kscarbel2

Huh??? I don't at all feel that she has been framed? I don't understand how you came away with that, from what I wrote. Based on what we're told........that's all we common people know. We have no first-hand information. So you feel that Hillary is incredibly guilty of a wide range of illegal acts, however, you don't care if Trump flip-flops on a key campaign point and lets her walk free?

Based on what we 're told, you feel Hillary should be in prison. I don't disagree. "If" what we're told is true, how could she be allowed to be a presidential nominee? With that in mind, why has Trump done a 360, abandoning his firm position to put her in jail? Now, Trump wants to show kindness to Hillary and let her walk. Go figure.

Trump gives Wilbur Ross wide trade policy powers The Financial Times / December 10, 2016 Boost to Commerce secretary’s role could spark battle with Congress Donald Trump wants Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor tapped for Commerce secretary, to oversee his trade policy, in a controversial move that could spark a battle between the incoming administration and Congress. Trump has agreed to give Ross, a close friend, responsibility for handling one of his signature campaign issues, the Financial Times has learnt. The move, which would cut the influence of the US trade representative (USTR), would boost the role of Commerce secretary, traditionally a weak cabinet position. But it could face resistance in Congress where there has been opposition to similar ideas in the past. “Secretary Ross will be our administration’s leader on setting many of our trade priorities,” Jason Miller, the Trump transition team spokesman, confirmed when asked by the FT about the move. Ross was one of the main architects of Trump’s “America First” trade policy. In interviews since the election, he has continued to be the most vocal advocate for a wholesale rethinking of US trade policy. His role is set to be formalised once the new administration starts in January, according to the Trump transition team. Trump will still appoint a USTR head. But the president-elect has backed away from his campaign vow to bring all of the government officials involved in trade policy into an “American Desk” at the commerce department. One person familiar with the shift said Ross would determine trade priorities and that the USTR would be required to implement them. Miller said the transition team was “still determining the exact lines of responsibility between Commerce and USTR”. But he said that 79-year-old Ross would play a much larger role on trade policy than previous commerce secretaries because of his relationship with Trump and his role shaping the president-elect’s trade message. He declined to comment on whether the Trump team had discussed the move with Congress. Ross has been an outspoken critic of past trade agreements and has argued that the US could better use its leverage as a major consumer market to force countries to buy more US goods to help narrow the trade deficit. “Free trade doesn’t mean dumb trade,” Ross recently told FT. “We should treat ourselves as the world’s biggest customer and treat nations that are selling to us as suppliers to us.” At a campaign rally in October, Trump pledged a “major reorganisation of our bureaucracy” to make Washington’s approach to trade more efficient. Congress has for decades aggressively guarded its constitutionally mandated oversight of international trade. Sandy Levin, the senior Democrat on the House ways and means committee, which has jurisdiction over trade, said a reorganisation would be an unneeded distraction for the incoming administration. “The main problem is not the organisational structure, it is the structure of policy,” said Levin. “Just throwing out this idea and that idea won’t work. I’m not a big fan of thinking you can just restructure.” By handing Ross oversight over trade while maintaining the administrative divisions, Trump may still provoke a fight with the House and Senate committees that have responsibility for trade in Congress. The two key committees — the House ways and means committee and the Senate finance committee — also have jurisdiction over tax reform, which is another priority for the Trump administration. Gary Hufbauer, an expert on US trade policy, said any effort by the Trump administration to have Ross lead on trade would mark a significant departure and face opposition. “Even doing it informally will create some friction with the congressional branch,” he said. The US Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate trade. The legislature regularly delegates that authority to presidents, doing so most recently in June 2015. But it also has rejected repeated attempts by presidents to fold the office of the USTR into the commerce department or otherwise reorganise the bureaucratic structures. Since the position was first created in 1962, the USTR has been a part of the president’s executive office, in a move that gives it additional authority internationally. It has a reputation for being a lean operation, in stark contrast to the sprawling commerce department, which has some 47,000 employees around the world.

Trump told the world that, if he were president, Hillary would be in jail. We all saw and heard him say it on TV with the utmost seriousness. Trump has since totally flip-flopped on that major campaign point. Trump has done a 360, now saying that putting Hillary in jail is "just not something I feel very strongly about." "I don't want to hurt the Clintons, I really don't," Trump said. "She went through a lot and suffered greatly in many different ways." One minute, he wants to put her in a cold prison cell. Now, he wants to aid and comfort an old friend. After "lock her up" chants started at Trump's post-election "thank you" rally in Michigan this week, he responded, "That plays great before the election -- now we don't care, right?" But people DO care. Trump’s supporters voted for him because they took him seriously. Now, he’s telling them all the promises he made was merely campaign rhetoric.

There is no difference. Sandy Berger, David Petraeus, Oliver North and a long list of others (based on what we're told) are guilty to the same degree as Hillary Clinton. And yet, none of the them are in prison. There's an amazing double standard in how the "rule of law" is applied to the aristocracy versus the common people. My friend, how can you say that Petraeus was doing a fantastic job? He was passing state secrets to his lover (based on what we're told), who could easily have been a foreign agent. In doing so, he completely failed in his job at that point. He did "screw up", and I'm glad he was caught. We can't afford to have such employees "on the line" who are, clearly, unworthy of trust ("Loose lips sink ships").

Vlad, I thought you might enjoy this. Compared to a Trabant, the Volga is a nice car.

And in the same vein (based on what we're told), ex CIA head David Petraeus was found to have leaked state secrets, intentionally. And not only did he not go to prison, but he's on Trump's short list to be secretary of state. And what about Sandy Berger, who stole state secrets from the National Archives. Rather than go to prison, he received a mere slap on the wrist. There's far more to that affair than the American people will ever be told. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Berger) If "what the mainstream news says" is...........true, many of our Washington employees should be in federal prison today. But they're not.................... And now, not has Trump flip-flopped 100% on his position to put Hillary Clinton in jail (he told Americans that thousands of times over the campaign), but he invites Petraeus for coffee.

General Motors Fleet / December 5, 2016 Indiana business is the first to take delivery of all-new truck Harmony Outdoor Power Equipment (http://www.harmonyoutdoor.com/) in Auburn, Indiana, is the first small business to take delivery of the new Chevrolet Low Cab Forward truck. Owner Don Harter said he replaced his Isuzu NPR with a Chevrolet Low Cab Forward partly because the lack of Isuzu dealerships in the area made it difficult for him to service his old truck. “Now that Chevrolet is in the Low Cab Forward business, I can consolidate my business with one company for sales and service,” said Harter. “It makes our entire organization more efficient.” Video - http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/bcportal.html Harter chose a diesel powertrain to pull a custom-designed bed with a ramp. The business uses the truck nearly every day to deliver heavy outdoor equipment to customers, and with more than 5,000 miles on the Low Cab Forward already, the investment is paying off. “My drivers love how this truck maneuvers like a car and they also appreciate the quiet ride in the cab,” said Harter. “We are already seeing significantly improved fuel economy with the new Chevrolet Low Cab Forward, which makes it a great choice from a financial perspective.” The Chevrolet Low Cab Forward with a diesel engine starts at $48,375 and the gasoline engine version starts at $40,900. Low Cab Forward suggested MSRPs include a destination charge but exclude tax, title, license and dealer fees. Harter ordered his Chevrolet from Summit City Chevrolet, one of more than 250 Chevrolet dealerships across the country that sell and service Low Cab Forward trucks. “Our dealers have gone through rigorous sales and service training to ensure they can help customers pick the right truck, the right financing and upfit for their business,” said John Schwegman, director of commercial product, General Motors Fleet. “Our sales and service support doesn’t end at the dealership. We support our customers throughout the life cycle of the vehicle with a dedicated team of 42 product specialists at our Fleet Action Center. They are consultants and problem-solvers focused exclusively on small-business owners and fleet managers.” Harter took advantage of a new GM Financial commercial lease product called Right TRAC that can lower monthly payments with flexible residuals and no excess mileage and wear-and-tear charges. “Any time we can save money on an investment, we’re going to do it,” said Harter. “The Right TRAC lease option went a long way in helping us make our decision to switch to Chevrolet for the Low Cab Forward.” For more information, please visit www.chevrolet.com/lcf / http://www.gmfleet.com/chevrolet/low-cab-forward-trucks.html. . .

Owner/Driver / December 9, 2016 As announced in November, the ASX-listed K&S Corporation has been in negotiations with Scott’s Transport Industries (STI) to purchase the business, a deal of which has been struck. Confirming a binding agreement today, K&S will merge STI into its business from January 30 2017, with the company to handle STI’s employees, ongoing contracts and staff entitlements. According to K&S, the deal reached will provide it will access to a national fuel haulage arm and extra help with general and intermodal freight. "STI operates a general freight division and a fuel cartage division and has a number of blue chip customers in the manufacturing, FMCG, and fuel sectors," an ASX statement says. "K&S Corporation regards the proposed transaction as an excellent opportunity to further expand its K&S Energy division through the addition of significant fuel cartage operations. "The transaction will also provide additional volume to K&S Corporation’s existing intermodal and contract logistics divisions. "The transaction will lead to a more competitive and stronger combined business in an increasingly challenging environment." From an STI point, the ASX statement says the transporter has agreed: to a "nominal purchase price" for its assets; to rent a number of vehicles to K&S at market rates for up to five years; to, without obligation, sell rented vehicles to K&S; to allow K&S to see STI’s business financials; and to produce license and lease agreement by land owners who are related parties of STI for the remainder of the transport terminals currently occupied by STI. K&S predicts there will be a rationalisation of infrastructure to reduce operational costs and will undertake a review of STI’s current operations. K&S did not need shareholder approval for the transaction. .

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U.S. Xpress Commits to Nikola Truck U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. Press Release / December 08, 2016 U.S. Xpress announced today that the company is one of the first and the largest truckload carrier to order the Nikola One™. The company expects the innovative zero-emission, hydrogen-electric semi-truck will be a part of its fleet when the Nikola Motor Company starts production in 2020. “Much like our recent collaboration with Freightliner and its Next-Generation Cascadia semi-truck, the Nikola One is another example of how U.S. Xpress continues to work closely with its manufacturers to identify opportunities where cutting-edge technologies and the latest advancements in clean fuels can be used to conserve more energy, lower gas emissions and reduce the overall carbon footprint of our fleet,” said Max Fuller, chairman and CEO of U.S. Xpress. Fuller continued, “From our very first day on the road, U.S. Xpress has been committed to being a leader in the trucking industry, and this mission starts with putting our drivers in semi-trucks equipped with the latest in high-tech safety features and driver comforts that will help protect them and everyone on the road around them.” “I am particularly excited about our partnership with Nikola Motor Company because it strongly positions U.S. Xpress at the forefront of the trucking industry and reinforces our commitment to having a bold sustainability program that helps preserve our valuable resources and create a better environment while still providing practical, cost-effective ways for our customers to ship their freight across the country,” said Fuller. Nikola One Unveiled to the public for the first time last week, the Nikola One utilizes a fully electric drivetrain powered by high-density lithium batteries. The electric semi-truck can generate additional energy on-the-go by its hydrogen fuel cell, which will give the Nikola One a total range of between 800 and 1,200 miles with the battery fully charged and the hydrogen storage tank filled. In addition, the peak output from the electric drive system will deliver more than 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to accelerate the Nikola One from 0-60 mph in 30 seconds or about twice as quick as a conventional diesel semi-truck found on the road today. “U.S. Xpress drivers are going to have one of the most environmentally sound trucks on the road that they are going to love to drive,” said Trevor Milton, CEO and founder of Nikola Motor Company. “Each state-of-the-art cab comes complete with full-sized beds, large closet, full size refrigerator and freezer, microwave, television, Internet and electronic climate control." About U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.: Founded in 1985, U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. is the nation’s second largest privately owned truckload carrier, providing a wide variety of transportation solutions throughout North America. We are committed to being at the forefront of safety compliance, using comprehensive training for our staff and drivers and ensuring our trucks feature the latest safety innovations. With a dedication to minimizing our impact on the environment, U.S. Xpress is a SmartWay Transport Partner. U.S. Xpress affiliates include Total Transportation of Mississippi and Xpress Internacional. For more information, please visit http://www.usxpress.com.

Engineering News / December 9, 2016 Volvo Trucks should this year sell around 250 new trucks in Southern African markets outside South Africa, says Volvo Group Southern Africa president Torbjörn Christensson. Three years from now, in 2019, the company wants sales in these Southern African markets to grow to 1,000 trucks a year. Volvo Group Southern Africa is responsible for 16 markets south of, and including, Ethiopia and Angola. Christensson says used truck sales should reach around 1,000 units in South Africa this year, of which 150 will find their way to Southern African markets outside South Africa. Africa should not be viewed as a marketplace for used vehicles, or for Indian or Chinese products only, he adds. There is a distinct appetite for premium trucks. “South African transporters are moving into Africa, for example, and they demand reliable trucks.” The Volvo truck on sale in the rest of Africa may differ from the one in Sweden, however, as it is likely to be a Euro 3 truck with drum brakes – in other words, more suitably specced for demanding African conditions, says Christensson. “We believe in Africa,” notes Volvo Trucks International senior VP Helene Mellquist. “It is a question of when, not if the market will grow, even if there are some fluctuations now.” “We see signs that the commodity cycle is turning up,” adds Christensson. “We think we have seen the worst of the downturn.” A low oil price and slumping commodities market have caused economic hardship in a number of African countries, particularly the oil-exporting States. While Mellquist refused to talk specific investment numbers into Africa, she says Volvo is busy rolling out its network – through importers – in Zambia, Tanzania, Angola, Ethiopia and Kenya. Volvo trucks are sold separately from UD Trucks’ stock in Africa. Volvo owns the Japanese-based UD Trucks. In South Africa, Volvo Trucks has invested in a new Alrode workshop, with Durban’s truck centre the next focus point. Volvo Trucks in South Africa has expanded from 13 service points in 2013 to 19 service points in 2016. South Africa is “a very important market” for Volvo Trucks, says Mellquist. (Mack brand trucks ???) The group has learned to adapt to the demands of the market, including black economic empowerment, which “is a natural thing for South Africa”. Christensson believes a more stable political situation could lead to a more stable currency. Volvo Group Southern Africa should see 2016 Volvo truck sales in South Africa improve on last year. Volvo trucks are sold in 192 countries worldwide (The Mack brand is only sold in 19 overseas countries). South Africa is ranked third in terms of sales in Mellquist’s area of responsibility, which includes Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

French Defense Minister Seeks to Reassure RTD Employees of Job Security Defense News / December 8, 2016 French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has told Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) employees that there is little to be concerned about following the announced sale of the military vehicle builder, which is seen as a strategic industrial capability. Le Drian also announced RTD deals with Kuwait and the French Army worth a reported total of €770 million (US $826 million). “I have to tell you that I will be extremely vigilant that … this strategic asset remains under our control, as this is a key element in our sovereignty,” he said Thursday in prepared remarks during a visit to an RTD plant at Fourchambault, central France. “I can reassure you, with all my vigilance on the process underway, that I am not worried about your future,” he added. France, meanwhile, has selected RTD to supply 3,700 light vehicles to the Army, he said. That deal was worth more than €500 million, Agence France-Presse reported. The Direction Générale de l’Armemment procurement office declined to comment, as a contract has yet to be signed. Kuwait is due to order 300 Sherpa light vehicles in a deal worth close to €270 million, Le Drian said. The French minister backed the RTD offer when he visited Kuwait in August, and his Kuwaiti counterpart called him two days ago to tell him of the selection. “All you have to do now is sign the contract,” he said. The RTD plant at Saint Nazaire, western France, will assemble the 3,700 vehicles over four years, while Fourchambault will provide service support. RTD will convert a station wagon-type civilian vehicle by strengthening the chassis and suspension and fitting military equipment, the company said in a statement. The first delivery is expected for 2017. The vehicle will have a 150-horsepower engine, weigh 3.5 tons and carry 900 kilograms. Volvo said in November that RTD, the largest unit of its military vehicles business, would be sold off. RTD accounts for some 1.5 percent of total sales of the Swedish truck maker. Renault Trucks Defense Group (Volvo Group Governmental Sales) - http://www.renault-trucks-defense-group.eu/ .

You get what you pay for. For how long do you plan to use the seat (truck) ? If you want to buy a quality but affordable seat, look at the Sears Sentry. http://www.searsseating.com/products/sentry/ If you want to buy on features and maximum possible comfort, buy the Seats Atlas or Atlas II. http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-series-70-standard/ http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-series-70-premium-comfort/ http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-series-elite-80/ http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-ii-series-pc/ http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-ii-series-dlx/ http://www.searsseating.com/products/atlas-ii-series-le/

Scania Group Press Release / December 8, 2016 Since its launch earlier this autumn, the new generation Scania has been out on roads being put to the test by Europe’s leading truck trade media. Scania promised lower fuel consumption – and Scania has delivered. France Routes subjected the new truck to rigorous tests along its comparative 419-kilometre route in the hilly Rhöne-Alpes in southeastern France. Over the five hours of testing, the new generation Scania R 500 recorded an average fuel consumption of 28.4 litres/100 km. It thereby outshone the previous Scania champion, a Scania R 450 which was tested in 2014 at 30.19 litres/100 km. Although the new generation travelled at a higher average speed, it beat its elder sibling by six percent. Scania fared equally well in the German trade magazine KFZ-Anzeiger’s test. The Scania S 500 is “sensationally economical”, according to the magazine. In fact, it is the first truck to register under 30 litres/100 km on their test route. Definitely value for money, is their verdict. “These are just the first in a series of demanding impartial tests that will be published in the coming months,” says Örjan Åslund, Head of Product Affairs at Scania. “We are confident the also these tests will confirm the outstanding fuel consumption of our new generation trucks.” . .

“Electric buses – part of the switch to fossil-free transport” Scania Group Press Release / December 8, 2016 More public transport and more efficient forms of it are key factors for reducing emissions in cities. And electrified buses will play a decisive role in making the transition to becoming a fossil-free community. These were the thoughts of the Swedish Minister for the Environment, Karolina Skog, at the inauguration of the Nordic region’s first wirelessly charged electric-bus line last Wednesday. The ceremony took place, fittingly enough, at the Tom Tits Experiment science museum in Södertälje where the new 755 bus line has its terminus. Scania’s newly developed electric hybrid bus will operate in regular city traffic as a part of the company’s efforts to drive new and more sustainable public transport solutions for use in urban environments. The bus is rapidly charged using wireless inductive charging at its terminus. The process takes just seven minutes and the bus then has sufficient energy to complete its 10-kilometre route. This marks the first time that wireless induction technology has been tested in the Nordic region. Both the bus and the bus stop charging-solution are part of a research project in which Scania, Stockholm Public Transport (SL), energy company Vattenfall, Södertälje Municipality, and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology are working together to develop quiet and sustainable public transport. The project is financed in part through the Swedish Energy Agency. “Electrification is a decisive part of creating a fossil-free community and in reducing emissions and noise to provide a better quality of life in cities,” said Karolina Skog. “Engaging forms of public transport will play a key role in this. Public transport will handle the growth in traffic that we are seeing in the world’s cities.” The Minister for the Environment was one of several dignitaries who pressed a button at the bus charging station to mark the start of the project, as journalists and guests from the realms of politics, academia and business looked on. Other partners in the project were also present when the bus almost silently glided away on its first circuit. These included Anders Grundströmer, Head of Scania Sustainable City Solutions, Magnus Hall, CEO of Vattenfall, Göran Finnveden, Vice President at KTH, Kristoffer Tamsons, Traffic Commissioner for Stockholm county, and Boel Godner, the Mayor of Södertälje. Magnus Henke from the Swedish Energy Agency was also involved. ”We are today demonstrating the power of good cooperation between the public, research and business sectors,” said Skog. “It is this kind of systematic work that will enable us to make the transition to becoming fossil free. It’s a great feeling to be here today.” Kristoffer Tamsons och Boel Godner used the inauguration ceremony to emphasise that they had high expectations of the new technology. “Stockholm county wants to be at the forefront in terms of environmentally friendly and engaging public transport, and we know that environmental factors are important for our citizens,” Tamsons said. “We have long been a pioneer when it comes to renewable fuels. Ten years ago two out of ten buses in Stockholm were operated on renewable fuel. Today, it’s nine out of ten. And my goal is to have 100 percent operating on renewable fuel within two years.” Godner believes the wirelessly charged electric bus will have great significance for Södertälje as a municipality. “We want to be a sustainable municipality and this is an important part of achieving that goal,” she said. “I hope that this helps us to entice even more people to use public transport.” Scania hosted the event and Anders Grundströmer says there were good discussions between the various partners. “This type of arrangement, where the business, political and academic sectors work together, is what is required to drive the coming shifts. Scania is pushing the boundaries within sustainable solutions for urban environments and the project that we are now implementing together here in Södertälje will be an important demonstrator for cities around the world to follow.” .

DAF Trucks Press Release / December 8, 2016 .

Commercial Carrier Journal / December 8, 2016 Navistar recently christened its Used Truck Reconditioning Center in Melrose Park, Ill., where the company also plans to relocate its nearby International Used Truck Sales Center in the new year. The Reconditioning Center examines International’s certified used truck reconditioning process to ensure a consistent product is available to all International Dealers and Navistar’s own 15 Used Truck Sales Centers. With the closure and sale of the Indianapolis Center, Navistar co-located the Melrose Park prototype and testing facility near Chicago. “One of the greatest advantages of a centralized Reconditioning Center is the ability to work hand-in-hand with the on-site product engineering and prototype team in order to fully understand product durability and use this knowledge to provide the highest level of service to our customers.” says Jeff Heichel, vice president, Used Truck Operations, Navistar. Navistar says the Reconditioning Center in Melrose Park is fully scalable and includes a wash bay, detailing and paint booth, welding room and a parts storage area. .

“Trump doesn't take kindly to anyone criticizing him -- not journalists (whom he refers to as "dishonest," "disgusting" and "scum" when they take him on), not corporate executives, not entertainers who satirize him, not local labor leaders, no one. The President-elect's tendency to go after people who criticize him by sending false and provocative statements to his 17 million twitter followers not only imperils those people and their organizations, it also poses a clear and present danger to our democracy. Democracy depends on the freedom to criticize those in power without fear of retribution. Presidents and President-elects throughout history have refrained from publicly condemning individual citizens for criticizing them. That occurs in two-bit dictatorships intent on stamping out dissent. No President or President-elect has ever before bypassed the media and spoken directly to large numbers of his followers to disparage individual citizens who criticize him. That occurred in the fascist rallies of the 1930s. America came closest to this in the 1950s when Sen. Joseph McCarthy wrecked the lives of thousands of American citizens whom he arbitrarily and carelessly claimed were communists. McCarthy's reign of terror ended when a single man asked him publicly, during the televised hearings McCarthy was conducting, "Have you no decency, sir?" In that moment, Americans began to see McCarthy for the tyrant he was. McCarthy's assistant was Roy Cohn, an attorney who perfected the art of character assassination. Roy Cohn was also one of Donald Trump's mentors. Trump's capricious use of power to denigrate and even endanger his critics must end. He is not yet our President. When he becomes so, and has far greater power, our freedom and our democracy could be gravely jeopardized. We must join together to condemn these acts. We must ask: Has Trump no decency?” Robert Reich, former secretary of labor .

Marine Le Pen: Illegal migrants' children 'should not get free schooling' CNN / December 8, 2016 France's far-right party leader, Marine Le Pen, said children of illegal immigrants should be refused a free education. Le Pen, who ran for the presidency in 2012 on an anti-immigration platform and plans to run again next year, said the hardline move -- which flouts French law and the European Convention on Human Rights, would discourage immigration. "I think free and compulsory schooling for the children of illegal parents encourages more immigration, which must be stopped," Le Pen told reporters on Thursday in Paris. Le Pen said that if elected president, she would also consider implementing a waiting period for foreigners to access certain public services or social benefits. "I think this is fair, as our social protection system and our public services are now overloaded, overwhelmed." Le Pen celebrated the surprise victory of US President-elect Donald Trump as a boost to her own cause, saying it showed people were "taking their future back." She said that if she were in power, the country [France] would be "nothing like you have seen in the last 30 years." "I am opposed to a multicultural France. I think that those who have a different culture and who arrive in France have to submit themselves to French culture. Like the old saying, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' I think that in France we should do like the French people," she said. Le Pen has said she wants to follow Britain's lead and take France out of the 28-member European Union.

Daimler grows market share in Mexico Truck News / December 8, 2016 Daimler continues to grow its share of the Mexican truck market, in large part due to a strengthening of the dealer network. The company now controls 36.2% of the Class 8 market in Mexico, up about 7.8% compared to last year, according to Stefan Kurschner, president of Daimler Trucks Mexico, who gave a business update here today. Daimler set out to become the industry leader in Mexico and has achieved its goal. “We feel that above 36%, we can claim market leadership,” Kurschner said. “I don’t want to be arrogant about those numbers. It is a lot of confidence a lot of new customers have put in us. It’s a journey. We are on a road to leadership and that’s what we are going to continue.” There is plenty of room for growth in the Mexican market, according to Kurschner. Today the Class 8 market represents about 30,000 trucks a year and is growing at a pace of about 18% annually. But that’s not enough, Kurschner said, given the size of the country and the age of the fleet. The average Class 8 truck in Mexico is 17.8 years old and there are 150,000 trucks in the country 20 years or older. “I think an economy of this size should have a market of at least 60,000 and not 30,000, as it is represented today,” Kurschner said. A scrapping program that provides incentives for replacing older trucks has been reasonably successful, Kurschner said, and needs to continue and expand. Daimler has sold about 1,000 new trucks through the program, which benefits the environment. One key differentiator for Daimler in Mexico is its strategy of peso pricing. Traditionally, all OEMs in Mexico priced their vehicles in US dollars, complicating the sales process and putting customers at the mercy of unpredictable swings in currency. Trucks are now priced in pesos and prices are guaranteed for six months. “It takes uncertainties from our customers away and we are going to continue that,” Kurschner said. “This is not an incentive program or a marketing gag.” Dealers representing Daimler’s dealer council said at the briefing that peso pricing has been well received by customers since its implementation last year. “Our customers can truly forget about the exchange rate and have certainty and standardization,” said Fernando Zapata, president of dealer Zapata Camiones. “The dealer network said we need to do something, uncertainty really hinders our customers to do business. So, we did a lot of customer interviews and after realizing a lot of our customers have their revenues in pesos, it was a clear decision if they bill in pesos, they want to pay in pesos,” Kurschner said. Zapata said other OEMs have attempted to copy the idea, but without success. Daimler has financial instruments at its disposal and the ability to hedge – tools that a fleet itself is unable to utilize. The Mexican dealer network has modernized its processes and now works together as a cohesive unit across the country to better service customers. A key element to this is the so-called Mutual Promise, which all dealers commit to. “It’s a document the dealer network and the OEM has signed that has a description on what we are going to deliver as a service experience to our customers,” Kurschner explained. “It’s a customer bill of rights, a promise of what we are going to do for the customer.” Traditionally, according to Zapata, dealers were focused on serving only their own customers. Now a customer can expect the same service levels at any dealer in the country. “The same service and same quality and same conditions negotiated with every single dealer, wherever he goes in the country,” Zapata said. “That is amazing.” Alejandro Rivera, president of the dealer council and head of Camiones Rivera, said dealers have implemented new platforms so they enjoy better communication between dealerships and with the OEM. An Evolucion Elite program has also been implemented, recognizing dealers that have taken steps to improve processes. Repair times was an issue in Mexico, with the average repair as recently as 2013 taking nine days to complete. Jaime Tamez, president and CEO of dealership Difrenosa, said that has been driven down to less than three days and in most months this year, his dealerships have completed repairs on average in about a day. “Our objective as a dealer network is to keep clients’ trucks on the road. We have done a lot of work behind the scenes to achieve this,” said Tamez. One enabler has been 24/7 parts delivery. In 2014, Tamez said, the parts distribution center would send out one shipment per week. That increased to three a week in 2015 and now, deliveries are made daily. “It means in many cases a huge difference for customers and also for dealers, because we have an opportunity to keep our inventories rotating and our customers much more satisfied,” Tamez said. “For every specialized part, we have a delivery 24 hours later. I can say this is a big accomplishment in the last few years.”

House passes bill directing future of 34-hour restart Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / December 8, 2016 The House has passed the bill referenced in this story. For the bill to become law and the 34-hour restart issue to be resolved, the Senate must still pass the bill and President Obama must sign it. Below is the original story. A year after inadvertently putting the 34-hour restart at risk of being removed from federal hours of service regulations, Congress has unveiled legislation to fix the issue. Lawmakers in the House and Senate will this week take up the bill to clarify the future of truckers’ use of the 34-hour restart, likely putting the issue to rest. For the time being, truckers can continue to operate as they have since December 2014, meaning 34-hour restarts do not need to include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods and the 34-hour restart option can be used as often as truck operators like. However, should a pending study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration find rules in place between July 1, 2013, and December 2014 promote better rest for truck operators, those rules would go back into effect. Those provisions include the requirement that a 34-hour restart contain two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods and a once-per-week limit to the restart’s use. If the study does not conclusively determine the July 1, 2013-effective rules to be safer, then no changes will be made and truckers can use the restart as they do now: No 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods and no limit on the use of a restart. Congress included the hours of service clarifications in a 2017 Continuing Resolution appropriations bill that funds the government through April. The hours of service language appears to be the only trucking-related measure in the legislation. The bill will likely pass both chambers of Congress this week. The reenactment of 2013 hours of service rules hinges on whether FMCSA’s restart study finds that truckers abiding by those regs “demonstrate statistically significant improvement in all outcomes related to safety, operator fatigue, driver health and longevity, and work schedules, in comparison to…drivers who operated under the restart provisions in effect on June 30, 2013,” according to the bill, which was released late Tuesday. Simply, Congress calls for the statistically safer rules — as determined by a study to be conducted of hundreds of drivers operating under various work schedules — to be the rules that become permanent. This was the intent of Congress in December 2014 when lawmakers rolled back the 2013-implemented changes to hours of service rules. Congress in that bill also required FMCSA to study drivers operating under both sets of rules to determine which were safer. However, lawmakers failed to clarify which rules would go back into effect based on the study’s results. In an attempt to fix this issue, Congress accidentally included language in a December 2015-passed bill that could have cut the 34-hour restart option from the books, based on the study’s outcome. This week’s legislation clarifies Congress’ original 2014 intent and cancels out 2015’s mix-up. Both chambers of Congress this year floated separate plans to fix the issue, but Congress ultimately settled on the language unveiled late Tuesday. FMCSA announced earlier this year it had completed the data gathering phase of its 34-hour restart study. It has not said when it plans to release the results of its findings.

Rollback of truck safety rules may be just the beginning Associated Press / December 8, 2016 The trucking industry scored a victory this week when Republican lawmakers effectively blocked Obama administration safety rules aimed at keeping tired truckers off the highway. But there's more coming down the road. The American Trucking Associations is pledging to come back next month, when Republicans will control the White House and Congress, and try to block state laws that require additional rest breaks for truckers beyond what federal rules require. The group says there should be one uniform national rule on work hours for interstate truckers and that the extra breaks aren't necessary for safety. The trucking industry's latest triumph has caused concern among safety advocates that it may signal the start of a broad rollback of transportation safety regulations once there's no longer a Democratic president to check the tendency of Republican lawmakers to side with industry. "Unfortunately, it's going to be an open season on safety in this coming Congress," said Jim Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board during the Clinton administration. Shippers and some segments of the trucking industry probably will also push for long-sought goals of increasing the weight limit on trucks to more than 90,000 pounds and increasing the length of individual trailers in double-trailer combinations from 28 feet to 33 feet, safety advocates said. The trailers in single-trailer trucks can be up to 53 feet, but trailers in trucks with two trailers currently can't be more than 28 feet. "It's going to be very tough because the companies really care about the cost. They don't care about the safety no matter what they say," said safety advocate Joan Claybrook. The provision Republicans added to a must-pass government spending bill this week suspends regulations issued by the Obama administration requiring truckers to take two nights off to rest if they take only the minimum break before starting a new work week. Drivers for companies that operate on a seven-day schedule can work as many as 80 hours in a work week through a combination of driving and other work, like loading and unloading. Truckers are required to take at least a minimum 34-hour break before starting a new work week. But the trucking industry objected to requirements that the 34 hours include two periods from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sleep scientists say rest during the early morning hours is critical for people to feel refreshed. The suspension means truckers can head out on the road again during those hours if the 34-hour break has elapsed. Another regulation that prevents truckers from using the 34-hour break to start a new work week twice within a seven-day period was also suspended. Truck driver Bill Varnado, 66, of Dallas, Georgia, said he likes the sleep requirement because it ensures that drivers are well-rested. He said it's hard to find places to sleep in one's rig on the road, so drivers sometimes keep going. "Sometimes you're forced to drive fatigued because you can't find anywhere to park," said Varnado, who drives for Pro Trucking Inc. of Acworth, Georgia, during a truck-stop break along Interstate 81. But self-employed trucker George Lafferty, 61, of Henry, Illinois, said Congress should repeal the rule. "I don't see how the government can tell you when to sleep and when not to," Lafferty said during a truck-stop interview along Interstate 81 after dropping off a load of yeast at a livestock-feed plant. "A driver should know when he's fatigued or not," he said. "If you're fatigued, take a half-hour, hour nap." Besides truck safety, Congress is also likely to be asked to deal with a wide range of other transportation safety concerns. The auto and technology industries, for example, are telling Congress that they fear a "patchwork" of state safety laws will hinder the deployment of self-driving cars. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials have developed voluntary guidelines for the safe design, development, testing and deployment of self-driving cars that they want automakers to follow. But California's Department of Motor Vehicles wants to make the guidelines mandatory. Some industry officials have complained the guidelines go too far and may stifle innovation. Safety advocates say they don't go far enough. "We think it would be completely inappropriate for Congress to pre-empt the states without strong federal safety standards in place for automated vehicles," said William Wallace, a policy analyst for Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports. "States are the ones that make the final call on whether automated vehicles should be allowed on the roads," he said. "We think citizens of those states have the right to take action to keep their roads safe."

Fleet Owner / December 7, 2016 The American Trucking Assns. is lauding a congressional “fix” to the 34-hour restart rule. The hours-of-service issue is one of a number of items included in a Continuing Resolution that would keep the federal government operating past Friday, when current funding expires. “ATA thanks Congress for including what should be a permanent fix to the hours-of-service restart in this Continuing Resolution, and we look forward to its final passage into law to resolve this issue,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a statement. “Reverting back to the pre-July 2013 restart shifts the emphasis back to safety by removing flawed data from the rulemaking process. The entire industry will now be able to comply with this rule thanks to a common sense approach championed by a bipartisan group of legislators.” “While ATA sought the same for preempting states that have added redundant rest break requirements on top of the existing federal standard, ATA will continue to push hard for federal preemption of specific state laws when the 115th Congress convenes next month,” Spear added. According to a report in The Hill, the House Appropriations Committee released the CR Tuesday evening, which funds the government through April 28. According to the report, last year’s omnibus spending bill suspended President Obama’s proposed changes to the hours-of-service rule until the DOT can prove the regulation would actually improve driver health and safety. Back in April, the Senate Appropriations committee approved a Dept. of Transportation budget bill that includes language to correct a potential problem with the 34-hour restart. In an appropriations package two years ago, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) included language that initially rolled back the restart provisions on hours of service limits, pending further study of 2013 changes by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. But the current budget appropriation, passed by Congress in the previous government funding bill, contains an apparent legislative error in a clause meant to preserve the restart status quo until the study is complete. So, the funding bill for the 2017 fiscal year contains a correction. Specifically, if the study shows that the 2013 restart changes have resulted in “demonstrated statistically significant improvement” in highway safety and driver health, then those changes—which included two consecutive overnight off-duty periods—would be reinstated. However, if the study does not support the 2013 restart changes, then the previous restart rules would be restored with this addition: “A driver who uses that restart rule may not drive after being on duty more than 73 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days.”