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The all-new Chevy 5500HD has just landed at Unicell Body Company's Buffalo Plant. .

https://www.kenworth.com.au/trucks/t659/

Prime Mover Magazine / December 10, 2018 Transport and logistics company, Toll, has deployed a new fleet of Kenworths in far north Queensland running lead and zinc concentrates from the Cannington mine to Yurbi Rail Siding near Cloncurry before it is moved onto Townsville. The five new 8x6 Kenworth T659 Day Cab Tri-Drives will be used in quad road train side tipper application to also move copper concentrate from the Capricorn site. A Cummins X15 600hp engine has been paired to an Eaton FO-22E318B-MXP Ultrashift Plus that features Cummins ADEPT technology and Eaton’s Dual-Mode. The Kenworths, five in total, will operate around 175 tonne gross concessional mass, but can be approved to go higher, subject to application analysis according to PACCAR Australia. The trailers were built and designed by Mick Murray Welding, a Townsville-based manufacturer. “The design was intended to support a payload increase of around 10 per cent over current units, while meeting the regulatory requirements to haul concentrates that can be classified as dangerous goods,” said a Toll spokesperson. “As well as achieving the payload increase, our drivers have been impressed with the added safety and technology features on the prime mover and trailers; making them feel safer while operating a multi-combination at 164.2 tonnes Gross Combination Mass (GCM)” “The design also includes a unique lid system that improves the safe operation for loading and unloading compared to previous builds.” The Kenworth T659 comes equipped with a Knorr Bremse full-integrated safety suite, ABS Brakes, Electronic Stability Program, Trailer Response Module, Lane Departure Warning and Active Cruise Braking with Collision Mitigation. PACCAR confirmed it worked with CHJ Engineering to provide ROPS mounted brackets which were fitted in production so as to avoid disassembly of the trucks in post-production. The truck also has a full complement of LED lights including headlights, all market lights, beacon lights, tail lights, mirror mounted read flood loading lights. .

China mobilises DF-26 ballistic missiles capable of sinking US warships in the South China Sea Jack Kilbride, ABC News / January 10, 2019 Beijing has announced it has deployed intermediate ballistic missiles to the country's north-west region, saying the weapons have the capacity to destroy US ships entering disputed waters in the South China Sea. The DF-26 missiles — which have been previously dubbed the 'Guam Killer' or 'Guam Express' by Chinese media and defence experts — are capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. They have a range of 4,500 kilometres, making them capable of reaching as far as Guam in the east and Indonesia in the south, providing Beijing with a powerful weapon as tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea. Positioning the missiles deep in China's mainland made them more difficult to intercept as it allowed the missile to enter its final stages at a high speed. The missiles were first displayed in 2015 and China confirmed they were now operational in April last year. 'They feel their time has come' A day before the announcement, a US guided missile destroyer, the USS McCambell, passed through waters off the Paracel Islands — an area Beijing considers part of its territory — without permission. The US called it a "freedom of navigation" operation, while Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang urged the US to "immediately cease this kind of provocation". Late last year, Chinese Navy Rear Admiral Luo Yuan suggested Beijing could sink two US carriers in a bid to deter the US from entering the South China Sea. Admiral Lou was quoted in Taiwanese media as stating that destroying two carrier would kill around 10,000 US personnel, claiming that this would be the best way to hurt the US as "America is most afraid of the death of its people." Malcom Davis, senior analyst in defence strategy and capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told the ABC the missile deployment was significant, particularly on the back of the recent threats from China. He said that up until now China only had the shorter range DF-21D in operation. "They're putting real capabilities in play to back up their threats," Dr Davis said. "Politically and strategically there is a growing risk of a conflict between China and Taiwan that could ultimately see China trying to sink US naval vessels, including aircraft carriers." He said the move further demonstrated President Xi Jinping's determination to make China ready for war with the United States, either over Taiwan or the South China Sea. "I worry that the Chinese are building up towards something in the next couple of years," Dr Davis said, adding that Mr Xi could look to make a strong statement on Taiwan as the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party approaches in 2021. "The Chinese, in terms of the way they think, the way they see themselves in the world and the way they see the US, they feel that their time has come." Last week Mr Xi told a meeting of top officials that China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle. The mobilisation is the latest in a string of moves from China's defence forces. Last week, a Chinese warship was pictured out at sea carrying what appeared to be an electromagnetic railgun, a weapon capable of firing hypersonic projectiles to hit targets hundreds of kilometres away in a matter of seconds. But despite their recent moves giving them the capability to back up their threats, Dr Davis said it was highly unlikely that the Chinese were about to launch an attack, and it was unlikely that the move would deter the US presence in the region. "Every carrier is supported by a naval taskforce of cruisers and destroyers which have sophisticated sea-based air defence systems on board that could potentially shoot down the incoming missiles. "But it's a difficult thing to do." Dr Davis said Chinese doctrine was to use a 'multi-domain attack' approach — firing a diverse barrage of missiles to create a complex problem for the Americans that would likely result in a loss of ships. "When we talk about between the US and China, forget past conflicts where the Americans have had overwhelming technological advantage," Dr Davis said. "Both sides are going to take heavy losses in that conflict."

Ford resigned to underwhelming profit even after Europe cuts Keith Naughton, Bloomberg / January 11, 2019 For all the cuts Ford Motor Co. is poised to make in Europe, it’s resigned to the region staying a drag on profitability for the foreseeable future. Ford on Thursday put a giant German van plant on the chopping block, started a strategic review of its Russia joint venture and vowed to consolidate operations in the U.K., adding to plans for a French transmission factory to cease production this spring. Even with the cutbacks, Ford is targeting just a 6 percent profit margin in Europe for the long term. That’s short of its 8 percent goal on a global basis. The company also stopped short of definitively saying it will close any plants and didn’t give any details about how many jobs it plans to eliminate. The announcement left the market wanting more. Ford’s shares, which plunged almost 40 percent last year to levels last seen in 2009, traded slightly lower to $8.67 on an otherwise upbeat day on Wall Street Thursday. CEO Jim Hackett, who’s caught flack for coming up short on earnings targets and canceling an investor day last fall, will face pressure to be more open and act quickly to turn around a company facing risk to its dividend and credit ratings. “Investor criticism for Ford over the past year has focused on a lack of details on the fitness plan,” says UBS analyst Colin Langan. “This release still lacks some specifics.” Ford has stuck around despite Europe rarely generating positive returns for years. The same could be said for General Motors before CEO Mary Barra decided to abandon business there in 2017 by selling Opel and Vauxhall to France’s PSA Group. Hackett, 63, and Barra, 57, will have more to share with investors soon. GM hosts an investor event Friday. Ford may announce a broader alliance with Volkswagen AG during next week’s Detroit auto show, according to people familiar with the matter, and Hackett and other senior executives will speak at several conferences coinciding with the event in Detroit.

Not true. India and Pakistan, for example, are what you're thinking. China has gone from Euro 1 to Euro 6 in under 20 years. That's quite an accomplishment. The major cities have changed heating plants over from coal to natural gas. Plastic bags are banned. The list goes on and on.

China is immensely worried, and is spending far more than any other country to correct matters in there.

19QE396P5 most likely......we used them on most FAW20 axles.

I don't know the "terms" of the deal. Once you deduct all the kickbacks, the price of the trucks themselves is probably reasonable.

With VW, the Piech and Porsche families (whose histories are deeply tied to Hitler and the Nazi regime).

No Jim. This has a pre-emissions Euro-3 engine like they still offer for export. Listen from 3:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=206&v=ZxvN5tLw4Sw

Produced by Wagner for Mack, they have significantly more force, a requirement for a 20k axle versus a 12k axle. That Volvo wants to charge you $744.85 for a $200 component should be a crime. Volvo doesn't want you operating a 1996 vintage truck. And they want to rinse their hands of "American" Macks.

Mack Defense details new US Army M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck Shaun Connors, Janes International Defense Review / October 16, 2018 Mack Defense has confirmed additional M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) technical details to Jane’s after showing the type publicly for the first time at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference in October. Following a solicitation released on 26 May 2017 and a subsequent competition between Mack Defense and Navistar Defense, on 29 May 2018 the US Army announced that it had awarded the HDT contract to Mack Defense. The initial market survey for this requirement had been released by the US Army in 2014. The M917 is a member of the M900 series of trucks. The M900 series are based on commercial vehicles with the minimum of modifications to make them suitable for military use, and as such are not classed tactical trucks by the US Army. (MilCOTS - Militarized Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) In addition to the M917, the M900 series includes the M915 6×4 and M916 6×6 tractor trucks, and has previously included M918 6×6 bituminous distributor, M919 8x6 concrete mixer, and M920 8×6 tractor truck. Mack’s winning M917 HDT bid is based on the company’s Granite axle-forward construction grade chassis. A key differentiator between the commercial offering and the HDT is the latter requiring a force protection capability. To meet this requirement Mack offered a swap-cab solution. The drop-in armoured cab, designed by Tencate, will be manufactured by JWF Defense Systems and fitted with Jankel BLASTech seating. The gap between the dump body and cab is primarily to retain a weight balance and axle loads with the armoured cab fitted. The 18 yd³ (13.76 m³) heated steel dump body is manufactured by Crysteel Manufacturing Inc.

Mack Brand Press Release / November 8, 2018 [Volvo Group subsidiary] Mack Defense recently showcased the Mack® Granite-based M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) at the Association of United States Army (AUSA) 2018 show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Mack Defense was awarded a $296 million contract in May 2018 to produce 683 HDTs for the U.S. Army. “The M917A3 is a great example of the capabilities Mack Defense has to develop solutions for military customers,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “Using the rugged Mack Granite as a foundation, we were able to engineer the M917A3 to meet the U.S. Army’s challenging applications.” Based on the civilian Mack Granite model, Mack Defense optimized the M917A3 HDT to meet the current needs of the U.S. Army, while allowing for evolving requirements and future growth. Mack Defense engineers added heavier-duty rear axles and all-wheel drive, while increasing the suspension’s ride height to create a heavy dump truck capable of meeting the demanding payload and mobility requirements set by the U.S. Army HDT program. The M917A3’s cab armor was engineered by external partner experts to maintain all the comfort and driver-focused amenities of the commercial Granite model, while adding force protection to keep occupants safe in hostile environments. Mack Defense is a member of AUSA, whose vision is to be the premier voice for America’s soldiers. AUSA is committed to building the best professional and representative association for the U.S. Army. More than 30,000 attendees visited AUSA and the 700 exhibitors representing 100 countries around the world.

Ford Europe to cut thousands of jobs in turnaround plan Bloomberg/Reuters / January 10, 2019 Ford will shed thousands of jobs at its European operations in a bid to return the business to profitability in a broad restructuring that may include shutting down production plants. Ford has struggled with an aging model lineup and a contracting market in the UK, Ford’s biggest in Europe, which is in store for further disruption from Brexit. In a statement on Thursday, Ford said it will seek to exit the multivan segment, review its operations in Russia, and combine the headquarters of Ford UK and Ford Credit to a site in Dunton, Essex. Ford, in its statement, said it also plans to leverage relationships, "including a potential alliance with Volkswagen AG, to support commercial vehicle growth." Ford and VW could announce details of an alliance on Tuesday at the Detroit auto show. "We are looking to make a step-change in the performance of the business," said Steven Armstrong, Ford’s head of Europe. “There will be significant impact across the region. We will be looking at all options,” which could include plant closures, he told Bloomberg Ford announced in December that it was working on a restructuring plan for Europe called Sprint to 6 Reset and Redesign. The name refers to Ford’s 6 percent profit margin target for Europe. The company did not give a timeframe for the target. Ford has said the plan will involve concentrating on its profit-making SUVs and commercial vehicles and cutting unprofitable model lines, thought to refer the Galaxy and S-Max minivans. Ford has already said it will cease production at a plant in Bordeaux, France, and has started labor talks at the Saarlouis factory in Germany after a decision to end production of the C-Max compact van. The automaker, which currently employs 53,000 people in Europe, has struggled to turn a profit, posting a 245 million euros loss before interest and taxes in the third quarter, widening from $192 million a year earlier, and equivalent to a negative 3.3 percent EBIT margin. Armstrong declined to quantify the scale of job cuts, pending negotiations with labor leaders, but said staff reductions would run into the "thousands." Voluntary separations "Ford aims to achieve the labor cost reductions as far as possible through voluntary employee separations in Europe," the automaker said. Ford’s European business currently relies on models such as the recently revamped Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Ford, whose business in Europe includes a “solidly profitable” commercial vehicles unit, said it will establish three separate groups for passenger cars, its vans business and imports like the iconic Mustang. “We are continuing to invest in the business, especially in electrified cars,” said Armstrong. “We will still have a comprehensive lineup of cars in future with primarily SUVs and crossovers.” Over the long term, Ford is targeting earnings before interest and taxes of 6 percent of sales in Europe. This year, performance will already be “significantly better” than 2018, Armstrong said. Ford last year kicked off a company-wide $11 billion restructuring after both Europe and Asia swung to losses and costs to invest in electric and self-driving vehicles mount. Like many other carmakers, Ford has warned it won’t meet its forecasts for 2018, and CEO Jim Hackett jettisoned a goal to reach an 8 percent profit margin by 2020. .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / January 9, 2019 Building on the array of products and prototypes it displayed at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany last fall, Meritor has announced it has 22 electrification programs with global OEMs that is expected to put at least 130 fully electric medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks on the road through 2020. "These emission-free solutions offered under Meritor's Blue Horizon technology brand have the potential to transform the industry by meeting the rising global demand for clean, electric-powered drivetrains that we believe will deliver a high-efficiency solution that greatly reduces the total cost of ownership for our customers," said John Bennett, vice president and chief technology officer for Meritor. "These programs position Meritor for future growth in an emerging industry segment." According to Meritor, in the first half of this year, a major fleet customer will begin operating the first of six medium-duty Peterbilt Model 220EV Class 6 pick-up and delivery trucks equipped with Meritor's 14Xe electric drive systems and fully integrated subsystems from TransPower, a leader in electrification technologies for large commercial vehicles. In 2017, Meritor announced a strategic investment in TransPower. Meritor's eCarrier platform integrates an electric motor into the axle, freeing up space for batteries and other components. This flexible design is the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid and single or tandem axles with various options based on product application for vehicle Classes 5 through 8. Among the 130 commercial vehicles expected to be placed into service by 2020, 60 of these trucks received funding from the California Air Resources Board as part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions in freight facilities. In addition to the truck applications, a prototype school bus outfitted with Meritor and TransPower electrification solutions has been exceeding expectations during testing in Escondido, California since late May. Testing includes climbing steep grades, stop-and-go at low speeds, off-road and freeway driving as well as heavy-load hauling on rural roads. "Several large customers have come out to see and ride the bus, and their comments are very complimentary from ride comfort, noise, vibration and harshness, acceleration, top speed and design simplicity standpoints," Bennett added. .

Ford Explorer gains space for passengers, plywood in major RWD redesign Michael Martinez, Automotive News / January 9, 2019 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is seeking to broaden the appeal of the venerable Explorer by better listening to the customers who have made it the nation's best-selling utility vehicle all time. The automaker says Explorer buyers asked for more interior space, towing capability and performance. The sixth-generation Explorer, introduced late Wednesday ahead of the Detroit auto show, will deliver on those customer wishes, Ford says. The 2020 vehicle, on sale this summer, was redesigned on a new rear-wheel-drive, unibody platform that gives it sportier styling and what Ford engineers describe as better handling. The seven-passenger crossover can tow up to 5,600 pounds -- 600 more than the outgoing version -- and has best-in-class second- and third-row headroom, Ford claims. "We built it around the way people use the car," Bill Gubing, the Explorer's chief program engineer, said at a briefing ahead of Wednesday's reveal. "Even the smallest features are designed from a customer perspective." The 2020 Explorer will be more expensive than the current version, but Ford contends that customers are willing to pay the higher prices for more content and capability. It starts at $33,860, including shipping, $400 more than the 2019 Explorer, but the base model includes more than a dozen new standard features, including a power liftgate, Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist technology and Wi-Fi connectivity. The base engine, a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four, is expected to get 300 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a 10-speed transmission. Buyers can upgrade to a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 on the high-end Platinum trim that's expected to get 365 hp and 380 pound-feet of torque. Intelligent four-wheel drive is available. Ford also plans to offer a hybrid Explorer and a high-performance ST version, which replaces the Sport trim. Ford has not yet released details on those variants. "It's our broadest-ever lineup," said Craig Patterson, Ford's marketing manager for the Explorer. "We're expanding what the role of the SUV is." More space for families The Explorer, first sold as a 1991 model with a starting price of less than $18,000, has been one of Ford's most successful nameplates and last year trailed only the F-series pickup and Escape crossover in the brand's U.S. sales. The automaker has sold 7.7 million Explorers in the U.S. since its launch, the most of any utility. Now, Ford is looking to cash in on the rapidly growing millennial demographic: 20- and 30-somethings who are getting married, having kids and looking for larger vehicles. The interior of the 2020 model is quieter and includes more head and hip room. Second- and third-row seats fold flat and can accommodate a 4- by 8-foot sheet of plywood, which wouldn't fit in the outgoing version. Ford says the 2020 Explorer gains 6.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, a reversible floor that's easy to clean after hauling kids' mud-caked cleats and a feature that engineers have dubbed the "apple catcher" -- a lip on the rear floor that's meant to stop wine bottles or spaghetti sauce jars from rolling out of the back when the liftgate opens. Every seating position in the second and third rows has child-seat anchors, and retractable second-row sunshades are optional. Tall screen, new tech An 8-inch touch screen is standard, and there is an optional 10.1-inch screen in a portrait configuration -- taller than it is wide -- which is a first for Ford. In addition to its standard driver-assist technology, including a lane-keeping system and automatic emergency braking, the 2020 Explorer is the first North American nameplate to offer the automaker's second generation of Ford's active park assist. The feature, standard on the Platinum trim, allows drivers to parallel or perpendicular park by pressing and holding a button. Previously, the driver had to hold the steering wheel and control the braking and acceleration. "We obsessed about what Explorer customers need and want," Gubing said. "We met with customer groups, pored through Internet forums and dissected social media posts to determine what they love about today's Explorer and understand their pain points. Then we found ways to improve it across the board." U.S. sales of the Explorer fell 3.5 percent to 261,571 last year, partly because of the impending redesign. But the vehicle still outsold its primary rivals, the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse, in a segment that grew 11 percent. The Explorer was last overhauled for the 2011 model year, when it shed its truck-based mechanicals and adopted Ford's front-wheel-drive, unibody platform that underlies the Ford Taurus sedan and Flex crossover. Photo gallery - https://www.autonews.com/gallery/detroit-photo-gallery/2020-ford-explorer .

FCA to pay about $800 million to settle diesel emissions suits David Shepardson, Reuters / September 9, 2019 WASHINGTON -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to a settlement worth about $800 million to resolve claims from the U.S. Justice Department and state of California that it used illegal software that produced false results on diesel-emissions tests, but still faces an ongoing criminal probe. The hefty penalty is the latest fallout from the U.S. government's stepped-up enforcement of vehicle emissions rules after Volkswagen AG admitted in September 2015 to intentionally evading emissions rules. The Fiat Chrysler settlement includes $311 million in total civil penalties to U.S. and California regulators, up to $280 million to resolve claims from diesel owners, and extended warranties worth $105 million. It covers 104,000 Fiat Chrysler 2014-16 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels, the Justice Department said. Regulators said Fiat Chrysler used "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests in real-world driving. For more details about the settlements from the EPA, click here. FCA, in a statement, emphasized the settlements "do not change the company’s position that it did not engage in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests. Further, the consent decree and settlement agreements contain no finding or admission with regard to any alleged violations of vehicle emissions rules." The company already set aside about $800 million for the settlement. Customers will each receive about $2,800 in compensation from the settlement, FCA said. “We acknowledge that this has created uncertainty for our customers, and we believe this resolution will maintain their trust in us,” Mark Chernoby, FCA's head of North American safety and regulatory compliance, said in the statement. “We have implemented rigorous new validation procedures and updated our training programs to ensure continued compliance with the increasingly complex regulatory environment,” he added. “Such measures are consistent with our mission to deliver advanced technologies that deliver value to our customers and that enhance the environmental performance of our products.” 'Serious problem' "You wouldn't pay $311 million total dollars to the federal government in civil penalties if there were not a serious problem," U.S. assistant attorney general Jeff Clark told a news conference. The settlement also includes $72.5 million for state civil penalties, and $33.5 million in payments to California to offset excess emissions and consumer claims. German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH, which provided the emissions control software for the vehicles, also agreed to pay $27.5 million to resolve claims from diesel owners. Owners will receive an average of $2,800 to obtain software updates as part of the emissions recall, Fiat Chrysler said. Elizabeth Cabraser, a lawyer for the owners, said the "substantial cash compensation" will ensure that consumers get the recall fix. Bosch, which also provided diesel emissions software to Volkswagen, also agreed to pay $103.5 million to settle claims with 47 U.S. states that said the supplier "enabled" the cheating and should have known its customers would use the software improperly, the New York Attorney General's Office said. Bosch said in a statement it did not accept liability or admit to the factual allegations, but that the settlement reflects "Bosch’s desire to move forward and to spare the company the very substantial costs and the burden on the company’s resources that would be required to litigate these issues." The Justice Department said the settlement does not resolve an ongoing criminal investigation into Fiat Chrysler's conduct, but officials declined to discuss the status. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating. 'Don't cheat' U.S. regulators are also investigating Daimler AG for alleged excess emissions in Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles, but the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency declined to comment on the status of the probe -- and would not say if any other automakers are under scrutiny. Daimler declined to comment Thursday but has acknowledged it faces investigations in Germany and the United States. In October, Daimler said operating profit would fall by more than 10 percent, blaming "government proceedings and measures in various regions" in referencing diesel emissions issues. U.S. regulators said the industry was getting a tough message. "Fiat Chrysler deceived consumers and the federal government by installing defeat devices on these vehicles that undermined important clean air protections," said Andrew Wheeler, acting administrator of the EPA. "Today’s settlement sends a clear and strong signal to manufacturers and consumers alike -- the Trump administration will vigorously enforce the nation’s laws designed to protect the environment and public health." Wheeler said the settlement message is simple to automakers: "Don't cheat." The case dragged on after the Justice Department filed suit in May 2017 and the sides remained far part. At one point, the Justice Department sought $1.4 billion in civil penalties from Fiat Chrysler -- or about a $1 billion more than the company ultimately paid, two people briefed on the matter said. The Justice Department said Fiat Chrysler must work with one or more vendors of aftermarket catalytic converters to improve the efficiency of 200,000 converters that will be sold in the 47 U.S. states that do not already require the use of the California-mandated high-efficiency gasoline vehicle catalysts. That is estimated at $50 million to $70 million, officials said. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement, "Fiat Chrysler tried to evade these standards by installing software to cheat emissions testing. The company not only violated the law and our trust, but did so at the expense of our environment." U.S. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio said at a news conference that automakers were on notice: "If you cheat our emissions tests you are going to get caught." Fiat Chrysler has agreed to an enhanced whistleblower program and the company must implement corporate governance, organization and technical process reforms to minimize the likelihood of future Clean Air Act violations and must hire a compliance auditor to oversee and assess the reforms. With the Fiat Chrysler settlement, the U.S. Justice Department's total civil fines for both Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen are now valued at around $2,500 per vehicle. In total, Volkswagen agreed to pay more than $25 billion in the United States for claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers, including spending as much as $15 billion to buy back about 500,000 polluting U.S. vehicles. The company pleaded guilty to three felony counts to resolve the criminal probe. The settlement will be open for public comment for 30 days before a federal judge decides whether to approve the agreements.

https://www.bigrigs.com.au/news/want-own-your-own-smokey-and-bandit-replica-truck/3617910/

Australasian Transport News (ATN) / January 9, 2019 A 663-tonne ‘superload’ is powering through western Victoria on a three-night journey. The wind farm transformer cargo, hauled by Lampson Australia, started at the Port of Geelong on Januery 7 and will end up at Haunted Gully at Lismore on January 10 – traversing about 220 kilometres and moving no faster than 20km/h throughout its expedition. At 115 metres long, the convoy is longer than an Airbus A380 (73 metres). It’s also 5.12 metres wide, taking up two lanes, and is 5.5 metres tall, making it the biggest superload to ever come to south western Victoria, VicRoads says. It is being moved by four prime movers – with three trucks at the front pulling, and one at the rear pushing the load. It slightly edges the 558-tonne, 108-metre ‘megaload’ which thundered through Melbourne and Victoria’s east last year. "This is a complex and dynamic operation that has been months in the planning – we’ll be monitoring this convoy every step of the way to ensure the smoothest possible journey and the safest possible road network," VicRoads acting director of heavy vehicle services Marc Paglia says. "We’ll be escorting this convoy to help ensure a straight forward journey, but it’s important to note drivers may experience delays if they encounter this huge, rolling transport." Traffic lights and signage is being moved and replaced by support crews and steel supports placed over existing drains to ensure the convoy has the safest possible journey and doesn’t damage important infrastructure on the way through. .

Truck News Australia / January 2019 Kenworth has added flexibility to its range with the T610 Aero Sleeper launched onto the market for 2019. The 600mm aero roof sleeper cab complements the existing day-cab, 760mm mid-roof and 860mm sleeper cab options. The most compact sleeper in the T610 range, the 600mm offers improved fuel efficiency and payload capacity up to 26m B-double configurations The new sleeper cab option is suitable for a variety of applications, including tippers, tankers and refrigerated trailers. “As a conventional model, the T610 with 600mm sleeper option is unique in its ability to offer both a sleeper and a bullbar in combination with full-length 34 pallet trailer sets and still fit within the 26m B-double envelope,” said Brad May, Paccar Australia’s Director Sales and Marketing. “The new sleeper option provides maximum productivity, optimal fuel efficiency supported by the T610’s aerodynamic lines, while reducing costs incurred by road damage. “With more head room, the new sleeper provides comfortable resting facilities to aid in managing driver fatigue, and offers a great option for those doing shuttle work. It really is an efficient, safe and productive alternative”. Designed specifically for the Australian road transport market and centred around the needs of the driver, the T610 has delivered improved space, visibility and ergonomics. The design of the cabin makes it easier for the driver to move around in and rest during breaks. The new 600mm aero roof sleeper offers left and right hand sleeper vents, open shelving, foam mattress with hinged pan for under bunk storage, a windscreen privacy curtain and sleeper blackout curtain. An optional under-bunk storage drawer and 42L fridge are also available. The result of more than 100,000 Australian design hours and more than ten million kilometres of testing and validation, the T610 program was the single largest investment in product development Kenworth has ever made in Australia. From idea to reality, this significant investment in new technologies and design is specifically for the Australian road transport market. .

Aaron Marsh, Fleet Owner / January 8, 2019 Not to be outdone by their more numerous light-duty siblings, medium-duty trucks covering Classes 4-6 have been the object of a flurry of development and experimentation the last few years. They're often on the job with upfit bodies of various kinds serving trades and utilities or handling last-mile and metro/urban-area deliveries and distribution, and they have the benefit of not requiring a commercial driver's license to operate. That adds to their appeal, since fleets can hire drivers from a much larger potential employee pool. Not only do these trucks have impressive capabilities, their typically shorter-range duty cycles have also made medium-duty trucks good candidates for electric power. While many electric trucks in these and even the heaviest classes are being developed, tested, and prototyped, medium duty is where you'll now find commercially-ready fully electric trucks for fleet purchase. A standout example is the Class 4 Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter in the Daimler Trucks stable, which will see full production launch this year. Meanwhile, Fuso also recently expanded engine options in its FE Series cabovers with General Motors' 6.0L gasoline V8. These middle classes of trucks—often called “work trucks” since they serve many commercial purposes beyond hauling freight—offer the broadest range of power options. It's not only commercial/fleet ready electrics but also more alternative fuel choices. That includes the least common of those options: look to Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.'s S2G for a factory-installed propane engine (GM's 8.0L V8 prepped for liquefied propane gas). Cab-type options abound in medium duty as well. Joining Ram Trucks' 4500-5500 Chassis Cabs and Ford's Super Duty F-450/ F-550/ F-650 conventional-cab trucks that offer regular and crew variants to suit passenger needs are all-new offerings from a collaboration between Navistar and Chevrolet. Navistar's Springfield, OH, plant will produce the International CV Series Class 4-5 and Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD chassis cabs unveiled over the course of 2018. They'll have different dealer networks, but all are designed to easily accept a variety of upfit bodies and offer regular/ crew cab passenger capacity options. Supplementing the CV Series with even larger conventional cab trucks is International's MV Series, notably also launched in 2018 and built at the same plant. It's available as day cab, extended cab, and crew cab models with wheelbases from 128 to 254 in. While it looks the part of the larger truck, the MV is designed for greater maneuverability and ease of operation. For fleets that require greater passenger capacity but prefer to get it done with a tight-turning cabover, there are plenty to choose from. Isuzu offers regular and crew cab variants of its popular NPR, NQR, and NRR cabover trucks, which the OEM also builds for bowtie badges in Chevrolet's Low-Cab Forward 3500, 4500, and 5500 cabovers. Isuzu's biggest Class 6 FTR and the Chevy 6500XD come only in regular/single cab models for now but allow extensive wheelbase configurations—they can sport box bodies up to 30-ft. long. Fuso's FE cabovers include big-cab options, too, as do Hino's 155 and 195 trucks, and those two manufacturers also have two of the most unique models in the medium-duty classes. Fuso's FG4X4 has a switchable rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive system, the only cabover available with that drivetrain. And how about a cabover with space for up to seven passengers and partially electric motivation? That's available with Hino's Class 5 195h-DC, which signifies it's a hybrid double cab. It's got an almost oddball combination of an elongated cabover design and 5L turbo diesel engine with piggybacked electric power. Hino's Hybrid Adaptive Control System communicates continuously with the engine's electronic control unit to evaluate driving conditions and adjust the support it lends to the diesel, improving fuel efficiency and lowering emissions.