kscarbel2

ZF matches Knorr-Bremse's bid for Haldex Reuters / September 14, 2016 German automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen raised its offer for Swedish brake systems maker Haldex to 4.86 billion Swedish crowns ($572 million) today, matching a rival bid from Germany's Knorr-Bremse. Knorr-Bremse last week reignited a bidding war for Haldex, trumping ZF with a 110 Swedish crowns a share offer. While both companies are now offering the same amount of money, Haldex's board unanimously backed ZF's offer, saying it was less likely to be stopped by anti-trust regulators. Knorr-Bremse's offer runs a significant risk of requiring a lengthy review that could last six months or longer, Haldex said in a statement. ZF already has regulatory clearances from all relevant authorities except Russia, whose approval it expects to receive by the end of the week, ZF CEO Stefan Sommer told journalists on a conference call. ZF also lowered the minimum number of shares needed for the takeover to go through to 50 percent of Haldex's capital from 90 percent previously, saying its priority was to gain a majority stake in the group. It already owns about 4.2 percent of shares and has secured commitments from Haldex shareholders representing just over 17 percent of stock to tender their shares to ZF. Knorr-Bremse said it had taken note of ZF's raised offer and would weigh its next move, adding it was still convinced its bid offered Haldex better prospects in the long run than ZF's. Haldex shares were unchanged at 114.75 crowns in early trading, suggesting investors are hopeful of a higher offer.

Trump spins 'horrible' news that won't go away at Ford Nick Bunkley, Automotive News / September 14, 2016 Never turn a one-day story into a two-day story. That was the crisis-management philosophy espoused by Don Canham, a marketing genius who transformed the University of Michigan football program into a world-renowned brand and money-printing machine over 21 years as the school’s athletic director. Ford Motor Co. clearly doesn’t believe in that approach. It’s managed to turn the fact that it’s moving small-car production from the U.S. to Mexico into a yearlong debacle, right in the midst of the most divisive presidential election in history. Republican nominee Donald Trump has been more than willing to take the bait, repeatedly bashing Ford as traitorous during rallies and debates. Instead of just being transparent and explaining that the shift will allow hourly workers in Michigan to have better job security by building more popular, profitable pickups and SUVs instead, Ford decided to leak its plan in drips and drabs starting in the summer of 2015. Until Wednesday, Ford executives were inexplicably evasive about the subject every time it came up. ‘Speculation’ In July 2015, I and a number of other reporters wrote that Ford planned to move production of the Focus and C-Max from the U.S. to Mexico in 2018. Ford refused to say where the cars would be moved, even though it reportedly told the UAW they were headed to Mexico. Last November, Ford’s new contract with the UAW showed that production of nearly all cars would end in the U.S., with Mexico the expected destination. FCA’s UAW deal showed it had similar plans. Early this year, reports indicated that Ford was planning a new assembly plant in Mexico. A spokeswoman dismissed the reports as “speculation.” In April, Ford finally confirmed the $1.6 billion plant, but it wouldn’t say what vehicles would be built there. UAW President Dennis Williams, who had known about the plans for at least nine months at that point, took the opportunity to publicly flog Ford for the “very troubling” move. Poster child And all along, Trump eagerly made Ford into a poster child for companies shipping good American jobs south of the border. He called the new plant in Mexico “an absolute disgrace.” Only today did Ford, finally, confirm what anyone following the issue had known all along. “Over the next two to three years, we will have migrated all of our small-car production to Mexico and out of the United States," Ford CEO Mark Fields said during a presentation to investors. Because this was the first time any Ford executive had acknowledged that Mexico is indeed, the Focus’ destination, the story went viral -- again. USA Today, Fox News, CNN, NBC News, the Daily Beast, Breitbart News and dozens of other outlets jumped on it, even though many had already reported virtually the same news months ago. “Ford moving small car production to Mexico,” read a link right in the middle of the Drudge Report, a widely read conservative news site. Fields’ statement put Ford’s plan back in the news eight weeks before the election -- and just hours before Trump was campaigning in nearby Flint, Mich. “More bad news for Michigan today,” Trump said during an appearance at a Flint church. “It was just announced that Ford is moving all small-car production -- all of it, 100 percent -- to Mexico over the next two or three years. This just happened. We shouldn’t allow it to happen. … It’s horrible.” Overshadowed Remember when Ford gained a loyal following of consumers who applauded its decision to decline a federal bailout and avoid filing for a taxpayer-supported bankruptcy? Now, some of those same supporters are seeing Ford constantly in the news, being accused of prioritizing profits over patriotism. Everything about this “breaking news,” as some websites labeled it, is old. Yet it’s the most prominent headline emerging from Wednesday’s investor meeting, overshadowing four hours of presentations aimed at laying out Ford’s path to future success as the industry rapidly evolves. Ford has complained about constantly being picked on by Trump, yet it keeps bringing the Mexico story back to life. If Ford continues to get pummeled on the campaign trail over the next 55 days, it only has itself to blame.

Hacked Powell emails: Trump a 'pariah' but would rather not vote for Clinton The Guardian / September 14, 2016 A series of leaks of email exchanges involving the former US secretary of state Colin Powell have revealed a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump, as well as lesser criticism of Hillary and Bill Clinton. Powell, George W Bush’s chief diplomat from 2001 to 2005, called his fellow Republican a “national disgrace” and an “international pariah”. Personal email exchanges leaked on Tuesday and Wednesday reveal the retired four-star general’s contempt for Trump, whose conspiracy theories surrounding Barack Obama’s place of birth Powell also labels as “racist”. “Yup, the whole birther movement was racist,” Powell wrote to his former aide in emails first reported by Buzzfeed News, referring to conspiracy theories that suggest Obama was not born in the US. “That’s what the 99% believe. “When Trump couldn’t keep that up he said he also wanted to see if the certificate noted that he was a Muslim. As I have said before, ‘What if he was?’ Muslims are born as Americans everyday.” Powell’s emails surfaced on the website DCLeaks.com, which has previously featured other hacks into prominent Republicans and Democrats. Bush’s former top diplomat, who has served in three Republican administrations, confirmed the exchanges were his but declined to comment any further. In another alleged exchange, reported by the New York Post, Powell told Democratic donor Jeffrey Leeds he would not vote for Hillary Clinton while citing tabloid rumors about Bill Clinton’s private life. “I would rather not have to vote for her, although she is a friend I respect,” Powell said. “A 70-year person with a long track record, unbridled ambition, greedy, not transformational, with a husband still d—ing bimbos at home (according to the NYP).” Powell told the New York Post he did not recall that particular exchange when asked about its authenticity. While it is unclear who is responsible for hacking into Powell’s emails, the website DCLeaks reportedly has ties to the Russian government. When the Democratic National Committee’s emails were leaked in July, just ahead of the party’s national convention, the FBI said it believed Russia was behind the hack. Powell’s own email use has become a focal point in the controversy surrounding Clinton’s use of a private server. During an interview with FBI investigators, the Democratic nominee said Powell had advised her to use a personal email and that he did the same while serving as secretary of state. Powell later accused Clinton’s campaign of trying to throw him under the bus, but House Democrats last week released email correspondence between the two in which Powell discussed how to get around state department restrictions on both personal email and devices. Even so, Powell voices his frustration with the Clinton campaign in one of the latest leaked emails, reported by NBCNews. “I have told Hillary’s minions repeatedly that they are making a mistake trying to drag me in, yet they still try,” Powell wrote.

Terry, I apologize. I beg your pardon and stand corrected. Too much going on this month. Mike, I didn't step in anything. I did make a careless mistake, and apologize for it, all the while with the good intentions of helping the original poster resolve his dilemma. Recently, there have been quite a few people who posted an information question, and then evaporated into thin air. Sure, we all have things going on. But when you reach out to the BMT population for help, I think one needs to follow up. And though it may be "old fashioned" etiquette in year 2016, a "thank you" from the OP means something to many contributors here.

Big Rigs / September 14, 2016 ALREADY well known throughout Australia for its annual Ute Muster, the town of Deniliquin in the New South Wales Riverina is also becoming a popular destination for its annual Truck Show and Industry Expo. After a successful start-up event in 2015, this year's event was held over September 9 and 10, with organisers delighted with the roll up of trucks along with the support from both the local area and wider transport industry. The weekend's event got off to a formal start on the Friday night at the truck show dinner, with the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners' Brendan Farrell presenting as guest speaker. The dinner also saw the announcement of the first two inductees into the Deniliquin and District Transport Industry Wall of Fame. Local livestock operator David Griminsion, along with Alan and the late Kathleen Murphy were the first to be inducted to the wall which is being constructed in Deniliquin. Despite some wet weather in the lead up to Saturday's event at Memorial Park, close to 2000 people came through the gates on show day to admire the lineup of over seventy trucks, some which had traveled from as far afield as Cranbourne South in Victoria and down from Sydney for the event. With Deniliquin and the wider Riverina area reliant on road transport to support the agricultural and service industries, a number of local companies were represented at the show from within Deniliquin and outlying towns such as Finley, Berrigan and Hillston. "We are a transport town, sometimes it goes a little bit unnoticed and recognised, but it's an event like this that shows how many people we do have involved in the industry, or in a spin-off industry associated with transport,” said Leesa Muir, who is on the organising committee for the event. A number of trucks received a last minute polish and touch-up on their arrival at the show before judging got under way at midday, with the high standard of trucks on show giving the judges some hard work, presenting awards across 12 categories. The trip up from Shepparton in Victoria proved to be a worthwhile one for Frank Gattuso Transport driver Matthew Clarke, who took out Truck of The Show honours with his 2010 Kenworth K108 Big Cab. Matthew, who runs express overnight freight between Shepparton, Melbourne and Albury, was delighted with his success. "To walk away with a prize is a bonus, to walk away with the Truck of the Show award was a total surprise - I didn't realise I had won until my girlfriend Kim whacked me on the back and said 'That's You!',” he said. "I would like to thank the organisers for a great show and a job well done-I look forward to returning next year”. In other categories, John Kerr took home the award for Best Truck 26-39 years with his 1988 Mack Super-Liner whilst Clinton McKinnon took home the new for 2016, Muscles Gray Memorial Award for his 2006 Kenworth T904 Remberance tipper and dog trailer, which is a rolling tribute to Australia's ANZAC heritage and armed forces. Along with the displays of trucks on site, the event also aims to showcase the transport industry as a whole, with 2016 also seeing an increase in trade exhibitors, with CMV from Wodonga and Graham Thomson Motors of Shepparton, along with IOR Petroleum and Royan's Truck and Trailer Repairs to name a few all having a presence on site. An auction of donated goods was also held with money raised going back into the planning and management of next year's event. The Truck Show committee made a resolution to give back to the industry, with a $1 donation from each ticket sold at the gate being donated to the Trans-Help Foundation to assist in the work the organisation does for the health and wellbeing of transport industry employees. Plans are under way already for the 2017 event, which will be held on the second Saturday of September, and Ms Muir is confident the show is on the right course to become a key date on the transport calendar. "It's grown considerably, we got more trucks and industry-specific trade sites than last year and our dinner last night has doubled in size,” she said. "We are really impressed with the amount of people who made the effort to come and we are overwhelmed with the interest we have received, not just from our target area of the Southern Riverina - the event is growing and the word is getting out there. We're going to have a ripper third year!” Deniliquin Truck Show Trophy winners: Truck of the Show - Matthew Clarke, Tongala VIC. 2010 Kenworth K108. People's Choice - Leo Kelly, Edenhope VIC. 1984 Kenworth W Model. Muscles Gray Memorial Award - Clinton McKinnon, Narellan NSW, 2006 Kenworth T904 Best Truck Under 3 years - Gray's Transport, Finley NSW. 2016 Kenworth T950. Best Truck 4-9 years - D&K Walker Transport, Kilmore VIC. 2010 Cat CT630. Best Truck 10 - 25 years - Clinton McKinnon, Narellan NSW, 2006 Kenworth T904 Best Truck 26 - 39 years - John Kerr, Bendigo VIC, 1988 Mack Superliner. Best Truck 40 years & Over - Neil Scott, Deniliquin NSW. 1936 Maple Leaf Tray body. Best Rigid - Duane Kemp, Cranbourne North VIC. 2003 Kenworth T404ST. Best Local Truck - Sam Armytage, Deniliquin NSW. 2011 Kenworth K200 Best Fleet - Frankling Transport, Koondrook VIC. Photo gallery - http://www.bigrigs.com.au/photos/see-who-was-at-the-second-deni-truck-show-2/44419/#/0

Big Rigs / September 14, 2016 Ring, ring, ring... "Hello.” "Hiya Kermie, its Rossco. You coming up to Echuca?” "Bet your whatsits! What's the weather like up there?” "Cats and dogs. Predicted right through the weekend too. Place is like an ice rink. But she'll be right.” And right is turned out to be. By Friday arvo the rain had passed and stayed away for the duration of the show. The 'ice rink' dried quickly in most places and was firm enough for trucks and pedestrians and most importantly, the dire weather predictions didn't deter over 150 intrepid ATHS members from turning up with the love of their lives - and in some cases their partners as well. Des Walker from Nilma North has four trucks - all Diamond T's and brought his TNT liveried 630 to Echuca. "I have all the good Diamonds - two 630's, a 531 and a 520 - the three best Diamonds they ever made. I am a fleet owner!” Wife Julie is also happy with Desi's trucks. "He buys trucks, I travel.” Rod Calleja from Bacchus Marsh turned up with a 1981 Mack Cruise Liner towing a 1971 McGrath trailer, both in mint condition. Rod has owned the truck for two years and, as with his other 'toys' the restoration was done completely in-house. "The truck used to belong to Paul Phillips from Cranbourne,” he said. "It did market work. It's always been a local truck. I just like the look of it. It took a good six months to restore and is a beautiful truck to drive. Very comfortable, quiet and a pleasure to drive.” Rod's stable also includes a Super Liner, a B-Model and a '71 Diamond Rio. He is currently restoring an AB 184. "It keeps the history of the industry alive. We enjoy it. We love talking to people and having a good time.” Steve Braggs, better known as Braggsy has a new toy, a 1990 Freightliner FL112 with a 400 hp CAT below deck. Has it still got 400 horses Braggsy? "Four-hundred-and-twenty-five actually. She's ATAAC. That's Air To Air After Cooled to you, Kermie,” he said. Steve got a call from someone who said, "Man, have I got a deal for you!” The someone was Mick Anic from AdTrans who knew Steve was on the lookout for a big brother to share the love with his 1418 Benz, affectionately known as the Schnitzelburger. "He offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. Probably taking the shine off the rest of his yard. The truck had been running around Melbourne for the last couple of years with no problems. She cruises at 100 clicks on 1400 revs so it's a very economical truck to operate, which suits my pension. It's a tidy truck. "Now when I go out, I have to toss a coin as to which truck I'm going to take, or how much money I've got for juice. The old Schnitzelburger will live with me forever. It's the only truck I know will legitimately do 133 clicks through the Pilliga scrub. "Both trucks are good gear to drive. The schnitzel Burger you have to work, with this you put it in top gear and go to sleep. There's nothing to do. It just bores along. "I've called it Moonlight Gambler because I'm a great fan of Frankie Lane. Nothing to do with buying it from Mick on a dark night.” Rick "Chocs” Hayman has also bought himself a new project in the form of a 1978 International Transtar 4300. "This came from Western New South Wales. Old mate bought it down to the show for me here in Echuca, which saved me a run up there,” he said. "The fella that owned it brought it in 1982 and ran it up until about 2008 which is a pretty good run! Mechanically it's reasonably good.” The truck sports a 400 Cummins, 18 speed, 44's on Hendrickson two spring and pulled doubles with it, carting steel. It needs a window up the top there. I think that's where the birds used to go in and out. "It's got a decent bonnet on it. After the old cab-over I think I might put a flag at the front there so I don't touch park, although I've got the bar there should I need it. "It'll be a tidy up rather than a ground up, a little bit of customising, just to turn it into mine. I think I'll put a bigger bunk on the back in the hope that I don't always sleep by myself. I'll also put a tribute on it to Warren Troy who owned it, Warren Troy was his name. He died earlier this year and we bought it off his young bloke. We will continue a tiny little bit of history for him.” Know anyone to do the line work and scrolling? "I don't know anyone who is any good, but there is someone who is half reasonable down at Teesdale. I think it's that Rick Hayman bloke.” For what was predicted to be a wash out, Rossco Talbot and ATHS put on a ripper weekend, well attended by both trucks and the public. Big Rigs will bring you some individual stories over the coming weeks. Photo gallery - http://www.bigrigs.com.au/photos/photos-highlights-from-the-echuca-truck-show/44431/#/0 .

Owner/Driver / September 9, 2016 Levin argues it’s horses for courses when choosing more grunt Leading Scania executive Christian Levin has sought to bolster the position of V8 engines at time when many truck makers appear to have fallen out of love with them. Executive vice president of sales and marketing, Levin presented the bigger engine as a boon for particular operators dealing with specific needs and conditions, as well as for Scania’s own image and brand. He argues that topography plays a part in creating demand, citing Italian livestock transporters dealing with often mountainous terrain. They can run at higher average speeds, thereby saving up to two hours on trips within their country, lessening the impact of stress on animals’ condition. Levin was speaking to a delegation of Australian journalists at Scania headquarters in Sodertalje, Sweden, during the phased unveiling of ’new truck generation’. At a time when governments around the world recognise the productivity gains to be had by allowing increased payloads on the road – he nominates Australia, along with the Nordic countries, South Africa and Brazil – often "the six in line is too stressed" to handle the greater demand well. Levin insists reliability of V8s is better due to operating at lower revs and they are "significantly more valuable" in the second hand market. With experienced on-road personnel shortages as prevalent in Europe Union as in North America and Australia, the lure of big bangers mean "drivers’ choices, of course" also come into play.

Hendrickson Int'l Press Release / August 30, 2016 ZMD (Zero Maintenance Dampening) technology eliminates shock absorbers from the maintenance equation by integrating the damping function traditionally performed by the shock within the air spring itself. ZMD air springs exchange pressurized air between the bellows and the piston. This patented air spring provides uniform and consistant damping over the life of the air spring. Available as a premium option on select VANTRAAX and INTRAAX integrated air suspension models and standard on ULTRAA-K air slider systems. Related reading - http://www.hendrickson-intl.com/Trailer/Value-Added-Options/ZMD .

“We don’t know who these individuals are. Any idea (that) you can do a background check of someone that’s been living in Syria is absolutely ridiculous. These are dangerous times, whether people want to admit it or not. We want to keep the war out of Mississippi, here on the homefront.” Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant "It is irresponsible and severely disconcerting to place individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without the state's knowledge or involvement." Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal "There is virtually no vetting because there are no databases in Syria, there are no government records. We don't know who these people are." New York Rep. Peter King "It's not that we don't want to -- it's that we can't, because there's no way to background check someone that's coming from Syria." Florida Senator Marco Rubio. "The governor doesn't believe the U.S. should accept additional Syrian refugees because security and safety issues cannot be adequately addressed. The governor is writing to the President to ask him to stop, and to ask him to stop resettling them in Ohio. We are also looking at what additional steps Ohio can take to stop resettlement of these refugees." Ohio Governor John Kasich spokesman Jim Lynch

(Originally posted November 15, 2015..........http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42652-paris-under-attack/?page=3#comment-312621) The U.S. media is now shining a big spotlight on the Syrian refugee debate. Supposedly, U.S.-bound Syrians are actual refugees, and not economic migrants the likes of what’s showing up on Europe’s door from countries other than Syria (4 out of 5 are not from Syria). Much of the debate is over why the U.S. should take refugees when Middle East countries for the most part are not. Arab League (and Gulf Cooperation Council) members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE have reportedly not taken in any refugees. These six Gulf States elected NOT to sign the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees). Per Amnesty International, the six Gulf countries - Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain - have offered zero resettlement facilities for Syrian refugees. The fact is that Gulf countries don't accept refugees for resettlement because none of their governments officially recognize the legal concept. Even in Jordan, Syrians fleeing the civil war are called "guests," the expectation being that they won't stay. (http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/09/20/441457924/gulf-states-fend-off-criticism-about-doing-little-for-syrian-refugees) “I’m most indignant over the Arab countries who are rolling in money and who only take very few refugees,” Danish Finance Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said in an interview this week at his office in Copenhagen. “Countries like Saudi Arabia. It’s completely scandalous. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-04/syria-s-refugees-feel-more-welcome-in-europe-than-in-the-gulf) However, Saudi Arabia last week offered to pay for the construction of 200 new Mosques in Germany (http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/fluechtlingskrise/die-golfstaaten-schotten-sich-gegenueber-fluechtlingen-ab-13789932.html). The United Nations expects one million “refugees” to arrive in Europe by the end of 2015, The European Commission expects 3 million to arrive in Europe by the end of 2016. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has 100,000 (air-conditioned) tents, sitting empty and available, that could perfectly house some 3 million Syrian refugees. Located in the city of Mina, they’re only used a few days a year for pilgrims heading to Mecca (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/gallery/which-arab-country-has-room-three-million-refugees-and-has-so-far-taken-zero-according-un). There are millions of people around the world who have been waiting in line to legally immigrate into the United States. Should any Syrian refugees wish to immigrate to the United States as well, they can apply through the normal process at the U.S. embassy of their Arab League host country. With the highest GDP Arab countries unwilling to take in refugees, fellow Muslims in distress, why should the U.S. accept any? The U.S. is by a wide margin the highest financial contributor to Syrian relief efforts at $4.5 billion - http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-boost-contribution-for-humanitarian-aid-to-syrian-war-refugees-1442858302 (so don’t expect our crumbling interstate system rebuilt anytime soon) The U.S. already contributes FAR more to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) than any other country. (http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/the-countries-that-contribute-the-most-to-the-uns-refugee-agency--by90QvX64l) This on top of the White House’s decision to increase the cap on [alleged] refugees to 85,000 in 2016 and 100,000 in 2017. (http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-says-u-s-to-admit-30-000-more-refugees-in-next-2-years-1442768498?tesla=y) In the minds of many Americans, refugees are people that would return home after the conflict in their homeland has ended. However these people have no intention of returning home, and that makes them immigrants rather than refugees. With millions of people around the world already waiting in line to legally immigrate into the U.S., the only proper course is for these Syrian (and other) immigrants to apply via the normal process at U.S. embassies abroad and wait their turn in line. On top of free U.S. money ($4.5 billion) for Syrian relief efforts alone, the other issues are the costs to U.S. taxpayers to support incoming “refugees” for an unknown number of years (welfare), and the loss of U.S. citizen jobs. .

(Originally posted November 27, 2015..........http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42652-paris-under-attack/?page=4#comment-312770) Too often, discussions of any one particular immigration program lack broader numerical context. Refugee admissions, asylees, and parolees are all additional to our huge annual intake of 1 million green card holders, the 700,000 foreign workers and the 500,000 foreign students. So before addressing the policy question of whether or not to admit additional groups of refugees, we should first consider our broader immigration situation. Senator Jeff Sessions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senator Jeff Sessions Says 12 Asylum Seekers Planned Attacks International Business Times / November 26, 2015 In an attempt to block President Obama's plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees next year, Senator Jeff Sessions has given 12 examples where radicalized refugees that have slipped through the cracks. The Alabama Republican released the list ahead of the December appropriations debate, during which Congress will decide how much federal money to give the president's refugee program. Since the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, Republicans have been raising concerns the U.S. could be the target of terror attacks from Syrian refugees admitted into the country as asylum-seekers. On the list is a Bosnian refugee who traveled to Syria to join ISIS just eleven days after becoming a U.S. citizen, and six of his countrymen who supported terrorists financially from back in the States. Senator Sessions' list includes refugees who have been arrested or indicted in the past year for aiding terrorist organizations, and include displaced people from Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kenya, and Bosnia. The 12 refugees arrested, indicted or convicted in year 2015 for terror charges: A warrant has been out for Liban Haji Mohamed's arrest since January, for providing material support to the terrorist groups Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda. The 29-year-old is believed to have fled the country to join Al-Shabab in Eastern Africa three years ago, via the Mexican border after being put on a no-fly list. A former taxi-cab driver in Washington, DC, Mohamed first came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia. Carl Ghattas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington, D.C. Field Office, said it was important to locate Mohamed 'because he has knowledge of the Washington, D.C. area’s infrastructure such as shopping areas, Metro, airports, and government buildings . . . [t]his makes him an asset to his terrorist associates who might plot attacks on U.S. soil.' Abdinassir Mohamud Ibrahim moved to the United States as a refugee from Somalia in 2007 at the age of 22. In February, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for providing material support to Al-Shabab. He also admitted to lying on his refugee application, saying he was a member of the minority Awer clan in Somalia that was being persecuted by the majority Hawiye clan. In fact, Ibrahim was part of the Hawiye clan and related 'to known Somali terrorists'. Abdullah Ramo Pazara came to the U.S. as a Bosnian refugee and left to fight with ISIS in Syria just eleven days after officially becoming an American citizen in 2013. Pazara has not been charged with supporting a foreign terrorist organization because he is believed to be dead, however, six of his fellow Bosnian natives (follows) were arrested for supporting terrorism in the Middle East. According to reports, at the time of his death, Pazara had climbed the ISIS ranks to become a deputy to one of the organization's top commanders. Bosnian war hero Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, who came to the U.S. as a refugee, was charged in February with conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, with providing material support to terrorists, and conspiring to kill and maim persons in a foreign country. According to the indictment, Hodzic purchased military equipment to give Pazara (number two on this list) to use when he joined ISIS including 'United States military uniforms, tactical combat boots, military surplus goods, tactical gear and clothing, firearms accessories, optical equipment and range finders, rifle scopes, equipment, and supplies'. Ramiz Zijad Hodzic's wife, Sedina Unkic Hodzic was also charged in February with conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists. Sedina, according to the indictment, raised funds for ISIS and wired the money abroad. She is also said to have shipped six boxes of U.S. military uniforms, combat boots, tactical clothing and gear, military surplus items, firearms accessories, rifle scopes, optical equipment, first aid supplies, and other equipment to foreign terrorists. Fellow Bosnian Armin Harcevic was charged in February with conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, and with providing material support to terrorists. He allegedly collected money from third parties to sent to terrorists abroad. Like the other Bosnians, Nihad Rosic was charged in February with providing material support to foreign terrorists. But he is also believed to have been planning to leave the country in order to join jihadist in Syria as well. Before his arrest, Rosic was a truck driver and former mixed martial arts fighter, who had a criminal history including a charge for punching a woman in the face while she held a child and beating his girlfriend with a belt. Bosnian-born Mediha Medy Salkicevic worked at a cargo company operating out of Chicago's O'Hare airport before her arrest in February for providing material support to terrorists. She allegedly raised funds and then wired it to terrorists, along with her own money. Bosnian Jasminka Ramic faces charges of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists. Abdurahman Yasin Daud was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, to a Somalian family, and eventually came to the U.S. at the age of nine, going on to become a permanent resident. He was arrested along with six others for attempting to flea the country to Syria to join ISIS, according to an criminal complaint filed in April. Guled Ali Omar was also born in a Kenyan refugee camp to Somalian parents and immigrated to the United States as a child. His older brother Ahmed Ali Omar, left the United States in 2007 to fight with Al-Shabab and another one of his brothers, Mohamed Ali Omar, was convicted in March for threatening federal agents. Omar himself was arrested in April for conspiracy and attempt to provide material support to ISIS. U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andy Luger, said that Omar previously tried to leave the U.S. and 'never stopped plotting'. Fazliddin Kurbanov came to the U.S. with his family as a refugee from Uzbekistan in 2009. Kurbanov was reportedly born a Muslim, but his family later converted to Orthodox Christianity. When he came to the U.S., it's believed he converted back to Islam and radicalized. In August, he was found guilty on charges of conspiracy and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and possessing an unregistered destructive device. U.S. Assistant Attorney General John Carlin Kurbanov 'conspired to provide material support to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and procured bomb-making materials in the interest of perpetrating a terrorist attack on American soil.' .

(Originally posted November 24, 2015..........http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42652-paris-under-attack/?page=4#comment-312770) The wealthy GCC countries of the Arab League don’t want to take in their Muslim brothers in need, considering them to be undesirables. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On September 2, 2015, Kuwaiti official Fahad al-Shalami explained why the Gulf Cooperation Council countries* refuse to accept refugees. * Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates “Kuwait and the other Gulf Cooperation Council countries are too valuable to accept any refugees. Our countries are only fit for [migrant] workers. It's too costly to relocate them [the refugees] here. Kuwait is too expensive for them anyway, as opposed to Lebanon and Turkey, which are cheap. They are better suited for the Syrian refugees. In the end, it is not right for us to accept a people that are different from us. We don't want people that suffer from internal stress and trauma in our country.” .

White House to increase number of refugees to 110k in 2017 [Wealthy GCC countries of the Arab League take zero] CNN / September 14, 2016 The White House is planning to increase the number of refugees accepted into the United States from around the world to at least 110,000 in 2017. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed Congress on Tuesday about the administration's decision and has stated over the past year that the United States would seek to welcome 100,000 refugees in 2017 -- and if possible, would accept more. The increase -- from 70,000 during 2013-2015 to 85,000 in 2016 to the plan of 110,000 in 2017 -- is more than a 57% increase in refugee arrivals since 2015 and consistent with the administration's belief that all countries should do more to help vulnerable people. The United States' refugee policy has been a top campaign issue in the 2016 election. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made waves last December when he proposed a temporary ban on all Muslims immigrating to the United States. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, has said that she would like to see the number of Syrian refugees accepted into the United States increase from the Obama administration's goal of 10,000 a year to 65,000 refugees.

Transport Engineer / September 13, 2016 Uckfield-based K2 Transport has updated and extended its HGV fleet with eight more trucks from Mercedes-Benz, in the wake of joining the Pall-Ex network. Six are Actros 2545 "BigSpace" tractor units, while the other two are 18-tonne Antos 1824s with curtainside bodies by Lawrence David. “The contract hire deal put together by Rossetts was attractively priced, while Mercedes-Benz trucks suit our business admirably,” states co-director Kim Brand. “Not only are they fuel-efficient, reliable and popular with the drivers – those with the Actros tractors particularly like their spacious, flat-floored cabs – but they also help us to convey the upmarket image of quality we have sought to project from the outset.” All the new trucks are the subject of contract hire agreements with Rent-a-Merc – like supplying dealer Rossetts Commercials, a member of the Northern Ireland-based Inspired Business Investments Group. They are now being inspected and maintained at Rossetts’ Eastbourne workshop. “We get on very well with the dealer’s Eastbourne team, who provide an excellent level of support,” continues Brand. “Our trucks go into the workshop on Friday nights for inspections and maintenance, and we pick them up again the following morning.” .

Seriously though, there is no safer truck, for all concerned, than a Scania.

Transport Engineer / September 13, 2016 Recycling business Brocklebank & Co Demolition has taken delivery of its latest batch of Thompsons Loadmaster tippers, citing durability and reliability as the key selection criteria. The six new Loadmasters are the single-skinned Lite version, built in Hardox 450 premium grade steel and mounted on 8x4 Scania 410bhp chassis. “Loadmaster is just incredibly strong,” says company owner Nick Brocklebank. “Our tippers have to carry everything from concrete and demolition rubble to soil and muck, and often do at least eight loads a day. The body floors can take a real hammering when being loaded, then have to withstand enormous levels of abrasion when the loads are tipped out. “But the fact is that whatever the job, our Loadmasters always come out on top.” Brocklebank’s preference is for either Scania or Volvo chassis. Matched with either of these, he says, “Loadmaster gives us the optimum tipper formula”. “Loadmaster” tipper bodies are a product of Thompson of Carlow - http://www.thompson.ie/tipper-bodies-division/standard-steel-tipper-bodies/loadmaster/index.htm. .

Major contract for Swedish-owned Northstar Goteborgs-Posten / September 13, 2016 Battery manufacturer Northstar, owned by the Swedish private equity company Altor, has signed a seven-year contract with truck manufacturer Daimler which is estimated to be worth the equivalent of 4.2 billion kronor. Northstar has so far mainly been supplying batteries for mobile operators' base stations for back-up in case of power failure. More recently, the company's batteries have been tested in buses in American public transportation. “That is why Daimler was willing to start talking to us. Over the last two and a half years, our batteries have undergone rigorous testing which demonstrated that our products are much better than those of competitors,” says Northstar group President Hans Lidén. “Our products have a higher price tag than the competitors. But if you look at the entire life-cycle costs, it becomes much lower for truck owners,” he adds. Fridges and microwaves When drivers of heavy trucks stop for rest periods, they need power for everything from refrigerators to air conditioning and microwave ovens. According to Lidén, a traditional battery can only power everything for about an hour, while Northstar’s batteries can last an entire night. This means drivers do not need to run their engines at idle in the absence of external power. The batteries also charge faster and have longer life than traditional lead-acid batteries. “It provides great environmental benefits,” says His Lidén. “Primarily, we have worked with Daimler to jump-start our entrance into the truck business. When you are approved supplier to one of the world's largest truck manufacturer, it is much easier to knock on the door of the other," says Hans Lidén. Northstar and Altor Northstar is wholly owned by the Swedish private equity firm Altor Equity Partners AB. The battery manufacturer has about 500 employees, including 50 in Sweden. Battery manufacture takes place in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Altor's business focuses on medium-sized companies in the Nordic countries and a total of nearly 30 companies with Altor has approximately 60,000 employees.

Green Car Congress / September 13, 2016 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has entered into a 7-year agreement with Stockholm, Sweden-based energy storage manufacturer NorthStar as the supplier of Ultra High Performance Pure Lead AGM batteries as part of the improvements being made to the next-generation Cascadia truck. NorthStar is also available as an extended life option on the majority of DTNA platforms creating a strategic partnership valued at up to $500 million. The agreement with Daimler makes NorthStar batteries a standard on all ParkSmart-optioned (Bergstrom factory-installed no-idle system) trucks as well as a standard option on most other Freightliner, Western Star, Freightliner Chassis and Thomas Bus factory orders. NorthStar is now also available from DTNA’s extensive network of dealers throughout North America. DTNA is the first to market in offering its customers an Ultra High Performance Pure Lead AGM power solution as a standard offering for ParkSmart models, potentially reducing down time and operating costs. DTNA claims that customers trading in trucks every four years may never have to replace a battery during the ownership cycle of the truck. NorthStar received worldwide approval to supply batteries to Daimler Original Equipment platforms.

Scania Group / September 13, 2016 Scania has significantly enhanced both the active and passive features of its vehicles as part of the new truck range. The company is now the first to introduce rollover curtain side airbags to protect drivers against serious rollover accidents. The most serious types of accidents for modern truck drivers are when their trucks rollover either at high speed on corners or in conjunction with running off the road, or when they drive into the truck in front when a queue suddenly pops up. Scania has enhanced both its active and passive safety through the new truck generation, with a series of measures aimed at protecting both cab occupants and other road users. Scania’s new generation of cabs can be equipped with rollover curtain side airbags, a security system integrated into the ceiling, and never before used in trucks. Together with seatbelt use, the rollover curtain airbags are a crucial safety feature in preventing one of the most common types of accidents with serious consequences for trucks: the driver being trapped beneath the cab if the truck overturns. In addition to the mandatory auto-braking function, the majority of the trucks purchased by customers in Europe are also equipped with a range of other active, safety-enhancing driver-support systems. Regardless of how well things like the different electronic systems work, really good basic material is needed in order to create optimum levels of safety performance. Thanks to a generous use of high tensile steel and modern assembly technology, the engineers have created an extremely robust cab structure. “Belt-use and the new rollover curtain side airbags reduce the risk of injury significantly for passengers in case of a roll-over accident,” says Dan Loftén, Team Leader of Scania Accident Investigation team. “Rollover accidents correspond to 45 percent of all accidents with severe and fatal injuries. The potential to come out well from such an accident has never been better.” . .

Scania Group / September 13, 2016 Safety has always been a part of Scania’s DNA. The new generation of trucks has undergone five years of advanced crash testing, with technologies and equipment never before used for heavy vehicles. A total of some 40 trucks had to give up their lives during the development phase of the new truck generation. Every single crash test is planned for over a year, takes six to eight weeks to prepare for – and is over in half a second. To prepare for these brief but important moments, a large number of sensors and other test equipment is rigged in and around the test vehicle and crash test dummy. Because the crash process goes so incredibly fast, dozens of high-speed cameras are used so that the crash can be studied in detail. “We test the truck’s crash safety in a number of different ways,” says Dan Loftén, who is responsible for all crash tests on Scania’s new trucks. “We drive it into different obstacles: poles, passenger cars, concrete railings and a variety of different barriers. The most advanced and risky crash tests are conducted outdoors with loaded semi trailers driven by a robot. We use this method to conduct things like rollover accidents.” One of all these tests, with the working title ’trailer back’, aims to calibrate the sensor that deploys the truck’s airbags. At a crash facility at Helmond in the Netherlands, ­Scania’s crash test team is preparing for a collision where one corner of the new truck will be driven straight into a trailer in front of it. “Driving into a trailer in front of you is one of the most serious accidents that you can encounter as a truck driver,” says Loftén. “With the new generation of trucks, we have made a major investment in improving safety in these types of accidents.” Sofia Sandin, the engineer leading one of the crash tests, explains, “For the best results, we work with scenarios that are as much like real-life as possible and with data that’s of an extremely high quality.” Sandin ensures that all the sensors and measuring equipment in and around the truck are working properly ahead of the controlled crash. The data from the test will be used in the calibration of the truck’s safety system. Alongside her in the building is the result of yesterday’s test – a new truck that’s now ready for the scrapyard. 1. The truck and a passenger car are prepared for the crash test. 2. Time for the actual test. In a fraction of a second it’s over. 3. After the test bits and pieces are collected for the analyses of the test. .

Scania Group / September 13, 2016 He is as ugly as he is expensive. ‘Thor’ is the new-generation crash test dummy that played a crucial role in Scania’s development of the world’s safest trucks. Each new Thor dummy costs as much as five new trucks, but contributes to saving more lives than any previous dummy. Scania is the first manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the world to use Thor in its safety work. ”One of the biggest advantages with Thor is that he’s built more like a human being than the ordinary crash-test dummies in use today,” says Dan Loftén, who is responsible for all crash tests for Scania’s new trucks. Thor has more sensors in his body than other dummies, a body that can be turned sideways, and a more human torso featuring the same number of ribs as a real human being. “Thor moves more like a human being during the crash, which is extremely important in our development work,” says Loftén. “The more human-like movement pattern and the advanced measurement-capabilities give us a better basis for our analysis and evaluations, which contributes to an even higher level of safety in the truck.” Nor can any other crash test dummies measure injuries to the upper body as well as Thor. The dummy’s torso is constructed in a more human fashion, and even the force on each individual rib can be measured. Thor also has a more human-like spine and pelvis, making it possible for the test dummy to adopt the four most common seating positions during testing. The spinal column is filled with sensors, accelerometers and other devices to measure the event, forces, and acceleration that the back is exposed to during a crash. “He may not be the best-looking guy in town, but he is extremely valuable,” says Loftén. “Not only for us who are developing Scania’s new generation of trucks but also for all truck drivers and other road users! . .

Western Star Trucks (USA) / September 13, 2016 .

Volvo’s High-Tech SuperTruck Exceeds Program’s Freight Efficiency Goals Volvo Group Press Release / September 13, 2016 Volvo Trucks North America today unveiled an innovative SuperTruck demonstrator whose combination of advanced aerodynamics, vehicle and powertrain technologies achieved a freight efficiency improvement of 88 percent – exceeding the 50 percent improvement goal set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program. From the top-of-cab solar panels powering its battery and interior lights, to its ultra-light aluminum frame and highly advanced 425 horsepower 11-liter proprietary engine, the SuperTruck concept vehicle allowed Volvo engineers to push the boundaries of heavy truck efficiency. The sleek tractor-trailer combination boosted fuel efficiency by 70 percent – exceeding 12 miles per gallon, with some test runs showing more than 13 miles per gallon – in road tests, and powertrain brake thermal efficiency reached 50 percent. "With the support of DOE's SuperTruck program, Volvo Trucks has presented an exciting vision of trucking's future," said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. "Even more impressive is the fact that these tremendous gains were made against a base model Volvo that already in 2009 averaged 7 miles per gallon." The SuperTruck program was a five-year DOE research and development initiative to improve freight efficiency – meaning more payload carried while burning less fuel – by 50 percent compared to 2009 base model trucks. The DOE recently selected the Volvo Group to participate in DOE's SuperTruck II program, which will target a 100 percent improvement on a ton-mile-per-gallon basis, and a powertrain capable of 55 percent brake thermal efficiency. Volvo's aerodynamic SuperTruck has a shorter front end than conventional trucks on the road today, and the hood has a sharper downward slope. Lightweight fairings run the length of the tractor and trailer, and cameras have replaced rearview mirrors. Its redesigned chassis is made almost entirely of aluminum, which halved the chassis weight and contributed to an overall tractor-trailer weight reduction of 3,200 pounds. An enhanced version of Volvo's I-See, a new feature that memorizes thousands of routes traveled and uses that knowledge to optimize cruise speed and keep the I-shift automated manual transmission in the most fuel-efficient gear possible, was an integral part of the fuel efficiency gains seen during SuperTruck on-road testing. A key part of the overall efficiency gain is the downsized 11-liter Volvo engine, featuring advanced fuel injection, cooling, oil and turbo-charging systems, as well as new "wave" pistons and other improvements. The SuperTruck powertrain includes a complex Rankine waste-heat recovery system, which converts heat normally wasted in exhaust into torque, boosting fuel economy by helping to power the vehicle. "The order of magnitude efficiency leap achieved by our SuperTruck is a testament to the outstanding work done by our team and our partners," said Pascal Amar, principal investigator for the project. "We started by rethinking everything, and we discovered that with every layer you peel back, you uncover new opportunities." While not every technology demonstrated in the Volvo SuperTruck will be commercialized, three of the engine advancements developed through SuperTruck research – the wave piston, turbo compounding system and common rail fuel injection system – are already featured in Volvo Trucks' 2017 engine line-up. Likewise, a number of SuperTruck-derived aerodynamic improvements – like flared chassis fairings improving air flow around the drive wheels, a redesigned bumper and turbulence-reducing deflectors – can be found on today's Volvo VNL tractors. "Our work through this program is paying dividends for today's customers through the SuperTruck innovations we've already integrated into our products," said Nyberg. Not every idea made it to the concept vehicle. Working with suppliers and academic partners, the team explored the performance and safety of a number of lightweight materials. While some of these, like recycled carbon fiber, were not used in the SuperTruck, the knowledge gained in material science will be applied to future programs. Volvo used computer-aided engineering to reimagine nearly every part of the tractor and trailer without costly prototyping. While the VNL "body in white" was mostly maintained in order to save time and ensure structural integrity, everything else – including the front end, the cab exterior pieces, the chassis fairing and the roof – were completely redesigned to maximize the aerodynamics of the tractor-trailer combination. . .