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The more you learn about Martin (a genuine truck man), the more an informed person is forced to think, what in the world was the board thinking when they appointed Persson to the company's helm. Like so many executives today, he spoke a good line..........but was actually clueless in all the critical areas.

Jack Roberts - Fleet Owner / May 13, 2016 A couple years ago, I found myself on a Meritor test track in Wales, U.K. evaluating new commercial vehicle safety systems. Trips to Europe are always enlightening from a technology standpoint, since so many new safety and drivetrain systems originate there. But on this day, I was struck by something a bit more Old School: The manual gearboxes in a couple of the European cabovers we were driving that day.  These were fully-synchronized transmissions, as smooth and easy to operate as shifting a Honda or a Toyota passenger car. The entire experience was actually a little bit surreal: driving a Class 8 tractor with a dinky little, dash-mounted shifter with absolutely no worries about engine RPMs or double-clutching. Naturally, I starting asking around about these odd gearboxes and was surprised to discover that they're pretty common in Europe. They've also made massive inroads in China, which is basically building its trucking/logistics industry and network from scratch and has no preconceived notions as to how a truck drivetrain should be operated.  A buddy who works at another European vehicle component supplier told me his company tried to bring synchronized gearboxes to the States a decade or so ago, only to have them flop in the marketplace. Why was that? I asked him. They were so much easier and safer to drive than unsynchronized transmissions. He just shrugged his shoulders. "They're not macho enough for American drivers, I guess," he replied. If you're the type of Old School Gear Jammer who sneers at synchronized manual truck transmissions, you gaze in horror at modern Automated Manual Transmissions. Yet, here they are, gaining marketshare at a breath-taking rate and utterly transforming how trucks perform today. But what about manual transmissions? Are they destined for the technological dust bin? Are we just a few years away from logging onto YouHologram (or however we'll be watching videos in the future) to chuckle at the memories as some guy demonstrates who to shift between low and high range on a 13-speed gearbox? My thoughts are that AMTs are well on their way to becoming the dominate transmission in both medium- and heavy-duty trucking and will likely reach full-market penetration on new vehicles before this decade is out. But that doesn't mean there won't be a place for manual gearboxes in trucking. But I suspect their roles will evolve toward more specialized niches such as severe-duty, extreme heavy-haul and off-road and severe-terrain conditions. And, of course, there are always going to be drivers -- young and old alike -- who prefer a manual gearbox for a variety of reasons. When asked, manual gearbox adherents usually tell me they simply feel more in control of a truck when they're shifting gears, as opposed to a computer doing it for them. So there are always going to be drivers out there who prefer shifting the old--fashioned way. But my suspicion is that trucking as an industry has made a sea change: In the past, trucking focused on delivering the goods on time, no matter what. Trucks and powertrains were designed with that emphasis foremost in mind. Poor fuel economy was simply a means to an end. Today, it is clear that the focus has shifted. Delivering goods is just as important as it's ever been. Perhaps even more important, if that's possible. But truck and powertrain design is rapidly shifting toward optimal fuel economy as its priority. It's not enough to get the good there on time, anymore. You've got to do it as fuel efficiently as possible, too. Beginning next year, I think we'll see the first concrete evidence of a new philosophy in trucking: The first generation of truck models with fully integrated fuel economy designs. Every aspect of vehicle design will be engineered with fuel economy as a priority. Moreover, every aspect of vehicle design will be engineering to compliment every other aspect of the design. Simply put, the truck's overall shape and aerodynamic profile will be designed to complement and boost the performance of its drivetrain in every possible way, and vice-versa. And I hate to be the one to tell you, but there's not going to be much room for manual transmissions in those highly integrated and sophisticated truck designs of the near future. 

Western Star targets new markets with XD off-road lineup Fleet Owner / May 13, 2016 Leveraging an iconic brand and Daimler corporate clout, Western Star is looking to “transform” the off-road construction and mining markets with a new line of specialty trucks and an innovative system for swapping truck bodies to suit the immediate needs of equipment operators in the field. Company executives on Thursday introduced the trade press to the Extreme Duty (XD) Offroad package and the new the MBT-40 Transformer chassis in a demonstration at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds. Calling Western Star a “brand with attitude,” President Kelley Platt explained she wanted to event to highlight the “vocational focus” as part of the company’s growth plan, which also includes expanding the dealer network “to help them tap into new markets and convert new customers to Western Star.” The XD Offroad line is an important part of that growth strategy, designed to deliver the “serious trucks” label to the articulated and ridged frame markets. Engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments, it’s now available on both the 4900 and 6900 models. Vehicles spec’d with the XD Offroad package deliver maximum driver safety and comfort while providing customers with a low cost per ton product for off-road applications. Western Star plans to open the XD Offroad package up to other models in the future. And the real star is the 6900XD Offroad MBT-40, dubbed the Multi-Body Transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in-cab controlled body application to another, a new concept for off-road equipment markets, explained John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager, Western Star . Simply, Western Star has taken the concept of a “demountable” roll-off or hook-lift body a step further. “A transformer is an off-road chassis that’s capable of transforming from one fully functional truck to another fully function truck,” Tomlinson said. “We’ve created a system where you plug the trucks in. All of the switches turn into the new body switches. All of the hydraulics size themselves to the new body.” Basically, the concept means that customers don’t need to buy a whole, new vehicle for specialized tasks only to park it at the job site most of the time. Using a Palfinger G68 hooklift with a lifting capacity of 68,000lbs and a new transformer package, the MBT-40 gives customers greater utilization of their chassis. With the new product, extremely complex and heavy capacity bodies can be changed over and back to work quickly and easily. “It’s a fully functional water truck if you need it; if you don’t need it, 10 minutes later it’s a dump truck,” Tomlinson said of the demonstration vehicle. ““The MBT-40 package is a game changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis. Mining, quarry and off-road construction industries are looking for better solutions right now and we have the answers for them with this new product.” The unit is equipped with a generic in-cab control system and a self-adapting hydraulic system that also allows the operators to quickly and easily swap the controls of multiple body applications as well. The MBT-40 features multiple hydraulic air and electrical connections that allow it to connect and power a variety of body needs from powerful flow controlled hydraulic motors and pumps to heavy high flow tip cylinders. “Working with Western Star on this open platform concept product has been great. CARCO Industries is very experienced in mining and off-road fuel and service products along with carrying the Palfinger crane lines,” said Charlie Schimmels, sales manager, CARCO Industries. “This combination of experience and product along with the rugged design and carrying capacity of the XD40 Offroad chassis offered by Western Star makes this a very unique product. With commodity prices down and budget cuts becoming common place we need to think smarter about how we do business and the MBT-40 does that.” The 6900XD is available in both 6x4 and 6x6 configurations. Photo gallery - http://fleetowner.com/equipment/western-star-targets-new-markets-xd-offroad-lineup

There are indeed "very" few truck salesman left. Today, there are just salesman who sell trucks. What a difference years of experience used to make for the customer.

KrAZ Trucks Press Release / May 10, 2016 On May 9, KrAZ Trucks (aka. Kremenchug Automobile Plant) joined with Kremenchug city residents and visitors on Victory Day in honoring World War II veterans and those who perished. Victory Day in Ukraine is a commemoration of the end of the second world war. Attendees had the opportunity to see restored World War II era KrAZ military trucks from the company’s museum collection. KrAZ Trucks general manager Roman Chernyak placed flowers at the foot of the memorial on behalf of the company and its staff. Photo gallery - . http://www.autokraz.com.ua/index.php/en/novosti-i-media/news/item/2642-kraz-razom-z-usima-vshanovuvav-veteraniv-u-den-peremohy

UPS Press Release / December 1, 2014 4-year-old Carson developed a friendship with his UPS driver, Mr. Ernie, when he began receiving shipments of special milk. Carson has become fascinated by all things UPS. He wishes to be just like his pal, so UPS made Carson a UPS driver for a day.

Owner/Driver / May 13, 2016 After 18 years, DAF and Paccar Australia are celebrating the sale of their 4,000th truck Paccar Australia has sold the 4,000th DAF vehicle in Australia, with Steve Brown of S&J Brown receiving the keys to the milestone truck. Sold at Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe in New South Wales, the 4,000th truck marks the second milestone truck this owner-driver has received from DAF after getting hands on the first CF85 in the country. "It was a bit of a surprise, being the 4,000th truck, because I was also their first CF85 customer in 2002," Steve Brown says. "I tested out some of the competing vehicles, but in the end the CF85 got me over the line because being a previous DAF owner, I knew it was going to be very reliable and productive, and Suttons came up with a good deal." Brown first came into contact with DAF after trading in his Ford Louisville 14 years ago, just a few years after starting work as a car-transporter. "Back then it was the first European truck I had ever driven," he says. "Being the first Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe CF85 customer, I got to choose the number plate: DAF430, which related to the engine being 430hp." Brown has chosen a 6x4 FTT as his newest truck, shipping with a ZF 12 speed AS-Tronic transmission and a 13-litre PACCAR MX engine at 460hp. "All up I’m carrying around 35 tonne, which includes seven cars," he says. "The DAF has a really good tare weight so it lends itself well for our needs and it’s got that balance of performance. "And I’ve got to say, the quality of the ride you get out of the truck with the sound proofing — it’s comfortable, quiet and easy. "It’s like driving a car." Since first arriving in Australia in 1998, DAF’s local range has expanded to include the LF, CF75, CF85, and XF105 series trucks. Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe, which has operated as a servicing location for 80 years, has been selling models since the dealership side opened in 1998. "We’re delighted that Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe was able to deliver the 4,000th DAF," Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe DAF sales manager Daniel Glynn says, the team member who sold the milestone truck. "I feel very proud we were able to deliver this milestone. "The CF series is a very well kept secret in some respects, in a very competitive market segment, but once customers get in it, drive it and take ownership, they simply re-order." Originally selling DAF trucks in Ireland, Glynn arrived in Australia in 2008 and has won the 2014 PACCAR Rising Star Award on his way to becoming the DAF sales manager at the dealership. "Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe was my local dealer so I dropped in a resume and before I knew it, I had the job," he says. "From my perspective, the awareness of DAF trucks has improved significantly and they’re very much accepted."

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / May 12, 2016

Dagens Industri / May 112, 2016 In his first meeting with Volvo's economists, Martin Lundstedt picked up the guitar and played the State and capital. But it is not primarily for their social skills, he got the job as president of Volvo. The mission is to "make a Scania" out of Volvo and increase the profits. "I'm a bit of an industrial romantics," he says. At the time of this interview, Martin Lundstedt has been head of Volvo Group for just over five months. He claims to be a bit taken aback by the sheer size of the company. "I've been around and met with employees and customers, and known of culture. What has struck me is it's great size. We are in 194 markets with twelve brands in many different industries. My impression is that we have very good people. I do not lie awake at night worrying about our human resources. It feels great. " He's just returned from a tour of Asia. In nine days he has squeezed in South Korea, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia. "Australia is a good example. Where we are the largest with over 26 percent market share, and image-wise, we are also strong. Most Swedes do not understand how big Volvo's global presence. It makes you feel proud." That said, Martin Lundstedt came to the table prepared. He's been handpicked by Volvo Group board chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg from the company’s fiercest competitor, the smaller but far more profitable Scania, to bring up the level of earnings of Volvo. Increase profits Volvo Group has gone through many phases in recent decades. During the 23-year Pehr G. Gyllenhammar era, Volvo grew into a conglomerate that included everything from drugs to food and tobacco. Then came Sören Gyll, who dedicated Volvo again by selling out, stock market listing or distribute shares in the companies that had no vehicle movement to make. During Leif Johansson's time as president of Volvo, the car unit was sold to Ford Motor Company for US$6.45 billion. With that money, he grew Volvo’s truck and construction machinery segments in Japan, China, India and the United States, doubling sales over 14 years. After Leif Johansson came Olof Persson, whose mission was to integrate Volvo’s growing number of business units and find synergies. He implemented a savings program of US$1.2 billion, which has begun to take effect, but had difficulty finding synergies. Persson was finally ousted after profit levels did not increase as Volvo’s board had expected, On 22 October last year, Martin Lundstedt took over as president with over 20 years experience from truckmaker Scania. DI: How do you want to sum up your time as Volvo Group CEO on the day you step down? Martin: "The fact that we created the profitability and organic growth, and we took the plunge into an era of sustainability, electro mobility (vehicles powered by alternative energy sources), and connectivity." "Just be Martin" Martin Lundstedt grew up in Mariestad, and speaks Swedish, English, French and German. He stays in touch with his home town, for example, he has a reunion with his old racquetball once a year. "I had a good childhood, and my parents still live in Mariestad. It's nice to go there in the summer and just be Martin. " He studied hard in school and was busy with sports, Boy Scouts and music. First he played the trumpet in a big band, then he bought a guitar that still makes an appearance at parties. When he met the Volvo Group's economists for the first time, he chose to play the Blue Train The state and capital. "That I would rather play the Swedish progressive rock, as the National Theatre, Hoola Bandoola, KSMB and Ebba Green. But I booms not too little Ted Gärdestad or Lars Frederiksen either. I can even play some Creedence Clearwater Revival if needed for singing's sake. " Martin’s mother was a teacher and his father a dentist, but there were also entrepreneurial role models up close. "I saw how they lived with their activities, and it has influenced me. This business of making financial statements every day, that I love. I was extremely inquisitive and wanted to know all about what they did." Martin Lundstedt worked part-time at the paper mill in Mariestad, and before he entered Gothenburg’s renowned Chalmers University of Technology, he worked over a year in the local timber company Lamiform. "I usually say that I learned more in that year than during all my time at Chalmers. I started unloading, since I came into the office and got to work with purchasing, production and much more. " "I come from the Volvo Country" When he was finished with Chalmers, he knew he wanted to work in industry, something else attracted not. "I'm very interested in the combination of production and people, to bring things together. To implement, that's what is difficult, "he says. "I'm a bit of an industrial romantics. When the night shift is going on a Saturday night while others are at home having dinner, that fascinates me." Martin graduated from Chalmers in 1992 in the midst of a recession and job shortage. He searched for openings in Scania’s trainee program, where he was one of three who was chosen from a thousand applicants. Twenty years later, he succeeded as Scania CEO Leif Östling. In between, he served in Scania management as head of engine development, production in France, director of product marketing and truck management. Scania is known for its focus on profitability, working closely with its customers and its ingenious modular system. The latter means that the truck components, or building blocks, are designed as much as possible to simplify production, purchasing, administration and hold down costs. It also makes it easier to broaden the truck range. Volvo Group also works with modularized design, but has not progressed as far as Volvo. When Martin Lundstedt joined Volvo Group, he came to a company that is three times as large, in terms of net sales. In many ways it is easy to understand why he said yes. Volkswagen takes an ever firmer grip on Scania, and it should be more enjoyable to be the president of a Swedish company than subsidiary manager of a German corporation. DI: How did it feel, deep down, when you walked out from Scania to a job at Volvo? Martin: "It is clear that it was a very special feeling. I have many good friends left at Scania. But I felt I must do this, I was curious. When you are asked if you want to lead Volvo, it is an indefinable force that turns your stomach, actually. But one should not forget that I come from Volvo country, as I grew up in western Sweden." It’s noteworthy that Martin's youngest sister still works at Scania. She is a civil engineer and director of product planning at buses. DI: What did she say when you took this job? Martin: "Finally!", Jokes Lundstedt says with a broad smile. Got 5 million DI has previously reported that Martin Lundstedt received a lump sum of 5 million Euros (US$5.7 million) when he signed the contract in the Volvo Group. He wants to explain the background to it. "It sounded like I got a transfer fee to another football team. But it was not. What I got was compensation for any bonus in Scania, which I would have had if I had remained there," he says. "It felt a little sad, because I seemed to be greedy. But in fact I’ve never been a money-focused individual. I work hard and I'm fortunate to have a good salary, but it is not the driving force for me." Martin Lundstedt is known for his people skills. He loves to meet customers and be out on the assembly line talking with employees. In this sense, he is quite the opposite of his predecessor, Olof Persson. And when Volvo Group board chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg justified the appointment of Martin Lundstedt, he noted in particular that the new Volvo head "is known for his successful leadership." "Actually, you should not worry so much about their own leadership, because it may not work anymore. But I'm interested in people, and their activities, for real. I want to convey that we are a team. Although there is a hierarchy because you have to organize themselves, but for the rest we are colleagues who are running together in different roles," says Martin Lundstedt. "I like it operational, but not excessively structured. I’m an emotional person and can be annoyed, but my dad taught me that you should not be at loggerheads with someone when you go to bed. So I would rather pick up the phone and make a call before I fall asleep. " He is also renowned for its great capacity for work, and ability to remember numbers as well as names of the people he has met. "As for the thing with numbers and names, this is linked to my interest in people and the business." He says that his weak point is that he is not moving enough, exercise and physical activity may be too little space in his life. But he has no problem to relax. "The question is often: 'How do I recharge the batteries?' Then it sounds as though you recharge the batteries on the job, but I do not see it. The job also gives me energy. For me, my job and personal life flow together, but it isn’t a problem. Everyone has to find their formula, "he says. "When it comes to managing stress on the job, I think the most important parameter is that people feel they can participate and influence their own situation. Otherwise, powerlessness and frustration arise. To be seen at work is extremely important." During Olof Persson's tenure, Volvo Group’s four truck brands including Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Mack and UD Trucks, were merged together. Now under Martin, they have been separated once more, with three regional organizational units with overall responsibility for all brands in each region. Independent brands When Martin Lundstedt was appointed, he orchestrated a return to Volvo’s previous business model with independent brands. DI: Was it difficult to convince the board that you wanted to break up an organization that had just been merged? Martin: "No. We fully agreed that this is the way to go. It is important that each brand and business area be responsible for its own profitability. In such a large organization, you must be careful to ensure that business acumen is not lost. Decision power must be where it belongs. However, we retain joint purchasing, production and product development." Martin says Volvo’s business is increasingly shifting from sales of vehicles to the sale of sophisticated industrial solutions. Customers want help with everything from repair and maintenance to financing and insurance. "We sell a complete solution, instead of a product that has an aftermarket. Actually I do not like the word aftermarket, for it is the customer's main market. All this implies greater responsibility for us," he says. "The retail sector is a good example, where many companies have very ambitious targets in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This puts the indirect demands on us too." Optimistic about China Geographically, one can say that Europe is currently Volvo Group's only bright spot right now, as it looks tough throughout the rest of the world. In North America, which had one of its best years ever last year, demand has fallen sharply forcing us to reduce production by 30 percent. "But it depends as much on stock build-up as falling demand," says Martin Lundstedt. Brazil is in a deep economic slump and growth is slowing in China. But in the long term, Martin Lundstedt is optimistic about the Chinese market. During Olof Persson's tenure, Volvo Group sold its Volvo Aero subsidiary, as well as Volvo IT. Investors, with activist fund Cevian in the lead, are calling for more spin-offs. Most have speculated the sale of Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE). "For me, it is not the key issue on the agenda right now. It is rather to ensure that we develop our own organization in a good way. In addition, I note that, given the incredible headwind that VCE had on their end markets, including China, they have done a great job. I would rather emphasize that, compared with the industry, they have developed well," says Martin Lundstedt. Moving from the glamour At the end of the year, the Volvo Group will relocate its Gothenburg headquarters from the Volvo Car era facility in Torslanda to Lundby, where about half of the group's operations already are. "The move is important from a practical point of view. We need to sit close to the business, especially when we have clients visiting. And I want to be able to go down and rub shoulders with the engineers. I like that," says Martin Lundstedt

Ford Trucks Press Release / May 12, 2016 Ford Motor Company’s global heavy truck unit, Ford-Otosan, is the recipient of Effie Worldwide’s “Advertising Effectiveness Award” for its International Women’s Day video (below). The presentation is acknowledgement of Ford Truck’s achievements in successful marketing communications. .

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release / May 11, 2016 An improvement to truck aerodynamics is also possible. A targeted air flow using roof and side spoilers results in less dynamic pressure and consequently less drag and lower fuel consumption. The teardrop shape of MAN's future development Concept S is the aerodynamic ideal.

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release / May 11, 2016 Whenever additional traction is needed on slippery or unpaved surfaces, MAN HydroDrive® front-axle drive can be engaged. It consists of hydrostatic wheel hub motors, which generate torque on the front wheels and thus drive them when required.

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release / May 11, 2016 The MAN exhaust gas technology for Euro 6 (near EPA2010) operates reliably and efficiently in all MAN series. The central Euro 6 engine components are the common rail injection, cooled and regulated exhaust gas recirculation EGR and two-stage turbocharging with intercooling. The components apart from the engine include the exhaust gas aftertreatment with Selective Catalytic Reduction ('SCR system' for short) and the integrated oxidising catalytic converter plus the continuously regenerating trap filter ('CRT' for short).

Scania-powered Doosan construction machinery are really making a name for themselves worldwide. Doosan bought Bobcat from Ingersoll Rand in 2007. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41449-the-excavator-of-tomorrow-%E2%80%93-power-by-scania/#comment-300889 But back to Scania, the truckmaker has the largest fleet of connected users in the world. Our fleet management system even helps customers recover stolen trucks (http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/39371-fleet-management-system-locates-stolen-truck/#comment-283682)

Why do Volvo's workers in Sweden rate professional uniforms, while their assembly team members in the United States of America do not? http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44758-the-volvo-group-truck-plant-in-tuve-sweden/#comment-330083

Volvo execs talk growth, dedication to technology Truck News / May 12, 2016 The key to being successful in trucking? Keep up with technology and keep up with your customers – at least, that’s what Volvo executives say. At its New River Valley truck manufacturing plant in Dublin, Va. on May 11, Goran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America and Claes Nilsson, Volvo Group executive v.p. and president of Volvo Trucks, gave trade journalists an inside look at how Volvo would be moving forward in 2016 and beyond. And they were specific: Volvo would be focusing on technology and their customers in the future. Volvo Trucks North America came out of 2015 with record numbers – achieving all-time highs for US, Canada and NAFTA Class 8 retail sales. “But 2016 has started off a bit more challenging than we expected,” Nyberg said. “I would say the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter is a bit soft. We have to adjust and level ourselves with the new normal.” Both Nilsson and Nyberg confirmed that they expect the industry to see 250,000 Class 8 net orders this year. To continue it’s growth, Nilsson said it wants to position itself as a technology leader. “We really want to be a technology leader,” he said. “In terms of innovation…we have launched a number of features which have been technology leading. Right now we are focusing on some interesting areas of technology like platooning, autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels.” Volvo has also launched a number of new products as of late, Nyberg added that are both technologically advanced, and add value to its customers. “We have launched new features and values to our customers,” Nyberg said. “As you know we upgraded our engine platforms, we upgraded our transmissions, not only with the crawler gears, but improved gear shifting all with the focus on delivering better fuel efficiency and also the new technology platform for the future.” Nyberg said that he believes the next big “game-changer” in the industry will be connectivity and how it will help advance predictive maintenance efforts. “We are looking more at predictive maintenance – proactively being able to predict the faults that are about to happen,” Nyberg said. “Traditionally, the transportation industry has been designed to react when an unplanned event happens. We are moving the game to be ahead the ball and try to predict and prevent things from happening. And when they happen we are proactive.” He pointed to the company’s new Uptime Centers that have been designed to triage trucks to get them on the road faster. This year the company put in place a formal certification for those Volvo dealerships who were getting the job done right. “We have launched the concept where we certify our dealers and we call them Certified Uptime Centers,” he added. “That’s more than just a rubber stamp or plaque on the wall. (There’s) a three-phased way to certified a dealer. We are looking at the whole of the market process…parts availability, workshop planning, triage…This will be a win-win situation…It will help us to better communicate to our customers so when a truck goes down, if it’s a quick fix, we can turn it around. But if it’s a major event, we can communicate to them that it’s a major event and tell them they need to put in a spare truck. Communication is key. Trucks will break down in the future. But it’s about how efficient we can be to turn that truck around and maximize our uptime.” Platooning is also on the company’s radar. In 2015 Volvo invested in truck platooning pioneer Peloton Technology and now says it has a platooning product they are working with. The pair said it anticipates to showcase these developments soon – mid-June – in San Jose, Calif. In terms of customer-focus, Nilsson said it’s a matter of gaining customer satisfaction by having the right product offering. “I would like to see us taking a bigger share of the (North American) market,” he explained. “But I would really like us to own that with customer satisfaction and having the right product offer and making sure that we are very efficient in what we’re doing and how we take care of our customer…and how we deliver products and how we deliver spare products and everything else. But it’s also in my point of view very much about attitude and personality.” Nilsson said that it makes a world of difference when you compare a workshop manager who is thinking about the customer versus one who isn’t. “What is nice about our industry, is we are still in a relationship industry,” he said. “We’re looking for people that like to take care of the customer.” At its New River Valley plant, Volvo is also building a separate Customer Experience Center. It broke ground in September 2015 and will feature a product showroom spotlighting the complete lineup of Volvo heavy-duty truck, engine and transmission models. It will also have training rooms and a theatre. The grand opening for the new centre, that is still being built, is set for 2017. “We are moving forward,” Nyberg said. “We are happy to celebrate the record year. Is it good enough? Of course it’s not. More is better. We believe that we can, especially with the addition of product features, address a wider audience with our product lineup.”

In the days of the former Mack Trucks, our plant employees were professionals.........and they looked it. And that's why Allentown was "The Truck Capital of the World". .

Would you spend $150,000 on a truck built by these people? Volvo is too cheap to provide them with work uniforms in the spirit of professionalism? OHSA will be paying a call when that woman's tank top gets hooked and dragged away. Billy Bob, who doesn't miss any meals, appears to be struggling. Truck assembly professionals? I think not. .

Heavy Duty Trucking / May 12, 2016 As Volvo Group spent the last four years consolidating and streamlining its operations after previous acquisitions that included Mack, Renault and UD, “maybe we became a bit too internally focused,” Claes Nilsson, executive VP of Volvo Group and president of Volvo Trucks, told reporters at Volvo Trucks North America’s Dublin, Va., plant this week. But a recent reorganization and a new emphasis on brand organization is helping put more focus back on the customer, he said. “We want to much more focus on business, on customers, and seeing that the different brands really can grow our business,” said Nilsson, who is based at Volvo's headquarters in Sweden. He met with trucking media in the middle of an ambitious week-long U.S. tour to meet dealers and customers. The U.S. and North America, he noted, are one of Volvo’s biggest markets and also one where there is plenty of opportunity for growth. Although Volvo Trucks North America had a record-setting truck sales year in 2015, it ended the year with a 12.5% market share in Class 8, putting it in fourth place just behind Peterbilt and just ahead of International, according to data from Ward’s. “I would like to see us taking a bigger share of the market… focusing on customer satisfaction, making sure we have the right product offer, making sure we are very efficient in what we’re doing, taking care of customers at the dealers, how we deliver spare parts and everything else,” he said. He emphasized the importance of Volvo’s people in this effort, noting, “it’s also very much about attitude and personalities.” The People Make the Difference When asked later to expand on that thought, Nilsson noted, “In our organization, people really enjoy meeting our customers, whether that is in service or parts sales or truck sales,” or on plant tours. “In our industry we’re still in a relationship industry, so the relations between our people and our customers is still very important. The difference between a workshop manager who is thinking every day about the customer vs. one who is just there to make a living, it’s such a huge difference. We’re looking for people that really like to take care of the customers, that go that extra mile for the customer.” Goran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America, added that as a European and world traveler, “Coming to North America, the service business here when you come to hotels or restaurants is second to none,” he noted. “That’s the mentality we like to see in the dealer network. It is a cultural change – we are not just there to sell and repair trucks, we are there to please the customers' needs. To always put the best for a customer first and then figure out how you make that benefit for yourself. That’s easier said than done. I think it’s a brave move, but we are brave people.” Franky Marchand, who heads up plant operations under the title of ‎Logistics VP, Volvo Group Trucks Operations in Americas, also emphasized the people at the plant. “It’s all about our people,” he said, adding, “we have an unusual link with the customers, a love for the customer,” that he believes is somewhat unusual. During plant tours, visitors are led right into the thick of things and are encouraged to talk to employees on the line. Not only does this give customers a better understanding of what goes into the building of their trucks, but the thinking is that the more the plant workers interact with the people they are building trucks for, the more attention they’ll pay to putting out a quality product and the more pride they will have in it. Customer Focus Some of the ways Volvo is working focusing more on the customers, discussed by Nilsson and other Volvo execs during the briefing, included: Technology: “We really want to be a technology leader,” Nilsson said, talking about areas such as connectivity, platooning, and autonomous vehicles. “I think connectivity and electronics in the vehicles will also give a lot of opportunities to improve productivity for our customers.” New features: Volvo recently upgraded its engine platforms and its I-Shift automated transmission, with a focus on delivering better fuel efficiency as well as being prepared for the 2017 greenhouse gas regulations. It’s also been rolling out features and products for the vocational market such as crawler gears on the I-Shift. Customer experience: As previously announced, Volvo is building a new Customer Experience Center on the site of its New River Valley plant. This will be located near the Customer Experience track that opened in late 2014. Volvo’s plant is already a popular destination for customers, who get a closer, more interactive look at the process than at most other manufacturing plants. “Last year over 8,000 visitors in this facility. And there’s no Disneyland here; they came here just to see us,” Marchand said. Factory upgrades: The factory is in the process of upgrading all its welding equipment, replacing the robotics with the latest technology. And starting in September, Volvo will move to a new paint process that Marchand said will be “the most advanced paint system in the industry.” While the new technology will reduce paint waste and cut electricity use at the plant in keeping with Volvo’s focus on the environment, the benefit for customers will be a better, more uniform film thickness and better gloss levels and “distinctness of image.” Dealers: Even before the recent restructuring, Volvo Trucks North America had already been making signifiant investments in the dealer network, some of that done in conjunction with sister company Mack. Geofencing around dealers allows the company to keep track of when trucks arrive and when they leave. A new Certified Uptime Center certification program will recognize dealers with a next-level of uptime support, including parts availability and fast turnarounds. Nyberg added that the company does not expect 2016 truck sales to match the highs of 2015, but still is projecting Class 8 sales overall to reach 250,000 trucks. He said there are some 60,000 trucks in excess inventory at dealers of all makes, including Volvo, which does present a challenge. Despite a soft first quarter and beginning of the second as far as truck sales, Volvo expects the third and fourth quarters to be stronger, and Nyberg noted, “We see a good upswing in quote activity in vocational and vocational related business.” This is one area where Volvo has been working to make inroads, with new products, features, and attending shows such as World of Concrete where it had not typically been an exhibitor. “I think uptime combined with a fuel efficient truck is a key ingredient for success going forward,” Nyberg said. “We will of course continue to design our products around our core values” of quality, safety, and care for the environment. .

Can Tire Balancing Save Fuel? Heavy Duty Trucking / May 11, 2016 Can tire balancing save fuel? The people at IMI Products, developers of Equal and the new Equal Flexx tire balancing compounds believe it can. And to prove the point, they hosted a press day at their Chambersburg, Penn., offices so reporters could see the results for themselves. The way IMI explains it, properly balanced tires require less energy to keep in motion, and dynamic balancing can help reduce vibration that contributes to rolling resistance. Balancing tires, they say, helps keep them in service longer and allows fleets to get every mile out of every 32nd of an inch of tread rubber. And that's the biggest contributor to fuel savings. Tires that wear more evenly and run out right down to the last 32nd (or some predetermined pull-point) are in the fuel economy sweet spot of the tire longer. This allows fleets to take greater advantage of the thinner more efficient tread for more miles before the tires need to be removed. Of course, if all the tires on the truck wear truer right down to the end, not just the steer tires, all the tires can contribute to improved fuel efficiency. "Fleets are looking for longer tire life and balancing is one way to deliver on that," said Derek Forney, associate product manager at IMI. "The added benefit with such a program is the improved fuel economy over the full life of the tire." Forney described two major fleets' balancing programs that both led to greater tire life and improved fuel economy. One was Nussbaum of Hudson, Ill. Following a test involving several test and control vehicles that ran 140,000 miles over the same 1,400-mile route, Nussbaum saw a 20% improvement in tire life and a 3% fuel economy gain. The only difference between the test and control trucks was the test group had Equal balancing compound at all wheel positions including the trailer, while the control truck did not. IMI estimates the total annual savings can be $5,500 compared to a one-time cost of $450 to add Equal Flexx to tires at all wheel position on a truck. That figure includes about 25% longer tire life and 3-5% in fuel savings. But how does it drive? Equal Flexx is the latest balancing product from IMI. It was announced in February, but the first orders are to begin shipping this month. Flexx is a combination of balancing compound and vibration damper. It's a blend of material that has been in development for several years. Steve Ludwig, senior product development engineer at IMI, said they tested more than 50 individual materials and blends of material to arrive at the optimum performer. "We were looking to see how the product felt to a driver as well as how it performed from a data standpoint," he said. "We had the truck fitted with wireless vibration sensors so we could see how the product was performing. The driver didn't know which of four test materials he had on the truck, but he chose Equal Flexx and our data backed up his subjective opinion." Reporters saw the data point on the chart and heard from the drivers on how they felt about the product, but we also had a chance to experience it for ourselves. On a pair of nearly identically spec'd trucks on loan from Penske Leasing, one truck's tires were treated with Equal Flexx, the other's was not. After driving in the truck for about 20 minutes, the difference between the two was pretty obvious. "We doubled the vibration damping characteristics compared with the original Equal product," said John Tak, IMI's director of marketing and product development. "Net, net, this product delivers 15% better performance than its predecessor. It delivers the lowest tire wear, the lowest rolling resistance due to reduced vibration, and the most fuel economy improvement potential. We can say that because we tested it." IMI has loads of test data to share and even a few testimonials from the fleets that tested and proved the product. Give them a call or look them up online if you want to learn more about the fuel savings potential of all-position wheel balancing. Photo gallery - http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2016/05/can-tire-balancing-save-fuel.aspx

Truck News / May 12, 2016 Slumping truck sales have not kept Western Star from growing its market share and sales numbers so far this year. Kelly Platt, president of Western Star, said she believes the truck maker she oversees is the only one to have sold more trucks through the first few months of this year than last, when overall Class 8 truck demand was considerably stronger. And this despite the fact orders from Western Canada’s oilpatch – where Western Star has predominantly been strong – have dried up as oil prices have plunged. Platt, when addressing truck journalists during a press briefing here this morning, noted her thoughts are with those displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfires. “Our thoughts are certainly with those folks this week, as they fight that horrific fire and we hope there are Western stars up there helping them do that,” she said. Even with the oilpatch in a rut, Western Star has grown its North American market share. This year, said Platt, the company will sell twice as many trucks as it did in 2010. Canada still represents about 30% of its build, with 65% of sales coming from the US and 5% from Australia. Platt said Western Star owned 5.6% of the vocational market in 2015, up from 4.5% the year before and 3.8% in 2013. In Canada, its market share ranges from 8-11% and in some regions is greater than 25%, Platt noted. Its overall North American market share is 3% year-to-date, up from 2.6% through the same period last year and 1.9% in 2010. Platt chalked the growth up to an expanding dealer network and versatile product line. “Our product line is diverse and comprehensive and fully capable of appealing to any truck customers,” she said. Sales have been buoyed with the release last year of the Western Star 5700XE, the truck maker’s first aerodynamic highway tractor. Dealers have 100 demonstration units out in the field and fleets that have purchased the trucks are seeing fuel economy of better than 7 mpg, Platt said. One Winnipeg fleet was so enamored with the truck it changed its corporate logo to complement the truck’s styling. “They said it changes their image in the business,” Platt said. Through mid-March, Western Star had delivered 750 5700XEs to 331 customers. Many fleets, Platt said, are using it as a reward truck for their best drivers. Mike Guarino, on-highway and municipal segment manager with Western Star, acknowledged the company was the last OEM to develop an aerodynamic on-highway tractor. But being last had its benefits, and he said he’s convinced the company got it right. “We saw a need in the marketplace and decided to do it and do it the right way,” he said. Western Star says testing has shown the 5700XE has the second best fuel economy in the segment, behind only the Freightliner Cascadia. Other trucks have better aero, Guarino admitted, but he said that’s more than offset by efficiencies provided by the integrated Detroit powertrain. The 5700XE can only be had with Detroit power, something Platt said has not been a detriment. Eaton transmissions and the Detroit DT12 automated manual are available.

Heavy Duty Trucking / May 12, 2016 The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum has been selected as a lunch stop for the Hemming’s Motor News Great Race, a cross-country road rally of antique vehicles that will include Iowa 80’s own 1938 Kenworth as the only semi-tractor in the competition. The Great Race is a time/speed/endurance road rally for vintage automobiles manufactured at least 45 years ago. The 2016 event will be run over nine days starting in San Rafael, Calif., on June 18 and ending on June 26 in Moline, Ill. Nearly 100 racers will enjoy lunch on the lawn adjacent to the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum on June 26, between 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to view the cars while the racers stop for lunch before heading into downtown Moline, Ill. Iowa 80 Truckstop hosted fuel stops for the Great Race in 2005 and 2013. "We ran our 1938 Kenworth in the Great Race for over 10 years in the 1990s and early 2000s, so we know many of the racers and Great Race staff,” said Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president of Iowa 80. “We are happy to be able to host them for lunch at our museum this year. We hope to see many familiar faces." .

Heavy Duty Trucking / May 12, 2016 Western Star Truck Sales, Inc., announced its new Extreme Duty (XD) Offroad package and the launch of the MBT-40 Transformer chassis. The Western Star XD Offroad package is engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments and is available on both 4900 and 6900 models. Vehicles spec’ed with the XD Offroad package deliver maximum driver safety and comfort while providing customers with a low cost per ton product for offroad applications. Western Star plans to open the XD Offroad package up to other models in the future. The 6900XD Offroad MBT-40, dubbed the Multi-Body Transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in-cab controlled body application to another, is the first XD Offroad series offering from Western Star and a new concept for off-road equipment markets. The PALFINGER G68 hooklift has a lifting capacity of 68,000 pounds and a new transformer package and is designed to replace the need for having multiple pieces of dedicated off-road equipment on a job site that sit for long periods of time when not needed. The unit is equipped with a generic in-cab control system and a self-adapting hydraulic system that also allows the operators to quickly and easily swap the controls of multiple body applications as well. The MBT-40 features multiple hydraulic air and electrical connections, which allow it to connect and power a variety of body needs from powerful flow controlled hydraulic motors and pumps to heavy high flow tip cylinders. “The MBT-40 package is a game changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis,” said John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager, Western Star. “The development of this platform was all about finding better economic ways of filling needs for our customers. Offroad chassis equipment can be expensive to buy and maintain and new emissions levels are making the investment even more costly.” The 6900XD is available in both 6x4 and 6x6 configurations. For more information, go to www.WesternStarTrucks.com. .