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Associated Press / July 10, 2015 Parents may hesitate to hand teens the keys to the family car, but Congress is proposing to allow drivers as young as 18 to get behind the wheel of big rigs on the nation's interstates. Federal regulations currently require drivers be at least 21 before they can drive commercial trucks across state lines, but a bill introduced this week by Republican senators would allow contiguous states that join together in "compacts" to drop the age threshold to 18 for interstate trips. There is no limit on the number of states that could join the compacts. After four years, the Transportation secretary is supposed to report to Congress on whether teens have "an equivalent level of safety" in comparison with older truckers. In 2013, all drivers ages 18-20 had a fatal crash involvement rate, per 100,000 licensed drivers, that was 66 percent higher than drivers who were age 21 years or older, according to the Transportation Department's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, although the total number of crash deaths among teens has been declining since 2002. The change was sought by the trucking industry to help address a shortage of truck drivers. The American Trucking Associations estimates that the current shortage of drivers is roughly 35,000 to 40,000, but because of retirements and individuals leaving the industry, trucking companies will need to recruit nearly 100,000 new drivers a year over the next decade to keep pace with the country's freight needs. But Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said allowing teens to drive trucks weighing as much as 80,000 pounds and to work as many as 82 hours a week, as is permitted in the truck industry, is a "catastrophe waiting to happen." "The combination of inexperience, high-risk driving and large trucks can cause unbelievable devastation," she said. Dave Osiecki, chief of advocacy for trucking associations, said states already allow teens to drive commercial trucks unlimited miles within their borders. For example, it makes no sense to allow a teen truck driver to drive hundreds of miles from one end to the other of a state like Virginia, but prohibit the same driver from crossing the Potomac River into Washington, he said. "We absolutely support" lowering the age limit, he said. "It would be good for our industry, it would be good for commerce, it would be good for the economy." Legislation to allow states to lower the age for a commercial, interstate license to 18 was first introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and was incorporated into a larger transportation bill introduced this week by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Fischer. The bill would restrict teen truckers from hauling hazardous materials or operating "special configurations," which are generally defined as oversized or overweight loads. States and the U.S. Department of Transportation would also be allowed impose other restrictions if they wish. States wouldn't be obligated to join the compacts, but Gillan said she expects state officials would be under pressure from trucking industry to do so. To obtain an interstate commercial driver's license, drivers must pass a written knowledge test and a driving skills test administered by a state motor vehicles department. But there is no requirement that drivers first receive on the road training or attend a training school, Gillan said. Labor unions have said the driver shortage could be eliminated by raising truckers' wages and improving working conditions. A decade ago the Bush administration looked at lowering the commercial truck driving age to 18, but ultimately decided against doing that because the public comments the government received were overwhelmingly against the idea.

Australasian Transport News / July 14, 2015 Roads in metro and rural Queensland will see a boost on the back of new budget funding The Queensland government has made roads a key component of its budget, with a $3.931 billion investment in transport and road programs for 2015/16 in premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's first Budget. The funding will be invested over the next four years under the Queensland Transport and Road Investment Program, which has received an overall financial boost of $18.8 billion to be spread over roads, rail, marine, public transport and active transport infrastructure. The major beneficiaries of the roads funding will be the Gateway Motorway North ($175.9 million), the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (172.1 million), the Bruce Highway (146.5 million) and the Peak Downs Highway (12.9 million). For western Queensland, the state government has targeted 14 road projects to be undertaken across the region over the coming two years. As part of a $4.6 billion allotment for rural and regional parts of the state, treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the $40 million road funding package that will focus on road widening and sealing. "We recognise the importance of a safe and reliable road network for people who live and work in western Queensland," Pitt says. "In many ways, roads are the lifeblood of many rural and regional communities." "This $40 million investment will deliver a safer and more reliable road network for communities in western parts of the state. It will also provide jobs at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever. "It will keep road crews on the job in the north west and the south west of our State, regions which are doing it tough as a result of the drought." Major roads throughout the Gold Coast region will also see an update, with the government investing $161 million ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

House Amendment Would Protect Glider Kits from GHG Rules Heavy Duty Trucking / July 14, 2015 The House of Representatives has approved an amendment that would temporarily protect glider kits as they are now assembled and sold, says Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), who sponsored the measure "to protect Tennessee workers and small manufacturing businesses from the EPA’s latest overreach." The amendment to an appropriations bill would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from using fiscal-year 2016 funds to enforce new restrictions on gliders, which EPA proposes under the Phase 2 greenhouse-gas and fuel-economy proposals unveiled in June. Black represents an east Tennessee district where Fitzgerald Glider Kits, a major assembler of the vehicles, has plants. In her speech on the House floor, she said she toured the company’s plant and understands their financial advantages. “Since a glider kit is less expensive than buying a new truck, and can extend the working life of a truck, businesses and drivers with a damaged or older vehicle may choose to purchase one of these kits instead of buying a completely new vehicle,” she said. “Unfortunately, the EPA is proposing to apply the new Phase 2 standards to glider kits, even though gliders are not really new vehicles. “Mister Speaker, this directly impacts my district where we have glider kits being manufactured and purchased by companies in places like Byrdstown, Sparta, and Jamestown – communities that are already struggling with above-average unemployment and would see job opportunities put further out of reach if this misguided rule goes into effect. “It is also unclear whether the EPA even has the authority to regulate replacement parts like gliders in the first place,” she said. “What’s more, while the EPA’s stated goal with Phase 2 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency has not studied the emissions impact of remanufactured engines and gliders compared to new vehicles.” EPA wants gliders to use diesels that meet current emissions limits, so they could no longer be powered with older engines, explained Ben Sharpe, a senior researcher with the International Council for Clean Transportation, which has analyzed the Phase 2 proposals. There is an exception for companies that each assemble fewer than 300 glider kits per year. Fitzgerald makes more than four times that number. “Under this ill-advised rule, businesses and drivers that wish to use glider kits would be effectively forced to buy a completely new vehicle instead,” Rep. Black told her House colleagues. “Reducing glider sales would also end up limiting consumer choice in the marketplace. “To be clear, this amendment would not bar the EPA from implementing the whole Phase 2 rule for medium and heavy-duty trucks. It would simply clarify that glider kits and glider vehicles are not new trucks as the EPA wrongly claims.” As with any amendment, this one is a long way from becoming law, said Laura Perrotta, senior director of legislative affairs for the National Truck Dealers and its parent, the National Automobile Dealers Association. “The amendment would have many hurdles to overcome to get into law,” she explained. “It would have to get into a Senate companion bill. If it doesn’t, toward the end of the [congressional] term it might go into an omnibus bill, where it and many other [amendments] stand a chance of being stripped out. “Even if it did become law, it only has a one-year term, so would have to be reauthorized every year.” EPA has grown concerned that glider kits are being bought by truckers who want to avoid compliance with stringent exhaust-emissions limits, not just replace wrecked, worn- or rusted-out trucks as they were originally designed. They can legally buy gliders by securing titles and other documents that prove a glider – a new truck without most powertrain components – is replacing an older truck whose diesel and other parts are installed in the new vehicle. Most gliders use diesels originally manufactured in the 1999-2002 period when emissions limits were relatively easy to meet, and before expensive exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust aftertreatment equipment came into use. Other glider kits are sold with dual-fuel conversions so the engines burn lower-cost natural gas with diesel fuel, and their emissions are cleaner than straight diesel engines. Daimler Trucks North America’s Freightliner division offers many of its current and past models as glider kits, and will install remanufactured diesels for customers who want them that way. Fitzgerald uses mostly Freightliner kits, along with some from Kenworth and Peterbilt, and planned to produce 1,400 last year. Dealers, independent shops and some trucking fleets also assemble gliders, which have grown in popularity partly because they cost at least 25% less than a comparable all-new truck.

Autoblog / July 14, 2015 Most of the patent filings we report on these days are of a pretty high-tech nature: everything from "humanized" navigation systems to 11-speed transmissions. But cool innovations can be lower-tech and clever, too. At least that's our feeling after seeing some proposed plans from Dodge (aka. Ram). Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) has filed a patent for a system of built-in ramps recessed inside of a pickup truck bed. While stowable ramps aren't new – Ford offers a similar system for the F-150 ­– the level of integration shown in these diagrams seems to be. Drawings show ramps that run on channels in the bed and tailgate, hinged at the end of the extended gate for a gentle upslope into the cargo area. What's more, the system seems changeable, with two ramps set wide or narrow, or just one centrally mounted. Just the thing for switching from motorcycle-loading season to snowmobile-loading season. A granted patent doesn't always lead to a product brought to market, of course. Issues with cost, durability, and demand all have a lot to say about what makes it from design to showroom. Still, we think the proposed RamRamp (feel free to use that, FCA) shows a ton of promise. Related photographs - http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/14/ram-truck-patent-in-bed-ramp-system/#slide-3549063

BBC / July 14, 2015 A new "secure zone" will be created at Calais for UK-bound lorries in a bid to stop migrants boarding them, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. The area will hold up to 230 vehicles - in effect a two-and-a-half mile queue. Mrs May said 8,000 migrant attempts to cross the Channel to the UK were foiled between 21 June and 11 July, when ferry strikes in France exacerbated problems. Transport bosses said migrant numbers in Calais had risen from 600 in January to 5,000 - and that figure was growing. 'Repeated attempts' Mrs May told the Commons hauliers had been subjected to "repeated attempts by illegal migrants who attempt to stow themselves away in their vehicles". The new zone should provide protection for lorries and their drivers by "removing them from the open road where they can become targets for migrants", said Mrs May. She said the security zone should "transform protection" for hauliers. Her announcement came as transport bosses appeared before the Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about the crisis. Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley told MPs there had been a "significant increase" in the number of migrants found hiding in vehicles in the UK over the past month. He said: From 1 January to 31 May, 26 people were foundIn the five weeks from 1 June, 405 people were found"At the peak" on 8 July, 96 people were foundThere are estimated to be 5,000 migrants currently in Calais, and that number is "rising"Mr Pughsley said he believed strike action by French ferry workers during that time was a "contributing factor" to the numbers because it meant "easier access" for people to trains or lorries. John Keefe, director of public affairs at Eurotunnel, said the 5,000 figure had grown from an estimated 600 migrants in January, and the rise was "continuing apace". "We have never seen numbers like this before and we have not in the past seen the degree of organisation that goes with the numbers either," he said. He said a secure zone would not solve the issue, adding: "As soon as you remove an opportunity, the organised criminals who are managing the migrant attacks are moving to the next opportunity - to the next weak spot." Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said the situation was "out of control" and criticised the fact the secure zone would not be in place until the autumn. "This isn't fast enough. We've got drivers being threatened with bars and knives. We've had an example of a driver being threatened with a gun," he said. "We've got a problem right now. This is unprecedented and it's escalating. We need action now." The "write-off" of products due to contamination by migrants entering vehicles could be £1bn a year, he said, adding: "There are full loads that are being destroyed." Last week a migrant from Eritrea died attempting to board a freight shuttle headed to Britain. The death came days after about 150 migrants tried to storm the Channel Tunnel terminal in France. The strike by French ferry workers at the end of last month forced the suspension of Channel Tunnel services. It closed the Port of Calais and resulted in thousands of lorry drivers being stuck on the roads into Calais. This led hundreds of migrants to try to board UK-bound lorries. Mrs May said British and French authorities had been working together for months to improve security at Calais. Some £12m will spent on work to reinforce security in northern French ports, including new fencing and work to improve traffic flow and Border Force controls, which would be completed next month, she said. Other security measures already announced include a £2m upgrade of detection technology, £1m extra for dog searches and new fencing in Calais. UKIP's migration spokesman, Steven Woolfe, said the government was "waking up to the crisis" but called for more UK border personnel in Calais and said the UK should negotiate a scheme where migrants can be returned immediately to France if they have entered the UK illegally. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain's border was the scene of a "terrible crisis" where lives were being lost and people were being injured. Video - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33525242

I assume, at 130 tonnes, he's running Scania's RBP832+RP832 bogie, but possibly the RBP730+RP730. No way the standard RB660+R660.

Obama: The deal "is not built on trust, it is built on verification". Not exactly. That's only if Iran "agrees" to verification. U.N. inspectors can make a "request" to visit Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties. However, access isn't guaranteed and could be delayed (so the Iranians can have time to cover up any illicit activity). And, Iran has the right to challenge the U.N request.......via an arbitration board composed of Iran and the six world powers. So in other words, Iran and the global powers will then argue about access to Iran's military facilities for months, alike the situation already in existence for years. What's changed?....................Nothing. Oh, no, no, I'm wrong............something has changed. We're now going to give Iran free money We're going to give them billions of dollars, in relief from the [self-inflicted] results of the international sanctions. That's right, we're giving them billions to help them get back on their feet again, a display of remorse on our part for pushing the sanctions upon them. Today, we read the "six world powers" will foot the bill (ie. United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia ). But as we all know, it's always the US that pays most of the tab. My fellow U.S. taxpayers, your country will soon be sending your tax money to Iran. You won't mind our government putting off repairs on our crumbling interstate highway system so that we can rebuild Iran just as we successfully spent your tax dollars rebuilding Iraq into the peaceful and prosperous country it is today, right??? With our serious issues at home, I have no desire for my tax money to be handed over to Iran, a very wealthy Israel, or other. In light of all, I'd rather bailout a corrupt and ill-managed Detroit, than agree to give my tax money to the state department for global lip service (Money can't restore American's now-at-rock-bottom reputation around the world, only real leadership can). I want my money spent at home to rebuild a decaying United States of America. What does the Iran "deal" really mean? 1. It gives Obama a legacy, even though this is no more a good "deal" for America than Obamacare is affordable health care. 2. The "deal", in theory, allows the U.S. to give up on the Iran issue without admitting to the masses that they gave up. 3. Iran held out and got their way, and now we're going to give them billions of dollars. Now Obama has to submit the "deal" to congress for approval. Any prudent individual would reject it...........we'll see what congress does.

Navistar Trail Magazine

Actually, the architecture of those cartridge-type filters is light years ahead of a spin-on, and maintenance is extremely easy.

Pentagon may rethink F-35 procurement strategy Autoblog Military / July 13, 2015 The United States military may be preparing to scale down its purchase plan for the controversial F-35 Lightning II due to built-in spending caps. At present, the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps will take add 2,457 of the stealthy, single-seat fighters to its fleet, at a cost of $391 billion, according to Defense One. "Given the evolving defense strategy and the latest Defense Planning Guidance, we are presently taking the newest strategic foundation and analyzing whether 2,443 aircraft is the correct number," Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the Obama administration's nominee for the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote as part of the remarks for his Senate confirmation hearing. "Until the analysis is complete, we need to pursue the current scheduled quantity buy to preclude creating an overall near-term tactical fighter shortfall." But just because Gen. Dunford is talking about trimming the final figure doesn't mean he's opposed to the controversial fighter. "With projected adversarial threats challenging our current capabilities in coming years, the Joint Strike Fighter is a vital component of our effort to ensure the Joint Force maintains dominance in the air," the general wrote. "If confirmed, I will advise the Secretary as he assesses the delicate balance of the capacity and the capabilities of the future Joint Force." At present, the acquisition period for the F-35 is expected to span three decades, while Defense One reports that program's schedule would likely stick for the next 15 to 20 years.

Owner/Driver / July 2, 2015 The Casino Truck Show, to be held on August 8, will have a new venue this year – the main streets of town. The annual Casino Truck Show is making a big move — into the northern New South Wales town’s CBD (central business district). Show president Stuart George has confirmed there will be a venue change for the August 8 event with the Casino Truck Show taking place around Barker and Walker Streets in the centre of town. The streets will be closed to traffic, giving the local community and visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with the trucks. This format has proved a winner for the annual Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show in Victoria. However, the convoy will remain a major component of the Casino Truck Show, with the trucks rolling into town at 10am. The live entertainment and kids’ rides will kick off at 9am, along with market and food stalls opening for business in Barker Street. Last year the Casino Truck Show attracted more than 110 trucks, and this year is expected to be even bigger and better. Further information can be found at www.casinotruckshow.com.au

Owner/Driver / July 14, 2015 When he needed a prime mover for triple road train work, Alan Moyle chose Australia’s most powerful truck. Like many Australian owner-operators, Alan Moyle has spent most of his working life behind the wheel of a North American truck. In Alan’s case, 20 years in Kenworths are included in his 35 years’ driving experience. Currently, however, Alan’s steed is a Scania R730 V-8, which he uses to haul grain from Western Australia’s wheat belt region to the port city of Albany where it is shipped out to global markets. His previous truck was also a European make, a MAN. But while the German-manufactured unit proved to be able on both the bitumen and in the paddock, Alan needed something with more grunt. "We were carting woodchips at the time, and I was pulling two trailers with the MAN, but the woodchip finished and I started hauling grain again," Alan explains. "I really needed to pull three trailers, not two. So that’s why I needed to buy a Scania, something with a bit more horsepower." More to the point, Alan needed a prime mover that was capable of pulling a 130-tonne GCM 60-wheeler road train. With its Southern Regional Transport (SRT) logo on the special purpose Evertrans end-tipper trailers, the Advanced Herd Bars stainless steel front bumper, Alan’s rig looks the goods. And that’s not the only reason it stands out. Alan says SRT is a Kenworth stronghold, although there’s also couple of Western Stars and a 700hp (522kW) Volvo. The R730 is the only Scania in the yard. "We’ve got about 25 road trains going every day, carting grain plus frozen food out of Perth and stuff like that," Alan says. With recent rains pointing to a bumper grain season, Alan is preparing to rack up a lot of kilometres. "We’ve had two above average years in a row now, which is almost unprecedented. If they have another year it’s going to be huge," he says. "I can’t see us shifting all of last year’s grain this year. We had half a million tonne to move and we’re not even half way through that yet." At age 67, Alan is often asked when he’s going to retire. For now he’s happy to keep on driving. "While the job’s this easy I’ll keep doing it for a little while and eventually I’ll put a driver in the truck." .

Mercedes-Benz presents latest engine generation Prime Mover Magazine / July 13, 2015 Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the next generation of its 13-litre engine range in Europe, claiming it will lead to a three per cent advantage in fuel usage. Confidently announced as an “engineering masterpiece”, the latest iteration of the OM 471 engine is based on the same basic engine block as other 13-litre Daimler engines around the world, including the Detroit DD13. But even after having solid some 100,000 units of the engine, the company still invested another 60 million in refining it. According to Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler, the X-Pulse fuel injection system has been improved, a new EGR valve has been introduced, as has an asymmetric turbo system – reportedly leading to oil change intervals of around 150,000 km. Also improved has been the torque curve – especially for the lower powered versions of the new engine, which will see torque topped up by an extra 200 Nm when the truck is in top gear. This should reduce down changing, thus decreasing fuel use, by enabling the truck to hang on to top gear longer. Maximum power will reportedly be available from 1450 to 1800 rpm, with the maximum torque of 2600 Nm (1918 ft lb) in the top engine on hand between 900 to 1450 rpm. Even at idling speed, at 600 rpm, the engine is still said to produce1600 Nm of torque. As part of the fuel saving strategy, the new engine is being offered in a truck with a rear axle ratio of 2.533. In this set up, with the truck running at 65 km/h, the engine is below 900 rpm but can use 2200 Nm of torque to maintain performance. While the latest evolution of the OM 471 comes four years after its introduction in the current-generation Actros, Australia is not likely to experience it first hand any time soon, according to CRTNews expert Tim Giles. “The Euro 6 compliant engine sees each of the various technologies included in the modern engine enhanced for improved performance. But the initial launch of the new Actros in Australia will be fitted with the Euro 5 version of this engine, so we can expect to see this latest enhanced technology appearing later this decade.”

Navistar bails on MATS 2016 Fleet Owner / July 13, 2015 Navistar is the third OEM to withdraw from next year’s Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS). It follows Volvo Trucks and Daimler Trucks North America to pull out of the 2016 show. “We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show,” said Lyndi McMillan, Navistar communications manager. “We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products.” Both Daimler and Volvo believe MATS would benefit from a biennial calendar in the same way that IAA in Germany is held every second year. “We evaluate all our sales and marketing activities when we develop our business plan for the following year,” said Avery Vise, Volvo Trucks public relations manager. “As part of that effort, we have decided not to participate in the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show and have informed show management of this decision.” “MATS is an important industry event, and because we believe the industry would benefit from a biennial schedule, we intend to participate in 2017,” he said. Volvo’s sister company, Mack, has yet to announce whether it will exhibit next year at MATS. John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing, said: “In order to make sure our efforts best meet the needs of our customers and bring the most return on our investment, we evaluate each trade show opportunity every year, a process through which we are still working.” Paccar’s Peterbilt and Kenworth have not made any announcements regarding MATS 2016. Asked if Peterbilt Motors was still planning on exhibiting at MATS next year, a spokesperson said "the company is still evaluating its marketplace plans for 2016." Toby Young, president of Exhibit Management Associates, which owns and operates MATS, said: “Navistar has informed us that they will not be exhibiting in the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show and that they would like to return for the 2017 MATS. Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed." "We will continue as planned with sales for the 2016 MATS beginning on July 15th and, given the recent news, additional exhibit space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors," Young said. "MATS has a contract with the City of Louisville and the Kentucky Exposition Center through 2020, so the show will continue on an annual basis as scheduled.” MATS is an annual heavy-duty trucking industry event held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The show attracts more than 70,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors. The International Motor Show for commercial vehicles, or IAA, takes place every other year in September in Hannover, Germany.

Navistar Is Third OEM to Skip MATS in 2016 Transport Topics / July 13, 2015 Navistar Inc. said it will not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show, making it the third major truck manufacturer to pull out of the event. “We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show,” Navistar spokeswoman Lyndi McMillan said. “We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products.” Daimler Trucks North America and Volvo Trucks previously said they would not be exhibiting at MATS next year. “Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed,” said Toby Young, president of Exhibit Management Associates, which owns and operates the show held each year in Louisville, Kentucky. DTNA, Volvo Trucks and Navistar have expressed support for the annual show to move to a biennial schedule, and all three said they plan to return to MATS in 2017. Together, those original equipment manufacturers accounted for 63% of all Class 8 trucks sold in the United States in 2014. Despite the absence of those OEMs, Young said MATS organizers will continue as planned with sales beginning July 15 for the 2016 show. “MATS has a contract with the City of Louisville and the Kentucky Exposition Center through 2020, so the show will continue on an annual basis as scheduled,” he said. Young also said the recent news opens up additional space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors. Mack Trucks, a sister company to Volvo Trucks, has not announced a decision regarding MATS; nor have Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., which are part of Paccar Inc.

Sub drivers* are generally very sharp individuals, and President Carter is no exception. This interview is extremely revealing across-the-board about what made the man, and his blunt position on the world today. There isn’t a single man in Washington today of the same caliber. You will not find any dirty laundry his closet. Now, when is the last time you thought that of a politician? Unlike President Carter, today’s politicians are corrupt, unqualified, incompetent or all three. President Carter sought to perform the job of President, not to become a politician. * President Carter graduated 60th out of 820 midshipmen in the class of 1946.He was admitted to the US Navy's fledgling nuclear submarine program in 1952, led by the legendary Captain Hyman G. Rickover (of the generation of men who could move mountains). Rickover's demands on his men and machines were legendary, and Carter later said that, next to his parents, Rickover was the greatest influence on his life.

Automotive News / July 13, 2015 BorgWarner Inc. agreed to buy Remy International Inc. for $951 million in cash, driving further consolidation of the auto-parts industry. BorgWarner will pay $29.50 a share, a 44 percent premium from Remy’s closing price on Friday, according to a statement today. The price indicates an enterprise value of about $1.2 billion, BorgWarner said. The maker of turbochargers and transmission parts said the deal is set to close in the fourth quarter and should add to earnings in the first year because of purchasing efficiencies and other savings. Demand for fuel-saving technology and global scale is pushing auto-parts makers to consolidate. In May, TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. was acquired by German auto supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG for $12.4 billion. “Our main focus has been organic growth, and that remains a prime path for us,” James Verrier, CEO of BorgWarner, said on a conference call. “But we’ve also been consistent about the need for M&A to add key technology to sustain that growth.” The acquisition highlights the increasing importance of the electrification of the powertrain, which has not been a strength of BorgWarner’s, Verrier said. BorgWarner rose 2 percent to close the day at $54.78. Remy soared 42 percent to close at $29.24. This year through Friday, Remy had fallen 1.9 percent and BorgWarner had declined 2.4 percent. Turbochargers, alternators Turbochargers, a key product for BorgWarner, compress air to maximize the power an engine produces. Automakers, forced by governments in the U.S., Europe and Asia to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, are turning to smaller, lighter engines. They’re using turbos to give buyers the power and acceleration they still want. Buying Remy will add alternators, starters and hybrid motors, giving BorgWarner the ability to benefit as more powertrains blend electric power with traditional gasoline-fueled technology. Some investors had been concerned that the move to hybrid engines would eventually cause BorgWarner to lose sales to automakers, Joseph Spak, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a research note today. BorgWarner CFO Ron Hundzinski said he expects savings from the acquisition of at least $15 million annually within two years, in part by eliminating duplicate costs associated with a public company, and from lower purchasing expenses. He said he expects the Remy business to have profit margins in the mid-teens, similar to BorgWarner’s. Former GM unit Remy International, formerly known as Delco Remy, traces its roots to brothers Frank and Perry Remy, who developed magnetos, generators that used magnets to help start early automobiles. GM acquired Delco Remy in 1918 and spun it off in 1995. The name was changed to Remy International in 2004 and the Pendleton, Ind.-based company spent less than two months in bankruptcy in 2007. Remy posted net income from continuing operations of $6.1 million last year on revenue of $1.2 billion. In 2013, it posted net income of $12.4 million on revenue of $1.1 billion. UBS AG was financial adviser to Remy, while Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provided legal advice, according to the company’s statement. Bank of America Corp. acted as financial adviser to BorgWarner, and Sidley Austin LLP provided legal advice. BorgWarner ranks No. 29 on the Automotive News list of top 100 global suppliers with worldwide sales to automakers of $8.3 billion in 2014.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado Gets Early Facelift, More 8-Speed Availability Car & Driver / July 13, 2015 Barely two years after going on sale in its current iteration, the Chevrolet Silverado is getting a refresh. Yep, that’s early, especially considering the typical full-size truck life cycle is measured not in years but in eons. Chevy provided a single photo with the release, showing a Silverado in snazzy LTZ form, brandishing new horizontal grille vanes; a chunky new hood; squinty new lights; and a deep, aero-friendly bumper with outboard LED lamps and a large chrome chin. We expect some minor changes to the rear of the truck, as well, based on spy photos of the 2016 Silverado we posted earlier this year. Additional enhancements include more widespread availability of the eight-speed automatic transmission across the Silverado 1500 lineup, added safety technologies, and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. More photos and details will be made available closer to the truck’s public debut this fall, and based on recent spy photos of the GMC Sierra, we expect to see a similar batch of enhancements bestowed upon the 2016 GMC Sierra, as well. Pointing out that Silverado sales are up 14.6 percent through June, Chevrolet says the update is part of “an aggressive strategy to build on Chevy trucks’ momentum”—but we can’t help but think it is also part of an aggressive strategy to thwart Ford trucks’ momentum, which has accelerated now that the aluminum-bodied Ford F-150 has been in dealerships for a while. Certainly, the Silverado’s handsome new face can’t by itself trump the benefits that aluminum gives to the Ford, but it certainly won’t hurt Chevy’s cause.

Automotive News / July 13, 2015 Chevrolet is scrapping the long-running dual stacked headlights on the freshened 2016 Silverado and giving the hot-selling pickup a mean-machine look. The stacked headlights -- a fixture on Chevy’s big truck since the 1980s -- have been replaced with smaller, more stylized units that recall high-tech electronics. The 2016 model also adds a more muscular hood and a new front fascia. The styling changes were planned to keep the truck, overhauled for the 2014 model year, fresh against Ford’s revamped F-150 and Fiat Chrysler’s Ram 1500, Chevrolet spokesman Tom Wilkinson said. Also, Nissan Motor Co. is just months away from rolling out a new version of the Titan pickup. It's one of the most radical mid-cycle changes to the face of the Silverado. Some dealers, truck enthusiasts and journalists questioned whether the Silverado's 2014 redesign went far enough. Some critics griped that it looked too much like the truck it replaced. U.S. sales of the light- and heavy-duty Silverado have spiked 15 percent this year in a full-size truck market that has expanded 4.7 percent. Deliveries of the F series, including super duties and the redesigned 2015 F-150, have dropped 2.4 percent and Ram volume has climbed 4.3 percent. Upper trim levels of the 2016 Silverado, such as the Z71, will feature two rows of LED lights separated by an accent bar that stretches the width of the grille. The lower fascia has also been redesigned and features smaller vertical fog lights. Mechanical and trim changes are few. Chevrolet is expanding the availability of an eight-speed automatic transmission for models with a 5.3-liter V-8 engine. The eight-speed gearbox had been available only on models with a 6.2-liter V-8. Inside, the Chevy MyLink system has been reworked to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s not clear if the Silverado’s platform mate, the GMC Sierra, will receive similar updates for 2016. GMC spokesman Brian Goebel said GMC is not yet releasing any information about the 2016 model. .

Australasian Transport News / July 13, 2015 Heavy Haulage Australia (HHA) is to be broken up as a buyer for the firm as a whole has failed to step forward. Despite some early inquiry, the trucking company’s voluntary administrator, Ferrier Hodgson partner Brendan Richards, put the eventual lack of interest in HHA as a going concern down to economic and market factors. "While we received a promising level of initial interest from investors, the continuing fall in iron ore prices and the subsequent pressure on the Australian mining industry has seen that interest dissipate," Richards says. As a consequence, HHA will be formally wound up with the loss of more than 70 jobs across its operations in Brisbane, Toowoomba, Perth and Port Hedland. HHA had a high profile as a heavy haul logistics specialist servicing the mining and infrastructure sectors, as well as being a prominent sponsor of V8 Supercars. It was also the subject of the ‘Megatrucker’ series featured on Foxtel’s A&E channel. The assets comprising more than 50 prime movers, 120 heavy haulage trailers, 15 cranes and 40 pilot and light commercial vehicles will be offered up for private sale. "This is another sad day for the Australian transport industry but also further evidence that the decline in the mining industry is still very much continuing," Richards says. "The outlook for many of the companies with exposure to that decline is troubling to say the least, and further fallout is likely in the near future." Sources close to the issue say the main creditors are Westpac and GE Capital, with half-owner McAleese in the mix as well. The failure comes against a backdrop of harder times nationally. In more proof of that, the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) reveals that business-related personal insolvencies, as opposed to corporate insolvencies, rose to 16.3 per cent in the June quarter, up from 15.5 per cent in the March quarter. ‘Economic conditions’ was the most common business-related cause, accounting for 398 debtors from a total of 968.

Heavy Duty Trucking / July 10, 2015 Navistar is following in the footsteps of Daimler Trucks North America and Volvo Trucks in deciding to skip exhibiting at the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show, with plans to return in 2017. The annual show, founded in 1972 and held in March at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., is the largest in the U.S. The 2015 show set an all-time record for attendance with 81,768 attendees. There were more than 1,000 exhibitors filling 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. "We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show," Navistar spokesman Steve Schrier told Truckinginfo.com in response to an email query. "We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products." Toby Young with Exhibit Management Associates, which puts on the show, told Truckinginfo, "Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed. "We will continue as planned with sales for the 2016 MATS beginning on July 15 and, given the recent news, additional exhibit space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors." In May, Daimler Trucks North America said it will not exhibit at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2016, saying it is moving to an every-other-year format similar to the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany. DTNA intends to return to MATS in 2017 and attend the show bi-annually thereafter. At that time, Navistar Truck and Parts President Bill Kozek commented in response, "Although we have not yet committed to attending MATS in 2016, we do believe that moving to a bi-annual schedule would be beneficial to exhibitors and customers alike." Just days ago, Volvo Trucks followed Daimler's lead, also saying that it believed "a show like MATS would benefit from a biennial calendar." One major trailer maker, Wabash National, hasn't exhibited at MATS for the past few years, according to Dana Stelsel, corporate communications manager. “TMC [the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting and expo] is our ‘big’ show of the year on the van and composites side.” Related reading: http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/40797-volvo-becomes-second-oem-to-pull-out-of-mats-next-year/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/40008-daimler-trucks-pulls-out-of-mid-america-trucking-show-in-2016/?hl=mats

That New Zealand Sanitarium Marmite is pretty good, a little sweet. But Vegemite is my stand-by, I never travel without a jar now.

Tim might want you all to assume he moved to the other side of the world for the big money driving trucks in New Zealand. Or maybe he’d like you to think that New Zealand’s stunning views attracted him. And certainly, the world's best dairy cows make New Zealand a milk drinker's paradise. But Tim’s not fooling me one bit. It was the ability to have ready access to Vegemite on toast every morning, a vegemite sandwich for lunch whenever he wishes, and perhaps a lush salad with Vegemite salad dressing that caused him to relocate to New Zealand. And fearing a mass influx of Yanks to New Zealand that would see the jars of Vegemite fly off the shelves resulting in a national shortage, Tim has been keeping everyone in the dark. Now, you know.