kscarbel2

In 1973, an assembly plant was briefly set up in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. After taking a 33 percent stake in Dutch truckmaker DAF that same year, International Harvester began importing right-hand drive variants of DAF's new FT2800 into South Africa with Cummins E290 and DAF powerplants paired with Fuller and ZF transmissions respectively, and selling them under the International brand. International Harvester owned a stake in DAF reaching 37.5 percent from 1973 thru 1983, many years before Paccar acquired DAF in 1996. Ref. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/39077-millionth-daf-truck-manufactured-in-eindhoven/?p=280700 .

An often forgotten fact is that International Harvester once owned a stake in DAF. I-H purchased a 33 percent stake in financially struggling DAF in 1973, later increasing its position to 37.5 percent. DAF-powered PayStar vocational trucks were sold in Europe, while International-badged DAF FT2800 tractors were sold in South Africa. International Harvester then acquired UK truckmaker Seddon Atkinson in 1974. In 1980, I-H purchased a 35% stake in Spanish truckmaker Pegaso’s parent company Enasa Group, and together they formed "Pegaso-Internatonal" in which I-H held a 65% stake. I-H sold its Pegaso stake as well as Seddon Atkinson to Enasa in 1983. Also in 1983, I-H sold its stake in DAF. This concluded the company's attempt to establish a presence in the European truck market. .

UPS never minded paying for a product that saved them money, And Mack Truck's patented Dynamax wet clutch (designated CL-72 and CL-721) did. The Dynamax clutch was an option available to all customers but it actually came to be because UPS demanded it, initially in the F-model from 1970 and later in the MH (in those days, when UPS spoke, Mack listened). It was produced for Mack Trucks by Rockford Clutch Corp., and they lasted nearly forever. Clutch engagement took some getting used to but I wish more customers had tried it. The long life more than offset the added purchase cost. Mack basically worked with Rockford to very successfully adapt their wet clutch technology for off-highway construction machinery to the heavy truck application. The new Voith VIAB is a combination wet clutch and retarder. The clutch will, like Mack's Dynamax, last almost forever. VIAB allows for wear-free starting AND braking. Watch your bottom line grow, and your accountant smile. http://www.voith.com/en/products-services/power-transmission/turbo-retarder-clutch-viab-12877.html

Thank you very much Dave. My pleasure. To date, I have not read of discussion on purchaser refunds. This has been going on for 14 years, which would complicate a refund scheme.

Press Release / February 25, 2015 On Wednesday, February 25th, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte unveiled the millionth Eindhoven-produced DAF truck. He then presented the truck to Mr. Bálint Révész from the Hungarian transport company bearing the same name, which specializes in bulk and tanker transport. Since the early thirties the "van Doorne's AanhangwagenFabriek" (semi-trailer factory) had focused on the production of trailers, but in 1949 the company introduced its first truck chassis and this was why the company name was changed to "van Doorne's Automobile Factory. A new factory was built on the Geldropseweg in Eindhoven for the production of trucks. In 1955 the 10,000th truck rolled of the assembly line and in 1964 the 50,000th. The 250,000th followed in 1984, the 500,000th in 1999 and in 2007 the 750,000th. The first DAF truck was sold on September 1, 1949 and that year a total of 150 trucks left the factory in Eindhoven. A year later there were more than a thousand. A stark contrast to the 36,000 trucks that DAF produced in 2014. Recognition for employees DAF is one of the most successful truck manufacturers in Europe and is market leader in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Hungary. The basis for further growth is a comprehensive product range, which during the last two years has been completely renewed with a view to compliance with the Euro 6 emission legislation. Simultaneously, important innovations were introduced in the Eindhoven factory, where trucks are built to order and where currently 122 heavy and medium trucks roll off the assembly line each day. "We are very honored that Prime Minister Rutte has officially unveiled the millionth DAF truck manufactured in Eindhoven ," says Harrie Schippers, President and CEO of DAF Trucks N.V. “That is also due recognition for the 5,000 employees in Eindhoven, who daily give their all to supply our customers with trucks and services of the highest quality.” Millionth for Révész from Hungary One of those customers is Révész Group from Hungary, with a fleet of 480 vehicles specializing in international bulk and tank transport. "We are very honored to receive the millionth Eindhoven-manufactured truck to add to our fleet," said owner and CEO, Bálint Révész. "Our trucks drive an average of 130,000 kilometers per year and reliability and low operating costs are our main buying criteria, not to mention the highest driver comfort. DAF knows how best to combine all of these requirements, which is why our fleet consists of almost 100% DAFs. " Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in his speech that DAF's success proves that the manufacturing industry in the Netherlands certainly has a future. Rutte: "The millionth DAF truck manufactured in Eindhoven is the millionth piece of evidence that the prescription of the brothers Van Doorne still works. Continue to innovate, continue to grow and above all continue to invest in knowledge and people who are proud of the product they make and the company where they work. Innovation and craftsmanship go hand in hand here. " Related Media: http://www.daf.com/en/news-and-media/articles/global/2015/q1/25-02-2015-prime-minister-rutte-unveils-millionth-truck-manufactured-in-eindhoven 85 Years of DAF: http://www.daf.com/en/about-daf/daf-history

Autoreview / No.2 2015 Russian truckmaker KamAZ has been chosen to provide Russia's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with additional trucks for humanitarian aid supply. The trucks, model 43118 6x6 rigids and 65117 6x4 rigids, feature Cummins ISBe and ISLe engines, Cummins Fleetguard filtration, Euro-4 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust after-treatment from Cummins Emission Solutions, and ZF 16-speed Ecosplit transmissions. For more information: http://trucks.autoreview.ru/_archive/section/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=143798&SECTION_ID=8050

Heavy Duty Trucking / February 24, 2015 Peterbilt has plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas after the Denton City Council approved an eight-year, 70% tax abatement for the facility's production, according to a report in the Denton Record-Chronicle. Peterbilt will break ground in the spring. The expansion is being done to increase production by improving the shipping/receiving and material handling process at the facility which produces heavy-duty conventional truck models. In response to the report, Leon Handt, assistant general manager of operations at Peterbilt said that the company is “pleased with the City Council’s vote and we look forward to breaking ground for the expansion.” “Peterbilt is proud to be the largest private employer in Denton County and we enjoy a positive working relationship with the city and county of Denton,” said Handt. “This expansion will allow us to continue to grow and increase the efficiencies of our operations.”

Transport Topics / February 25, 2015 Daimler Trucks said it expects “significant profit” this year and projects a 10% increase in its North American heavy- and medium-duty truck sales. The OEM said it nearly reached its 2015 target of 500,000 trucks worldwide last year, selling about 496,000 trucks, its highest level since 2006. It is targeting sales of 700,000 units in 2020 while projecting a midterm earnings before interest and taxes rate of 8%, Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler said in a Feb. 23 statement. European markets in 2015 likely will remain flat compared with last year, and Daimler said it expects a slight drop in Japan. It projects a 10% increase in Indonesia and said the “weak period in Brazil probably will persist” with a decline of about 10%. The company, which makes Freightliner and Western Star trucks in North America, touted its “fully integrated powertrain” in that region and said that one in four of its Freightliner Cascadia models sold has an integrated powertrain with a combination of engine, transmission and axles from a single source. “We will consistently focus on our strengths,” Wolfgang Bernhard, chief of Daimler Trucks, said in the statement. “We are very well-positioned worldwide and offer our customers trucks that are best tailored to their requirements with leading technologies . . . [and] will consistently push forward our platform strategy.”

Transport Topics / February 25, 2015 Two current and two former African-American employees of Daimler Trucks North America have filed a $9.5 million suit against the truck maker, saying they suffered job discrimination, threats of violence and harassment. The action was filed in the Circuit Court of Oregon in Multnomah County, which includes Portland and DTNA’s headquarters. Daimler said in a statement: “As per company policy, DTNA will not comment or speculate on pending or active legal proceedings.” The plaintiffs — three men and one woman — filed the suit Feb. 24. In the complaint, the three male workers said white co-workers often used racial slurs, and the female employee said she was asked “demeaning” questions about her weight, blood pressure and risk of diabetes. The four previously received a right-to-sue letter from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. In Oregon, such discrimination cases can go to Boli, as the bureau is known, before proceeding to court. The workers were among 11 who filed civil rights complaints with Boli against Daimler. In January, the company settled with six of the workers for a total of $2.4 million in damages. The other worker has not filed a suit. Under the January agreement, Daimler said it would take steps to ensure a harassment- and discrimination-free workplace for current and future employees. The truck maker said it would: install a civil rights complaint hotline; institute supervisor logbooks for any future incidents; conduct mandatory supervisor trainings handled by Boli or a Boli-approved entity; and provide training for at least two designated managers to conduct internal investigations to address any future incidents. “DTNA has fully cooperated with the Boli investigation, including providing access to current and former employees and supervisors and access to documentation pertaining to these civil rights complaints,” Daimler said in a statement. The current suit alleges that the hostile and unjust work atmosphere the employees endured dates to 1993. The workers said in their suit that when they reported incidents of job discrimination, threats and harassment to company executives, the complaints went unheeded.

It's always great to recall Mack Trucks' superb "Dynamax" wet clutch.

My friend, it's good to catch up with you again. If you have a moment, I still have those two questions to ask you. Do you feel that the acquisition of Mack Trucks by a foreign truckmaker was good for America? Do you feel the dominance of America's truck industry by foreign truckmakers is in the best interest of the United States?

Now the question is, what will the US government do about the truck price fixing that occurred here in America ??? Does anyone for even a moment believe that two of the guilty parties, Volvo and Daimler, the two truckmakers that dominate the North American market, were not together price fixing in America as just as they were in Europe ??? And throw in Paccar as well, whose DAF unit was found guilty by the European Union Commission. I'm guessing that Ustian decided against Navistar participating, but in knowing of the illegal U.S. truck pricing cartel and not telling the feds......he is still guilty. In summary, let's see how the feds proceed with this............. This is one of those rare moments when the veil is lifted..........albeit briefly.

Exactly. And look at a new truck after just 30 days outdoors. Any prospective customer can see it at his/her local dealer. The chassis is not properly primed and painted. The situation, as is, only saves Volvo money.

Press Release / February 24, 2015 The trust that firefighters around the world place in Scania trucks helped convince Fiji’s National Fire Authority to invest in the brand as part of its modernisation efforts. When Fiji’s National Fire Authority (NFA) needed to update its fleet of firefighting trucks to more modern and reliable vehicles, it conducted extensive research. The authority has long relied on second-hand vehicles to manage fires and other emergencies in Fiji’s metropolitan and suburban communities, and so the decision to purchase new vehicles was significant. The NFA ultimately placed its trust in two brand-new, multipurpose firefighting vehicles built around Scania trucks. Worldwide trend for Scania “The main reason we bought the vehicles was that we wanted to move on in terms of technology,” says the NFA’s Chief Executive Officer, John O’Connor. “We saw that a lot of fire departments around the world were moving to Scania. In particular, we have a twin agreement with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, Australia, and they are buying new Scania fire trucks.” The first of the two vehicles was delivered and commissioned in December 2014 and the second is due to go into service in June this year. Both are being supplied by Fraser Engineering, a specialist fire vehicle maker, based outside of Wellington, New Zealand. Exceeding expectations O’Connor says the first vehicle, intended for use in Fiji’s capital Suva, is a multi-purpose fire truck with a 5,000-litre water capacity and sophisticated foam system. It is based on Scania's P410 4X4 platform with a 4-door CP28 CrewCab*. * Scania's factory-built P-series "CrewCab" is available in the CP28 version for 5-6 crew, as well as a larger CP31 version for 6-8 crew. “We identified a risk posed by some oil tanks located just outside of the central business district in an industrial area,” he says. “We decided to address this by purchasing a Scania multi-purpose fire truck. It’s almost like an airport fire truck, with fire fighting monitors on the roof of the truck. It’s also equipped for fighting property fires, and fitted with road accident and rescue equipment.” O’Connor says after more than a month on the job, the vehicle has now been called out to several fires and “exceeded our expectations.” The second vehicle, to be delivered in June 2015, is a 25-metre aerial ladder platform truck capable of rescuing individuals from buildings up to nine or ten stories high. The vehicle is based on a Scania P310 DB4x2 with a 4-door CP28 CrewCab and has a pump and water tank on-board, allowing it to fight both aerial fires and normal metropolitan fires. Help from the dealer Before being fitted out by Fraser Engineering, the vehicle was adapted for its firefighting role by Scania’s dealer in New Zealand, CablePrice. “The equipment required for firefighting today has become increasingly sophisticated,” explains CablePrice’s National Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager Garry Leitch. “This normally adds weight and requires the re-routing of wiring and re-positioning of components. Scania provided Fraser Engineering with the flexibility it needed to meet the expectations of the customer.” Number one in the world Martin Simpson, the owner of Fraser Engineering, says fire authorities tend to specify which brand of truck their firefighting vehicles are based on, and this is often Scania. “We’ve been building Scania for 15 years and produced well over 200 Scania fire and rescue vehicles, and obviously it is a reliable chassis and one of the best double cabs on the market. It’s probably the number one cab chassis in the world and it’s recognised for it.” The NFA is now continuing its modernisation program with a mix of new and quality second hand vehicles. .

Press Release / February 19, 2015 MAN Latin America has won an order for 500 Volkswagen Delivery Series model 9.160 trucks from the Brazilian government. Equipped with insulated bodies utilizing Carrier Transicold Xarios 500 refrigeration units, the trucks will distribute food to the nation’s schools. Volkswagen’s 20,503 pound GVW model 9.160 features a 160 horsepower 3.8-liter Euro-5 Cummins ISF 4-cylinder engine with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust after-treatment solution. The trucks are optionally fitted with dual 150 liter fuel tanks for greater range, and a TACO-AR automatic tire balancing system (http://www.tacoar.com.br/ingles/produtos.php). "Once again, we developed a customer-tailored product, a strategy that has earned us the position of market leader for 12 consecutive years," says MAN Latin America Vice President Ricardo Alouche. .

My friend, I can assure you, there is something you don't know about the feeling of driving a V8-powered Scania. But be warned, once having experienced a Scania, there's no going back. http://www3.scania.com/en/New-V8-truck-range/The-new-730hp-engine/?YoutubeMovieId=v52etw_qTQo

Reuters / February 23, 2015 Top European truckmakers face a fine of up to 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) for operating a cartel, German daily Handelsblatt reported, citing industry sources. In November, the European Union Commission said it had sent formal charge sheets to several truck manufacturers it suspected of price fixing. Handelsblatt said the companies could be fined this year. Swedish truck maker Scania, Netherlands-based DAF and Italy's Iveco face steep fines while German truckmakers Daimler and Sweden's Volvo Trucks can hope for more lenient treatment because they cooperated with investigators, Handelsblatt said. Volkswagen-controlled MAN may even escape prosecution because it had whistleblower status in the cartel investigation, the German newspaper said. European Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso, MAN and Daimler declined to comment. The other companies were not immediately available to comment on the Handelsblatt report. Companies can be fined up to 10 percent of their annual revenue if the Commission concludes there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of EU rules barring cartels and the abuse of market dominance.

Prime Mover Magazine / February 19, 2015 Japan Post’s proposal to take over Toll continues to make headlines in Australia and around the globe. Toll chairman Ray Horsburgh noted on Thursday that the bid would enhance the transport company’s ambitions in the fast growing business-to-consumer market in Australia, which is currently dominated by Australia Post. In reaction, Japan Post’s Toru Takahashi said the real prize for his company was Toll’s skill base and its footprint in Asia. “Within Japan Post the domestic business of Toll in Australia has not been an important focus. Rather we have been focussed on leveraging Toll to expand our business in Asia Pacific,’’ Mr Takahashi told The Australian. Following the announcement of the deal, Australian shares soared on Wednesday, breaking through the 5900 mark for the first time since May 2008. Toll shares closed up a staggering 51.2 per cent to $8.95 on the news, easily eclipsing the transport company's 22 per cent fall in half year net profit reported on the same day. In reporting on the proposal, the Sydney Morning Herald also unveiled that the deal would give former Toll boss Paul Little a windfall of some $340 million. Even though Mr Little confirmed that he had never been approached by Japan Post during his time as CEO of the group, the deal is seen as an endorsement of his acquisition strategy, which while heavily criticised in recent years, has delivered Toll the Asian footprint which Japan Post is now keen to access. .

Australasian Transport News / February 24, 2015 The US Government is set to follow in the footsteps of Australia with an inquiry into whether pay rates affect safety in the trucking industry. The country’s truck safety regulator, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), says it will look at whether there is a relationship between certain methods of payment and unsafe driving behaviours. Australia’s National Transport Commission (NTC) examined pay rates in the trucking industry back in 2008 and found a link between remuneration and safety. The work led to the creation in 2012 of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), which has the power to mandate payment terms and conditions for employee and contractor drivers. The FMCSA says its study will be conducted using an online questionnaire involving randomly selected trucking companies, safety managers, owner-drivers, operations managers and company owners. "The study will evaluate the relationship between property carrying motor carriers compensation methods and incidents of unsafe driving," it says in a statement. "In particular, the research team will determine if there is a potential relationship between method of driver compensation and safe driving behavior." The FMCSA intends on surveying 2,184 people and says the results will be published this year. It says the work will examine multiple remuneration practices. "The study will address hourly pay as well as others to determine if a relationship between compensation method and unsafe driver behaviors exists," it says. "The goal of this study is to understand all of the elements of compensation and determine if there are any common factors that influence safe driving performance." US academic Michael Belzer has already looked into the influence remuneration has on safety in the country's trucking industry. In a study with US trucking firm JB Hunt, Belzer found that every 10 per cent increase in pay reduced the probability of a crash by 36 per cent. Another study he conducted of 102 operators over one year revealed a 9.2 per cent drop in crash rates for every 10 per cent increase in pay. Belzer’s work was cited in Australia to support the case for changes to remuneration methods and the creation of the RSRT.

Truck News / February 23, 2015 Juliaan Wellens gets a lot of attention on the road. No, not because of what he’s hauling or how fast or how slow he’s going. It’s not even because of the bright orange paint job on his truck. Wellens turns heads and sometimes is the cause for traffic because of his 1992 Scania 143 "Streamline". For the unfamiliar, Scanias are classically European with an almost flat face that sets it apart from all the conventional North American trucks that dominate the highway. Wellens’ truck is equipped with a Scania 14.2-liter V8 engine and Scania 12+1 GR900 transmission. And he bought it here in Canada just three years ago. Wellens is currently an owner/operator for Erb Group in Baden, Ontario, and has been with the company for more than two years now. But like his truck, his roots are embedded overseas. Wellens is from Belgium and has been driving trucks professionally since he was 17 years old (he is 53 now). He worked and drove over most of Europe hauling food to and from Holland, France, Italy and Spain. He decided to move to Canada when he got a divorce in 2001 (which he says is his “biggest mistake”). He officially moved to Canada in October of 2002. Two years later in 2004, he locked eyes with a Scania on Canadian soil – a 1986 model 142 at a Mississauga second-hand dealership and the truck won his heart over as it reconnected him with a sense of home. “A guy from Scotland had already imported it,” said Wellens. “He got kicked out of the country so he put it up for sale. The truck was in an accident because the tie rod was bent so I fixed it up and I still have it.” Wellens says he always loved Scanias ever since his early days in Belgium. “When I started in 1977, the company I worked for had three Scanias and one Volvo,” he said. “One day even though we had a Volvo, I just got stuck with a Scania. And I just loved the sound. I’ve been driving Scanias most of my life. I love them, I always did and I always will. It’s like I have Scania blood in my veins – at least that’s what it feels like. I was hoping to bring one here to Canada when I moved, but it didn’t work out.” After he bought his first Scania in North America, it was like an addiction and he needed more. In total, Wellens is the current owner of four Scanias, though he only drives the orange-colored 1992 model 143. The others (a 1995 143 with 450hp V8, 1996 model 143 with 420hp V8 and 1986 model 142 V8) are up for sale. “I can only drive one and I hate to see them rusting away,” he said. “They are expensive compared to other North American trucks but that’s because of the import and they are V8 so they’re going to last a long time.” Luckily for Wellens, all of the Scanias he has were already imported for him. But he does run into other complications driving a European truck in North America. “It is a little harder to maintain, but once you get to know where to go and you get to know different people and mechanics and dealers, it’s not bad,” he says. Wellens says he gets a majority of his parts from a dealer in Newark. And since his routes with Erb normally take him to New Jersey, it’s not that hard for him to keep his truck in working order. He gives a lot of credit to his employer for understanding his unique situation. “That’s the nice thing about working with Erb – they’re helping me,” he said. “Everything on the truck is 24-volt so I can’t just get it fixed on the road. The only major problem I’ve run into once was when my alternator broke. I can get the parts here but I can’t get it fixed. The rims are different too, so it’s harder to calibrate my wheels. I can’t complain though, even though it’s a European truck, I think I’m faster getting back on the road than some North American trucks.” Wellens also says that it’s harder to drive the Scania here in Canada because of our incredibly harsh (not to mention long) winters. “I’ve got to be more cautious when turning and all that,” he said. “Because my fifth wheel is behind my drive axle.” Despite these small setbacks, Wellens says the fuel mileage he gets makes driving the Scania all worth it. “Last month I got 6.88 miles to the gallon,” he said. “I’m averaging 6.5-6.8 miles this year. But I only drive 60 miles an hour. I don’t believe in driving fast. I save $1,000 a month just because I drive a little slower.” Of course this speed causes other drivers to deliver sly remarks over the CB radio or pass Wellens on the highway with a glare. “Just last week, I was coming back from Memphis and it was a 70 mph zone,” he said. “And over the CB I heard, ‘Hey, driver, it’s 70 miles per hour not 70 kilometres per hour!’ and I just responded with, ‘You drive your truck and I’ll drive mine’.” Wellens says he normally shuts off his radio because of these types of comments on his speed but that he doesn’t care all that much because of the great fuel mileage he gets. He claims the comments he gets from other drivers aren’t generally good or bad, but mixed. “Some people will tell me to get my piece of junk off the road,” he said. “But sometimes I’ll catch other truck drivers on the highway taking pictures of my truck as I’m driving by them.” He says the craziest experience he’s had on the road involving his truck was when one driver in a 70 mph zone, went into the left-hand lane beside him, put his four ways on, slowed down to 55 mph and took out his cell phone to take a picture of his truck. “I switched on my CB and told him ‘You’ve got to stop doing this. If you want a picture just follow me to the next truck stop and you can have a picture.’ But they just want a photo on their cell phone so they can show their friends,” he said. “It’s really crazy sometimes but that was just dangerous.” So what does he think of the ride despite receiving comments on the truck’s appearance and speed on a daily basis? “It’s awesome,” he says with a laugh. “Driving a Scania is better than sex.” .

And prior to that, Freightliner Corporation held Volvo's reins in America. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/30397-when-freightliner-ran-volvo-in-america/

Reuters / February 23, 2015 Daimler, whose truck making brands include Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Western Star, expects to sell more than 500,000 trucks this year, mainly thanks to growing demand in the United States, trucks chief Wolfgang Bernhard said on Monday. "We want to sell significantly more than 500,000," Bernhard said about sales this year, adding that this amounts to 5 percent growth or more compared with last year, thanks to increased demand in Indonesia, India and the United States. Investments at Daimler Trucks in the two years through 2015 will total 4.4 billion euros, focusing on research and development and building and equipping factories. “We aim to remain the spearhead of technological developments,” with annual spending at 7 percent to 8 percent of revenue, Bernhard said. “We’re investing to sustainably secure our leadership position,” he said, reiterating Daimler’s plan to sell 700,000 trucks annually by 2020.

There are many threads here related to steel hooded R-models. It may be factory, or it may be a Ward 79 conversion. In the global market, the steel hood was an extremely popular R-model option, from South America to Algeria, the Middle East and Iran, to Australia and New Zealand (where they're known as Flintstones).

To fully realize the benefits of buying a North American market Daimler truck, one has to consider the advanced Cascadia/Cascadia Evolution. While I'm thrilled that Daimler still offers a traditionally-styled tractor, the Coronado, it like the Pinnacle is last generation technology in terms of cab refinement. The Pinnacle cab, we're really talking about the Mack Trucks-designed CH cab, was conceived over 30 years ago (Mack Trucks would have long ago introduced a more specious, next generation cab for the times, but Volvo wanted to delay so as to be able to use a variant of an upcoming Volvo global cab platform). As for fit and finish, whenever I inspect new Mack trucks at the dealerships, the chassis is rusting from the front bumper to the tail lamps. I have a problem with that. Thus, the waters are muddied before I move on to check the fit/finish of the cab interior.