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KrAZ Trucks Press Release / April 26, 2016 April 26 marks the day of the Chernobyl tragedy, and is remembered by Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Russians and people all over the world. Now 30 years since the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, people still remembers the events that occurred there and those who valiantly fought the fire and radiation. Kraz (Kremenchug Automobile Plant) was at the forefront of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster response. Then, in 1986, over 300 KrAZ employees went to radiation contaminated area to carry out response operations. About 10,000 vehicles including a large number of specialized KrAZ heavy trucks were brought in to deal with the disaster. The KrAZ-255Bs carried in a floating bridge which was installed across the Pripyat River in support of evacuating the population. The bridge was installed in just seven hours, and evacuation started on April 30. However, the most important task set before the KrAZ team was a government request for high specialized heav y trucks with could operate in the high radiation area and haul away the radioactive demolition debris, as well as deliver construction materials for entombment of the No. 4 nuclear reactor. The task was handed down to the truckmaker on the evening Sunday, June 22. Our engineers decided to base this vehicle on the KrAZ model 256B1 dump truck. A special lead-lined single seat cab weighing 3-tonnes was created to offer maximum protection to the driver. In early July, seven completed trucks arrived at Chernobyl, with another eleven units arriving by months end. The lead cab-equipped KrAZ-256B1s had to do the most dangerous jobs in high-radiation area. Contaminated debris was loaded onto them by robot-aided devices which were clearing up the No.4 nuclear reactor. These dump trucks were used for carrying concrete delivered by their regular production counterparts into the thick of the disaster. Upon completion of the project, all 18 of the lead cab-equipped dump trucks were placed in special burial site in Buryakovaka village nearby the Chernobyl power plant. The KrAZ employees who engineered and produced the trucks for the Chernobyl disaster response received government awards. Today, 30 years after the disaster, all the workers who participated in the Chernobyl disaster response operations are being honored by KrAZ management. .

Auto Review / May 10, 2016 Finland-based truckmaker Sisu (http://eng.sisuauto.com/) abandoned the mainstream truck market several years ago to focus on specialty applications including logging and dump trucks. A particularly interesting new model is Sisu’s Polar CK16M twin-steer 8x4 heavy haul tractor for carrying oversized loads. Until now, such tractors were built only by the major European truckmakers. The CK16M is designed for a gross combination weight of 220 metric tons (485,017 lb). The new Sisu utilizes a Mercedes-Benz Arocs cab purchased through a supply agreement. The truck’s OM473 (aka. DD16) engine is rated at 625 horsepower and meets Euro-6 emissions standards. Unusual for Europe, the OM473 is paired with an American Eaton Fuller RTLO22918B manual transmission with a 2-disc clutch. Sisu has a long tradition is using American transmissions boxes since the early 1970s, and for many years used Caterpillar engines. .

Trade Trucks AU / May 10, 2016 Western Star Trucks has launched a new website for its Australian and New Zealand markets, promising a "next level" e-commerce offering. http://westernstar.com.au/ According to the truck manufacturer, the "easy to navigate" website includes "pioneering features," such as providing a platform for "users to choose the right truck for their needs by comparing truck and engine combinations by model and design." "It features a rotating vehicle carrousel and an extensive image collection for each truck model," Western Star Trucks says. Mobile compatible, the website has almost 500 products available from brands including Truck-Lite, Rigid Industries, Alcoa Wheels, National Seating, Red Dog, and Waeco. A member of the Penske stable, the Western Star page also has details on dealer locations. Penske Transportation Group International marketing general manager Kimberley Ruddock says those behind the website "used the latest web design elements to create something truly next level for our industry." "The Penske group has built its global brand and reputation based on its pursuit of customer service excellence," she says. "We are driven to lead the industry and give our customers more, and we do this by delivering cutting edge services and precision in all facets of our business."

Related reading on micro-turbine powered hybrid tractors. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35200-walmart-debuts-futuristic-truck-at-mats/#comment-239455

The LIVLAB patent. US Patent 4351554 Livlab.pdf

Electric Class 8 truck promises 2,000 hp, 1,200 miles Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / May 10, 2016 Nikola Tesla – renowned inventor, electrical and mechanical engineer, physicist and futurist – is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system, and as a genius rivaled only by the likes of Thomas Edison. An automobile company named in his honor, Tesla Motors, is poised to revolutionize America’s highways. Another similarly named company, Nikola Motor Company (NMC), seems poised to do the same for transportation. Trevor Milton founded his company to design and manufacture electric vehicles, energy storage systems and electric vehicle drivetrain components. With the first working prototypes expected to be displayed to the public later this year, the company plans to soon launch a 2,000 horsepower electric semi-truck, Nikola One. The company says Nikola One is capable of pulling a total gross weight of 80,000 pounds and offers more than 1,200 miles between stops. The majority of the truck’s components are being developed by NMC, but the company turned to Meritor for help in co-designing the industry’s first-ever independent suspension. “By working together with some of the top engineering firms in America, we were able to design vehicles that have previously been thought impossible to design,” Milton says. “We want to even the playing field and income inequalities seen between owner operators and fleets for the first time in recent trucking history. This is just the beginning of what’s ahead for America, our company and the electric vehicle market.” Nikola One’s fully electric 335 horsepower motor features a dual gear reduction at every wheel (6×6). Combined, the truck outputs more than 2,000 horsepower and 3,700-plus ft. lbs. of torque before gear reduction, and nearly 86,000 ft. lbs. of torque after gear reduction. “Torque is instant with an electric motor,” Milton says. “There is a short window of RPM that you can get good torque from a diesel engine. The electric motor is basically providing 100 percent torque all the time.” The first-of-its-kind independent suspension system, based on Meritor’s all-wheel drive ProTec High Mobility Independent Suspension*, reduces vibration and boosts ride quality and a unique steering geometry improves tracking, centering feel and intuitive feedback. * http://www.meritor.com/products/defense/PDF/ProTec_Portfolio.pdf By removing the diesel engine and transmission, and manufacturing the cab out of lighter carbon fiber panels, the truck builder says it was able to install many of Nikola One’s heaviest components at or below the frame rail, lowering the center of gravity and improving safety. “Nikola One actually weighs about 2,000 pounds less than a regular diesel (21,000 pounds),” he says, “because we removed engine, the transmission, the drivetrain and all the liquids that go in those. All the batteries actually weigh less than the diesel engine does alone.” Additional benefits of removing the diesel engine, Milton says, include the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a larger and more aerodynamic cab and a quieter and more comfortable ride. Without a transmission, the only thing needed to make the Nikola One go or stop is the electric pedal and brake pedal. “No shifting whatsoever,” Milton says, adding Nikola One’s simplified operation will open up the line haul market to a new group of drivers. Nikola One’s electric motors are powered by a liquid cooled lithium-ion battery pack, which is charged by an onboard turbine. The fuel agnostic turbine automatically charges the batteries when needed, eliminating the need to plug in the unit. The turbine, Milton says, burns about 25 gallons of fuel per hour and, when coupled with the batteries, gives the truck a range of about 1,200 miles between stops and fill ups. Going downhill, the Nikola One’s six electric motors absorb the braking energy normally lost and deliver it back to the batteries. Because there is an electric motor at each wheel, the Nikola One’s software provides dynamic control to each wheel. Torque vectoring controls the speed and torque of each of the six wheels independent of each other at any given moment. NMC says its cab is 30 percent larger than its more traditional counterparts, and its aerodynamics reduces the drag coefficient by nearly 5 percent over most trucks currently on the market. The Nikola One’s cab features a sliding mid-entry door, a full-size fridge and freezer, electric climate controlled cabin, 15-inch touch screen infotainment display, 10-inch instrument cluster display, 4G LTE internet and Wi-Fi, over the air software updates, panoramic windshield, sunroof, two full size beds, microwave and 42-inch television. Each of the features will be powered by the truck’s 320 kWh battery pack, alleviating the need to idle or run a separate generator. NMC claims the driver could theoretically stay in the cab with all the amenities on for almost a week without draining the batteries enough to initiate the turbine charge. Milton says the truck’s operational cost per mile is somewhere between 20-30 cents per-mile, roughly half of most diesel-powered semis. The Nikola One’s proprietary hardware and software also features platooning capabilities. Once testing is complete and government regulations allow, a single Nikola One driver will have the ability to virtually hitch and lead up to five driverless Nikola One trucks through NMC’s wireless vehicle network and self-driving technology. “[The lead driver will] send a command and within 30 milliseconds it goes straight to the motor,” Milton adds of the response time of the platoon. “If for whatever reason the trucks experience a communication failure, the trucks would pull over as soon as it was safe to do so.” Virtual Hitch/Fleet Convoy technology is part of the truck’s hardware, and Milton says every Nikola One will come with it built in. Milton says he expects truck deliveries to begin in the next 24-36 months. He wouldn’t disclose the number of trucks on order, only calling it “substantial.” The first truck has been built and it is currently being tested internally. It will then undergo regular field trials to validate the technologies used. “The truck is a lot more simple than a diesel … take a Tesla car, for example,” Milton says. “If you tear apart a Tesla, there’s really not that much to it. Because it’s a lot more simple, the software needs to be a lot more robust.”

International Offers Over-the-Air Programming for Cummins Engines Heavy Duty Trucking / May 10, 2016 International Truck will be the first truck manufacturer to offer over-the-air truck programming for Cummins engines, allowing fleets to update engine control modules with a secure Wi-Fi connection. Over-the-air programming is available through the nine-pin International Link device that enables drivers or fleet managers to use a mobile interface to initiate engine programming over Wi-Fi. Engine control modules can then be updated to reflect the latest manufacturer approved calibrations without needing to visit a dealer or service facility. The service will first be available for a limited production release of Cummins 2017 model year engines, beginning in fall 2016. The two companies have plans to expand the service to other model years. "This new service for users of Cummins engines builds on our commitment to open-architecture solutions that provide drivers and fleets with improved uptime," said Terry Kline, senior vice president and chief information officer, Navistar. "Many of our customers have mixed fleets, and thanks to this industry-leading innovation, customers will be able to program Cummins' engines without having to leave their own facilities." International was the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to introduce OTA programming of ECMs, according to the company. It first offered the service for trucks powered by its N9, N10 and N13 proprietary engines. "We are pleased to be working with International to provide users of our engines with the latest in over-the-air solutions," said Amy Boerger, vice president of sales for Cummins' North America Engine Business.

Specialty Firm Announces New Electric Road Tractor Heavy Duty Trucking / May 10, 2016 Nikola Motor Co., named after electricity pioneer Nikola Tesla, has announced that it's developing a 2,000-hp, all-wheel-drive, hybrid-electric truck-tractor with a turbine range extender whose operating costs will be one-half that of a diesel tractor. The company is designing the majority of the components for the vehicle, called Nikola One, and with Meritor has co-designed an independent suspension for use with the truck, said Trevor Milton, the firm’s founder and chief executive officer. Electricity will go to six 335-hp motors, one at each wheel, developing a total of 2,010 hp and 3,700 lb-ft of torque. The motors will also act as generators to recharge the battery during regenerative braking. The proprietary turbine, which can be set up to burn many common fuels including diesel, gasoline or natural gas, automatically spins the generator to charge the batteries when needed. The vehicle's range will be 1,200 miles on 150 gallons of fuel. Nikola One will pull a loaded trailer with a designed gross combination weight of 80,000 pounds up a 6% grade at 65 mph, Milton said. Because its electric motors are geared to the wheels, there's no transmission and the truck will be easy to drive. The first working prototype will be displayed publicly later this year, he said, and as of Tuesday, the company is taking reservations with $1,500 deposits. “By working together with some of the top engineering firms in America, we were able to design vehicles that have previously been thought impossible to design,” said Milton. “We want to even the playing field and income inequalities seen between owner-operators and fleets for the first time in recent trucking history.” Milton formed the company a decade ago to design and manufacture electric vehicles, energy storage systems and electric vehicle drivetrain components. Previously, Milton was CEO of dHybrid Systems, a natural gas storage technology company that was acquired in October 2014 by Worthington Industries. For more information on the Nikola One, click here. .

COMPARE DIESEL ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE Horsepower 500HP 2,000HP Torque 1,650 ft-lbs 3,700 ft-lbs Range 500 -750 miles 1,200 miles Top Speed Up Hills (6%) 20 - 40 MPH 65 MPH On Descent Exhaust & Friction Brakes Recharging & Saving Brakes Acceleration 0-60 MPH Under Load 1 minute 30 seconds MPG 5.5 MPG 10 - 20 MPG Weight 23,000 lbs 21,000 lbs SAFETY Stopping Distance 300 ft Less than 150 ft Visibility Limited Panoramic Interior Cab Standard 30% More sq ft Center of Gravity High Above Frame Rail At or Below Frame Rail Torque Vectoring No Yes 6X6 All-Wheel Drive No Yes COST Extra Value per Load $0.00 $1,000 ($0.50 per lb) CPM in Fuel $0.60 - $0.85 $0.20 - $0.30 Longevity 500,000 Miles 1 Million Miles+ Lease Payment $2,200 $5,000 Fuel per Month $10,000 $0.00 Maintenance per Month $0.12 per mile $0.06 per mile

SPECS MOTOR & DRIVETRAIN Motor Type 800V AC Motors Battery Capacity 320kWh Lithium Ion Transmission Direct Drive With Low-Noise Gears Drive System Type 6X6 All Wheel Drive Transmission Two Speed Automated Active Descent Control Comes Standard Cooling Biodegradeable Non-Electrically Conductive Liquid Coolant FRAMES, AXLES & SUSPENSIONS Frame Steel & Aluminum 5th Wheels Alcoa Aluminum Front Axles Nikola 12-14.6K lbs. Front Suspension Independent Rear Axles Nikola – Tandem – 40-46K lbs. Rear Suspension Independent Rear Hubs Alcoa Super Singles BRAKES Front Brakes WABCO Air Disc with Regenerative Electric Motor Braking Rear Brakes WABCO Air Disc with Regenerative Electric Motor Braking Parking Brake Air Parking Brake HOOD, BUMPER, TIRES, WHEELS & FUEL TANKS Hood Carbon Fiber Bumper Aerodynamic Body Color Matched Aluminum Front Tires 295 75 R22.5 Rear Tires 445 50 R 22.5 Wheels Cast Aluminum Alcoa Fuel Tanks 150 DGE Natural Gas CAB & SLEEPER Cab Carbon Fiber Seats GRA-Mag DIMENSIONS Bed Size Full Size Mattress Ground Clearance TBD Overall Vehicle Size (L x W x H) 384 Long x 98 Wide x 157 High Payload Capacity 65,000 Lbs Person Capacity Team Driver OTHER Air Dryers WABCO Air Tanks Aluminum Wheelbase TBD Estimated Dry Weight (pounds/kg) 21,000 lbs / 9,526 kg FEATURES Display Monitors 15" Infotainment (2) 7" Instrument Clusters (1) 10" Heads up Color / Graphics White, Red, Blue Electronic Power Steering 800V electric driven hydraulic power steering Lighting White LED, High/Low & Red LED Tail/Brake Lights Instrumentation Digital Gauge, Speedometer, Odometer, Tripmeter, Tachometer, Coolant Temperature, Volt Meter, Hour Meter, Service Indicator, Clock, Distance to Empty, Fuel Gauge, Hi-Temp Light, Seatbelt Reminder Light, 2 DC Outlets

Nikola Motors natural gas-electric hybrid Class 8 truck Autoblog / May 10, 2016 With Tesla Motors pretty much cornering the market on public perception of what an electric car should be, a new electric vehicle (EV) company called Nikola Motors is ready to launch a $375,000 natural gas-electric hybrid semi truck called the Nikola One. The name Nikola comes from inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), who is also posthumously lending his name to that one company Elon Musk is running. While the names are an obvious connecting thread, the Nikola Motor Company will not be competing with Tesla Motors unless Musk decides to enter the electric semi game. The Nikola One is not all-electric. On top of a 320-kWh battery pack, the 2,000-horsepower Nikola One will have a 536 horsepower (400kW) fuel-agnostic turbine (the standard model will have a natural gas tank) that sends power to the battery. Nikola says that its truck will be able to operate at half the cost per mile of today's diesel trucks. With a full tank of 150 gallons of natural gas, the Nikola One will be able to go 1,200 miles between fill-ups. And, for the first 5,000 customers, the company will provide 100,000 gallons of free natural gas at its planned network of CNG stations and company-owned natural gas wells. The 100,000 gallons are enough, Nikola says, for a million work miles. Nikola Motors is accepting refundable $1,500 deposits from today. Website - https://nikolamotor.com/one Features: · X6 100% ELECTRIC DRIVE · ZERO IDLE · MANY TIMES CLEANER THAN DIESEL ENGINES · 1/2 THE FUEL COST PER MILE COMPARED TO DIESEL · 3,700 FT. LBS TORQUE · 2,000 HORSEPOWER · 1,200 MILE RANGE · 320 kWh BATTERY · 1 MILLION MILES FREE FUEL* · REGENERATIVE BRAKING · NO COMPETITION · NEVER PLUG IN - TURBINE CHARGES BATTERIES AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING 95% EFFICIENT ELECTRIC MOTORS Nikola's custom electric motors operate at 95% efficiency; so when it comes to hills they are quicker going up, and they save money going down. While other trucks are losing energy and riding their brakes, Nikola One is capturing energy, recharging batteries - saving brakes, noise and money. UNBELIEVABLE ACCELERATION While diesel engines require high RPM's to reach peak torque, Nikola's electric motors hit peak torque almost instantly. Instant torque combined with all wheel drive give Nikola One the ability to accelerate nearly 2x faster than a stock diesel tractor. 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE MILES PER GALLON There are several factors that give Nikola One the advantage when it comes to fuel economy: Better aerodynamics Using energy only when needed (no idling) Charging batteries via regenerative braking Six wheel drive - pulling and pushing at the same time Up to 95% efficient electric motors Up to 40% thermal efficient turbine LESS WEIGHT = MORE MONEY When pulling at max capacity, every pound counts. With nearly 2,000 lbs of weight savings on the chassis, owners can throw more goods on each load. Every pound after max load may be worth as much as $.50. By saving up to 2,000 lbs, owners could earn approximately $1,000 in extra revenue from every load, every day. Owners that run at full load could see up to $30,000 or more each month in revenue straight to the bottom line. STOP UP TO 2 X FASTER Safety standards require trucks to stop under full load in under 300 ft. With 6X6 regenerative braking and air disk brakes, our electric semi truck can stop nearly 2x faster than any other semi truck on the market - cutting stopping distance in half. Nikola One begins braking within 10 milliseconds; hundreds of times faster than advanced air-only disc brakes. Negative torque applied by the same electric motors brings braking to a whole new level. PANORAMIC VIEWS Without a heavy, noisy, cumbersome diesel engine in the front of the vehicle, Nikola was able to move the driver forward, add a panoramic windshield, and give the driver better visibility from more angles. This means safer driving, better visibility and less accidents. LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY Diesel powered tractors have a high center of gravity due to the natural placement of the engine and weight of the cab to support the engine. Nikola has lowered the center of gravity by removing the diesel engine, transmission, emissions equipment and installing batteries, electric motors and a turbine below the frame rail. This keeps the center of gravity lower than any other semi truck on the market. Lower center of gravity means more control and safer driving. TORQUE VECTORING Torque vectoring is one of the most advanced features for heavy duty trucking. It allows control of each wheel independently through drive-by-wire. By communicating with the motors up to 30 times a second, the speed of each wheel can be adjusted while cornering, maneuvering, accelerating and braking - making it safer for drivers. Press Release Nikola Motor Company Formed to Transform U.S. Transportation Industry First products announced: Nikola One class 8 electric semi-truck and Nikola Zero 4x4 electric UTV SALT LAKE CITY. May 10, 2016-- Nikola (pronounced Neek-oh-la) Motor Company (NMC), named after the famous electrical engineer Nikola Tesla, was quietly formed by Founder and CEO Trevor Milton years ago to design and manufacture electric vehicles, energy storage systems and electric vehicle drivetrain components. With the first working prototypes displayed to the public later this year, the company will launch a 2,000 horsepower, electric semi-truck, dubbed "Nikola One", and a 520 hp, 4x4 electric UTV with a code name of "Nikola Zero." For complete product details on the Nikola Zero and One, visit www.nikolamotor.com. Reservations have just begun for both the Nikola Zero UTV and the Nikola One electric semi-truck. While the majority of the semi-trucks components are being developed by Nikola, the company also co-designed the industry's first ever independent suspension with Meritor. "By working together with some of the top engineering firms in America, we were able to design vehicles that have previously been thought impossible to design," said Milton. "We want to even the playing field and income inequalities seen between owner operators and fleets for the first time in recent trucking history. This is just the beginning of what's ahead for America, our company and the electric vehicle market," added Milton. Prior to establishing Nikola, Milton was CEO of dHybrid Systems, a natural gas storage technology company that was acquired in October 2014 by one of America's largest steel providers, Worthington Industries. (NYSE: WOR) About Nikola Motor Company: Nikola Motor Company designs and manufactures electric vehicles, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle drivetrains. NMC is led by its visionary CEO Trevor Milton (twitter: @nikolatrevor), who has assembled one of the most talented teams in the country to bring the Nikola products to market. For more information, visit nikolamotor.com or Twitter: @nikolamotor. .

One related, one of interest.

Diesel News Australia / May 5, 2016 An announcement by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will mean operators running many of the PBS truck and dog combinations will no longer need permits. The NHVR released Australia’s first gazette Notice for PBS truck and dog combinations. The Notice will replace the need for state based permits for heavy vehicle combinations comprising of a three or four-axle truck, towing a three, four or five-axle dog trailer. “The network will slash red tape for trucking operators, by removing the need for the trucking industry to apply for and later renew some 1,500 permits,” said Chris Melham, Australian Trucking Association CEO. “It will also encourage more operators to use these high productivity vehicles. “The network is an example of how the NHVR is working with industry to reduce compliance costs. There’s a lot more to do, but any day when 1,500 pieces of unnecessary government paperwork gets scrapped is a good day.” NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay congratulated NHVR and RMS on the Notice and said it’s a big win for NSW trucking operators who will no longer be required to obtain individual access permits. “The change removes around 300 permits in the state, it is a common sense improvement that supports the NSW Government’s commitment of making it easier for trucking companies to do business,” said Gay. “Since 2011, the NSW Government has made it our priority to cut red tape and increase access, with more than 95 per cent of state roads now open to higher mass limits for vehicles operating under this Notice.” PBS truck and dog operators working at Concessional Mass Limits will benefit from increased access on the NSW network, gaining use of 25/26 metre B-Double routes without the requirement for IAP. IAP remains a requirement for vehicles operating at Higher Mass Limits. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Regulator had co-designed the Notice following detailed consultation with state and local government representatives. “Encouraging industry with better access for newer, safer, high-productivity vehicles means less trips and that’s a good outcome for all road users,” said Petroccitto. “These vehicles are delivering safer transport while a higher degree of access certainty will improve efficiency and improve productivity for operators.We’ll continue to work with road managers across the country to expand this network.” The NHVR points out in its statement, PBS Vehicle Approval will continue to be needed. For more information visit the NHVR website.

Another log truck rolls in Northland Radio New Zealand / May 4, 2016 Another log truck has rolled this morning in Whangarei, the fifth in a month, prompting angry residents to consider taking the law into their own hands. The truck, which was empty, rolled on a bend about 5.30am on Otaika Road, bringing down power lines and closing the road. It is the fifth log truck to roll in Northland in a month and the second, in that period, to roll on the same bend. Spokesman for Northland's Grow Rail lobby group Albie Barr said local residents felt the situation was out of control and there had been talk of barricading Otaika Road. "They're talking pretty drastic measures, and I don't blame them," he said. "The last truck that rolled on that bend, it happened at 2.30 in the afternoon, and there's a school bus packed with kids that rocks along that road after three. But we've advised them not to take the law into their own hands." Mr Barr said it was a matter of good luck, not good management, that no-one had yet been injured or killed as a result of the rollovers. He said log truck drivers were in some cases immigrants, inexperienced, or both, and under pressure. "They are poorly paid - they only get $16 an hour. "So the pressure is on them to do long hours, and to get in as many trips as they can from the forest to the port in a day." The police said the driver of the truck that rolled this morning suffered minor injuries, and their Serious Crash Unit was investigating. The bend on which the crash happened has an advisory sign of 55km and police have previously said the main cause of the rollovers was excessive speed, or inattention on corners. Mr Barr said a public meeting about the log trucks had been organised for next Tuesday, 10th May at 7pm in the Otaika Hall. He said there would be an extra 100 log trucks a week on the road by spring, if KiwiRail went ahead with plans to mothball the rail line north of Whangarei. .

Owner/Driver / February 23, 2016 Steve Brooks takes a tour of Cleary Bros museum, where a pair of immaculately restored early 1940s' NR Macks hold pride of place. Cleary Bros Port Kembla site is home to a fascinating and hugely impressive museum which not only highlights the company’s mechanical heritage but perhaps more emphatically, demonstrates the skill and pride of the tradespeople who have for generations continued to be such an intrinsic and vital part of the Cleary business. As a placard within the museum states: ‘These machines on display have been restored to fully operational standard in Cleary Bros workshops. The restoration work symbolises the dedication and workmanship skills of the apprentices and staff at Cleary Bros.’ Pride of place goes to a pair of immaculately restored NR Macks – one a 1942 model, the other a 1943 version – loaded with equally superb restorations of early Caterpillar and International machinery. As Dennis Cleary explains, neither of these two Macks actually worked in the Cleary stable but they were bought and restored to portray the trucks operated in the company’s early days. For more on the Cleary Bros and their Mack stronghold, see the March 2016 edition of Owner//Driver. Video - http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1603/dogged-devotion-cleary-bros-museum/ Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dLxO8BLXZk Note: Steve Brooks is the CAT Trucks Australia spokesman.

235 trucks crawl the Hume Owner/Driver / April 26, 2016 A nostalgic rumble echoed through Victorian towns long bypassed from Highway 31 when 235 classic trucks crawled the old Hume. Trucks dating back to the 1920s were among the 235 vehicles registered for the Crawlin’ the Hume classic truck run from Melbourne to Albury on April 16. The oldest truck to travel the Victorian section of the old Hume Highway was Brian Smith’s 1923 T Model Ford. Powerful rigs from the 1970s and 1980s also delighted crowds along the way. David Connor felt privileged to drive Canny Carrying Co’s 1956 International AS 160 on the run. In February the International took part in the funeral procession of Wangaratta trucking legend, Brian Canny, who had driven the AS 160 on the Hume in the 1950s and 1960s. The International’s restoration was completed early this year and Brian was shown the finished project only a week before he passed away. Many beautifully restored Internationals took part, including Graham Wright’s 1965 AB 184D with a 1965 McGrath trailer. Dodges, Fords, Kenworths, Macks, Whites, Peterbilts, Volvos, Mercedes, Atkinsons, Reos, Bedfords, Commers, Chevrolets, Diamond Ts, Austins, Studebakers and Fodens were all represented. Hundreds of people took the opportunity to see the trucks up-close when they stopped for lunch at Winton Motor Raceway. The run finished at Albury Racing Club where Arch McLeish’s stories from his days as a transport operator entertained 280 people attending the dinner. Crawlin’ the Hume was organised by Rob French, Roger Marchetti and Trevor Davis with assistance from volunteers who helped on the day. It will be held again in 2018. Meanwhile Bruce Gunter and his Haulin’ the Hume committee are organising a similar event between Sydney and Yass on April 1 and 2, 2017. Details of both runs will be posted in Owner//Driver’s events diary as they become available. Photo gallery - http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/events-news/1604/235-trucks-crawl-the-hume/

Highway 31: A journey down the Old Hume Owner/Driver / April 19, 2016 After weeks of comparing the White and Western Star prime movers, it is time for Matt Wood and Steve Brooks to hit the Old Hume Highway to answer the age-old question; is trucking what it used to be? It’s funny how time can speed up and slow down depending on what you may be doing at any given time. If you’re waiting for a train or stuck in traffic, time drags, if you’re having fun at a party, time flies. Watching your team lose an important game? It always happens in slow motion. While our relationship with time may be a little stretchable, four decades is a long time in anyone’s book. Time, trucking, and technology have trundled down the road of progress over the last 40 years. Truck engines have become more powerful and more reliable all the while becoming more fuel efficient and cleaner. Yet, it seems a part of human nature to mythologise the past, hence that old saying ‘the older I get the better I was.’ And you’d be hard pressed to find another road in Australia that would be shrouded in as much myth and legend as the Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney. So we thought it may be interesting to put two trucks on that famed stretched of now-bypassed highway to see just how much has changed. Were things really that much better in the old days? The Old Hume Highway out of Camden NSW, seemed a fitting stretch of road to compare just how much trucks, engines and highways have changed. We wanted to pit a survivor from the halcyon Hume Highway days of the 1970s and ’80s against its present day incarnation to see just how much has changed. Comparing specs In one corner we had a current model Western Star 4900FXT and in the other we had a fully-restored 1975 White 4000. Both are conventional prime movers with classic lines and both are powered by Detroit engines. But that’s where the similarities end. The ‘Star has a Detroit DD15 under the bonnet that cranks out 560hp and 1850lb/ft. The White uses an 8V71N Detroit with 318hp and 800lb/ft. The ‘Star uses an 18-speed Eaton UltraShift-Plus automated transmission, while the White has an old 15-speed overdrive ‘box with a shifter shaped like a broom handle. The newer truck towers over its ancestor. That 15-litre Detroit EGR has a comparatively massive cooling package. The cab sits high off the chassis to allow engine heat to escape. An electronic engine management system oversees engine operation and fuel delivery, much in the way of the DD’s ground breaking forefather, the Series 60 Detroit. High pressure fuel is delivered in a finely metered spray. The White Motor Company used to own the Western Star brand alongside the iconic Autocar brand. But by the late 1970s White was ailing and in 1980 Volvo bought the company and consequently, a foothold in the lucrative North American market. These days Western Star nestles under the umbrella of Daimler’s North American interests, while Autocar lives on as an independent vocational brand. Alas, White is no more. But our beautifully restored White is typical of the trucks that used to ply the old Hume Highway of the 1970s and ’80s. Finesse isn’t a big part of the White’s repertoire. The 9-litre supercharged V8 is fed diesel by a mechanical fuel system that relies on quantity rather than quality. As with all old GM Detroits, it leaks oil and a little coolant, and a boot full of revs fills the sky with fuel smoke. And the sound? Pretty much like a horny tyrannosaurus rex gargling wet cement. It is however, very cool. Hitting the Old Hume My colleague Steve Brooks got the job of steering the sensitive new age ‘Star while I wrestled with the barely power assisted steering of the White and the back-to-front gear pattern of the overdrive ‘box. As Steve idled sedately up the Razorback Range I had to take a more proactive approach. Meaning I had to keep the right foot flat and the gear changes on the money. The White certainly isn’t lacking any aural drama and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t enjoying the demanding job of piloting the old 4000. Before the completion of the Hume Freeway the Old Hume Highway through Camden, Picton, and Bargo would have been alive with a nocturnal Detroit, Cummins, and Caterpillar bellow. These towns are now sedate little tourist villages that do little to hint of an earlier time. Every stop was a giveaway to just how far things have progressed. Steve sauntered away from the 4900 like he’d just hopped out of the family sedan. I was however, walking like Buffalo Bill with my ears ringing. The comparisons between the two are endless. The massive Stratosphere sleeper on the 4900 with its massive king bed is a very pleasant place to be. The dog box sleeper on the White requires feats of anatomic contortion to even get into it. The tarp load on the old spread triaxle flat top behind the White speaks of a time when ropes and tarps were the norm. The Auto-Hold-Auto Mezzdeck Freighter curtain-sider behind the Western Star points to a future where the driver need only throw a strap or two over a load. What it all means The old road houses are now shut and the old Highway 31 is now a tourist drive. Yet in places, bluestone walls bear the scars of a misjudged corner now over grown with age. The mists of time gloss over the sheer sweat and determination required to pilot these old trucks down undulating two lane backdrops. The Western Star 4900 with its blind spot cameras, automated gearbox and lean green powerplant in many ways represents the future of long haul trucking in Australia. The White? It’s a constant reminder of how far we’ve come. Our drive down history’s highway certainly showed me that the past is a nice place to visit. But, you really wouldn’t want to live there. Photo gallery - http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/product-news/1604/highway-31-a-journey-down-the-old-hume/

Owner/Driver / May 9, 2016 Thousands lined the streets to welcome 235 classic trucks as they crawled along old Victorian sections of the Hume Highway in April. Organiser Rob French tells us about 2016 Crawlin’ the Hume Organised by Rob French, Roger Marchetti, and Trevor Davis with assistance from volunteers, 235 vehicles were involved in the Crawlin’ the Hume classic truck run from Melbourne to Albury on April 16. Dodges, Fords, Kenworths, Macks, Whites, Peterbilts, Volvos, Mercedes, Atkinsons, Reos, Bedfords, Commers, Chevrolets, Diamond Ts, Austins, Studebakers and Fodens were all represented. Videos: http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/events-news/1605/2016-crawlin-the-hume/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHHcqYgx2NI