kscarbel2

Fleet Owner / June 7, 2016 In the first evaluation of this technology for a Class 8 refuse vehicle, Mack Trucks is showcasing a LR model refuse chassis retrofitted with Wrightspeed's "Route 1000" powertrain here at WasteExpo 2016. Designed as an alternative driveline to conventional piston engine and transmission systems, The Route is an electric vehicle powertrain that can provide "unlimited range and reduced fuel costs for today's refuse, delivery and mass transit markets," according to Wrightspeed. "Mack is the refuse industry leader because we're not afraid to pioneer new ideas and innovations," said Dennis Slagle, president of Mack Trucks. "Wrightspeed shares this pioneering spirit, which is why we're eager to evaluate their Route powertrain technology." The Wrightspeed Route powertrain uses electricity to deliver 100% of the vehicle's propulsion. The company says the system features an advanced, plug-in-capable battery pack that provides a range of up to 24 miles on electric power. When the batteries' charge is depleted, Wrightspeed's 80 kW "fuel agnostic" Fulcrum turbine generator recharges the batteries, enabling Route-equipped vehicles to have unlimited range with refueling, Wrightspeed says. Additional recharging comes from the Route's 730 kW regenerative braking system, which generates electricity as the vehicle comes to a stop. Regenerative braking helps Route-equipped vehicles cut down on maintenance costs, Wrighspeed notes, "as braking force — and subsequent brake wear — is significantly decreased." Electricity from the battery pack powers four electric motors, which the company says allows the Route to power vehicles up to 66,000 lbs. on grades as steep as 40%. With full torque available from zero rpm, Wrightspeed says The Route provides a driving experience comparable to diesel-powered trucks. Wrightspeed counts FedEx, Ratto Group and New Zealand Bus among early customers. "At Wrightspeed, we're focused on designing the best-performing powertrains for forward-looking OEMs and fleet operators," said Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed. "Mack represents one of the most innovative manufacturers in the refuse industry, and we're proud to showcase our technology alongside their Mack LR model." Wrightspeed “Route” introduction and VIDEO - http://www.wrightspeed.com/the-route-powertrain Related reading: http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38533-tesla-co-founder-electrified-about-garbage-trucks/#comment-275237 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/39936-wrightspeed-unveils-new-turbine-range-extender-for-medium-and-heavy-duty-electric-powertrains-30-more-efficient-than-current-microturbine-generator/#comment-289053 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37393-fedex%E2%80%99s-new-electric-trucks-get-a-boost-from-diesel-turbines/#comment-26342 FYI: The current Mack VP of N.A. sales worked one year at Wrightspeed in 2013 (he changes jobs annually). (http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44647-mack-trucks-names-senior-vp-of-sales-for-north-america/#comment-329486)

Navistar Reports First Profit in Three Years Transport Topics / June 7, 2016 Navistar International Corp., the parent company of the International truck brand, said it turned its first profit in three years as second quarter 2016 net income reached $4 million, or five cents per diluted share. That compares with a net loss of $64 million, or 78 cents, in the year-earlier period, it said. The company said revenues in the quarter ending April 30 were $2.2 billion, down 18% compared with $2.7 billion in the second quarter last year. “For the first time since we launched our turnaround more than three years ago, Navistar reported a quarterly profit,” Troy Clarke, Navistar CEO said in a statement. “Our performance this quarter begins to demonstrate the earnings potential of this company. The fact that we earned a profit despite lower Class 8 truck volumes that impacted the entire industry, underscores the tremendous progress we continue to make in managing our costs effectively and improving our operations.” Two of the company’s four main business units saw income rise in the quarter: the parts segment increased to $176 million — a quarterly record — from $133 million a year earlier, while the financing unit’s income rose to $25 million, up from $22 million in the year-earlier period, it said. The truck unit had a loss of $23 million compared with a loss of $51 million a year earlier, and global operations reported a loss of $1 million, compared with $1 million in profit in the same period one year ago, it said. For the second half of 2016, Navistar said it lowered its industry guidance range by 20,000 units, due to softening Class 8 market conditions. “While we were net income positive in the second quarter, it will now be difficult for us to be profitable for the entire year given the tougher than anticipated market conditions, primarily due to the lower outlook for Class 8 industry volumes,” Clarke said. “We are confident we will generate and implement additional performance improvements to partially offset current industry conditions.”

Navistar Reports First Quarterly Profit in 3 Years Heavy Duty Trucking / June 7, 2016 Navistar International Corp. reported its first quarterly profit in three years, thanks to healthy parts sales and in spite of lower revenue. The company on Tuesday announced second quarter 2016 net income of $4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to a second quarter 2015 net loss of $64 million, or $0.78 per diluted share. "For the first time since we launched our turnaround more than three years ago, Navistar reported a quarterly profit," said Troy Clarke, Navistar president and chief executive officer, in a statement. "Our performance this quarter begins to demonstrate the earnings potential of this company. “The fact that we earned a profit despite lower Class 8 truck volumes that impacted the entire industry, underscores the tremendous progress we continue to make in managing our costs effectively and improving our operations," he added. Revenues in the quarter were $2.2 billion, down 18% compared to $2.7 billion in the second quarter last year. The decline reflects lower volumes in the company's main American and Canadian markets, due to softer industry conditions and the discontinuation of the company's Blue Diamond Truck joint venture with Ford in mid-2015, the announcement said. Another factor was lower engine sales volume in Brazil, which is in a deep economic slump amid political turmoil. This was partially offset by higher sales in the company's parts segment, per the announcement. The company achieved $56 million in structural cost reductions during the second quarter. Year to date, structural cost reductions are at $113 million, the announcement said. When combined with material spending reductions and manufacturing savings, the company is on track to well exceed its total cost reduction goal of $200 million for 2016. Navistar ended second quarter 2016 with $817 million in consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. Manufacturing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $732 million at the end of the quarter. However, for the second half of 2016, Navistar lowered its industry guidance range by 20,000 units, due to softening Class 8 market conditions. Given this, along with slower than anticipated market share growth domestically, weaker export markets, and the impact of a stronger dollar, the company reduced its full-year revenue and adjusted guidance for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). "While we were net income positive in the second quarter, it will now be difficult for us to be profitable for the entire year given the tougher than anticipated market conditions, primarily due to the lower outlook for Class 8 industry volumes," Clarke said. "We are confident we will generate and implement additional performance improvements to partially offset current industry conditions." Second quarter 2016 EBITDA was $135 million, compared to second quarter 2015 EBITDA of $85 million, the company said. This year's second quarter results included $52 million in adjustments, including $46 million to pre-existing warranty reserves. As a result, second quarter adjusted EBITDA was $187 million, up 83%, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $102 million in the comparable period last year. The improvement was driven by continued strong cost management, product cost improvement and record Parts segment profitability. Navistar emphasized bright spots in its products and services offerings. It said that orders for the HX series of premium vocational trucks, introduced in early February, are already more than 70% of what was expected for the fiscal year. Later in the quarter, the company announced the addition of the 8.9-liter Cummins ISL9 diesel as an option for its DuraStar and WorkStar models. The company also said it made advances on its telematics-based, connected vehicle services during the quarter. OnCommand Connection, Navistar's open-architecture remote diagnostics service to International and other makes of trucks, surpassed the 200,000 subscriber mark. Navistar also launched what it said is the industry's first Over-the-Air Programming service, which enables drivers or fleet managers to utilize a mobile interface to initiate engine programming over a safe, secure Wi-Fi connection. Since then, Navistar announced that it is offering Over-the-Air Programming with Cummins engines, including Cummins engines in vehicles not built by International.

Navistar Gains as First Profit Since 2012 Trumps Lower Forecast Bloomberg / June 7, 2016 Navistar International Corp. surged the most in more than three years after the truckmaker reported a surprise quarterly profit, its first since 2012, outweighing concerns as the company lowered its 2016 forecasts. The shares gained 24 percent to $15.11 at 12:31 p.m. New York time after rising as much as 29 percent, the biggest intraday jump since March 2013. The company posted fiscal second-quarter net income of $4 million, helped by cost cuts, while the average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg was a $15.2 million loss. The profit ended a 14-quarter streak of net losses and came amid a slump in demand for heavy-duty trucks. That downturn led Navistar to trim its full-year outlook for sales to $8.2 billion to $8.6 billion, from at least $9 billion, and for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to $550 million to $600 million, from a minimum of $600 million. “We just completed an important quarter that shows the benefit of strong cost management as well as lean enterprise efforts and our ability to earn a profit despite industry headwinds,” Chief Executive Officer Troy Clarke told analysts on on a conference call. “While the second half poses new challenges due to softening industry conditions, we are a resilient organization and we intend to deliver the best achievable results.” Navistar said in its statement Tuesday that structural cost reductions in its first half reached $113 million and that, including savings from materials and manufacturing, expense cuts for the full year are on track to exceed its goal of $200 million. Joel Tiss, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, said that the return to profitability helped ease concern that Navistar would have to restructure its debt. A number of bearish investors banking on that pessimistic outlook were buying back the stock after the results, boosting the share price, he said. Tiss rates the shares market perform.

The Wall Street Journal / June 7, 2016 Company cuts guidance, expects reduced retail deliveries of heavy- and medium-duty trucks, buses Navistar International Corp. swung to a surprise profit in its latest quarter, its first since 2012 as the company slashed costs amid prolonged diminished market demand, but cut its outlook for the year and said it was unlikely to make a full-year profit. Still, investors seemed to focus on the return to profitability and sent shares up 21% to $14.71 in Tuesday afternoon trading in New York. The stock has risen 69% so far this year. The Lisle, Ill., truck producer now expects 2016 revenue in a range of $8.2 billion to $8.6 billion, down from its already downbeat prior forecast of $9 billion to $9.25 billion. Analysts had anticipated $8.79 billion, according to Thomson Reuters. The guidance cut comes as Navistar says it now expects retail deliveries of heavy- and medium-duty trucks and buses in the U.S. and Canada to be between 330,000 and 360,000 units, compared with a prior range of 350,000 units to 380,000 units. The company also lowered its adjusted Ebitda forecast to $550 million to $600 million from its earlier outlook range of $600 million to $650 million. Chief Executive Troy Clarke said that while the company earned a profit in the latest period, “it will now be difficult for us to be profitable and free cash flow positive for the year as we now see it.” The company said it won’t be able to increase its anemic market share in heavy-duty trucks this year because of the dismal market conditions. Raising share and getting back to profitability have been management’s key objectives. But Chief Financial Officer Walter Borst said dealers have drawn down their inventories, further denting Navistar’s production forecast. “We no longer believe we’ll be able to increase our market share as much as we’d originally expected heading into the year,” he said. Navistar said performance in its second quarter reflected soft industry conditions; a stronger U.S. dollar; lower volumes in Mexico and export markets; and lower engine volumes in Brazil amid weak economic conditions there. The company also noted it had discontinued its Blue Diamond Truck joint venture in mid-2015. Mr. Clarke said that turning a profit “underscores the tremendous progress we continue to make in managing our costs effectively and improving our operations.” For the three months ended April 30, Navistar reported a profit of $4 million, or a nickel a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $64 million, or 78 cents a share. Revenue slipped 18% to $2.2 billion. Analysts had expected a loss of 16 cents a share on revenue of $2.19 billion. Costs and expenses declined 21% from a year ago.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8eI4D9wDC4

Big Rigs / June 7, 2016 The Australian Trucking Association has today released fact sheets on the trucking industry’s key issues for the 2016 election campaign: the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the need for practical measures to improve road safety, and supporting stronger trucking businesses. The ATA is the peak body representing the trucking industry. Its members include state and sector trucking associations, major logistics companies and businesses with leading expertise in truck technology. The ATA represents many thousands of trucking businesses, ranging from owner-drivers to large fleets. The Chief Executive of the ATA, Chris Melham, renewed his call for political parties and candidates to confirm they would not re-establish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal or any similar price-fixing mechanism. "Small trucking businesses subject to the RSRT’s price-fixing order found that it was inflexible and increased costs by 20-30 per cent. This made them uncompetitive," Mr Melham said. "The tribunal also imposed an enormous paperwork burden on businesses. One independent report estimated the total compliance cost to the industry at $56 million a year for each of the tribunal’s two orders – $2,000 per year for each affected business." Mr Melham urged political parties and candidates to support practical measures that would genuinely improve road safety. "Earlier in the election campaign, the ATA released authoritative new figures showing that the rate of fatal articulated truck crashes fell 80 per cent between 1982 and 2015," he said. "But even one accident is too many. The next government must press on with measures to improve safety, including intelligence led, targeted enforcement to deal with the small minority of businesses that ignore the law. "We also want to see the next government mandate truck and trailer stability control technology from 2019 for new model trucks and trailers and from 2020 for new trucks and trailers, with appropriate exemptions. "Many fatal accidents involving trucks are due to other vehicles. We are calling for a share of the $15.6 million allocated to the NHVR from the abolition of the RSRT to go to an information campaign for car drivers about how to share the road safely with trucks. The campaign should run nationally, including in Western Australia and the Northern Territory." Mr Melham said the next government must also support stronger trucking businesses. "The trucking industry consists almost entirely of small businesses. They face important financial and business challenges," he said. "The ATA is calling on political parties and candidates to announce they would, if elected, agree to work with the industry on the development of a mandatory code under the Competition and Consumer Act. The code would cover payment terms for small trucking businesses and related issues, including a ban on unfair set offs and pay when paid arrangements," he said. "The National Transport Commission has concluded that truck and bus operators will be overtaxed by more than half a billion dollars over the next two years. "Australia’s transport ministers agreed to freeze revenue from truck and bus registration charges and the road user charge on fuel to prevent the overcharging becoming worse. "The next government should reduce the road user charge to 25.3 cents per litre in 2017-18, following the Coalition Government’s decision to reduce it for 2016-17. This further reduction is needed to deliver the commitment to freeze revenue from the charge. "The next government must also start work on establishing an independent economic regulator for road charges and regulated service delivery standards for roads, to take effect once the revenue freeze ends in 2017-18. The overtaxing must end; the industry must get the roads it pays for," he said. Later in the election campaign, the ATA will issue state-by-state report cards about how the parties and candidates compare.

Daimler Trucks will lay off 170 at Western Star factory in Portland The Oregonian/Oregon Live / June 6, 2016 Daimler Trucks North America said Monday it will lay off 1,240 workers in the U.S. and Mexico – including 170 at its Western Star factory on Swan Island – amid a downturn in demand for long-haul trucks. The Portland factory will continue to employ 570 and Daimler said it expects to recall laid-off workers once demand improves. It gave no indication, though, of when that will be. The layoffs fall hardest at two sites in North Carolina, where the company is eliminating 800 jobs. Daimler will lay off another 270 in Mexico. Daimler said it forecasts a 15 percent decrease in certain classes of trucks this year after selling 425,000 units in 2015. But it said the company's market share remains strong, growing from 39.4 percent last year to 41.9 percent this year. Oregon's job market is the strongest it's been in years, with the statewide unemployment rate at 4.5 percent. There are weak spots, though. For example, manufacturing jobs have recovered rapidly in the past few years but haven't overcome the losses sustained in the Great Recession. And Intel laid off 784 people at its sites in Washington County in April in one of the biggest single rounds of job cuts in state history. It will eliminate several hundred more Oregon jobs over the next year through buyouts, early retirement offers and project cancellations. Daimler Trucks opened a new, $150 million North American headquarters on Swan Island in April. The company received nearly $20 million in public support for the project, with incentives tied to continued expansion at corporate office. Those offices are separate from the factory where Monday's layoffs are taking place. Employment at Daimler's Western Star plant has been volatile in recent years, rising and falling along with the truck market. Scheduled at one point to close in 2010, Daimler kept it open and in 2011 announced a major expansion. Last year, the company agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle accusations of racial discrimination and sexual harassment at the site.

Freightliner laying off 800 workers in North Carolina Associated Press / June 6, 2016 Freightliner says it will lay off about 800 workers in Gaston County as part of an international reduction in workforce. David Giroux with Freightliner's parent company, Daimler Trucks North America told local media outlets that about 600 workers are being laid off at the plant in Mount Holly on July 1. The company will let about 200 workers go at a parts and logistics plant in Gastonia on June 24. Giroux said the layoffs should be temporary. Daimler expects a 15 percent drop in sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which are made in Mount Holly. Mount Holly City Manager Danny Jackson said he's disappointed by the decision. The vice president of the Mount Holly chapter of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union would not talk about the layoffs.

Heavy Truck Orders Tumbled 31% in May The Wall Street Journal / June 3, 2016 Weak freight demand has trucking companies trimming fleets, vehicle factories laying off workers Trucking companies ordered fewer new big rigs in May than they did a year ago, reflecting concerns that freight volumes will stay low heading into the peak shipping season. The industry ordered 14,300 Class 8 trucks, the type used on long-haul routes, extending a deep slowdown this year. The figure was down 31% from the same month in 2015, though up more than 4% from April. The trucking industry went on a vehicle buying binge in 2014 and 2015, and many companies are now struggling to find enough freight to fill their expanded fleets. Most large trucking companies have said they will sharply reduce purchases of new trucks until the market shows signs of improvement. Orders typically see a lull in May, but were still well below the 18,000 to 19,000 new vehicles per month needed just to replace aging and damaged trucks, analysts said. A turning point may be some time off, analysts say. Freight volumes typically pick up in late summer, as stores restock for back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons. However, retailers are holding onto historically high inventories, meaning they need to buy fewer goods to keep shelves full and replenish warehouse stocks. For the trucking industry, that means fewer trips between ports and distribution centers, or between warehouses and stores. “That freight’s already been delivered,” said one analyst. “Until consumers and businesses get out there and drive inventories down, we don’t see a reversal or improvement in the situation.” Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., one of the largest less-than-truckload carriers—in which trucks carry shipments for several customers, typically retail stores—said this week that shipments inched up 0.2% in May compared with a year earlier, while tons moved per day fell by 1%. Chief Executive David Congdon described the market as “challenging.” Saia Inc., another LTL carrier, said shipments fell 3.3% in May from a year earlier, with tonnage down 4.9%. Since truck orders dived last fall, truck manufacturers have laid off thousands of workers and announced production cutbacks. In late May, Volvo AB said it would lay off workers at its Dublin, Virginia plant in late May, on top of job losses at the same facility announced in December. Even so, dealers have struggled to move large inventories of unsold trucks, another factor depressing new orders. “Dealer inventories of Class 8 trucks remains bloated, so the only truck orders now are mainly for replacement purposes,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR Research, which published a similar estimate of big rig orders. He said he expected more production shutdowns over the summer.

Renault Trucks Press Release / June 6, 2016 The Renault Trucks OptiTrack range is being extended. This traction system, which features hydraulic motors in the front wheels, gives the vehicle temporary extra pulling power. Available on the Renault Trucks C, it can now equip 8x4 and 8x2*6 configurations. OptiTrack is a technology that Renault Trucks has been developing since 2009 designed to increase a vehicle’s pulling power while still controlling fuel consumption and maintaining a high payload. Now available on the Renault Trucks C for 8x4 (with the DTI 11 and 13 engines) and 8x2*6 (with a DTI 11 engine) configurations, OptiTrack gives a vehicle additional temporary pulling power via two hydraulic motors in the wheel hubs of the second front axle. This system means that a vehicle can benefit from all-wheel drive on demand for a short period without being subject to the drawbacks of a “conventional” all-wheel drive vehicle, particularly when it comes to fuel consumption, loading height, maintenance costs and additional weight. Newly available for two additional configurations, the OptiTrack offering now covers most of the configurations used in the building sector: 4x2, 6x4, 6x2*4, 8x2*6 and 8x4 (left hand drive only). This means that whatever their field of activity, clients can now choose a vehicle with greater mobility, a higher payload and better consumption when they do not constantly require “all-wheel drive” capability. Outstanding pulling power from 0 kph Simply by pressing a button on the dashboard, the driver can engage or disengage the system in forward or reverse mode. OptiTrack is operational from 0kph and automatically disconnects once vehicle speed reaches 25 kph. The system connects via an engine rear PTO, thereby leaving PTOs on the gearbox fully available. OptiTrack is associated with the Optidriver manual automated gearbox, supplied as standard on all Renault Trucks vehicles. Finally, for optimal safety, OptiTrack is now compatible with the Voith hydraulic retarder. Optimised payload The Renault Trucks C OptiTrack can get out of difficult situations while maintaining a payload higher than that of an all-wheel drive vehicle (a difference of 600 kg). Compared with the Euro 5 range, Renault Trucks has reduced the system’s weight by 90 kg. Thanks to an optimised unladen weight, vehicles in the Renault Trucks C range offer an outstanding payload capacity. Priority given to comfort, safety and productivity By choosing an OptiTrack vehicle, hauliers improve their vehicle’s productivity: its drivers’ missions are more secure, irrespective of weather conditions, and optimise the vehicle’s fuel consumption. Great attention is also paid to driver comfort. First of all, the system’s simplicity allows the driver to get out of a difficult situation perfectly safely. Comfort is also provided by the low chassis height compared with an all wheel drive vehicle, making cab access easier and rigs more stable. With the new OptiTrack offering on the Renault Trucks C, now available with the DTI 13 engine, the Optidriver manual automated gearbox and the Voith retarder, Renault Trucks offers its customers - particularly in mountainous areas - the perfect tool for improving their productivity. Photo gallery - http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/2016_06_06_renault_trucks_extends_its_optitrack_range.html Related reading - http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/39998-volvo-unveils-automatic-all-wheel-drive-truck-tech/?hl=optitrack#entry289755 .

Today’s Trucking / June 6, 2016 WASHINGTON, DC – Passengers in truck cabs will be required to wear seatbelts when traveling U.S. highways, effective Aug. 8. “Seat belts save lives – period,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said when unveiling the rules. “Whether you’re a driver or passenger, in a personal vehicle or large truck, the simple act of wearing a safety belt significantly reduces the risk of fatality in a crash.” They have been slow to use such belts in the past. Research by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) concluded in 2014 that 73% of truck passengers use seatbelts, compared to 84% of commercial drivers. The drivers are already required to wear the restraints. The FMCSA is still studying the use of sleeper berth restraints, and how they can affect sleep. In 2014, 37 truck passengers were killed in roadside crashes, and almost one-third of those were ejected from the cab, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says. “Using a seat belt is one of the safest, easiest and smartest choices drivers and passengers can make before starting out on any road trip,” said Scott Darling, FMCSA’s acting administrator. “This rule further protects large truck occupants and will undoubtedly save more lives. For a copy of the final rule, see https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-13099.pdf.

Daimler Trucks to Cut 1,240 Jobs Heavy Duty Trucking / June 6, 2016 DTNA has announced it will lay off about 1,240 workers across its North American production facilities in response to sustained reductions in truck orders. Calling it a workforce adjustment, DTNA will lay off workers at its Mount Holly, N.C., Gastonia, N.C., Portland, Ore., and Santiago, Mexico, facilities. There are currently no plans for reductions at the company’s facilities in Cleveland, N.C., and Saltillo, Mexico. The company has seen a 15% decrease in Class 6-8 retail sales compared with last year’s robust numbers. However, it expects the low orders and diminished build rate to be temporary. The workers to be laid off as part of this reduction will have first rights to be recalled when production is able to sustain a higher build rate, according to DTNA. The last day of work at the Portland and Mount Holly facilities for laid-off workers will be July 1; the last day at the Gastonia Facility will be June 24; and the last day at the Santiago plant will be June 29. The workforce reduction will impact approximately 600 workers at the Mount Holly facility; 270 workers at the Santiago facility; 200 workers at the Gastonia components and logistics facility, and 170 workers at the Western Star manufacturing facility in Portland.

Transport Topics / June 6, 2016 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced plans June 6 to reduce its North American manufacturing workforce by about 1,240 positions. “DTNA’s workforce adjustments are in response to a sustained reduction in orders and a diminished build rate and are expected to be temporary,” the company said. The Portland, Oregon-based U.S. subsidiary of Germany’s Daimler AG said the reductions include about 600 workers at its facility in Mount Holly, North Carolina; 270 workers in Santiago, Mexico; 200 at its components and logistics facility in Gastonia, North Carolina; and 170 workers at the Western Star plant in Portland. DTNA also said there no plans currently to reduce the workforce at facilities in Cleveland, North Carolina, or Saltillo, Mexico. Last month, Daimler said it was lowering its outlook for overall North America Classes 6-8 truck sales this year by 15% compared with 2015, down from an earlier forecast of a 10% decline. Last year, Classes 6-8 sales were about 425,000. “These workforce adjustments are expected to be temporary and workers will have first rights to be recalled when production is able to sustain a higher build rate,” the company said. . Related reading: http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45321-daimler-cuts-sales-forecast-as-class-8-orders-stall/#comment-334193 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43388-freightliner-to-cut-almost-1000-jobs-at-cleveland-nc-truck-plant/#comment-318678 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42262-dtna-forecasts-strong-truck-sales-next-year/#comment-30812 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41818-dtna-sees-strong-truck-sales-extending-through-2016/#comment-303980

KamAZ Trucks Press Release / June 3, 2016 Almost 1,700 KAMAZ children will receive attend the Saulyk summer camp this year for free. According to KamAZ Deputy Director General Ushenina Alexander, the truckmaker has allocated 24 million Rubles to pay for 1,680 children’s stay at the "Saulyk" (Саулык) summer camp. .

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / June 3, 2016 .

Ford Trucks Press Release / June 3, 2016 Ford’s Electronic Stability Program, or ESP (sometimes referred to as ESC – electronic stability control), is an active system that continuously senses the movement and speed of the vehicle and wheel spin. When the system detects a difference between the driver’s commands and the actual movement of the vehicle, the system intervenes to reduce rollover, skidding and jackknifing risk, modulating the brake force for each front, rear or trailer wheel independently and reduces the excess in throttle. . Ford Trucks and You – "Sharing the Load" At Ford Trucks, we’re serious about trucking. It's why we designed the new 2016 Cargo heavy truck range from the ground up to meet your needs and expectations. See your authorized Ford heavy truck dealer for details, or visit the global Ford heavy truck website at https://www.fordtrucks.com.tr/ .

In the video, note the Scania license-built Mack C-50 municipal transit bus at 0.08 seconds.

Scania Group Press Release / June 3, 2016 With nine vehicles and 35 locations, the Scania 2016 Road Show of Russia is a production of epic proportions. The first Scania vehicle that was exported from Sweden was actually delivered to St. Petersburg back in 1910. Covering more than 17 million square kilometres and with a population of over 140 million people, everything about Russia is big. So when Scania decided to conduct a road tour of the country to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary, organisers knew the scale of the event had to be monumental. A 35,000 km tour The result is Scania Road Show 2016, a four-month long tour of Russia that will visit 35 dealerships stretching from Murmansk in the country’s west all the way to Vladivostok in the east. Launched in Moscow on May 16, the 35,000-kilometre (21,748 miles) tour is the longest event of its kind ever attempted by Scania, and is aimed at helping Russian truck and bus buyers gain a deeper understanding of Scania’s product range and growing service offering. Scania Russia Commercial Director Sergei Yavorsky explains, “Scania will demonstrate its famous, tried and tested technology in vehicles and engines for a range of applications. These include models recently released on the Russian market such as the LiAZ coach and the Powered by Scania diesel power plant.” The tour brings together a total of nine vehicles painted in special tour livery, including a G 400 4×2 tractor and a Griffin Series R 620 4×2 tractor with Topline cab. Specialised vehicles including a P 440 8×4 tipper, a G 480 6×6 timber truck, a 6×2 P 440 grain truck, and a P 360 6×2 refuse truck will make appearances in locations where they will be of particular interest. Scania’s offering The first leg of the journey starts at Murmansk in late May, with the road show heading north-west to Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg. The second leg is the longest and will involve travelling through central Russia for six weeks. Scania’s vehicles and engines will be shown in the Urals, the taiga around Lake Baikal and on desolate routes between Chita and Vladivostok. Finally, the fleet will head south to locations including Krasnodar Krai and Georgievsk. .

Volvo Trucks USA Press Release / June 5, 2016 Experience the Power of Volvo: The 2017 powertrain lineup The Volvo D13 with turbo compounding was designed for customers in long-haul applications. Turbo compounding recovers wasted exhaust heat and converts it to useable mechanical energy in the form of 50 additional horsepower that is transferred back into the engine. This results in up to a 6.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with previous engine models. - See more at: http://www.volvogroup.com/group/globa.... Learn more: http://bit.ly/1pKtvXu .

Fleet Owner / June 3, 2016 Orders for medium-duty units also slowed to their lowest level since July of 2014 Class 8 orders were characterized as “subdued” in May by industry analysts, increasing just 4% over April’s order volume to 14,100 units. On top of that, medium-duty orders slowed to their lowest level since July 2014, notching just 17,100 units for May. However, despite that 14% month-over-month and 18% year-over-year decline in medium-duty orders, medium-duty order intake remained 4% higher on a year-to-date basis. Michael Baudendistel, vice president of the transportation & logistics research group at Stifel Financial Corp., noted that though Class 8 orders in May were “somewhat stronger” than expected, they are “still very weak relative to demand seen last year, down 30% year-over-year.” Stifel anticipates orders would be down slightly sequentially, as trucking conditions remain poor or continue to deteriorate, plus May is "generally somewhat weaker" for truck orders than April on a seasonal basis. “Still, the slight variance relative to our expectations in the month is not significant enough to change our Class 8 expectations for full-year 2016 or beyond,” Baudendistel said. He added that Class 5-7 medium-duty data was “somewhat weaker than expected,” with the decline from prior-year levels “somewhat of a surprise after stronger-than-anticipated demand in recent months.” Regardless, Stifel continues to believe that medium-duty production will be up slightly in the low-single digits for 2016 based on the order intake over the last few months. The Class 8 forecast, however, is not so rosy to the eyes of Don Ake, vice president research firm FTR, with order activity in May the lowest for the month since 2010 and 30% below a year ago. The past three months of Class 8 order activity annualizes to just 175,000 units, he added, with the annualized rate for the past twelve months continuing to fall, now at 231,000 units. “The soft order activity [in May for Class 8 units] was expected. The good news is that they did not fall further from April, [and] some erosion in order activity is expected during the slow summer months,” Ake explained. “But fleets do not need to order many trucks in the current environment because in most cases they have enough trucks to handle the freight. Freight demand is still sluggish due to the build-up of business inventories.” He pointed out that dealer inventories of Class 8 trucks “remain bloated, so the only truck orders now are mainly for replacement purposes, with preferred specifications.” With backlogs expected to keep falling – they are now below May 2014, Ake said – it will “be a challenge for the OEMs to schedule production through the summer,” and thus “extended vacation shutdowns” are anticipated. “Three consecutive months of decidedly lower net orders for heavy duty commercial vehicles appear more closely aligned with current activity in the manufacturing and energy sectors of the broader economy,” added another analyst. “While metrics in these segments are improving, they can best be described as not being as bad as they were previously,” he noted. “[That’s] framed by the ongoing overcapacity narrative – too many trucks chasing too little freight – the resultant weak freight rate environment, and continued softness in late-model used tractor values.”

Ford doesn't want to make it easy for North American customers to know. Heaven forbid, potential U.S. heavy truck customers might begin asking questions about availability, which Ford's N.A. customer relations people would view as an annoying distraction.

Paul, compare the two amateur US market mDrive brochures with the far better one put out by Mack Australia. Volvo still keeps their hands tied about releasing any specs, but it's a much better brochure. Must be two different Mack outfits. Mack US (which operates in a vacuum under clueless management) http://www.macktrucks.com/~/media/files/brochures/mack_mdrive_ss_0316_hr.ashx?as=1&la=en http://www.macktrucks.com/~/media/files/brochures/mack_mdrive_hd_crawl_sellsht.ashx?as=1 Mack Australia (which carries on like a professional, accomplished truckmaker). https://www.macktrucks.com.au/~/media/files au/brochures/mdrive_brochure_12_2015.ashx?as=1&la=en The US market brochures don't mention "Maxi-Shift" and "Heavy-Duty Shift". In the spirit of the former Mack Trucks' Maxidyne, Maxitorque and Maxi-Glas terminology, Mack Australia carries the flame forward with "Maxi-Shift".

Volvo Group only has one Mack brand plant in the US, that being Lehigh Valley Operations (previously called Macungie by the former Mack Trucks after its location), outside of Allentown. Is that the location you visited?