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Commercial Motor / May 31, 2019 Find out about the lightweight savings being made to help operators in the tipper and tanker industry. .

FORD'S GALHOTRA: 'We have a lot of great product this year' Automotive News / June 2, 2019 DETROIT — For a glimpse into Ford Motor Co.'s expectations for the growth of its North American business, look no further than Kumar Galhotra's office space. Roughly 15 months after he was named Ford's president of North America, Galhotra and his team have moved from Ford World Headquarters to more spacious digs in nearby Regent Court, a two-tower building that houses, among other teams, Ford's marketing and sales units. The team previously operated out of makeshift "franchise rooms" dedicated to individual nameplates that were slapped together from former executive offices and meeting spaces on the 11th floor of Ford's Glass House in Dearborn, Mich. The office upgrades come at a pivotal time in North America, the company's longstanding moneymaker. Ford is aiming to have the industry's freshest lineup by 2020 and hoping that product, focused on profitable pickup and utility segments, will help improve margins. "We have a lot of great product this year," Galhotra, who led Lincoln before taking his current post, told Automotive News. "A lot of product momentum should help both provide great vehicles for our customers and for our bottom line." Galhotra, 53, spoke with Staff Reporter Michael Martinez and Chief Content Officer Jamie Butters in May about Ford's outlook for its North American business, including plans for some upcoming products. Here are edited excerpts. Q: Ford has set a 10 percent North American profit margin target. Where is the company in terms of achieving that? A: We just had an excellent [first] quarter. This is the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement, so the signals are clearly there that what we are doing is working. We intentionally haven't put a strict timeline on 10 percent because there are way too many variables that impact the business. The overall trajectory needs to be toward 10 percent. Will there be ups and downs? Absolutely. There are multiple macroeconomic, regulatory levers that would impact that. Is the 10 percent goal a full-year average? Or do you expect to consistently hit 10-plus every quarter? My view is, in our industry, we should emphasize the full year more than each quarter because of multiple factors that can provide quarter-to-quarter variability. Weather impacts it. There's seasonality in our fleet business. Then there's quarter-to-quarter variability in our costs. We're a capital-intensive business, so if you launch a particular product in third quarter vs. fourth quarter, that's going to have a big impact. I want to see improvement in every quarter, but I'm very aware that quarter-to-quarter variability is a fact of life. What's the biggest threat to North America? There are multiple headwinds that we manage every day. It's not one particular threat. A particular headwind from the customer side could be interest rates. They've gone up, so that's something that needs to be managed very carefully, providing the customers what they want and what they can afford. The environment in terms of tariffs continues to be volatile. We're doing a lot of work on quality and fully expect improvement between 2018 and 2019. Let's not forget the competition; nobody's standing still. All day, every day, we're all fighting for share and volume, and how we react to each other's actions is a daily part of work. It's not one threat. It's managing all parts of the business. Last year, Ford axed plans to bring the Focus Active wagon to North America. Are tariffs impacting other product plans? Generally, we need the steel and aluminum tariffs to go away as part of [the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement]. That was a very substantial headwind from 2017 to 2018. The impact is about flat '18 to '19, but it's still there. We do import parts from China, and those are impacted; those will be more expensive as they're coming here. We do ship substantial Lincoln volumes from the U.S. to China. As those volumes are impacted by higher tariffs on the China side, we have to make adjustments in the U.S. plants. That has an obvious impact of scale for us; those plants being set up to serve two markets now have a lot less volume. It's a very complex situation. Relief on metals tariffs has been announced. Have you accounted for that? I think it's a very great first step, but we need to keep in mind it still needs to be ratified, and that's very important. In our forecast, it does not include elimination of 232 tariffs for steel and aluminum until it's secured. It's been a year since Ford announced plans to cut sedans. Will you lose market share as you exit those segments? No. We believe we will make it up through multiple actions. Managing the timing is complex. Because we are a capital-intensive business, a product cycle for us is years, not days. Retooling a plant takes time. With Bronco and the small rugged utility coming, expansion of Expedition and Navigator capacity, with a fresh Explorer and Escape, if you combine all that, at a run-rate level, we think we'll be fine in making up the market share. Would it be the same every month? You can't be that precise about it. Is there concern about losing sedan customers to some of your rivals? There will be lots of customers also, the flip side, in vehicles that we weren't providing previously. The question really is, where are our strengths, and where is our capital best deployed? That's something we take very seriously now. Automotive News has reported that Ford is considering the Bronco and its other off-roaders as a "family" of vehicles. Would you consider it as its own subbrand? I can't go into the details, but I can say the Bronco brand name is so strong, we're looking at all kinds of possibilities. It's a very emotional product. Along with that love for that brand name comes the responsibility of how you execute that product. If the Bronco is going to be a Bronco, it has to deliver on capability and feel and emotional pull that customers have for that brand. We have to be really good stewards of that brand name. We have to look at all opportunities that are out there. We're studying very carefully not just where we want to go, but where can the customer allow us to go with that name? Is Ford considering having more than one product with the Bronco name? We're studying possibilities. I can't be any more specific than that. Can Ford beat Jeep in the off-road segment? I feel that looking at it from that broad a lens — off-road only — is just the starting point. But then you need to look at, what is unique about Bronco vs. other similar vehicles in the marketplace functionally, emotionally and from a design-language perspective? Getting those things right is going to be very, very important. We know there is a lot of love for that nameplate in the marketplace. It goes beyond the name itself; it's what it represents. Because some of our customers are spending $200,000 or more restoring their Broncos, and there are hundreds of Bronco clubs all over the U.S. The passion for the product, from our customers, dealers and employees, is incredible. The market research we do, both on the concept and research with prototypes, has been very well-received. You put all those together, we're very confident there's a substantial opportunity for us, both in terms of volume and pricing. Is there space out there? Yes. Can we make a strong business case about that? Absolutely. Does Ford plan a charging network for electric vehicles? Would it be Ford- branded or part of a consortium? If you're going to put EVs on the market, you need a very strong and well-thought-out charging strategy. And we do; we're working on it. I don't think we're close enough to declare [possible collaborations]. It is going to involve several stakeholders to execute it properly. First and foremost, we're looking at it through the lens of the consumer, to provide great options for charging at home. But then, we need to have a very broad network that helps them charge away from home. The fundamental issue is to solve range anxiety. Other competitors have tried and failed to sell electric pickups. Why electrify the F series? It goes back to our ethnographic research. Our F-series team go to where they use those vehicles. It wasn't just the vehicle itself, it was the vehicle in its environment. They noticed, in multiple construction sites, there was always a generator, and it was always noisy and smelly. Then the question is, what's the insight there? Could you just remove all that noise and smell? It's not just a fuel economy play, it's s a totally different experience play. The next-generation F-150 launches in 2020. Ram has had success in part because of its interior. How much will the interior of the F-150 evolve? This was our philosophy at Lincoln, and this is our philosophy more and more here leaning into human-centered design. The interior space provides an experience for our customers. We're very thoroughly looking at what experiences to provide those customers. Both work and personal-use customers have different needs. We know what those needs are and what those experiences ought to be. We're designing an interior that's going to meet those functional needs and also provide surprises and delights for our customers. Interiors are important for all vehicles, but especially for that vehicle. . Video - https://www.autonews.com/2019galhotravideo .

I love everyone here like a brother. We're good.

So every person should carry a gun at all times in all places? I myself am not going to. If things are so bad that the need to carry a gun is mandatory, then I will live elsewhere. Life is too short. If I was king of USA Inc for a time, every "indisputable" murderer apprehended alive would die within 24 hours by the exact same means he/she used on their victims. In these cases with indisputable evidence (cameras, ect.), there would be no trial (a trial for what purpose?). That, I feel, would send shock waves to those who have murderous thinking. I couldn't change them.....but I would put the fear of god into them.

No.

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) / May 27, 2019 .

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) / May 27, 2019 . .

U.S. Department of Defense / May 31, 2019 Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is awarded a $14,473,955 five-year, firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to convert existing Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, Extra Long Wheel Base vehicles into High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Resupply Vehicles under the portfolio management of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2024. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds (Marine Corps) in the amount of $9,917,216 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will not expire at the end of the current year. This contract award was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-D-0032).

U.S. Department of Defense / May 31, 2019 Navistar Defense LLC, Lisle, Illinois, was awarded a $14,085,821 firm-fixed-price contract for 4x4 Navistar cargo trucks, 6x6 Navistar general transport trucks, 6x6 Navistar 30 ton wreckers, and Navistar spare parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Lisle, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $14,085,821 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0426).

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DeWayne Craddock, a public utilities engineer, was named as the mass shooter who opened fire indiscriminately at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killing 12 people and wounding others, in the nation’s latest horrific active shooter event. Craddock, who worked for the city of Virginia Beach, previously served in the Army National Guard. He was a 1996 graduate of Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. Police scanner traffic chronicled how officers rushed to rescue victims, including at least one shot in the face, found survivors hiding throughout the complex, and worked to neutralize the suspect, who was still firing through a door. Authorities praised the heroism of a wounded officer and other first responders. Craddock used a .45 caliber handgun with a silencer and multiple extended magazines. The shooter and officers engaged in a lengthy gun battle. In a press conference, the governor stressed that more might have lost their lives without the quick response of law enforcement officers and medics. “Their actions likely saved lives,” he said. They have seen injuries and scenes “no one should have to face,” he said. The mayor called it Virginia Beach’s “darkest hour.” The scene was active for so long that journalists reported hearing gunshots when they arrived. .

Beautiful truck, and nicely spec'd !

12 innocent people murdered by a fellow employee gunman at the city municipal center in Virginia Beach. Six others are injured. "Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior"..........Not my America. https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/article_777b737e-83e3-11e9-b1d0-dff7ad725d5e.html

Cummins, Isuzu Form Powertrain Partnership Transport Topics / May 31, 2019 Independent engine maker Cummins Inc. and truck maker Isuzu Motors announced they are entering into the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership agreement, which formalizes a business structure for the companies to bring new diesel and diesel-based powertrains to global markets. “Isuzu and Cummins recognize the advanced diesel engine is, and will continue to be, an important power choice for global customers in commercial vehicle and industrial applications. This is especially true in developed countries where power sources are used for high-intensity operations, as well as in emerging countries where social infrastructure conditions are severe,” says Isuzu Motors President Masanori Katayama.

The Navistar dealers are upset because they haven't gotten any CVs in yet. There was an agreement that Chevrolet dealers would get trucks first.....and that's a lot of trucks to provide before the first Navistar badged unit can roll off the line.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54480-cummins-and-isuzu-agree-to-evaluate-global-partnership-opportunities/

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / May 29, 2019 Plaintiff attorneys in the case described below said Wednesday that members of the class, those who purchased a truck equipped with a model-year 2011-2014 Navistar MaxxForce 11-liter or 13-liter engine, are eligible for compensation from the settlement fund. Class members can opt for a “no questions asked” payment of $2,500 per truck purchased, said attorney Jonathan Selbin, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case. Or they can opt for a $10,000 rebate off of the “best negotiated price of purchase of a new truck,” he said. Class members can also choose to recover out pocket damages related to repair expenses of up to $15,000, if they can prove their repair expenses were related to the alleged defects of the engine. The original story, published Wednesday, is below. Selbin said in the press release that the settlement amount was $135 million. Navistar said in a statement to Overdrive on Wednesday that the company will take a $159 million charge-out in the second quarter to fund the settlement and “for certain other engine lawsuits that are not included in the settlement agreement.” Navistar, maker of International Trucks, has entered into a $159 million class-action settlement with fleets and truck owners who purchased model year 2011-2014 11-liter and 13-liter MaxxForce engines — a now-defunct engine line from Navistar that allegedly contained defects and piled up millions of dollars in warranty claims for the company. The fallout from the MaxxForce line also led to several years of multi-billion dollar losses for Navistar. The company has in the past five years piloted a financial turnaround and revamped its product line, shedding the truck and engine models that plagued the company in its pursuit of an EGR-only solution to meeting 2010 federal emissions standards. It now offers its A26 engine in a 12-liter option, and customers can spec tractors with a 15-liter Cummins. In an 8-K form filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Navistar notified shareholders of the pending charge-out and settlement. A Navistar spokesperson confirmed the settlement, saying that it will be taken in the second quarter of this year. It remains subject to court approval, and it does not apply to the MaxxForce 15-liter engine, the company said. The settlement “denies all claims…wrongdoing, liability or damage of any kind, and denies that [Navistar] acted improperly or wrongfully in any way,” the 8-K states. It’s unclear how many members of the class might be eligible for a portion of the settlement. Navistar in 2016 settled a probe by the SEC into whether the company misled shareholders, paying $7.5 million to end the investigation. Navistar was the only engine maker in 2012 to pursue an EGR-only strategy [at the request of the EPA] to meet federal emissions standards, with all others opting to use the DEF-based selective catalytic reduction system. Navistar later abandoned the strategy and switched to an SCR system.

Ford Trucks International / May 30, 2019 We've added a new facility with our Serbian distributor BC Trucks and we keep on growing every day! .

Chevy revives Trailblazer as 2021 small crossover Michael Wayland, Automotive News / May 29, 2019 DETROIT — General Motors is resurrecting the Chevrolet Trailblazer as a small crossover, padding the U.S. lineup at its biggest division with another crossover as more Americans abandon the traditional sedan. The 2021 Trailblazer will slot between the subcompact Chevrolet Trax and compact Chevrolet Equinox, the company said Wednesday. The vehicle, which was unveiled last month in China, will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2020. The new Trailblazer takes heavy design cues from the Chevrolet Blazer, a familiar SUV nameplate GM resurrected last year as a midsize crossover. Like the 2019 Blazer, the Trailblazer will include an RS trim with standard two-tone roof. GM last produced the Trailblazer for the U.S. with the 2009 model year. During the SUV craze of the early 2000s, TrailBlazer was a very successful midsize SUV, offered in five- and seven-passenger versions. Chevrolet discontinued the TrailBlazer in 2008 amid rising gasoline prices that combined with disappointing fuel economy. It was replaced by the Traverse. “The Trailblazer’s great design enables more personalization,” Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet passenger car and crossover marketing, said in a statement. “Trailblazer is a continuation of the design language for Chevy’s crossover family and extends our momentum into one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments.” Chevrolet did not announce pricing and other specifications for the vehicle. A company spokesman also declined to provide additional information about the Trailblazer. The Trailblazer is expected to be built on the same platform as the 2020 Buick Encore GX, which GM earlier Wednesday confirmed would arrive in U.S. showrooms in early 2020. The compact Encore GX and 2021 Trailblazer will be imported from South Korea. .

(Corrected) Now what is going on here? 1. The Autocar rep (left) appears like he doesn't want to be there. The look of confidence.....or doubt? 2. The plaque has no inscription.......just a piece wood with the Autocar logo. I've never cared for the XPERT model. Yes, The XPERT and the Crane Carrier COE2 prove that America still produces COE trucks. However, the COE2 is ancient and the XPERT has a hideous looking equally ancient Chinese cab derived from an old MAN design. Autocar isn't helping it's cause here, more so demonstrating how weak it's dealer body is.....a subject we already touched on. They can't depend solely on direct sales to large fleets if they want to reboot with the new conventional cab range and grow. http://www.qixingauto.com/html/2017/heavy_0325/133.html https://www.autocartruck.com/acmd/ https://www.cranecarrier.com/pages/cab-over-engine

Autocar Trucks Press Release / May 28, 2019 You want to talk #AlwaysUp? It's our honor to celebrate Larry Taylor's 47 years of service to the City of Roanoke, VA mostly as night shift supervisor doing maintenance on refuse trucks. Larry is receiving his award in front of Roanoke's new Autocar #ACMD Rear-Loaders. Larry says all of the Autocar trucks he's worked with for the last 30 years have been very reliable, with repairs on the truck cab & chassis rarely needed. Congratulations, Larry! .

https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Snow-Plow-Trucks-2003-Mack-RD688S-T%2FA-Plow%2FDump-Truck-75-191-Pennsylvania/2286919?h=5000%2Cm|Mack&rr=0.03571&hitprm=&pnLink=yes https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Snow-Plow-Trucks-2003-Mack-RD688S-T%2FA-Plow%2FDump-Truck-75-190-Pennsylvania/2286909?h=5000%2Cm|Mack&rr=0.03448&hitprm=&pnLink=yes And single axles units as well. https://www.govplanet.com/Mack