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WABCO makes $10 million investment in Nikola Fleet Owner / December 20, 2017 The two companies will also jointly work on developing safety systems specifically for electrified commercial vehicles. WABCO Holdings Inc. is investing $10 million for a 1% stake in hydrogen-electric vehicle maker Nikola Motor Co. In addition to the strategic investment, WABCO and Nikola said they signed a separate agreement to accelerate the development of safety technologies specifically designed for electrified commercial vehicles, including electronic braking systems (EBS), as well as traction and stability control technologies. “As vehicles become increasingly autonomous, electric and connected, WABCO continues to be at the forefront of breakthrough technology innovation,” noted Jacques Esculier, WABCO’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “We are excited to invest in Nikola to help the industry realize our joint vision of electrified and autonomous trucks, buses, trailers and off-highway vehicles,” he added. “WABCO’s technologies, notably braking, traction and stability control systems, continue to advance the transportation industry.” Nikola said it plans to begin testing its zero emission trucks with commercial vehicle fleets in late 2018 and launch full production in 2021. “WABCO is a vital business partner to enable autonomous driving, electronic braking, and stability control for trucks and trailers,” noted Trevor Milton, Nikola’s founder and CEO. “We have added a world-class supplier to the Nikola truck family and are looking forward to our collaboration to bring Nikola’s zero emission trucks to market.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wabco Invests $10 Million in Nikola Motor Company Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 20, 2017 Wabco Holdings has announced a $10 million strategic investment in Nikola Motor Company, manufacturer of the upcoming Nikola One and Nikola Two hydrogen-electric Class 8 trucks. In addition to the investment, which gives the Belgium-based Wabco a 1% equity stake in Nikola, the companies signed an agreement to accelerate the development of safety technologies specifically designed for electric commercial vehicles. These technologies include electronic braking systems as well as traction and stability control technologies. “We are excited to invest in Nikola Motor Company to help the industry realize our joint vision of electrified and autonomous trucks, buses, trailers and off-highway vehicles,” said Jacques Esculier, Wabco chairman and CEO. “Wabco’s technologies, notably industry-leading braking, traction and stability control systems, continue to advance the transportation industry.” Nikola’s first vehicle, the Nikola One, was unveiled in late 2016 and is expected to go into production by 2021. The company will begin testing the truck in fleets in 2018. Nikola will offer Nikola One and Two, daycab and sleeper versions, respectively, that promise to generate1,000 horsepower and 2,000 lb.-ft. of torque. The vehicle features a hydrogen fuel cell, electric motor hybrid setup that allows it to travel 800 to 1,200 miles on a single fill-up while operating free of emissions. “Here at Nikola, we are driving a paradigm shift in the transportation industry by creating the most advanced semi-truck ever built," said Trevor Milton, Nikola founder and CEO. "Wabco is a vital business partner to enable autonomous driving, electronic braking, and stability control for trucks and trailers. We have added a world-class supplier to the Nikola truck family and are looking forward to our collaboration to bring Nikola’s zero emission trucks to market.”

Trailer-Body Builders / December 20, 2017 Nestlé Waters North America is deploying more than 400 additional medium-duty ReadyRefresh by Nestlé beverage delivery trucks fueled by propane autogas. Nestle operates nearly 600 of these trucks, which make up about 30% of its total North American fleet. ReadyRefresh’s additional Ford F-650/750 delivery trucks are equipped with a Roush CleanTech propane autogas fuel system that provides 55 usable gallons of fuel. “With propane being domestically produced, it’s proven to have a more stable cost per gallon, while the fueling and maintenance infrastructures are much more cost effective than other alternative fuel options,” said Bill Ardis, national fleet manager for ReadyRefresh. The company has been running propane autogas vehicles since 2014, beginning with five Class 5 vehicles.The fuel system is certified to 0.05 grams per brake horsepower-hour for nitrogen oxide (NOx). It is 75% cleaner than the current Environmental Protection Agency standard, and 99% cleaner than diesel vehicles built before 2007. “We are excited about this strategic endeavor that will ultimately drive awareness, efficiency and sustainability,” said Robert Austin, director of supply chain for ReadyRefresh. “Our new fleet will ensure that ReadyRefresh is poised to meet our consumer’s needs and the delivery of our great brands while improving our environment.” Roush said propane autogas is the third most commonly used vehicle fuel, following gasoline and diesel. Nestlé Waters North America plans to replace more older delivery vehicles with propane autogas to reach its goal of operating 52% on the alternative fuel by 2019. .

Peterbilt Motors Press Release / December 14, 2017

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Michael Wayland, Automotive News / December 16, 2017 Cargo box will be lighter and even more functional 'than ever before' FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Chevrolet Silverado, GM's top-selling and most profitable nameplate, will be sleeker, more aerodynamic and available in more trim lines, with expanded powertrain options and functionality, for the 2019 model year. Chevrolet introduced the 2019 Silverado LT Trailboss, one of eight 2019 Silverado models planned, at the Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday before hundreds of Silverado owners as part of celebrations to mark 100 years of truck output. "The next-generation Silverado is poised to change, really change, the face of trucks again," said Alan Batey, president of GM's North America operations. "It’s strong. It’s modern. But it’s instantly recognizable as a Chevy truck." General Motors is adopting more light-weight materials, is expected to add a 10-speed automatic transmission and enhancing aerodynamics to improve the fuel-economy and overall competitiveness of the pickup. Big program The redesign and re-engineering of the next Silverado and its GMC counterpart, the Sierra, are the biggest product program ever undertaken by GM, analysts say. GM is spending nearly $3 billion alone to upgrade factories in Michigan, Indiana and Mexico to build the next Silverado and Sierra. Batey said the redesigned Silverado will offer more engine/transmission combinations, and additional technology and convenience features; however he did not disclose any other details. “We are truly committed to building a truck for every customer,” Batey said. Additional information is expected to be released when the Silverado makes its formal public debut at the Detroit auto show next month. The sleeker, yet aggressive, exterior on the fourth-generation Silverado is noticeably different than the more upright outgoing version. The cab has a slight slope in the roofline similar to GM's current midsize pickups, likely to aid aerodynamics and fuel economy. The rectangular grille on the truck features two large horizontal bars compared with one on the current-generation pickup that run into headlamp stacks that include prominent outward-boomerang daytime running lights. Lightweighting Chevrolet did not specify how much steel and aluminum is used on the latest truck; however it's expected to be a mix of both and other light-weight components as part of GM's strategy of using "the right materials in the right place." GM said changes in engineering and materials will result in "a significant reduction in total vehicle weight" and "improved performance in many measures" on the pickup. The 2018 model has a curb weight between roughly 4,700 and 5,300 pounds, depending on the configuration. The company is also expected to eventually offer a pickup bed that utilizes carbon fiber. Batey on Saturday said the pickup will have “a stronger, roll-formed steel alloy for the bed and floor, contributing to a cargo box that is both lighter and even more functional than ever before.” As in recent years, General Motors aims to differentiate the Chevrolet Silverado from the GMC Sierra. Based on previous spy photos, both have unique front fascias. But the bodies mostly appear the same with slight differences in the rear. The Trailboss trim integrates the off-road equipment of the Z71 package as well as a two-inch suspension lift. Unlike aftermarket lift kits, the Trailboss suspension is fully tested, validated and warrantied by Chevrolet. GM says the improvements to the next-generation pickup reflects feedback from more than 7,000 consumers -- the most customer research in the company’s history. "We spend a ton of time listening to our customers, doing market research and taking that feedback and rolling it into the vehicle," Eric Stanczak, GM's chief engineer for full-size trucks, told Automotive News on Friday prior to the unveiling. "If we are limited in terms of what we can update on the current architecture, we're almost always putting those new features the customer's asked for, or that new capability, or that improvement, into the next-generation." Truck battle The redesigned Silverado kicks off what is expected to be a renewed battle for pickup buyers starting next year. GM, with U.S. Silverado sales down 0.5 percent and GMC Sierra deliveries off 3.5 percent this year, has lost ground in a large pickup market that has grown 5.5 percent and an overall light-truck market that is still growing -- up 4.7 percent. (The U.S. light-vehicle market is off 1.4 percent overall this year, mostly on weaker car demand and lower fleet volumes.) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is slated to unveil the next-generation Ram 1500 next month at the Detroit auto show. FCA will begin selling the retooled Ram in the first quarter next year and GM plans to start 2019 Silverado output in the fourth quarter of 2018. Both companies have strived to reduce weight, boost fuel economy and enhance the functionality of their pickups to better compete against Ford Motor Co.'s F-150, the top-selling vehicle and large truck in the U.S. The Silverado is the nation's No. 2 selling vehicle, ahead of Fiat Chrysler's Ram pickup, at No. 3. Ford shifted its F-series pickups, including the full-size F-150, to lightweight aluminum alloy bodies starting in 2014. The F-150's styling and features were updated this year, and Ford plans to introduce a gasoline-electric hybrid variant in 2020. A long-awaited milestone -- an EPA rating of 30 mpg in highway driving -- could be hit next year with the latest pickups. Some analysts speculated Ford would achieve the feat with its change to aluminum, however, the 2018 F-150 achieves up to 26 mpg in highway driving with a 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 Ram 1500 with a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine achieves up to 29 mpg with an aerodynamics package, while the Ram's 3.6-liter V-6 engine is rated at 25 mpg highway. Both Ram models come standard with an automatic eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 Silverado is rated at 24 mpg highway with a 4.3-liter V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission. Healthy outlook “2018 is shaping up to be a year of truck wars," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Autotrader. "For Detroit automakers, pickup trucks account for a big chunk of profit and revenues -- and provide the important profit-sharing checks for workers." Cox Automotive says large pickups now generate average transaction prices of $46,984 in the U.S. Ford has begun selling a luxury F450 pickup with an MSRP as high as $94,455. Krebs said a strong housing market and low gasoline prices have kept pickup truck demand strong since the Great Recession, and added volume is expected to remain healthy "with an improving economy and a [major federal] infrastructure package being a possibility.” Saturday's surprise unveiling, which some expected to occur at the Detroit auto show, came nearly five years to the day when GM unveiled the current-generation Silverado and Sierra for the 2014 model year in Pontiac, Mich. About 1,000 people, including 450 or more current truck owners, were expected to attend Saturday's centennial celebration event. Photo gallery - http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CA&Date=20171216&Category=DETROIT_AUTO_SHOW&ArtNo=121609999&Ref=PH&Profile=1115 .

Fiat Chrysler in talks over potential diesel emissions settlement David Shepardson, Reuters / December 19, 2017 Lawyers for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and owners of the automaker's diesel-powered vehicles are in settlement talks over allegations of excess diesel emissions, a court-appointed adviser said Tuesday. In May, the Justice Department sued Fiat Chrysler, accusing the company of illegally using software that led to excess emissions in nearly 104,000 U.S. diesel vehicles sold since 2014. Numerous suits have been filed by vehicle owners. Court settlement master Ken Feinberg said at a court hearing in San Francisco Tuesday that "term sheets" or proposed settlement documents have been exchanged between Fiat Chrysler and diesel owner lawyers. Feinberg said the proposals were briefly discussed at a meeting Tuesday with the parties, along with the Justice Department, California Air Resources Board and German auto supplier Robert Bosch, which develops diesel vehicle systems, and has also been sued by diesel owners. Feinberg said it was "a very healthy discussion on how we might get to yes." He added he would hold a day of settlement talks in Washington between the Justice Department and Fiat Chrysler in January, along with another day of talks between the automaker, Bosch and diesel owners. There are parallel talks between the Justice Department and Fiat Chrysler and the company and diesel owners aimed at reaching settlements. "We're looking for different substantive ways to secure an early comprehensive settlement," Feinberg said, adding a settlement could occur before testing on vehicles is completed in March. "Everybody in good faith is certainly trying to figure out how we might achieve a comprehensive settlement." In July, Fiat Chrysler won approval from federal and California regulators to sell 2017 diesel vehicles after it came under scrutiny for alleged excess emissions in older diesel models. Fiat Chrysler lawyer Robert Giuffra said in court the company remains confident it can use updated emissions software in the 2017 vehicles as the basis of a fix to address agencies’ concerns over 2014-16 diesel vehicles. Justice Department lawyer Leigh Rende declined to comment in court on the settlement talks. She said company testing on the proposed fix began on Dec. 17 and would take about three months. The government will then have 30 days to review the results and expects to make a determination by the end of April. Regulators have said Fiat Chrysler diesel vehicles had undisclosed emissions controls that allowed vehicles to emit excess pollution during normal driving. The company has denied wrongdoing, saying there was never an attempt to create software to cheat emissions rules. Fiat Chrysler’s emissions case came after Volkswagen AG’s diesel emissions violations prompted increased industry scrutiny.

Returning to Our Roots to Look Toward the Future Ford Motor Company / December 15, 2017 As a revolutionary company whose start in Detroit lead to innovations in the industry, Ford plans to return to its roots in Corktown, a crossroads of connectivity in the Motor City. Talent and technology will intersect, and Ford will look toward the future in the pursuit of making it easier and cleaner to move in the cities of tomorrow. .

Tesla books 125 truck order from UPS Jason Cannon, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / December 19, 2017 In what has become a weekly passing of the torch, UPS Tuesday confirmed it has placed the largest known reservation for Tesla’s new fully-electric Semi tractor. UPS’s order of 125 trucks passes PepsiCo who, last week, confirmed the reservation 100 trucks. That bumped Anheuser-Busch‘s 40 trucks from the top order spot. “For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations, [and] we look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla,” says Juan Perez, chief information and engineering officer. “These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.” UPS, which operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S., and more than 8,500 vehicles throughout the world, says it has provided Tesla with internal trucking lane information as part of its evaluation of the vehicle’s expected performance during a UPS duty cycle. UPS says it frequently partners with suppliers of emerging vehicle technology to help develop solutions that prove ready for UPS use-cases. UPS brings the total of known Tesla trucks on the order books to about 400 since the tractor debuted just more than a month ago, although some unconfirmed reports suggest that number could be approaching 1,500 units. Reached Tuesday, Tesla declined to comment on the number of orders received or customers. A 300-mile variant of the Semi will cost $150,000. A 500-mile model costs $180,000 and a Founders Series will run $200,000, according to Tesla’s website. A reservation cost for the truck is $20,000, but Founders Series reservations require the full $200,000 asking price upfront. Food wholesaler Sysco has placed an order for 50 Tesla Semis. J.B. Hunt has 40 Tesla tractors on order and retail giant Wal-Mart also disclosed it has placed reservations for 15 trucks, deploying five in the U.S. and 10 in Canada. Canada is becoming a hotbed for Tesla Semi early orders. Canadian grocery chain Loblaw announced it would order a total of 25 of the new all-electric tractor as it works to convert its entire fleet to battery power by the end of the decade.

Today's Trucking / December 11, 2017 Expo Transporte is Latin America's largest trucking and transportation trade show. It takes place every two years in Guadalajara, Mexico. This year, equipment editor Jim Park was there for the opening ceremonies and the first two days of the week-long show. He sends this report. .

Paccar Automated Transmission Now Standard on Kenworth T680 Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 19, 2017 Kenworth has announced that the 12-speed Paccar Automated Transmission and right-hand column-mounted shifter will be standard equipment on linehaul and regional haul applications of Kenworth’s on-highway flagship T680. The action completes the Kenworth T680’s transition to the Paccar proprietary standard powertrain of engine, transmission, and tandem rear axle to maximize efficiency and driveability. “The seamless integration of the proprietary Paccar Transmission with the Paccar MX-13 engine and Paccar tandem rear axles in the Kenworth T680 provides new levels of fuel economy and weight savings performance, and a powertrain second to none providing benefits to both fleets and individual truck operators,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “In 2017, approximately 70% of our linehaul customers purchased automated transmissions, up from about 30% in 2013. We’ve received a very positive response from fleets involved in the Paccar transmission’s testing and validation program.” Kenworth’s new column-mounted shifter for the Paccar Transmission places gear selection and engine brake controls at the driver’s fingertips for better ergonomics, comfort and overall performance. With the shifter right there on the steering column, the driver does not have to reach for it. This placement also frees up dash space by eliminating engine brake control switches. The Paccar Transmission is said to be ideal for linehaul and regional haul applications up to 110,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. The Paccar MX-13 engine is available with ratings up to 510 horsepower and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is up to 105 pounds lighter than comparable transmissions, according to Paccar, allowing for greater payloads. The new Paccar Transmission provides a 750,000-mile oil change interval. Other features include a maintenance-free clutch, and an internally routed electrical system that minimizes exposure to the elements. The fluid pressure detection system protects the gears from low fluid conditions. .

UPS Orders 125 Tesla Semi Electric Trucks Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 19, 2017 UPS has announced it has reserved 125 Tesla Semis, the new electric Class 8 truck that was recently unveiled by Elon Musk. This tops the recent 100-truck order announced by PepsiCo in November and represents the largest publicly known order for the electric truck yet. The new tractors will join UPS’s alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet, comprised of trucks and tractors propelled by electricity, natural gas, propane, and other non-traditional fuels. The first Tesla Semis are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2019, but UPS might not see all of its trucks right away as Tesla has a history of slowly ramping up production of its vehicles. The company only managed to produce 260 of its new Model 3 electric cars in the third quarter of this year. The Model 3 was announced in 2016 and was also initially sold through a reservation system. The base model Tesla Semi is priced at $150,000 while a version with advertised 500-mile range begins at $180,000. It costs $20,000 to pre-order either model of Tesla Semi -- unless a buyer opts for the special edition Founders Series Tesla Semi, which costs $200,000 to reserve and buy. “For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations," said Juan Perez, chief information and engineering officer. "We look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla. “These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.”

Fleet Owner / December 18, 2017 Volvo Group subsidiary Mack Trucks said it is adding 400 workers to its assembly plant in Lower Macungie Township, PA. The factory already employs about 2,000 people. The new employees will begin on Jan. 2, pushing its total workforce at the plant to an all-time high, the company said. Mack Trucks spokesman Chris Heffner said the expansion is in response to higher market demand, including for the new Anthem model that will be assembled at the plant. The plant is running two shifts. Mack is Lower Macungie’s largest employer, and one of the Lehigh Valley’s largest employers. In a separate announcement, Bendix said its Wingman Fusion advanced driver assistance system will come standard on all models of the new Anthem from Mack. The new truck was launched in September. Mack has offered Bendix Wingman Advanced on its Pinnacle line since 2012. “When a Mack Anthem leaves our Macungie, PA, facility with Wingman Fusion aboard, we know it’s going to help make our drivers and everyone else on the road safer,” said Roy Horton, director of product strategy for Mack. Mack recently said Martin Weissburg will become president of Mack on June 1. He will replace Dennis Slagle.

Judge denies Navistar’s bid to dismiss verdict on engines Trailer-Body Builders / December 19, 2017 A Tennessee judge has denied Navistar’s attempt to disapprove the jury’s $30.8 million verdict on behalf of a Tennessee-based trucking company in a case involving Navistar’s older generation of trucks and engines. Back in August, a jury in Jackson, TN, found Navistar violated the Tennessee Consumer Practice Act, and provided Milan Supply Chain Solutions $10.8 million in actual damages and $20 million in punitive damages. The trucking company sued after purchasing 243 Navistar 2011 and 2012 International Prostars with Maxxforce engines. Milan accused Navistar of failing to disclose that the Maxxforce 13 liter engine had defects. The engine used exhaust gas recirculation to meet federal emissions standards. However, Navistar later abandoned that technology after it failed to meet regulations. On Dec. 1, Judge Roy Morgan of the 26th Judicial Court considered multiple motions by Navistar challenging the verdict awarded to Milan. Morgan stated the proof showed that Navistar knew before launching the trucks that they had issues with the Maxxforce engine but “took a course of action not to disclose and claimed it was just normal business practice.” “We're disappointed in the jury's verdict and we will be filing an appeal," Navistar told Fleet Owner. "We have successfully defended similar claims regarding our MaxxForce 13 engines in several other jurisdictions, including dismissal of claims of fraud in courts in Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Alabama, and Illinois. Navistar respectfully disagrees with judge’s characterizations of Navistar’s conduct and the plaintiff’s characterization of its employees. Navistar has and will continue to defend our products, our reputation in the market, and the integrity of our employees.” In addition to damages, Judge Morgan added $1.337 million of attorneys’ fees to the award since the jury found Navistar’s conduct violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

Navistar Posts Higher Results in Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year Transport Topics / December 19, 2017 CEO Troy Clarke Sees Momentum Carrying Into 2018 Navistar International Corp. reported net income and revenue rose in its fiscal-year fourth quarter and for the full year. “Our 2017 was a breakthrough year, as we returned to profitability and grew our market share 1.5 points,” Navistar Chairman and CEO Troy Clarke said. “These results were driven by stronger sales, our steady investment in the industry’s newest product lineup, early results from our strategic alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus and our ongoing focus on cost.” Quarterly net income for the period ended Oct. 31 was $135 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $34 million, or 42 cents, in the 2016 period. Revenues in the quarter increased 26% to $2.6 billion compared with fourth-quarter 2016. The revenue increase largely was driven by a 31% increase in the company’s Classes 6-8 trucks and bus segment volumes in the United States and Canada. For the fiscal year, Navistar reported net income of $30 million or 32 cents versus a net loss of $97 million, or $1.19, for fiscal 2016. Revenue for fiscal 2017 was up 6% to $8.6 billion, compared with $8.1 billion in fiscal 2016. Navistar reported it finished 2017 strong across the board. During the quarter, the Lisle, Ill.-based company launched the International HV TM Series line of vocational trucks. The HV Series, in addition to the HX Series premium vocational truck lineup, now has the option of being powered by the International A26 engine. The company also announced plans for its next-generation powertrains with alliance partner Volkswagen Truck & Bus, including big bore diesel, as well as electric medium-duty and electric bus platforms launching as early as 2019. “We think 2018 is shaping up to be one of the strongest industry years this decade, and we’re positioned to make it a breakout year for Navistar,” Clarke said.

Navistar tops Street 4Q forecasts Associated Press / December 19, 2017 LISLE, Ill. - Navistar International Corp. (NAV) on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $135 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier. The Lisle, Illinois-based company said it had profit of $1.36 per share. Earnings, adjusted for restructuring costs, were $1.43 per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 65 cents per share. The truck and engine maker posted revenue of $2.6 billion in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.32 billion. For the year, the company reported net income of $30 million, or 32 cents per share, swinging to a profit in the period. Revenue was reported as $8.57 billion. Navistar expects full-year revenue in the range of $9 billion to $9.5 billion. Navistar shares have climbed 34 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has climbed 44 percent in the last 12 months. Video - https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/19/navistar-ceo-2017-came-in-like-a-lamb-and-is-going-out-like-a-lion.html

RoadtrainsInAction / December 19, 2017 The International 9870 Eagle by Navistar is uniquely a Kiwi model. It's built in NZ by New Zealanders. In this short video review the 8x4 9870 of Twist Trucking reveals its a big hearted truck powered by Cummins X15 rated at 615 HP coupled to a manual shift 18-Speed eaton transmission with heavy duty Meritor Diffs riding on Navistars' airliner suspension. The International 9870 eagle, demonstrates what a great owner driver truck it is, with many truck and driver friendly features including overdrive online and more than up to the road train challenge if it were across the ditch on the big island. From a trucklesales point of view it ticks all the boxes with plenty of power torque under the hood. This custom truck gives Kenworth's K200 a run for its money when it goes head to head in terms of specifications. .

This Electric Truck Will Probably Beat Tesla’s to Market Ashlee Vance, Bloomberg / December 13, 2017 Thor Trucks’ custom models, due out in 2019, are meant for short hauls. On the evening of Nov. 16, Elon Musk unveiled the latest prop in his Tony Stark cosplay. Tesla Inc.’s all-electric semi rig met all the classic Musk product launch criteria: It looked stunning, had unprecedented performance numbers, included features straight out of science fiction, and would arrive at some unknown date at a too-good-to-be-true price from a still-to-be-built assembly line. Ten miles from the cramped Los Angeles airport hangar where thousands of Muskovites were swooning, a 25-year-old named Dakota Semler watched the performance on his phone, tossed a piece of sushi into his mouth, and shrugged. Semler, you see, has an all-electric semi of his own, a matte-black curvaceous truck known for now as the ET1. It’s the first vehicle from his startup, Thor Trucks, which hopes to grab a tiny slice of the 940,000-unit-a-year market for semis and go after short-haul trucks, delivery vans, and work vehicles. Like Tesla’s rig, the ET1 is meant to bring cleaner-running transportation to heavy industry without sacrificing performance. And like Tesla’s, it’s a head-turner. “Everyone thinks we’ve built a Transformer,” says Semler, Thor’s chief executive officer. Semler and his 17 employees must contend with extremely long odds, but dramatic advances in battery technology, electric motors, and control software have made electric trucks more practical. While electric trucks will cost more upfront than diesel guzzlers, Tesla, Thor, and a handful of others suddenly have the range and horsepower to argue that customers will come out ahead in the long term, thanks to lower fuel and maintenance costs. Electric vehicles, of course, also pollute less, a serious consideration as cities and states prepare legislation aimed at phasing out dirtier diesel. As Semler drives the ET1 around Hollywood, gawkers whip out their phones to take photos. The heavy-duty semi, which has a 22-inch touchscreen on its dashboard and a winged black logo splashed across its grille, uses a beach-ball-size electric motor and a couple of large battery packs to carry as much as 80,000 pounds of cargo, the industry standard for the highest class of truck. When it starts shipping in 2019, the ET1 will have a $150,000 starting price tag and a 300-mile range, meaning it’ll compete with medium-duty delivery trucks. With a look straight out of spoiled-Malibu-kid central casting, Semler doesn’t scream trucking magnate. He grew up in the family businesses: one, a supplier of military electronics; the other, the Malibu Wines vineyard. “When I was 7, I’d work in shipping and pack boxes at the electronics factory, and then over the summers I’d shovel manure at the vineyard,” he says. By the time he was a teenager, he’d overseen the development of a line of decorative wine barrels and converted the vineyard’s diesel trucks to run on waste vegetable oil. At 21, Semler began running safari tours at Malibu Wines, offering people a chance to sip wine while driving next to zebras, giraffes, and water buffaloes obtained from sanctuaries and private collections. Managing the dozens of vehicles at the vineyard led Semler to electric trucks. He’d dealt with California’s exacting regulations for diesel emissions and could see more curbs coming, so early last year he started retrofitting a diesel semi rig in the back of his family’s 30,000-square-foot North Hollywood warehouse for electronics equipment. Not far from piles of Vietnam War-era radios and antennas, there’s now a large open space where the Thor team works. For the moment, the startup is more of a vehicle customizer than a true manufacturer. It rips the diesel motor and related innards out of an existing vehicle and replaces them with an electric motor and batteries. Thor has focused on doing its own battery-pack research and manufacturing to cram hundreds of small lithium ion batteries into a tight, safe container, and its software engineers write applications that maximize the packs’ charging abilities and life spans. Look around the Thor warehouse, and you’ll see UPS-style trucks and extended-body pickups awaiting modification. The goal, according to Semler, is to work on a one-off basis, customizing clients’ fleets per their specifications. Semler’s enthusiasm is infectious. He’s funded Thor with his own money (he won’t say how much) and hired engineers from places such as Boeing Co., electric-car maker Faraday & Future Inc., and Chinese electrics leader BYD Auto Co. But Thor is trying to become a bespoke electric-vehicle maker at a time when the biggest names and fattest wallets in trucking are pouring money into the market. And given that neither Semler nor his co-founder, Giordano Sordoni, has an engineering background, it seems less like a company than a dream. “There’s a tendency to simplify the truck market and think there will be one winner here,” Semler says. “The reality is that there are all kinds of work trucks, and we’re designing a type of transportation lab to cater to all of these.” A small team working quickly stands a decent chance of carving out a niche, says Mike Britt, who spent 30 years at United Parcel Service Inc. handling the maintenance of its trucking fleets and working on alternative-fuel vehicles. “The big trucking companies just aren’t quite as nimble,” says Britt, who now runs MG Britt Consulting Inc. “UPS used many small startups to build 200 to 2,000 alternative-fuel vehicles. It’s when you start to ramp above those numbers, and need real production expertise and facilities, that things could get trickier for Thor.” BOTTOM LINE - Thor and its 25-year-old CEO are trying to fill a short-haul niche with the ET1 while Tesla continues tinkering with its own all-electric truck. .

Thor Trucks website - http://www.thortrucks.com/

Fleet Owner / December 19, 2017 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling over 400,000 Freightliner and Western Star trucks due to a potential problem with the brake lights. DTNA informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration up to 436,095 model year 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 models may be affected. The trucks were manufactured between March 27, 2007, and Oct. 30, 2017. In an e-mailed statement to Fleet Owner, DTNA said it “takes a proactive approach to vehicle safety and has voluntarily decided to recall specific vehicles.” The company added “there are no accidents or injuries known to DTNA relating to the issue associated with this recall.” DTNA said after a hard-braking event, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights. The failure of brake lights being activated could increase the risk of a crash, as trailing motorists will not be warned of a slowing down truck, according to the recall notice. The company said it will begin notifying owners in Jan. 25. Separately, DTNA said it is recalling about 230 model year 2018 Freightliner Cascadia trucks equipped with Detroit automatic transmissions over a possible shifting issue. .

Former head of DAF Trucks will become PACCAR’s president and CFO effective January 1. Fleet Owner / December 15, 2017 Harrie Schippers is set to become the president and CFO of global truck maker PACCAR on January 1. Schippers, who’s spent 31 years at PACCAR, served as president of the OEM’s DAF Trucks subsidiary, which is based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from 2010 to 2016. “Harrie is an outstanding leader and has contributed towards PACCAR’s excellent record of profitable growth including the recent introduction of the new DAF CF and XF trucks,” noted Ron Armstrong, PACCAR’s CEO, in a statement. “He also has responsibility for PACCAR Parts which has achieved record quarterly sales and pre-tax profits this year.” .