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Lawmakers urge OMB to finalize repeal of emissions standards for gliders Land Line (OOIDA) / May 31, 2018 A group of 24 lawmakers – 21 members of the House and three senators – are urging the director of the Office of Management and Budget to move forward quickly with the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule to repeal emissions standards on glider kits. The lawmakers – including Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla.; Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn.; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas; and 20 others – sent a letter last week to OMB Director Mick Mulvaney. “We are writing to you regarding the rule titled ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles Phase 2’ that apples to glider vehicles, glider engines and glider kits,” the letter stated. “As members of Congress who represent manufacturers and/or users of glider kits, we urge the Office of Management and Budget to waive the regulatory impact analysis on this rule.” In November, the EPA proposed a rule to repeal emissions requirements for glider vehicles, glider engines and glider kits. The EPA said the proposal was based on an interpretation of the Clean Air Act under which “glider kits would not be treated as incomplete new motor vehicles.” Under the proposed interpretation, EPA would lack the authority to regulate the gliders. Simply put, the EPA said that gliders aren’t new trucks and that they shouldn’t be regulated like new trucks. According to a 2018 spring regulatory report released earlier this month, the rule could be finalized as soon as May. However, the month is set to close with no final rule in place. The lawmakers said the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs informed EPA that it needs a regulatory impact analysis before the final rule can take effect. “It is our understanding the EPA does not need to conduct an RIA for deregulatory issues and taking such a step would delay this deregulatory action unnecessarily,” the letter stated. “(Gliders) are an affordable option for many small businesses. According to Fitzgerald Glider Kits, eliminating this choice may adversely impact the U.S. economy by $1 billion and jeopardize 22,000 jobs. Again, we urge the OMB to waive the RIA and support the EPA’s final rule concerning glider vehicles, engines and kits with an immediate effective date.” The rule has received opposition from environmentalist groups. To see the entire letter and all of the lawmakers who signed it, go here.

Trucks Planet / May 18, 2018 Russian severe service truckmaker Tonar has introduced the new 60-ton model 7501 dump truck. While not as large as the BelAZ dumpers, at the moment it is the heaviest off-highway dump truck made in Russia. The Tonar-7501 6x4 received a 2-place aluminum cabin mounted on air suspension. The engine is a 15-liter 6-cylinder Cummins QSX-15 diesel with power of 540 hp. .

I recall when Lexington Mack took on the Dodge truck franchise, in addition to Mack. They had a row of D-series pickups out front, and a new massive Big Horn being prepped for delivery. The management was thrilled with their new and broad Dodge range.

Chrysler, Fiat, Dodge missing from FCA 5-year briefing Larry Vellequette, Automotive News / May 31, 2018 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will not present a future plan for its eponymous Fiat and Chrysler brands, as well as Dodge and Lancia -- placing those storied but troubled mass-market brands' futures in question -- according to a schedule of presentations listed by FCA for the daylong event to lay out its 2018-22 business plan Friday in Balocco, Italy. The unpublished schedule, available on a company website for part of Thursday before being taken down, indicates that the automaker will lay out future plans for Jeep, Ram, Maserati and Alfa Romeo, but no other brands, as it did at similar events in 2009 and 2014. It's unclear whether the lack of presentations for the Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands on the schedule may be changed before the event, or what the fate of those brands will be. Lancia is not sold outside of Italy and has only one model. A spokesman for FCA US declined to comment. The schedule also shows that CEO Sergio Marchionne and his team will also present a "Technology Update on Autonomous Driving and Connectivity." FCA and Waymo on Thursday announced a partnership that will see the Google affiliate purchase up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans beginning later this year, and discuss licensing Waymo's self-driving technology for an FCA retail vehicle. Another presentation is titled "FCA and CO2 Reduction." The automaker has been locked in a dispute with regulators in both the United States and Europe over emissions issues with its diesel engines. FCA's management team also will present the "Compliance Plan Impact on our Product Approach in Each Region." This presentation is likely to give information on the longevity of the Dodge and Chrysler brands in the United States, which are dominated by older vehicles, except for the Chrysler Pacifica. A final presentation is titled "US Finco Opportunity." Bloomberg reported earlier this week that FCA is considering creating a captive finance arm in the United States, replacing its marketing relationship with Santander Consumer USA, which currently operates Chrysler Capital. Finally, the schedule for the Balocco event indicates a presentation, likely to be led by CFO Richard Palmer, for the "Business Plan Financial Overview," followed by a Q&A session for investors and analysts in attendance, and closing remarks. The last three events will be broadcast live here.

Scania Group Press Release / May 29, 2018 Scania Flexible Maintenance is reaching more and more of our customer base, providing businesses with optimised services that can maximise their vehicles’ uptime. Scania has now signed more than 50,000 Flexible Maintenance contracts since the service was initially launched less than two years ago. Flexible Maintenance provides vehicle servicing based on real-time operational data and actual vehicle usage. Each truck receives exactly the maintenance it needs and, in most cases, spends more time on the road. “Throughout the world some 300,000 Scania vehicles are now connected and, of these, one-sixth have opted for Flexible Maintenance, which is incredible,” says Product Manager Niklas Olsson, Global Service Concepts. The UK is a strong market for Flexible Maintenance The United Kingdom is among the countries where the service has its greatest market penetration. Since Flexible Maintenance launched there in December 2016, more than 14,000 contracts have been signed. “It has provided great opportunities to plan services based on how fleets operate,” explains Mark Grant, Services Director at Scania Great Britain. “For example, the landscape is completely flat here in eastern England with not a hill in sight, which is very different from operating in the Scottish mountains. We can offer a service regime that reflects varying types of operations. Ultimately, this helps optimise the customer’s total operating economy, which is what we at Scania strive for.” A more proactive approach to maintenance For Scania’s global network of workshops, Flexible Maintenance has meant a more proactive approach. Rather than waiting for customers to call in for services, the workshop itself contacts the customer in good time when the continuously-optimised service plan indicates the need for maintenance. “It really is a change of mindset for our workshops,” says Niklas Olsson. “It has also resulted in better utilisation of workshop capacity and improved customer uptime since work can be gainfully planned in advance.” .

DAF Trucks Press Release / May 31, 2018 This is how we designed and tested your DAF truck in the 1980's. .

DAF Trucks Press Release / May 28, 2018 This movie shows the great CO2 achievements made in the past decades and the great steps that will be made in future. Over the last decade average fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions of a long distance truck has been reduced by 14%. Additional steps will be made: Enhanced aerodynamics will result in reduced CO2 emissions. There is also an opportunity to improve the driver’s fields of vision. .

Scania Group Press Release / May 30, 2018 Urban distribution in Barcelona is like an obstacle course, says Albert Esteve Calderó, CEO of A.T. Robles. For the Catalan transport operator, driving a Scania gas truck means happier customers and a healthier city. .

Scania Group Press Release / May 29, 2018 Scania’s new 7-litre engine has been engineered to be quieter and more fuel-efficient. “We use the new vehicle on routes especially where there are restrictions,” says Fleet Manager Andreas Wurda of Meyer Logistik. .

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Renault Trucks Press Release / May 11, 2018 Discover how works the Optidriver automated gearbox, which comes as standard on Renault Trucks T, C, K and D. This gearbox offers better driving comfort, lower fuel consumption and high reliability. Optidriver is also available with a reinforced configuration (Optidriver Xtrem) and with additional crawler gears (Optidriver Xtended) for severe and construction applications. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / May 30, 2018 Discover easy earthmoving in extreme conditions with Renault Trucks C and K ranges, designed to meet the demanding needs of the earthmoving industry. Key features include an increased approach angle, off-road mode and Optitrack system for optimum on-site manoeuvrability. A reinforced chassis and intensive component testing deliver a vehicle to withstand challenging terrains, frequent overloads and intensive use. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / May 30, 2018 The Renault Trucks C and Renault Master are designed to make materials transport to construction sites easy. They are highly adaptable, simplifying the installation of equipment such as cranes and platforms, and access to even the most challenging sites is achieved through greater ground clearance, alongside a reduced turning radius for increased maneuverability. .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / May 15, 2018 This extreme weight test features an ordinary Volvo FMX vocational chassis fitted with our heaviest gearbox, I-Shift with crawler gears. Two-tonne weights were dropped 26 times from various heights and positions to test the quality of the engine and gearbox mounting. The maximum g-force equals that of 214 tonnes at rest. First, the weights were dropped in the middle of the super structure and then right above the rear engine mounts. *This is a so-called misuse test that was carried out by professionals in a controlled, test environment. Volvo Trucks strongly advises against dropping heavy objects on a truck in any other setting. .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / May 29, 2018 Innovation never stops. In 1993, the roads forever changed with the Volvo FH. 25 years later, the Volvo FH is still pushing the frontiers of trucking. But behind the success lies a great deal of hard work and tough decisions. . . .

Peterbilt Motors Press Release / May 4, 2018 Our Brand Promise: Purposeful Innovation. Individualized Solutions. Enduring Craftsmanship. Pride & Class. .

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Press Release / May 24, 2018 .

All-new ???

More signals emerge on Ford's possible purchase of Detroit train station Detroit Business / May 30, 2018 DETROIT -- One of the real estate companies in businessman Matty Moroun's empire quietly transferred ownership of the Michigan Central Station to a mystery company last week as all signs point to Ford Motor Co. purchasing Detroit's long-vacant train station in the Corktown neighborhood. A warranty deed dated May 22 was recorded May 23 by the Wayne County Register of Deeds, transferring ownership from the Moroun-owned MCS Crown Land Development Co. LLC to New Investment Properties I LLC, property records show.. On the same day, the Moroun company also transferred ownership of the former Detroit Public Schools book depository building next to the depot to a separate entity called New Investment Properties II LLC. The deed records list the address for both New Investment Properties entities as the New York law firm Phillips Lytle LLP; there's no record to suggest the entity receiving the property is another Moroun-owned real estate holding company. A spokesman for the law firm did not have immediate comment Wednesday. Phillips Lytle has done legal work for Ford in the past, touting an award from Corporate Counsel magazine for its work on behalf of the company, among others. Both New Investment Properties I and II were incorporated within a week of each other in late February and early March, according to state corporation records. Because the identity of owners behind both entities can be shielded under state corporation law, it's unclear whether New Investment Properties I and II are linked to Ford or a related entity. Officials on both sides of the negotiations were tight-lipped about the deed transfers when contacted Wednesday. Dawn Booker, communications manager for Ford Land Development Co., the automaker's real estate division, declined to comment on the deeds Wednesday morning but instead provided the following statement: "We are very excited about our return to Detroit this year beginning with our electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle teams relocating to the historic former factory in Corktown. We expect to grow our presence in Detroit and will share more details in the future." The warranty deed was signed by Michael Samhat, president of Crown Enterprises Inc., a real estate development firm that's part of billionaire trucking mogul and train station owner Moroun's business holdings. Samhat declined comment Wednesday on the deed transfers. County records also show the Moroun family's Detroit International Bridge Co. issued a quit-claim deed on May 22, transferring the train station property to MCS Crown Land Development LLC, which then issued the warranty deed transferring the property to the mystery company. A warranty deed signifies that a property has clear title. A quitclaim deed transfers interest from the previous owner to a new owner. Previous signals Ford has been in talks for the train station and other nearby properties for months. Crain's first reported March 19 that the automaker was in negotiations to buy the 505,000-square-foot train station from the Moroun family and redevelop it. That news came three months after Ford revealed it was placing 220 autonomous and electric vehicle workers nearby in a building called The Factory at Corktown. That move began last week as the Team Edison business division moved into the building at Michigan Avenue and Rosa Parks Boulevard. Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford Motor Co. board of directors and great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, confirmed on April 30 that the company was considering purchasing the train station. Ford officials told shareholders at a May 10 virtual meeting that "grow our presence in Detroit and will share more details in the future" in response to a question about how purchasing and renovating the train station will enhance shareholder value in the company's lagging stock. The Ford Land spokeswoman's response to Crain's on Wednesday mirrored the company's official response to shareholders three weeks ago. There have been growing signs of Ford's intent on building a campus in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood west of downtown that gets its name from Ireland's County Cork, where the Ford family has its ancestral roots. 50 properties But more than the train station, Ford has been in discussions to buy nearly 50 properties, mostly small slivers of land but also other buildings, to create a large campus in the neighborhood. Included in the plans are the old Detroit Public Schools book depository and other buildings near the train station, which has sat unused for three decades. In recent weeks, workers have been spotted touring the depot and city employees have improved Roosevelt Park, cleaning up overgrown grass and installing mulch immediately in front of the building. Several light poles were also removed. If a campus comes to fruition, the project would be transformative for the neighborhood and city. It is also expected to set off a slew of ripple effects, including an increase in the price of residential and commercial property in the neighborhood and increased businesses for the neighborhood's restaurant scene. Real estate and construction experts have said a redevelopment of the train station alone is certain to cost at least $300 million; any redevelopment of the train station would likely seek millions in tax incentives. A project of its scale could qualify for incentives from the state's "transformational brownfield" law, pushed by Detroit mortgage and real estate mogul Dan Gilbert and economic development officials and adopted in Lansing last year. Last week, Gilbert received $618 million in tax incentives from the state for four projects totaling $2.14 billion. Samhat has said the family had spent more than $8 million over the past five years abating the building, constructing a freight elevator in the shaft of the depot's original smokestack and installing 1,100 windows.

Marchionne's grand finale entails expanding Jeep, shrinking Fiat and Chrysler Bloomberg / May 30, 2018 MILAN -- Sergio Marchionne's last hurrah as CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles entails betting the carmaker's future on Jeeps and Maserati luxury cars while downsizing its namesake brands, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the plan, the company is considering ending sales of Fiat cars in North America and China in the coming years, while mostly confining Chrysler to the U.S., said the people, who asked not to be identified before Marchionne unveils the strategy on Friday at the Balocco test track outside Turin. FCA declined to comment ahead of the presentation. The closely watched briefing will be something of a victory lap for the 65-year-old CEO, who is set to retire next year, taking place at the site where he laid out his survival strategy for Fiat in 2004. The presentation "will be the last major event for Sergio Marchionne as CEO and a potential catalyst for a rerating" of the stock, Giulio Pescatore, an analyst with HSBC in London, said in a note to clients. Marchionne's successor will be appointed by FCA's general meeting in April 2019. Expansion will be underpinned by rolling out brawny Jeep and Ram vehicles globally. The carmaker is also considering combining Alfa Romeo and Maserati into a single division in FCA's financial reports, the people said. Combining the upscale Italian brands would be seen by investors as a first step to an eventual spinoff. 14th anniversary The presentation represents an important signal for the post-Marchionne era and comes on the executive's 14th anniversary at the helm after leading the carmaker back from the brink of bankruptcy and boosting the group's value more than 10 times. After the CEO steps down in 2019, Fiat's controlling shareholders are expected to evaluate long-term strategic options, including a potential merger with a larger rival. Marchionne's final plan focuses FCA's resources on promising niches rather than competing head-to-head with auto giants such as Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp. in the mass-market car business. Amid a looming transition in the way vehicles are powered, driven and sold, Marchionne has voiced concerns about the risks of mainstream autos becoming "commoditized." Prioritizing a few sharply defined brands could also make the Italian-American automaker more digestible in the event of a deal. Jeep -- which accounts for more than 70 percent of profits, according to analysts' estimates -- will increasingly become the focal point of the group. Marchionne is set to target doubling the brand's sales volume by 2022 from about 1.4 million vehicles last year. The growth is based on expanding Jeep's presence in Asia, Brazil and Europe as well as widening its product offering with hybrid variants starting next year. Marchionne has already indicated that he sees chances to double the group's profit in the coming five years on booming Jeep sales. As part of the strategy, which will include details on a new dividend policy, the carmaker will likely announce its intention to set up its own captive finance unit in the U.S., following similar structures of its American competitors, the people said. The plan could attract criticism in Italy, just as the carmaker's historical home suffers through a new round of political turmoil. After moving its headquarters outside Italy, the company is ready to abandon making mass-market cars in the country, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month, retooling Western European factories for premium cars with a global appeal, they said. Union concerns As a consequence, the Fiat brand is set to be reduced to the 500 and Panda families, with sales limited to Europe, Brazil and some emerging markets. That could mean a withdrawal from the U.S., where it sought to make inroads on the heels of the Chrysler merger. The timing of that process may be complicated by dealer contracts. In China, local Fiat models failed to gain traction and are set to be halted, the people said. Italian unions have voiced concern about the lack of new models, including a decision to ditch production of no-frills cars in the country. The hard-line Fiom Cgil union will host a "workers day" in downtown Turin on Thursday, a day before the investors meeting. "The pledge for full employment in Italy is again not respected this year," said Federico Bellono, the union's Turin chief. "We are not convinced that this will happen just by building premium cars in Italy as volumes are lower." Elkann's tie Along with shrewd dealmaking and spinoffs, Fiat's shift to crossovers from cars in the U.S. has paid off. The company reported wider profit margins than Ford Motor Co. in the first quarter, and Marchionne has set his sights on surpassing General Motors Co. in profitability before he steps down next year. A successor has yet to be named, but Marchionne has said it will be an internal candidate. CFO Richard Palmer, Europe head Alfredo Altavilla and Jeep chief Mike Manley are seen as the leading candidates. Marchionne will likely take the stage for his final act with unprecedented ceremony: wearing a tie. The iconoclastic executive has vowed to don neckwear if he's ready to declare victory in his bid to rid Fiat Chrysler of net industrial debt. The goal is key to showing that the carmaker he pulled back from the brink is ready to weather the next crisis. Chairman John Elkann, the head of the Agnelli family that controls the company, has the tie waiting in his drawer.