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Nominations Sent to the Senate The White House / January 20, 2017 Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to be U.S. ambassador to China Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation Wall Street lawyer Jay Clayton to be a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission for a term expiring June 5, 2021, replacing Daniel M.Gallagher, Jr. Ex-Indiana Senator Daniel Coats to be Director of National Intelligence, replacing James Clapper Billionaire republican donor Elisabeth DeVos to be Secretary of Education Orthodox Jewish bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman to be U.S. ambassador to Israel South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to U.S. representative to the United Nations Retired USMC Gen. John F. Kelly to be Secretary of Homeland Security Trade lawyer Robert Lighthizer to be United States Trade Representative Retired USMC Gen. James Mattis to be Secretary of Defense Billionaire and ex-World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, replacing Maria Contreras-Sweet Former Goldman Sachs partner and hedge fund manager Steven Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to be U.S. Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, U.S. Governor of the African Development Fund, and U.S. Governor of the Asian Development Bank, replacing Jacob Lew Steven Mnuchin to be U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund, U.S. Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, and U.S. Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of 5 years, replacing Jacob Lew Ex-Texas governor James Richard “Rick” Perry to be Secretary of Energy Kansas Representative Mike Pompeo to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, replacing John Brennan Georgia Representative and ex-orthopedic doctor Tom Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fast-food restaurant CEO Andrew Puzder to be Secretary of Labor Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, Jr. to be Secretary of Commerce Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Current Under Secretary of Health for the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ex-Exxon Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State Health policy consultant Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, replacing Marilyn Tavenner Billionaire Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola to be Secretary of the Army, replacing Eric Fanning Montana Representative Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statement By The President On Cabinet Nominee Confirmations The White House / January 20, 2017 “I am pleased by the confirmation votes of Generals Mattis and Kelly. These uniquely qualified leaders will immediately begin the important work of rebuilding our military, defending our nation and securing our borders. I am proud to have these two American heroes join my administration. I call on members of the Senate to fulfill their constitutional obligation and swiftly confirm the remainder of my highly qualified cabinet nominees, so that we can get to work on behalf of the American people without further delay.”

The Inaugural Address The White House / January 20, 2017 Remarks of President Donald J. Trump Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you. We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people. Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come. We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done. Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People. For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public. But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans. For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; We've defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world. But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down. America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams. We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American. We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth. At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable. There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God. Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action. Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow. A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions. It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag. And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator. So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, We Will Make America Strong Again. We Will Make America Wealthy Again. We Will Make America Proud Again. We Will Make America Safe Again. And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.

Although Friday is technically Trump’s first day in office following his swearing in, I think Monday (Jan 23) is more realistically his first "wide open" day in office. He looked Americans in the face and made 21 promises*. It will be interesting if he follows through. I wouldn’t expect many politicians** to keep their word, but Trump campaigned as the "anti-politician" who would. * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47669-trumps-promises/#comment-351852 ** “Listen, I'm a politician which means I'm a cheat and a liar. And when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops.”

Trump ready to shake up trade deals Automotive News / January 20, 2017 White House will renegotiate NAFTA Minutes after his inauguration, President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), moves that analysts say could have profound effects on the automotive industry. The announcement, posted online by Trump’s new White House team, comes after years of his blasting both trade deals as job-killers that hurt American workers and move jobs overseas. “With a lifetime of negotiating experience, the President understands how critical it is to put American workers and businesses first when it comes to trade,” the White House said in a release. “With tough and fair agreements, international trade can be used to grow our economy, return millions of jobs to America’s shores and revitalize our nation’s suffering communities.” In confirmation hearings this week, Trump’s choice to head the Commerce Department, former auto supplier executive Wilbur Ross, signaled that renegotiating NAFTA would be an urgent priority. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created a free-trade bloc linking the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The White House team said Friday that if the NAFTA partners refuse “a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal,” then the president will give notice of the country’s intent to withdraw. If the U.S. makes such a move, a withdrawal from NAFTA would cost at least 31,000 U.S. auto jobs and cause vehicle prices to rise, a recent study by the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research found. Tariff plans Although there was no specific mention of it in Friday’s release, Trump has repeatedly vowed to slap a 35 percent tariff on all Mexico-built vehicles sold in the U.S. The CAR study said that would result in a loss of at least 6,700 North American assembly jobs and 450,000 units of U.S. auto sales. Because Mexican-made vehicles are made of about 40 percent American parts on average, and American-made vehicles are made of about 12 percent Mexican parts, about 20,000 U.S. parts manufacturing jobs and 11,000 U.S. assembly jobs could be lost as a result, CAR said. Mexican officials have vigorously defended NAFTA as crucial to U.S. economic competitiveness. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, on his official Twitter account, on Friday congratulated President Trump and vowed to strengthen relations between the two governments. "We will establish a respectful dialogue with the government of President @realDonaldTrump for the benefit of Mexico," he wrote just after Trump's swearing in. "Sovereignty, the national interest and protection of Mexicans will guide the relationship with the new government of the United States," Pena said. Auto industry leaders have said in the run-up to Inauguration Day that they hope government negotiators will convince Trump of the value of NAFTA for all three nations, and particularly of Mexico's role in making automakers more competitive. But union leaders in both the U.S. and Canada have attacked NAFTA since the beginning. U.S. automakers have repeatedly stressed their support of free-trade deals, although some, such as Ford Motor Co., have warned that such deals must have protections to guard against currency manipulation. Crack down The new administration on Friday also vowed to crack down on nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers. “To carry out his strategy, the President is appointing the toughest and smartest to his trade team, ensuring that Americans have the best negotiators possible,” the White House’s release said. “For too long, trade deals have been negotiated by, and for, members of the Washington establishment. President Trump will ensure that on his watch, trade policies will be implemented by and for the people, and will put America first. “By fighting for fair but tough trade deals, we can bring jobs back to America’s shores, increase wages, and support U.S. manufacturing.”

That is correct. Even in an emergency, you can pack wheel bearings with it in the outback to get you on the way back home.

I can't begin the day without some Vegemite or Marmite on toast. If you feel Vegemite is too salty for your taste, try UK (Unilever) or New Zealand (Sanatarium) Marmite. BC Mack started a Marmite plant in Canada after he came over. He's rolling in money. He has a Gurkhas workforce that he brought over from Nepal (They has served together in the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles). Anyway, do you honestly think his bus mechanic job is what pays for all his Macks? Ask him for a BMT member discount on case quantities.

Good video. It speaks volumes. I myself like Bernie Sanders. He appears to have very good intentions. Based on what I've learned about Price, I don't trust him further than I can throw a stick. In life, I avoid interacting with people of his demeanor.

Well said Paul. Call a spade a spade.

Jim, the government didn't make Volvo sell Autocar. It only made them divest the Xpeditor. And Volvo then agreed to license the Autocar name too as part of the deal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volvo agrees to sell Xpeditor Fleet Owner / July 26, 2001 To comply with a deal it entered into with the U.S. Dept. of Justice when it acquired Renault VI and Mack Trucks Inc. in December 2000, Volvo Trucks North America Inc. said today it will sell its Xpeditor truck product line to Grand Vehicle Works Holdings LLC. The agreement involves the assembly and sale of low cab-over-engine (LCOE) heavy-duty Class 8 trucks and unique aftermarket parts. As part of the deal, Volvo will license the Autocar truck brand name to Autocar LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of Grand Vehicle Works Holdings, which will use it to market the LCOE products. The trucks included in the deal are the Xpeditor models WX and WXLL. In addition to the license for the Autocar brand name, the terms of the agreement include model-specific designs, tooling and other assets, including component tooling located at supplier facilities. Upon completion of the sales transaction, there will be an up to 24-month transition period during which Volvo will continue to assemble LCOEs for Grand Vehicle Works Holdings on a contract basis. The Class 8 LCOE segment represents less than 3% of the total heavy truck market in North America, and 8% of Volvo Trucks North America's sales. This divestiture will not materially impact the volume or production capabilities of Volvo's New River Valley, VA truck assembly facility. According to the OEM, no layoffs will result directly from the closing of the transaction. Autocar LLC - http://www.autocartruck.com/

Martin is a good guy. I had no idea that Volvo was so financially distressed, and I now think they didn't tell him the full severity of their situation when he was invited aboard. That said, like the Volvo crowd, he doesn't quite understand America. Not for a lack of trying, but it's a cultural clash. And it must be realized, the ship had sailed before he joined Volvo. The trucks were already Volvo underneath in almost every way. It's easier for him to keep going forward then to back up. If you trust me at all, believe me when I tell you that Scania is the best heavy truck in the world, and Martin was an important contributor during his many years there. Volvo is spread too thin, and they have the construction unit in addition to trucks. It's a lot for one man to attempt to manage hands-on. And then you have Volvo's bureaucracy. The board hopes he can change it, but I'm not seeing it thus far. Remember, the board is controlled by Swedish investors, some of the shrewdest in the world. And he has to please them. The Mack brand means nothing to them. They only appreciate large black numbers. I'm remain appalled that our government fell all over themselves help the Big 3, but allowed the DoJ to hand our iconic Mack over to a foreign aggressor. And now, well over half of the trucks on America's highways are from foreign truckmakers. What a loss of face.

In the case of murder, if guilt is in doubt, I am a believer in due process. That said, if guilt is inarguable, as in this case for example with witnesses and cameras, the attacker(s) should be terminated immediately, if not within 24 hours. THAT will send out a loud and clear message to the likes of him.

In the US, the many religions, from Lutherans and Baptists to Presbyterians and Episcopalians, to those of the Amish and Mormon faiths all live under one country's roof without any getting unreasonably special treatment. They all eat the same food, aside from the Jewish faith who sometimes go for kosher, a niche market. However, we have other issues. The entitled and minorities want government assistance in job placement, so now Joe and Sue Normal are discriminated against in job applications because they aren't minorities (Obviously, the most "qualified" individual should get the job, be his/her skin color white, purple or other). And every company's answering system wants to know if you want to speak in Spanish or English, which I have long found odd given that English is the defacto official language of the United States (If you want to speak Spanish, why did you come to the U.S.?) Paul, you all need to take your country back.

Radical Islamist? kills 5 in Melbourne ABC News / January 20, 2017 A young child is among five people who were killed when a car was deliberately driven into pedestrians in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall. Police shot the 26-year-old driver, James "Jimmy" Gargasoulas, who had stabbed his brother in the arm early Friday morning. He is under police guard in hospital. At least 24 people were injured with five understood to be in a critical condition. The injured were taken to The Alfred, St Vincent's, Royal Melbourne and Royal Children's hospitals. A 10-year-old girl, a 25-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman died at the scene, while a 33-year-old man died in hospital on Friday night. A three-month-old died after being rushed to the hospital in a police car, and a two-year-old is in intensive care. Commissioner Ashton said at 1:45pm the vehicle entered the city driving erratically and did "burnouts" on the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets. "The vehicle proceeded up Swanston Street, then turned left into Bourke Street and entered the mall," he said. "We suspect that [the driver was] intentionally hitting pedestrians. Travelling at speed right through the mall. "It has then continued along Bourke Street, continuing over the intersection of Elizabeth Street and it has made its way up to approximately 501, or thereabouts outside the RACV Club in Bourke Street. "At that time, police intercepted the vehicle, as I understand it, they rammed the vehicle." Police said they believed the man was involved in a stabbing at 2:15am in Windsor, where he attacked his brother. Commissioner Ashton said the suspect was known to police and was also charged over an incident last weekend. "There is an extensive family violence history involved. He has come to our attention on many occasions in the past. We have mental health and drug-related issues in the background of this particular person," he said. "He has been coming to our attention more recently over recent days in relation to assaults, family violence-related assaults." He said they attempted to intercept the vehicle this morning but he was driving so erratically they called off the pursuit and called in the air wing. Commissioner Ashton said there was a woman in the car with the man as he travelled over the Bolte Bridge towards the city from Yarraville. She got out of the car on the bridge. He said investigators were trying to determine why she was in the car, or if she was being held hostage. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James "Jimmy" Gargasoulas, 26, the man who mowed down two dozen people in Melbourne's CBD on Friday, killing three and injuring 20 others, has a history of drug use, violence and psychological problems. Gargasoulas stayed with his mother in a public housing flat in Windsor, where he allegedly stabbed his brother, Angelo, in the early hours of Friday morning. Neighbours regularly heard arguing inside the Raleigh Street unit. The car Gargasoulas used to run down pedestrians belonged to 76-year-old Gavin Wilson, who lives at the housing commission flats. Wilson said Gargasoulas was a "nice kid", but on Wednesday night he became violent. He said he came into his flat with a Bible, sat down and started burning it before throwing the burning book into his face. "I flicked it onto the floor then he stood up and punched me," Wilson said. Gargasoulas then attacked him. "Give me your keys or I'll gouge your eyes out," Gargasoulas demanded. Gargasoulas' erratic behaviour dramatically escalated on Friday morning. In the early hours, Jess Bergin said she heard screaming outside her flat on the other side of road and looked out the window. "He had a knife and he was hacking at either a guy or a girl, I don't know," she said. They got into a waiting a car, except for the knife-wielding man, who began hacking at the car, she said. Gargasoulas, who also goes by the name Dimitrios, is currently on bail after being charged with family violence offences last weekend. He is known to police for drug related issues, family violence assaults and has "an extensive family violence history". Police began pursuing Gargasoulas on Friday in a maroon-coloured sedan after he took a woman hostage, who later escaped on the Bolte Bridge. Police called off the pursuit over concerns of public safety, just outside the CBD. The car was next seen doing "burnouts" and driving erratically at the intersection in front of Flinders Street Station. Gargasoulas was filmed hanging out the driver's window and abusing passerby. He then sped north towards Bourke Street, where he ploughed through the crowded shopping strip, killing three people and injuring 20. Police shot Gargasoulas in the arm further west on Bourke Street, dragging him from the sedan and making an arrest. He is being treated in hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A relative said Gargasoulas has had a drug problem and has been in and out of jail for car theft and drug offences. "Jimmy has always been a bad person," she said. "I knew it was him. I saw it on TV ... the picture of him sticking his head out when he was doing burnouts. "I saw a picture and I thought 'Oh My God, that's Jimmy.' I'm shaking. I knew it, as soon as I saw that picture I had this feeling. I can't believe this. "I bawled out crying when they announced that baby died. I'm shaking." .

Paul.......Halal certification......you've got to be kidding me. (Halal food is prepared according to Islamic law, and is free from pork products, alcohol and certain other ingredients) How many Muslims are in Australia? How many of them eat Vegemite? Three? In any regard, if Muslims want to immigrate to Australia, they should be willing to subjugate to the Australian way of life. And that includes consuming standard issue Vegemite. Otherwise, they should stay in a Sharia (Islamic) Law country if eating Halal foods is important to them.

UD Trucks Press Release / January 19, 2017 .

Volvo is aggressively promoting its I-Shift (mDrive) in North America. They always, ultimately, wanted the Mack brand truck to be composed of Volvo global platform components. The Maxitorque transmissions were never part of their plan.

New Kenworth T610 could reshuffle truck market Prime Mover Magazine / January 20, 2017 Kenworth’s new T610 model could be able to compete across a broader area of applications than any other truck currently on the Australian market. According to Peter Shields, Senior Technical Writer at Prime Mover, the new T610 brings with it an “extensive range of versatility” that could see it succeed not only in the 26- and 19m B-double market, but also in the infrastructure boom-led tipper-and-dog segment, and possibly even in Performance-Based Standards (PBS) applications. “Kenworth’s new heavy-duty model is arguably the brand’s most ambitious project to date,” he said. “Walking the line between traditional design and high technology, it’s short enough to fit into Australia’s 26m B-double envelope and thus able to go head-to-head with the increasingly bullish European cab-over faction – all while retaining that distinct North American spirit Australian trucking is so fond of.”

Transport Engineer / January 19, 2017 Wincanton has ordered 100 Mercedes-Benz Actros tractors as part of its expansion plans – and the logistics firm says this could be followed up with “future orders of a similar nature”. The new vehicles will enter service next month and, says Wincanton’s group fleet director Carl Hanson, the Actros tractors are “ahead of the game when it comes to safety”. Safety features include Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA4), which has the ability to recognise when a pedestrian steps out into the vehicle’s path from behind a parked car and automatically applies the brakes. They also feature Proximity Control Assist: when used in conjunction with cruise control, PCA ensures the truck maintains a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front, reducing the risk of rear-end shunts and promoting efficient driving in heavy traffic. Hanson says: “Maintaining the highest levels of safety is a top priority for us and for our customers... These newer vehicles not only include advanced safety features but, as sustainability remains a key consideration for us, they will also help us reduce carbon emissions from our fleet.” .

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / January 19, 2017 .

Volkswagen Truck & Bus Press Release / January 19, 2017 Increase of 3 percent over the previous year 21 percent increase in sales of trucks in Central and Eastern Europe Renschler: “We are very satisfied with the increase in unit sales.” Volkswagen Truck & Bus sold around 184,000 trucks and buses under its MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Truck & Bus Brazil (Caminhões e Ônibus) subsidiaries in fiscal year 2016. This marks a 3 percent increase over the previous year. Of this, MAN Truck & Bus accounted for 83,200 vehicles, 5 percent up on the previous year. Scania unit sales rose by 6 percent over the previous year to 81,350 trucks and buses. On the other hand, unit sales at Volkswagen Truck & Bus Brazil contracted by roughly 17 percent to 20,370 vehicles, reflecting the protracted difficult economic situation in South America, particularly Brazil. Andreas Renschler, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Truck & Bus and the member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for commercial vehicles says: “The crisis in Brazil, Brexit in Europe and the difficult conditions in the Middle East made 2016 a turbulent year. Against this backdrop, we are very satisfied with the increase in units sales achieved. We owe this performance to our outstanding products and a motivated and customer-oriented team. In this way, we were able to more than offset the muted sales in some markets through sales successes elsewhere.” Business in medium-heavy and heavy trucks rose by 2 percent over the previous year. MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Truck & Bus Brazil sold roughly 165,810 trucks. At the same time, the individual regions painted a mixed picture: driven by the sustained economic recovery in Western Europe, the Volkswagen Truck & Bus brands achieved a 9 percent increase in truck sales over the previous year in this region. Gains were recorded in Italy, France and the Netherlands in particular. Truck sales in Central and Eastern Europe rose by a significant 21 percent. By contrast, sales in Brazil were down, contracting by 24 percent over the previous year to 16,270 units. This was due to the protracted macroeconomic difficulties and the difficult financing conditions. Unit sales of buses were also up in 2016. At a total of 17,780 units, the Volkswagen Truck & Bus brands recorded a roughly 4 percent increase compared with the previous year. MAN in the 4th quarter — platooning on the German A9 motorway and electromobility partnership Logistics group DB Schenker and MAN Truck & Bus have forged a development partnership for the deployment of high-tech trucks on the German A9 motorway, signing an agreement to this effect. For the first time, a logistic group and an automotive manufacturer will be joining forces in the development of networked truck platooning and testing these on the road. Looking forward, MAN Truck & Bus will also be working closely with Munich metropolitan utility Stadtwerke München (SWM) and urban transit company Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) to conduct research into sustainable transportation models. In preparation of the next step towards electromobility, MAN Truck & Bus has entered into an innovation partnership with SWM and MVG. Scania in the 4th quarter — successful new-generation truck series, inductively charged hybrid bus undergoing testing in Södertälje The success of Scania’s new-generation truck series is reflected in numerous favorable comparison tests in the trade press. Nearly all aspects were praised — drivetrain, performance, comfort, brakes, visibility and steering. Among other things, the new Scania ranked highest in German trade magazine Lastauto Omnibus’ renowned 1,000-point test. Since the end of 2016, Scania has been testing a newly developed electric bus with inductive charging in regular city traffic in the Swedish town of Södertälje. This is the first test of this type under Scandinavian climatic conditions. Both the bus and the bus stops form part of a research project in which several organizations are involved. The aim is to develop a quiet and sustainable public transportation system. This is one of several projects being overseen by Scania to develop solutions for future mobility in urban transportation. Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus in the 4th quarter — capital expenditures in the midst of a crisis In December 2016, Volkswagen Truck & Bus Brazil adopted the largest capital expenditure package in its history. Volkswagen’s Brazilian commercial vehicle brand will be spending a total of some €420 million over the next five years to update its range on an ongoing basis, to modernize its production plant in Resende and to develop connectivity services. In this way, the company will be well positioned once demand for trucks and buses picks up again in Latin America.

Land Line (OOIDA) / January 19, 2017 Navistar has recently issued a recall for certain International trucks regarding an issue with batteries, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents. An electrical short caused by the defect can potentially lead to a fire. More specifically, certain 2017 International ProStar, LoneStar, 9900i and TransStar trucks are affected. A metallic battery cover latch may unlatch and contact the battery jump start stud, causing an electrical short to ground if the jump start stud is not covered, according to the NHTSA recall. Owners will be notified and instructed to have a dealer install a latch stop to prevent the latch from rotating to the unlatched position at no charge to the customer. Navistar expects the recall to begin on Feb. 17. For more information, call Navistar’s customer service at 800-448-7825 with recall number 16513. NHTSA’s official recall number is 16V-938.

Vegemite goes back to Australian ownership The Financial Times / January 18, 2017 Vegemite, the potently flavoured breakfast spread, is to return to Australian ownership after spending most of its near-century of existence in foreign hands, just as sales growth is starting to flag. Mondelez International [the snack and food brands of the former Kraft Foods Inc] is selling the yeast extract spread to Bega Cheese as part of a A$460m (US$345m) deal. The deal, which enables Deerfield, Illinois-based Mondelez to focus its portfolio on its more global brands such as Oreos and Cadbury’s, comes as sales of Vegemite stagnated last year at A$108m, and declined from A$109.6m in 2014, with the vast majority of those sales made in Australia. Barry Irvin, Bega chief executive, blamed lacklustre Vegemite sales on changes in “breakfast habits”. Irvin says Bega’s strategy to reignite sales was to encourage consumers to eat Vegemite at other times of the day and that other brands included in the sale presented stronger growth opportunities. “Aussies still love their Vegemite,” said Mark Topy, an analyst at Select Equities. “I don’t think Mondelez really knew what to do with the brand and I think an Australian company might have a better idea on how to grow sales. With a bit of brand management, you could see modest growth in Vegemite sales.” Investors applauded the deal, sending Bega’s shares up 11 per cent to A$4.99 in Sydney, with analysts saying it gave the company a level of diversification from dairy during a volatile time in the industry. The sale, announced on Wednesday, brings Vegemite’s ownership full circle back to its Australian roots where it was developed under the Fred Walker Company in 1923, when the eponymous businessman hired chemist Cyril Callister to develop a product to rival Marmite, the British spread that had become popular in Australia. The late Walker formed a partnership with US company Kraft in 1925, which then acquired the Fred Walker Company including ownership of Vegemite. The spread continued to be made in Australia. When Kraft split its international business into a separate company — Mondelez — in 2012, Vegemite became part of that company. As part of the deal, the Port Melbourne-based factory and its 200-strong staff will be transferred to Bega. Bega’s acquisition represents a shift in strategy for a company that has until now been mainly focused on the dairy sector. Since the former dairy co-operative listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011, it has expanded rapidly. In 2015 it set up a joint venture with Blackmores, the Australian nutritional company, to export infant formula to Asia and develop “lifestyle nutritional” products.

This is hardly the biggest issue on the dinner plate. But that said, I thought we were going to eradicate swamp-like antics. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire New York Jets' owner Woody Johnson, one of his campaign’s top fundraisers, to serve as the US ambassador to the UK. Johnson was vice chairman of the Trump Victory Committee, helping to raise millions of dollars for Trump's campaign. As many here know, big political donors, fundraisers and "friends" of successful presidential candidates have frequently been given US ambassador posts around the world, rather than people who are actually “qualified” to be ambassador in particular countries. A football team owner is not remotely qualified to be an ambassador. Johnson has never even lived in the UK. He is a spoiled rich kid always with money to burn, the great-grandson of the co-founder of Johnson & Johnson. Trump couldn't have chosen a more unqualified individual.

Ross tells Canada that U.S. will open NAFTA negotiations Automotive News / January 18, 2017 Canadian officials say billionaire Wilbur Ross, the nominee for U.S. commerce secretary, has indicated to them that a formal-notification letter to open negotiations on NAFTA will be sent to Canada and Mexico within days of Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. The U.S. wants to discuss country-of-origin rules, which govern how much content from outside NAFTA a product can contain and still qualify to be shipped duty-free. Country-of-origin rules affect automakers in North America. Under NAFTA, the country-of-origin threshold for preferential treatment for assembled vehicles is 62.5 percent. The Trump administration is expected to take a harder line on exactly what can cross the border duty-free. The U.S. also wants to discuss independent dispute tribunals, which the U.S. views as unaccountable and says give too much power to Canada and Mexico. Ross is on record as having called NAFTA the “poster child for unbalanced trade and investment.” However, Ross said in October 2016 that “in the case of the trade between the U.S. and Canada, it is relatively much better-balanced than is the trade between the U.S. and Mexico” so “Canada doesn’t have a lot to fear” with Trump as president. Already contacted Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has already contacted Ross about NAFTA. When she was Minister of International Trade, Freeland helped seal the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in late 2016. She was recently named Minister of Foreign Affairs during a cabinet shuffle, but remains active on the NAFTA file. “The Minister looks forward to working very closely with the new U.S. administration, and with the United States Congress on issues of mutual interest, including trade and investment in various sectors,” said Freeland’s press secretary Chantal Gagnon on Tuesday. “We are clearly a pro-trade government and our deep people-to-people ties and strong integrated economies provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership with our southern neighbour.” Gagnon said Canada has also discussed Trump’s proposed “border tax” with his transition team. “We have a constructive working relationship with the Trump transition team, and discussions are ongoing. This particular proposal is something that has been floated for quite some time, and is opposed by at least as many American lawmakers as support it,” Gagnon said, “but at this stage, we are going to continue to work with the incoming administration on the interconnectedness and to the mutual benefits of our two economies.”

Big Rigs / January 18, 2017 Early in 2016, Daimler Truck & Bus Australia/ Pacific lifted the skirts for a little for a peek at new models and new direction under new management. At the time Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus general manager Michael May talked about improved Australianisation of Benz product and told me "we know we can do better”. Since then Benz's curtains of secrecy were ripped apart to expose the full line-up of Actros models in late October 2016. So just how have those plans for Daimler Truck eventuated? In the middle of the silly season, Big Rigs had the opportunity to interrupt play at the Australia versus Pakistan test at the MCG and ask the director of Daimler Truck & Bus, Daniel Whitehead, exactly that question. He told Big Rigs that the company certainly had set high expectations. "I can cautiously say those expectations have been far exceeded and as more customers get (Actros) vehicles on the road I think we are looking forward to having our truck in the market as mainstream product,” he said. Earlier in the year, Mercedes-Benz product boss, Mike May, told me that there was now a corporate realisation that the Aussie market is different to Europe, saying Mercedes- Benz product must adapt to Australian conditions. He said with the development of the new Actros line-up it was necessary to change the corporate mindset. "Rather than being an engineering company driving our products down into the market, it is now about making the application and the customer as starting points,” May said. He said his people need to spend more time in the customers' shoes, trying to understand the needs of an operator running up and down the West Coast, or wherever. Beside Mercedes-Benz, Whitehead's purview covers, among other product lines, Freightliner and Fuso products and even with the receding viability of the resources sector and the impact that has had on US sourced trucks, he is upbeat about Freightliner's performance. "Freightliner was the only American truck that grew market share in 2016. With the dollar and everything it has been a tough market but you can only compete against your competitors and as I said Freightliner was the only brand that grew market share in 2016 and we are very pleased with that.” And with the Japanese wing of the global truck builder, Whitehead said he was pleased with the 2016 performance. "Fuso had 10% growth, over 4000 units for the first time in a long time. Our Fuso dealers are very enthusiastic and a lot of them showed good growth this year and we've got new product coming later in 2017,” he said. But it is the Actros that has the Daimler Benz marketers excited. "I don't want to over promise and under deliver but so far everything we have seen and what we have done has over exceeded our expectations.” He reckons customers are "over the moon” with the truck's performance. "Our customers are seeing some amazing fuel figures. We can always tell you that but when our customers are telling us how good the truck is and how it has exceeded what we told them, that's what we want to hear,” he said. While Whitehead agreed there was a lot of hard work to be done to get the Mercedes-Benz product into the market as a mainstream competitor, he said: "We will get Mercedes-Benz to where it should be.”