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Land Line (OOIDA) / July 25, 2019 Volvo Trucks North America is recalling various models of trucks for one of two issues. One recall deals with automatic transmissions, whereas the other recall is an issue with fuses. Volvo is recalling nearly 25,000 2019-2020 VAH, VHD, VNL and VNR trucks. Affected trucks have a T-bolt clasp on the transmission air tank straps that may have been overtightened, resulting in potential deformation to the strap where the T-bolt is anchored, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. The T-bolt could disconnect from the strap, allowing the tank to drop to the ground and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Owners will be notified, and dealers will replace the air tank strap for free. Recalls are scheduled to begin on Aug. 12. For questions, call 800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX1904. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-510. Volvo is also recalling several hundred 2018-2020 VAH, VHD, VNL and VNR trucks for a separate issue. In affected trucks, a fuse in the transmission circuit may blow, preventing the transmission from shifting, according to NHTSA. As with the other recall, owners will notified and repairs will be made by dealers free of charge. The fuse-related recall is slated for Aug. 19. Questions should be directed to the Volvo Trucks customer service at 800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX1903. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-509.

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / July 23, 2019 Approximately 700 medium-duty and vocational trucks are being recalled by Paccar and Autocar, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Paccar’s recall affects approximately 343 model year 1990-2020 Peterbilt model 320 and 520 trucks. The company says these trucks were built with specific amber rear tuck signals that may also light up with the stop/tail lights when the brakes are applied. NHTSA says that rear turn signals that light up at the same time as brake lights could create confusion and impair the effectiveness of the brake lights. Paccar will notify owners of affected trucks, and for trucks with rear amber lights, dealers will add a jumper harness between the chassis electrical harness and amber tail lights for free. Owners can contact Paccar customer service at 1-940-591-4220 with recall number 19PBC. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-452. Autocar’s recall includes approximately 357 model year 2013-2018 Xpeditor tractors in which the drive shaft support cross member could fail. If the cross member fails, the components that it supports could come loose from the truck. Autocar will notify owners of affected trucks, and dealers will install additional support brackets and cross members and replace any damaged components for free. Owners can contact Autocar customer service at 1-888-218-3611 or 1-877-973-3486 with recall number ACX-1906. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-456.

Trump hits out at WTO developing economy designations Financial Times / July 26, 2019 Donald Trump has launched a new broadside against the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying the Geneva-based body allowed too many countries to claim the status of a developing economy and special treatment that damaged the global trading system. In a memo to Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, on Friday, Mr Trump wrote that the WTO was based on an “outdated dichotomy” between developing and developed economies that needed to be addressed quickly — and was in “desperate need for of reform”. In the past, Mr Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the WTO unless it changes, as administration officials have criticised the organisation’s negotiating record, dispute settlement system and struggles in ensuring that countries disclose new subsidy measures. Trump administration officials have also been unhappy that many countries — including China — obtained developing country status at the WTO, which allows them to operate under different rules than advanced economies in certain areas. In Friday’s memo, Mr Trump took the frustration to a higher level, saying Mr Lighthizer should “use all available means to secure changes” at the WTO that would prevent countries benefiting from “flexibilities” deriving from developing economy status. As well as China, Mr Trump singled out a series of other countries that he thought should not be classified as developing, including Asian city-states such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau, as well as Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He also said Turkey, South Korea and Mexico claimed the status of a developing nation, even though they were part of the OECD group of advanced economies. “While some developing country designations are proper, many are patently unsupportable in light of current economic circumstances,” the US president wrote, adding that their designations harmed other truly developing nations. Mr Trump also outlined the benefits that came from having developing economy status at the WTO, including procedural advantages in disputes, softer tariff cuts, the ability to maintain export subsidies and weaker commitments in negotiations. Mr Trump asked Mr Lighthizer to update him on his “progress” in clamping down on the use of developing country status at the WTO within 60 days — but said that if there was no breakthrough within 90 days, the US would no longer treat certain countries as developing and not support their membership in the OECD.

BMC is the smallest Turkish truckmaker. They have limited funding, but like Ford-Otosan are enthusiastic about heavy trucks. Nice people. Funny that Austin started them off.

Difference between Adults and Kids? The size of their toys. Thanks to Wallace Brothers Disposal & Recycling. Always Up - Autocar Trucks .

New Chevy Silverado diesel outpaces rivals: 33 mpg on highway Richard Truett, Automotive News / July 25, 2019 DETROIT -- The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 diesel rolls into the 2020 model year with the highest EPA-certified fuel economy ratings ever given to a full-size pickup: 23 mpg city/33 highway/27 combined. The 2020 Silverado 1500 debuts General Motors' new diesel engine, a 3.0-liter Duramax turbocharged inline six-cylinder rated at 277 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. The powerplant also will be available in the GMC Sierra. In the Silverado, the optional engine adds $2,495 to the sticker price of LTZ and High Country models, and $3,890 to the cost of LT and RST. The Silverado diesel is combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission and has a fuel-saving stop-start system. The Ford F-150 diesel held the top spot on the pickup fuel economy leaderboard for the 2019 model year with an EPA rating of 22 mpg city/30 highway/25 combined. Ram this summer will offer the only other full-size light-duty diesel pickup when it launches a revised version of its 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, which was rated at 20 mpg city/27 highway/23 combined in 2017, when it was last sold. Toyota, Nissan and Honda do not offer diesel engines in their light-duty trucks, though one version of the Nissan Titan has a Cummins diesel engine and is considered a heavy-duty truck, like the Ford F-250. How long on top? Silverado will likely hold the fuel economy title for the foreseeable future. The F-150 would need expensive major upgrades to eclipse the Chevy truck. Ram, coming from back of the pack, would need to boost highway fuel economy by more than 20 percent to pass Silverado's highway rating. With the addition of the Silverado 1500 diesel, Chevrolet boasts the industry's largest diesel lineup, with the fuel-saving engine available in the midsize Colorado, heavy-duty Silverado and new medium-duty Silverado. Chevrolet says the 1500 diesel can tow 9,300 pounds and haul 1,870 pounds of cargo in its bed. Sales are expected to start in the fall. More than drivetrain Tim Herrick, Silverado's executive chief engineer, said the diesel's fuel economy rating is the result of more than the efficient drivetrain. While the Silverado has taken its share of criticism for its busy styling, Herrick, during a walk-around of the truck, explained how, for instance, the air curtains on the lower front fenders improve aerodynamics. "The proportions of the truck, the roofline, the mirrors, air curtains, everything was in line with getting the aerodynamics that could get us great fuel economy," he said. Herrick said the truck has a driving range of more than 600 miles on a full tank. Although the full model year EPA fuel economy guide is not yet published, the Silverado diesel has a reasonable shot at becoming the most fuel efficient pickup regardless of size. No two-wheel-drive pickup in the 2019 guide has a higher ranking, and all competitors are far behind. Ironically, the Silverado diesel's fuel economy is higher than those of the company's smaller, lighter Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Those pickups also can be ordered with diesel engines, but their highest fuel economy ratings are 20 mpg city/30 highway/23 combined.

An International Harvester pickup, not one but two classic Broncos and Trail 70s on the wall......what don't you have?

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / July 23, 2019 Link Mfg., provider of specially-engineered suspensions, has introduced its ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab Suspension, a more advanced version of its Cabmate cab suspension that features Link’s Road-Optimized Innovations technology to improve ride quality and respond to road and weather conditions. The ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab Suspension employs multiple sensors to constantly assess environmental circumstances and respond simultaneously. An accelerometer monitors the motion of the cab, while a position sensor measures the position and velocity of the cab relative to the frame. Using Link’s proprietary algorithms, the system’s electronic control unit interprets the stream of information from all sensors in real time, and responds by continuously adjusting the stiffness of shock absorbers and by filling or exhausting air from the system’s air springs to optimize ride stability and comfort. The entire ROI system operates on less than 10 watts of power. After transitioning from on- to off-highway conditions, cabs can sustain structural damage, vehicles can become harder to handle and drivers can be forced to decrease speed to avoid losing control, according to Link. The ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab Suspension can help prevent health risks, handling impediments and asset destruction that decrease worker satisfaction, productivity and revenue potential. Bill Ott, Link’s vice president of engineering, said while the suspension is physically consistent no matter which OEM cab is used, each installation is tweaked for that application. "Our testing has identified specific characteristics of various OE chassis suspensions," said Ott. "So we have optimized the damping characteristics to suit the application." Seating is often thought of as the primary interface between the driver and the chassis. And while seating can do much to improve the ride quality for the driver, it serves only the driver. "Seating only helps maintain driver stability, it does nothing to stabilize what surrounds the driver," said Michael Hof, Link's vice president of business development. "What about vehicle electronics or the driver in the sleeper? Seating won't do much for them, but a better cab suspension can really help there." The ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab Suspension System also features electronic height control. The system minimizes air consumption compared to traditional height control valves, because it does not fill or exhaust air in response to dynamic suspension motion. The system is designed to produce a better overall ride regardless of road surfaces and atmospheric forces, such as wind shear. “Fleets will find numerous advantages associated with any vehicle fitted with Link’s ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab Suspension System, beginning with protection of the driver and the whole-cab asset,” said Hof. “Reducing driver and vehicle fatigue and enhancing ergonomics may enable operators to traverse an uneven route more quickly and safely, enabling productivity to rise and additional runs to be made in a single shift.” . .

Ford results dented by restructuring, gives weaker-than-expected forecast Reuters / July 24, 2019 DEARBORN, Michigan – Ford on Wednesday reported a lower-than-expected profit, weighed down by charges to restructure its units in Europe and South America, and the automaker gave a full-year earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Ford shares fell as much as 7 percent in after-hours trading. Virtually all of Ford’s second-quarter pre-tax profit came from North America - its most lucrative market - where highly-profitable pickup trucks drive margins for the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker and its Detroit rivals, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The automaker also posted a small profit in Europe and a far smaller loss in China compared with the second quarter of 2018 as better pricing and new luxury models helped offset a poor performance in that market. Ford’s second-quarter sales in China slid 21.7% in the second quarter after a first-quarter drop of 35.8%. In April, Ford said it planned to launch more than 30 new models over the next three years to overhaul its vehicle lineup in China. The automaker’s ongoing restructuring includes cutting costs and overhauling its product lineup in key global markets like China and Europe. The company said Wednesday it had so far only recorded $2.2 billion of the projected $11 billion in charges it previously said it would take for the global restructuring. Last month, Ford said it would cut 12,000 jobs, close five plants and cut shifts at other factories in Europe by the end of 2020 in an effort to return that region to profitability. In May, the company said it would eliminate about 10% of its global salaried workforce, cutting about 7,000 jobs by the end of August. Earlier this month, Ford and Volkswagen said they will spend billions of dollars to jointly develop electric and self-driving vehicles, deepening a global alliance to slash development and manufacturing costs. The size and timing of the payoff from that alliance remain unclear. Ford had previously not provided an earnings forecast for this year. The company said on Wednesday it now expects full-year earnings between $1.20 and $1.35 per share. Analysts have estimated the automaker will earn $1.39 per share this year, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Speaking to reporters, Chief Financial Officer Tim Stone said the company now expects adjusted 2019 pre-tax profit of up to $7.5 billion, compared with $7 billion in 2018. “We have a long way to go ... to execute on our redesign,” Stone said. “We have a lot of work to do.” For the first half of the year, Ford reported a pre-tax profit of $4.1 billion, meaning that the automaker will, at best, deliver a weaker pre-tax profit of $3.4 billion for the second half of 2019. The No. 2 U.S. automaker posted a second-quarter net profit of $148 million, or 4 cents per share, down from $1.1 billion, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time charges, the company earned 28 cents per share. Analysts had expected Ford to earn 31 cents a share. Excluding a write-down of its stake in a software company, Ford said it would have earned 32 cents per share. Revenue was flat at $38.9 billion, above the $35.07 billion expected.

Ford Forecast Trails Estimates on SUVs, China; Shares Fall Bloomberg / July 24, 2019 Ford issued an annual profit forecast that disappointed investors as the automaker rolls out new sport utility vehicles and struggles to compete in China’s slumping car market. Adjusted earnings will range from $1.20 to $1.35 a share, Ford said Wednesday, below analysts’ average estimate for $1.39. The second-largest U.S. automaker also missed projections for second-quarter profit, and its shares slumped in after-hours trading. CEO Jim Hackett is leading an $11 billion overhaul aimed at reversing Ford’s fortunes by cutting thousands of jobs, reviving an aging line of SUVs and pickups and ditching slow-selling sedans. Ford is losing money and market share in China, where the car market is contracting for the first time in a generation. “The guidance was a disappointment, as Ford had previously signaled opportunity to improve in its most important regions -- North America, Europe, and China,” Dan Levy, an analyst for Credit Suisse, wrote in a note to investors. The second-quarter results are “a reminder that the path to improvement may be bumpy.” Ford shares dropped 5.7% to $9.74 in after-hours trading after earlier falling as low as $9.46. The shares haven’t closed below $10 since June 26. New versions of Ford’s Explorer and Escape SUVs debut this year, and it’s bringing back the Bronco off-roader in 2020. The company also just struck a deal with Volkswagen AG to jointly develop electric and self-driving cars. A drop-off in shipments of the Explorer -- which is just ramping up production -- contributed to lower earnings and shrinking margin last quarter in North America, where Ford generates the bulk of its profit. Ford lost $155 million before interest and taxes in China, with deliveries to dealers plunging 32% in the second quarter, as the company struggles with an aging product line. The carmaker has said it’s reducing inventory and trying to boost sales by introducing new or revamped models. “We are seeing discreet signs of stability in our business in China even as the economy and the vehicle market are under recent and persistent stress,” Hackett said on a call with analysts. “We’re actively working on the design and launch of new products that will help us grow.” Software Write-Off The automaker also suffered a $181 million loss in its investment in a firm called Pivotal Software Inc., which caused the company to fall short of analysts’ estimates, Chief Financial Officer Tim Stone said. Ford’s write-off of its entire stake in Pivotal, which the automaker acquired three years ago, is the latest misfire by Ford, which lost $65 million it invested in another “smart mobility” venture known as Chariot. Earlier this year, Hackett dismissed that as a learning opportunity. “This is a pivot for us, a bunch of things have been birthed from the Chariot experience,” he told reporters at the Detroit auto show in January.

Ford Trucks International / July 24, 2019 Smooth handling, even on the toughest roads, with the Ford Trucks Construction Series' Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)! #SharingTheLoad

Here's the truth why concrete pumpers are switching to Autocar trucks: “My guys have been in Macks forever, but they love the Autocars. They ride better, they turn better with a way-smaller turning radius, and the biggest thing is, they don’t have to be in the shop.” Read the latest review here: https://lnkd.in/eFey8Jc #AlwaysUp #MakeTheChange #AutocarConcrete #AutocarACX .

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31725-those-hayes-clipper-100-coes/?tab=comments#comment-191114

Autocar has quite a history down-under, in this case, in New Zealand. Our fan, Ed Mansell, sent in this unusual 1984 Autocar that Ed says is a "DC-64B". No doubt, it was factory engineered as a right-hand drive with plenty of other custom features as well. #AutocarDC #AlwaysUp .

A Steelcase HME Bullet. It doesn't get much better than that. .

They got “bit” by CAT when the construction equipment maker forced them to all build truck shops, at considerable investment, and then pulled the plug on trucks. This effort is an idea, an attempt to make use of their investment, and they all feel CAT dare not complain.

If Ford offered the Allison and Cummins ISB once more, F-650 and F-750 sales would double as large fleets and municipalities once more became customers. Bob, what is Avon Lake's medium-duty production capacity versus current production volume?

BBC / July 23, 2019 The US government is introducing a new fast-track deportation process that will bypass immigration courts. Under the new rules, migrants who cannot prove they have been in the US continuously for more than two years can be immediately deported. Until now, expedited deportations could only be applied to those detained near the border who had been in the US for less than two weeks. Rights groups say hundreds of thousands of people could be affected. [Non-American illegal immigrants have no "rights" in the U.S. under our Constitution] The American[?] Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says it will challenge the policy in court. The new rule is expected to be implemented with immediate effect after it is published on Tuesday. Previously, only people detained within 100 miles (160km) of the border who had been in the US for less than two weeks could be deported quickly. Migrants who were found elsewhere, or who had been in the country for more than two weeks, would need to be processed through the courts and would be entitled to legal representation. But the new rules state that people can be deported regardless of where in the country they are when they are detained, and without allowing them access to a lawyer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the new rules would allow it to pursue large numbers of illegal migrants more efficiently.

An Autocar hard at work. Thanks to Scott Pluta. Always Up - Autocar Trucks .

Ford Trucks International Press Release / July 22, 2019 Ford Trucks continues its partnership with the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team at the FIA WEC competition. 🏁 🏎️ #PoweredByFordTrucks #SharingTheLoad .

Ford investing $50 million in Chicago to build hybrids Michael Martinez, Automotive News / July 22, 2019 Ford is investing $50 million and converting 450 temporary union workers to full-time at its Chicago Assembly Plant as it converts a nearby modification center to handle final assembly of the electrified versions of its Explorer and Aviator crossovers. The move, which takes effect in the fourth quarter, allows Ford to free the main line at Chicago Assembly for gasoline versions of both vehicles. The 200,000-square-foot modification center, about a mile from Chicago Assembly, previously handled the automaker's Police Interceptors. That work will move to another building. The temporary workers being converted to full-time will come from the Chicago Assembly Plant and the Chicago Stamping Plant, and Ford plans to hire more workers to replace them. Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of automotive, told Automotive News Monday the move will allow the automaker to make up some production lost to the new models' launch curve and could lead to increased production in 2020. The announcement comes a week after handshakes with the UAW to open what's expected to be tense negotiations over jobs, investment and wages. Ford has surpassed the $900 million it agreed to invest in Chicago Assembly as part of its 2015 contract. One particular area of concern: use of temporary workers. The union wants more guarantees that those workers can reach full-time status. "When we work together we can find creative solutions," Hinrichs said. "And this is a really creative solution." Ford got the idea, Hinrichs said, after building some preproduction models of the Explorer and Aviator at the center. Bodies will be shipped from the main assembly plant to the center, where they will go through final assembly. The products will then be shipped back to the assembly plant's customer acceptance line for a final check. The Explorer and Aviator share a new rear-wheel-drive platform. The Explorer will come with a hybrid option while the Aviator will get a plug-in hybrid model, called the Aviator Grand Touring.