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In a perfect world, the body would be longer, up to the back of the cab adding two more beverage bays. But they were juggling to meet Brazil's strict truck weight regulations.

VW Truck & Bus always brings a restored truck to the IAA show so that people can reflect on the company's heritage. This year, they brought an LT45. The LT cab has served the company well. .

Now, assuming that you believe it's all real and not merely a show arranged by the modern day aristocracy to make the masses believe they're participating in their government..............you now are forced to question a system which can put before you two nominees who couldn't be more unqualified for the office of president. As of today, Pence, Giuliani and the Republican party have slammed their man to the ground for redefining the word "disgusting", and Clinton's years of shady two-faced deeds have come back to haunt her with a vengeance. Who would any ordinarily prudent and rational person vote for now? Answer: "None of the above". Both nominees have now suffered irreparable damage. But does the system have a provision for this circumstance? What happens when we come around the last bend and realize "both" nominees are unqualified to hold office. Surely, we don't foolishly go forward and elect one of the two anyway. Meanwhile, people around the globe are laughing at us over the Trump and Hillary show. Our country's image is sinking to new lows. Government elections are not suppose to take on the face of a weekly reality show. News Flash: A truly great nation requires a truly great leader. If I'm wrong, and what you see is "actually" what we're working with...............well, we're going to be in serious trouble "within" our lifetime.

Tim, the LT cabin was first introduced in 1975. And what a marvelous job VW has done keeping it up-to-date. As you can see, the interior is very nice. The Constellation was introduced in 2005 to replace the "Worker", but being so popular, many models remain in production. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41151-volkswagen-worker-series-the-“experienced”-money-maker/#comment-298378 https://www.man-la.com/produtos-volkswagen/modelos/worker-9 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35895-from-lt-to-worker-volkswagen’s-versatile-long-lasting-“lt”-cab/?/topic/35895-from-lt-to-worker-volkswagens-versatile-long-lasting-lt-cab/?hl=volkswagen

Oval and out: Ford ends 91 years of manufacturing in Australia as last Falcon rolls off the line News Australia / October 8, 2016 THE Ford Falcon got an emotional send-off as Broadmeadows ended 91 years of manufacturing in Australia for the US car giant yesterday. From 1925 til then Ford Australia built more than 5.9 million vehicles — more than 4.3 million of them at Broadmeadows, including most of the 3.8 million Falcons manufactured since 1960. In a telling sign about Australia’s changing taste in cars, the overwhelming majority of Ford workers leaving the factory were driving imported vehicles. One of the few locally-made cars to emerge at the end of shift was an old Toyota Camry. Some workers leaving the factory were too upset for words, others were happy to be retiring with payouts of up to $250,000, which they likened to a “lottery win”. After 40 years of service, 62-year-old Wayne Mann said: “I’m feeling really good, I’ve got a quarter of a million dollars to say goodbye,” said Mr Mann. “What other company gives you quarter of a million dollars to leave? I’m retiring, thank you very much. Not sad at all.” A tough-looking but teary-eyed Nick Doria — who spread a Ford flag across his chest with the words “RIP Falcon” — walked outside the factory perimeter to brave the media scrum that was obliged to watch from the footpath, 100 metres away from the factory gates. He installed the dashboard on the last Falcon. The 22-year Ford veteran says his co-workers were “like family”, his eyes glassing up as he said, “long live Ford”. “There’s a lot that are going to struggle (for jobs). They can’t read or write or apply themselves on computers, and that’s where they’re going to struggle,” he said. An outreach centre opens next to the Ford factory on Monday, but the company has been hosting job fairs, career courses and literacy classes for the past three years. Michael Jong, originally from East Timor, said he was “proud” to work for Ford. Having worked for Ford for 12 years he has a six-month contract to help with decommissioning the factory in Geelong. But after that: “I don’t know. I’m worried.” Son, 45, from Vietnam, has been working for Ford for 13 years. He has a wife and four children — and no job to go to. “I tried to find, but it’s very hard.” Sash Razmovski, said the Broadmeadows factories brought a lot of cultures together. “At one stage we had 150 cultures in there. It was great place to work. Great mates. Sadly we have to move on.” A man who gave his name as Jackie, a Ford worker for 18 years, said: “I’m sad for (the) whole Australian industry. We lost the car industry.” On the same day Ford bid farewell to the Falcon, Holden built its last four-cylinder car, the Cruze hatchback, and 320 workers were sacked. The Elizabeth production line on the outskirts of Adelaide will continue to build the Commodore for another 12 months until it too falls silent forever, and the remaining 800 workers will call it a day. Industry estimates claim at least one-third of all workers won’t find new jobs. “It’s a shame for Australia because we lose so much when we no longer have vehicle manufacturing. Hopefully our workers will be given a chance in other industries,” said Dave Smith, the AMWU National Vehicle Division Secretary. “A very significant amount of people are no longer going to be bringing wages into the community and have the dignity of employment,” he said. “On Monday I think they will wake up and the reality of this closure will hit home.” Ford boss Graeme Whickman said building the Falcon for the past five decades gave the company the ability to export engineering skills. It will keep 1100 designers and engineers — including 160 former factory workers — to work on future models. But they’ll be built overseas. When asked by News Corp Australia if there was anything the government could have done to save the car industry, and if Australia will ever manufacture cars again, Mr Whickman said: “It’s an industry decision”, before deferring to comments about Ford’s design and engineering workforce in Australia. In reality, though, Ford has been trying to close Broadmeadows for 20 years. Following heavy financial losses by Ford Australia in the early 1990s, Ford of Detroit secretly planned to end Falcon production and close the Broadmeadows and Geelong factories in 1997, at the end of the “EL” Falcon model run. But senior Ford Australia executives took their case to Detroit to give the Falcon a stay of execution and do one last model. The then Ford Australia boss, American John Ogden, went in to bat for the locals — against the consensus in Detroit — and argued to keep Broadmeadows and Geelong factories alive for one more generation of Falcon. At the time, he said: “I came here wanting to do a (global) car. I think it makes more sense, I still do. The problem we’ve had is we haven’t found one from somewhere else (in the Ford world) that fits.” In the end, if Ford Australia wanted to build another Falcon, they would have to fund it themselves. There would be no assistance from Detroit. When John Ogden eventually returned to Detroit from his Australian post he was “sidelined and retired not long after”, according to Ford historians. Ford retiree, Ian Vaughan, who worked at the company for 37 years and was regarded as “the father of the Falcon” having overseen so many models, told News Corp Australia: “My proudest memory is keeping the place open for the last 20 years.” Mr Vaughan said he told the then Ford boss John Ogden: “We Aussies think there’s another cycle of Falcon left in us’. The push back we were getting from Detroit was ‘we think you’ve got to do a global car’. We got another 20 years in the end.” Video and images - http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/oval-and-out-ford-ends-91-years-of-manufacturing-in-australia-as-last-falcon-rolls-off-the-line/news-story/6a4b376489939436be262fffb7c1ee85

After 91 Years, Ford's Australian Car Production Line Ends The Associated Press / October 7, 2016 Ford Motor Co. ended 91 years of car manufacturing in Australia on Friday, with the last two Australian car makers due to close their doors next year. Ford Australia said it built the world's last six-cylinder, rear-wheel drive Falcon XR6 at its Broadmeadows plant in Melbourne and 600 employees lost their jobs, the company said. About 3.5 million Falcons, once Australians' most popular, have been built since 1960, although few have been exported. Perhaps the most famous was a black 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe that became the Interceptor driven by Mel Gibson's character in the 1981 movie "The Road Warrior." The last Falcon will be exhibited in the Ford Australia museum, the Australian subsidiary's chief executive officer Graeme Whickman told reporters outside the plant. "Today is an emotional day for the entire team of Ford Australia,"Whickman said. "We are saying goodbye to some wonderful manufacturing colleagues who have done a great deal for Ford in Australia," he said. Ford, General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. announced in 2013 that they were quitting Australia and shedding 6,600 jobs because of high production costs, distance from potential export markets and increasing competition. Ford will continue to sell and service imported cars in Australia and Australia-based engineers will help develop designs of vehicles that will be manufactured overseas, the company said. Because of that continuing presence, Whickman said Ford will become the largest employer in the Australian automotive industry when Toyota and General Motors subsidiary, GM Holden, end production in 2017. The V8 Holden Commodore is sold in the United States as the Chevrolet SS. Ford will employ 2,000 staff at Broadmeadows and the Victoria state towns of Lara and Geelong. Ford opened its first Australian production line at Geelong in 1925.

VW Truck & Bus / October 7, 2016 Volkswagen has launched an innovative new business solution to meet the unique needs of the beverage industry. The new member of Volkswagen’s legendary “Worker” series, designated 17.230, is a 6x2 rigid (straight truck) with a twin-steer configuration. The new truck, based on the 17-tonne 4x2 model, is fitted with a second steer axle. Developed in partnership with Volkswagen’s BMB modifications center and body builder Randon, the new model is the lightest in its class. Extensive use of aluminum results in an extremely lightweight body for greater payload. The 6x2 configuration allows for two additional street level high-capacity beverage bays for greater productivity. .

Ford Australia Press Release / October 6, 2016 .

CAT Trucks Australia / Navistar Auspac Press Release / October 5, 2016 .

Trade Trucks AU / October 7, 2016 Volvo Group Australia (VGA) has recalled 295 trucks across the Titan, Granite, Super-Liner and Trident ranges over driveshaft issues. According to an Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) notice, under some circumstances the fitted driveshaft "could fail and separate at the center bearing, disabling the vehicle." "In the event of a driveshaft failure, there is potential for parts to fall onto the road, which may cause an accident hazard to other road users," the notice says. The affected vehicles were sold nationally between January 27, 2012 and September 29, 2015. In a media statement, VGA says the move is a "precautionary measure… due a potential incorrectly specified driveshaft." "After receiving reports from the field, an investigation was launched through Mack Trucks Australia’s internal safety and quality processes and identified that in specific circumstances, a particular driveshaft may prematurely fail at the center bearing, disabling the vehicle." "This recall does not apply to all Mack Granite, Trident, Super-Liner and Titan trucks manufactured during this time, only the limited number fitted with the driveshaft in question. VGA says has already begun to write to all affected customers, asking the owners to contact their closest authorized repairing dealership to organize an inspection and repairs. "Mack Trucks Australia has already started contacting all impacted customers in writing, in accordance with its commitment to customer service and its legal obligations," it says. "Work to rectify the impacted vehicles has already commenced, and replacement parts have been dispatched to dealerships."

U.S. heavy truck orders post worst September in seven years: FTR Reuters / October 4, 2016 U.S. heavy-duty truck orders fell 27 percent last month versus the same period a year ago, marking the worst September since 2009 amid ongoing uncertainty over the economy among truck firms, according to preliminary data from industry forecaster FTR. "Fleets are cautious due to an uncertain economy and slow freight growth," Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR, said in a statement. "Class 8 (truck) inventories also remain high and this also restrains new orders." FTR said orders for large trucks hit 13,800 units in September, a number not reached for that month since the height of the Great Recession. Class 8 trucks are the workhorse of America's economy, hauling around 70 percent of the country's freight. Sales have been weak this year amid lackluster retail sales and industrial output. Industry officials and analysts predict sales will start to rebound in 2017 as long as the U.S. economy grows at a more stable rate. "Large fleets are expected to begin ordering replacement units for 2017," Ake said. "If the economy does improve and the trucking outlook brightens, then medium-sized fleets and others should feel confident enough to order also in coming months."

Things are getting ugly in the US trucking industry Business Insider / October 6, 2016 Orders for Class 8 trucks – the rigs crisscrossing the US highway system that keep the nation supplied – plunged 27% in September to 13,791, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. It was the worst September since 2009. The year 2014 had been great. Nearly 300,000 Class 8 trucks were built. 2015 started out even stronger, and the industry anticipated – in what has become a series of false hopes inspired by QE-nurtured optimism about capital expenditures – that 327,000 heavy trucks would be ordered, which would have been a record. But then the trucking industry began to sputter as the goods producing economy was swooning, and soon trucking companies, beset by overcapacity, began to curtail their purchases from heavy-truck dealers, and dealers with inventories piling up, began to cut orders to manufacturers. As 2015 wore on, orders continued to fall. Despite the strong beginning, orders ended the year down 5.3% from 2014, to 284,000 trucks. This year has turned out to be outright ugly. So far, manufacturers have received only 130,305 orders, according to FTR, a 39% collapse from the same period in 2015. This chart shows orders for Class 8 trucks in 2015 and 2016 through September: “Fleets are cautious due to an uncertain economy and slow freight growth,”explained Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “Class 8 inventories also remain high and this also restrains new orders.” But as in 2014 and in 2015, hopes rule the day. “Large fleets are expected to begin ordering replacement units for 2017,” Ake said. “If the economy does improve and the trucking outlook brightens, then medium-sized fleets and others should feel confident enough to order also in coming months.” Struggling with plunging orders and under pressure to cut costs, truck manufacturers have been laying off people all year. Volvo Trucks North America has gone through two rounds of layoffs this year, 500 folks in February and another 300 in July. “[W]e operate in a cyclical market, and we have to adapt to market demand,” Volvo/Mack spokesman John Mies wrote in an email in July to The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, not far from Pulaski County, where the Volvo plant is located. Layoffs always hit surrounding communities the hardest. Freightliner, a unit of Daimler Trucks North America, announced nearly 1,000 layoffs in January and another 1,250 layoffs in February, blaming “a sustained reduction in orders.” Then in June, it added another round of layoffs, this time 800 workers. Navistar cut 10% of its workforce, or 1,400 people, in late 2015. Paccar, which produces Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, also announced layoffs at some of its plants, along with suppliers of truck manufacturers, including diesel engine maker Cummins. Heavy trucks play a crucial role in the US economy. In 2015, they transported 64.3% by value of total freight, with the other modes being rail, pipeline, air, and vessel. The trucking business, even more so than railroads, is an important thermometer for the goods producing economy. And that’s where part of the problem lies. “Overall shipment volumes (and pricing) are persistently weak, with increased levels of volatility as all levels of the supply chain (manufacturing, wholesale, retail) continue to try and work down inventory levels,” explained Donald Broughton, Chief Market Strategist at Avondale Partners.

Why it’s harder to keep on trucking — maybe even for Paccar The Seattle Times / October 7, 2016 A stunning fall in big-rig orders puts the spotlight on Bellevue's Paccar. But it has many ways to avoid today's slowdown. What about tomorrow? This week’s bombshell: Heavy truck orders slid 27 percent to 13,791 in September compared with a year earlier, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. It’s the worst showing since the recession-ending year of 2009. The worldwide trade slump is a big immediate problem, and in addition to affecting container lines such as Hanjin Shipping, which sought bankruptcy protection in August, it’s hitting railroads and trucking. With Paccar headquartered in Bellevue, attention must be paid. The trucking industry is also a victim of misplaced bets and overcapacity. In 2014, nearly 300,000 of the heavy rigs (or Class 8 trucks) were built. Despite initial optimism for even better performance in 2015, orders ended at 284,000 as the shipping slump took hold. Cheaper fuel has been offset by the deep slowdown in the Oil Patch and its effect on demand for freight hauling. According to financial blogger Wolf Richter, “This year has turned out to be outright ugly. So far, manufacturers have received only 130,305 orders … a 39 percent collapse from the same period in 2015.” As I write, the news has had little effect on Paccar shares, which are down only slightly around $59.74. And no wonder: Paccar is very well run — 77 years of consecutive net profits and dividends every year since 1941. It sells exceptional products (Kenworth and Peterbilt among them), especially prized by owner-operators, as well as having a global footprint. Last year, with 1.6 million units built worldwide, Paccar was the No. 4 large-truck manufacturer behind Daimler, Volvo and Volkswagen. According to Bloomberg, it had the second-largest market share in North America, behind Daimler. The harshest analysis I’ve come across on Paccar is an article on Seeking Alpha. It likens the company to a red giant star likely to burn out because of self-driving trucks. Maybe. But autonomous trucks will take years to incorporate into an atomized transportation system. Earlier this year, Steve Gordon, who recently retired as chief operating officer of Pacific-based Gordon Trucking, said the next step is likely manned automated trucking, with humans to mind the rig. In any event, the disruption will affect every truck-maker and Paccar is famously innovative. Is September’s number an early warning of recession? One retired executive told me, yes. It’s true that adding enough sectoral slowdowns can eventually bring down an elderly expansion (although historically the Federal Reserve is more likely to do so). But trucking has enough sector-specific headwinds that this may be a manageable slowdown. Also, September is always one of the slowest months for big-truck orders.

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / October 7, 2016 .

Well roared, lion! MAN Truck & Bus / October 4, 2016 The 66th IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 for MAN The 10,000 square metre exhibition space at the world’s largest commercial vehicles trade show, the 66th IAA in Hanover, was the stage for an impressive presentation from MAN. The topics chosen by the manufacturer consistently attracted the attention of the visitors. The world première of their new van, the MAN TGE, completed MAN’s product portfolio at the smaller end of their vehicle range, making MAN a full service provider for all transport requirements. The TG model series offers engines with new power levels, finely tuned transmissions and a number of new interior and exterior design features. The newly introduced NEOPLAN Tourliner completes MAN’s bus portfolio with a new entry model in the field of premium coaches. As the initiator of the new digital brand RIO, MAN is responsible for the development of the brand within Volkswagen Truck & Bus. RIO is an open platform that bundles digital solutions for the transport & logistics ecosystem, including also competitor’s vehicles. All information about the IAA can be found on the MAN microsite. World debut of the new MAN TGE van The new MAN TGE was exceptionally well-received by visitors during its world première in Hanover. In future, the vehicle will be offered in a number of body variants, with a choice of two wheelbases, three vehicle lengths and heights, as well as an engine output between 75 kW/102 HP and 130 kW/177 HP. The three exhibition vehicles, fitted with different body types for possible application in construction, distribution transport and as a mobile workshop, were taken under close scrutiny by the audience and often inspired constructive and practical discussions with the team members at the stand. Positive feedback came first and foremost from the ranks of long-standing customers who can now count on the same level of service for these 3.0 to 5.5 tonne vehicles as they are used to from MAN’s heavy trucks. MAN Service is renowned for their helpful approach to every customer – even walk-ins – and for their fast availability in case of emergencies, even at weekends or at night, as well as for their long opening hours. Their range of workshop services naturally includes flexible repair and maintenance contracts as well as full vehicle services – as shown at the trade show. During the course of the trade show, several hundred intentions to buy were already recorded for the MAN TGE. MAN heavy trucks with more power and a new design When it comes to design, MAN put forward numerous innovations for the TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX model ranges at the IAA. Optically, greater emphasis has been placed on the MAN lion as the emotional marker of the brand. Appearing in a bold new design against a high-gloss black background, the lion on the chrome clasp above the grille is now even more prominent. The interior also devotes more attention to the Büssing lion, while the newly developed bright colours and fabrics for all textile surfaces create a completely new sense of space The new D26 and D38 MAN engines will from now offer more torque and greater performance with lower consumption. The new version of the established D26 engine records an increase of 20 HP and 200 Nm respectively and offers a peak performance of 500 HP. The 640 HP top-of-the-range engine, which was up to now reserved exclusively for heavy-duty versions, is now available in almost all variants of the MAN TGX D38. The other power levels of the new D38 have each been raised by 20 HP to 540 HP and 580 HP. With altogether more than 5,500 trucks sold, MAN has far exceeded its own expectations. Added to this are numerous concluded financing agreements and rental packages through MAN Financial Services and the successes in the After Sales department with regard to concluded service contracts. The NEOPLAN Tourliner – a new member of the MAN Bus family Another world première was celebrated with the launch of the new NEOPLAN Tourliner, which offers bus companies a new entry model in the field of premium coaches. The flexible applications – from long-distance to tourist travel – the numerous assistance systems and its excellent aerodynamics all make the new NEOPLAN Tourliner a real all-rounder. As with all buses, it also benefits from improved engine and transmission functions, which now offer more torque and more power with lower consumption thanks to an optimised driveline. The newly redesigned headlights with LED daytime driving lights in 'angel eye' optic will in future adorn all NEOPLAN buses. Sales expectations for the IAA were also exceeded in the bus sector. A total of more than 350 vehicles are on the company’s order list. Reifers Reisen from Warburg, for instance, snapped up the first NEOPLAN Tourliner. Amongst other things, MAN also had the chance to symbolically hand over the 7,500th MAN Lion’s Coach at the IAA. The NEOPLAN Skyliner was also a cause for celebration: it was presented with the IBC Award at the trade show. In a preceding extensive comparison test, it had particularly asserted itself amongst other double-deckers in terms of its chassis and of passenger comfort. Digital solutions and electromobility MAN presented these two topics with particular professionalism at the IAA 2016 in Hanover, designating a special platform for RIO – the new Volkswagen Truck & Bus brand for digital solutions. RIO is an open, cross-manufacturer business and technology platform that provides individual and uniquely intuitive digital services for the entire transportation and logistics ecosystem. The transport chain is made up of both data providers and data users. As the initiator of RIO, MAN is responsible for its development within the Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group. With regard to eMobility, MAN Truck & Bus introduced the fully electric MAN Lion’s City articulated bus with different charging infrastructure concepts as well as an MAN TGS semitrailer tractor with electric drive for use in applications relating to inner-city night-time supply. As part of its eMobility roadmap, MAN will be sending a pre-series bus version of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) for field trials in 2018. Series production of a 100% electrically-driven city bus will commence before 2020. The technological expertise from the eMobility modular system in the bus sector will in future also be available for electric truck applications. In addition, MAN’s membership in the Volkswagen Group means that it can utilise synergies within the Group and draw value from the dynamics of the passenger car sector. Successful trade show presence for MAN Joachim Drees, Chief Executive Officer of MAN Truck & Bus and a member of the board at Volkswagen Truck & Bus summarises: “In the last few months, we worked with great passion across all departments to ensure that we could bring as many innovations as possible to the IAA in Hanover. We ignited a veritable explosion of innovations – and gave an exceptional performance.” “All in all, the trade show was a huge success, also with regard to the number of vehicles sold,” followed up Heinz-Jürgen Löw, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the IAA 2016. “My particular thanks goes to the entire team, who committed themselves fully to attaining our highly-ambitious goals.” By the time the traditional chorus of horns had faded away around 6 pm on 29th September, a total of over 200,000 people had visited the MAN stand at the trade show. On individual days, the count exceeded 30,000 people – an increase of up to 60 per cent compared with 2014. MAN gave numerous informative interviews on the stage at the trade show stand each day. 13,000 footballs were handed out to those visiting the stand during the course of the 66th IAA Commercial Vehicles as a memento of their visit to the trade show. All information regarding the IAA will still be on the MAN microsite right up into November. MAN image database - http://bildarchiv.man.de/index.php/main?level=0&catId=12142&mainCatId=530&catName=Nachlese&lang=en

FYI - “Volvo Active Driver Assist” is the North American market name for the global market “Volvo Collision Warning with Emergency Brake”, a feature which was introduced in October 2012.

Volvo Trucks USA / October 3, 2016

Peterbilt Motors Company / October 6, 2016 .

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Detroit Press Release / October 7, 2016 .

Detroit Press Release / October 7, 2016 .

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