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Peterbilt boosts 579 fuel economy by 8% Fleet Owner / March 22, 2017 New used-truck warranty, Allison line-haul transmission option Changes to the Peterbilt Model 579 Epiq for the 2018 model year improve fuel efficiency by 8% compared to 2017 models, according to the company. Peterbilt has also announced a new warranty for its certified used truck program and availability of a new Allison automatic transmission. Half of the increase in fuel economy comes from updates to the Paccar MX-13 and MX-11 engines paired with Eaton Fuller Advantage automated transmissions, according to Peterbilt general manager Kyle Quinn. Predictive cruise control with neutral coasting accounts for an additional 3%, and a new Paccar 40,000-lb. tandem drive axle contributes 1%, he said. Driver comfort has also been addressed in the 2018 version of Peterbilt’s line-haul tractor with new auto stop/start functionality for its No-Idle sleeper AC system, new interior color options, and a larger sleeper window. In other news from the company’s press conference,tThe Peterbilt Red Oval certified used-truck program will now offer a one-year, 125,000-mi. warranty on Paccar MX engines and aftertreatment system, as well as a 90-day buyers assurance plan covering major chassis components. Red Oval certified trucks undergo a 150-point inspection before being reconditioned and serviced with a DPF cleaning and oil change. Later this year, the company will add the fully automatic Allison TC10 transmission as an option for the Model 579 and Model 567. Designed for regional and line-haul heavy-duty tractor applications, the torque converter 10-speed has been optimized for down-speeding to increase fuel economy, and requires no scheduled maintenance for 500,000 mi. It can handle up to 1,850 lbs. ft. torque and 110,000 lbs. GCW, and comes with a 5-year, 750,000-mi. warranty. Peterbilt also announced that it is making the Bendix Wingman Advanced collision mitigation system standard on the Model 579 beginning in the third quarter of the year. The system alerts drivers when it detects objects in the lane ahead and can reduce the severity of rear-end collisions with advanced braking technology. It also provides drivers with adaptive cruise control. Another future option is the availability of the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit for the Model 579 beginning next month. The system combines center and rear fairings with wheel covers to deliver up to a 2% increase in fuel economy, according to the manufacturer.

Peterbilt Predicts 15% Market Share for 2017 Heavy Duty Trucking / March 22, 2017 Peterbilt Motors predicts the truckmaker could top 15% market share this year. Kyle Quinn, Paccar senior vice president and Peterbilt general manager, noted the company sold 36,000 units in 2016 for a market share in Class 8 of 13.4% -- it's fourth highest production year. "We're taking steps to set a new market share record of 15% in 2017," he said. "We are well positioned to accomplish this, as we have achieved market share north of 16% in both of the first two months of this year." Quinn predicts the North American Class 8 truck build for 2017 will be somewhere between 190,000 and 220,000 units, with much or that strength coming from the vocational segment. "If you look at where we've been in the past three years, for example, the energy business has been soft, but during that period of time we raised the percentage of fleet market share, moving from 23% fleets to 38% fleets," Quinn said. "So, as the energy sector improves, we will see the return of those vocational energy bids. And that will come on top of already good performance this year and late last year on vocational orders." Peterbilt expects its medium duty business to remain strong at 85,000 units, and Quinn noted that orders are so far keeping pace with expectations. Overall, Quinn said he expects the industry to continue gaining strength based on solid fundamentals: Freight tonnage is near record levels and is expected to grow by another two percent. Fourth quarter of 16 and early 17 prices are improving in the spot freight market. Over the past few months the energy sector has been gaining strength and the rig count is up from the bottom in 2016. The legislative agenda is showing some promise that could provide economic lift as renewed infrastructure spending and improving energy policy may provide new demand in both vocational and the energy business. Tax relief could help buoy customer sentiment and generate higher investment in capital goods. The market has strengthened since the election and quoting activity indicates that is could continue further into the year. Last year, MX engines found their way into 26,500 Peterbilt chassis representing more than 48% of the truckmakers engine sales mix.

Kenworth announces deals, product enhancements Truck News / March 22, 2017 Kenworth achieved its all-time record heavy-duty market share in 2016, at 15.1%, highlighting a strong year for the company. Its market share in the medium-duty segment was 8.6%. It also took pride in growing the penetration of the Paccar MX engine in its trucks to 47%. And its TruckTech+ remote diagnostics platform reached 1.5 billion miles. Those were some of the highlights listed by Mike Dozier, Paccar vice-president and Kenworth general manager. Kenworth has also announced new options and offerings. Among them are the new Kenworth T880S set-forward axle vocational truck, which just entered production. It’s designed for ready-mix, dump and mobile crane applications and broadens Kenworth’s T880 vocational truck line. The T880S comes standard with the Paccar [DAF] MX-13 engine with up to 510 hp and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque. The MX-11 is also offered for weight-sensitive applications, providing a 400-lb weight savings. Kenworth will now offer the Allison TC10 automatic transmission in its T680 and T880 models. The transmission provides 10 forward and two reverse speeds and features a torque converter that allows for uninterrupted power shifting. It is approved for gross combination weights of up to 110,000 lbs. Also new, is TruckTech+ Service Management, which provides fleets with greater insight into the service performed on their vehicles. Powered by Decisiv, the new platform provides dealers with detailed chassis information, parts catalogs, service bulletins, warranty and repair history so that they can make decisions and diagnose repairs more quickly and efficiently. An integrated fleet portal will allow fleets to manage their service events. Kenworth has also announced a special $1,000 rebate on T680 trucks spec’d with the Driver’s Studio sleeper cab. The package includes premium features, such as a swivel passenger seat and table, LED lighting, swivel TV mount, a drawer-style fridge and ample storage. The $1,000 rebate is available on trucks ordered with the Driver’s Studio sleeper before Apr. 14 and will apply to the first 100 units ordered. Kenworth also announced enhancements to its certified pre-owned truck program in the US and Canada. To qualify for the program, pre-owned Class 8 trucks must be four years old or newer, have less than 450,000 miles on them and pass a 150-point inspection. If equipped with a Paccar MX-13 engine, the truck comes with a one-year, 125,000-mmile warranty covering 105 components. Trucks purchased under the program also come with a 90-day buyer assurance warranty.

Kenworth telematics adding service management Fleet Owner / March 22, 2017 Certified used truck program, new Allison transmission also announced With over 30,000 of Class 8 trucks already equipped with Kenworth Truck Tech+ remote diagnostics capabilities, Kenworth announced that it will be integrating service management with the system, allowing fleets to manage repairs and other service events through its online portal. The new service management platform, which is being powered by Decisiv, will give dealers specific details about a vehicle’s specs and repair history, as well as diagnostic information for faster repair times, it was announced during a press event at the Mid America Trucking Show. Later this year, fleets will be given access to the same information and repair updates through the Truck Tech+ web portal. “If there’s a problem while a truck is on the road, the owner, dealer and OEM will all be sharing that information immediately,” said Kenworth general manager Mike Dozier. In other news from the show, Kenworth launched a certified pre-owned truck program for late model, low-mileage heavy-duty trucks. To be certified, the trucks must be no more than four years old, have fewer than 450,000 miles, and pass a 150-point inspection. Program trucks equipped with a Paccar [DAF] MX-13 engine will also come with a comprehensive one-year, 125,000-mi. warranty coving 105 engine and aftertreatment components. Those trucks will also carry a 90-day buyer assurance warranty covering major chassis components and the HVAC system. The company also announced that it would offer Allison’s new TC10 fully automatic transmission in it T680 on-highway truck and T880 vocational truck starting later this year. With 10 forward and two reverse gears, the torque converter/twin countershaft gearbox is said to improve fuel economy through engine down-speeding and uninterrupted power shifting in all gears. Rated for applications up to 110,000-lb. GCW and 1,850 lbs. ft. torque, it will carry a 5-year, 750,000-mi. warranty.

Kenworth Makes Bendix Wingman Advanced Standard for T680 Heavy Duty Trucking / March 22, 2017 Ahead of the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show, Kenworth has announced that the Bendix Wingman Advanced collision mitigation system will be standard on the T680, beginning July 1. MATS is taking place on March 23-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. The radar-based collision mitigation system delivers adaptive cruise control with braking, along with autonomous emergency braking to help drivers avoid or mitigate rear-end collisions. “Bendix Wingman Advanced is already a popular fleet option on Kenworth Class 8 on-highway trucks, and now this proven technology will benefit customers purchasing new Kenworth T680s,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “Kenworth continues to adopt technologies at a rapid pace that create a safer work environment for drivers.” Using a radar sensor mounted to the front of the vehicle, Bendix Wingman Advanced both warns drivers and actively intervenes. The system provides following distance, impact and stationary object alerts, which are always available whether or not cruise control is engaged. When drivers engage cruise control and set speed, the system will actively intervene to help them maintain a safe following distance behind a forward vehicle by reducing throttle, engaging the engine retarder, or, if necessary, applying brakes. Bendix Wingman Advanced builds upon the full-stability technology of Bendix ESP (Electronic Stability Program) to provide fleets and truck operators with a system that can help drivers avoid potential collisions, rollovers, and loss-of-control situations. Bendix ESP is designed to help stabilize the vehicle during loss of control situations on dry, wet, snow and ice-covered roadways. “Earlier this year, Kenworth also made the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program standard on the flagship on-highway Kenworth T680 and vocational workhorse T880 models,” said Swihart. “In 2016, Kenworth introduced the Bendix Wingman Fusion driver assistance system as an option for the Kenworth T680 and T880, and added Bendix Wingman Advanced as an option for Kenworth T270 and T370 medium duty trucks.”

Nikola to Launch Hydrogen-Electric Truck in 2020 Transport Topics / March 22, 2017. Nikola Motor Co. is in discussion with the largest truck stops and, separately, seven states as it prepares to launch in mid-2020 its zero emissions, hydrogen-electric Nikola One Class 8 truck. Also, Salt Lake City-based Nikola recently has raised $110 million in additional financing and intends to secure an additional $500 million to $750 million, says Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Spira. Calling the Nikola One a revolutionary vehicle, Spira said that from where he sits, “There is little differentiation between the [existing Class 8] products from the various manufacturers.” So far, Nikola has reservations for more than 8,000 sleeper trucks and day cabs worth upward of $4 billion, and projects operating costs for these vehicles will be more than 30% lower than a comparable diesel-powered sleeper cab, Spira said. Also, Nikola is negotiating with Alabama, California, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah over the location of its first production plant. In a change from the prototype truck introduced in December, the first trucks produced will not come with a 6-by-6 wheel drive configuration, he said. “It may be available down the road for vocational trucks,” Spira said. Meanwhile, the company appears to have stepped back from producing and retailing all the necessary hydrogen fuel itself as it originally announced. “We don’t plan to develop hydrogen fueling stations from scratch," Spira said. "Rather, we are going to partner with one of the largest nationwide truck stop operators, and also experienced hydrogen producers, as we roll out our hydrogen infrastructure.”

Fleet Owner / March 22, 2017 Agency also cancels previously-announced plans to issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking in support of its proposed motor carrier safety methodology, which is now scrapping. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced in the federal register that it is withdrawing its controversial safety fitness determination (SFD) rulemaking issued in January 2016 and will also cancel plans to issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) announced back in January to help support the SFD effort. “The new methodology would have determined when a motor carrier is not fit to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in or affecting interstate commerce based on: the carrier’s on-road safety data; an investigation; or a combination of on-road safety data and investigation information,” the agency noted in its filing, which is on “public display” until being officially entered in the record tomorrow. Yet FMCSA said “after reviewing the record in this matter” it decided to withdraw both the NPRM and SNPRM regarding the SFD rule, adding that “additional analysis” will need to be completed before determining whether further rulemaking efforts are necessary to revise the SFD process in the future. Back in February, over 30 national transportation groups and 30-plus state and regional associations sent a joint letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao calling for the FMCSA’s SFD rulemaking to be dumped as it was based on what they characterized as “flawed” data taken from the agency’s Compliance Safety and Accountability (CSA) program and Safety Measurement System (SMS). “We do not believe it makes sense to build a new safety fitness determination system upon a flawed system [that] is currently undergoing congressionally-mandated review and reform and is likely to change,” the groups said in their letter. “While we support the goal of an easily understandable [and] rational safety fitness determination system, this proposal is built on a flawed foundation,” they stated. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) found the use of a singular “unfit” rating within the proposed revamp of SFD methodology particularly troubling. “This flaw in the system is troubling. The term ‘unfit’ is applied to fleets that, comparatively speaking, are considered the least safe in the industry,” ATA wrote. “Yet FMCSA lacks sufficient data on 4/5ths of the industry to make such a determination.” Similarly, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) emphasized the importance of safety determinations, and that “it is imperative that the judgment of rendering a carrier as ‘unfit’ be based upon the most accurate information available to the agency.” However, “the very fact that this rule would only determine the safety fitness of approximately 75,000 carriers is incomprehensible and discriminant to say the very least,” the group said. As a result of this shortfall, TCA noted it could not support a rule that creates an environment that is not equal to all involved and in many cases, allowing a competitive advantage of one carrier versus another.

Nielsen tapped to replace Daum at DTNA Fleet Owner / March 22, 2017 Longtime company veteran has served as DTNA’s chief operating officer since 2001. Roger Nielsen will be taking the reins at Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) as president and CEO effective April 1 this year, replacing Martin Daum who moved up to become a member of the board of management and head of Daimler Trucks and Buses at DTNA’s parent company, Germany’s Daimler AG, back on March 1. Nielsen, 56, will also oversee DTNA’s affiliated companies, which includes Freightliner Trucks, Western Star Trucks, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) and Detroit Diesel Corp. “Roger Nielsen brings a rock solid product, manufacturing and sales background to this position paired with a razor-sharp focus on technology, quality and customer service,” Daum said in a statement. “He has an excellent track record as an influential leader in the industry.” Nielsen joined DTNA – then named Freightliner Corp. – back in 1986 as an industrial engineer and since then has held various positions for the company both in the U.S. and abroad at Daimler’s commercial vehicles divisions in Germany. For the last 16 years, he’s served as DTNA’s chief operating officer.

Daimler Trucks North America Names New President and CEO Heavy Duty Trucking / March 22, 2017 Roger Nielsen has been named president and chief executive officer of Daimler Trucks North America and its affiliated companies, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and Freightliner Customer Chassis Corporation. The appointment is effective as of April 1 and he will succeed Martin Daum who recently became a member of the board of management of Daimler AG, responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses. “Roger Nielsen brings a rock solid product, manufacturing and sales background to this position paired with a razor-sharp focus on technology, quality and customer service. He has an excellent track record as an influential leader in the industry,” said Daum. “Having worked closely with Roger for so many years, I am certain that DTNA, its people and all its brands are in the best hands.” Nielsen has been the chief operating officer since 2001, responsible for the DTNA manufacturing network and all levels of operations in quality, supplier management, logistics, and custom application engineering. He has overseen Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, and DTNA’s continuous improvement programs. Nielsen joined DTNA as an industrial engineer in 1986 and held various positions at DTNA in the US as well as at Daimler’s Commercial Vehicles Divisions in Germany. “I am honored and proud to head up this great organization that I have been part of for over 30 years,” said Nielsen. “I look forward to building on the outstanding success achieved by the DTNA team under Martin’s leadership. Together, we will continue our dedication to delivering the best products and services to our North American customers.” .

Ex-pharmacy exec convicted in deadly meningitis outbreak Associated Press / March 22, 2017 The former head of a Massachusetts pharmacy was acquitted Wednesday of murder allegations but convicted of racketeering and other crimes in a meningitis outbreak that was traced to fungus-contaminated drugs and killed 64 people across the country. Prosecutors said Barry Cadden, 50, ran the business in an "extraordinarily dangerous" way by disregarding unsanitary conditions to boost production and make more money. Cadden, president and co-founder of the now-closed New England Compounding Center (NECC), was charged with 25 counts of second-degree murder, conspiracy and other offenses under federal racketeering law. After five days of deliberations, the jury refused to hold Cadden responsible for the deaths and cleared him on the murder counts. He was found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud and could get a long prison term at sentencing June 21. The 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections in 20 states was traced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to contaminated injections of medical steroids, given mostly to people with back pain. In addition to those who died, 700 people fell ill. Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee were hit hardest. Joan Peay, 76, of Nashville, Tennessee, suffered two bouts of meningitis after receiving a shot for back pain. She wept upon learning the verdict. "He killed people and he's getting away with murder. I am furious," she said. She said that she got so sick from meningitis "I didn't care if I died," and that she still suffers from hearing loss, memory problems, a stiff neck and low energy. Alfred Rye, 77, of Maybee, Michigan, said: "I wish I could give him the same shot he gave me. I think they should pay for their crime." Rye fell ill after getting an injection in his lower back 4½ years ago. He said he continues to suffer from a loss of balance and other ill effects. "Life has been totally hell," he said. The racketeering charge and the 52 counts of fraud carry up to 20 years in prison each, but federal sentencing guidelines typically call for far less than the maximum. Companies charged with selling contaminated drugs often reach settlements with the federal government and agree to pay large fines. The case against the New England Compounding Center stands apart because of the large number of deaths and serious illnesses and because of evidence that Cadden was aware of the unsanitary conditions, said Eric Christofferson, a former federal prosecutor in Boston. The scandal threw a spotlight on compounding pharmacies, which differ from ordinary drugstores in that they custom-mix medications and supply them directly to hospitals and doctors. In 2013, in reaction to the outbreak, Congress increased federal oversight of such pharmacies. Federal prosecutor Amanda Strachan told the jury during the two-month trial that the deaths and illnesses happened because Cadden "decided to put profits before patients." NECC used expired ingredients and falsified logs to make it look as if the so-called clean rooms had been disinfected, prosecutors said. After the outbreak, regulators found multiple potential sources of contamination, including standing water and mold and bacteria in the air and on workers' gloved fingertips. Cadden's lawyer, Bruce Singal, told the jury Cadden was not responsible for the deaths and pointed the finger at Glenn Chin, a supervisory pharmacist who ran the clean rooms where drugs were made. Chin has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. NECC filed for bankruptcy after getting hit with hundreds of lawsuits. NECC and several related companies reached a $200 million settlement with victims and their families. The son of Kentucky Judge Eddie C. Lovelace, who died after receiving injections to treat neck and back pain, said the outcome had shaken his family's faith in the medical and legal systems. "Dad always ensured that the defendants were treated justly and fairly. He did that in life, and in death, I feel like he wasn't afforded either justice or fairness," Chris Lovelace said. "As of today, criminally no one has been held responsible or held accountable for my father's death," he added. "The only mistake, if you want to call it a mistake, that my father made was he sought out relief from back pain from the medical profession and the consequence of that decision for him was death." .

Tillerson was ‘stunned’ to be offered US secretary of state job The Financial Times / March 22, 2017 Rex Tillerson says he did not seek to be US secretary of state but was persuaded to take the job by his wife, who told him “God’s not through with you”. “I was supposed to retire in March, this month. I was going to go to the ranch to be with my grandkids,” the 64-year-old former oil executive told the Independent Journal Review in his first full-length interview since taking office. The man charged with framing US foreign policy for the next four years said he had never met Donald Trump before the then president-elect invited him to New York for a conversation “about the world”. “When he asked me at the end of that conversation to be secretary of state, I was stunned,” he told the IJR. Tillerson said when he got home his wife shook her finger in his face and told him: “God’s not through with you.” “My wife convinced me. She was right. I’m supposed to do this.” The admission in the IJR, a little known media operation founded by a former Republican party official, comes as Tillerson prepares to host a big international counter-terrorism conference in Washington on Wednesday. In the interview, conducted behind his desk in the back cabin of the state department’s Boeing 737 on the way back from Beijing, Tillerson gave few hard details on how his approach to foreign policy would differ from that of the Obama administration. But he strongly defended Mr Trump’s mantra of putting “America First”. “In Bonn, it came up in every discussion I had,” Tillerson said, referring to a series of meetings he had with foreign ministers at a G20 summit last month. He also argued it was the Obama administration’s foreign policy that represented a “dramatic shift” and what he was working on was more consistent with US diplomacy of previous decades. He said the Trump approach was about “simply bringing back to a point where you can believe once and for all that you can win”. But Tillerson also warned: “Every administration knows it only has so much time.” Trump has attacked the cautious approach of the Obama administration in tackling Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. Tillerson signalled the administration would take a more activist stance in the Middle East. “We can’t get to deconflicting the rest of the region with Isis in the way,” he said. Tillerson was critical of the Obama administration’s strategy against ISIS, pointing out the original term they had used was “degrade”. “All that did was drag out the agony for everyone,” he said. Tillerson has been criticized in the US for his low profile since taking office. Detractors say he was left out of the loop of several critical foreign policy decisions made in the administration’s early days, including the travel ban for refugees and visitors from a list of Muslim-majority countries. “I would hope that people can maintain their patience in these early days and recognize I’ve only been at it six weeks,” he said. Critics also note he has not gone out of his way to woo the influential Washington press corps, as previous secretaries have done. But Tillerson indicated the administration was working on achieving results. “I’m not a big media press access person. I personally don’t need it. I understand it’s important to get the message of what we’re doing out, but I also think there’s only a purpose in getting the message out when there’s something to be done.” Last week the Trump administration announced it was cutting the state department budget by 28 per cent. Tillerson says spending was at a record high last year. But in an oblique criticism of the budget cuts, he acknowledged that more spending would be needed if the US hoped to tackle some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. “In the context of the budget, the fiscal year 2017 was a record high for the State Department,” he said. “Looking at ongoing conflicts, if we accept that we’re just going to continue to never solve any of these conflicts, then the budget should stay at the current level.”

With Sears' future in doubt, vendors begin pulling back Reuters / March 22, 2017 Sears Holdings Corp's disclosure that it could lack the financial strength to continue as a going concern is turning attention to the key difference maker for any cash-strapped retailer: vendors. Suppliers to Sears told Reuters they are doubling down on defensive measures, such as reducing shipments and asking for better payment terms, to protect against the risk of nonpayment. They expect tension to mount as Sears approaches the key fourth-quarter selling season amid rising concern about a potential bankruptcy, they said. The storied American retailer, whose roots date back to 1886, said on Tuesday that "substantial doubt exists related to the company's ability to continue as a going concern." The managing director of a Bangladesh-based textile firm said his company is using only a handful of its production lines to manufacture products for Sears' 2017 holiday sales. Last year, nearly half of the company's lines in its four factories were producing for Sears. "We have to protect ourselves from the risk of nonpayment," said the managing director, who declined to be identified for fear of disrupting his company's relationship with Sears. Mark Cohen, the former chief executive of Sears Canada and director of retail studies at Columbia Business School in New York City, said vendors will keep a close eye on Sears' finances. "Whatever vendors continue to support them are now going to put them on even more of a short string. That means they’ll ship them smaller quantities and demand payment either in advance or immediately upon delivery." He added: "Sears stores are pathetically badly inventoried today and they will become worse." Jason Hollar, Sears' chief financial officer, said in a Wednesday blog post that Sears' move to raise capital in recent months is helping strengthen the company's balance sheet. Sears is "a viable business that can meet its financial and other obligations for the foreseeable future," Hollar said. He cited a $1 billion increase in liquidity from a new secured loan facility and a new asset-based loan that provided $250 million more in "financial flexibility." SIGNS OF WEAKNESS Still, Sears' cash position has shrunk dramatically in recent years. Sears, which lost $2.22 billion in the year ended Jan. 28, 2017, had $286 million in cash on hand, down from $609 million in 2012. Retailers in distress often use their accounts receivable to finance operations, and Sears had $466 million in receivables, down from $635 million in 2012. Another supplier to Sears, Arnold Kamler, CEO of New Jersey-based bicycle manufacturer and importer Kent International Inc, said he was not surprised by Sears' Tuesday announcement. He said he noticed a warning sign last year when Sears pushed to increase its purchases, which occurred "because a lot of their current suppliers were either cutting them off or limited them on credit." Kamler said he declined to sell Sears more product and that he receives a report once a week from his accounting department because of concerns around billing, payments and deductions. The Bangladesh-based clothing supplier said Sears' announcement is making him re-evaluate accepting new orders. "So far there was only speculation that they would declare bankruptcy in 2017. But now they are acknowledging it, which definitely complicates our relationship with them and our decision to accept future orders from Sears," the executive said. A second clothing supplier from Bangladesh who did not wish to be named said he renegotiated payment terms with Sears a year ago and was being paid within 15 days of sending a shipment, compared with the traditional 60 days. He is considering asking the company for an advance payment on orders going forward. Neil Saunders, managing director at retail research firm GlobalData, said tension will grow as the year goes on. "As we move towards the last quarter, I think we'll find there are more and more suppliers that are not necessarily willing to engage with Sears" and will demand cash up-front. Another sign of Sears' weakness is that insurance companies that once provided policies to Sears vendors - insuring against nonpayment for their goods - are no longer doing so. Doug Collins, regional director for risk services at Atradius Trade Credit Insurance, said his firm has stopped providing insurance to Sears vendors. "We tried to hang in as long as we could," he said. "Vendors may try to get a few more cycles in before the worst happens, and then it just depends if they're lucky or not."

BBC / March 22, 2017 Two Central American-born students are in custody after a 14-year-old girl was attacked last week at Rockville High School in Maryland. Henry Sanchez, 18, and Jose Montano, 17, were charged in the alleged assault, which the victim said took place in a boy's toilet at the beginning of the school day last Thursday. The boys are in the country illegally. Maryland school officials played down the immigration angle. "We would like to change the conversation," said Jack Smith, superintendent of the 159,000-student Montgomery County Public Schools system. "Some have tried to make this into a question and issue of immigration [because it is]... but we serve every student who walks through our doors," he added. (Why are Maryland taxpayers funding the education of illegal immigrants?) On Tuesday night, demonstrators outside the school chanted "safety not sanctuary", a reference to sanctuary cities, where local authorities turn a blind eye to residents without legal US residency. Montgomery County Police Capt James Humphries said the rape victim was a US citizen. A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that border agents had encountered Henry Sanchez near the US-Mexico border in Texas last August. He was freed and ordered to appear before an immigration judge, but no court date was set. Henry Sanchez spent 17 years of his life in his native Guatemala. Jose Montano lived in El Salvador for 16 years. Earlier his week, Maryland lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled legislature passed a bill designed to prevent police from stopping people to ask about their immigration status.

It's important to remember that the Japanese invaded the United States in 1942, occupying the Aleutian islands of Attu and Kiska. There was a very real fear that they could/would continue their invasion of the United States onward to the lower 48 states thru sparsely defended Alaska and Canada.

C-SPAN / March 22, 2017 150th anniversary of the sale of Alaska to the U.S. by Russia is March 30th. WATCH Two films about Alaska. March 25 at 10pm ET & March 26 at 4pm ET on C-SPAN3 "Report from the Aleutians" - 1943 by John Huston .

Billy, the weight of the oil is a factor, to some extent (new additives now allow 0W-20). But the additives used in a diesel engine-applicable oil are far harsher than those of a gasoline engine-specific oil. Those extra cleansing additives in 15W40 for the diesel requirement will reduce the life of a gasoline engine, such as your Isuzu. Without disassembling the engine, you can't ascertain the signs of wear. Lindsay Drydene (Drydene Oil) told me so before they sold out to Castrol, speaking of their 15W40 diesel product (Dieselall) aimed at companies who wanted one product for all. As for the Corolla, $34 in material cost (oil and filter) to change the oil every 5,000 miles is low cost transportation. I change my 0W20 oil every 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles).

If you like the car...........just keep it. Don't allow them to "fix" it. You're not required to do so. Your performance and fuel economy would likely decrease. If you want a change, GM has the diesel Cruze and a 2018 diesel Traverse is coming, and Mazda will offer a diesel CX5 SUV.

Commercial Motor / March 21, 2017 The RHA has labelled the Direct Vision Standard “a fiasco” after it said TfL had predicted half of the HGVs operating in London would be banned from the city by 2024. The association attended a meeting with TfL today (17 March) in which it said the transport body estimated that of the 188,000 HGVs operating in the capital, 35,000 would be banned from London by 2020, rising to 94,000 by 2024. The standard, first announced last September, will assign HGVs star ratings based on in-cab visibility. Only those with the highest rating will be allowed to enter London when the proposed legislation takes full effect in 2024. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “This is a fiasco - it is shocking attack on business in the capital. “The cost of this will be met initially by road hauliers, but will eventually be picked up by the people of London. “Businesses and people depend on lorries to deliver the goods they need, including the food we eat. “It seems TfL is determined to undermine the competitiveness of London. The timings and requirements that are being specified are ridiculous.” Burnett added that with restrictions on vehicle emissions also to contend with, TfL’s standards are “impossible” for operators to comply with. “It’s impossible for a haulier to buy a vehicle now that complies with TfL standards as no vehicle has been assessed against any standard,” he said. “It is absurd to expect businesses to invest many tens of thousands of pounds in new, clean Euro-6 vehicles only to have them banned by TfL in a little over two years' time. "Of course we understand the need to make the roads as safe as possible, but this proposal has run off the rails. It is simply not credible.” TfL queried the RHA's figures from the meeting, but did not respond to requests for further information. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / March 21, 2017 The Red Bull International Motorsports team continues its collaboration with Renault Trucks and has just taken over three additional Renault Trucks T 520s. These vehicles, which bring the total number of Renault Trucks T in the team to 12, will help Red Bull transport its infrastructure. Three Renault Trucks T 520 Highs have been delivered to the Austrian Red Bull Racing Formula One team. With this new delivery, Renault Trucks maintains its pole position in the team’s fleet, which now has twelve T 520s. Seven of these trucks are an integral part of Red Bull Racing’s logistics network and travel across Europe from one F1 Grand Prix to another. They carry the containers that hold the entire Red Bull Tree House, the extended pit stop garage for the Formula One team. Out of a total of seven containers, four serve as mobile workshops. Apart from the conventional tools, a 3D printer is also available, ready to instantly print the required parts. The remaining three containers are used as mobile offices and can accommodate 35 people. As for the other five Renault Trucks T 520 Highs in the team’s fleet, they travel throughout Europe for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, a race series specially created for young talent aged between 13 and 17, which last year celebrated its tenth anniversary. .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / March 21, 2017 Welcome to a new in-cab experience. Volvo Trucks system for services and infotainment combines easier navigation and more efficient fleet management with quality audio entertainment. Easier and more efficient assignment handling is made possible by integrating navigation and Dynafleet OnBoard. The driver can receive messages with GPS coordinates and communicate instantly via one point of contact. The easy-to-use 7” touch screen display can be controlled via touch screen, voice command and steering wheel buttons. This enhances both comfort and safety. A world of audio entertainment is at the driver’s fingertips. Local radio stations can be accessed from anywhere in the world, while favorite songs can be enjoyed in top quality audio, with access to several third-party streaming services. Take a look at how you can increase your productivity, efficiency and in-cab enjoyment. .

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Peterbilt 520, 320 eligible for hybrid, zero-emission voucher Fleet Owner / March 21, 2017 The Peterbilt Models 520 and 320 equipped with the Cummins ISL-G Near Zero engine have been granted eligibility for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). HVIP encourages the commercialization of low-emitting hybrid and zero-emissions trucks by assisting fleets with purchase of these advanced technology vehicles. Peterbilt introduced the Cummins Westport ISL-G Near Zero NOx emissions natural gas engine in the Models 520 and 320 in 2016. According to the company, the enginee offers 320 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft torque. The engine is designed to operate on 100% natural gas in compressed (CNG), liquefied (LNG), or renewable natural gas (RNG) form and is ideal for vocational, refuse and linehaul applications, the company noted. “Peterbilt is a leader in environmentally-friendly solutions for the industry,” said Robert Woodall, Peterbilt assistant general manager of sales and marketing. “Eligibility for the HVIP voucher will allow customers participating in the program to benefit from the advanced technology and rugged durability of the Models 520 and 320.” The 2018 Models 520 and 320 will be eligible for HVIP when spec’d with the Cummins ISL-G Near Zero engine with a GVWR of 33,000 – 80,000 lbs. Registered dealers will receive vouchers for qualifying customer purchases.

Kevin Jones, Fleet Owner / March 21, 2017 The Worst Trucker in the World is back, bigger and badder than ever—because the latest recipient of the dishonor is a fleet run by the U.S. government. And, despite management issues that would warrant an FMCSA intervention, the fleet is still rolling. Indeed, business is booming, so to speak. But what follows is what we in the journalism racket call a “buried lede,” which means—aside from the fact we can’t spell—that the most important part of the story isn’t at the top, where it should be. Instead, it’s kind of like all those chain emails I get from my retired father, with the punch line/moral lesson/epiphany at the end. But, like a good chain email, the story is actually interesting as the suspense builds—so read on. Although I suppose the archival photo below offers a hint. But first, today’s vocabulary word: “Schadenfreude.” It’s an appropriately unattractive word for the pleasure one takes from the misfortune of others. Still, truckers should be forgiven for smirking when they learn that bureaucrats can't run a small, specialized trucking operation. Apparently, based on an extensive investigative report by the Los Angeles Times (difficult to read on their frustrating website because of the pop-up ads), a $237 million dollar annual budget isn’t enough to update the equipment of the 42-truck fleet, or prevent turnover. So far, sounds like a lot of small fleets—except for that taxpayer-funded budget part. And instead of Compliance, Safety, Accountability program problems, the operation of the Office of Secure Transportation (OST) has a history of “irregularities in the human reliability program.” This even though OST boasts a selection process that is “rigorous” for this “vital position,” and fewer than 2% of all applicants complete their “arduous 21-week training cycle.” Still, OST reports no fatal accidents or hazardous cargo spills in its 40-year history—but since it’s, um, kind of “secretive” and I couldn’t find their SMS data, I cannot confirm the claim. But there is the LA Times report of troubling practices and events, backed up by public records, nonetheless. Notably: An outdated fleet, “antiquated even by commercial standards” A third of the workforce's putting in more than 900 hours of overtime to make up for personnel shortages Cancelation of training classes because of funding shortages A site manager’s threatening to kill an employee in an altercation, but no disciplinary action taken; and, to top them all An extremely high incidence of alcohol-related events, including the OST’s top executive being arrested for drunk driving. And talk about “organizational culture,” much of the LA Times report isn’t new. The DOE’s Office of Inspector General was called in to review allegations of boozing and misconduct in 2010, and the OIG’s findings got a lot of press. OST experienced 16 alcohol-related incidents from 2007 through 2009, from a total population of fewer than 600 of those “highly trained” couriers. Of the "greatest concern,” according to OIG, were two incidents that occurred during secure transportation missions while the couriers were in “Rest Overnight Status,” a period during extended runs where couriers check into local area hotels. In 2007, a courier was arrested for public intoxication; in 2009, two couriers were handcuffed and temporarily detained by police officers after an incident at a local bar. “This has a classic footprint of an antiquated and inefficient supply chain management system that was created at a time of national emergency,” Nick Vyas, an industrial logistics expert at USC, told the LA Times. “If this were a private operation, it would be out of business in less than 90 days. No person in their right mind would subscribe to a service like this.” Ready for it? OST hauls nuclear warheads, among its lethal loads. But, if you’ll read the full story, the operation is very complicated and very serious. The agency looks for combat vets and trains couriers more intensively in weapons handling than truck handling. Terrorists are considered much more of a threat than highway accidents, and transport is set up accordingly. The LA Times report is timely because a lot of nuclear missiles are scheduled for disposal. Otherwise, the obvious solution would be to let a properly vetted and professional for-hire carrier handle it. Takers? Cheesy video aside, you can learn a little more about OST (and even apply for a job) here. With apologies to Paul Harvey and “The Rest of the Story,” WTITW is a rip off of an old Keith Olbermann shtick. But rather than lampooning politicians or celebrities, I pass along trucking industry misbehavior that’s so egregious, brazen and or just plain dumb that it makes headlines in the broader media. And those sorts of reports, while often completely mischaracterizing the trucking industry and the many, many truly professional drivers, do nonetheless make everyone look bad. In short, the Worst Trucker is a person who serves to educate and inspire by counter-example. Got a candidate? Pass along a news report. Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/49111-this-troubled-covert-agency-is-responsible-for-trucking-nuclear-bombs-across-america-each-day/#comment-364342 . .