Mack 3P

I heard NYC gets spoke wheels because they are less likely to get stolen.

Latest that I heard. "Hedge fund makes large investment in Navistar. Alabama-based Harbinger Capital Partners said in a filing this month that it bought 5.9 million shares of Navistar stock, or 7.9% of the total. Harbinger classified its stake in Warrenville-based Navistar — worth $367.5 million at the current share price — as a passive investment, indicating it doesn't intend to press for big changes at the company. But Harbinger has been anything but passive at Chicago-based Ryerson. Since acquiring 10% of the steel distributor late last year, Harbinger has accused executives of mismanagement, nominated a slate of candidates to challenge incumbent directors and forced the company onto the sale block. Some wonder if the $5.5-billion fund might drop its passive stance at Navistar and bid for the whole company, which has a market value of $4.3 billion. "They're a good example of a hedge fund that's moving closer to becoming a private-equity firm," says Michael Benson, a managing director of investment bank Stout Risius Ross Advisors LLC, in Farmington Hills, Mich. "They have a bent toward distressed (companies) and look for opportunities to create change." Crain's Chicago Business, 2007-05-28 Comment: And rumors persist that Iveco or MAN may be interested in Navistar. As noted in Industry Briefing on May 30, Navistar stock is up about 85 percent in 2007."

I heard a rumor that MAN might buy Navistar. Last year MAN was looking to buy Scania but that fell through.

Fewer Mack trucks delivered again Here's another article from the local Allentown paper. Nothing new or that we didn't know.

Cascadia Here's Freightliner's new truck. The grill looks too big.

It seems like they are going to try to give the truck some modern features. Engineering has been contacted for help. I hope the truck comes to Allentown when it's done so I can get a good look. I love the part of the show when the take the truck from the driver, the acting is great.

A Ford International merger would be interesting. Since Ford sold Aston Martin and is rumored to sell off another car brand I would like to see it be the Volvo car brand. To me the Nissan/Renault alliance would make perfect sense as a buyer. Volvo would own the truck brands, and Renault would own the auto brands. All the planets would then align.

Sterling Bullet I just saw Sterling is going to make a class 4-5 truck. It's a twin to the Dodge Ram.

Mack in the Military Here's a new link on the Mack web site.

Thanks for the ego booster after a rough day at work. We at Mack are aware that the reason some people buy a Mack is because their Father and Grandfather bought Mack’s. Mack’s are still designed to last 15+ years. Many people may not think about it but a lot of old CH's are on the road every day. These trucks are at least 10 years old. Everyone romanticizes about the past and it is the standard upon which everything else after is judged. Give the Granite and other models a chance and I'm sure they will prove their worthiness. I can't speak as to the availability of parts but Service and Remanufacturing do their best to keep all the old Mack’s running. The dealer network is not part of corporate Mack. All I can say is if your not happy with your dealer find a new one. I'm sure Barry would be glad to help you.

After a boom, a retrenchment at Mack

Volvo buy won't affect Mack Trucks

Anyone going to Mid-America? I'm attending it this year and will be working the Mack booth.

Volvo Offers $1B for Nissan Diesel

Pulling the DLR relay will make your truck think it dosen't have daytime running lights. The part you should be looking for is 116MO33AM, the DRL is to the right of the flasher.

Thanks, Overnite had a lot of Volvo's. I hope when it comes time they replace them with Mack's. I saw a documentry on HBO a few years ago about Overnite drivers on strike.

Lately I’ve seen UPS trucks with a new paint scheme. They’re two tone UPS brown and tan, they all seem to be old Volvo VN’s. In the past i’ve only seen Mack and International’s from UPS. Anyone have an idea what’s going on?

The Mod Center usually can do things like that.

The trucks in the photo are not the MRU "Terrapro". The DPF and aux cooling are not present on the truck. They are concrete pumpers though.

There's more about the truck in the latest Bulldog Magazine.

SPC Robert Cole, above left, and SPC Nicholas McDowell sit on their Buffalo bomb-disposal vehicle in western Iraq with their Bulldog hood ornament proudly mounted on the front. SPC Robert Cole was on patrol when his vehicle was struck by a car bomb, an all-too-familiar occurrence in war-torn Iraq. Fortunately Cole was driving the Army's Buffalo mine disposal vehicle. Built on a Mack chassis, the Buffalo is a thickly armored vehicle that seeks out and disposes of deadly improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. Its 30-foot retractable arm has a camera to help the operator inside see what he's doing and a claw-like rake for finding and detonating the roadside bombs. Cole operates the Buffalo while another member of his platoon, SPC Nicholas McDowell, operates the arm. Both are members of 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company. Operating in western Iraq, their primary mission is route clearance and IED removal. The pair was investigating a suspicious site with the Buffalo near Fallujah when the attack occurred. "We were continuing our mission after stopping when the attack occurred," he said. "The car had pulled off the side of the road initially and did not appear to be a threat, evidencing no suspicious behavior or appearance. As we were moving by the vehicle, the driver detonated the device concealed in his vehicle. The resulting detonationen gulfed the Buffalo in a fireball and threw scrap and debris over several hundred meters." Fortunately neither soldier was hurt. "The only damage to the vehicle was two blown tires and our Mack Bulldog® ornament, which proudly wore an American flag cape," Cole said. "Shrapnel damaged his leg so we decided to remove him as not to disgrace the Mack quality built into the vehicle, which has saved our servicemen from getting hurt due to the cowardly tactics used by the enemy." Mack Trucks, Inc. responded by sending Cole a half dozen hood ornaments, and its warmest thanks for a job well done. "We plan on mounting these ornaments proudly on several of the vehicles in our fleet," Cole said. In the meantime, "We managed to touch up, clean and re-mount the original hood ornament. Hank, as he is known, is riding proudly again on our Buffalo with steadfast determination."

I was talking to an engineer in Sweden yesterday trying to explain that Mack is going to a different supplier because the one fleets who buys this particular option wants a different product. He had trouble understanding why we would have something different then the rest of the organization. I know, but I can't tell. I've seen the replacement to the CL

There has to be some appearance difference between the Pinnacle and Vision. There will be no Volvo label, logo, sticker, or emblem on a Mack or Renault. It is part of a brand marking spec.

Good things come to those who wait.