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Fleet Owner / February 21, 2017 Optimism based on strong January Class 8 and medium-duty orders Strong January orders for Class 8 and medium-duty trucks – especially for vocational units – may indicate that the “bottom” of the current truck buying slump may now be firmly in the industry’s rear-view mirror, according to industry analysts. Heavy duty net orders jumped to a thirteen-month high in January at 22,188 units, lending further support to the notion that the second and third quarters of 2016 “marked the bottom of the current cycle.” Class 8 backlogs “moved in the right direction” as well, with stronger orders and a “modest build” allowing backlogs to rise 7,600 units to 99,600 units in January compared to December last year. On top of that, orders for vocational equipment jumped to a two-year high last month of 8,500 units, or 38.5% of January’s Class 8 order intake. Echoing the positive demand of Class 8, medium-duty net orders hit a six-month high of 22,744 units in January, which translated into a 3% month-over-month increase and a 31% year-over-year. “The improvement was broad-based, with truck, bus and RV [recreational vehicle] orders all posting year-over-year and month-over-month gains,” they said. “January was the best month for medium-duty orders since February 2008.”

Utilimaster Seeks Withdrawal from USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle Program Trailer/Body Builders / February 21, 2017 Spartan Motors announced that its Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services (FVS) business unit—which encompasses the Utilimaster go-to-market brand—has stopped development on the United States Postal Service (USPS) Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Program as a prime contractor in the functional prototype development project and has sought withdrawal from the USPS. Spartan is continuing efforts to support this project and will partner with a leading USPS prototype award participant, to provide interior cargo solutions specific for the USPS's needs. "As a global leader in fleet vehicle design and production, we were honored to be among a select group of vehicle makers to win the USPS prototype award," said Daryl Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Motors. "However, when we took a close look at the economics as a result of our inability to reach a satisfactory agreement with our commercial chassis supplier, further participation in the program as the primary body builder did not meet our baseline financial targets. Working closely with one of the USPS prototype award participants will enable us to participate in this significant NGDV program without the related upfront developmental capital requirement, while building what we're best at for the fleet market—custom interior cargo management solutions." Utilimaster has produced route delivery and other vehicles for the USPS since 1999. As previously announced, Utilimaster was one of six vehicle manufacturers selected to receive the prototype award as part of a comprehensive USPS Request for Proposal (RFP) process. After a thorough evaluation, in-depth supplier consideration, and extensive financial modeling, Spartan has determined that remaining in the USPS NGDV project as a cargo management supplier provides a better return on capital, which better serves the Company and its shareholders. "We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the USPS for considering and selecting Spartan to take part in the evolution of their fleet," continued Adams. "We look forward to assisting with development effort and providing the USPS with high quality cargo management solutions that best meet the needs of their business, while ensuring improved safety, productivity, and performance for their route delivery personnel."

Heavy Duty Trucking / February 21, 2017 Following Navistar International’s annual shareholder meeting on Feb. 14, the board of directors has elected company president and CEO Troy A. Clarke as its chairman. Clarke replaces the retired James H. Keyes, who had served as non-executive chairman of Navistar’s board since April 2013. The change was effective immediately. Additionally, board member Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal was elected as the independent lead director. "It has been a pleasure to serve on the board for the last four years, and I am honored to have been elected chairman," said Clarke. "This is an exciting time for Navistar, as we pursue our growth strategies highlighted by significant new product launches and our pending strategic alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus. I look forward to continuing to work with our very dynamic board, which is focused on the future and supportive of management's efforts to create a great truck company." At the company's annual shareholder meeting, stockholders elected nine incumbent directors to the board of directors. The company also ratified the selection of KPMG as its independent registered public accounting firm; approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of key company executives, and approved a preferred one-year frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation. .

Truck News / February 21, 2017 After a long restoration process, Team Penske has unveiled a customized 1972 International Fleetstar truck known in the racing circles as “The Blue Hilton.” According to Penske, the truck was one of the first known enclosed transporters used for racing purposes. It served the team in various capacities from 1972-1983. The restoration is complete down to the smallest detail, including authentic PPG paint and hand lettering just in time for Roger Penske’s 80th birthday that was celebrated on Feb. 20. An iconic part of team history, The Blue Hilton transported the No. 66 McLaren that Mark Donohue drove to victory in the 1972 Indianapolis 500 – the first of Team Penske’s record 16 wins in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” In conjunction with its sister transporter, “The White Hilton,” it was used to transport the powerful, championship-winning Porsche 917s that dominated the landscape of the Can-Am Series in the early 1970s with George Follmer and Donohue before it was sold in 1983. “After we confirmed that it was, in fact, the Blue Hilton that was for sale, I called Brian Hard (president of Penske Truck Leasing) and we agreed that we had to find a way to bring her back to life,” said Team Penske president Tim Cindric. “This transporter was there when the foundation was laid for Team Penske and it is symbolic of the way in which we operate today. Everyone at Penske Truck Leasing did an unbelievable job restoring this vehicle. I can’t wait for Roger to see it in person, as it is something he will cherish.” Penske says The Blue Hilton was the precursor to today’s closed transporters that carry cars, parts, and equipment to race tracks all over the globe. With his keen engineering mind, Donohue – a 2016 inaugural Team Penske Hall of Fame inductee and the organization’s first champion driver – designed the payload area of the truck based on efficiency and functionality. It was named the Blue Hilton based on its royal blue exterior and the sleeper area above the cab, which is a standard feature in today’s transporters. The restoration was estimated to take more than 8,00 man hours to complete, thanks to the help from Morgan Corporation and a dedicated group led by Penske Truck Leasing’s James Svaasand, Michael Klotz, and David Hall – along with Team Penske Historian Bernie King. The truck was purchased from George Boyd of Urbana, Illinois, who had utilized it while competing in various racing series until retiring it to a spot on his property. He was the only owner of the truck after its days at Team Penske. “When you talk with the crew members that drove and worked out of this transporter over those years, and you look at the photos from the many cars it carried, you see how the Blue Hilton was an integral part of our history,” said King. “It’s certainly very much a part of the Team Penske heritage. Everyone at Penske Truck Leasing that was involved did a fantastic job of restoring this truck to how it was when it ran and carried many of the team’s winning cars.” Initially, the Blue Hilton will be on display at the Team Penske headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., where fans can view it from the Fan Walk that runs the length of the massive shop floor. .

Autoblog / February 221, 2017 Henry Ford was a man with a lot of dreams, though some of those dreams didn't exactly pan out. Case in point, the creepily named "Fordlândia" in the heart of Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The New York Times reminded us of one of our favorite pieces of automotive history this morning with an in-depth look at what happened when the Ford Motor Company tried to create a rubber plantation. The sordid tale began in 1928, when Ford founded the town in the heart of the Amazon in an attempt to grow and harvest the rubber needed for his cars. Ford was famous for wanting control over each step of the car building process. He also feared a European monopoly on rubber after Brazilian rubber trees made their way to plantations in several tropical, British-held colonies. Ford, always disdainful of 'expert advice', built a mid-western town in the jungle, complete with red fire hydrants and bungalows designed in Michigan. He even brought in Albert Khan, the architect responsible for Detroit's art deco skyscrapers and grandest homes, to design the hospital. In his mind's eye he saw rubber trees stretching into the distance, serviced by Brazilians living a clean, American-style life. Ford also saw Fordlândia as another chance to enforce his own moral code. Ford banned alcohol in his jungle kingdom. His infamous Sociology Department -- goons who investigated Ford's Detroit employees to ensure their private lives met their employer's expectations -- became the sanitation squads. These squads would clear the town of standing water to prevent malaria, but also check workers for venereal disease. Unsurprisingly, the substandard and diseased rubber trees failed and the workers rioted after living on oatmeal and canned peaches for weeks on end. Ford handed control of the town over to the Brazilian government after WWII. Today almost 2,000 people live in the crumbling ruins of Fordlândia, squatting in American-style homes in the heart of the Amazon. Guilherme Lisboa, the owner of a small inn in Fordlândia, perfectly summed to Ford's legacy to the Times. "It turns out Detroit isn't the only place where Ford produced ruins." For more on Fordlândia, we recommend Greg Grandin's book that documents Ford's strange undertaking. .

UPS Press Release / February 21, 2017 UPS announced it has successfully tested a drone that launches from the top of a delivery truck. The test was conducted in collaboration with drone-maker Workhorse. Sending drones to make deliveries from package cars could bolster efficiency in our network by reducing miles driven. . .

US exporters warn of missed chance for tax code revamp The Financial Times / February 21, 2017 The heads of GE, Boeing and other large corporations have warned that the US may not have another opportunity to revamp its tax code for 30 years if it misses out on a chance to do so now amid uproar over a proposed import tax. In a letter to Congress, 16 CEOs from exporters including Caterpillar, Dow Chemical and Pfizer issued their strongest statements of support yet for the import tax, which retailers, oil refiners and other importers are fighting to kill. The import tax is the linchpin of a radical plan from Republicans in the House of Representatives to overhaul the tax code for the first time since 1986. But President Donald Trump has yet to say whether he will embrace it to fulfill his promise of tax reform. “If we miss this chance to fundamentally reshape the tax code, it might take another 30 years before we have another chance to try,” the CEOs wrote in a letter sent on Tuesday. The lobbying war between importers and exporters — whose products would go untaxed if shipped overseas under the plan — has already slowed the writing of legislation and prompted some senators to come out against the House plan. With some lobbyists now predicting the only viable reforms could comprise a modest rate cut and some streamlining, the CEOs wrote that “incremental tweaks will not level the playing field for American workers or dramatically reinvigorate economic growth”. Mr Trump had pinned his hopes on tax reform as a key tool for re-energizing business and the US economy but it has turned into one of several policy areas where progress has been scuppered either by Republican infighting or White House mis-steps. Retailers such as Walmart and Target, which depend heavily on imported goods, have formed a coalition to warn that the import tax would be a mortal threat to their businesses, leaving them with little choice but to raise prices for consumers. The export CEOs, who include the heads of companies pilloried in the past for paying ultra-low tax bills, did not address what the proposal would do to how much tax they pay. But they adopted an argument of House Republicans, including Speaker Paul Ryan, by saying: “Our tax code penalises American workers who make products or provide services sold abroad, while favoring their international competitors.” By taxing imports and exempting exports, the plan’s backers say it would bring the US into line with other countries that already levy value added tax* (VAT) on imported products but do not tax domestically made products on their way out. Some economists dispute the comparison, noting among other things that VAT is a consumption tax whereas the Republican proposal is a tax on businesses. A post-election rally in the US stock market was driven partly by hopes of tax reform because US companies — including those signing the letter — have long complained of an “antiquated” tax system that charges them the highest rates in the OECD. The letter was sent to Mr Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, another Republican, as well as to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the top Democrats in the House and Senate respectively. Other signatories are the chief executives of Celanese, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Merck, Oracle, Raytheon and United Technologies. * Value Added Tax (VAT) is a scam in Europe and elsewhere that resulting in high consumer prices.

If it actually happens, sounds great. A huge mistake, a lack of law enforcement, finally being corrected. Enter the country legally, or don’t enter at all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press / February 21, 2017 Millions of people living in the United States illegally could be targeted for deportation - including people simply arrested for traffic violations - under a sweeping rewrite of immigration enforcement policies announced Tuesday by the Trump administration. Any immigrant who is in the country illegally and is charged or convicted of any offense, or even suspected of a crime, will now be an enforcement priority, according to Homeland Security Department memos signed by Secretary John Kelly. That could include people arrested for shoplifting or minor offenses - or simply having crossed the border illegally.

360 Truck / February 21, 2017 Isuzu Motors and its Chongqing (Chungking)-based China partner Qingling Motors have launched the new model VC61 6x4 heavy tractor equipped with a 16-litre (15.681L) powerplant rated at 420 and 460 horsepower. Engine model Horsepower 6WG1-TCN2 420 6WG1-TCG51 460 Note that, like the model VC46, Isuzu is adapting its N-Series light truck cab for this model rather than using the "Giga" cab, presumably to obtain a lower cost point. A 10-liter (9.839L) 4x2 tractor is also now available equipped with the 380 horsepower model 6UZ1-TCG50 engine. .

Many of us are familiar with both the civilian and military Dodge trucks of the past. However one model that is often forgotten is the military issue model T-234. During World War II, the 2-1/2 ton rated Dodge T-234 was used in the India Theatre for the construction of the Ledo Road* (1942-1944), a critical supply route after the Burma Road was cut off by the Japanese. The project was led by U.S. Army General Joeseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell**. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledo_Road ** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stilwell Although built with the standard civilian Dodge cab and hood, the front fenders, grille and axle were different from U.S. models. The T-234 was equipped with large 10.00-20 tires, and had a 170-inch wheelbase. Dodge's 228 cubic inch L-head model T-203 engine, rated at 99 horsepower and 188 lb/ft (255 N.m) of torque, powered early models. Later, the 128 horsepower 331 cubic inch engine was fitted. The T-234 was right-hand drive, as the British were responsible for India and Burma. Related reading - http://imageevent.com/vc40wc41/burmadogetrucks;jsessionid=cywsk4orn1.camel_s?n=0&z=2&c=2&x=1&m=14&w=0&p=0 .

“The government has the ability to repeat and control the commercial airwaves. In a sense, they repeat every so often: terrorism – fear – terrorism – fear. Repeat, repeat, repeat, that works – propaganda.” “What Washington seems to want to do is lock up and only give the leaks they want, the leaks that favor the U.S., like the Panama Papers. They control those leaks, but not the ones that are critical of the government. We're living in a closed news environment. It's an information war in a bad way." Oliver Stone .

Like him or not, Snowden verified that we were not being told anywhere near the truth. Oliver Stone hits the nail on the head at 4:40 .

What did Watt's Mack (provider of the BMT website) say when you called them at 1-888-304-6225 ?

I'd argue this goes back far longer. During the Civil War, WW1, WW2 and Korea, for example, any bad news was suppressed or distorted. If deemed desirable and possible, it was squelched altogether,

Matt Wood, Owner/Driver / February 20, 2017 A little known and quite rare truck in Australia, Matt Wood catches up with an International DCO and an owner with a story to tell. There was a time when 200hp was something to brag about in a truck. It was also a time when sleeper cabs were a luxury in long haul trucking, let alone a prime mover that only had one gear stick. As the old saying went, "if it’s got headlights you don’t need a bunk." Light Heavy Weight The International DCO isn’t exactly an iconic model. It doesn’t feature highly in the soot stained annals of Aussie highway myth and folklore. For a start the fully imported cab-over was only on the market for a couple of short years before the arrival of the more popular cab-over Transtar that replaced it. Yet for a brief time it was regarded as a big highway banger, an All-American lightweight that packed a heavy weight punch. Its moment in the sun earned the Emeryville USA built Inter a few loyal adherents over the years as a new chapter of Australian long haul trucking dawned. That new chapter of big bore trucking was to see a Kenworth factory open locally and European brands like Volvo start to take root. Older readers of now departed Truck and Bus magazine may recall the face of Don McGlinchie. He was often photographed driving the latest and greatest that the industry had to offer as a road test driver for truck reviews. One memorable cover photo from the early 1980’s shows a stern faced Don steering a then brand new International T-Line up Mount Victoria. The same pic also shows our very own mustachioed and rather hirsute Steve Brooks driving the XD Falcon camera car just in front of it. Even today, Brooks still describes Don as arguably the finest driver of a truck he has ever come across and makes no secret of his admiration for the man who was, in so many ways, a greatly respected and trusted mentor. Don has been a loyal proponent of the International brand for most of his career as an owner-driver. And the immaculate International DCO you see gracing these pages was originally bought by Don back in the late 1960s. Mechanical Beginnings Starting out as a mechanic in Sydney’s outer West back in the 1950’s Don was lured into the world of trucking by the promise of big money even if it meant hard graft. A mate by the name of Ken Archer had just bought a truck for brewery work and young Don was earning a little extra on the side helping Ken out with it. Finally Don decided to take the plunge into being an owner-driver, "I thought I could make a dollar, " he recalls. So in 1959 he bought a second hand Ford F600 prime mover. "That truck nearly broke me on the first trip!" Don muses, "I took on a load for Antill Ranger, a load of wool from Lake Station out West of Cunnamulla." The poor old Ford Y block V8 threw a leg out of bed on the trip back to Sydney, the stricken truck was towed to the top of Mount Victoria as Don tried in vain to get an advance on his pay to repair the stricken Ford. The answer was a resounding no, so Don had to handball the load of wool onto a mate’s truck to get it in and to collect his payment. V8 Woes The Ford continued to prove troublesome so, Don bought a new F600 thinking it would be more reliable. It wasn’t. "Why Ford thought that a small block V8 used in a family car would be any good in a truck is beyond me," says Don. A repo Commer Knocker then came Don’s way for the right price, "That was the truck that started to make me some money." The Commer ran mainly Sydney/Perth with a pan full of refrigerators with Don at the wheel. At this stage Don was still using the train from Port Augusta, however once he started making a dollar he upgraded to a 6V53 Detroit powered International R190 before again upgrading to a single drive Mack B61-673T. He then decided to tackle the Nullarbor dirt on a regular basis rather than sit around on the train. The selling point of the International DCO back in the day was it’s relatively big power and light tare weight. All DCO models arrived on the boat from the US as slim line day cabs and most were single drive. Power came via Cummins NT initially at 250 and 280hp, but later turbo engines copped improved piston cooling and could pump out 335hp. The right hand drive configuration for Oz meant that the American front mounted turbocharger had to go so it was relocated to the rear of the engine. Behind the Cummins sat a 12-speed Spicer transmission putting power into Inter diffs. The DCO you see here came Don’s way in 1969, it had been sitting in a Sydney transport yard owned by Phil Murray and it caught Don’s eye. Many Aussie DCOs had been converted to sleeper cabs, usually just a ¾ style add on. This truck however had the full Ansair sleeper treatment. Alterations and Modifications Never one to make do with what he was being presented with, Don set about making the Inter a little more bomb proof to cope with the somewhat optimistic loads that were being slung onto it’s back. The International diffs got the flick in favour of 44,000lb Rockwell SSHDs. And while the Spicer has its fans, Don flicked this in favour of a 15-speed overdrive Roady. "The Spicer just didn’t stand up in the dirt and dust". He also fitted a Ross power steering set up and the Cummins copped a Jake brake for extra braking bite. The hard-working DCO didn’t just run Sydney to Perth either. Don and the Inter also took loads of mining equipment to the Northern Territory and even to Mt Isa in QLD. But time and toil took its toll and by 1974 Don was looking to have a break and the DCO went up for sale. The tough cab-over was then sold to Retriever Towing and subsequently became a regular sight on Sydney’s road network for nearly four decades. Back In The Driver’s Seat After a year off doing odd jobs and moving trucks around, life on the road beckoned to Don again, and in 1976 a new Detroit 892T powered Atkinson soon appeared in the driveway, not long after Don also scored the Truck and Bus test driver gig. The placcy Atki hauled steel out of Clyde Rail and spent years pouring tonnes of steel into Newcastle out of Sydney. Don finally parted with the Atkinson in 1990. He then scored a job as an employee driver hauling a fuel tanker subbied to BP. Over the last 20 years Don has spent his time delivering new trucks all over the country for dealers. Now aged 80 Don still finds time to turn a wheel moving a V8 Supercar display trailer around the countryside. With all that experience behind the wheel under his belt, I just had to ask what his favourite truck was out of the dozens he’s driven over the years. He only thinks for a split-second before replying, "The Transtar 4700 I drove on the fuel job," "It had a Detroit Series 60 in it and would have to be the nicest truck I’ve driven." But in 2012 Don had the chance to be reunited with his old DCO. The International tow truck had been working hard for it’s money but the time had come for it to be retired, "It was working up until the day I bought it," says Don. Mammoth Task The whole rig was backed into Don’s workshop and the mammoth task of returning it to its former glory commenced. Unfortunately like most restos things didn’t go according to plan. Don pulled the cab off and started repairing the numerous cracks and dings in the chassis rails. But it was only after investing hours in the front end that he pulled the wrecker body off the back, "the chassis rails were like swiss cheese, full of cracks, holes and patch up jobs," Don says wearily. Adding to these woes the DCO was on its 3rd or 4th engine as well so a repower was also in order. The rivet counters out there may be a little irked but the DCO scored a new chassis courtesy of a shabby old Kenworth W900. A 14 litre Cummins was also slotted between the rails. This will no doubt annoy the KW fans out there as well! The KW theme continues underneath with Kenworth Airglide suspension ironing out the bumps out back. But clearly Don has always done things his own way and the end result, regardless of rolling component heritage is stunning. I climbed awkwardly into the passenger seat as Don fired up the Cummins BC3 residing under the cab. The big red donk coughed into life and idled away smoothly as we rolled out of the shed. Bobtail Drive In the driver’s seat Don looks as if he’s a part of the DCO, his work hardened hands deftly pluck the gears as we bobtailed through the outer-suburban streets. The interior too has had the McGlinchie treatment. As another former DCO driver from back in the day attests, "There wasn’t much in the cab of those things, they were pretty much just a shed inside." Don has crafted his own wrap around dash that echoes the lines of those found in a 1980’s T-Line or Atkinson. A padded overhead console also provides a place to store knickknacks. The sleeper with it’s upholstered panels also looks cosier than one would expect from a truck that dates back to the mid-1960s. Then it’s my turn to climb behind the wheel. Cab entry and egress must not have been a high priority back in 1965! It’s clear very quickly though, that Don’s resurrection of the International hasn’t just renewed it, the truck has been transformed. With a sweet Holset whistle floating over the Cummins rumble I let the DCO unwind a little. It’s an evocative sound that recalls the 1980’s more than the 1960s. A time of festoon lights, bad hair and chattering AM CB radios. Modern Nostalgia The 15 overdrive is a smooth shifter and the whole truck feels like you could hitch it to a loaded trailer and hit the highway. It feels that solid. The nostalgia trip comes from peering through the split windscreen as the top mounted wipers judder across your field of vision. As the tacho climbs the Cummins let rip with a satisfying bellow, but with no load on there’s no need to push it. Bobtail it’s a relaxed drive. The ride itself is also smoother than anticipated, no doubt this is partly due to the Airglide rear end as well as the G88 Volvo cab suspension that Don has fitted to the back of that smooth American cab. Like so many classic car and hot rod builds this truck reflects the dedication, innovation and workmanship of its owner. Don didn’t build this truck to satisfy historians and purists, he built a truck that reflects him and the long history that he has had with Australian trucking. This International DCO is both an understated worker and a gleaming tribute to the sort of smarts and dedication that can only come from years of hard work and experience. Sidebar-Knights Of The Road Victorian based tanker company Knight’s of Kilmore operated arguably the best-known and certainly largest International DCO fleet in Australia in the late 1960s. Jack and Allen Knight remained loyal International customers for decades. The first DCOs to join the Knights fleet used naturally aspirated 250hp Cummins power and retained the 12-speed Spicer ‘box, later trucks got the turboed 335. These trucks were initially single drive but Knights fitted some with air operated pusher axles to bump up carrying capacity. As one former Knights driver recalls, "They were a very quick truck in their day, but the inside of the cab was all metal, they were bloody cold!" The company fitted two DCOs used for interstate with Recar sleeper cab conversions. These trucks hauled chemicals between Melbourne and Sydney and even marine crude to Whyalla. During the Blowering Dam project near Tumut in NSW, Knight’s trucks were tasked with keeping diesel up to the machinery. "We had to negotiate a dodgy bridge across the river to make the delivery," the former driver recalls, "In winter we’d be towed through the mud up to the tank farm by dozer!" Knight’s stuck with the Spicer transmission in the International, "A couple of us used to carry a bottle of olive oil with us," the driver says, "If we lost our range change we’d pull over and pour a couple of drops of oil into the air cylinder on the top of the gearbox, that’d get you going again!" Photo gallery – https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1702/dons-party-a-dco-to-go

Transport Engineer / February 20, 2017 UK Container Maintenance (UKCM) has taken delivery of another five Volvo FH-460 6x2 tractor units as part of a programme, started in 2014, that will see the company update its entire fleet 100% Volvo fleet. “We invited several manufacturers to show us what they had to offer with regards fuel economy, cost and overall value for money,” says Liz Wolstenholme, operations director at the Northwich-based firm. “Not only did Volvo Trucks tick all the right boxes, but our drivers expressed their preference for Volvo too, telling us that Volvo trucks are the best to drive, the I-Shift transmission is second-to-none, all-round visibility is excellent and that the trucks offer the best overall comfort,” she continues. “Now the programme’s underway we’re extremely happy with our decision.” The new Volvo FH-460 6x2 tractor units were all acquired through Thomas Hardie Commercials, in Middlewich, and were specified with Globetrotter cabs equipped with leather upholstery, double bunks and fridges. “We try to give our drivers their own trucks as they’re on the road for most of the week,” states Wolstenholme. “Spending so many nights away, we specified the trucks to be as comfortable and homely as possible.” The company has also started working five new Lawrence David trailers – three double-deck triaxle curtainsiders with tail lifts, and the other two, single deck curtainsiders with Moffett truck-mounted fork-lifts supplied by Hiab. “We also have three further FH 6x2 tractor units on order for delivery by the summer,” states Wolstenholme. All the new trucks have been supplied on Volvo Gold R&M contracts with Thomas Hardie Commercials. .

Commercial Motor / February 20, 2017 The UK was Scania’s biggest market worldwide in 2016, the first time this country has topped the Swedish truck builder’s sales charts, according to Mathias Carlbaum, Scania’s executive vice president for commercial operations. Briefing journalists ahead of the release of Scania’s 2016 results, Carlbaum said Scania’s sales across Europe were 14% up last year, outperforming the company’s overall sales growth of 6%. The Next Generation R-series and S-series tractor units, launched in August last year, have been well received and are said to be 5% more fuel efficient than the previous generation. Carlbaum said Scania had reduced fuel consumption by 1% every year for the past 20 years, and predicted “it will continue to do so for the next 20 years”. Scania (GB) MD Claes Jacobsson said the company had a “fabulous year” in the UK in 2016 and he was looking forward to an “exciting” 2017. “We will continue the transition towards the Next Generation Scania although we will continue marketing our current range throughout the year,” he said. Andrew Jamieson, Scania (GB) new trucks sales director, said the UK market for trucks over 16-tonnes in 2016 was the second biggest ever behind 2013, pushing 2015 into third place in terms of sales volumes. According to SMMT data, sales of rigid trucks over 16-tonnes were up 14.5% last year while sales of tractor units fell 7.5%. This means a total of 36,358 trucks over 16-tonnes were registered in 2016. “That was way better than we expected,” said Jamieson. “Scania took 20% of the market in 2016, registering a record 7,283 vehicles, and is market leader in 3-axle tractors and the construction sector. "We are still seeing a very strong market - our December order intake was exceptional and January too has been beyond expectations.” This was achieved largely with the current generation of vehicles, as availability of Next Generation trucks is still low and although over 500 have been ordered, only 26 are on the road with UK fleets. “We have a long way to go with further new products to be added to the range, and it will be an interesting period for us,” Jamieson said. “There will be plenty of new opportunities too as our philosophy of working closer with the customer to tailor solutions creates benefits in total operating economy.” .

AM General To Serve Up Trucks A La Carte Defense News / February 20, 2017 AM General premiered a truck concept at a Middle Eastern defense exhibition this week that it never plans to sell. But that’s because the company wants to sell trucks to countries around the world based on individual requirements, essentially trucks that have yet to be dreamt up, Nguyen Trinh told Defense News at Abu Dhabi’s International Defense Exhibition. The company doesn’t just want to build it, sell it and walk away, but to establish manufacturing, supply chains and life-cycle logistics in country. The Multi-Purpose Truck (MPT) concept starts with a military-grade rolling chassis taken from technology used in 300,000 AM General Humvees sold to 60 countries around the world. And because it's a commercial chassis, the company can circumvent the arduous and lengthy foreign military sales process normally used to sell U.S. military equipment to the rest of the world. Then a country can design an entire truck around the chassis. The company’s slogan for the new concept is “Your Country. Your Truck,” which speaks to the idea that AM General wants to move away from being a truck manufacturer to “a global vehicle solutions provider,” Trinh said. Less than two years ago, when AM General lost its bid in the U.S. Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle competition to Oshkosh, it didn’t protest the decision like Lockheed Martin. Instead, AM General said such a protest would be a distraction from its current growth business areas, “including meeting the significant and future needs of our customers in the United States and around the world.” Turning straight back to the global market with JLTV lessons-learned in tow, AM General said it developed the concept by talking to customers abroad. “A couple of things that resonated with the majority of the customers,” Trinh said, “number one, everyone wants to buy U.S. made products,” which poses export challenges. So AM General decided it could sell its commercially available light tactical vehicle chassis and design and build from there. And “number two, industrialization and local content is really becoming more important, especially here in the Middle East,” Trinh said. On Monday at IDEX, U.S. commercial sales officers working in various Middle Eastern countries stressed the importance of building their own domestic manufacturing and technology development, not just performing final assembly work for equipment purchased abroad. AM General found countries desired “cutting edge technology and building up their industrial base,” Trinh said. The strategy is for AM General to sell the chassis and then help countries design a new vehicle around it, then guide them through establishing proper manufacturing, as well as long-term logistics trails, which is made possible because the company owns the technology data packages to proceed in such a way. “We own all the tooling, we own all the TDP, from a value proposition AM General brings that,” Trinh said. And it also solves the issues many encounter after buying equipment, which is unpredictably losing second and third tier manufactured parts -- a sore spot for foreign buyers. “It’s a long-term plan,” he said. “Not a ‘hey, we will sell you 1,000 of these and do a few things and then we are gone.'” Trinh said AM General is blanketing all regions -- Latin America, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, Europe and parts of Africa -- in its effort to show countries what is in the realm of the possible for multi-purpose military trucks. The MPT on display at IDEX was specifically showcasing a possible configuration for a Middle East country, featuring high mobility, armor protection against mine and missile threats and the ability to operate unhindered by heat and soft, sandy soil.

AM General Press Release / February 20, 2017 South Bend, Indiana-based AM General is showcasing its new Multi-Purpose Truck Concept at the 2017 International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) tradeshow held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Feb. 19 – 23, 2017, Booth 01-C20 in the U.S. Pavilion. “IDEX 2017 is an excellent venue for AM General to display its diverse range of innovative products and services,” said AM General Executive Vice President, International Defense, Larry Platt. “As the Company continues to expand and strengthen its partnerships in the region and around the globe, we will use this opportunity to engage current and potential customers, listen to their unique needs and offer them the most innovative, affordable mobility solutions available today to meet their demands.” Multi-Purpose Truck/MPT Making its world premiere at IDEX 2017, the Multi-Purpose Truck (MPT) is a commercial base 4×4 platform chassis truck (cab and chassis) with 8,391 kg (18,500 lb) GVW and 2,359 kg (5,200 lb) payload capacity engineered to serve the extreme-environment needs of energy, mining, industrial, and government customers around the world. The MPT is engineered and designed based on existing and test-proven AM General components, Off-the-Shelf (OTS) AM General items, Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) items from other commercial vehicles and Military Commercial Off-the-Shelf (M-COTS) items. The MPT was designed to allow customers to configure payload modules based on their needs. The Cab & Chassis Base Platform is the base vehicle configuration. MPT modules can be developed by the purchasing country’s engineering experts or, if needed, by AM General engineers. Modules can include several applicable configurations utilizing a 2-man cab. Other variants include the 2-man w/ Flat Bed, 2 + 6 Personnel Carrier, 4-man Base w/ Cargo box, and 9 Crew Capacity Vehicle. .

Transport Engineer / February 20, 2017 Krone will be showcasing a container chassis from its Box Liner eLTU5 Plus series at next month’s Transportation Complete event in Hardenberg (21-23 March). The chassis is equipped with Genset, a Carrier unit from the UG151 series, for constant temperature control of the container. The Box Liner eLTU5 Plus offers various load configurations: one 40ft with tunnel, one 20ft load centrally or flush to the rear, as well as a 45ft ISO container and 45ft container with refrigeration unit and its own fuel tank at the front wall. The container chassis has an electronic brake system and integrated stability features as standard. It also has steel ram profiles at the rear, across the full vehicle width, large rubber buffers centrally at the rear, two stop wedges as well as LED rear lights. There’s also a steel platform at the rear between the longitudinal beams for loading and unloading centrally carried containers. The eLTU5 Plus container chassis is equipped with two positions for kingpins as a standard, making it is suitable for both two-axle and three-axle semi-trailer tractors. .

Thailand Press / February 20, 2017 UD Trucks Thailand and Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt recently delivered 80 UD Quester heavy tractors to Tipco Asphalt, a leading asphalt supplier in Thailand. With the addition of the new trucks, Tipco is now operating over 100 UD trucks in its fleet. .

Ford Trucks Press Release / February 18, 2017 With 4.5G (LTE-Advanced Pro) wireless technology, Ford Cargo offers the best internet access in the industry. Ford Trucks and You – "Sharing the Load" At Ford Trucks, we’re serious about trucking. It's why we designed the new 2016 Cargo heavy truck range from the ground up to meet your needs and expectations. See your authorized Ford heavy truck dealer for details, or visit the global Ford heavy truck website at https://www.fordtrucks.com.tr/ .

Scania Group Press Release / February 20, 2017 Taking responsibility for people and the environment is a cornerstone in the operations of Swedish coffee roaster Löfbergs. Its efforts extend over the entire value chain – from coffee bean to coffee cup; from the farm to the end-consumer. A fourth-generation, family-run business, Löfbergs produces more than ten million cups of coffee a day. In 2016, the company inaugurated a new warehouse on the outskirts of Karlstad, a city in central Sweden with a population of 90,000. However, the coffee roastery is still located in the city centre, which necessitates transports in and out of town. That’s why, in keeping with its commitment to sustainability, Löfbergs has now put the first Scania hybrid tractor unit into operation. The Scania P 320 tractor has been supplemented with a hybrid driveline that allows the truck to drive on electric power for nearly two kilometres on just a ten-minute charge of the vehicle’s battery. This can lower fuel costs by 18 percent, but, even more importantly, the truck can drive silently – below 72 dBA – and make its deliveries without disturbing Karlstad’s residents. In parallel with the electric battery, the truck runs on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The combination of battery power and HVO reduces carbon emissions by more than 90 percent in comparison with conventional diesel. Thus, when the truck reaches the city limits, Löfbergs’ driver pushes a button, so the truck switches from running on HVO to the battery for the journey to the city centre roastery. The hybrid truck can make a total of 15 round trips a day between the roastery plant and the warehouse in the suburb of Välsviken every day. Quietly. Very quietly. “At first I thought there was something that was wrong,” says Ann-Christin Lundman, the driver of the freight service. “It is unusual; it is completely silent.” Löfbergs’ Managing Director Lars Appelqvist is happy to be first, but hopes this is only the start of its sustainable transport initiatives. “Even if our transports only account for three percent of the climate impact from coffee, we try to do everything in our power to minimise the environmental effects,” he says. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / February 20, 2017 Comfortable, fuel efficient and reliable. We know how well the Renault Trucks T performs on the road. But it performs equally well “off-road”, on the challenging surfaces and rugged relief of the Scottish Highlands. .