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Construction Equipment Guide / November 8, 2018 Hillsboro, Oregon–based Omega Morgan specializes in heavy rigging and transportation, among other services. The company recently hauled one of the heaviest combination loads in Washington state history, weighing in at nearly one million lbs. Washington state issues between 600 to 700 "superload" permits a year – meaning the combined weight of a tractor and trailer exceeds 200,000 lbs. Omega Morgan transported a 460,000-lb. transformer, combined with a massive 360-ft. trailer with 48 axles weighing 484,000 lbs., which could be labeled as a new permit category. The 47-mi. haul through Washington's Klickitat County, started in Sundale, Wash., in late September, and ended at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Rock Creek substation two days later. To accomplish the move, Omega Morgan used three heavy-haul Kenworth trucks. A Kenworth C500 was the lead (pull) truck, while two Kenworth T800 heavy haulers were the pushers. "Kenworth makes the best heavy-haul trucks, in my opinion," said Troy Tallent, vice president of operations at Omega Morgan. "They're incredibly strong, built to last, and engineered for extreme duty. There is no such thing as calling in a tow truck if something fails. We do all of our own service. It's vital to have equipment that you are confident in and will get the job done day-in-day-out. It's why all our heavy haul trucks are Kenworths." After Omega Morgan received a contract to haul transformers with BPA, the company built its 360-ft. trailer and bought the Kenworth C500, specifically for use with the trailer, from Papé Kenworth Northwest – Lakewood. For its C500, Omega Morgan selected a 550-horsepower engine, an Allison 4700 RDS seven-speed automatic transmission, and a four-speed air shift auxiliary transmission. The truck also has Sisu planetary tridem axles — rated at 105,000 lbs. with cross locks and a 7.01 ratio, and a 22,000-lb. front axle with 24,000-lb. front slipper springs. The C500 was built on a strong foundation – a triple rail steel frame providing a 200,000-lb. gross combination weight (GCW) chassis rating. "Rick Barry and the guys over at Papé Kenworth Northwest were, and continue to be, a big help to us," said Tallent. "They got us set up with the specifications we needed to get any job done." The BPA transformer project took months to plan, schedule and coordinate with state officials and private groups to ensure a logistically friendly route, without damaging roads. "For this transport, there were quite a few obstacles we had to plan for, not to mention two-lane roads that had to be closed," said Tallent. "For instance, we had to widen the gravel road from 16 ft. to 20, and reduce the grade by the rail head (where the transformer was lifted off the railcar and placed in the trailer-cradle) from 16 percent to 15 percent." To ensure Omega Morgan had enough traction to make it up the grade, the company added a fourth heavy hauler, loaded with concrete blocks that was tethered to the Kenworth C500. "We had plenty of horsepower with our three Kenworths, but needed added traction to pull all that weight up the 15 percent grade on gravel," said Tallent. Two Kenworths were positioned in the back, connected through a 10-ft. A-frame to generate power, while the C500 and other heavy-hauler were connected through a steel cable to help pull and direct the trailer. Once on the road, it was back to the three Kenworths. The move had its share of challenges. "When going up steep grades, our drivers are zeroed in on their truck's boost meters, talking back-and-forth on how much throttle they needed to give," said Tallent. "Going down hills, the drivers used their engines – along with the trailer brakes – to slow down." Bridges and tight turns also came into play. "We also had to go over three bridges, so we had to use hydraulic dollies to help spread the load," said Tallent. "On top of that, we had to make a few larger than 90 degree turns. For that, we slowed to walking speed and had our two tillers, who steered the trailer, work with our Kenworth drivers, so the trailers could turn in tandem with the trucks." Perhaps the biggest white-knuckle experience was navigating Hoctor road, a 20-ft. wide road that had to accommodate Omega's 18-ft. wide trailer for 14 mi. "With only a foot on either side, it was a little hair-raising, but we had great drivers that made it look easy. They were locked in," said Tallent. "After that, we arrived at our delivery location at the Rock Creek substation and began unloading." Once the mammoth move was completed, it was back to regular work for Tallent and his crew. "Driving is considered the easy part of the job for our drivers," he said. "Omega Morgan's drivers are a part of the crew. We deliver and then can offload ourselves. We're turnkey. Our drivers are involved in the whole operation. The majority are mechanics as well." Omega Morgan isn't done with big moves, albeit not as heavy. Using the company's 360-ft. trailer, more than 30 transformer moves have been completed for BPA, with more to come. "This operation got a lot of attention because of its enormous size," said Tallent. "What we do is about as heavy as heavy transporting gets. Kenworth trucks are built for these applications, which is why we only run Kenworth trucks in our heavy duty fleet. Nothing can deliver like a Kenworth." .

Chevrolet's 2020 mid-engine Corvette delayed Jake Lingeman, Autoweek / December 13, 2018 The midengine 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette will not be shown at the 2019 Detroit auto show next month, according to GM Authority, which cited anonymous sources at Chevrolet, because of electrical problems. The car's launch could be delayed by up to six months, the website said. GM Authority reports the C8’s electrical system can’t handle operating loads on the supercar, raising the prospect that next Corvette is a hybrid with a possible 48-volt primary electrical system. Engineers need to revamp the electrical system, which could require an electric motor on the front axle, similar to the Acura NSX. GM Authority says the midengine Corvette is still expected to be introduced in 2020. The Detroit News, citing a Chevrolet spokesperson, also reported the next-generation Corvette will not be introduced at the 2019 Detroit auto show. Car and Driver has reported that a hybrid variant with a twin-turbo V-8 engine is planned for the Corvette C8 and could generate 1,000 hp with all-wheel drive. The next-generation Corvette has been spotted undergoing tests at GM's Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan and at race tracks such as Wisconsin’s Elkhart Lake and Germany’s Nürburgring. The car was spotted undergoing road tests at night at Sebring International Raceway in Florida this month. .

Trump says GM shift to electric vehicles is 'not going to work' David Shepardson & Lisa Lambert, Reuters / December 13, 2018 WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Thursday said the decision of General Motors to shift much of its focus to electric vehicles will not succeed, and he asserted a new trade deal will make it harder for the company to move work to other countries. Last year, GM said it planned to launch 20 new electric vehicles by 2023 as it faces rising regulatory requirements for zero-emission vehicles in China and elsewhere. GM has come under enormous criticism in Washington after it announced plans to close four plants in the United States and cut up to 15,000 jobs in North America. Trump questioned GM CEO Mary Barra’s business strategy in an interview with Fox News. “They’ve changed the whole model of General Motors. They’ve gone to all-electric. All-electric is not going to work ... It’s wonderful to have it as a percentage of your cars, but going into this model that she’s doing I think is a mistake,” Trump said. Barra was on Capitol Hill for two days of meetings last week to discuss the company’s decision with angry lawmakers from states where plants are closing. “To tell me a couple weeks before Christmas that’s she going to close in Ohio and Michigan - not acceptable to me,” Trump said. Trump suggested that a new free trade deal with Mexico and Canada makes it “very uncomfortable” for GM to build cars outside the United States. Trump signed a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada on Nov. 30 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but that deal has not been approved by the U.S. Congress.

Ford names new product development chief in Europe Nick Gibbs, Automotive News / December 13, 2018 Ford promoted global programs director Joerg Bayer to head of product development in Europe as part of upcoming changes designed to return the region to profitability. Bayer, 53, replaces Joe Bakaj, who retires after more than 30 years at the automaker. The reshuffle is part of Ford of Europe’s cost-saving plan called Sprint to 6 Reset and Redesign, which refers to Ford’s aim to reach a six percent EBIT profit margin in the region. The automaker has not given a timeframe for the plan. Beyer, a German national, has worked as an engineer within Ford since 1990. He has held a number of product development roles based in Germany, the UK and China, including as chief engineer for the Mondeo and Fiesta cars. Prior to moving to the new role of executive director for engineering at Ford of Europe, Beyer worked as executive director of Ford’s global programs. Bakaj joined Ford in the UK in 1985 and has occupied many senior roles within the company. Since 2013, he has been head of product development for Ford in Europe, a role that he had held previously. Bakaj has been heavily involved in the project to deliver a modular platform to be used for all Ford’s non-SUV cars. Prior to being head of product development, he was global chief of powertrains at the automaker. In 2011, he was awarded a Eurostar award from Automotive News Europe for his development work and in the same year, an Allstar award from Automotive News for his part in the development of the 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine. .

Ford set to end production at Blanquefort in France Claude Canellas, Reuters / December 13, 2018 BORDEAUX, France — Ford will end production at its Blanquefort plant in France by late August next year after rejecting a rescue deal for the factory, in a move which drew the ire of France's finance minister because of the risk of large-scale job losses. The French government had this autumn expressed optimism that the plant in southwest France and its 850 employees would be saved, but Ford told the plant's works council that it had rejected the bid made by transmission supplier Punch Powerglide. "Despite thorough and rigorous talks over the past nine months, and the best efforts of both sides, the plan put forward by the potential buyer presents significant risks," Ford said in a statement to the works council. "We do not believe that the prospective buyer's plans offer the level of security or protection, or limit the risk of possible future job losses, that we would like for the employees," added the company. The likely job losses will be a blow for President Emmanuel Macron, coming at a time of public rebellion over his reforms to liberalise the economy, including an easing of labour laws, and battles to haul down the country's stubbornly high unemployment. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in September had described Punch Powerglide as a "credible, solid buyer," and Le Maire reacted angrily to Ford's decision, and called on the U.S. company to change its mind. "I am revolted, I am sickened by this decision whose only justification is for Ford to get its shares to rise on the stock market," Le Maire told the French Senate. "I want to attack the cowardice of Ford. For the last three days I have been looking to talk to them, and they didn't even have the courage to talk to the minister of finance and economy over the phone," added Le Maire.

Scania Group Press Release / December 11, 2018 Out of 8,000 service technicians and parts experts from 70 countries, the team from New Zealand finished in first place and received the prize of EUR 50,000. In total, twelve service teams had qualified through regional and national finals for the Top Team World Final at Scania’s head office in Södertälje, Sweden. This year’s Scania Top Team is the tenth international event since the start in 1989. It has developed from a national training event into today’s global training programme with focus on practical and theoretical skills. The finalists in 2018’s competition were Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands and United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand took the victory. Second place was Switzerland followed by Austria. Mathias Carlbaum is Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations at Scania. ”Our service teams play a significant role for Scania’s success. Their dedication, knowledge and efficiency contribute in the highest possible way to the creation of added value for our customers, making sure that our customers’ vehicles are quickly back on the road in a roadworthy, safe and efficient way.” In Sweden as well as globally there is a shortage of service technicians. Scania alone needs annually to recruit more than 1,000 service technicians throughout the world the coming years. .

Volvo taps VNR regional-haul tractor for electric truck option in North America Jeff Crissey, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / December 11, 2018 Providing more clarity on its game plan toward an electric truck solution for the North American market, Volvo Trucks North America announced it is moving forward with an electric version of its 2017-launched Volvo VNR regional tractor originally developed for and produced in North America. Dubbed the VNR Electric, the tractor will be put into test operations next year with 23 units at fleet customers NFI and Dependable Highway Express as part of the Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solution (LIGHTS) partnership consisting of the Volvo Group, California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and other transportation and electrical charging infrastructure participants. The California Air Resources Board provided more than $44 million in funding for the project. “We appreciate that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the SCAQMD have recognized our leadership and trusted us to oversee this project that will ultimately result in the commercialization of fully-electric heavy-duty trucks,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. Voorhoeve said the VNR Electric will be commercially available beginning in 2020 after the completion of the LIGHTS project. But vehicle details are light other than a 113-inch BBC length and 50-degree wheel cut. Company executives said it will rely on fully electric powertrain technology from the Volvo FE and FL Electric cabovers introduced in Europe earlier this year and available for sale in 2019. The tractor also will feature a “driver-centric work environment” and stamped steel bumper to protect the lights and grille. In addition to its European FL and FE siblings, the VNR Electric’s development will undoubtedly build on experience gained from Volvo Buses’ electric vehicle development. The group currently has added more than 4,000 electric buses into operation since 2010. As the VNR Electric is still under development, no detailed specs were released other than a 113-inch BBC and 50-degree wheel cut.“We have decided in the group not to use cabover from Europe, but to electrify the VNR,” said Voorhoeve at a press roundtable at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. “From a technology point of view, we are using the electric drivetrain in the FE and FL. But we believe that for electric truck applications that the VNR is the electric truck for North America. We will showcase it in the LIGHTS project and then right after that we will commercialize it.” The $90.7 million LIGHTS project is Volvo’s way of differentiating itself from other truck OEMs and startups in the electric truck space with by developing an end-to-end solution that addresses the tractor as well as the charging infrastructure that will be required by fleets at terminals and customer locations. “Electric trucks bring many unknowns and our holistic focus through the LIGHTS project will help our fleet partners transition securely and smoothly based on their individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters,” said Johan Agebrand, director of product marketing for Volvo Trucks North America. “Within the project we’ll look at everything from route analysis and battery optimization to servicing and financing.” The buzz around electric vehicles created by companies like Tesla, Thor and Chanje have helped accelerate the conversation around electromobility in North America, said Magnus Koeck, vice president of marketing and brand management for Volvo Trucks North America, but he added Volvo Trucks has a built-in advantage of scalability of a global company that builds in excess of 200,000 trucks per year. “Anyone can build one or two or 10 [electric trucks], but to have an entire global supply chain to build 200,000 trucks that are correctly spec’d for a particular customer in a particular market or region around the world, that shouldn’t be underestimated,” said Koeck.

I don't care for the ProMaster (Fiat Ducato). In the CNH Industrial Group porfolio, the Iveco Daily is my van of choice. I never see Sprinters rusting in Europe, or here for that matter. As far as repair costs, they're no more pricey to deal with than a Transit. Both are top notch vans.

Ford in talks with German workers about job cuts Reuters / December 10, 2018 FRANKFURT -- Ford said it had started negotiations with German worker representatives about potential job cuts at its Saarlouis plant as the automaker considers discontinuing production of its Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max compact minivans. "We can confirm that we are entering into formal negotiations with our works council with the objective of ending production of C-Max/Grand C-Max at Saarlouis," Ford said in a statement. Ford said no formal decision has yet been reached on whether to discontinue production of the minivans. But discussions will explore the consequences of such a step on the plant's workforce. "As we continue to match production to consumer demand, the consultation process also will include necessary adjustments to the workforce at Saarlouis," Ford said. Ford will continue production of the Focus at the factory. The automaker wants to reduce production from three shifts to two, which would mean the loss of 1,600 jobs, German press reports said. Saarlouis employs more than 6,190 staff, but the minivan van segment is shrinking and tougher emissions rules will require costly investments. "Keeping the vehicle compliant with all regulatory obligations would require a very high level of investment for this model," Ford said. Ford plans to restructure its money-losing European business to focus on its profit-making SUVs and commercial vehicles. It has appointed executives in Germany and UK to implement the plan, called “Sprint to 6 Reset and Redesign.” Its former head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, will head the restructuring in Germany, while Graham Hoare will carry out the same task in the UK. Hoare was previously responsible for Ford’s test and development operations worldwide. The bulk of announcements around the restructuring are expected between now and the beginning of 2020, Ford has said. Ford and Volkswagen Group have said they are discussing an alliance for commercial vehicles. This may be broadened to include potential collaboration on autonomous driving and arrangements to make vehicles for one another, Bloomberg reported in October. Ford has not confirmed on that. Ford lost $245 million in Europe in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $53 million in the same quarter last year. This was due to weakness in Turkey and Russia, and launch-related costs for the latest Focus compact car, the company said in its third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 23. Ford has said it expects a full-year loss in 2018 in Europe as it battles headwinds such as the weak pound in the UK, its biggest European market, high raw material costs and a slump in demand for once-core models.

Strasbourg shooting: Gunman shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he attacked BBC / December 11, 2018 The Strasbourg gunman yelled "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest" in Arabic) as he opened fire on people enjoying an evening out at a Christmas market, the Paris public prosecutor told reporters. Rémy Heitz said two people had been killed and one left brain-dead after the attack in the eastern French city on Tuesday. Twelve were wounded, six seriously. The man, named Chérif Chekatt, was known to authorities as having been radicalised in prison. The 29-year-old was armed with a gun and a knife and escaped the area in a taxi. The attacker boasted to the driver - who has spoken to police - that he had killed 10 people, and said he had been injured in a firefight with soldiers. Four people connected to the suspect had been detained overnight in Strasbourg. Hundreds of officers are currently involved in the search for the gunman. France's Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez earlier acknowledged he may no longer be in France. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the country had moved to a high level of alert, expanding police powers and increasing vigilance. He added that border controls had been strengthened and security at all Christmas markets would be stepped up. What happened? The attack unfolded at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday close to Strasbourg's famed Christmas market near one of the central squares, Place Kléber, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year. A woman named Audrey told France's BFM TV how she came face to face with the killer after watching him shoot a man in the head. The gunman then opened fire for a second time, and another man fell to ground. Her friends began to run to safety, but Audrey was frozen to the spot. The gunman turned, and faced her - but then he too ran. "Why didn't he shoot at me? I don't know. I think I was extremely lucky. As everyone was screaming he fled." As the attacker fled, he came into contact with four soldiers. He began firing at them, and they fired back. How did he escape? He managed to reach a taxi which drove him away from the scene and dropped him in the vicinity of the police station in Neudorf, the area where he lives which sits on the border between Germany and France. When he got out the vehicle, he fired at police officers. According to police - who refer to the gunman as Chérif C - the gunman was born in Strasbourg and was already known to the security services as a possible terrorist threat. He was the subject of a "fiche S", a watchlist of people who represent a potential threat to national security. He also had 27 convictions spanning across France, Germany and Switzerland, and has spent considerable time in prison as a result. .

How a WWII agreement allows trucks to travel from China to Europe in just 13 days Freightwaves / December 11, 2018 A couple of weeks back, a truck hailing from China drove into the depths of central Asia as it journeyed West, traversing through Kazakhstan and Russia to enter Europe through Belarus and finally unloading its freight in Poland. Though a lot of trucks have likely traced this path before, what is of particular interest is the time frame and the manner in which it was accomplished. The whole journey took just 13 days, which is nearly twice as fast as railroad transport between the two destinations, and with a door-to-door cost that is half that of air freight. But it couldn’t have happened without China’s entry into the World Road Transport Organisation (IRU) TIR system, an agreement that shaves off numerous border control checks and red-tape regulations. Transports Internationaux Routiers, abbreviated TIR, is a system that was first introduced post-World War II to facilitate trade between countries across both the Allied and Axis Power factions that were still smarting from wounds caused in the war. Trading between countries that were a part of TIR was easy as road transport operators had to only declare their data once when they were hauling goods across multiple borders. The idea behind TIR was simple - enable effortless trade transactions would induce economic growth, a development that in theory would also help sustain peace. The system was fine-tuned along the way and today, IRU provides a guarantee to the tune of 100,000 euros per truckload, which is dispensed in case of infractions on the freight. This made TIR a prudent choice for customs departments as well as for transport operators, who found this system inexpensive when considering the alternative of getting a bank guarantee for every border crossing. On account of this landmark road initiative, FreightWaves spoke with Umberto de Pretto, the Secretary General of IRU, to discuss the finer points behind this new trade flow. “TIR has gotten countries to trade and talk to each other after the Second World War, and there has been peace in Europe thanks to this. Now, we want to make sure that all the other regions benefit from this as well,” he said. Following on China’s heels, India and Pakistan have also joined the TIR initiative, thus opening up 40% of the world’s population to seamless cross-border trading. De Pretto remarked that one of the reasons for the Asian countries to take so long to join the TIR could be attributed to lack of awareness on what the system entails. “And there is also the false assumption that the TIR system - because it originated in Europe, would be a very expensive system,” he said. “Another reason is that regional efforts that were made to come up with transit systems have largely failed. So for these countries, I think it is also the frustration of not being able to put something in place that works.” With manufacturing giant China in the picture, de Pretto explained that TIR would make commodities coming out of the country cheaper, while providing leverage for Chinese businesses to trade seamlessly beyond its borders. “The moment you have access to other global markets, it’s a win for the market that’s receiving, but also a win for the market that is exporting those goods,” he said. “And it is more attractive to the consumers and you’ll have more consumption and people selling those goods will have a greater return on their investment.” De Pretto spoke about the success of the pilot run between China and Europe, explaining that the 13 days it took for the initial run could be further reduced to 11 days in the future. This is huge, as expediting freight hauling would help large businesses save millions in inventory costs. “One example is Philips, which made an assessment a few years back saying it would save $50 million globally for every one day it can reduce its stock-holding time on goods that are held up,” said de Pretto. “And that’s just one company. In economic terms, unless the goods are moving, there’s going to be somebody who’s going to be penalized.” De Pretto insisted that a railroad extension of China’s ambitious BRI initiative all the way to Europe would not have a direct bearing on the TIR-enabled market. “I don’t think there will be competition between rail and road transport, but it would be complementary. And you could move those containers by rail with the TIR convention because TIR applies to containerized movements,” he said. The IRU is actively encouraging the Chinese government to use TIR for their container movements on rail, as in the absence of a regularized environment, border hassles cannot be siphoned away. “The more we can facilitate trade, the more we will drive progress and prosperity, and in some regions, even peace. And I cite in particular the Middle East where we see quite a bit of conflict. We want to bring economic stability through road transport,” said de Pretto. “We want to make sure that the trucks bring prosperity to every village, and not just to the major hubs. We want to interconnect every village in Central Asia or Africa to the major world economies, and help them get their produce to the market.”

Scania Group Press Release / December 10, 2018 This year, Coca-Cola’s traditional Christmas tour of Brazil will feature Scania’s new generation trucks. Heading off at the end of November, the ‘Caravana Iluminada de Natal’ has scheduled 42 city visits in 6 states. The eight red Scania trucks are all illuminated with LED lamps with Christmas theme liveries that feature Santa Claus and iconic Coca-Cola bears. “The caravan is a perfect debut for the new generation trucks in Brazil, which were launched just a few weeks ago,” says Márcio Furlan, Marketing and Communications Manager, Scania Commercial Operations Brazil. The new Scania trucks will arrive for the inauguration of the spectacular 43-metre Christmas tree in São Paulo’s Ibirapuera Park. A tradition since 10 years, the tree attracts thousands of residents and visitors. This year, it is decorated with more than 250 ornaments, including 12 one-metre holographic balls, with five full-sized bears at the base. .

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Scania Group Press Release / December 10, 2018 Scania is developing a fuel cell refuse truck together with Renova, a waste handling company in western Sweden. The truck will feature a fully electrified powertrain as well as an electrified compactor. “We are highly interested in gaining more experience of fuel cells in actual customer operations,” says Project Manager Marita Nilsson, Electric Powertrain Technology at Scania. “Fuel cells constitute a promising technology in the needed decarbonisation of transports.” Refuse trucks often operate in residential areas in the early hours of the morning. With reduced emissions and noise, electric vehicles are especially attractive in these areas. Renova and other waste handling companies have previously carried out trials with electric refuse trucks but this will be the first with fuel cells. “Electrification using fuel cells fuelled by hydrogen is a highly appealing alternative for heavy commercial vehicles such as refuse trucks,” says Hans Zackrisson, Head of Development at Renova. “The trucks benefit from all the advantages of electrification while maintaining some of the best aspects of fossil-fuel operations, namely range, hours in service and payload.” Read more: Why hydrogen fuel cells could be one of the solutions for a future of sustainable transport The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Swedish Energy Agency and Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology and the fuel cell refuse truck is expected to be delivered in the end of 2019/beginning of 2020. Scania has previously announced that it is developing fuel cell technology in cooperation with the Norwegian food wholesaler Asko, which has opened its own production plant for sustainable hydrogen fuel. Scania is delivering four distribution fuel cell trucks with a range of 500 km to Asko. .

DAF Trucks Press Release / December 10, 2018 We wish you and your family the best. Enjoy the holiday season! .

DAF Trucks Press Release / December 10, 2018 For the second year in succession, DAF Trucks has scooped the British ‘Truck of the Year’ title for its market-leading DAF LF distribution range at the 2018 Commercial Fleet Awards. It’s already the fifth time DAF has received a top accolade in markets across Europe this year. Against stiff competition, the DAF LF emerged triumphant for its versatility, reliability, clear all-round appeal for fleet operators and DAF’s aftersales support. Judges said: “The LF retained its title as fleets again vote it their favourite truck. The LF’s versatility in urban environments is a defining feature, while its spacious cab and refined driving experience make it a firm favourite with drivers. Strong support from DAF, plus reliability and low running costs combine for an unbeatable package. DAF Trucks’ premium duty XF series – alongside the CF series – was primarily voted ‘International Truck of the Year 2018’ and subsequently received national Truck of the Year awards in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Northern Ireland. “We’re naturally thrilled to win again,” said Richard Zink, Director Marketing and Sales and Member of the Board of Management of DAF Trucks, “and in the presence of such esteemed company. With the competition in this category, our LF has proved itself top truck yet again.” .

Navistar says it has tentative six-year deal with UAW Matt Sanctis, Springfield News-Sun / December 11, 2018 SPRINGFIELD — Navistar said today the company has a tentative six-year deal with members of the United Auto Workers, who are expected to vote Sunday on whether to ratify the contract. Company officials said the truck maker will not discuss any details of the contract before the Dec. 16 vote. Members of the UAW Local 402, which represents the majority of its workers in Springfield, could not be immediately reached for comment. “We are confident that this agreement will help us work as a team to competitively build our vehicles, run our plants and win in the market,” the company said in a statement on a website dedicated to the negotiations. This is the second time this month that members of the labor union will vote on a potential contract. The UAW voted Dec. 2 to reject a separate agreement. According to the UAW’s website, the union voted down that contract with 98 percent of the vote.

Volvo Reveals Electric VNR Model to Go On Sale in 2020 Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 11, 2018 Volvo Trucks has announced plans to sell an all-electric truck called the Volvo VNR Electric in North America by 2020. Volvo had already announced that they would begin testing all-electric trucks in regional haul fleets in California beginning in 2019 before selling an electric truck model 2020 but was light on the specifics. Now we know that the VNR Electric will be based on the fully-electric powertrain technology currently being used in the Volvo FE Electric, which Volvo Trucks presented in May and will begin selling in Europe in 2019. The company expects the VNR Electric to suitable for heavy urban distribution, drayage and other regional applications. “The Volvo VNR Electric leverages the versatility of the new Volvo VNR series with a proven fully-electric powertrain, and represents a strategic stride toward a comprehensive electrified transport ecosystem,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “Cities prioritizing sustainable urban development can leverage electrified transport solutions to help improve air quality and reduce traffic noise. Cleaner, quieter, fully-electric commercial transport also creates opportunities for expanded morning and late-night operations, helping cut traffic congestion during peak hours.” The Volvo VNR Electric came out of the Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions partnership between Volvo Group and California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District as well as transportation and electrical charging infrastructure members. The California Air Resources Board allotted $44.8 million for the Volvo LIGHTS project, which is part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. .

Volvo plans VNR Electric regional tractor by 2020 Fleet Owner / December 11, 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Volvo Trucks’ first North American all-electric truck will be a VNR regional-haul tractor, the company announced Tuesday. The trucks will debut in California as demonstration units next year, operating in distribution, regional-haul and drayage operations. The VNR Electric will go on sale in North America in 2020. “We are proud to announce the Volvo VNR Electric, designed to support cities focused on sustainable urban development and fleets operating in a range of regional-haul and distribution operations,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, during a meeting here with the media. “The Volvo VNR Electric leverages the versatility of the new Volvo VNR series with a proven fully-electric powertrain, and represents a strategic stride toward a comprehensive electrified transport ecosystem,” he said. “Cities prioritizing sustainable urban development can leverage electrified transport solutions to help improve air quality and reduce traffic noise. Cleaner, quieter, fully-electric commercial transport also creates opportunities for expanded morning and late-night operations, helping cut traffic congestion during peak hours.” The Volvo VNR Electric demonstration units will be based on the propulsion and energy storage technology currently being used in the Volvo FE Electric, according to the company, and builds on the Volvo Group’s accumulated expertise in electrified transport solutions. Sister company Volvo Buses has sold more than 4,000 electrified buses since 2010. “The Volvo VNR is ideal for applications like heavy urban distribution, drayage and other regional applications where electric trucks will first have the greatest impact,” said Johan Agebrand, Volvo Trucks North America director of product marketing. “The VNR series has received tremendous industry acceptance since its April 2017 introduction, and the addition of an all-electric powertrain provides even greater opportunities to expand its footprint in the regional-haul market.” Introduction of the Volvo VNR Electric models are part of a partnership, known as LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) between the Volvo Group, California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and industry leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure. “The LIGHTS project is a truly unique opportunity to showcase a holistic approach to electrification of the freight transport industry as we handle ongoing challenges including electricity generation and battery optimization,” said Voorhoeve. “We appreciate that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the SCAQMD have recognized our leadership and trusted us to oversee this project that will ultimately result in the commercialization of fully-electric heavy-duty trucks. In addition to introducing the VNR Electric, through LIGHTS we will bring a complete sustainable freight solution with end-to-end electrification coordination with our many partners.” "Electric trucks bring many unknowns and our holistic focus through the LIGHTS project will help our fleet partners transition securely and smoothly based on their individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters,” said Agebrand. “Within the project we’ll look at everything from route analysis and battery optimization to servicing and financing. We always aim to offer high uptime and productivity.” CARB has preliminarily awarded $44.8 million to SCAQMD for the Volvo LIGHTS project. The Volvo LIGHTS project will involve 16 partners, and will transform freight operations at the facilities of two of the United States’ top trucking fleets. Volvo LIGHTS is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Transport Topics / December 11, 2018 WASHINGTON — Volvo Trucks will bring electric-powered commercial trucks to North America next year by introducing a battery-electric version of its VNR regional haul model. The truck manufacturer said it will first deploy the zero-emissions VNR Electric tractor in 2019 in demonstrations in California and will begin selling the vehicle across North America in 2020. Volvo made the announcement here Dec. 11 during a roundtable discussion with industry press hosted by Peter Voorhoeve, the new president of Volvo Trucks North America. “We are proud to announce the Volvo VNR Electric, designed to support cities focused on sustainable urban development and fleets operating in a range of regional-haul and distribution operations,” said Voorhoeve, who began his current role Sept. 1. Volvo did not reveal the truck’s final design or the vehicle’s range and weight, but said it will be based on the battery-electric powertrain used in its FE Electric cabover model for the European market. The truck maker plans to deploy 23 of its VNR Electric models in southern California through a project dubbed Volvo LIGHTS, or Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions. The project, aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, is a partnership between Volvo Group and California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District, as well as other companies involved in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure. The California Air Resources Board preliminarily awarded $44.8 million to SCAQMD for the initiative. Volvo LIGHTS will transform freight operations at facilities of NFI Industries and Dependable Highway Express, Volvo said. Voorhoeve described the project as an “end-to-end solution” addressing not just the vehicle, but the charging infrastructure and other concerns to make electrification work in real freight operations. “Electric trucks bring many unknowns and our holistic focus through the LIGHTS project will help our fleet partners transition securely and smoothly based on their individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters,” said Johan Agebrand, VTNA’s director of product marketing. On the other side of the Atlantic, Volvo first unveiled the FE Electric and another all-electric model, the FL Electric, earlier this year, and announced plans to start selling those trucks in Europe in 2019. .

GM pressed by 2 Senators to build all EVs for U.S. stateside David Shepardson, Reuters / December 11, 2018 WASHINGTON -- Two U.S. senators from Ohio on Tuesday asked General Motors CEO Mary Barra to commit to building all future electric vehicles for U.S. buyers at home and to provide more details of plans to cut back on car production in North America. The letter from Republican Senator Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown demanding answers to questions by Dec. 21 is the latest effort by Congress and the White House to press GM into reversing its decision to halt production at four U.S. plants and cut thousands of jobs. The senators also asked if GM will produce additional EVs or shift to building EV SUVs and crossovers. The letter asks GM to disclose how many people at its suppliers in Ohio will lose their jobs if GM closes its Lordstown Assembly plant as well as how much it will cost to close the plant. GM plans to discontinue U.S. production of the Chevrolet Cruze, which is made in Lordstown. GM is unlikely to build a new vehicle at Lordstown once it halts Cruze production in March, company officials say, and GM executives have told Congress it would take two years or longer to develop and prepare the plant to assemble a new vehicle. Barra said last week she would keep an "open mind" about the plant's future. The final decision will be made during contract talks in 2019 with the United Auto Workers union, she added. On Friday, four members of the U.S. House wrote President Donald Trump inviting him to join them in visits to the closing plants and urging him to intervene "in every manner possible to seek both short and long term remedies for these workers." GM, which is holding a two-day board meeting this week, did not immediately comment on the letter. The company cut hundreds of contract product development jobs in Michigan last week as part of its plan to cut around 8,000 salaried positions in North America by early 2019. GM said in October 2017 it would launch at least 20 new all-electric vehicles by 2023, but has not said where they will be produced. GM builds the EV Chevrolet Bolt at a plant in Michigan, but plans to end production next year of its plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt in Detroit. GM builds the Buick Envision in China and exports it to the United States. The company asked the Trump administration in July to exempt the vehicle from a new 25 percent U.S. tariff. The White House favors ending the $7,500 EV tax credit. GM and Tesla Inc have been lobbying Congress to extend the credit to cover additional vehicles. .

Transport Engineer / December 7, 2018 Volvo Trucks is upgrading its D11 and D13 diesel engines for its FH, FM and FMX models, ahead of the introduction of the Euro VI Step D regulation. Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo Trucks, says the manufacturer has also used this opportunity to deliver new ways of reducing fuel consumption. “A combination of small improvements enables significant cost savings for our customers without compromising performance or productivity,” Nilsson says. Euro VI Step D focuses on ensuring that vehicles conform to the emissions standards in real-world operation – Volvo is achieving this with new engine software and improved coating in the exhaust after-treatment system. The upgraded D13 diesel engine (pictured) also uses a new VDS-5 low viscous oil type and new piston oil scraper rings to reduce fuel consumption and internal friction. Additionally, the 494bhp engine saves extra fuel by having the same higher compression ratio as the 454 and 415bhp versions. The upgraded engines are available to order from the end of this month. Volvo is also improving its I-See system with a new gear selection strategy and selective coasting, which enables a more efficient use of I-Roll, the freewheel function. “These updates will support our customers in staying on top of the new emission regulation while improving fuel efficiency for our Volvo FH, FM and FMX trucks,” says Nilsson. .

Defense Blog / December 10, 2018 The U.S. Army announced a plan to receive first autonomous vehicles for two transportation battalions by summer 2019, according to the article published in the January – March 2019 issue of Army AL&T magazine. A two U.S. Army’s transportation battalions will receive first autonomous leader-follower systems as part of advanced robotics programme. “The Ground Vehicle Systems Center’s work with the Robotic Operating System – Military (ROS-M) covers a spectrum of autonomy and robotics, including small explosive ordnance disposal-assist robots that have been fielded as part of the advanced leader-follower capabilities that Soldiers in two transportation battalions will see by summer 2019,” said the article . The ROS-M uses an open-source approach and a widely accepted software framework with common government and industry software to develop military robotics and autonomous systems. The open-source approach allows developers to create software modules for different applications and enables integrators to build modular systems using the best software modules available for military autonomous systems. Robotics helps Soldiers in two ways: It eliminates the need for Soldiers to conduct mundane, dangerous or repetitive tasks that can be automated, and it increases the standoff distance between Soldiers and a threat, which can greatly enhance safety. Additionally, automation can increase logistics on convoy missions. For example, a pair of Soldiers can operate a convoy that normally requires two Soldiers in each vehicle, freeing the additional Soldiers to conduct other missions, such as providing security for the convoy. Leader-Follower is still a limited form of autonomy — but those limits are more about Army tactics and culture than the technology itself. The U.S. Army is expected that autonomous systems and robots will take their place on the battlefields of the near future. They will be used in the more prosaic task of delivering ammunition and other supplies, freeing up more personnel to concentrate on warfighting tasks. The Army is ready for unmanned vehicles but not yet for a completely unmanned convoy, which is slated for a later phase of the Automated Ground Resupply program, albeit perhaps as early as 2022. .

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) / December 10, 2018 How do you make one of the most maneuverable trucks on the road even more nimble? Faster shifting, even better visibility and the best wheel cuts on the road — plus new seats and a revolutionary steering wheel. .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 10, 2018 Cummins has announced that the company’s lightest engine for Class 8 trucks, the Cummins X12, is now available for Freightliner’s 114SD chassis. Now available for order at Freightliner, the X12 engine weighs only 2,050 pounds and boasts up to 500 horsepower and 1,700 lbs.-ft. of torque. It has been optimized for the Freightliner 114SD chassis for vocational applications like concrete mixers and dump trucks. “Cummins is excited about the positive impact our X12 will have in weight-sensitive markets,” said Brett Merritt, vice president − Cummins on-highway engine business. “We believe that the Cummins X12 in Freightliner’s 114SD truck will be an exceptional option for vocational customers.” With its lighter weight, the Cummins X12 provides fleets with an option that can optimize productivity by reducing the unloaded weight of a vehicle while still providing suitable power for the job. Less weight can also mean more upfitting options, a benefit to both end customers and truck equipment manufacturer partners. The X12 also has a low-friction design for improved fuel economy and extended maintenance intervals similar to the Cummins X15 engine, as well as the company’s commitment to high mileage use and uptime. “By adding the Cummins X12 to our engine portfolio, we give the already versatile 114SD yet another option, showing our commitment to providing customers a choice,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components. .