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Northern Territory livestock transport route upgraded Australasian Transport News (ATN) / November 29, 2016 Completed project will improve safety for trucks moving livestock through the NT A key livestock freight route has been upgraded in northern Australia with the completion of the $5.8 million Carpentaria Highway project. Part of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme, the works improved a 3.8km stretch of the major access route for the Borroloola and Gulf Region. Welcoming the news, Northern Territory senator Nigel Scullion says the highway services up to 15 pastoral stations and is vital to the local economy. "The Carpentaria Highway is the major access route for Borroloola and the Gulf Region, especially for services provided out of Katherine and Darwin," Scullion says. "These works have made the highway flatter through the dangerously steep Borroloola Jump Up section, which means it is easier for trucks travelling uphill and much safer for everyone travelling downhill. "It also provides better sight distance to oncoming traffic reducing the risk of crashes. "Up to 15 pastoral stations rely on the Carpentaria Highway to carry around 30,000 cattle every year to the East Arm Port in Darwin for the live export market, making our investment in this project an investment in the livelihoods of locals and the national economy." Completed just before wet season begins in the region, Northern Territory deputy chief minister and infrastructure, planning and logistics minister Nicole Manison says the road will help industries, such as mining, that work all year round. "Getting fuel, as well as all the supplies and heavy equipment, in and out can be a real logistical challenge with wet season load restrictions, which is why we have repaired broken highway pavement and made it more resistant to wet season damage," Manison says. The upgrade was NT and federally funded.

Prime Mover Magazine / November 29, 2016 The $5.8 million safety upgrade to the Carpentaria Highway in the Northern Territory has just been completed. According to Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, the upgrade of the 3.8 kilometre stretch into Borroloola and the Gulf Region was a key project for the State under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme. “This programme is all about improving the efficiency and safety of the national road network so truck drivers can deliver freight on time with less chance of being involved in crashes,” the Minister said. Northern Territory Senator, Nigel Scullion, said the works were vital to the Territory's economy. “The Carpentaria Highway is the major access route for Borroloola and the Gulf Region, especially for services provided out of Katherine and Darwin,” he said. “These works have made the highway flatter through the dangerously steep Borroloola Jump Up section, which means it is easier for trucks travelling uphill and much safer for everyone travelling downhill. It also provides better sight distance to oncoming traffic reducing the risk of crashes.” “Up to 15 pastoral stations rely on the Carpentaria Highway to carry around 30,000 cattle every year to the East Arm Port in Darwin for the live export market, making our investment in this project an investment in the livelihoods of locals and the national economy.” Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Nicole Manison, said mining and other industries relied on the Carpentaria Highway to do business. “Getting fuel, as well as all the supplies and heavy equipment, in and out can be a real logistical challenge with wet season load restrictions, which is why we have repaired broken highway pavement and made it more resistant to wet season damage,” she said. The Carpentaria Highway upgrade was jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory governments.

I read that lines of people waiting for stores to open were a rarity this year. The article said many people shopped online instead. That said, I saw few good specials online this year. The good items that you'd want to buy were either not on sale, or had modest discounts that are available throughout the year. Last year, I waited until Black Friday to buy a wide range of items (online) and did very well. But not this year. I'm getting annoyed with Amazon in the way they constantly fluctuate the prices. I watched an item fluctuate between $191 and $239 no less than four times in a 24-hour period. I've zero tolerance for that way of doing business.

Georgia Republican Congressman Tom Price Post: secretary of Health and Human Services Previous Experience in health and human services: Price ran an orthopedic clinic in Atlanta for 20 years before returning to Emory University as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery. He also was the director of the orthopedic clinic at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital. Age: 62 Schooling: Price attended Adams Jr. High and Dearborn High School in Dearborn. He graduated with an M.D. from the University of Michigan. He completed his residency at Emory University in Atlanta, and decided to settle in the suburb of Roswell, where he still lives. Background: Price was born in Lansing, Michigan and grew up in Dearborn. Price will play a key role in Trump’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Note: Trump took a more dovish tone towards repealing the Affordable Care Act after meeting with Obama). Price has been at the center of congressional efforts to repeal Obamacare as chairman of the House Budget Committee. He was one of a handful of GOP lawmakers to design a replacement plan for the 2010 health care law — a proposal that never received a vote in committee or on the floor of the House. As secretary of Health and Human Services, Price could leverage his close relationship with Speaker Paul Ryan, a friend from their years together on the budget panel, to reimagine health care policy and make changes to entitlement programs such as Medicare. Price’s own Obamacare replacement plan called for tearing down the system’s insurance exchanges, mandates and minimum requirements for health plans. It instead favored tax credits based on a policy holder’s age that would help customers buy insurance on individual markets. Price, who was first elected in 2004, represents the prosperous 6th congressional district in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. It has been traditionally Republican and Price has easily won re-election. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) oversees 11 agencies including: Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Administration for Community Living (ACL) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau Bureau of Primary Health Care Bureau of Health Professions Indian Health Service (IHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute National Eye Institute National Institute on Aging National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Nursing Research National Library of Medicine Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) What the agencies do: http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/hhs-agencies-and-offices/index.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sanders blasts Trump's HHS pick: 'What hypocrisy!' The Hill / November 29, 2016 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday blasted President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) as the next Health and Human Services secretary. While Sanders reiterated his support for some of Trump's economic policies, he criticized the president-elect's HHS selection, saying it runs counter to his campaign promises. "Donald Trump asked workers and seniors to vote for him because he was the only Republican candidate who would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - programs that are of life-and-death importance for millions of Americans," Sanders said. "Now, he has nominated a person for secretary of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price, who has a long history of wanting to do exactly the opposite of what Trump campaigned on," Sanders added. The Vermont lawmaker outlined Price's positions and said Trump should publicly admit that his promises "were just lies." "Rep. Price has a long history of wanting to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. What hypocrisy! Mr. Trump needs to tell the American people that what he said during the campaign were just lies, or else appoint an HHS secretary who will protect these programs and do what Trump said he would do," Sanders said. "Chairman Price, a renowned physician, has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity," said Trump. "He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American. I am proud to nominate him as Secretary of Health and Human Services," Trump added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tom Price, a Radical Choice for Health Secretary The New York Times Editorial Board / November 30, 2016 In picking Representative Tom Price, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen as his secretary of health and human services a man intent on systematically weakening, if not demolishing, the nation’s health care safety net. Price, a Republican from Georgia, is a fierce opponent of the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health reform law, and beyond that, supports plans to slash Medicare and Medicaid, which cover tens of millions of elderly, disabled and low-income Americans. He is against a woman’s right to choose and has backed legislation to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. Trump and many Republicans have talked vaguely about plans to repeal the health reform law but suggest they might keep some popular parts of the law. Mr. Price makes no such noises. The detailed legislation he introduced most recently in 2015 would destroy the reform law and is a good indication of his philosophy in managing the nation’s largest health programs: cut benefits and leave millions with no health care at all. His bill would, among other things, roll back the federally financed expansion of Medicaid in 31 states and the District of Columbia, taking coverage away from 14 million poor people. It would severely cut federal subsidies that help individuals and families buy policies on government-run health exchanges. The reduced subsidies would make it hard, if not impossible, for millions to afford the coverage they have gotten since the Affordable Care Act went into effect. And the bill would no longer require insurers to cover addiction treatment, birth control, maternity care, prescription drugs and other essential medical services. As for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions — a key element of the current law, requiring insurers to sell plans to those with health problems — Price’s bill has that protection only for those who maintained continuous health coverage with any insurer for the previous 18 months. This means that insurers would not be required to sell an affordable plan to anyone who did not have coverage for, say, a month while he or she was between jobs. Beyond his commitment to tearing apart the health care law, Price, who leads the House Budget Committee, published a budget proposal last year that would convert Medicaid into a block grant to state governments. This would reduce federal spending on the program by 34 percent by 2025, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Such a cut would inevitably cause states to offer fewer benefits and reduce the number of people covered, far beyond the 14 million who would lose their coverage if Medicaid expansion is rolled back. Price also supports big changes to Medicare that could hurt older Americans by increasing their health care costs. A plan backed by Price and the House speaker, Paul Ryan, would turn Medicare, which covers the cost of medical care for people over 65, into a program in which people would buy private insurance through what is known as premium support. The idea is to turn Medicare into a voucher program, designed to limit federal spending while forcing seniors to bear more of the cost. Given that most American families have little or no retirement savings, this would be disastrous. It also stands in stark contrast to Trump’s campaign promise not to “cut” Medicare and Social Security. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Associated Press / January 16, 2017 Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) last year purchased shares in a medical device manufacturer days before introducing legislation that would have directly benefited the company. Price is Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary. Price bought between $1,001 to $15,000 worth of shares last March in Zimmer Biomet, according to House records. Less than a week after the transaction, the Georgia Republican congressman introduced the HIP Act, legislation that would have delayed until 2018 a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation that industry analysts warned would significantly hurt Zimmer Biomet financially once fully implemented. Zimmer Biomet, one of the world's leading manufacturers of knee and hip implants, was one of two companies that would been hit the hardest by the new CMS regulation that directly impacts the payments for such procedures. After Price offered his bill to provide Zimmer Biomet and other companies relief from the CMS regulation, the company's political action committee donated to the congressman's reelection campaign. The new revelation is the latest example of Price trading stock in a health care firm at the same time as pursuing legislation that could impact a company's share price. The issue has become a major liability for the congressman after The Wall Street Journal reported last month that he traded roughly $300,000 in shares over the past four years in health companies while pursuing legislation that could impact them. Concerns over insider trading on Capitol Hill, where members of Congress traded stock based on intelligence gleaned from the legislative process, prompted the enactment of the STOCK Act in 2012 aimed at combating the practice. Price sat on an influential Ways and Means subcommittee that directly oversees health care policy. Over the last year-and-a-half, Price raised objections to the CMS regulation that proposed major changes to how providers and manufacturers are paid and reimbursed for hip and knee implants through Medicare. Medical device manufacturers were poised to be hit the hardest by the new regulation, posing a significant threat to Zimmer Biomet. In September 2015, Price spearheaded a letter to Andy Slavitt, the acting administrator of CMS, asking that the regulation be delayed because it "represents a significant change to our healthcare delivery system which could have a negative impact on patient choice, access and quality." Two days after the letter, Zimmer Biomet's PAC wrote Price's reelection committee a check for $1,000. When CMS didn't listen to Price, the congressman unveiled his legislation to delay implementing the regulation until 2018, with the bill coming days after investing in the company, whose shares were selling for $103.59 at the time. Three months after he introduced the bill, the company's PAC wrote Price's campaign committee another $1,000 check. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has now called for an ethics investigation into Price. "This new report makes clear that this isn't just a couple of questionable trades, but rather a clear and troubling pattern of congressman Price trading stock and using his office to benefit the companies in which he is investing," said Schumer. "The Office of Congressional Ethics needs to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into these potential violations of the STOCK Act before Rep. Price's nomination moves forward." .

Volvo plans to divest part of business that includes Mack Defense The Morning Call / November 22, 2016 The parent company of Mack Trucks is planning to unload its governmental sales business area, which includes a North American defense division that has its headquarters in Upper Macungie Township. "Governmental Sales has built a very strong position over the last few years with a positive development and a record order book," Jan Gurander, Volvo's deputy CEO and CFO, said earlier this month. "There are great opportunities to grow the business even further, however, we believe that a new owner may be better placed to take the business to the next level. "Consequently, we intend to start preparations to divest the business." The governmental sales business makes up about 1.5 percent of Volvo's total sales. The business also has about 1,300 employees, most of whom are in France. But governmental sales also includes Mack Defense, which is headquartered in a suite at 7310 West Tilghman Street (Iron Run Corporate Center) in Upper Macungie. While Mack Defense is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mack Trucks Inc., it is also part of Volvo's governmental sales business area, said spokesman Christopher Heffner. "At this early stage in the process, we cannot comment on the exact scope of the intended divestment or whether or not it may impact Mack Defense," said Heffner, who refused to disclose the number of Mack Defense employees. He did say, however, that employees at Mack Defense's headquarters in Upper Macungie manage defense engineering, contracting, purchasing, project management and finance activities. Its executive team is also based there. According to its website, Mack Defense also has a regional office in Washington, D.C., a re-manufacturing facility in Middletown, Dauphin County, and assembles its military commercial-off-the-shelf trucks and its U.S. General Services Administration products at the Mack Trucks plant in Lower Macungie Township. Mack Trucks employs about 1,480 people in the Lehigh Valley. In July 2015, Mack Defense won a pair of contracts to provide standard military pattern trucks and equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces. The contracts, which have a combined value of $560 million in U.S. dollars, call for Mack to deliver more than 1,500 re-badged Renault Kerax 8x8 trucks*, 300 trailers and 150 armor protection systems for the vehicles, with deliveries slated to begin in summer 2017. Vehicle assembly for those contracts, however, is taking place in Sainte-Claire, Quebec. * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/40960-volvo-group%E2%80%99s-mack-defense-unit-to-supply-1500-re-badged-renault-kerax-8x8-trucks-to-canadian-armed-forces/

Reuters / November 28, 2016 Daimler plans to start building the Mercedes-Benz Actros heavy truck in China by the end of the decade. Seeking to expand its role in the world's largest truck market, Daimler is targeting a five-digit production number for the Actros, according to Daimler Trucks Chief Executive Wolfgang Bernhard. The decision is part of a push to increase Daimler’s global sales around 40 percent by the end of the decade. Daimler currently has a joint venture with China's Beiqi Foton Motor. The two companies are planning to invest a three-digit multi-million amount in local production of the Actros, and Daimler alone wants to set up 200 dealer and service facilities

UK HGV demand slumped in October Commercial Motor / November 28, 2016 UK demand for new HGVs plummeted in October, according to the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (EAMA). The report, which looks at registrations of new commercial vehicles across Europe in 2016, reveals that UK demand for new medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 metric tons (7,716lb) fell 17.4% to 4,472 in October this year compared to the same month last year. Demand for HGVs 16 metric tons (35,274lb) and above plunged by 16.3% in the same period to 3,579 registrations. This is the first fall in UK registrations of vehicles 3.5-tons to the top of the weight range this year. Despite this monthly fall, the UK market remained up on 2015 in the first ten months of the year with MHCV sales 3% higher at 40,256 and HGVs (16-ton and above) up 4% at 30,646. Although registration growth across both of the above weight catergories has been higher in France, Spain, Germany and Italy during the first ten months of 2016. European malaise The EAMA said the decline in UK demand for HGVs in October was however in line with a trend across Europe. Registrations of new MHCVs and HGVs in the EU were down 9% and 7.7% respectively in October 2016 compared to the same period last year, except in Italy. Italy increased registrations of new HGVs (16-ton and above) by 35.3% to 1,548, but registrations of new HGVs fell 17.4% in Germany (4,955), 8.7% in Spain (2,835) and 4.3% in France (3,724) in the same period. Total European registrations of HGVs (16-ton and above) for the first ten months of the year are 12.4% ahead year-on-year at 244,303. An EAMA spokeswoman told Commercialmotor.com that the October decline indicated “a levelling off” in demand after a period of strong growth as businesses across the EU replaced older stock following the recession. “After so many months of double-digit growth, as ageing stock was replaced after the economic crisis, this is a natural adjustment in the market and overall the market is still growing this year,” she added. In its latest quarterly figures, the SMMT said fleet renewal patterns had now returned to normal following the distortions caused by Euro-6 and Whole Vehicle Type Approval, and said the industry should now expect a steadier rate of further growth.

Walmart’s private fleet ordered to pay drivers $55M in back pay, carrier plans to appeal Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / November 28, 2016 Walmart Transportation has been ordered by a federal jury to pay 850 current and former truck drivers a total of $55 million in back pay, stemming from a 2015 ruling that the retail giant’s private fleet did not comply with California minimum wage laws. Notably, the fleet did not pay drivers for federally stipulated 10-hour off-duty periods, accounting for $44.7 million of the class-action payout. Other unpaid tasks included pre- and post-trip inspections. Walmart’s pay practices are in line with standard industry pay practices, as most carriers do not pay drivers for their off-duty time or for time spent on inspections and other non-driving tasks. Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove says the carrier will likely appeal the verdict, arguing that the company was in compliance with California laws requiring workers to be paid minimum wage for all hours worked. “Our drivers are among the highest paid in the industry, earning from approximately $80,000 to over $100,000 per year,” Hargrove said. “We strongly believe that our truck drivers are paid in compliance with California law and often in excess of what California law requires. Walmart is a great place to work, as demonstrated by the fact that more than 90 percent of our drivers have been with the company for more than 10 years” The Nov. 22-issued payout order follows a May 2015 ruling by Senior District Judge Susan Illston, who said Walmart’s per-mile pay package put the carrier sideways with California law. The private fleet “intentionally [failed] to pay minimum wage to class members” between Oct. 7, 2007 and Oct. 15, 2015, the court ruled. The payout to class members includes $44.69 million for unpaid 10-hour breaks, nearly $6 million for pre- and post-trip inspections and another $3.96 million for 10-minute rest breaks. The case was originally filed in 2008 in California state court, but the suit was later referred to federal court and stamped with class-action certification, covering about 850 drivers that worked for the company during the 2007-2015 time period. The case could set a precedent for other carriers operating in the state. CCJ will pursue more on the ruling this week.

Overtime rule derailed in court; ATA glad to see rule halted Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / November 28, 2016 A federal judge in Texas last week issued a temporary order blocking new rules governing overtime pay from taking effect just a week before the rule officially became law Dec. 1. The law would have doubled the pay threshold for which salaried employees are exempt from overtime from $23,660 to $47,476. For trucking companies, that meant dispatchers, back-office workers and any other employees in a salaried position making less than $47,500 a year would have been entitled to overtime pay if they worked more than 40 hours in any given week. However, Judge Amos J. Mazzant for the Eastern District in Texas halted the rule from taking effect pending lawsuits in 21 states challenging the rule’s legality. Barring a higher court reversing Mazzant’s order, the rules likely are dead in the water, as President-elect Donald Trump presumably will choose to either strike the new overtime provisions unilaterally or simply choose to not defend the lawsuits brought against it. The Department of Labor in 2014 finalized the rule, giving employers two years to prepare. The American Trucking Associations issued a statement last week saying Mazzant’s decision is a win for trucking companies. “By doubling the threshold from its current level of $23,660 to $47,476 as of December 1, the rule would have forced millions of salaried professionals to be treated like hourly employees,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “In the trucking industry, the rule change would have affected countless salaried dispatchers and other managers who need the flexibility to work as the need arises, in response to unpredictable operational demands. At the same time, it would have forced the carriers they work for to begin micromanaging their time.”

Transport Topics / November 28, 2016 Lakeville Motor Express in Roseville, Minnesota, abruptly padlocked its doors, locking out 95 truck drivers and dockworkers. Workers said they did not receive their paychecks Nov. 23. The surprised workers, who are part of Teamsters Local 120, found themselves picketing outside the company’s new sister location, Finish Line Express, in Maple Grove. More than 30 workers on Nov. 23 picketed Finish Line Express, a business that union officials say is really the Lakeville Motor company operating under a different name and location. In a letter to Teamsters spokesman Bill Wedebrand, Lakeville Motor owner and President Kevin Deming wrote: “Due to heavy financial losses, I have decided that effective [Nov. 19] Lakeville Motor Express Inc. shall cease all operations, close its business office and terminate all employees. Lakeville is out of cash and has no reserves to pay any amounts owed to employees or vendors at this time.” Terminated workers said they have seen Lakeville Motor’s former supervisors and terminal managers working in the truck yard at the Maple Grove location. They also said they saw Lakeville’s trucks and freight at the new site. Both companies specialize in less-than-truckload freight and had contracts with customers such as John Deere, U-Line, appliance makers and grocers, picketing workers said. Lakeville Motor “didn’t close. The freight is still there. The trucks are still there. And the customers are still there. All they did was change the logo on the trucks” and terminate its unionized drivers and dockworkers without notice, said Virgil Christoffersen, the Teamsters business agent who represents the 95 employees who worked for Lakeville Motor Express. “Now they are saying they won’t even pay their employees for work they had already done or benefits that have been accrued and are owed,” he said. FLE Vice President Mike Sanford maintained there is no shared ownership between Finish Line Express and Lakeville Motor Express. He said FLE went into business shortly after it incorporated in May 2016. The company has 17 trucks, he said. “We had nothing to do with the company closing,” Sanford said. “They asked us to pick up and deliver some freight. We don’t do all of it. … We’re a small company trying to do a job.” Wedebrand said Sanford is one of several former executives with Lakeville Motor Express who are running the new trucking company. “It’s the same management, same everything,” Wedebrand said. “It’s an alter-ego company.” The union will file grievances against the companies with the National Labor Relations Board, said Tom Erickson, president of Teamsters Local 120. “If what they did isn’t illegal, it should be. Period. This is not right. The union will pursue all legal avenues available to stop this kind of business strategy from working.” The owners of Lakeville Motor Express did not return messages. Lakeville Motor truck driver Ryan Lang was supposed to receive his $3,010 paycheck via direct deposit the day before Thanksgiving. There was no deposit. His boss called him at home telling him not to come in to work that night because Lakeville Motor Express had locked the gates and he was out of a job. A few days later, his boss was seen working at the Finish Line Express site in Maple Grove, Lang said. Lang joined Lakeville Motor out of high school and expected to one day retire from the company. Now, he’s unsure how to make it to the end of the month. “I’ve got my mortgage and two car payments, and I owe money for my kids’ hockey. I don’t know how I am going to pay for it all if I don’t get my paycheck,” Lang said. “I was hoping to buy my kids Christmas presents on Black Friday, but I will not be able to do that because I don’t have funds.” Lang and other picketing workers said they may not have been so upset if they had been given notice or offered the choice of working at the Maple Grove location. “Instead, we got nothing,” he said. “And I’ve worked there for 17 years.” Monte Hanson, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said any employer laying off 100 workers must notify the state and give its workers 60 days’ notice. Employers with fewer than 100 workers “are encouraged to comply with the spirit of the law,” Hanson said. Lakeville Motor Express did not file a WARN notice with the state, Hanson said. “We have people from DEED’s Dislocated Worker Program who are reaching out to both the company and the workers to get more details about what happened and to offer DEED’s services.” .

Trailer/Body Builders / November 28, 2016 Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU in October decreased by 2.4% to 185,055 units, breaking a 21-month trend of consecutive growth, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). The decline affected all segments and all major markets, except for Italy. The Italian market posted a double digit increase (+47.9%), while Germany (-15.0%), the UK (-6.4%), Spain (-5.7%) and France (-5.6%) saw registrations decline compared to October 2015. Over the first ten months of 2016, new registrations in the EU nevertheless remained positive (+11.6%) thanks to gains in earlier months, totaling about 1.9 million vehicles. During that period, Italy (+41.1%), Spain (+10.8%), France (+8.3%), Germany (+8.1%), and the United Kingdom (+2.1%) all posted growth. New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 metric tons (35,274lb) In October, registrations of new heavy commercial vehicle decreased (-7.7%) compared to October last year, totaling 26,324 units. Among the big five markets, Italy (+35.3%) showed the highest percentage growth, while demand for new HCVs in Germany (-17.4%), the United Kingdom (-16.3%), Spain (-8.7%) and France (-4.3%) dropped significantly. Ten months into the year, demand for new heavy trucks continued to increase (+12.4%), with 244,303 new vehicles being registered in the EU. All major markets made a positive contribution to the overall upturn, especially the Italian (+37.0%) and French (+13.5%) ones with their double-digit increases. New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 metric tons (7,716lb) In October 2016, new truck registrations were down (-9.0%) compared to October last year. Overall, 31,853 new trucks were registered in the EU. Among the major markets, results for trucks were similar to those of the heavy truck segment, with Italy (+43.9%) showing the highest increase and all other major markets posting declines. From January to October 2016, 300,228 new trucks were registered in the EU, 11.0% more than in the same period last year. Italy (+37.8%), France (+13.2%) and Spain (+9.4%) made a particularly significant contribution to this. New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 metric tons (7,716lb) In October 2016, new registrations in the bus and coach segment declined for the fifth consecutive month (-6.7%), totaling 3,013 units. Italy (+89.4%), Spain (+19.5%) and Germany (+3.6%) all posted growth, while France (-16.6%) performed less well than in October 2015. Over the first ten months of 2016, the EU market for buses and coaches remained fairly stable (+0.5%), counting 32,311 newly registered vehicles. During this period, demand was primarily driven by Spain (+17.0%) and Germany (+13.2%), while France (-5.5%) saw demand decline. New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 metric tons (7,716lb) In October 2016, EU demand for light commercial vehicles flattened (-0.8%), totaling 150,189 units. This ended the streak of 37 consecutive months of growth in the segment. Demand was mainly driven by Italy (+47.7%), while Germany (-13.2%), France (-5.8%), Spain (-5.5%) and the UK (-4.5%) all saw demand for vans decline in October. From January to October 2016, 1,572,863 new light commercial vehicles were registered in the EU, or 11.9% more than in the same period one year ago. Italy (+42.2%), Spain (+10.8%), Germany (+9.7%), France (+8.0%) and the UK (+2.0%) all contributed to this positive upturn over the first ten months of 2016.

One of our customers ran an MH off a mountainside. The cab detached, but the built-in integral safety cage* ensured that the driver lived. The Mack MH Ultra-Liner was the best COE ever designed in America. * A structural cage of galvanized steel, aluminum and high-strength fiberglass engineered for unsurpassed cab integrity.

The Trident is clearly my favorite, Paul. She's a looker. . . .

Associated Press / November 28, 2016 A Somali-born radical Islamist Ohio State University student plowed his car into a group of pedestrians on campus and then got out and began stabbing people with a butcher knife Monday before he was shot to death by an officer. Eleven people were hurt, one critically. The attacker was identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan. He was born in Somalia and was a legal permanent U.S. resident. The details emerged after a morning of confusion and conflicting reports, created in part by a series of tweets from the university warning that there was an "active shooter" on campus and that students should "run, hide, fight." The warning was prompted by what turned out to be police gunfire. Ohio State Police Chief Craig Stone said that the assailant deliberately drove his gray Honda over a curb outside an engineering classroom building and then began knifing people. A campus officer, 28-year-old Alan Horujko, who happened to be nearby because of a gas leak arrived on the scene and shot the driver in less than a minute, Stone said. Most of the injured were hurt by the car, and at least two were stabbed, officials said. One had a fractured skull. .

The soul of Overnite changed when the legendary Harwood Cochrane sold it to Union Pacific in 1986. The company was never the same afterward. Union Pacific failed to find a new "leader" to walk in Harwood Cochrane's footsteps. Overnite was Harwood Cochrane, and Harwood Cochrane was Overnite. . Related reading - http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/46226-legendary-overnite-transportation-founder-j-harwood-cochrane-dies-at-103/#comment-340549

Big Rigs / November 28, 2016 Stephen Lambert, or Chops to those who know him, bought his first Mack when he was in his mid 20's. Now at 60-years-old, the trusty rig still gets the job done! The factory white 1985 Mack R686RST equipped with a 350 horsepower 4-valve-head "Econodyne" engine was setup for heavy mining work, and Chops says while it's not a light truck, it's still got enough grunt to get up and go. "The 350 horsepower is more than enough to get me into trouble as it is,” he joked. When asked if the truck is still put to work, Chops laughed and replied, "I was driving it until I knocked off half an hour ago!” He originally purchased the truck after working for Mack Trucks many years ago, where he was involved with the delivery of it after it was kitted out. "We spec'd it out for a bloke and after doing a bit of work for him I just got a loan and bought it. "I used to run the mines and used to work out of places like Mount Isa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Isa). "Since then, I've used it to pull a fridge, it's done flat top work, grain, but mostly mining stuff.” In a day and age when many upgrade to a newer, more powerful truck every few years, Chops says he never saw the point. "I suppose I just always stuck with the truck, I've always worked with good companies and never thought I needed another one. "It's done about five and a half million kilometers (3,417,542 miles), but I've never put drivers in it, I've always been the only one." Nowadays, the trucky old Mack does mostly local work, carting imported steel around Melbourne. "I've slowed down to local and country work over the last ten years." Keep on truckin', Chops! .

Power Torque Magazine / November 2016 Maxwell FreightLines (http://mfl.net.au/) has taken delivery of the first two of a total of four Vawdrey Titeliner (http://vawdrey.com.au/our-products/titeliner/) A-double combinations to operate Interstate from Victoria. Matched to a Volvo FH700 and Kenworth K200 (http://www.kenworth.com.au/trucks/k200/), the PBS approval authorised by the NHVR has produced an exceptional focus on safety, with Wabco EBS, ABS, roll stability and Air-Weigh onboard weighing systems (http://www.air-weigh.com/). The combination comprises 2 x 20 pallet trailers within a 30m overall length with Hendrickson INTRAAX axles (http://aus.hendrickson-intl.com/Trailer-Group/Trailer-Suspensions/INTRAAX). A particular focus on light tare weight combined with the versatility of straight and drop-deck trailers is expected to significantly improve unit productivity. .

Owner/Driver / November 28, 2016 The first stage of the project has been officially opened, see the events of the day and those who made it happen Truck lovers from as far as Queensland and the Northern Territory attended the official opening of the Tarcutta Transport and Farming Museum on Saturday morning, October 29. The ceremony took place beside the attraction’s first building, a five-bay shed, which was funded by Bunny and Diana Brown of nearby Adelong, New South Wales. Photo gallery - https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1611/gallery-the-opening-of-tarcuttas-truck-museum

Volvo Trucks Australia / November 23, 2016 .

The Associated Press's Matthew Lee is a great reporter. He doesn't play games, rather, he simply points to the obvious. .

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / November 25, 2016 .

Associated Press / November 26, 2016 A self-driving truck will begin traveling on two Ohio roads next week after state officials announce details of new investments to support innovative transportation technology. A vehicle from self-driving truck maker Otto will travel a 35-mile stretch of U.S. Route 33 on Monday in central Ohio between Dublin and East Liberty, home to the Transportation Research Center, an independent testing facility. It will travel in regular traffic, and a driver in the truck will be positioned to intervene should anything go awry, Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning said Friday, adding that “safety is obviously No. 1.” Officials say that section of Route 33 — a four-lane, divided road — is an important piece of autonomous vehicle research in the state and will become a corridor where new technologies can be safely tested in real-life traffic, aided by a fiber-optic cable network and sensor systems slated for installation next year. Gov. John Kasich is scheduled to discuss details of that investment and other efforts to support autonomous vehicle research on Monday before the truck hits the road. “Certainly we think it’s going to be one of the foremost automotive research corridors in the world,” Bruning said. The self-driving truck is also expected to travel next week on part of the Ohio Turnpike, though Bruning said he couldn’t yet detail when or where. The turnpike’s executive director said in August that officials were moving toward allowing testing of self-driving vehicles on the 241-mile toll road, a heavily traveled connector between the East Coast and Chicago. Tests of self-driving vehicles have been made in other areas. Anheuser-Busch said last month that it had completed the world’s first commercial shipment by self-driving truck, sending a beer-filled tractor-trailer on a trip of more than 120 miles through Colorado. The company said a professional truck driver was on board for the entire route. Several automobile companies have tested self-driving vehicles on public roads in California and Nevada, and Uber is testing driverless cars in Pittsburgh. Kasich has pushed for Ohio to be a leader in the fast-advancing testing and research of autonomous vehicles. State officials say Ohio is well-positioned for such a role for many reasons, including a significant presence from the automotive industry in the state, partnerships with university researchers, and the seasonal weather changes that enable testing a variety of driving conditions in one place.

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/t123-sa-information-guide-for-road-trains.pdf

Bulgaria is ready to enforce its borders. . .