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Owner/Driver / September 27, 2016 Western Australia has had its first truck show and shine for years. To mark the occasion we headed to the Perth Motorplex for the BP Truck Show and Shine for a look It turns out that I’m not as good as I once thought I was. The first ever BP Show and Shine held at the Perth Motorplex in WA had plenty on offer for those who wanted to look at shiny and not so shiny trucks both old and new. And as there was a tarp tying competition I figured I had to put the camera down and give it a go. And I got my butt kicked by a big fella from Wise Haulage. You had to tie 7 tarp ropes in 1 and a half minutes. I fumbled my way through 5 before the buzzer sounded. I therefore decided that the competition was stupid and stalked off to look at trucks and sulk a little. There was a big turn out despite the grey skies, 17 fleets were represented and 146 trucks turned up on the day. The show was organised by Julie Gavin who some may recognize by her distinctive pink Western Star prime mover. And judging by the turn out she was understandably chuffed with the event. The Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls had their rigs on display as well as a few familiar faces from Outback Truckers. Scattered amongst the bling there were also some historic bangers as well as some very original looking hard working big rigs. The West is after all big truck country. It wasn’t just a static show. All trucks were inspected by a panel of judges and awards were handed out in 11 categories. But if you wanted to be a little more hands-on you could try your hand at reversing a double road train for 30 bucks. The proceeds of which went to the McGrath Foundation. In fact other than covering the costs of the event all other proceeds went to the McGrath Foundation with resulted in over $15,000.00 being raised for the charity. If you wanted you could also try your hand at the tarp tying comp as I did or compete in the truck pull which saw plenty of sweaty red faces as the teams hauled a Mack Superliner down the course against the clock. All of which seemed like a lot of hard work to me, I would’ve tried something a little more sedate but the bloke running the jumping castle told me to bugger off. A bloke called Yogi won the tarp competition, while Matt Henderson took out the road train reversing gong with a very impressive 69 metres. The team from Wise Haulage proved they had some muscle and won the truck pulling competition. Winners Truck of the Show: Ryan Demasi Best Rigid: Tony Leete Best Tow Truck: Daynite Towing Best Truck 1997-2006: Perry Black Best Truck 2007-2012: Glenn Salamone Best Truck 2013-2016: Danny Matic Best Truck 1987-1996: All-Over Haulage- Chris Peterson Best Truck 1976-1986: Kim Gilbert Best Vintage: Greg Stampalia Best Fleet: Lee’s Transport People’s Choice Award: Jason Klingsporn Photo gallery - https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/events-news/1609/wa-truck-show-shines

Matt Wood, Owner/Driver / September 30, 2016 The Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of WA held it’s first ever display day in Freemantle recently. And as we found out there were plenty of old bangers on display for the public to have a gander at WA’s fickle spring weather was initially reasonably kind as the old load luggers rolled into the Bunnings car park. Some were highway heroes of yesteryear others more humble haulers. But, there was plenty of old iron on show. 45 trucks, big and small rolled up. Some on trailers, others roared into town with jake brakes blaring. Model T’s and Chevs from the 1920’s were on hand as well usual smattering of classic American iron from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Fargo Kew Des Curtis had an eye catching 1952 Fargo Kew on display. The UK built Fargo uses a side valve 6 cylinder to make about 35hp and will take a payload of 2.5 ton. Des opted to paint the old-timer in Western Australian Forestry Dept colours as these trucks saw service with Forestry. However, this one was actually found on a farm. "There was a bit of rust in it when I got it," says Des, "I made some things for it like the front bumper." The Fargo’s engine is bolted directly to the chassis which means there’s no engine mounts. The Fargo has a top speed of about 45mph according to Des. A Piece of Peterbilt Family History Without a doubt the most eye catching trucks on display were the 1963 Peterbilt 351A and the W Model Kenworth owned by Daniel Ridolfo. Back in 1963 Daniel’s father Vince made the bold move of buying a big Peterbilt for the growing Ridolfo fleet. This truck was actually the first Laurie O’Neil imported Peterbilt sold into WA. Under the bonnet is an NH250 Cummins. The old Spicer 4+4 set up was replaced with a 13-speed Roadranger. Vince Ridolfo passed away many years ago but Daniel tracked the Peterbilt down in Queensland before bringing it home and restoring it. After over 10-years of hard yakka the result is exceptional. The W model was the last truck that Vince purchased before his death and is beautifully presented. Daniel and his brother continued to run the Ridolfo business before selling the company to Qube in 2013. Big Red Box The sight of a butter box ACCO may bring back less than happy memories for some drivers. But, Kevin Lockyer’s 1970 2050 ACCO is a nice looking old jigger all the same. Under the cab is a Cummins V504 and a 5-speed ‘box. Of course ther’s the obligatory 2-speed diff out back. This truck is the result of a 2 year restoration, "It was a piece of shit when I bought it out of a wrecking yard," says Des. It actually took the purchase of 5 wrecked ACCO’s to make this one. Next on the list for Des is to find an old bogie trailer to stick behind it. Ryan’s Inter 4x4 I’ve got a soft spot for the old AB international pick-ups and D-series Dodges so Ryan Devenish’s AB120 Inter 4x4 definitely caught my eye. Under the bonnet is the old Aussie made 240 cubic-inch Gold Diamond 6 which is bolted to a 4-speed gear box. The Inter has a single speed transfer case. Ryan bought the truck from a mate in Kalgoorlie but it was originally from Victoria. It would’ve been a long drive as the AB only sits on about 80km/h on the open road. This truck is just a starter for Ryan as his next project is a Detroit powered KM Bedford. Original Character You’ve gotta love a truck that still has rabbit traps hanging off the head board. Morris Danks’ very…..er…..original 1925 Chevrolet 4 made quite an entrance to the show after it was unloaded off the trailer. It looks like it shouldn’t be running at all! Morris dragged it off a farm 15 years ago and only had to change the spark plug, leads and fan belt to get it to fire. It may not be show room but it had plenty of character. Lindsay Hill’s 1938 Chev was a very neat looking jigger that was hiding a couple of major improvements underneath. The truck is now powered by a GM Blue Flame 6 and is back by a Gear Vendors 4 speed with an electric overdrive to help it eat up the highway miles. "It cruises well," says Lindsay with a twinkle in his eye, "you’ve gotta keep an eye on it." Never one to shy away from a challenge Lindsay virtually scratch built the entire truck from a box of parts. If anyone was doubting Linday’s workmanship they only needed to check out the Huckster bodied 1923 T-Model Ford he had sitting on the tray of the Chev. Lindsay handled all of the coachwork himself and the result up close is pretty amazing. "It was originally a bucket of bits from three farm grave yards," says Lindsay. A Huckster body like this one was an early American style of parcel freight body used in the big cities like New York where the freight was sheltered but still easy to get at for loading and unloading. Lindsay also has a 1923 Dennis fire engine but it doesn’t get to see a lot of miles, "The wife won’t come out in it because it doesn’t have a windscreen, " he says with a grin. Foden Memories Another truck to make a noisy entrance was the 1952 FG Foden belonging to Jim Piercy. The old 150hp 6LX Gardiner had a rough and gruff note to it as Jim slotted it into it’s parking spot. It’s safe to say that turning circle was never a strong point on any of these Pommie lorries. This one wasn’t bought as a project though, Jim actually bought it to work back in 1967. For over 20 years it hauled grain dust from the Freemantle wharf to Jim’s cattle farm, it originally had a big bin on its back. The little Gardner would’ve kept Jim’s hands busy on the 4+2 gear boxes. "She’s got heaps of torque though," says Jim, "And she’s always been reliable." As the day grew a little gloomy and rain started sweeping in from the Indian Ocean it was time to go. But for a first outing the WA HCVC showed off some of the best oldies that the West has to offer. We look forward to the next one! Photo gallery - https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/events-news/1609/golden-oldies-plentiful-in-wa

WABCO to Showcase OptiFlow TrailerSkirt Aerodynamic Solution at ATA Management Conference and Exhibition Wabco Press Release / September 29, 2016 WABCO will showcase its OptiFlow™ TrailerSkirt™ at the 2016 American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference and Exhibition (MCE), being held October 1-4 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV. The OptiFlow TrailerSkirt, a lightweight aerodynamic side skirt for trailers, is EPA SmartWay and C.A.R.B. approved and can provide more than five percent fuel savings at U.S. highway speeds. The aerodynamic solution features a unique, patented one-bolt mono clamp technology for fast installation as well as material that is lighter and more rigid than most comparable aerodynamic solutions currently available in the North American market. Earlier this year WABCO acquired Canada-based Laydon Composites Ltd. (LCL), which has enabled WABCO to further strengthen its position in the global industry and in the North American market. WABCO, with now more than 25 years’ experience in aerodynamics, has been at the forefront of commercial truck aerodynamic solutions with products that include nose fairings, deflectors, trailer skirts, and tails. “WABCO offers fleets a comprehensive portfolio of aerodynamic products that help them improve operating efficiency and meet today’s strict environmental regulations,” said Jon Morrison, WABCO President, Americas. “We are excited to be showing our OptiFlow TrailerSkirtaerodynamic solution at ATA.” Also on display will be WABCO’s industry leading line of air disc brakes (ADBs), including MAXXUS™, which provide up to 15 percent shorter stopping distance than the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 requirements, and 10 percent shorter stopping distance compared to traditional drum brakes. Please visit WABCO at Booth #822 at the 2016 ATA MCE. Product experts will be available to answer related questions.

WABCO Unveils Innovative Electro-Pneumatic Parking Brake for Trucks and Buses Wabco Press Release / September 21, 2016 WABCO today unveiled its innovative OnHand™ electro-pneumatic parking brake control for trucks and buses. WABCO’s OnHand, featuring unique valve engineering and advanced mechatronics, marks the commercial vehicle industry’s first stand-alone parking brake control and supplies yet another technological building block toward autonomous driving. Creatively engineered to be the industry’s leanest and only solution of its kind that can operate independently of the vehicle’s air processing unit, OnHand braking technology provides automatic engage and release functionality. Actuated via a dashboard switch, the control system also checks and validates the safe parking of the truck and trailer combination, including on sloping roads. In addition, OnHand can provide back-up braking in case of electrical service-brake failure in redundant systems for autonomous driving applications. Using only three internal valves and requiring less pneumatic piping than conventional parking brake controls, OnHand’s compactly designed innovation increases installation flexibility for vehicle makers, improves reliability of braking performance and further eases on-the-road serviceability. It also enables multiple braking-related options such as Anti-Lock Braking Support during secondary braking and Advanced Hill Start Aid for inclined roads. Furthermore, OnHand seamlessly integrates with WABCO’s mBSP™ modular braking system platform, a technology breakthrough featuring the commercial vehicle industry’s highest degree of standardization. Another industry first-to-market in 2014, and now in series production, mBSP offers vehicle makers flexibility to equip truck and bus platforms with either anti-lock braking (ABS) or electronic braking (EBS) systems around the world, avoiding the design and production overheads of different configurations. “OnHand represents our industry’s first stand-alone parking brake control for trucks and buses, and it once again demonstrates WABCO’s differentiation as technology partner of choice for vehicle makers globally,” said Jorge Solis, WABCO President, Truck, Bus and Car Original Equipment Manufacturers Division. “This technology mobilizes vehicle intelligence because it is uniquely independent of the vehicle’s air management system, resulting in easier adaptability for truck and bus platforms globally and higher flexibility for manufacturers to install OnHand.” OnHand technology leverages WABCO’s decades of experience in engineering and manufacturing diverse industry-leading combined mechanical and electronic – mechatronic – control systems. Helping to improve vehicle safety and driver comfort, OnHand is superbly designed to scale cost effectively to meet specific needs of original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Compliant with ISO 26262, the international standard for functional safety of electrical and electronic automotive systems, OnHand supports and enhances modern cockpits and dashboards. WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 WABCO will showcase at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 industry-leading technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles worldwide. This includes the latest technologies in braking, advanced driver assistance, fleet management solutions and aerodynamics. WABCO in Hall 16 at Booth B10 Hanover Exhibition Center; Hanover, Germany Press Days: September 21 and 22 Public Days: September 22 through 29 For all information about WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016, click on WABCO’s home page. WABCO’s Live Demonstrations at IAA Innovation Stage 2016 WABCO will demonstrate daily its latest aerodynamics technologies for commercial vehicles as well as its fleet management security solution at the outdoor exhibition area, north of Hall 26. .

WABCO Showcases Industry-Leading Aerodynamics Solutions for Trailers Wabco Press Release / September 21, 2016 WABCO today announced the world premiere of OptiFlow™ AutoTail as part of its showcase of industry-leading aerodynamics technologies at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 from September 22 - 29, 2016, in Hanover, Germany. OptiFlow AutoTail represents the next generation of WABCO’s OptiFlow Tail, the best performing tail in Europe as validated by fleets. WABCO will also feature its OptiFlow TrailerSkirt for the first time in Europe, following WABCO’s acquisition of Canada-based aerodynamic systems company Laydon Composites Ltd. in April 2016. WABCO’s OptiFlow AutoTail now features automatic deployment and retraction of aerodynamic tail panels based on driving speed. OptiFlow AutoTail automatically deploys at 75 km/h and closes at 15 km/h, ensuring that the device is consistently used at speeds that maximize aerodynamic fuel savings. Validated by test track performance and fleets, OptiFlow AutoTail delivers fuel savings up to 1.1 liters per 100 km at European highway speeds (85 km/h) and reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 2.8 t per trailer per year. OptiFlow TrailerSkirt provides a lightweight aerodynamic system available to commercial vehicle fleets in the North American market. OptiFlow TrailerSkirt has demonstrated fuel savings of more than 1.8 liters per 100 km at U.S. highway speeds of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). Complementing OptiFlow SideWings for the European market, OptiFlow TrailerSkirt features a unique, patented one-bolt mono clamp technology for fast installation as well as material that is lighter and more rigid than most comparable aerodynamic solutions currently available in the North American market. “By launching OptiFlow AutoTail and introducing OptiFlow TrailerSkirt in Europe, WABCO continues to demonstrate its technology leadership and commitment to improving the efficiency of trailers for manufacturers, fleet operators and transport companies worldwide,” said Christiaan Verschueren, WABCO Vice President, Trailer Systems. “We are especially pleased to showcase a Laydon Composites Ltd. product in Europe for the first time since it joined the WABCO family earlier this year, demonstrating at IAA 2016 the global reach of WABCO’s aerodynamic solutions.” Following WABCO’s acquisition of Laydon Composites Ltd., WABCO’s OptiFlow aerodynamic product portfolio now provides a full range of aerodynamic solutions for commercial vehicles worldwide. Aerodynamic products reduce air drag of heavy-duty trucks and trailers traveling long distances at highway speeds. Thereby, aerodynamic solutions lower vehicle fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. In addition, they help to empower tomorrow’s fleets by improving their operational efficiency and environmental performance. At IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016, WABCO will also showcase its differentiation by mobilizing vehicle intelligence and empowering tomorrow’s fleets as the company offers a powerful portfolio of industry-leading technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles worldwide. This includes the latest technologies in braking, advanced driver assistance, fleet management solutions and aerodynamics. WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 WABCO in Hall 16 at Booth B10 Hanover Exhibition Center; Hanover, Germany Press Days: September 21 and 22 Public Days: September 22 through 29 For all information about WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016, click on WABCO’s home page. WABCO’s Live Demonstrations at IAA Innovation Stage 2016 WABCO will demonstrate daily its latest aerodynamics technologies for commercial vehicles as well as its fleet management security solution at the outdoor exhibition area, north of Hall 26. .

WABCO Unveils Breakthrough Technology to Help Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists in City Traffic Wabco Press Release / September 21, 2016 WABCO today announced its OnCity™ Urban Turning Assist system, the company’s breakthrough technology to help protect pedestrians and cyclists in city traffic. OnCity, a unique and convenient single-sensor solution invented by WABCO, is the commercial vehicle industry’s first collision avoidance system that uses LiDAR technology for the purpose of object detection. Innovatively engineered for trucks, buses and tractor-trailers, WABCO’s OnCity advanced driver assistance system also delivers the industry’s widest field-of-view – up to 180 degrees – using a single sensor for safety monitoring to help protect vulnerable road users located on the vehicle’s blindside. OnCity detects and distinguishes moving and stationary objects, including pedestrians and cyclists. OnCity Urban Turning Assist visually and acoustically alerts the driver regarding a potential collision with unprotected road users both right before and during a turning maneuver. It can autonomously apply the brake to prevent collisions should the driver fail to take corrective action. OnCity performs reliably with high precision during nighttime, in blinding sunshine and even in low visibility conditions. According to a 2013 report issued by a major truck manufacturer based in Europe, more than 20,000 vulnerable road users are injured or die annually due to collisions with commercial vehicles in cities across Europe. “A major road safety opportunity is to prevent traffic injuries and fatalities in urban areas where many thousands of lives can be saved annually around the world,” said Jorge Solis, WABCO President, Truck, Bus and Car Original Equipment Manufacturers Division. “Individuals pushing baby strollers, children, cyclists, senior citizens – indeed, everyone can be vulnerable on city streets. With WABCO’s OnCity technology, trucks and buses in community traffic become safer, particularly at intersections where the risk to encounter vulnerable road users is the highest.” “Our new OnCity system is yet another example how WABCO differentiates by pioneering vehicle safety technologies, which also continue to help pave the way toward autonomous driving in partnership with the transportation industry,” said Solis. WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 WABCO will showcase at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 industry-leading technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles worldwide. This includes the latest technologies in braking, advanced driver assistance, fleet management solutions and aerodynamics. WABCO in Hall 16 at Booth B10 Hanover Exhibition Center; Hanover, Germany Press Days: September 21 and 22 Public Days: September 22 through 29 For all information about WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016, click on WABCO’s home page. WABCO’s Live Demonstrations at IAA Innovation Stage 2016 WABCO will demonstrate daily its latest aerodynamics technologies for commercial vehicles as well as its fleet management security solution at the outdoor exhibition area, north of Hall 26. .

WABCO Introduces OnGuardMAX Advanced Emergency Braking System Wabco Press Release / September 21, 2016 WABCO today introduced its OnGuardMAX™ advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) for trucks and buses, which provides up to full braking when confronted with both stationary and moving vehicles ahead. WABCO is the industry’s first OEM independent system supplier to offer AEBS and OnGuardMAX marks another advanced technology that further enables automated driving for commercial vehicles. Equipped with state-of-the-art 77GHz radar and a high-resolution camera, WABCO’s OnGuardMAX detects impending rear-end collisions with vehicles ahead and alerts the driver with distinct acoustic, visual and haptic warnings. Unless the driver takes appropriate corrective action, OnGuardMAX performs up to full braking when approaching both stationary and moving vehicles to bring the host vehicle to a complete stop, for example, when nearing a traffic jam. Performing with high precision, even in low visibility conditions, OnGuardMAX meets regulatory standards globally for AEBS. In addition, the OnGuardMAX system provides lane-departure warning (LDW) functionality, which complies with government LDW mandates now in effect or expected in numerous countries around the world. OnGuardMAX’s system will also have capability for full braking from highway speed. OnGuardMAX also brings commercial vehicles closer to automated highway driving. For example, its Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) functionality will come with integrated Stop’n’Go functionality, which is intended to free up the driver from frequent acceleration and deceleration during traffic jams while maintaining a pre-set speed and a safe distance to the vehicle ahead. The system will also intelligently maintain speed control based on traffic flow. “Our OnGuardMAX technology reflects WABCO’s ability to mobilize vehicle intelligence for original equipment manufacturers and fleets on our industry’s path toward autonomous driving,” said Jorge Solis, WABCO President, Truck, Bus and Car Original Equipment Manufacturers Division. “OnGuardMAX also significantly expands WABCO’s portfolio of advanced vehicle safety solutions engineered from our original OnGuard collision mitigation system.” WABCO’s OnGuard™ collision mitigation system (CMS) was launched in 2007 in North America, the first CMS with active braking in that region. Industry-leading OnGuard systems have contributed strongly to enhancing vehicle safety with more than 45 billion highway miles clocked in the field on over 200 fleets, reporting a reduction of up to 87% in rear-end collisions. In addition, WABCO’s OnGuardACTIVE™ system reacts to both moving and decelerating vehicles ahead. It can autonomously apply the brakes and bring the vehicle to a complete stop, helping to avoid or mitigate rear-end collisions. WABCO is further differentiated as the commercial vehicle industry’s leading global supplier of solutions for collision mitigation and advanced emergency braking systems. Today, more than 250,000 OnGuard branded systems are on the road globally, resulting in vehicle and road safety improvements that help to avoid fatalities, injuries and accident-related costs. WABCO’s portfolio of OnGuard safety systems also improves driver effectiveness across all levels of experience in all regions of the world. WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 WABCO will showcase at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016 industry-leading technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles worldwide. This includes the latest technologies in braking, advanced driver assistance, fleet management solutions and aerodynamics. WABCO in Hall 16 at Booth B10 Hanover Exhibition Center; Hanover, Germany Press Days: September 21 and 22 Public Days: September 22 through 29 For all information about WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2016, click on WABCO’s home page. WABCO’s Live Demonstrations at IAA Innovation Stage 2016 WABCO will demonstrate daily its latest aerodynamics technologies for commercial vehicles as well as its fleet management security solution at the outdoor exhibition area, north of Hall 26. .

Daimler Trucks Asia Presents World Premiere of Fuso’s eCanter at IAA 2016 Daimler Press Release / September 21, 2016 Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA) presents the world premiere of the small series of FUSO’s light-duty electric truck “eCanter” at the 2016 IAA international commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. Through customer trials in real-life conditions, the zero emission FUSO eCanter proved to be technically reliable and economic, with enough mileage and payload for daily use The small series will be delivered to customers in the US, Japan and Europe from late 2017 DTA will further increase its global presence in mature markets and growth markets with the application of Daimler’s cutting-edge technologies in electric trucks and robust and powerful trucks Mr. Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, said: "The new all-electric FUSO eCanter underlines our commitment to thinking ahead and developing sustainable and reliable transportation solutions to benefit our customers, society and even our planet. DTA has been the center of competence for hybrid and electric technologies within Daimler Trucks. Based on our successful customer trials, we will bring the latest innovations to the world.” Hannover, Germany; Kawasaki, Japan; Chennai, India – Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA) presents the world premiere of the small series of FUSO’s light-duty all-electric truck “eCanter” at the 2016 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) - the biggest international commercial vehicle show to be held from 22nd to 29th September in Hanover, Germany. Six years after the first generation of the all-electric truck premiered at the 2010 IAA, the third generation model will be presented with further technical developments. These developments come from customer trials of the second generation vehicle, the “FUSO Canter E-CELL”, done in 2013 in Japan, 2014 in Portugal and currently in Stuttgart, Germany. The continuous trials have enabled Daimler Trucks Asia to design the zero-emission FUSO eCanter to cater to the specific needs of customers and make it perfectly suitable for everyday use in short range delivery and inner city transportation. The eCanter can travel a range of more than 100km, exceeding the average distance that many short-radius distribution trucks usually travel per day – for example, in Japan, on an average, 80% of light-duty inner-city delivery trucks travel about 50km a day. Based on this knowledge gained from the customer trials, DTA has developed a modular concept for batteries that offers more mileage and/or more payload depending on the individual needs of customers. A package of three to five lithium-ion batteries has been lined-up with a capacity of 13.8kWh each. Five battery packs are fitted onto the vehicle with a permissible gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 7.5 tons while securing 100kms of daily mileage, giving customers a flexible option based on their usage. Charging the batteries at 200 volts takes around seven hours, while the use of a rapid DC charging system can reduce it to less than one hour (73kW, 80% of battery capacity). Key components also include an electric motor with an output of 185kW and maximum torque of 380Nm. In addition, the FUSO eCanter has reached a payload of 2-3 tons, an amount necessary for customers to operate their fleet efficiently. At the same time, DTA’s preliminary analysis has shown that the model can save about 1,000 Euro per10,000km and cut operating costs by up to 64 percent compared to conventional diesel trucks. Coupled with a reduction in maintenance costs of around 30 percent, this makes the vehicle an economical solution for customers who would be able to pay back the initial cost in two years’ time. Mr. Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, said: "The new all-electric FUSO eCanter underlines our commitment to thinking ahead and developing sustainable and reliable transportation solutions to the benefit of our customers, society and even our planet. DTA has been the center of competence for hybrid and electric technologies within Daimler Trucks. Based on our successful customer trials, we will bring the latest innovations to the world.” The small series of eCanter will be delivered from late 2017 in the US, Japan and Europe to selected customers who are related to inter-city delivery services. Being a front runner in the fully-electric light-duty truck segment, DTA has so far invested 40mn Euro in the development of electric driving including research and development. The zero emission model will be manufactured at DTA’s state-of-the art production plant in Tramagal, Portugal and Kawasaki, Japan. Connectivity for eCanter The eCanter at the IAA will give visitors a glimpse into the future of Daimler Commercial Vehicles’ connectivity technologies. This includes not only a digital key and meter console but also a digital control panel in the center console. Other digitalized features include LED lights, air conditioning, music player and navigation. The Connectivity concept for Daimler’s booth at the event pertains to three main features: vehicle health, travel history and task allocation. Vehicle health is the ability to scan various parts of the vehicle to detect abnormalities. Travel history allows a driver to see how much distance has been covered per day as well as the status of charge over the driving period. There is also data to show the distribution and energy efficiency of drivers’ journeys. Task allocation describes the interaction between the digital control panel and the fleet manager’s personal computer. It can send tasks to a driver who can then automatically relay the pick-up and delivery time back to their fleet manager. .

Hino Trucks Press Release / September 12, 2016 The Hino Sugaware race team entered Silk Way Rally 2016 as a training race. Starting in Russia, the rally took contestants through Kazakhstan and then into China, concluding at the finish line in Beijing. .

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor's V6 will generate 450 horsepower Automotive News / September 29, 2016 The twin turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine in the second generation of Ford’s over-the-top off-road performance truck, the F-150 Raptor, generates 450 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque, Ford said today at the State Fair of Texas. Those outputs make it the most powerful V6 engine available in a pickup. Ford also says the new Raptor, which has an aluminum body riding on a new and stiffer frame, is EPA-rated at 15 mpg city, 18 highway and 16 combined -- a 23 percent improvement of the 2014, V-8 powered model. There was no Raptor offered in the 2015 and 2016 model years as Ford retooled and launched the new generation of the F-150, on which the Raptor is based. The Raptor is the first Ford product to use a new 10-speed automatic transmission, jointly developed with General Motors. GM is using a version of the 10-speed transmission in its Camaro ZL1, track ready sports coupe. Raptor goes on sale in December with a starting price of $49,520 including shipping. Ford Press Release - https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/09/29/all-new-ford-f-150-raptor-draws-a-line-in-the-sand-with-450-hors.html . .

Land Line (OOIDA) / September 29, 2016 A legal interpretation issued by The Transportation Safety Administration moves the industry one step closer to having the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) a universal access card for high-security facilities. TSA is providing notice it has issued a legal interpretation of the phrase “field of transportation” in reference to the statute that requires the agency to charge fees to recover the cost of its vetting services. The notice was published on Regulations.gov, on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The interpretation clarifies which individuals TSA may collect and retain fees from for providing background checks and other vetting services, including the TWIC program. The clarification specifically addresses questions TSA said it received from employers and employees in the chemical industry as to whether they fall within the scope of “field of transportation” in TSA’s vetting services. “This interpretation states that the ‘field of transportation’ under 6 U.S.C. 469(a) includes an individual, activity, entity, facility, owner, or operator that is subject to regulation by TSA, DOT, or the U.S. Coast Guard, and individuals applying for trusted traveler programs,” the notice states. Doug Morris, OOIDA security operations director said the legal definition is one more step in the move toward making TWIC a universal access card. “Originally the TWIC was only supposed to be for maritime and port facilities,” he said. “Now, it opens it up for basically anybody involved in transportation to get a TWIC card.” According to the supplementary information published in the notice, both federal agencies and industry stakeholders had approached TSA at various times over the last decade, asking whether their employees could enroll for security vetting and pay TSA for the service. More recently, the agency says it received inquiries from other industries “concerning the delineation of where transportation begins and ends” and that the answer was “not so apparent” prior to issuing the clarification.

Transport Engineer / September 29, 2016 In a UK first, bulk tanker operator Clugston Distribution Services has taken delivery of three Range T Mini Mid-Lift (MML) ADRs with PET regs for use with petroleum tankers. Supplied by dealer Thompson Commercials Hull, the 44-tonne Range T460.26 MML tractors have Safe Loading Pass (SLP) certification required by all petroleum refineries. The Range Ts are additional vehicles for Clugston’s 100-strong fleet and are fitted with hydraulic-driven pumping equipment and alloy wheels. As well as meeting strict compliance requirements, whole life operating costs were key to the selection. “Together with Thompson Commercials we’ve worked hard to prepare these vehicles for use within the fuel petroleum transportation sector,” says Clugston’s fleet manager Nigel Graham. “They have to meet the stringent requirements of ADR and SLP so that they can be used to get in and out of the UK’s fuel refineries, and we are extremely pleased with the final result.” The operator has been a Renault customer for 10 years and says its commercial vehicle range is “ideally suited” to its activities. “The whole life operating costs of the Premium tractor unit was the lowest we have experienced and the Range T is looking to be just as impressive – with the MML derivative also being significantly lighter than the standard 6x2, we will see increased payloads and yet lower running costs,” says Graham. He continues: “The Range T MML also offers greater flexibility across our fleet with the extra chassis space for fitment of our various ancillary equipment requirements. We also take maximum advantage of the Renault Optifleet on board fuel management system, vehicle tracking and various fuel economy pack driver aids that are all available within the Range T.” .

For those of you who weren't able to attend the IAA show, these videos give you a feel of how in-depth, professional and vast it was. And yes, free German beer and food is endlessly on tap.

Wells Fargo will pay $24 million to settle allegations that it mistreated members of the military -- including illegally repossessing their cars. CNN Money / September 29, 2016 The bank, already reeling from a scandal over fake accounts, will pay $4.1 million to settle Justice Department charges that it seized 413 cars owned by service members without a court order, a violation of federal law. The Justice Department said the illegal repossessions took place from 2008 to 2015. [Where were the authorities those EIGHT years? Sleeping at the switch or lobbied to intentionally look the other way?] The first complaint came from an Army National Guardsman in North Carolina who said the bank seized his car while he was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Wells Fargo then auctioned his car and tried to collect a balance of $10,000 from his family, the Justice Department said. The bank will pay $10,000 to each of the affected service members, plus lost equity in the cars with interest, and repair their credit. The bank was fined $20 million more by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for breaking three provisions of the same law by denying members of the military certain banking protections, including capping their interest rates at 6%. Those violations began in 2006, the OCC said. Wells Fargo said in a statement that it apologizes for not living up to its commitment of ensuring that all service members "receive the appropriate benefits and protections." "We have been notifying and fully compensating customers and will complete this work in 60 days," the company said. News of the penalties came as Wells Fargo and CEO John Stumpf faced the wrath of the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing about the millions of fake bank and credit card accounts, plus claims that it retaliated against whistleblowers. The company is also facing lawsuits from shareholders, former employees and customers.

With the introduction of Volvo's "I-Shift with crawler gears" (aka. mDrive HD) in the North American market product, Volvo will soon discontinue the legacy Maxitorque transmissions. Though volumes are low, they put standard Volvo policy aside for a time until "I-Shift with crawler gears" could be launched. The dealers are the only people that push Maxitorque........Mack brand management doesn't. In five years, you won't be able to order a manual transmission. In order to meet future emissions and fuel economy targets, the AMT is the only way (amongst current known technology). I personally prefer the former Mack Truck's signature triple-countershaft transmission design, particularly for vocational/severe service, and remain angered over Volvo terminating the plan of Mack engineers to apply AMT technology to the Maxitorque transmission line-up. No doubt, all those Mack brand trucks you saw at your dealer with vendor rears also had vendor steer axles.

This spectacular video allows you to meet Navistar CEO Troy Clarke, the man who, supported by his "Paccar gang", has successfully turned around a US truckmaker and put it once more on a successful path. He deserves a lot of credit and respect.

Low floor.....hybrid......alternative fuels.......electric.........Scania offers it all - today. Because the culture at Scania has the company developing product so far ahead of the curve, it allows the bus maker to offer cutting edge designs that are mature, high-performing and trouble-free. From Stockholm to London, from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Scania buses help cities around the world provide comfortable and efficient transport while reducing their environmental footprint.

International Trucks Press Release / September 29, 2016 .

Freightliner Trucks Press Release / September 29, 2016 Load One is an expedite trucking company out of Taylor, Michigan. They operate 385 units, the majority of which are Freightliner models. Load One puts safety first by spec’ing their Freightliner trucks with the Detroit Assurance™ suite of safety systems. It includes Active Brake Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Departure Warning. All in one platform. .

Survey: Speed limiter usage widespread among fleets, ELD adoption flat despite mandate Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / September 29, 2016 More than 85 percent of fleet respondents in a recent survey equip their fleet’s trucks with speed limiters, according to a survey performed this year by the American Transportation Research Institute. The survey also showed adoption of electronic logging devices in 2015 was flat compared to 2014. ATRI’s reported figure comes less than a month into the public comment period for a proposed rule from the U.S. DOT to require nearly all trucks in the U.S. to be equipped with speed limiting devices. Since 2011, ATRI has asked survey respondents in its annual Operational Costs of Trucking survey to report whether they use speed limiters (aka speed governors). This year, 85.1 percent said they utilized limiters in 2015, and 85 percent of such fleets said they use limiters on 100 percent of their fleet’s trucks. Another 7 percent, ATRI says, use speed limiters on 70 to 99 percent of their trucks. The most common speed limit was 65 mph, ATRI notes. Though ATRI considers use of 85.1 percent of survey respondents — who accounted for more than 107,000 power units — “consistently high,” the figure is the lowest since ATRI began asking the question of survey respondents for 2011. In 2014, speed limiter usage was nearly 92 percent. In 2011, speed limiter use was reported at 93.2 percent, and in 2012 and 2013, speed limiter usage was 86 percent and 86.8 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, use of electronic logging devices by surveyed fleets remained flat, at 63 percent. The DOT published in December 2015 a final rule to mandate the use of electronic logging devices to keep records of duty status, which likely had little effect on the survey results, given its late-in-the-year publication.. The rule takes effect December 2017. “It is assumed that this figure (63 percent) will increase toward 100 percent as the industry responds” to the mandate’s requirements, ATRI writes. ATRI’s Operational Costs report found that carriers’ costs fell in 2015, primarily due to cheaper fuel. Click here to read CCJ‘s coverage of the report.

Overdrive / September 29, 2016 The state of that enter the state from other states after the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association reached a $44.4 million tax refund agreement with the state. The state’s Supreme Court agreed earlier this year with OOIDA’s challenge that the registration and decal taxes in the state were unconstitutional and discriminatory against out-of-state truckers who drive mostly in other states. OOIDA established that the taxes resulted in a higher per-mile tax rate being imposed on out-of-state trucks, and therefore violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. “We fought against a number of similar taxes back in the 1980s and 1990s and the states lost in every one of those cases,” said OOIDA President Jim Johnston. “Given that history, we were shocked that New York even thought they could get away with this blatantly unconstitutional tax. The amount for the New York HUT decal is $19, which may seem insignificant, but if other states were to do the same thing, it would be huge – collectively and in administrative costs.” New York didn’t appeal the ruling and agreed to negotiate with OOIDA to develop a class-wide refund program. OOIDA said class members will receive a “virtually complete tax refund, plus interest, subject to attorneys’ fees, based upon the state’s reapportionment of the taxes in conformity with constitutional criteria.” OOIDA said it will also ask the court to require carriers who charged any registration or decal payments to owner-operators to reimburse the full amount of refunds for these taxes to the owner-operators. The refund program will become effective after class notice and final court approval. Prime Inc. (No. 15 on the CCJ Top 250) sued the state for nearly $500,000 for repayment of the two taxes ruled unconstitutional in OOIDA’s lawsuit. Another lawsuit brought against New York by the American Trucking Associations and a number of individual truckers claiming the New York State Thruway Authority charges excessive tolls is still under contention. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January froze tolls on the state’s thruway through at least 2020.

If a small business owner acted alike Stumpf and was caught, he'd be in jail. But when you lead a large company, you can avoid punishment, as the senior management at VW has done.

The Washington Post / September 29, 2016 For the second time in two weeks, John Stumpf, the long-time chief executive of Wells Fargo, entered into the halls of Congress to take a bipartisan beating from lawmakers over the bank's role in a scandal involving the creation of hundreds of thousands of sham accounts to meet aggressive sales goals. "Fraud is fraud and theft and is theft. What happened at Wells Fargo over the course of many years cannot be described any other way," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., called the case "some of the egregious fraud we have seen since the financial crisis." Wells Fargo has turned into a "school for scoundrels," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. Stumpf has repeatedly apologized for those misdeeds and agreed earlier this week to forfeit $41 million in his own personal unvested stock and go without a 2016 bonus. "I am fully accountable for all unethical sales practices in our retail banking business, and I am fully committed to fixing this issue, strengthening our culture, and taking the necessary actions to restore our customers' trust," he told the House Financial Services Committee. But the hearing quickly turned hostile as some lawmakers called for Stumpf to resign and questioned whether he should be criminally prosecuted. "Why shouldn't you be in jail?" Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., asked. "When prosecutors get hold of you, you are going to have a lot of fun." "Do you think what you did was criminal?" Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia, asked. Stumpf responded that he had led the bank with "courage," but was interrupted again. Several lawmakers raised the prospect of calling executives from other banks to testify about their sales tactics, and the practice of cross selling--an effort to persuade customers to sign up for multiple products like a checking or savings accounts. Others called for a separate hearing to hear from former Wells Fargo workers, who were either fired for setting up unauthorized accounts or were fired for not meeting the company's aggressive sales goals. "These were people trying to make a living," said Rep. Al Green, D-Texas. "These people deserve a fair day, not just an exit from your company. . . They deserve an opportunity to be heard." Stumpf was repeatedly questioned about when he, and others in the bank's leadership, realized there was a problem. Hensarling noted the Federal Reserve had found the bank had weak internal controls in 2011 in its mortgage lending business. "If you saw the problem in one area of the business, why wouldn't you do it for the other?," he said. For years, Stumpf has strived to separate Wells Fargo, one of the largest banks in the country, from the controversy that has typically dogged many of its biggest competitors. But now the San Francisco-based institution has become entangled in a controversy of its own after acknowledging that it fired 5,300 employees over five years for setting up unauthorized accounts customers didn't request. In some cases, customers were charged fees for accounts they didn't know they had or employees moved money from authorized accounts in order to create a fake one. "You fired 5,300 people, you took 5,300 good Americans and turned them into felons with a system that you created, benefited from and drove your stock price up by bragging about your levels of new accounts," said Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif. In one tense exchange, Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said Stumpf was running a "criminal enterprise," noting that the bank had been penalized multiple times during the CEO's leadership, and should step down. "I serve at the pleasure of the board," Stumpf responded. "Then the entire board needs to go," Meeks said. "Something is going wrong with this bank. If the bucks stops with you" then you should be held responsible. "The board has that power," Stumpf said. In another exchange, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., noted that Stumpf sold $13 million in stock around the time he learned of the problem in 2013. "My question was did you dump the stock after you found out about the fraudulent accounts," Maloney said. "Because it seems the timing is very very suspicious and raises a very serious question." Stumpf said the sale was unrelated. The controversy has already blossomed with investigations being conducted by the Department of Labor and federal prosecutors. On Wednesday, California Treasurer John Chiang imposed sanctions, saying the state would not invest in the firm's stock or use many of its services for a year. On Thursday, several lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Wells Fargo and senior officials violated the law by misleading investors. Wells Fargo was fined $185 million and has returned more than $2 million to customers who were charged fees for accounts they didn't authorize. Stumpf said the bank's efforts were costly even before any fines were levied or refunds paid. Just the paperwork involved in opening and closing the sham accounts cost the institution $10 million. This was not a money-making scheme, he said. "We have a culture based on ethics, and doing what's right," Stumpf said. "I stand with the people who are doing the right thing." As the hearing dragged into its third hour, Stumpf was asked about the show "Undercover Boss" and if he had ever served as a teller when visiting one of the bank's more than 6,000 branches and experienced the pressure to sell customers more products. "I'm not trained or permitted to do that," he said. .

Our Secretary of Transportation, ex-Charlotte, North Carolina mayor Anthony Foxx, has no clue what he is talking about. No surprise given he lacks any and all “qualifications” applicable to the position. City mayor…..transportation…..parallels? NOT If the U.S. transports freight more efficiently in the years ahead, which I fully expect, to both reduce emissions and increase profitability, the number of trucks on America's roads will decrease.