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GoAuto / March 23, 2015 Ford Motor Company has officially unveiled the redesigned 2015 global mid-size Ranger pickup, touting advanced driver-assist technology, improved on-road dynamics, better diesel efficiency and an overhauled cabin. Developed at Ford's Melbourne-based Asia Pacific engineering centre, the brand's vehicle line director Richard Tilley says Ford faced a challenge in upgrading the Ranger. "The current Ranger is one of the toughest, most capable trucks out there," he says. "But thanks to our proud truck heritage and global expertise in the utility segment, we've made what was great even better, with a bold new look, improved efficiency and a new level of refinement." Safety technology new to the Ranger includes adaptive cruise control, ‘forward alert’, ‘lane keeping aid’, ‘driver impairment monitor’ and front and rear parking sensors, all of which combine to raises the level of active vehicle safety in the mid-sized pickup segment. Ford says the introduction of automatic engine idle-stop technology and electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering (replacing the previous hydraulically powered system) ushers in double-digit fuel efficiency improvements in the upgraded TDCi turbo-diesel drivetrains. The diesels also benefit from the addition of extra sound-deadening and enhanced insulation materials. The electric power steering system helps cut diesel thirst by three per cent, with assistance varying according to speed, wheel angle, cornering forces and acceleration. The suspension has also been retuned for improved on-road refinement and response. The upgraded 2015 Ranger’s front fascia mimics the look of the Everest SUV that arrives in showrooms later this year. The front end is the most readily recognizable exterior change, adopting a trapezoidal grille, a more pronounced bumper, projector headlights and a more squared-off bonnet with strakes running its length, all giving the Ranger a more aggressive look. The dashboard has been completely redesigned, with a more contemporary, car-like and higher-quality unit compared with the current model. The dash layout, instrument placement and steering wheel all match that of the Everest, without the high-end materials of its more plush 4WD wagon sibling. Plastics, instrumentation, air vents and switchgear are all new, as are the 8.0-inch touchscreen, ‘brightwork’ and steering wheel – the latter accommodating the increased functionality brought with the new driver-assist and multimedia technologies. Ford’s Sync2 connectivity system comes onboard, featuring both broader capabilities and finer controllability. A 240-volt power socket for on-the-go charging has also been installed. Ford Motor Company’s Asia-Pacific exterior design manager Dave Dewitt said the improvements to the cabin have not impacted useability in the updated Ranger. “The interior of the new Ranger is sleek and modern, with a strong technical aspect to it,” he said. “Accentuating the design, we’ve chosen materials that are stylish and attractive while being durable enough to handle the harsh life of a work truck. “The interior may look more car-like, but it’s as practical as ever.” In terms of powertrains, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder TDCI turbo-diesel’s output jumps 8kW and 10Nm to 118kW/385Nm (158hp/284lb-ft), with Ford claiming fuel efficiency gains of up to 22 per cent. While the Blue Oval has not revealed specific fuel economy figures, there will be a drop from the current version of the 2.2-litre unit that currently ranges between 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres to 9.4L/100km, depending on the variant. The more potent 147kW/470Nm (197hp/347lb-ft) 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi diesel gains an exhaust gas recirculation system update that helps improve fuel efficiency by up to 18 per cent, which will boost the 8.9-9.6L/100km figures of the existing model. Ford’s base 122kW/225Nm (164hp/166lb-ft) 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine appears to be unchanged. Australian-bound vehicles will continue to be sourced from Thailand, while plants in South Africa and Argentina will service Africa/Europe and South America respectively. Ford’s Asia-Pacific vice-president of marketing, sales and service Brett Wheatley said the versatility of the Ranger will ensure it maintains its appeal to business buyers and families alike. “The new Ford Ranger brings a new level of comfort and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged capability that our customers demand,” he said. “It represents a smarter kind of tough, and will help our customers to achieve more, whether at work or with their families.” The existing Ranger arrived in 2011, following an extensive development program lasting several years and led by Ford Australia’s engineering and design teams. The 2015 Ford Ranger goes on sale locally in the third quarter of 2015. .

Scania Press Release / March 20, 2015 Drivers love Scania trucks and, unfortunately, sometimes, so do thieves. When Czech transport company Duvenbeck Logistik had one of its 11 Scania tractor units stolen, it turned to the Scania Fleet Management System for help. As a result, the stolen vehicle was quickly recovered and returned. When thieves stole a valuable Scania tractor unit from Czech transport company Duvenbeck Logistik last February, the chances of recovering it seemed slim. Using what is believed to be an illegal duplicate key, the thieves removed the truck from the transport company’s holding yard near the town of Mlada Boleslav, north-west of Prague. By acting just before the weekend, they ensured it was three days before the loss was discovered. “The vehicle was quietly removed using a fully functional key,” explains Branch Manager Jiří Hríbal. “This was despite the regular key and all the spare keys still being in our office.” When the loss was discovered on Monday, the police were immediately contacted and efforts made to locate the vehicle using the FleetBoard system that the company uses for fleet monitoring. Hríbal says this was unsuccessful as, “before the thieves drove off they disconnected all the electronics to avoid being traced.” Help from Scania But what the truck thieves hadn’t reckoned on was the power of Scania’s Fleet Management System (FMS). Duvenbeck Logistik contacted Andrej Čech, Manager for the Scania Fleet Management System in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Using the system he was able to quickly establish the vehicle’s location and share this information with police. “Tracking the vehicle using our Fleet Management System was not difficult,” Čech explains. “The system is usually used for vehicle location, route planning, evaluating driving style, as well as for remote diagnostics, and it’s standard on all new Scania vehicles.” Police subsequently located the tractor unit in a former agricultural cooperative in the village of Bítouchov. “The thieves had already removed all of the equipment from the cab, including navigation gear, and removed corporate signs, cut off the labels with VIN codes and removed the license plates,” Hríbal says. Back in service The recovered vehicle is now being repaired at Scania’s Mnichovo Hradiště workshop and will soon return to regular service. “I would like to thank Scania for their perfect and especially quick help,” says Hríbal. “They managed to save a vehicle of considerable value, but most importantly they have shown all thieves the potential we now have for tracking them.” Scania’s Andrej Čech says he was pleased to be of service. “I am very happy that our systems don’t just help out in everyday work, but also in exceptional cases like this one,” he says. Related reading: http://newsroom.scania.com/en-group/2015/03/20/scania-fleet-management-system-locates-stolen-truck/

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Australasian Transport News / March 23, 2015 In-vehicle cameras that detect a truck driver’s eyelid movements are helping Toll Mining Services manage fatigue in its workforce. The company is using what it calls driver state sensor (DSS) system in its trucks to address driver fatigue in real-time. Toll Mining Services regional health, safety and environment manager Geoff Massey detailed the technology and its benefits at this year’s Trucking Australia conference. "Basically these cameras look at the length of blink of an eyelid and when you get really fatigued you start to have what we call micro sleeps and these can be two to three seconds," Massey says. "When he [the truck driver] has a micro sleep the sensor detects that and the seat vibrates to wake him up. "There’s also an audio alert [that] goes out and emails go out to our supervisors at site so at a business unit level there is information travelling to our supervisors who then ring up the driver so that they can talk to him and say, ‘take a break, get out of the cab, walk around your vehicle’." Massey says Toll monitors all fatigue events and produces weekly reports on the number of incidents to ensure driver fatigue remains under control. DSS has helped avert potentially serious fatigue-related crashes, with Massey saying drivers are mostly unaware they are having micro sleeps. "What is very telling though is when we see the driver have a micro sleep and we’ve talked to him and said please step out of the cab, he complies but nine times out of 10 he says, 'I don’t feel fatigued, there is nothing wrong with me'," he says. "It is not until we take him back into the office and replay the video of him blinking that he’s absolutely stunned. "So to me, fatigue is one of those deadly killers like electricity or gas. It’s unseen and unheard." DSS is one of a number of safety initiatives Toll Mining Services uses, with the company also limiting the speed of its trucks to 90km/h and installing ABS and EBS braking to prevent rollovers. Toll Mining Services last year won the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) Training Excellence Award for its approach to safety. It decided to limit truck speed and install ABS and EBS after a 2012 review found that rollover prevention training for drivers was not enough. .

Today's Trucking / March 20, 2015 The four-laning of Highway 1 from Kamloops to Golden; advancement on the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project; four-laning highway 97, the establishment of a new Office of the Independent Container Trucking Commissioner… the list of improvements to B.C.’s transportation infrastructure goes on and on. And it will all happen in the next 10 years. That’s the theme of newly released Provincial Government plan called “BC on the Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan.” And the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) has deemed the improvements “welcome.” The to-do list includes not only infrastructure maintenance and improvement plans but it also commits to at least three years of funding (and pursuing federal financing as necessary) to complete or move forward on projects that will benefit both trucking and bus companies. Some of the improvements that the BCTA asked for, such as a request for six-laning Highway 1 from Hope to Langley, didn’t make the cut, but there is a commitment to initiate design for a six-lane segment at least from Langley to Abbotsford. The BCTA was also pleased to see "commitments to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate heavy-haul carriers and increase the number of pre-approved corridors, a streamlined permitting process [reducing the number required in some cases] and some expansion to truck parking; e.g., at least two new truck parking areas in the Lower Mainland.” Here’s the trucking strategy list, with some details, from the 10-Year Plan: 1. Upgrade and replace structures such as bridges and overpasses, so they can accommodate the increasingly heavy and large loads that industry needs to transport (10 upgrades to 10 major bridges); 2. Work with industry to expand the number of provincial highway corridors pre-approved for the transport of 85- to 125-metric-tonne loads; 3. Streamline permitting and reduce the number of truck permits required while ensuring commercial vehicle safety; 4. Establish a new online truck permitting system that will make it easier and faster to purchase permits 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no wait times; 5. Work with industry to identify priority locations for new and expanded parking, staging, inspection pullouts and chain-up/off areas for trucks on key corridors throughout B.C. 6. Construct at least two new truck parking areas in the Lower Mainland; 7. Construct 10 new truck-inspection pullouts throughout B.C.; 8. Explore partnership opportunities with the private sector to identify locations that would suit development of commercial truck stops and facilities; 9. Support the Office of the Independent Container Trucking Commissioner. Want to read the report yourself? Click here.

After peddling archaic exhaust after-treatment technology for years, it appears that Cummins is finally trying to catch up with the leaders in this segment including Europe's Eberspacher and America's Tenneco.

Fleet Owner / March 20, 2015 Cummins Emission Solutions has released the first product in its next-generation line of ultra-high efficiency aftertreatment systems. The EcoFit single module is designed to be up to 60% smaller and 40% lighter compared to the EPA 2013 solution it supersedes, the company said, with the same emissions reduction performance. According to Cummins Emission Solutions, the smaller size enables better heat management and retention for improved fuel economy capability. The single-pass exhaust flow design delivers low back pressure. The product will meet GHG and fuel-efficiency standards for EPA 2017. “We are very proud to announce this groundbreaking platform and believe it is a game changer in the commercial vehicle aftertreatment market,” said John Carroll general mManager – Global On-Highway Business. “This product uses innovations in catalyst and urea dosing technologies unique to Cummins Emissions Solutions to deliver an ideal solution in the market.” Advancements in catalyst technologies have allowed the diesel particulate filter to have a bigger ash capacity, permitting for increased time between maintenance events and minimal operator intervention, the company explained. Improvements in NOx reduction capabilities in the selective catalytic reduction system have been enabled by the use of the EcoFit UL2 Liquid-Only Urea Dosing System. OEM customers will benefit from simpler chassis integration, as the UL2 system does not require engine coolant lines to and from the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector. Operators will see more efficient atomization of urea and minimized urea deposits, thus requiring fewer regeneration events while experiencing the optimal use of DEF throughout the system. “We’ve achieved incredible results with this product through an entirely new engineering approach to aftertreatment systems,” Carroll said. “Historically, aftertreatment systems have been designed to meet emissions requirements; however, we’ve approached the development of this system to meet our customer needs first, while also meeting emissions standards and maintaining product integrity. We designed a product that will not only meet, but also exceed customer expectations.” .

Transport Topics / March 19, 2015 Volvo Group’s North American truck deliveries jumped 32% in February from the same month a year earlier, the company said. Deliveries rose to 5,146 trucks from 3,896 a year ago, Gothenberg, Sweden-based Volvo Group said in a statement. Volvo truck deliveries rose 30% to 3,128 trucks in North America while Mack’s gained 35% to 1,995 trucks. “Deliveries in North America increased thanks to a continuously high demand due to fleet renewal and a good economic development in general,” Volvo said in a statement. Global Volvo Group deliveries for all Volvo brands slipped 1% for the month to 15,456 units. Heavy-duty unit deliveries fell 5% to 13,075 units. The worldwide decline was led by a 73% plunge in South America, “primarily due to lower deliveries in Brazil, where slow economic development combined with more stringent financing terms for buying trucks has significantly reduced demand.” Volvo Group makes Volvo and Mack trucks in North America and includes the Eicher, UD Trucks and Renault Trucks brands worldwide. Volvo said in early March it sold a $300 million stake in Eicher, based in India.

Never minding our budget deficit, the government is giving away freshly-printed free money. Hurry up and get in line for a free new powertrain. My question is, when did the American people authorize its EPA unit to give away $8 million of tax payer-supplied funds. I don't recall that referendum. For some time now, the EPA has been roguely spending huge amounts of money. Funding Massive EGR (MEGR) for Navistar is one example.

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 20, 2015 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $8 million for projects in 21 states and Puerto Rico to reduce diesel engine emissions through the agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program. The grants will fund projects such as retrofitting older school buses to improve air quality for children riding to school, upgrading marine propulsion and agriculture engines, as well as replacing long haul truck engines, according to the EPA. Each project is designed to improve air quality and support economic growth in local communities. The 21 projects will receive funding through the EPA’s DERA fiscal-year 2014 allocation. The selected projects are cost-effective and will impact fleets operating in areas that will benefit from additional steps to protect air quality and public health, the EPA said. The DERA funding covers engine replacements, repowers, and idle reduction technologies to clean up a variety of older diesel engines, including those in heavy-duty trucks used at ports, delivery trucks, long haul trucks, marine vessels, school buses, and agricultural equipment. Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, the EPA has awarded more than 700 grants in 600 communities across the country.

Bloomberg / March 20, 2015 MAN SE appointed Joachim Drees to lead its truck and bus manufacturing unit, the first key personnel change since Andreas Renschler has started as head of commercial vehicles at parent company Volkswagen AG. Drees, who like Renschler is a former manager at Daimler AG, is taking over from Anders Nielsen, who will run business development at Volkswagen’s commercial-vehicle division, Munich-based MAN said Friday in a statement. Drees, 50, was until recently chief financial officer of German real-estate and construction consulting company Drees & Sommer AG, MAN said. He will take his new position on April 1. Volkswagen, which took full control of Swedish truck manufacturer Scania last year and MAN in 2013, has yet to reap significant cost savings from sharing development efforts at the businesses. It hired Renschler, who took his post in February, to drive cooperation. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based carmaker, the world’s second biggest, said last week that it wants to create the world’s most profitable truckmaker as it sets up a global business to rival Daimler’s heavy-vehicle division and Volvo AB. MAN, Europe’s third-biggest truckmaker, is seeking cost savings after forecasting a second straight year of declining orders that’s leaving production plants in Europe underutilized. The company is in union negotiations to scale back operations, and talks this month broadened to include white-collar workers.

MAN Press Release / March 19, 2015 An opportunity to see and test-drive 170 MAN vehicles from a variety of sectors. The highlights: MAN TGX D38 and EfficientLine 2 Visitors to MAN in Munich will experience a varied programme under the motto "Trucks. Power. Performance." More than 170 trucks will be ready for viewing and driving. Experts will explain the individual product features of the MAN trucks in demonstrations, which are grouped into the sectors building, heavy transport, municipal, distribution and long-distance transport as well as agriculture and forestry. Body manufacturers and suppliers invite potential customers to join them in the MAN Truck Forum and in a tent on the test track. Guided factory tours through the production halls in which the TGX and TGS series are manufactured are also very popular. Approximately 6,000 visitors are expected at the MAN Trucknology Days 2015 during the three days of the event. This event focuses on much more than just the trucks: MAN will present its service range and more than 80 partners will present their individual transport solutions - from body manufacturers to suppliers. MAN has been organising Trucknology® Days on an annual basis since 2008. Last year, MAN attracted approximately 6,500 customers and visitors to MAN in Munich. The highlights of the event included the introduction of the new D38 engine series with 520 to 640 hp in the MAN TGX. The top-of-the-range version has 640 hp and drives a four-axle heavy semi-trailer tractor. It is available at the test track for test drives with heavy loads. The extremely economical MAN TGX EfficientLine 2 long-distance semi-trailer tractor is another novelty shown during the Trucknology® Days. MAN TGX D38: Power and performance The new TGX D38 is MAN's flagship for the Trucknology® Days. This power package for demanding transport tasks in long-distance transport, traction and heavy load handling celebrated its launch at the IAA fair during September last year. MAN's new top-of-the-range model resumes MAN's focus on total cost of ownership (TCO). The engineers have created a high-performance truck for superior driving on topologically demanding roads. Central to this is the newly developed D38 six-cylinder engine with 15.2-litre displacement. This engine provides impressive power and extends the TGX model range by the 520, 560 and 640 hp classes. The engine has two turbo-charging stages and can therefore provide full torque already at 930 rotations per minute, delivering 2500 Nm in the 520 HP version and 2700 Nm in the 560 HP version. The new MAN TipMatic 2 gearbox and the innovative EfficientCruise tempomat help the driver save fuel. The wide range of models of the extremely powerful TGX is a reflection of its versatility: It is available for right- or left-hand drive and can be used with XL, XLX and XXL cabs. Premium class: TGX D38 with 640 hp for heavy transport The D38 serial six-cylinder engine with 640 hp is the strongest core produced by MAN - solely for the new heavy-duty semi-trailer tractor. The standard MAN TipMatic 2 gearbox with converter-clutch unit transfers the power to the road. This vehicle is particularly precise when manoeuvering in tight spaces, on inclines and with heavy loads. Thanks to the strong torque of 3000 Nm, even heavy-duty transports of 250 tonnes can be moved smoothly and powerfully. The newly developed, high-performance MAN Turbo EVB is ideal for use in the heavy-duty sector: a braking capacity of 600 kW is achieved in engine braking mode. Together with the gearbox Intarder, the MAN TGX D38 provides an overall braking power of 750 kW. Not every heavy transport task requires 640 hp. Gross train weights of up to 180 tonnes are possible with the 560 HP and 2700 Nm D38 engine. For maximum trailer loads, MAN provides adaptations of the 10x4 wheel configuration. Bundled efficiency in the MAN TGX EfficientLine 2 MAN combines new, fuel-reducing technologies in the TGX EfficientLine2 to lower the total cost of operation (TCO) and CO2 emissions even further. The EfficientLine2 package includes: Predictive EfficientCruise cruise control: this provides up to six percent fuel savings through optimal use of momentum energy when driving downhill and uphill.New D26 TopTorque engines: these are specially tuned for a fuel-saving driving style at low rotation speeds. Their 200 Nm torque increase in the highest gear harmonises well with the particularly long axle ratios. This additional torque is particularly useful on inclines to facilitate easier driving, less need to switch to a lower gear and sustainably lower fuel consumption.New speed-shifting function: faster gear changes between Gears 10, 11 and 12 reduce the traction force interruptions on inclines.MAN TeleMatics on-board module: This gives fleet managers full information about fuel consumption and an optimal overview regarding maintenance.Special municipal vehicles show Approximately 25 municipal vehicles in the sectors waste collection, winter service, road maintenance, road cleaning and wet waste disposal are on display. This involves a variety of chassis versions - usually based on MAN TGM and TGS - and body manufacturers. Sector-specific equipment provided by MAN includes the specially designed, automated MAN TipMatic gearbox for waste collection vehicles. It takes into account the specific usage profile of rear or side loaders. MAN offers an ergonomically optimised operating panel for rear loaders, which is integrated into the arm rest in the driver's seat. It can be used to activate the frequent-stop break, to switch the gearbox, to select pouring and pressing in the body or to select the neutral position of the MAN TipMatic. Sweeping machine chassis in the MAN TGL and TGM series provide many adaptations to attach the sector-typical attachments to the frame, e.g. sweeping roller, circular brooms and suction channel. MAN engineers have designed a new arrangement for this purpose, locating the complex Euro 6 exhaust gas systems, the diesel and the AdBlue tank as well as the compressed-air container above the frame. The MAN driving engine also drives the aggregates in the body via an auxiliary drive on the flywheel side. The sweeping machine moves between areas of operation at a typical truck speed of 80 km/h. The working speed during cleaning is below 3 km/h. Winter service and road service vehicles have extensive hydraulic systems for the snow-clearing shield, the operation of the winter service spreader and an optional loading crane. Air suspension for the rear axle is a serial feature of the all-wheel version of the MAN TGM with 14.1 to 15 tonnes permitted total weight. This ensures that all de-icing agents are evenly spread. Another positive feature of this type is the particularly small turning radius. It facilitates operation in tightly built-up, parked-up residential areas. MAN Trucknology® Roadshow The Trucknology® Days provide the starting signal for the new "MAN Trucknology® Roadshow 2015" truck demonstration fleet. Nearly 70 vehicles from the TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX series will go on tour throughout Europe. The new MAN TGX D38 will be part of it for the first time. The complete vehicles with bodies or semi-trailers will present a cross-section of the variety available in the distribution and long-haul transport, construction, heavy-duty transport, agriculture, forestry and municipal sectors. MAN sales organisations throughout Europe will present their fleets at events and demonstrations painted in striking crimson. Interested customers can arrange with their MAN salesperson to test-drive these vehicles for several days. Customers can thus experience MAN's competence in the sector and see for themselves how efficiently and economically transport tasks can be dealt with. Trucks to go The "Trucks to go" fleet is shown in front of the Truck Forum during the Trucknology® Days. These fully-assembled, new vehicles from all model series can be viewed online at www.man-truckstogo.com. The advantages for the customer are: They can cover short-term demand and respond to orders received without having to deal with the usual delivery times for vehicles. Complete vehicles such as roll-off skip loaders, three-way tippers and truck mixers or special-purpose vehicles such as refuse collection vehicles, skylifters or towing vehicles are also available. MAN trucks painted in neutral white are part of a range that is available throughout Europe. The "Trucks to go" home page lists the appropriate vehicles after entering the vehicle combination required. This marketing strategy has been applied by MAN in the last two years to supply more than 1500 trucks.

Volvo Trucks CEO Olof Persson set to resign Reuters / March 19, 2015 Truck maker Volvo's chief executive Olof Persson may be forced to leave the company in the next few weeks, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri reported on Thursday, citing unnamed well-placed sources. Volvo is under pressure to demonstrate the benefits of years of cost cuts under Persson, who took over as chief executive of the Gothenburg-based company in 2011. In 2012, the firm set a target to raise its operating margin by 3 percentage points by the end of 2015. In the previous year, the company had an operating margin of 8.7 percent. Volvo's operating margin in 2014 was 2.1 percent. "The announcement will come relatively soon. There are many indications that a press release will come within one or two weeks," one source was quoted telling the newspaper. The board are now looking for a successor and one likely candidate is Martin Lundstedt, chief of Volkswagen's truck-making unit Scania, a source told the paper. A spokesman for Volvo declined comment. .

Argentina’s Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) might interest some aviation enthusiasts here. Though established in 1927, the company leaped forward with world leading designs after World War II with the help of European designers. Leading French aircraft designer Emile Dewoitine, who’s D.520 was France’s only good fighter at the start of the war, helped Argentina design its first jet fighter in 1947. Then, under the direction of Germany’s legendary Focke-Wulf designer Kurt Tank, Argentina launched an advanced jet fighter in 1950, one of many Kurt Tank jet designs that would have flown for Hitler’s Luftwaffe had the war continued. Kurt Tank’s contributions to the Luftwaffe include the superb Fw190 fighter series, advanced Ta152 fighter and Fw200 Condor four-engine long-range (2,200 mile) maritime bombers, reconnaissance and transport aircraft. Tank was among the best of the best.

Two Scania engines are currently ensuring that Argentina’s main aircraft manufacturer can continue to build parts for a new transport aircraft without being disrupted by economically damaging power outages. The Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA), Aircraft Factory of Argentina, is producing parts for a prototype of what will be a new transport aircraft for Brazilian company Embraer. As part of the investment plan for the project, FAdeA is using two generators, each with a Scania engine, as backups for the production processes in case of any power outages. The project began in 2011 when FAdeA signed a contract with Embraer to provide six sections of the new transport aircraft. These sections include a rack for electronic equipment located between the cockpit and the cabin, the nose gear door, the tail cone and the six meter high loading door. Keeping cool under pressure For these parts, a product called composite is required which needs to be stored under controlled temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius. The factory therefore has special freezers that maintain constant temperatures. As any disruption to the maintenance of these temperatures would severely impact production, the company decided to install a system that would ensure a constant electrical supply. “Ensuring a constant power supply for the freezers would ensure the availability of raw materials,” says Matías Savoca, FAdeA’s President. “This was essential to avoid economic losses.” Getting the best equipment To get the equipment that would best ensure the constant power supply, the Argentinian company considered several factors. “The products needed to technically comply with our needs,” says Savoca. “The supplier needed to be able to provide logistical support for installation and maintenance. And obviously the price needed to be reasonable and the product come from a recognised brand that assured us of high quality.” The Scania industrial engines met all these requirements. “We are providing an excellent product. Our people have to be the best, our processes have to be the best and the equipment we use must be the best,” says Savoca. Supporting photographs: http://newsroom.scania.com/en-group/2015/03/19/scania-helps-argentinean-aircraft-project-take-flight/

Reuters / March 19, 2015 After almost four years at the helm of truck maker Volvo and with time running out on showing the boon from cost cuts, chief executive Olof Persson may soon be heading for the exit, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri reported. Volvo has been locked in battle with Daimler and Volkswagen's truck brands for market leadership and has, over the past year, suffered a deep downturn for its construction gear in a plunging Chinese market. Dagens Industri, quoting unnamed sources, reported that an announcement about the CEO's departure could come within one or two weeks, and that one likely successor could be Martin Lundstedt, head of Volkswagen's truck-making unit Scania. Spokesmen for Volvo and its board chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, declined to comment on the report. Volvo, Sweden's biggest company by sales and top private sector employer, has been on an efficiency drive aimed at boosting its profit margin by 3 percentage points by the end of 2015. The truck maker posted an operating margin of 8.7 percent in the final year before the efficiency scheme was launched. Its margin in 2014 ended at 2.1 percent. Activist fund Cevian, the second biggest owner of the firm by votes, had called for it to end 2014 with a double digit margin. Persson, who headed Volvo's former Aero and construction gear arms before becoming CEO, said in February the efficiency drive aimed at saving 10 billion crowns ($1.15 billion) was going "according to plan". Handelsbanken Capital Markets analyst Hampus Engellau said the market had expected a gradual improvement of results, something which still seemed out of sight. But he added Persson still had some time before the deadline. "Although it could be that they have come to the point of realising this is not going to work," Engellau said.

For this, any reputable pump shop representing Robert Bosch can assist you. These injectors are readily available. Did you contact Robert Bosch to locate the nearest service location? http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/39315-bosch-unveils-website-to-help-locate-the-proper-injectors/ Particularly because this is an older model, a Bosch service locaton will be much cheaper than the Volvo/Mack dealer (Volvo doesn't want to support trucks older than 10 years, hence the outrageous pricing).

Today's Trucking / March 19, 2015 Mandatory electronic logs and roll-stability devices are coming to Canadian trucks. They’re coming, that is, if the Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA), the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) get their way. All of the parties named above chose this week to voice their support for two initiatives. Raitt attended a special roundtable discussion with OTA and CTA members before announcing her support Thursday, and that meeting was quickly followed by announcements from the BCTA and Del Duca’s office. The OTA, CTA and BCTA have been promoting both projects for years, given, according to a BCTA statement, “that they will have multiple benefits for everyone from day-to-day road users to governments at different levels.”’ Likewise, says the CEO of the CTA. ““We commend the minister for her leadership and look forward to continuing to work with her on the legislation mandating both ELDs and roll stability,” said David Bradley. “We now call upon all of the provincial governments to work with Minister Raitt and CTA to help make this a cooperative country-wide effort.” And while Canadian regulations regarding stability-control technology will have to move “in lock step” with the American rules because so many Canadian operators cross the border, the Minister said when it comes to elogs (a.k.a., ELDs), Canada might move ahead of the U.S., as it did with other initiatives. She did not predict time lines for the new regulations and she commended the CTA for leading the campaign. “It’s one of the only times I have ever seen an industry asking the government for more regulations,” she said. ELDs ensure driving time is accurately recorded, removing the temptation for some individuals or companies to work outside the rules and increase their crash risk. The American Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced it will be publishing a final rule requiring ELDs in September that will give the trucking industry two years to research, install and become familiar with the technology before the rule is enforced. The final rule on the stability control mandate from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been sent to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for its stamp of approval.

Fleet Point / March 19, 2015 Freight is a vital part of London’s economy – so managing it is crucial – as illustrated with over 265,000 freight vehicles delivering 360,000 metric tonnes of goods to the UK capital every day. September 2015 sees the introduction of the London Safer Lorry Scheme, and in addition there are numerous restrictions, rules and regulations transport companies must adhere to. It is a day-to-day challenge for operators to comply with enforcement and voluntary schemes across the capital. With the continuous need to improve road safety, cope with changed road infrastructure and increased congestion, and to minimise emissions, it is imperative for the freight and logistics sector to know what is going on. FTA is holding a one day conference – ‘Managing Freight in London’ to inform its members, and help address these issues. Freight Transport Association (FTA) is one of the UK’s largest trade associations and represents the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. Boasting a rich heritage, FTA has been supporting the interests of the transport industry since 1889. Chaired by David Wells, FTA’s Chief Executive from 1 May, and sponsored by Volvo Trucks and Brigade Electronics, the Managing Freight in London Conference takes place on Tuesday 2 June at The Kia Oval, home of Surrey County Cricket Club and one of the oldest and most historic stadiums in the world. Topics to be covered include: Freight operations – untangling regulatory and voluntary requirements in London – (TfL)HGV enforcement in London (Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Unit)Environment panel session – minimising carbon emissions and the impact of the forthcoming Ultra Low Emission Zone on freight operations.Changes to London’s road space – from cycle lanes to new bridgesImproving road safetyUnderstanding and managing PCNsNatalie Chapman, FTA’s Policy Manager – London and South East said: “London is both one of the most economically significant cities in the world and the largest in Western Europe. Unsurprisingly supplying it with all the goods it requires to function every day is a colossal task. “The need to share reducing road space with increasing amounts of car movements, combined with the need to further minimise conflict with vulnerable road users and emissions mean that this task is only becoming harder. Operators tell us that they need help negotiating the complex requirements that London presents, and to understand what action they should be taking. This conference aims to help them achieve this.” The FTA conference will focus on the changes and challenges facing logistics operators in the coming months and years, providing the latest information and potential solutions. .

Today's Trucking / March 19, 2015 Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Freightliner Cascadia trucks manufactured between March 2007 and August 2010. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bulletin, water may leak into the Signal-detection and Activation Module (SAM) Chassis, causing corrosion which may result in electrical shorts or possible intermittent operation of trailer lights. If the trailer lights only work intermittently, other drivers may not know when the truck is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of a crash. Not only that, but an electrical short in the SAM chassis could result in a fire. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SAM chassis for corrosion, replacing it as necessary. Any vehicle that does not have a drip shield mounted in the cab over the SAM chassis will receive one. These repairs will be free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 4, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-679. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Prime Mover Magazine / March 19, 2015 The Toll Group has welcomed the notification by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) that the Australian Government has no objections in terms of its foreign investment policy to Japan Post's proposed acquisition of 100 per cent of Toll via a Scheme of Arrangement. “We are pleased that Japan Post’s bid has gained FIRB approval. The offer is compelling for Toll’s shareholders and this is an exciting time for Toll and its employees," said Ray Horsburgh, Toll Chairman. “While there are still a number of approvals to obtain, including the vote by our shareholders at an EGM in May, we look forward to a successful and speedy conclusion to the transaction. In the meantime, it is business as usual for Toll as we focus on delivering the best possible logistics solutions for our customers.” FIRB approval is one of the key regulatory approvals required for Japan Post to takeover, which examines proposals by foreign persons to invest in Australia and makes recommendations to the Treasurer on those subject to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 and Australia's foreign investment policy. The process for achieving other approvals is underway and will be outlined in the coming weeks, according to Toll. .

Transport Topics / March 19, 2015 Volvo Group’s North American truck deliveries increased 14% in January from the same month a year earlier, the company reported. North American deliveries rose to 4,753 trucks from 4,178 a year ago, with the majority its Volvo and Mack brand trucks, Gothenberg, Sweden-based Volvo Group said in a statement. Volvo brand truck deliveries rose 12% to 2,733 trucks, and Mack’s gained 15% to 1,987 trucks. “Deliveries in North America increased thanks to a continuously high demand due to fleet renewal and a good economic development in general,” Volvo said in a statement. Worldwide deliveries for all Volvo brands slipped 4% for the month to 13,055 units. Heavy-duty units accounted for most of those, declining 8% to 11,023 trucks. Volvo Group makes Volvo and Mack trucks in North America and includes the Eicher, UD Trucks and Renault Trucks brands worldwide.

Prime Mover Magazine / March 18, 2015 Bridgestone has announced its M766 drive tyre with tread compound designed and developed for Australia’s unique logistics challenge that reportedly delivers up to 18 per cent additional wear life. The M766 boasts 21 per cent more tread rubber volume compared to its predecessor and is manufactured using a durable casing that makes it ideal for Bandag re-treading. The supported block pattern reportedly increases wet traction force 48 per cent when compared with the Bridgestone M722. "Australia has unique road conditions that put very particular stresses on truck tyres,” said Andrew Moffatt, Bridgestone Australia Managing Director. “We have high-powered trucks pulling long combinations, highways and roads made from rough aggregate and a higher road camber than many other countries – all factors which combine to put tyres under a great deal of stress. “We have conducted extensive testing in the lead up to the release of this tyre and are absolutely confident in the extended wear life that this product provides.” S-shaped sipes reduce lateral and circumferential block movement resulting in even wear and the increase in lateral sipes and tread block edges is reckoned to improve bite into with the road resulting in high traction, particularly in the wet. “We have run the tyre in a variety of applications with customers across the country and have recorded very strong and consistent wear life results,” said Claudio Sodano, Bridgestone General Manager Technical Field Services. “When compared with our major competitors, the M766 delivered up to 18 per cent additional wear life, and that can translate into tens of thousands of extra kilometres and a big saving for the operator.”