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Dagens Industri / March 9, 2017 Industrial Group Volvo shares are up at the highest level in almost ten years. But the stock has more to give? This week, Volvo's stock price blew through the Volvo 122-kronor barrier, which means that the shares are traded at the highest level in almost ten years. On Thursday, shares continue up by just under 1 percent, including when Nordea raised its recommendation for the shares to purchase, and in a year it has risen by over 40 percent. But shares can still rise more. "I believe that the shares are worth buying even at these levels," says Hampus Engellau, analyst at Handelsbanken. Engineering sector is generally good on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, but in addition there are several reasons in addition to the right to Volvo's share going strong. "Profitability in the trucks, which is the crux of the company, has now risen for eight consecutive quarters compared with the previous year," says Hampus Engellau. Meanwhile, savings programs initiated by Volvo’s previous CEO Olof Persson are now being realized. But current CEO Martin Lundstedt, who took office in October 2015, has also worked hard to Volvo to deliver shareholder value. When he took office, there was talk that he would "Scanify" Volvo (Martin Lundstedt previously was the CEO of competitor Scania), that is more focus on customers, cost control and productivity improvements. "That sounds a little like consulting snack but when you talk to people in the organization, it really feels like he had with the people on the train, and that the units of the Volvo become more independent and entrepreneurial," says Hampus Engellau. "All these measures have led to earnings improvements and it is reflected in the valuation of the shares. Volvo's profitability is almost as high as Paccar." The stock market has speculated on whether Volvo’s construction equipment business, VCE, will be spun off and distributed to the shareholders, a business with a turnover of just under 50 billion. A measure that fueled the speculation is that VCE's headquarters was relocated back to Gothenburg while the business gradually started to separate from the rest of the group. Factors that pushed the Volvo share price in recent days isn’t just about VCE. The week, statistics from China showed that its excavators sales there rose 300 percent in February compared with the same month last year. According to an analysis by Nordea, Volvo excavator sales rose faster than the overall market with a growth of over 500 percent compared to February last year. Hampus Engellau would welcome a merger of VCE and Atlas Copco's mining operations, which Di earlier reported , although he believes that the synergies between the companies is limited. "However, it is a merger that probably would be relatively simple and easy to do." Such bundling would create a new workshop sixth with just over 80 billion in sales. "The company would be quite like Caterpillar and Caterpillar valued at P / E of 30," says Hampus Engellau. .

Scania Group Press Release / March 9, 2017 Scania’s low-emission engines will be used in airport rescue and firefighting vehicles at airports in the US. Scania will deliver 24 16-litre V8 engines for use in Oshkosh Airport Products’ airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles Striker 6×6 and Striker 4×4. The engines are optimized for the Oshkosh powertrain, and each complies with Tier 4 final emission legislation. The ARFF vehicles will be put into service at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark International Airport, LaGuardia International Airport and Teterboro Airport, which are located in New York and New Jersey. Art Schuchert, Sales & Marketing Director for Scania USA, is keenly anticipating the two companies’ collaboration on this deal, which he believes marks the start of a new journey in the partnership with Oshkosh. “This project is important for Scania and will take us into the serial production of the prestigious Striker vehicles,” he says. For Oshkosh, the reason for choosing Scania is clear, as Jeff Resch, Vice President and General Manager of Oshkosh Airport Products, explains: “Scania has a reputation for industry-leading quality, performance and service, which is why it makes so much sense to incorporate their engines into all Striker configurations.” Rikard Mattsson is Area Manager at Scania Engines, with responsibility for the cooperation between Scania and Oshkosh: “We are looking forward to our engines providing Oshkosh products the best possible performance and reliability, all backed up by our growing service network in North America,” he says. .

Brake issue prompts recall of 450 Western Star 4900 trucks Overdrive / March 9, 2017 A problem with the service brakes on approximately 450 Western Star trucks has prompted Daimler Trucks North America to issue a recall. The recall affects 2015-2018 Western Star 4900 trucks manufactured between March 3, 2014, and Jan. 31, 2017, that were built with certain triple compartment aluminum air tanks. The company says these tanks could experience weld separation. If weld separation occurred in these trucks, it could cause “a rapid loss of air pressure without warning,” which could cause the sudden application of the park brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. Daimler says it will notify owners, and dealers will replace the aluminum air tanks with steel, triple compartment air tanks for free. The recall is expected to begin April 27. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall number for this recall is 17V-124.

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 9, 2017 Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) has added new safety and performance features for the Volvo I-Shift for Severe Duty and I-Shift with Crawler gears automated manual transmissions. A new Auto Neutral feature was added to improve jobsite safety while a Paver Assist feature bolsters the Volvo VHD’s performance in paving applications. Auto Neutral reduces the possibility of a truck moving as a result of inadvertent throttle application by placing the I-Shift transmission into neutral when the parking brake is set. When the parking brake is released, the transmission can be shifted back into drive to go back into gear. The feature is aimed at trucks in many applications, including concrete mixers, where remote throttle is often used. Auto Neutral will be available for order in the second quarter of 2017 for trucks equipped with Volvo GHG 2017 engines and the latest generation Volvo I-Shift. For trucks already in service, it can be activated with the Volvo Premium Tech Tool. Paver Assist for the I-Shift on Volvo VHD model dump trucks helps eliminate bumps and disturbances in the pavement laying process that can occur when shifting from neutral to drive. Truck operators can shift into drive without first applying the brakes when shifting from neutral and being pushed by a paver to driving operations and pulling away from the paver equipment. To use the feature, a driver shifts from neutral to drive while rolling very slowly and depressing the “+” button on the I-Shift shifter. Paver Assist is also useful for other low-speed applications when a vehicle needs to drive away without applying brakes. The feature is currently available on Volvo VHD models equipped with Volvo GHG 2017 engines and the latest generation I-Shift transmission. Paver Assist can be activated using the Volvo Premium Tech Tool. The Volvo VHD comes standard with a 12-speed I-Shift for Severe Duty, featuring hardened gears and other hardware to help withstand frequent shifting in rugged operating environments. The I-Shift with Crawler Gears is available in 13- and 14-speed versions. The 13-speed I-Shift with Crawler Gears helps provide improved startability on steep grades, soft terrain, or when the truck is under heavy load. The 14-speed variant is made for applications such as concrete pouring that require low-speed maneuverability.

ConMet Partners on In-Wheel Electric Drive Heavy Duty Trucking / March 9, 2017 ConMet and Protean Electric have formed a partnership to develop an electric in-wheel drive system as a hybrid-electric solution for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. ConMet will combine its experience with commercial vehicle wheel ends with Protean Electrics’ in-wheel electric drive. Protean’s system is self-contained within each wheel without a need for gearing, driveshafts, or differentials powering each individually to provide a fuel economy boost to the vehicle. The system also stores regenerative braking energy, which allows it to have a smaller battery. “This agreement enables us to expand the market reach of our ProteanDrive technology into the commercial vehicle market," said Andrew Whitehead, chief commercial officer at Protean Electric. "ConMet has the commercial vehicle market and wheel hub experience we have been looking for to help develop this solution." The ConMet/Protean in-wheel electric drive system will be designed for commercial trucks, tractors, and trailers. The jointly developed electric wheel end system, which is compatible with existing vehicles, is aimed at providing vehicle packaging advantages, reducing complexity, and minimizing drivetrain losses for commercial vehicle and trailer applications. “We are combining our decades' long expertise in wheel hubs for commercial vehicles with Protean Electric's success with drive systems for electrified passenger vehicles," stated Beto Dantas, ConMet vice president of marketing, innovation, and strategy. "The result is the development of an innovative wheel end product that will provide lower lifecycle costs, improved fuel economy, added torque, increased power, and better overall vehicle performance."

'Encouraging sign': Navistar finds turnaround in new LT tractor, A26 engine Kevin Jones, Fleet Owner / March 9, 2017 While Wall Street prognosticators found Navistar International Corp.’s latest earnings report “disappointing,” for truck customers there are new products to be excited about (notably the International LT tractor and A26 engine) and, most importantly, the renewed viability of a major truck and engine manufacturer means more OEM competition—and that’s good news indeed. I’m not a stock analyst, and the finer points of Navistar’s finances don’t interest me much (I'm not a CPA for a reason). But what did get my attention during this week’s conference call with company executives were the repeated references to the immediate success of the LT Series, the Class 8 replacement for the ProStar. Company Chairman and CEO Troy Clarke reported more than 5,000 orders already, with some 2,500 shipped. “We are back in the door with several large private carriers we haven't sold to in a number of years,” Clarke said. He also noted that the company has doubled its market penetration in the leasing and rental segment, and its share of truck orders is outpacing current market share—“a very encouraging sign.” “I was at TMC last week and definitely there were people in and out of the truck all the time with very favorable comments. And these are the people who really make buying decisions, maintenance decisions. So we are very excited about that,” Clarke said. “We've got customers talking to us who haven't talked to us for the better part of this decade. ... Our investments in uptime, service quality, et cetera, are beginning to pay off. And one of the things we look at as a leading indicator is order share.” Additionally, the LT combined with the new International A26 12.4 liter engine (introduced last week at TMC, based on the proven MAN powerplant and an early benefit of the alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus) will drive even more sales. “[Customers] want the truck with lighter weight and the performance of the new A26,” Clarke said. “We’ve tested and validated this product, I think as well as we’ve ever done anything; it’s really been a labor of love for the folks who look for an opportunity to show how good we can be at a product like this.” Indeed, Clarke also noted the company is “over the hump” in terms of warranty expense, largely tied to problems with it’s previous, ill-fated engine line. “So again the investments in quality are paying off for us and customer service,” he said. “So hopefully we are seeing better days.” And with a somewhat unexpected turnaround in the Class 8 market, Navistar is well positioned. “We expect continued gains in the LT with the [new Cummins] X15 over where the ProStar was, and then basically our reentry to the 13-litre segment with the new A26 with deliveries available mid-year, so we couldn't pick a better time with the markets recovering in the second half of the year to have these kind of new products,” Clarke concluded. “I said it once, I will say it again: We are very excited; it is a very exciting time to be at Navistar—why wouldn’t it be, right?” And Wall Street seems to buying into the company’s recovery, as well. Stifel Transportation Group analyst Michael Baudendistel anticipates an increase in market share, and he upgraded the firm’s recommendation on Navistar stock. “We believe the new LT series (a significant improvement, in our opinion, from its predecessor, the ProStar) is the most important piece in that recovery,” he wrote in a note to investors. “We also believe the just-released A26 engine may be just as important as the new tractor, as roughly 50% of the market now uses 13L engines. Even if the take rate from customers is low (which we expect it to be, especially initially), any incremental wins to customers it has not been able to sell into for the last several years will be beneficial to its share.” Time to kick some tires. .

America's ConMet is the leading global supplier to the OEMs of hubs, drums, rotors and cast components. For example, all those unitized hubs on North American Volvos, and the Mack brand's Unimax axles, were actually designed and produced by ConMet. If every American company as managed as superbly as ConMet, we'd once more have the strongest industrial base in the world. ConMet (Consolidated Metals Co) started out in 1964 as the Portland-based aluminum foundry subsidiary of Consolidated Freightways, producing aluminum components for the company's Freightliner truck unit.

Green Car Congress / March 9 2017 Consolidated Metco (ConMet), a leading global supplier of heavy truck components including hubs and drums, and Protean Electric, the manufacturer of ProteanDRIVE in-wheel motors, are partnering to develop an electric in-wheel drive system to provide hybrid-electric solutions for the medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle markets. http://www.conmet.com/conmet-protean-electric-join-forces-develop-electric-wheel-drive-system-commercial-vehicle-market/ The ConMet/Protean in-wheel electric drive system is intended to deliver a robust and efficient hybrid propulsion system designed for commercial trucks, tractors, and trailers. This will enable ConMet’s OEM and fleet customers to address the continued tightening of safety and emissions regulations, increasing demands for improved fuel efficiency, weight and drivetrain packaging optimization, and shifts in vehicle demands for long-haul and urban delivery. In addition, the jointly developed electric wheel end system, which is compatible with existing vehicles, will provide vehicle packaging advantages, reduce complexity, and minimize drivetrain losses for truck, tractor, and trailer applications. We are combining our decades’ long expertise in wheel hubs for commercial vehicles with Protean Electric’s success with drive systems for electrified passenger vehicles. The result is the development of an innovative wheel end product that will provide lower lifecycle costs, improved fuel economy, added torque, increased power, and better overall vehicle performance. —Beto Dantas, ConMet VP of Marketing, Innovation, and Strategy ProteanDRIVE is a fully-integrated, direct-drive solution that combines in-wheel motors with an integrated inverter, control electronics and software. Each motor packages easily in the unused space behind a conventional 18- to 24-inch wheel and can use the original equipment wheel bearing. The direct-drive configuration reduces part count, complexity and cost, so there is no need to integrate traditional drivetrain components such as external gearing, transmissions, driveshafts, axles and differentials. ConMet will feature the new electrified hub in its booth at the MidAmerica Trucking Show 23-25 March 23-25 2017 in Louisville, KY.

Sears to use Craftsman sales proceeds for pensions The Wall Street Journal / March 9, 2017 Sears Holdings Corp. made another move to prop up its cash-draining pension plan, saying it would direct a chunk of proceeds from the sale of its Craftsman brand toward its obligations as part of a deal with the government's pension insurer. In line with the original terms of the sale, Sears received $525 million from Stanley Black & Decker when the transaction closed and will get $250 million more after three years, plus annual payments on a percentage of Craftsman sales over the next 15 years. On Thursday, Sears pledged the $250 million payment and some of the income stream from the annual payments toward pension plans, as part of a deal it struck with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), a federal agency that insurers private pension benefits. Further, Sears agreed to a lien on $100 million in real-estate assets to the PBGC. Sears has poured billions into shoring up its pension plan over the past decade. Sears has also been cutting spending and selling off real estate lately to fund its operations, but its existing locations continue to struggle as shoppers spend more online and at other chains. The PBGC operates by collecting insurance premiums from employers that offer pensions and paying usually reduced benefits to retirees in insolvent plans. It works with sponsors to help ensure the continuation of their plans and monitors transactions or events that may pose an increased risk to plans and the pension insurance system. Sears also surprised investors Thursday by reporting a smaller-than-expected loss in the fourth quarter. In all, the company posted a loss of $607 million, or $5.67 per share, compared with a loss of $580 million, or $5.44 a share, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company reported a loss of $1.28 a share, compared with a loss of $1.70 a share. Total revenue fell 17% to $6.05 billion and same-store sales fell 10.3% Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were bracing for a loss of $2.85 per share on $5.89 billion in revenue, with a 12.1% decline in same-store sales.

The plot thickens. A good movie this will all make, but we'll never learn the truth. “an anti-virus expert has come forward to say that sophisticated malware that he had attributed to a state, either Iran, China or Russia, now he believes is from the CIA because the type of attack system it uses corresponds directly to a description we published of that attack system.” “And it’s rare enough that it seems unlikely that it would be independently discovered, unless of course China has already gotten hold of these parts of the CIA arsenal and that China is using them to pretend to be the CIA.”

GM Finally Leaves Europe Behind Bloomberg / March 10, 2017 It’s the end of an era. Here’s what it means. After almost nine decades in Europe, the Detroit giant is selling its European unit, Opel, to France’s PSA Group, the maker of Peugeot and Citroën. The deal creates the region’s No. 2 seller of cars (behind Volkswagen AG) and effectively revives an alliance the companies abandoned in 2013. Fuzzy Math The sticker price is $2.3 billion, for which PSA gets Opel, Vauxhall Motors, and (together with BNP Paribas bank) GM’s European finance business. GM, in turn, will give PSA $3.2 billion upfront for current worker pensions and spend $400 million annually for the next 15 years to cover payments to Opel retirees. Barclays Bank Plc figures the bottom line is that GM is paying Peugeot $600 million to take Opel off its hands. The New Company Together, PSA and Opel have 16 percent of the European market, which will help them spread development costs across a larger number of vehicles. The Background Opel has lost almost $20 billion since 1999, and the future looks tough given its focus on low-margin cars and its facilities in high-cost countries such as Germany, Britain, and Spain. Worse, European automakers have the production capacity to manufacture far more vehicles than are sold annually in the region, which keeps a lid on prices. The Politics The deal will have to be approved by unions, especially in France and Germany, where workers are guaranteed a say in major decisions. And the French government will be a key shareholder, because it took a stake in PSA following a rescue in 2014. End of an Era GM in 2013 pulled Chevrolet out of Europe, so the sale largely brings to a close an adventure it began in 1929 with the purchase of Opel—at the time Germany’s biggest automaker. .

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CIA 'mission' on cars shows concern about next-generation vehicles Reuters / March 9, 2017 WikiLeaks documents showing the Central Intelligence Agency considered a "mission" against connected car technology underscores auto industry concern that the science behind the next generation of vehicles could be turned against them. Cyber security is considered key to the rollout of tomorrow's self-driving and today's connected cars, which resemble computers on wheels with a host of communications routes that hackers could target. If consumers are to trust smart vehicles, they must deem them safe from attack. Security experts cite the terrifying hypothetical example of a remote attack on a fully autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or brakes, in which the passenger would have no recourse to regain manual control of the car. "You have a lot of car companies trying to design cars to be better suited to automation, which means they're more attractive to hackers," said auto consultant Roger Lanctot of Strategy Analytics. A major strategy for automakers is to reduce the number of communications gateways to crucial systems and to require services offered by third parties to go through a single secure path. WikiLeaks documents show the CIA citing "vehicle systems" and a car operating system from QNX, owned by Blackberry Ltd , as "potential mission areas" for the CIA's "Embedded Devices Branch" to consider. The QNX operating system, which is used by most global automakers, provides a "a comprehensive, multi-level, policy-driven security model ... to mitigate attacks," the company said in a statement to Reuters. But given the collection of software, hardware and network components that make up a connected car, "security is only as strong as its weakest link," it said. While the CIA's interest in cars brought widespread attention, the industry has already received wakeup calls about cars' potential to be hacked. Researchers in 2015 used a wireless connection to turn off a Jeep Cherokee's engine, prompting a recall of 1.4 million vehicles by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. In September last year, Chinese cyber security researchers hacked a Tesla Inc. Model S sedan, remotely tapping the brakes and popping the trunk. The electric carmaker subsequently patched the bugs using an over-the-air fix. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on its cyber security protocol. The hacking of the Jeep and the Tesla "brought it home to the industry that even if its improbable it's technically possible," said Mark Wakefield, global co-head of the automotive practice at AlixPartners. If a car was seen as vulnerable, it "could be a big brand problem," Wakefield said. Hacks could also expose private information shared between car and third parties - credit card numbers, account numbers or passwords - to theft. A January survey by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute found that 33 percent of respondents said they were "extremely concerned" over hacking of full self-driving cars to cause crashes. Closing down the ways in The number of ways into cars has proliferated, from cell phone signals to dongles. One such gateway is the standard OBD-II port found under the steering wheel historically used for onboard diagnostics. Today, hundreds of after-market devices use the port, whether to monitor driving for insurance needs or provide conveniences like safety alerts. "The security of these devices is important, as it can provide an attacker with a means of accessing vehicle systems and driver data remotely," warned the FBI in a March 2016 bulletin on cyber security risks to motor vehicles. Carmakers are also building walls between non-crucial infotainment systems and driving controls so that any breach is blocked before it could compromise key functions like brakes. The first step the industry is tackling is intrusion detection, said Lanctot. But what to do when a breach is detected is complicated, because shutting off parts of a car could be unsafe, he said. Tesla was first to champion "over-the-air" technology in which wireless software updates are sent remotely to cars. Although some have argued such updates are a way in for hackers, Tesla and others see them a key protection to upgrade security and repair vulnerabilities quickly. In January, U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill calling for cyber security standards for new cars but so far U.S. regulators have issued recommendations, not rules, on how carmakers should shield their computer systems from hackers. The industry is "years away" from solving the cyber security problem, Lanctot said, noting that the first generation of cars built after the Jeep hack that include some kind of detection capabilities will not be seen until early in 2018.

Owner/Driver / March 6, 2017 The Perth Truck and Trailer Show has been put on ice for 2017, with organisers looking at possible dates in 2018. The Perth Truck and Trailer Show will not go ahead in 2017, with regular promoters Premiere Events stating that the show is "taking a break" this year. The event and marketing company says it is waiting on possible 2018 dates from the Motor Trade Association of WA (MTA WA). The Perth Truck and Trailer Show, usually held around the last weekend in July every two years at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, has been recognised as Western Australia’s largest transport event since the show was first run in 2007. However, despite this year’s cancellation, the event will return in 2018, according to MTA WA CEO Stephen Moir. "The WA economy has suffered a major setback and is now effectively in recession," Moir tells Owner//Driver. "The transport sector has been particularly impacted by the downturn. "The Perth Truck and Trailer Show will be back in 2018 in a new format that promises more content and variety for the industry that will ensure that it maintains its position as one of the best industry events in Australia." Previously, the Perth Truck and Trailer Show has been held a few months after the biennial Brisbane Truck Show, with many major truck manufacturers relocating their displays across the Nullarbor. The show has also proved an opportunity for Western Australian trailer manufacturers to showcase their unique wares, especially those aimed at the mining and farming sectors.

Land Line (OOIDA) / March 8, 2017 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling approximately 450 Western Star 4900 trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Issues with service air brakes prompted the recall. Western Star 4900 trucks with model years 2015-2018 are affected by the recall. The aluminum air tanks on these vehicles may have improper welds possibly resulting in a rapid loss of air pressure. As a result, parking brakes can suddenly apply with no warning as a result of a loss of air pressure. Owners will be notified by DTNA and aluminum air tanks with steel, triple compartment and air tanks will be replaced for free. The recall is expected to begin April 27, 2017. For questions, call 800-547-0712 with DTNA recall number FL-732.

Teesside-based Waters Waste Services has taken delivery of the first of two Volvo FMX 8x2 rear-steer tag-axle waste tankers – specified to handle the challenging terrain on construction sites. “Our work means we often need to access building sites and places with tight access, so we needed robust trucks that offered good ground clearance without compromising manoeuvrability,” explains managing director Neal Waters. “Frankly, the Volvo FMX with steering tag-axle stood out – and now we have the first one on the road I would say it does indeed give us the best of all worlds,” he adds. Waters went for the 13-litre 420bhp engine driving through Volvo’s I-Shift AMT (automated manual transmission). “The driver is really impressed with the overall layout, loves the smoothness of the I-Shift and says the engine provides all the power he could wish for, even when fully laden,” says Waters. “Furthermore, the all-round visibility is excellent and we really like the way the rear facing camera folds away, so it’s clean when needed – a master stroke from Volvo.” Unusually, this first FMX has been mounted with a Sayers Road Tankers waste vacuum tank, constructed from stainless steel and equipped with a Gardner Denver pump driven via the truck’s PTO. “Sayers is generally associated with food grade tankers and semi-trailer vacuum tankers,” agrees Waters. “We approached them just over a year ago to construct a waste tanker for one of our other trucks, and we were so pleased with the quality and lead time that we opted to use them for the bodywork on both new Volvo FMXs.” The tanks can carry up to 4,000 gallons (18,184 litres) of waste water as well as 400 gallons (1,818 litres) of fresh water. “The pump is remote-controlled from the rear of the tanker, so it is safe and easy for the truck to be single-manned,” comments Waters. “These two trucks are the first we’ve bought since moving our HQ [to Teesside] just before Christmas, so they are a bit special for us. They are also our first-ever Volvo trucks and I must say the support we’ve had from the Stockton-on-Tees depot of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland, has been extremely helpful,” he continues. “We were very specific with our requirements, but the dealer liaised closely with Sayers and we’re delighted with the result. We also have a five-year Gold R&M contract with the dealership.” .

Land Line (OOIDA) / March 8, 2017 Multiple bills approved by the Virginia General Assembly cover truck size and weight rules, and commercial driver’s licensing. House lawmakers voted unanimously to advance a bill to change certain truck rules to get in compliance with federal law. Passage clears the way for the bill to advance to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s desk. Senate lawmakers already approved SB1384 by unanimous consent. Specifically, the bill would bring the state in line with federal rules on size and weights. Among the provisions in the bill is permission for vehicle and watercraft carriers to backhaul general cargo. A separate provision would increase the weight at which a vehicle must be inspected at a permanent weigh station to at least 10,000 pounds. Another provision would make overweight permits available for tank vehicles hauling milk. The changes would bring the state into line with the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. Noncompliance would result in the state losing out on 7 percent of federal-aid highway funds each federal fiscal year. If the bill is not approved, the Virginia Department of Transportation estimates the state could lose $72.9 million of federal-aid highway funds in the next year. Another bill that made its way through the statehouse with unanimous support covers overweight permits for trucks hauling asphalt. Specifically, SB1316 would add asphalt haulers to the list of vehicles whose owner or operator may obtain an overweight permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles to operate in certain counties. Exceptions are already available for haulers of gravel, sand, or crushed stone. The bill also specifies that vehicles with six axles must have no less than 40 feet between extreme axles to exceed gross weight limitations. VDOT says the bill would likely result in slightly slowing the rate of deterioration on pavement and bridges in the affected counties because it would require minimum axle spacing for vehicles with a gross weight up to 110,000 pounds. The agency reports the change would allow for better weight distribution for such vehicles. The bill is on the governor’s desk. One bill signed into law covers commercial driver’s licensing via community colleges. Previously HB2075, the new law permits “comprehensive” community colleges in the state system to administer the skills test to students enrolled in a commercial driver training course who have failed the CDL skills or written exams three times. After the additional training, the DMV will be solely responsible for administering the applicable exam. To view other legislative activities of interest for Virginia, click here.

Kenworth Truck Company Press Release / March 8, 2017 Kenworth announces the Kenworth T880 Construction and Chrome program for special savings on qualifying purchases of new Kenworth T880 chassis during March 2017. The announcement was made today in conjunction with the CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In time for the upcoming construction season, the Kenworth T880 Construction and Chrome program features $1,000 savings direct to the customer per new T880 purchase, plus up to $2,000 in additional value with no-cost chrome or polished options. Featured chrome or polished components include chrome mirror shells, polished stainless steel sunvisor, tapered chrome or polished aluminum bumper, polished right-hand under-cab DPF/SCR cover, and single or dual lower chrome exhaust elbow depending on configuration. The program is for T880 Day Cab, full-truck (non-fifth wheel) configurations only, applicable to the construction industry for dump, ready-mix, crane, and flatbed applications. Chassis must be ordered from your Kenworth dealer in March. "We appreciate the support for the Kenworth T880 from construction truck operators. The T880 Construction and Chrome program provides a $1,000 cost-savings opportunity to purchase a premium Kenworth T880 – designed to maximize uptime, productivity and driver comfort – and also add some nice chrome and polished features at no cost," said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.

Alkane Explores Partnership with Cummins Heavy Duty Trucking / March 8, 2017 Alkane Truck Company, a South Carolina-based assembler of alternative-fuel vehicles, is exploring a supply agreement with diesel engine manufacturer Cummins Inc., to offer clean diesel engine options for Alkane’s line of heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles. Pending successful engineering tests and modifications, Alkane has identified three Cummins engines to offer its customers the V5.0 engine for the Alkane Dominator [rebadged Agrale "Marrua"], the B6.7 diesel engine for the Class 7, and, once it becomes available in 2018, the X12 engine for the Alkane Class 8 heavy-duty trucks. This supply agreement would accelerate the company's operations and vision of introducing clean diesel engines to join the broad range of alternative fuel vehicles for the trucking and off-road vehicle industries in America. This supply agreement would accelerate the company's operations and vision of introducing clean diesel engines to join the broad range of alternative fuel vehicles for the trucking and off-road vehicle industries in America. “Because of the overwhelming interest of so many of our 103 dealership locations across North America, we’ve decided to include the option of a clean diesel fuel engine in our Dominator, our Class 7 and our Class 8 series trucks,” says Robert Smith, CEO of Alkane Truck Company. "Alkane and Cummins engineering teams have met in the last several weeks to develop production plans for the addition of the clean diesel fuel engines to the Alkane line of vehicles. We’re thrilled that we may be able to offer these engines to our Alkane customers in the near future.” The first of the three Cummins engine options Alkane hopes to offer customers is the V5.0, which has been engineered to combine advanced materials, the latest High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system, Cummins VGT Turbocharger and Cummins emission control technology to produce an extraordinarily clean, quiet, and fuel efficient V-8 diesel engine. With fuel economy as a primary concern, switching from a gasoline V-8 to the Cummins V5.0 V-8 diesel reduces the cost of operation significantly; diesel fuel economy is typically better than a V-8 gasoline engine of comparable performance. Ideally suited for pickup and delivery vehicles and light- and medium-duty trucks, the V5.0 is also perfect for Alkane’s Dominator--the alternative-fuel off-road answer to the Hummer and new Land Rover Defender. Alkane is equally excited at the possibility of offering the B6.7 for its Class 7 trucks and the X12 for its Class 8 trucks. This new, more efficient 6.7L engine demonstrates up to 7% better fuel economy over the EPA 2013 B6.7 and the highest gains in key duty cycles running at lower speeds; in inner-city operations, the B6.7 had accumulated over 1.5 million test miles in multiple real-world applications prior to its 2017 launch. According to Cummins, the 2017 B6.7 will be fully capable for the introduction of stop-start technology that will yield further improvements in fuel economy in stop-and-go duty cycles. The Cummins X12, meanwhile, aims to redefine the medium-bore engine category (10L-13L) by setting a new standard for productivity in regional-haul, vocational, and intermodal truck applications. At least 150 pounds lighter than the next closest competitive engine and up to 600-pounds lighter than other medium-bore engines, the 12-liter will still deliver Alkane trucks a powerful performance from 350 hp to 475 hp and 1250 to 1700 lb.-ft. of peak torque. At just 2,050 pounds, it has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any heavy-duty engine from 10 liters to 16 liters in size, a combination of power and efficiency Alkane Truck Company hopes to be able to offer its customers in 2018 and beyond.All Content

Trump plan for private highway funding limited in its ability to fix U.S.’ ailing infrastructure James Jaillet, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / March 8, 2017 President Trump’s broad-level plan for bolstering U.S. infrastructure funding with investments from the private sector could buoy the country’s ability to repair overly worn highways and help stabilize the Highway Trust Fund. It also likely means more tolls for carriers, especially near urban areas, as companies seek a return on their investment. Trump’s most recent call for ramping up infrastructure funding came last week, in his first address to Congress. He reaffirmed his campaign pledge for a $1 trillion infrastructure act, saying last week it should be funded by “both public and private capital.” There’s been no shortage of talk in Washington — and nationwide — in recent years about the need to revive the country’s exhausted Highway Trust Fund. The U.S. spends about $15 billion more from the HTF than it takes in each year, says Joung Lee, policy director for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). “We’re going to need an additional $110 billion in the next 10-year window just to stand still,” Lee says. “But obviously our infrastructure needs are such that current funding levels are nowhere near enough.” The Highway Trust Fund has used gas and diesel taxes to fund U.S. road projects since the 1950s. However, Congress hasn’t raised the gas tax since 1993, and inflation has caused current fuel tax rates to lag far behind the country’s spending needs. Greater fuel efficiency of modern vehicles also contributed to the HTF’s waning revenue stream. Some groups, like the American Trucking Associations, contend simply raising per-gallon tax rates on diesel and gasoline would help solve the problem, but lawmakers in Washington have been reluctant to take what they believe would be an unpopular step. How much can private money fill the highway funding void? Not as much as Trump and other advocates for privatization might hope. “I don’t have a percentage, but I would say just as an estimate it would be much less than 10 percent,” says Greg Cohen, head of the Highway Users Alliance. “Private investment can handle some big new projects, but much more of course needs to be done to get the current system up to a state of good repair and to protect our commerce corridors across the country.” Cohen says Congress might use likely looming bills on tax reform to direct more public money to highways. “Advocates for that should not give up and assume it’s all tolls and public-private partnerships,” he says. Trump pledged during his 2016 campaign to take the approach he asked Congress for last week: Incentivizing private companies to invest in U.S. infrastructure with cheap financing and tax breaks. Private financiers would also be incentivized by the opportunity to turn a profit off their investment, particularly on high-traffic roadways heading in and out of cities. “Tolls are the only way to provide the revenue stream to interest the private sector in the way President Trump has broadly laid out,” says Stephanie Kane, spokesperson for the Alliance for Toll Free Interstates. “The good thing about using private sector funding is that they take on the risks. But if the money is not coming from the government, it’s going to need to come from somewhere,” she said. ATFI will push for funding alternatives that won’t prompt an uptick in tolled roads, Kane says. The group is adamant about retaining the federal ban on tolling existing Interstate lanes. “There’s no one silver bullet option for transportation funding, but tolls are the worst of those options,” Kane says. A “blend of funding” mechanisms is needed to solve the country’s infrastructure problem, she adds. Other groups see private investments in U.S. highways as a means of shoring up the country’s dire need for action on the issue, even if it means more tolls. AASHTO’s Lee, for instance, says options for private funding should be part of the discussion, even if they’re limited in their ability to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund. Public-private partnerships “are certainly an option and we certainly don’t want to preclude them as a tool for funding and financing approaches,” he says. “But P3s can only address a small spectrum. They would not be applicable beyond certain projects.” Such projects, Lee says, include “signature projects” — those that are large, expensive and risky endeavors, and mostly in and around metro areas. “We still need a robust public funding backstop, whether at the federal level or the state level,” Lee says. Though the U.S. has traditionally leaned on public dollars for its highway system, that’s not the case in other countries, including European countries with robust highways and trucking industries. These systems could provide a case study for how the U.S. handles greater privatization of its infrastructure, says Pat Jones, director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. “Our desire to spend on infrastructure far exceeds the available money,” Jones says. “I think the Trump team is wise to put all options on the table, including private investment.” Countries like France, Italy and Spain, among other European nations, have relied heavily on tolls to support highways, Jones says. “Operating and maintaining top-level super highways in those countries is as commonplace to them as having a tax-supported interstate system is to us,” he says. Still, private investment alone isn’t enough in the U.S., Jones says. “We’re going to need significant federal investment that would come from taxes or borrowing or some other form.” Jones also says toll-supported projects fit where traffic volume is significant and can generate enough revenue to repay investors. Rural stretches of highways, which constitute most of the country’s roads, aren’t.

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / March 8, 2017 Barely more than six months after its initial launch, the impact of International’s LT Series long-haul tractor is already being felt. Navistar Chairman President and CEO Troy Clarke says more than 5,000 orders have been placed for the truck that will phase out the company’s ProStar this year, adding that about 2,500 of them were delivered in the last three months. Clarke says the LT Series has also helped unlock the doors of several large private carriers, and quoting activity is on the rise. “We’ve got customers talking to us who haven’t talked to us for the better part of this decade, and they are interested in not just our story, but they are interested in what our products can do for their business,” he says. “For instance in 2016, we quoted 20 of the Top 50 customers in the market. With the largest customers, we quoted 20 percent more of them than we did the previous year. We got awarded 50 percent more than we did the previous year.” Clarke says he expects order intake for LT trucks equipped with the Cummins X15 engine to continue to exceed comparable ProStar figures for prior years, and is hopeful the launch of the company’s new 12.4 liter engine will be timed with a mid-year recovery in truck demand. “We’ve really been kind of non-existent in that 13-liter segment and it has remained 50 percent – and growing – of the on highway market,” he says. “Interest in our new LT product is up. I was at TMC last week and definitely there were people in and out of the truck all the time with very favorable comments. And these are the people who really make buying decisions and maintenance decisions. So we are very excited about that.” .

The "original", the Australian market Titan, looks so much better, without for example the tacky US market gray plastic fender extensions, chrome grille and headlamp trim, and front bumper. Volvo visibly decontented this truck for the US market. Ref. https://www.macktrucks.com.au/trucks/titan/ .

Volkswagen rejects FCA’s merger overture Reuters / March 8, 2017 Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne on Tuesday said that European market leader VW would be hardest hit by PSA Group's purchase of Opel, which will create a stronger European No. 2, and the pressure could prompt VW to sit down with FCA. But VW chief Matthias Mueller was quick to rebuff the overtures, saying his company had enough on its plate already as it battles to recover from a diesel emissions scandal. "We are not ready for talks about anything ... we have other problems," he said at the Geneva auto show on Wednesday. Mueller's rejection follows a similar snub from GM, after Marchionne said the U.S. company remained his favorite merger candidate despite its decision to exit Europe by selling Opel and having rebuffed FCA's approaches several times already. "We weren't interested before and we're even less interested now," GM President Dan Ammann said in Geneva. A combination of VW and FCA could in theory create a European market leader with a share of around 30 percent, give VW a strong foothold in North America through FCA's Chrysler operations and fix FCA's lack of scale in Asia. But the combination could also mean thousands of job losses that unions and politicians from Italy to Germany would strongly oppose. Mueller also stressed scale was not a priority for VW. "In my opinion, size does not matter," he said. "I have always said volume is not our sole goal. We want to be a successful manufacturer in every way."

FBI's James Comey: 'There is no such thing as absolute privacy in America' The Guardian / March 8, 2017 FBI director’s assessment deepens privacy concerns raised by the details of CIA tools to hack consumer electronics for espionage, published by WikiLeaks “There is no such thing as absolute privacy in America,” the FBI director, James Comey, has declared after the disclosure of a range of hacking tools used by the CIA. Comey was delivering prepared remarks at a cybersecurity conference in Boston, but his assessment has deepened privacy concerns already raised by the details of CIA tools to hack consumer electronics for espionage published by WikiLeaks on Tuesday. “All of us have a reasonable expectation of privacy in our homes, in our cars, and in our devices. But it also means with good reason, in court, government, through law enforcement, can invade our private spaces,” Comey said at the conference on Wednesday. “Even our memories aren’t private. Any of us can be compelled to say what we saw … In appropriate circumstances, a judge can compel any of us to testify in court on those private communications.” .