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With Paddock, we'll never know the truth. In fact, he might be a fictional character.

I don't know Billy. I just don't know.

The six-figure pickup Richard Truett, Automotive News / October 2, 2017 Automakers haven't found the price ceiling yet DALLAS — Ford's latest luxury vehicle has hand-finished wood trim, supple custom leather upholstery and nearly all the accouterments one would expect of a vehicle that can bump into six figures when the majority of options boxes are checked and sales tax is added. But unlike most other $100,000 luxury vehicles, this one can haul 15 tons. Ford's F-450 Limited, introduced last week at a media preview at the State Fair of Texas, is the most expensive luxury pickup yet from a major automaker. The huge bruiser — too long to fit inside most home garages — is part of a growing class of ultraluxury, ultraexpensive and ultrahardworking pickups that are testing the upper limits of price. And even though the F-450's out-the-door price can top $100,000, Ford's marketers say they don't yet know where the real ceiling is on how much consumers will pay for a maxed-out heavy-duty pickup outfitted like a Bentley, but with a powertrain that can haul 30,000 pounds. Neither do marketing executives at General Motors and Fiat Chrysler's Ram brand. Ram also introduced a luxury pickup at the fair, a heavy-duty Laramie Longhorn Southfork edition. The top model, the 3500 4x4 dually mega cab Southfork, with its optional Cummins turbodiesel engine, has a base price of $83,110, including the $1,395 shipping charge. The 2018 model, just now being shipped to dealers, joins several other luxury Ram trucks, including the 3500 Laramie Limited Tungsten mega cab dually 4x4, which has a starting price of $85,780 with shipping and can get close to $100,000 all in. It can also haul 30,000 pounds. "We can't keep them in inventory," Ram officials told reporters at a press conference at the fair, speaking of the Tungsten model. "That tells us that customers are continuing to look for more. We'll listen to our customers and see what they want." Prices for GM's top luxury trucks, diesel-powered 3500 4x4 dually versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, can reach the low to mid-$80,000s, fully optioned. But Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director, says Chevrolet also has identified a set of customers willing to pay more for a bigger, more luxurious and more capable truck. Next year, Chevrolet is re-entering the medium-duty truck market, a segment typically used for fleet vehicles and commercial trucks, which Chevrolet was forced to abandon during its bankruptcy nearly a decade ago. But Piszar said Chevrolet will launch two new-from-the-wheels-up 4500 and 5500 chassis cab models and could add a 4500 pickup later. If so, it would give GM a direct competitor to the Ford F-450, currently the largest consumer pickup available. "There is a segment out there that really wants that ultimate truck," Piszar said of a potential Chevrolet Silverado 4500 pickup. Nissan is the only other automaker to offer a heavy-duty pickup with its Titan XD, but its top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve XD doesn't compete with Detroit models on towing, hauling, power output and luxury features. The Nissan's price maxes out in the mid-$60,000s. King Ranch Ford created the luxury pickup segment in 2001 with the F-150 King Ranch and has been pushing size and capability, adding luxury features and boosting the price ever since. Ford's other luxury trucks include the Platinum and Limited. Ford says more than half of the sales of its Super Duty pickups are high-end models, which include Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels. "There are heavy-duty truck customers who need Super Duty capability and who want true luxury," said Todd Eckert, Ford's truck group marketing manager. "For us, it is not about the dollar amount," Eckert told Automotive News last week after the F-450 Limited's debut. "It's about meeting the needs of the customers. We see an opportunity in the marketplace to bring the Limited trim to Super Duty. We know customers will demand it." The F-450's standard equipment list reads more like what a customer would expect in a Lincoln Continental. It includes adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, lane-keeping alert, front-collision warning, ventilated front and rear seats, a leather-stitched heated steering wheel, suede headliner, leather door panels and more. Even more? Asked if Ford is considering something even more plush and powerful than the F-450, Eckert said: "We are always looking at the marketplace and what customers demand. That's always the guide." Brandon Tomes, dealer principal at Bob Tomes Ford in McKinney, Texas, plans to order an F-450 Limited and test the water for the luxury truck. If it sells quickly, he'll order more, he said. The dealership has already sold a few heavily customized F-150s that priced out at about $100,000, so he knows some customers are not shy. "It's hard to guess how big the market is," Tomes said. "I don't think trucks have found a ceiling yet. You get customers who want every bell and whistle."

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The Washington Post / October 2, 2017 A gunman in a high-rise hotel opened fire on a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip late Sunday, killing at least 50 people and injuring hundreds of others in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The gunman, Stephen Paddock, was later found dead by police on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Paddock was 64. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said said “over 50” were killed in the shooting, though that toll could rise, as he noted that police were still investigating the scene. Police said 406 people were taken to area hospitals after the shooting. Paddock was found dead in his hotel room by Las Vegas SWAT officers who responded to the call about the shooting, and they believe he killed himself shortly before they arrived. Under the neon glow and glitz of the Vegas Strip, concertgoers dove for cover or raced toward shelter through a sea of water bottles, hats, shoes and other items lost in the stampede as a hail of gunfire rained down from the Mandalay Bay around 10 p.m. local time. Over 22,000 people were at the concert when Paddock began opening fire from his hotel room. Police believe Paddock, a local resident, was a “lone wolf” attacker. “We have no idea what his belief system was,” Lombardo said. “Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor and the scene is static.” Recordings of the attack suggested that Paddock used an automatic weapon. Paddock, who arrived at the hotel last Thursday, was found with more than 10 rifles. Paddock’s brother, Eric, told Reuters that the family was stunned by what happened. “We have no idea,” Eric Paddock told the news agency. “We’re horrified. We’re bewildered and our condolences go out to the victims. We have no idea in the world.” Las Vegas police said Monday morning that one off-duty officer with the department was killed in the shooting. Two other officers who were on-duty were injured, police said; one was in stable condition after surgery and the other sustained minor injuries. Authorities were searching for a woman named Marilou Danley, described only as Paddock’s “traveling companion,” but police said early Monday they had located her as well as two cars they were seeking. During a news conference Monday morning, Lombardo said that investigators have spoken with Danley, who was located outside the country, and do not believe she was involved in the shooting. Her relationship with Paddock was not immediately known, but they lived at the same address in Mesquite, Nevada. Police in Mesquite were entering Paddock’s home to conduct a search on Monday morning. The gunman was previously known to local police for past run-ins with law enforcement. However, police in Las Vegas had only minimal interactions with Haddock before the shooting. “We have no investigative information or background associated with this individual that is derogatory,” Lombardo said. “The only thing we can tell is he received a citation several years ago, that citation was handled as a matter of normal practice in the court system.” Videos posted to Twitter from witnesses showed people screaming and running for cover amid the sound of gunshots. The shooting continued intermittently for more than five minutes. “The gunfire never ended, it seemed like,” concert attendee Rachel Dekerf said. “It just went on and on and on.” Mike McGarry, a 53-year-old financial adviser from Philadelphia, said he threw himself on top of his children as shots rang out. “They’re 20. I’m 53. I lived a good life,” McGarry told Reuters. The back of his shirt had foot marks from people who stepped over him in the crush to flee. President Trump tweeted “condolences and sympathies” for the victims and their families hours after the shooting. “The president has been briefed on the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas. We are monitoring the situation closely and offer our full support to state and local officials,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Monday morning. “All of those affected are in our thoughts and prayers.” .

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratía literally "rule of the people"), in modern usage, is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament. Democracy is sometimes referred to as "rule of the majority". Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy) In Spain, allegedly a democracy, the people of the Catalonia region in northeastern Spain have overwhelmingly voted for independence (the will of “the people”). And what happens? The government ignores the rules of democracy, attacks “the people” and calls their voting illegal. The results of the referendum on Sunday showed landslide support for independence. According to the Catalan government, 90 percent of the ballots cast were for independence — with 2,020,144 voting yes and 176,566 no. Spain is in effect saying, “We do call ourselves a democracy, however, the people don’t actually rule the country”. The Spanish government says the vote in Catalonia was a mass act of civil disobedience, rather than an exercise of democracy in play. By late afternoon, the Catalan health ministry said 844 people had suffered injuries in brawls with police, who could be seen punching and kicking voters. Police also fired scores of rubber bullets at crowds in Barcelona and other cities. Observe the police beating and kicking common people at an independence referendum voting station. This isn’t Russia or one of the other so-called evil countries. This is U.S. ally Spain. Has the U.S. government condemned these shocking attacks. Not. .

Intentionally snuff out the life of another human being, your own son and a mere 3-year old child no less………..and you only get 10 years in prison. Where's the justice? This man should be summarily executed by suffocation - an eye for an eye. And, US tax payers had to feed and board this murderer for two years before our judicial system churned out this disgusting outcome, and now will finance 10 more years of incarceration. Then again, he might walk early due to "good behavior". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Creato [Only] Gets 10 Years for Killing His Son NBC 10 / September 29, 2017 A South Jersey father who admitted to manslaughter in the killing of his 3-year-old son will spend the next decade behind bars. David "DJ" Creato suffocated his 3-year-old son, Brendan, and left his body in a wooded area next to a Camden County, New Jersey, neighborhood in 2015, according to a plea deal. "I sentence you to 10 years in prison," the judge said Friday while giving Creato the maximum sentence. The 24-year-old will be required to serve 8 1/2 years before being eligible for parole. Prosecutors read victim statements and played a montage of photos of Brendan before the judge handed down the sentence. Creato admitted to depriving Brendan of oxygen to end his life and pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the killing, prosecutors said. County prosecutors said Creato, 22 at the time, murdered the preschooler because he was fearful his 17-year-old girlfriend would leave him. Creato was facing a September retrial after a jury failed to convict him on a murder charge in the killing before he plead. Brendan's body was discovered in a wooded area of Haddon Township by the Cooper River in October 2015. DJ Creato said, at the time, the boy wandered away from home and maintained that a stranger killed his son. During the April murder trial, prosecutors argued that Brendan didn't walk into the woods alone. They said the boy was very afraid of the dark and that the boy wasn't wearing shoes, yet the soles of his bright socks were clean.

Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/51205-chevrolet-to-offer-class-45-silverados/ .

Power Torque Magazine / September 2017 Some three years ago, PowerTorque visited Kim Haulage of Londonderry, on the north western outskirts of Sydney, to discuss how being an early adopter of technology could prove to be the right decision for efficiency, reliability and, above all, safety. Founder and managing director, Ken McClelland, has always been open to the benefits of developing technologies, switching to BPW axles with BPW disc brakes from drum brakes and embracing EBS with roll stability and anti-lock braking from 2000 onwards. This was considerably in advance of the standard truck and trailer specification of the time, and, even today, Ken is still ahead of many in the pack, although comparable with those that have already moved on to gain the benefits of performance based standards (PBS). Ken’s focus on using different technologies to improve safety, reduce vehicle downtime and minimise driver fatigue has enabled him to cope with the vagaries of the transport business. As the workload increased, his fleet expanded, reducing in number when demand lessened. From a fleet that previously numbered around 14 vehicles, by 2014 Ken had downsized to just 4 rigid tippers and dog trailers, all that was needed to satisfy a local coal contract. “The ever-changing demands of the industry today has seen the fleet expand once again, growing to 22 trucks and trailers, but with the emphasis moving from rigid tippers and quad-dog trailers to tandem A-double combinations. We also have more units currently on order and awaiting delivery. “Introducing AMTS with reduced fatigue means a fresher driver. It not only introduces new younger drivers to the industry, it also means that older drivers can remain in the industry longer. “In the early days of disc brakes we experienced an imbalance in brake effort between trucks and trailers. BPW moved from 370 mm to 430 mm larger rotors, and we worked through it to improve the overall balance and solved all the problems. We got a lot better tyre life as we run the Vigia tyre inflation system from BPW Transpec, plus brake balance with discs is much better and there’s no brake fade or lock-ups. “We had to work with the truck manufacturers to modify their systems to work with what is a more sensitive disc-type foundation brake. The upside is that the stopping distance is so superior for discs versus drums. “Now the balance is right, the disc pad replacement is around 200,000 km intervals with 180,000 km minimum. Steer axle life is 200,000 with drive axles at 250,000 km. Rotor condition is regularly monitored and under normal circumstances we expect two pad replacements to each rotor replacement. “With brakes and tyres on quad-dog trailer work we experienced more brake pad wear on the 1st and 3rd axles, and more noticeable tyre wear on the 2nd and 4th axles. It’s the same with the trucks, with the 1st drive axle showing more brake pad wear and the 2nd drive axle highlighting more tyre wear. “Now with tandem A-doubles the payload and productivity equations have all changed. With a gross weight of 74.5 tonnes we have achieved major productivity gains. “Sloanebuilt for bodywork and trailers is our standard choice throughout the fleet. It’s my belief they are the best when it comes to PBS requirements. They understand it far better than any other and their knowledge is far superior to anybody else. “In terms of payload under PBS legislation with rigid trucks and quad-dog trailers, we can achieve payloads of 39.5 tonnes on a quad, 43.5 tonnes on a five-axle and 51.5 tonnes on the tandem A-doubles. Everything has BPW axles, BPW disc brakes, Wabco EBS with the Smartboard and we use Edbro hoists,” said Ken. Commenting on the specification of the A-Doubles for Kim Haulage, Ben Weckwerth of Sloanebuilt Trailers said: “Both of the Kim Haulage A-doubles are under 26 metres in length, the A-trailer being 86,550 mm long with the B-trailer being one of Ken’s existing PBS-compliant quad-dog trailers at 11,850 mm, all featuring side heights of 5’6”,” said Ben. “All of the Kim Haulage Sloanebuilt dog trailer fleet can be operated as the back trailer in this combination, as Kim Haulage has a full PBS fleet of trailers with all trailers having been added to the vehicle approval. “Ken has used his knowledge and understanding of PBS, mass, fatigue and maintenance management, and by working with Sloanebuilt Trailers he has been able to put Kim Haulage at the forefront of PBS operators in New South Wales, if not Australia. “The amount of effort that is put into each and every new truck is also mirrored from an administration and compliance point of view with Ken putting a lot of time into making sure this is a 100 percent correct and to Ken’s high standard. “Throughout the development of the A-double trailer combination concept, the RMS and NHVR have provided extensive help and assistance to facilitate the approval of these higher productivity designs. Because of their assistance and their understanding of the objectives and final vehicle applications, it has enabled us to make combinations like the A-double a commercially viable unit,” concluded Ben Weckwerth In order to simplify things for the drivers, the controls and instrumentation in each truck are identical, with mobile telephones being non-removable and non-operational when the vehicle is in motion. Alongside the phone installation are two screens, one providing sat/nav coverage, the other enabling the driver to monitor five on-board cameras. A further camera attached to the windscreen covers the view of the road ahead, constantly recording the movements of all other road users. “We speed limit trucks when the pto is engaged to 25 km/h, and we have blindspot cameras and hoist alerts with visual and audio alerts when the hoist is in the air,” said Ken McClelland. “The camera vision covers any possible blindspot, and individual cameras are mounted on the top of the left-hand air intake and behind the truck body and the rear of the trailer,” said Ken. Tyre condition is monitored visually with regular rotation completed in-house, and tyre wear immediately reduced by 20 percent as a result of the Vigia tyre inflation system. “Prior to PBS we ran with tyre pressures set at 95 psi as we were only running 13.5 tonnes on each bogie spread. With PBS adding more weight we then increased to 100 psi. All our maintenance is completed in-house with our own team, and I believe that makes us much more hands-on when it comes to maintenance management and regular inspection. “The disc brake advantage is that we don’t flat-spot tyres. In the old days with drum brakes, even on brand-new equipment the adjustment could alter between drums. Disc brakes are always perfectly adjusted equally and you don’t flat-spot tyres. “Using the Vigia automatic tyre inflation system from BPW has not cut down the puncture rate, but it has reduced the number of blowouts. The most common cause of blowouts is caused by a tyre deflating through a puncture, and that puts more weight on the adjacent tyre, causing overheating and failure. The Vigia system maintains pressure in the tyre experiencing the puncture, dramatically reducing the opportunity for a blowout of the neighbouring tyre. “We believe that by maintaining correct tyre pressure management we also reduce the opportunity for bearing wear as the bearing is always evenly supported over both dual wheels. We just wash and repack bearings on a regular basis and very rarely need to replace them. “When you are paying $150,000 for a new five-axle trailer, I can’t understand why you don’t include EBS and automatic tyre inflation systems,” said Ken. The Kim Haulage fleet comprises two Super-Liners at 685 hp, and the remainder of the fleet of Mack Tridents are at 535 hp, all of them have the mDRIVE AMT. Oil drains with the Macks are now 33,000 km intervals with a C-service every third service. It’s easy to remember when a service is done and ensure that everything is completed correctly, with oil sampling on every service. .

Scania Group Press Release / September 29, 2017 Fleet management, driver support and financial services. Those are some of the offerings that are available to fleet owners and drivers through the new digital platform Scania One – enhancing efficiency in their everyday work. Earlier this year Scania presented a new digital market place – Scania One – that allows fleet owners and drivers to access, administer and purchase Scania’s connected services in a single platform. Launching first of all in Germany, the platform will be rolled out to more European markets in the coming months. “Scania One is a way for us to help our customers with their digitalisation processes,” says Håkan Schildt, Director of Strategy and Business Development. Digitalising service offerings At the time of the launch a limited set of services will be available through the platform, such as Scania Fleet Management and driver services, but the platform will continue to evolve to include more services in the future. Scania One is based on communications technology giant Ericsson’s software. It is designed to meet the varying needs of customers and drivers related to trucking operations, transport assignments or simply according to personal preference. Enhancing efficiency with connected vehicles With more than 250,000 connected Scania vehicles, Scania One provides coherent and simple access to efficiency-enhancing services. “We have been very successful with connectivity and over 90 percent of the rolling five-year fleet in Europe is connected,” Schildt says. “Through digitalisation there is a tremendous potential to eliminate waste in the transport system,” says Henrik Henriksson, President and CEO of Scania. “This is about creating value. And connectivity is needed since the fill rate of trucks in Europe only averages 60 percent. That isn’t good for the environment and not good for our customers.” . .

Renault Trucks Press Release / September 29, 2017 A specialised workshop for converting used vehicles at the Bourg-en-Bresse plant Renault Trucks has incorporated a specialised workshop for converting used vehicles – the Used Trucks Factory – into its Bourg-en-Bresse manufacturing site. Renault Trucks has chosen its adaptation centre located in the Bourg-en-Bresse factory to establish a specialised workshop for converting used vehicles. Mechanics recover trucks less than five years old and carry out the modifications required for their new tasks. Tractors have been converted into rigids and T-range and Premium Route vehicles are turned into worksite supply trucks (X-Road). Tailor-made trucks “This conversion workshop enables us to provide tailor-made used trucks for our customers”, explained Emmanuel Duperray, Senior Vice-President, responsible for used trucks at Renault Trucks. “It provides the flexibility we need to quickly and efficiently meet the requirements of our customers." As a result, the manufacturer is compensating for the scarcity of carriers and worksite supply trucks on the European used trucks market and meeting strong demand from customers. In Africa and the Middle East, the manufacturer is also meeting the requirements of customers looking for constructor-quality vehicles adapted to demanding conditions of use. Indeed, the conversion workshop benefits from Renault Trucks manufacturing methods and expertise, thereby guaranteeing the high quality and robustness of its converted vehicles. They have the added advantage of a constructor’s guarantee. There are currently two main types of conversion: • Tractors converted into carriers Tractors from the Premium Route and T range are converted into rigids. To carry out the conversion, operations are required to remove the cab, drive chain and suspension in order to change the rails. This method enables the manufacturer to offer its customers long wheelbases (three available lengths) and guarantee the robustness of the vehicle for all types of bodies and use. • Long road vehicles become worksite supply trucks With a design based on a Premium Route, the Premium X-Road is fitted with new steel bumpers, mixed service 315/80 tyres, an extra-strong access step and a reinforced fifth-wheel coupling, as well as having its ground clearance raised. An off-road function is added to the gear box and engine software is updated accordingly. The worksite is currently making the same modifications to the Renault Trucks T. The T X-Road is set to be launched on the market in Europe in October 2017. By the end of 2017, the workshop will have converted 300 used Renault Trucks. The target is to achieve a capacity of 500 vehicles per year as from 2018. .

Yes. Their upcoming US market 6x4 will also be a Class 7/light class 8 like the Hino. But it will be an F-Series COE.

New Benchmark of Success: New Ford F-Series Super Duty Limited Sets Bar for Luxury, Technology Ford Motor Co. Press Release / September 28, 2017 The F-450 Limited delivers technology and comfort previously reserved only in premium flagship sedans, and it’s capable enough to tow more than 30,000 lbs. Ford again establishes new top-end for trucks with the new Super Duty Limited, specially tailored for high-end heavy-duty truck customers – from boat captains to captains of industry Custom touches – inside and out – come standard on Limited, along with Super Duty capability and smart tech Ford continues offering a heavy-duty pickup truck for every customer – from work-ready F-250 XL starting at $32,890 to top-of-the-line F-450 Limited starting at $87,100 DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2017 – Ford – America’s truck leader – today pulls off the wraps of a new F-Series Super Duty Limited that sets new luxury standards for high-end heavy-duty truckers. With pricing at $87,100, the F-450 Limited delivers technology and comfort previously reserved only in premium flagship sedans, and it’s capable enough to tow more than 30,000 lbs. – about the weight of a stealthy Air Force F-35 fighter plane. “The Super Duty lineup is a win for all of our customers, from successful ranchers to contractors to RV owners,” said Todd Eckert, Ford Truck group marketing manager. “Super Duty Limited is the most luxurious and advanced heavy-duty pickup truck ever created by Ford for accomplished buyers, with appetites for the high life and hard-earned dollars to match.” Starting MSRPs (including $1,295 destination; taxes and fees not included) are: F-250 Super Duty Limited 4x4 $80,835 F-350 Super Duty Limited 4x4 $82,010 F-450 Super Duty Limited 4x4 $87,100 Customers who check every option box can top one out for as much as $94,455. What’s the point? “There are heavy-duty truck customers who need Super Duty-level capability and want true luxury,” Eckert said. “We created this new truck to answer the call for even more premium choices in the Super Duty range as we see more and more truck customers trending to more premium models.” More than 50 percent of the Super Duty lineup’s retail sales this year are high-end models – including Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum series. Limited goes even further. “Imagine opening the door to your humidor and sinking into your favorite leather lounge chair – that’s the sensation new Super Duty Limited inspires,” said Ford design manager Aileen Barraza. Custom Camelback two-tone leather seats, premium stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel, armrests and instrument panel, Miko® suede headliner, hand-finished dark ash wood trim, special badging set the interior apart. Outside, a special twin-bar satin grille with chrome accents, quad-beam LED lights and satin-finished tailgate applique are Limited’s unique calling cards. Each Limited also has a dedicated serial number laser-etched on the center console armrest. Most Super Duty tech ever Beyond the hand-crafting, Super Duty Limited comes standard with advanced and innovative features to get the job done on ranches, in marinas and everywhere in between. This includes: Class-exclusive high-definition 360-degree camera with Trailer Reverse Guidance Class-exclusive SYNC® 3 Class-exclusive BLIS® with trailer coverage Class-exclusive adaptive cruise control Class-exclusive adaptive steering Lane-keeping alert Forward collision warning with brake support Class-exclusive flat rear load floor with fold-up locking storage Class-exclusive quad-beam LED headlamps Full panoramic moonroof with retractable shade Heated and ventilated front seats, plus heated rear seats Leather-trimmed, heated steering wheel Is Ford backing away from heavy-duty truck buyers with fewer greenbacks? No way! Ford has a heavy-duty pickup truck for every customer – from work-ready F-250 XL starting at $32,890 to top-of-the-line F-450 Limited starting at $87,100. Super Duty Limited crew cab arrives this winter with Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8 across F-250, F-350 and F-450 single- or dual-rear-wheel configurations. .

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Green Car Congress / September 29, 2017 Cummins has been awarded a $47.4 million contract from the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) to develop and demonstrate a technologically advanced engine for the next generation of US combat vehicles. The Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) project, led by Cummins Corporate Research and Technology and supported by Achates Power—the developer of next-generation two-stroke compression-ignition opposed-piston engines (earlier post)—aligns well with the research and development work of the US Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The goal of the project is to improve significantly the performance, survivability, and range of ground combat vehicles while reducing fleet fuel use. Cummins and Achates plan to reach these goals by reducing heat rejection by 21% compared to current Cummins-supplied combat vehicle engines. In addition, the project wants to improve power density by more than 50%, and reduce fuel use by 13% compared to current typical combat vehicle engines. This award builds upon 14 years of extensive development by Achates Power to modernize and optimize the opposed-piston engine. We are pleased to support Cummins on the Multi-Cylinder Advanced Combat Engine Technology Demonstrator program with our strengths in opposed-piston engine technology to deliver a superior engine for combat and tactical vehicles for the US Army. —David Johnson, CEO, Achates Power In March 2015, NAMC awarded Achates a $14-million project to support research and development work on the Single Cylinder Advanced Combat Engine Technology Demonstrator. Achates partnered with Cummins Inc. for that project, a precursor to the new award. (Earlier post.) The combat engine is a key part of the Army’s 30-year strategy to modernize tactical and combat vehicles, with potential for future configurations being used in the Bradley family of vehicles and the Next Generation Combat Vehicle. Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/19433-trucking-news-another-company-developing-fuel-efficient-opposed-piston-engine/?tab=comments#comment-358560

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Trailer-Body Builders / September 29, 2017 Cargo control specialist Kinedyne LLC used its press slot at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show to present a variety of new systems designed to address the demands placed on transportation providers by the impact of e-commerce on the supply chain. “E-commerce is creating new cargo challenges, and Kinedyne is delivering new cargo solutions,” Paul Wolford, vice president of sales and marketing for Kinedyne LLC, said. “In the beginning, e-commerce had the greatest disruptive effect on end-of-the-line, also known as ‘final-mile’ or ‘last-mile’ delivery activities, but now companies throughout the supply chain are looking for ways to minimize transportation costs for cargo as it moves more swiftly throughout multiple transportation modes.” Among the products introduced were a load-rated curtain-side system and a unique double-decking system designed specifically for curtain-side applications. The lightweight curtain-side system opens and closes at lightning-fast speeds, but is engineered to restrain lateral cargo movement. A load-rated curtain gives a trailer the combined advantages of flatbed access and a van’s walled structure. The double-decking system maximizes load density, allowing loading and unloading access of both cargo levels from the sides and rear, and all of its components conveniently stow in the trailer to avoid loss or damage. “Popular in Europe, load-rated curtains become part of a vehicle’s overall load securement system. They save time, weight and fuel, while providing sideways restraint to otherwise fully secured loads up to the curtain’s stated rating,” Wolford said. “Our rated curtains will display their load rating as either allowable weight per pallet width, allowable weight per pallet space or total payload of evenly distributed pallets across the entire deck space. Forward and rear cargo restraint must still be provided by headboards, tailboards and other traditional load securement methods.” During his presentation, Wolford highlighted the following related products: Load-Rated Curtain-Side System: The industry’s first load-rated curtain-wall system with a reinforced structural profile. The system is suitable for trailers up to 53 feet. With rapid access on both ends, the cargo space can be opened and closed again within seconds. The lightweight system is adaptable to a number of logistical challenges, such as palletized cargo, double-decking, rack-mounted goods and the transport of beverages. Double-Decking System for Curtain-Side Applications: This unique double-decking system enables users to optimize the cargo capacity of Kinedyne’s advanced load-rated curtain-side system. The system accommodates cargo of varying dimensions and heights. System configurations can support between 13,000 and 24,000 pounds on their second loading levels. Fast-Access Curtain-Side System for the Urban Core: This curtain-side system was specially developed for fast and repetitive city distribution and short truck bodies of up to 28 feet. It’s ideal for side loading and unloading in busy city centers. The cargo space can be opened, accessed from both sides and closed again within seconds. This system can be combined with a sliding roof and rear doors, creating a totally open cargo access environment. Quick-Release Curtain-Side System for Standard and Tapered Bodies: The flexible quick-release latching system is particularly well suited for truck bodies that are tapered at their top. Skewed body construction often occurs when unique cargo must be accommodated, such as beverage and glass truck applications. This ergonomic system replaces cumbersome buckle closures and heavy roll-up doors that require stretching and straining to close. Patented Ultra-Smooth Sliding Roof System: This unique sliding roof system has patented folding plates and can be paired with an extended range of aluminum rails or combined with other curtain-style rapid-access products. The sliding roof makes the loading and unloading of long cargo easy and convenient and allows the use of over-head cranes. Users can choose between a traditional rear-to-front sliding roof or a sliding roof that opens and closes at both ends. Special patented security accessories are also available. Patented Non-Binding Roller Technology: All curtain-side and retractable roofs are equipped with advanced, patented roller technology that makes opening and closing them faster, safer and less ergonomically challenging. The three-roller design includes a steel horizontal roller that ensures effortless sliding and prevents the curtain from binding even when being briskly opened and closed. To bring these new technologies to North America, Kinedyne tapped the resources of its sister company, Wistra Cargo Control, and one of its European suppliers, Versus-Omega. Both organizations are well respected and their technologies continue to set trends within the European Economic Community and globally. All products are expected to be commercially available by January 2018. .

My first thought is, since Hino has made such a great effort to reinvent themselves in the North American market as a conventional truck manufacturer, these new trucks will be conventionals based on the 500 Series. The COE Hino FF and FG trucks sold in the US during the 1980s, imported via Jacksonville, Florida, were superb trucks. But Hino didn't get any traction until they introduced conventionals in 2003. Now they're a success story, while UD abandoned the US market in 2012 (Volvo's decision). Of course at Mack we introduced the conventional "CS" series Mid-Liner, and sold a lot. But I sold more "MS" COE Mid-Liners that CS's.

Scenes and notes: Out on the road with Mack's new top dog Aaron Marsh, Fleet Owner / September 28, 2017 Mack Trucks showed off its new Anthem tractor at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show this week in Atlanta. But those trucks had to get there somehow, didn't they. Fleet Owner joined in that expedition; join us for another look. Out on the road with the 10-truck convoy bringing Anthems and a few other trucks to display, there was more to notice about Mack's latest highway hauler. One thing is that taking some time to get to know the truck's controls — and those of the systems on it — will make you glad you did or frustrated you didn't. We'll also say the truck's appearance works as designed: it gets looks, and from more than just the trucking crowd. Out in the Anthem, we got thumbs-ups and plenty of interest from people driving by, sometimes with a passenger leaning out the window with a phone to take a photo of the brawny-looking Macks. Other truck drivers in Macks, of course, also showed their camaraderie. More than a few air horns sounded as older Macks crossed paths with the Anthem on the highway. Check out some photos and notes from hundreds of miles on the road from Allentown, PA to Atlanta. Photo gallery - http://fleetowner.com/trucks/scenes-and-notes-out-road-macks-new-top-dog#slide-0-field_images-227491

Fleet Owner / September 29, 2017 While a host of safety and semi-automation systems available to fleets, getting it implemented correctly is the critical issue, not the technology itself, component and system supplier argues. If there is one lesson the trucking industry should take away from the Tesla car crash last year that occurred when the vehicle was on autopilot, it’s that technology itself might not be the issue – it is how technology gets implemented and ultimately used on a day-to-day basis. That’s the line of thought Fred Andersky, director of customer solutions for the controls group at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC put forth during a press conference at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show this week. “The Tesla crash shows that it’s not the technology that is necessarily the concern; it’s the issue of implementing technology,” he explained. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that a truck driver’s failure to yield the right of way and a car driver’s inattention due to overreliance on vehicle automation were the probable cause of the fatal Tesla crash back in May 2016, near Williston, FL. The NTSB also determined the operational design of the Tesla’s vehicle automation permitted “over-reliance” on the automation technology allowing for “prolonged disengagement” from the task of driving a vehicle and also enabled the Tesla owner to use the technology in ways “inconsistent” with manufacturer guidance and warnings. “System safeguards, that should have prevented the Tesla’s driver from using the car’s automation system on certain roadways, were lacking and the combined effects of human error and the lack of sufficient system safeguards resulted in a fatal collision that should not have happened,” noted NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt III in a report two weeks ago. Technology like Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ system “are designed to assist drivers with specific tasks in limited environments,” he stressed. “These systems require the driver to pay attention all the time and to be able to take over immediately when something goes wrong.” At the NACV briefing, Andersky noted that “autonomy encompasses a number of factors, including the appropriate use, understanding, and implementation of the technology, along with the wider impact of the ecosystem surrounding the application.” But he added that development of autonomous technology will continue to be encouraged, especially in cars and especially by government agencies like the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Their basic role is to reduce crashes and save lives and they see a much bigger fish to fry in terms of autonomous cars versus trucks,” he added. “That’s why they are more focused on that [car] side. But there is value for truckers here as cars are the ones crashing into them.” A University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI study conducted several years ago showed assigned car drivers “factors of fault” in 81% of the car-truck crashes studied, compared with 27% of truckers. Those totals were greater than 100%, UMTRI said, because 10% of crashes assigned blame to both car and truck drivers. Also from the UMTRI study: Cars were the encroaching vehicle in 89% of head-on crashes; in 88% of opposite-direction sideswipes; in 80% of rear-end crashes and in 72% of same-direction side-swipes, which it said were “obvious indicators of fault.” Andersky also highlighted another key issue where truck technology implementation is concerned: calculating and acting on its benefits. “Fleets are really just now starting to understand the safety performance benefits and lower total cost of operations (TCO) possible with new technologies,” he explained. For example, brakes remain the top reason why trucks are placed out of service during the annual 72-hour Roadcheck International safety inspection blitz, representing 26.9 % of all vehicle out-of-service violations. Many of those are due to traditional drum brakes being “out of adjustment,” which is a problem that would be solved by switching over to air disc brakes. Yet maximize a return on investment due to the higher cost of air disc brakes versus drum brakes, fleets might want to revisit their highay tractor trade cycles, Andersky explained. “They might move from a typical three year trade cycle – which they may use in part to avoid major drum brake work – and expand to a four or five year cycle to gain the full [TCO] benefit of air disc brakes,” he said. Berend Bracht, Bendix’s president and CEO, noted during the press conference that air disc brakes are a “building block” where autonomous vehicles are concerned and will “likely one day” be a mandated requirement. Aside from the technology discussion, Bendix highlighted several product enhancements and other endeavors: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC – a joint venture between Bendix and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products – added a new air disc brake (ADB) production line at its wheel-end manufacturing operation in Bowling Green, KY, which became fully operational early this month and will be ramping up to full capacity through the end of the year. Bendix noted that more than 20% of North American Class 6-8 trucks with air-brake wheel-ends are now equipped with ADBs; a 50% increase in overall market share since 2013 Bendix is offering a new ADB value calculator, available at ValuebyBendix.com, to help fleets understand what the potential savings might be if they spec ADBs on all wheel positions of their tractors and trailers; Bendix is also rolling out “next-generation” drum brakes as a factory-installed option at all major North American medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers; brakes that offer weight savings up to 16 lbs. per tandem axle set as they’ve been converted from a “cast spider” to a “heavy-duty stamped spider” design. Ford Motor Co. is going to make the Bendix ESP (short for ‘electronic stability program’) electronic stability control package a standard feature on all 2018 model year F-650 and F-750 tractors, plus as an option on certain F-750 straight truck configurations. Fleet trials of Bendix’s new Intellipark automatic parking brake system will begin in 2018; a technology designed to help drivers prevent rollaway and runaway crashes caused by an improperly set or disengaged parking brake. It will replace manual air system-based parking brakes with electronic switches. It’s also designed to work on any air-braked vehicle, including tractor-trailers, single-unit trucks, motor coaches, and school buses. The company is updating its BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System with a new and “more effective radar unit” that can be integrated into its Wingman Fusion advanced driver assistance technology. Using a passenger side-mounted radar unit, BlindSpotter is designed to alert drivers to vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes. The new version will offer the same look, size, position, and mounting hardware for the radar and in-cab display units but with a significantly wider “field of view,” allowing it to “see” farther toward both the front and back of the combination or single-unit vehicle. It will be available in the first quarter of next year. Also in 2018 Bendix said it will offer upgrades to its Wingman Fusion system to include highway departure braking and multi-lane automatic emergency braking, along with strengthened collision mitigation capabilities via the use of automatic braking. Those new options come through software advancements, meaning current Fusion customers will be able to upgrade to the new capabilities with no need to purchase new hardware components. Bendix plans to begin demonstrating the new upgrades prior to the close of 2017 and throughout 2018. Bendix will begin offering a new aftermarket heavy-duty drum brake friction pad to help keep their vehicles compliant with reduced stopping distance (RSD) requirements of 250-ft. called the BA232R in early October. It’s designed to handle heavy line haul, heavy pick-up and delivery, severe duty, and refuse applications. In testing, Bendix said its BA232R lining provided an average 235-ft. worth of stopping distance –exceeding the RSD mandate. Bendix is also launching a new spring brake line called EnduraSure, which includes an improved version of its standard chamber and is already in production. EnduraSure will replace the EverSure spring brake family. In a personnel note, Bendix recently appointed Stephen “Steve” Daukaus to be its vice president of finance and information technology as well as its chief financial officer. Daukaus, who joined Bendix on Sept. 5, also became the newest member of the Bendix Leadership Committee. He fills the position held previously by Arnfred Kulenkampff, who will be retiring at the close of 2017.

New Class 4, 5 Silverados on the way from Chevrolet Fleet Owner / September 29, 2017 Medium-duty Silverado trucks to be 'powerful, maneuverable, easy to upfit' This week at the Texas State Fair, Chevrolet said it is launching new Class 4 and 5 trucks "late next year" that will be branded Silverado. The announcement came as part of Chevy's Centennial Truck event celebrating a century of Chevrolet pickups. Chevy pointed to its truck activity over the last three years, including the introduction of a redesigned 6.6L Duramax diesel for heavy-duty pickups. The forthcoming Silverado 4500 and 5500 models will all be powered by a Duramax diesel engine and have an Allison automatic transmission. Based in Indianapolis, Allison is the largest manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions that have been used in applications including construction, fire, distribution, defense, energy and refuse trucks. Allison transmissions have also been found in Chevy trucks since the 1950s. "The Silverado 4500 and 5500 will stand out because we've designed the trucks around how customers work," said John Schwegman, U.S. director of commercial product for Chevrolet. "They will be powerful, highly maneuverable and among the easiest trucks on the market to upfit with specialized bodies such as dump bodies, rollbacks, freight boxes and more." Both the Silverado 4500 and 5500 will be available in Regular and Crew Cab models, with 4x2 and 4x4 capability and a range of gross vehicle weight ratings and wheelbases. The trucks will be offered with optional OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity provided by AT&T, which Chevrolet noted fleet management companies are embracing to help improve safety and productivity. Chevrolet noted it would release full technical specs for the new Silverado 4500 and 5500 "close to launch." The OEM also said its commercial sales are up by 48% since 2013, and domestic segment share has grown year-over-year for the past 13 consecutive months. "We are earning new business because we have more solutions to help businesses grow," Schwegman said.