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Yes, they do have it right.

Paccar has one of the most arrogant corporate company cultures on the planet. So much so that German companies including Volkswagen nod approvingly. It is that arrogance, that "know it all" (besserwisser) attitude that holds them back in the states from reaching their full potential.

French President Emmanuel Macron told American D-Day veterans that “France doesn’t forget” their sacrifice for his country’s liberty. “We know what we owe to you veterans: our freedom,” Macron said. “On behalf of my nation, I just want to say, thank you.” .

BUCKETS & BLADES | Company Profile – Cleary Bros Power Torque Magazine / June 2019 A familiar sight on the roads of the Illawarra region, about an hour south of Sydney, is the distinctive “highway yellow” trucks of Cleary Bros. Highway yellow was the colour adopted by Caterpillar in the 1950s to replace the original grey for any equipment working near roads in a bid to improve visibility (and here was I, thinking Hi-Vis was a recent development!). Initially established in 1916 by John (Jack) Cleary and his two brothers as a timber-getting business, Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd in its current south coast form eventuated when the original three brothers split the business up in 1947, with Jack focusing on business in the Illawarra at the original company site in Bombo. Jack Cleary had four children − John, Jill, Brian and Denis. After Jack’s passing in 1958, the running of the company fell to his children; in particular, John, who was eight years older than his younger twin brothers. The Bombo site is still operated by the company as a concrete plant and maintenance workshops, with further workshops and administration located at Port Kembla, along with quarry operations at the company’s Albion Park site. The latter extracts around 900,000 tonnes of material per year, much of which is transported to Sydney by road. Cleary Bros now employs in the vicinity of 400 staff and operates a large mixed fleet of trucks, trailers and equipment associated with the quarry, concrete and earthmoving industry. Mack trucks have been, and still are, a dominant brand within the fleet. Cleary Bros is very much a family-run company, with Denis Cleary still overseeing operations as chairman, and several third-generation family members working within operations. On my visit to the company’s Port Kembla site, the home of the Cleary Bros Museum, I was met by Denis, Brett Cleary (Brian’s son) and Louise Sullivan, Director and Company Secretary/Executive General Manager. Collectively, they provided me with an insight into the company and the inspiration behind the museum, one of the most comprehensive displays of plant and earthmoving equipment in Australia. Caterpillar equipment played a crucial role in the early days of the Cleary Bros story, and these beasts of burden hold fond memories, particularly for Denis as he sits at a table within the museum. Casting his mind back to the early days as a young lad of 14, he vividly remembers the day the D7 Caterpillar bulldozer resting behind him was delivered. “It was brought down on a rail car and it ran out of fuel while we were unloading it. They were too miserable to put much fuel in it. Enough to get it on, but not enough to get it off,” he recalls. (Truck and equipment dealers take heed: such small details remain in customers’ minds for a lifetime.) “That was 1954. I remember we traded one of our old ‘dozers in on it and we were supposed to send the trade-in back to Sydney on the Friday afternoon. My older brother John went down to the stationmaster and paid him two pounds to keep the rail car from leaving until Monday morning, and we worked on that old ‘dozer all weekend before sending it back.” The museum display is home to around 25 pieces of varied trucks and equipment, representative of the kind that carved out Cleary Bros’ success. Caterpillar equipment encompassing traxcavators (an early precursor to the modern excavator), and bulldozers of varying size dominate the display, accompanied by pieces from International Harvester and two immaculately restored NR Mack Trucks of 1942-43 vintage. As I’m guided around the display, Brett Cleary explains the operation of some of the vintage equipment and points out the hazards experienced while trying to start some of these old workhorses. This involved a bar lodged into a hole in the flywheel to spin them over, and a prayer that it wouldn’t kick back and knock your head off with the cranking bar. Later models became a little safer with small petrol-powered pilot engines taking on the risky starting task. Brett explains that the exhibits housed in the display are not all original Cleary Bros equipment. A lot of the trucks and machinery were saved from a rusty purgatory in bush graveyards and lovingly restored, almost out of obligation to honour their lengthy devoted service. As Denis says: “We bought and restored models that we used in our business. Models that served us well and we liked operating.” One machine that is a Cleary Bros original is the previously mentioned D7, which was tracked down via its serial number and located in the Atherton Tablelands in QLD. The owner still had the original toolkit that was supplied with the machine. “This D7 was purchased back 30 years ago and became one of the first pieces of equipment restored,” Denis explains. “It all just started from there and didn’t seem to stop; the shed is not really big enough anymore.” Denis points out that most of the visitors to the museum express how gratifying it is to see someone taking such an active role as custodian of these historical pieces of equipment. I believe that for Denis, it’s hearing comments such as this that make it all worthwhile. As pointed out by a placard in the museum: “All the machines on display have been restored to fully operational standard by Cleary Bros workshops.” To this day, Cleary Bros employs highly skilled teams of panel beaters, spray painters, fabricators and mechanics in their workshops. When they are not manufacturing truck bodies and equipment for the company’s trucks or carrying out repairs and maintenance, they are entrusted with the task, when it arises, of completing the restoration projects housed in the museum. The level of workmanship and skill apparent in the museum display is testament to skills and passion invested into these restorations by the Cleary Bros workshops. It also might go some way to explain the colour scheme of the fleet, all of which still wear the same Caterpillar “highway yellow”. After all, why buy two colours when one does the job so well? The exception comes in the form of some Army Jeeps and a few motorbikes that call the museum home, plus a 1939 Oldsmobile which belonged to Jack Cleary. The historical equipment restoration bug has also bitten Brett Cleary, although, like his father (Brian), his interest lies with trucks. Especially for my visit, Brett organised for two of his own trucks, both having been restored by the Cleary Bros workshops, to grace the entry of the museum. Sitting either side of a CH Mack in Cleary Bros livery was a Centennial Mack, of which only 25 were made to herald in the new millennium. All of these Macks, with the exception of two white ones, were given the names of national highways. Brett located the “Cunningham Highway” truck through a Facebook post and contacted the owner in Perth, to find that he had three of the models. The truck was subsequently bought and transported back to NSW for restoration. On the other side sits a Caterpillar-powered Kenworth SAR, also purchased from Perth with a seized engine, but now fully restored to its former glory. Louise Sullivan adds: “As a family and as a business in general we are still really passionate about what we do, and this is reflected in the museum. We have a lot of long-term employees and don’t have a high turnover of staff. I believe this is because while we are a large company, we are still very much a family business.” Cleary Bros is a regular participant in the hugely successful Illawarra charity convoy held each year when a long yellow caterpillar of Cleary Bros trucks line the roads of the Illawarra while contributing to raising funds for a great cause. Background Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dLxO8BLXZk .

Newest PBS B-quad unveiled and on the road Owner-Driver / June 4, 2019 The newest performance-based standards (PBS) super B-quad has hit the road in Australia. Developed by Southern Cross Trailers and operated by Symons Clark Logistics, the PBS level 3A-quad spans 36.5m – including a Kenworth K200 prime mover – and is the second B-quad on-road in Australia. It was given the tick of approval by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in South Australia, with the launch attended by CEO Sal Petroccitto and chief engineer Les Bruzsa. The first B-quad, also boasting the work of Southern Cross Trailers and operated by Rocky Lamattina & Sons, was launched in August 2018. The regulator notes the number of PBS combinations has doubled in the last five years, led by truck and dog approvals, which overtook prime mover and trailer combinations for the first time in 2018. There are now almost 18,000 separate PBS heavy vehicles registered since the scheme commenced, making up nearly 9,000 PBS combinations. .

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Power Torque Magazine / June 2019 As 285 historic vehicles assembled at Camden, south-west of Sydney, for the biennial “Haulin’ the Hume” run on Saturday March 30, a wet and misty start to the day did little to dampen the spirits of eager participants. The inaugural run took place in 2011, covering the 240km run from Camden to Yass following (as much as possible) the original Hume Highway route. The event commemorates the time and effort taken by drivers the complete the Sydney-to-Melbourne trip. Back in the early days of the highway, the time taken to travel between the two major cities was measured in days, rather than hours as it is now. The torque-sapping hills of the Old Hume Highway and the numerous villages and towns through which the trucks rumbled every night would have been formative in the early driving days of the somewhat older band of drivers involved in the modern-day re-enactment run. Recalling times when calls over the CB radio of “southbound, hole in the wall” or “green light northbound” sounded, the memories were still vivid in the minds of many of the participants as the procession of trucks, trailers, buses and cars meandered through Picton to the delight of many spectators after traversing the famous “Razorback Range”. Some of those villages, such as Picton, Yanderra, Yerrinbool, Berrima, Gunning and many others long since bypassed, now provide a sleepy existence for their residents. Many may never have been woken in the night by the cackle of Jake Brakes or the dulcet tones of a high-revving, two-stroke “Jimmy” piercing the night silence. This was once the norm, especially with those running express freight on what was undoubtedly one of the busiest freight routes in the country. Every two years on Haulin’ The Hume day, Saturday sleep-ins in these hamlets are interrupted by hundreds of historic trucks and buses exceeding acceptable modern-day decibel levels and emitting enough exhaust soot to discourage the hanging of washing on lines. Put on by the Western Sydney Historic Vehicle Club, the event was conceived by Bruce Gunter whilst on a run to Alice Springs with his father, Geoff, in a Commer Knocker they had restored. During that trip, Geoff suggested a Hume run might be a good thing to do. Bruce says the fact that his Dad fell ill on that Alice Springs run formed a need to get the idea off the ground. The rest, as they say, is history, with the event gaining in popularity on each subsequent occasion, building from the original 143 entries in 2011. After seeing the wide enthusiasm for the event and an ever-growing number of entrants, Bruce saw the opportunity to cast the transport industry in a good light and also raise money for a charity close to his heart, Aspect. Aspect is Australia’s largest service provider for people on the Autism spectrum, as is the case for Bruce’s son. Monies are raised from vehicle entry fees, cash donations and from sponsors, such as Kenworth, Mack, Pace Farms and Park Lea Sand and Soil. After the rain had cleared, the historic convoy assembled at the Goulburn Recreation Centre grounds for a very chilly intermission and lunch, organised by Bryan Webb. This provided spectators and drivers alike the opportunity to take a closer look at the diverse range of trucks taking part in the event. The lunch stop also afforded an opportunity to speak with Bruce Gunter, the event founder. These days actively involved as a consultant for companies conforming to compliance legislation for the transport industry, Bruce says the Haulin’ The Hume event not only casts the industry in a positive light but also that the preparation of the trucks − together with the restoration work involved in getting them ready for this and similar events and rallies − goes a long way towards combating mental health issues such as depression. The camaraderie and common goal of this event fosters a unique bond of shared interest whilst paying homage to the men, women and trucks that make up Australia’s transport heritage. After lunch, the procession of Internationals, Kenworths, Macks, Bedfords, Peterbilts, Dodges, Mercedes, Fodens, Commers and a whole bunch of makes I’m sure I have forgotten, made their way back to the Hume Highway. The route then following the Cullerin Ranges through Gunning and Breadalbane to terminate at Yass for a dinner and fundraising auction. There’s no doubt it’s nice to sit in a modern truck with its air-conditioning, cruise control, air-suspended seating, heater and the knowledge the service brakes will actually provide reassuring speed retardation, preventing a bead of sweat forming on your brow at the sight of a “steep descent” sign. But it is equally gratifying to see Australia’s transport heritage cared for in the capable and loving hands of proud owners, still “Makin’ a Mile “even if they are not getting paid for it. Not in their wildest dreams could these drivers of yesteryear have imagined the kind of creature comforts afforded to the current-day truckie, and they must be applauded for operating what could, at best, be described as rudimentary equipment. However, keeping things in perspective, the trucks of 2060 and beyond will most likely bear little resemblance to the 2018 model I drive today. . .

New Zealand Trucking / June 2019 Hino Motors, Ltd. has opened an authorised sales and service centre in Ulan Bator, working through its partner in Mongolia, Khishig Arvin. Hino will be making a full-blown entry into the Mongolian market. As part of the company's efforts to strengthen its business foundations for offering value to its customers and society under the Challenge2025 programme, it aims to increase its global unit sales and strengthen its ‘Total Support’ operations to support its customers. Against a backdrop of steady economic growth, the demand for commercial vehicles in Mongolia is growing. To cater to the needs of Hino’s customers in the country, it has set up an authorised sales and service centre with cooperation from the Sumitomo Corporation. Hino will start off by selling heavy-duty trucks and offer best-fit products that match customers’ needs. It will also build the foundations of spare parts supply and service systems to help maximise vehicle up-time. Hino is also looking to offer support services aimed at maintaining vehicles, including on-site servicing at mining sites. .

How Paccar can come across so well in Oz, but so poorly in the states, is truly puzzling. Must be two different Paccar companies.

I would steer clear of Nissan. Japan Inc has a nationalistic agenda. Saikawa would have made a fine Imperial Army officer.

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Neil Abt, Fleet Owner / June 4, 2019 Jacobs Vehicle Systems, best known for its “Jake” engine compression brake, is prepping a demonstration truck that will travel the United States this year to allow customers to experience new technologies that can meet tougher emissions regulations while increasing fuel economy. Robb Janak, Jacobs’ director of new technology, said the 58-year-old company has spent much of this decade “repositioning” itself to provide a greater range of transportation solutions. This comes as the company begins rolling out the updated High Power Density engine brake that can offer drivers twice the braking power as the current brake, and provide improved braking capabilities at a lower rpm range. Besides the brake, the demo truck will also feature Active Decompression technology to aid in start-stop applications. The technology is designed to reduce vibrations when the engine is turned off during traffic congestion and in frequent idle situations. It is automatically activated by the engine control unit whenever the engine shuts down or starts up, and works by keeping the engine valves open and the cylinders decompressed. Jacobs said the system also improves start-ups in cold temperatures by enabling the engine to reach its critical compression ignition speeds. Another technology being development but not planned for this year's demo truck is the cylinder deactivation (CDA) system, which cuts emissions by achieving higher exhaust temperatures in the operating cylinders. As a result, large engines are able to have the fuel economy of smaller engines. At the lowest engine loads and with three of six cylinders deactivated, fuel consumption improves by up to 20%. Janak said CDA development is particularly important, because it can offer both lower emissions and higher fuel economy, which were earlier considered to be mutually exclusive. Jacobs is also introducing a two-step variable valve actuation system designed to enhance performance across an engine’s operating range. In a separate announcement earlier in May, Jacobs announced its engine brake model 5783A is now standard equipment on the International A26 engine. Jacobs has supplied a compression release engine brake for International Truck’s 13-liter engine since 2009. The 5783A model comes factory installed on International LT series, International RH series regional haul vehicles, and International HV and HX series vehicles. “We are excited to be a standard feature on the International A26 engine, complementing their technologies for the on-highway, severe duty, and vocational segments,” Steve Ernest, vice president of engineering and business development for Jacobs, said in a statement. Also in May, Jacobs was selected as a recipient of the John Deere Innovation Award for 2018. The award is presented to suppliers who have demonstrated innovation in a product or service they provide to John Deere. .

Fiat Chrysler withdraws Renault merger offer Bloomberg & Reuters / June 5, 2019 PARIS -- Fiat Chrysler withdrew a $35 billion merger offer for France's Renault, abruptly calling off what would have been a landmark deal to create the world's third-biggest automaker. Renault directors failed to reach a verdict on FCA's May 27 merger proposal at a board meeting that ran late Wednesday, the company said. The board was "unable to take a decision due to the request expressed by the representatives of the French state to postpone the vote to a later meeting," Renault said in a statement. Fiat Chrysler pulled the merger offer for Renault after the French automaker’s Japanese partner, Nissan Motor Co., declined to support the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Nissan’s two representatives on Renault’s board were withholding support as other board members prepared to vote in favor of the $35 billion merger, the paper said. The opposition from Nissan representatives raised doubts about the Japanese automaker's commitment to preserving the alliance if the merger were to proceed, the paper said. "FCA remains firmly convinced of the compelling, transformational rationale of a proposal that has been widely appreciated since it was submitted, the structure and terms of which were carefully balanced to deliver substantial benefits to all parties," the company said in a statement. "However it has become clear that the political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to proceed successfully." The French government, a major Renault shareholder, said Wednesday it wouldn’t approve Fiat Chrysler’s merger proposal without Nissan’s guarantee that Renault’s alliance with Nissan would survive. The French government asked to delay a vote on the merger, prompting Fiat Chrysler to withdraw its merger proposal, The Wall Street Journal said, citing people close to the matter. France was making progress toward a deal that would meet its demands, most of which were granted by Fiat, according to a French official who asked not to be named. However, French officials wanted more time to secure other requests, including that Nissan come on board before a combination move forward. More time was needed to reassure the Japanese side and explain the deal, a source told Bloomberg, adding the French government was surprised that Fiat suddenly withdrew its offer. On Monday, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said that the proposed merger, if realized, would significantly alter the structure of Renault. “This would require a fundamental review of the existing relationship between Nissan and Renault,” Saikawa said. FCA had earlier reached a tentative agreement with France on the terms of the proposed merger with Renault, two sources told Reuters. French concerns The French state, which owns 15 percent of Renault, had been seeking more influence over the merged company, firmer job guarantees and improved terms for Renault shareholders in return for blessing the $35 billion tie-up. Renault, FCA and the French government all declined to comment earlier on the ongoing board discussions. Analysts had warned of complications with the deal, including Renault's existing alliance with Nissan, the French state's role as Renault's largest shareholder and potential opposition from politicians and workers to any cutbacks. FCA has been locked in talks with Renault and the French state over its bid to create the world's third-biggest carmaker. France had broadly welcomed the deal, on condition it guarantees Renault's domestic blue-collar jobs and plants. Leadership questions The collapse of his proposal to create the world’s third-largest automaker marks a significant retreat for FCA Chairman John Elkann, who leads the company’s founding Agnelli family. After discussions with Renault’s cross-town rival Groupe PSA, Elkann opted for the riskier path, proceeding with an offer for Renault despite the complications of the government’s role and its strained relationship with alliance partner Nissan. The breakdown of talks on a night when a deal appeared to be in hand also leaves Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard in a difficult position -- having sought and failed to bring the French carmaker’s various constituencies into agreement. In addition to the demands from the French state, unions were worried about jobs and Nissan felt burned by the previous regime under deposed alliance Chairman Carlos Ghosn. Renault’s board was poised to approve the deal, with Nissan representatives abstaining, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. But France’s representatives asked for more time after officials made clear they wanted to discuss with Japanese authorities before making a decision, they said. Finance minister Bruno Le Maire plans a trip to Japan soon, one of the people told Bloomberg. More time was needed to reassure the Japanese side and explain the deal, a French government official said, asking not to be identified to comply with ground rules. The person added that the government found surprising Fiat’s rushed move to withdraw its offer. A spokesman for the minister didn’t return requests for comment. Criticism of Fiat’s May 27 proposal has gathered steam in recent days. France asked for assurances on jobs, board representation and the role of Senard, 66, who would be CEO of the combined company. Some investors have also voiced doubts. Paris-based activist investment manager CIAM, in a letter to Renault’s board, said the merger with Fiat significantly undervalues Renault and that a 2.5 billion-euro ($2.8 billion) dividend set to go to Fiat Chrysler shareholders should instead be paid to the French company.

Bigland's a good guy. And remember it was Bigland who wanted to bring back Dodge heavy trucks.

Sales chief Bigland files whistleblower suit against FCA Vince Bond Jr. & Michael Wayland, Automotive News / June 5, 2019 Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the automaker Wednesday, claiming he has been a scapegoat for the company's sales practices being probed by federal officials. In the suit, Bigland claims FCA has retaliated against him for cooperating with an Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation and slashed his pay by about 90 percent, starting in March. FCA executives plan to use his withheld compensation to pay any penalties or settlements reached with the SEC, according to the lawsuit filed in Michigan's Oakland County Circuit Court. The automaker's actions will cost Bigland about $1.8 million, the lawsuit said. Bigland, according to the suit, says he has cooperated with the SEC investigation, testifying "at length" about Fiat Chrysler's U.S. sales reporting practices, which he said long predated his appointment as U.S. sales chief in 2011, according to the lawsuit. "In late 2018, presumably as a way to wrap up their investigation with some result, the SEC suggested to plaintiff that he admit to some wrongdoing as to defendants' monthly sales reporting," Deborah Gordon, Bigland's lawyer, wrote in the lawsuit. "The SEC also suggested a resolution involving some penalty to FCA. Because (Bigland) had not engaged in any wrongdoing, and there was no wrongdoing, he declined to do so." In July 2016, FCA voluntarily changed the way it reports U.S. monthly sales and restated results for the previous five years to reflect the new methodology. The lawsuit says Bigland was excluded from the process of devising a new monthly sales reporting methodology, and was only advised that FCA was considering different methods to adopt. The SEC has been investigating the company's sales reporting practices before the company changed them. Fiat Chrysler said long-term incentive payouts are made at the discretion of a board committee. Bigland's "eligibility for incentive compensation — like that of all corporate officers — is subject to a determination by the board of directors' compensation committee that he has satisfied the applicable company and personal performance conditions," FCA said in a statement. "Mr. Bigland's eligibility for his award remains subject to that determination and completion of a board-level evaluation of issues that are the subject to governmental investigations (as previously disclosed by FCA) in which FCA continues to cooperate." The company said further it would be "inappropriate to comment on ongoing litigation or internal compensation processes." According to Gordon, Bigland remains employed by the company. Bigland’s participation in the SEC investigation, including a “white paper” he wrote detailing his knowledge of the automaker’s sales reporting methodology, has sparked retaliation from the company, Gordon said. She described FCA’s decision to withhold a portion of his compensation as an “unusual situation” because of Bigland’s “excellent” performance that the lawsuit aims to reconcile. “We’re hoping my client will receive the compensation he has earned and then some,” Gordon said Wednesday. “It appears my client is being retaliated against.” .

The Volvo - Shandong Lingong joint venture is as unsuccessful as the one it has with Dongfeng. http://www.sdlg.cn/

In China, car dealers have the right to sell vehicles for whatever price they want......as they should in a free market.

Chinese regulators slap Ford's joint venture with $23.6 million fine CNN Business / June 5, 2019 Hong Kong - Chinese regulators have fined Ford's main joint venture in the country for violating antitrust laws. China's State Administration for Market Regulation slapped Changan Ford with a 162.8 million yuan ($23.6 million) fine for setting minimum resale prices on its cars in the city of Chongqing. The fine amounts to 4% of the company's sales in Chongqing last year. Ford owns 50% of the joint venture, with the rest controlled by its local partner, state-owned carmaker Changan Automobile. Changan Ford's actions deprived downstream dealers of pricing autonomy, restricted competition and damaged the legitimate interests of consumers, the regulator said. Ford said it "respects" the market regulator's decision. "Changan Ford has taken corrective action in its regional sales management together with its dealers," a Ford spokesperson said. "As an ethical company, Ford is committed to complying with local laws and regulations wherever we do business," the spokesperson added. The penalty also comes as Ford is looking to make up lost ground in China. Ford's sales in the country plunged by nearly 40% in 2018 compared to the previous year. The carmaker announced in April that it plans to launch more than 30 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in China over the next three years as it tries to reverse a decline in sales in the world's biggest auto market. China is Ford's second biggest market after the United States.

The Volvo and Mack brands ranks at the bottom in North America, at 5th and 6th respectively, with low production volumes, and now the bottom is falling out in Volvo's Swedish production. UD is a money loser, Volvo never having turned it around but rather made it worse. Volvo Construction remains a question mark after losing its shirt in China and key shareholders would like to sell it. Volvo never mentions the Dongfeng joint venture because it never panned out for them. Renault Trucks is the only shining star but it can't carry the group.