services Division (TISD), a leader in transportation logistics management systems, announced today that Cenex Harvest States -- one of the nation's leading agricultural companies -- has agreed to equip its transportation fleet with the Eaton Fleet Advisor Transportation Logistics Management System.

"Our selection of Eaton's Fleet Advisor system is part of the bold new steps we are taking to be successful in the next century," notes Kit Kloeckl of Cenex Harvest States. "Cenex Harvest States has set a clear, deliberate strategy to re-engineer our distribution system. Fleet Advisor's unique blend of full-function on board computing cost-effective satellite communications and back-office networking will help us reach our efficiency goals by giving us the ability to significantly reduce administrative paperwork and increase driver and vehicle productivity. In addition, Eaton worked very closely with us to help us achieve the unique business solution that we required."

Trucking fleets are using Fleet Advisor to electronically manage transportation logistics. The Fleet Advisor system eliminates time-consuming paperwork by offering paperless DOT logs, paperless IFTA compliance and paperless information flow between the drivers, dispatchers and managers. It allows fleets to perform the following activities in real time: route trucks; manage backhauls; manage emergencies and breakdowns; and improve customer service. Fleets can dispatch their trucks from anywhere at anytime.

Fleet Advisor's package of innovative solutions includes full-function on-board computing, integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) and real-time mobile communications, Windows NT-based back office networking capabilities, tachograph, trip recording and other functionality.

For more information on Eaton TISD products, contact: Eaton Corporation, Trucking Information Services Division, 6209 Ramada Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012. Phone: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]/. The Internet address for Eaton TISD is: http://www.fleetadvisor.eaton.com/.

Cenex Harvest States was formed in 1998 through a merger between Cenex and Harvest States. Cenex was founded in 1931 by 25 local cooperatives. Based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, the company employs 5,000 people located throughout its trade area. The regional cooperative is guided by a 27-member board of directors, all active farmers and ranchers elected by their peers. Cenex Harvest States' 1997 sales were approximately $10.0 billion with net income of $178.6 million.

Eaton Corporation is a global manufacturer of highly engineered products that serve industrial, vehicle, construction, commercial and semiconductor markets. Principal products include electrical power distribution and control equipment, truck drivetrain systems, engine components, hydraulic products, ion implanters and a wide variety of controls. Headquartered in Cleveland, the company has 51,000 employees and 155 manufacturing sites in 25 countries around the world. Sales for 1997 were $7.6 billion. The Internet address for Eaton is: http://www.eaton.com/.