kscarbel2

You're welcome. The BMT family aims to please.

Agreed. But with today's modern high-speed road networks, the viability of the concept has made significant leaps forward. At present, there are now several freight trains running between Europe and cities in China that naturally move cargo far faster than ships.

New Zealand Trucking / November 2018 The success of the first TIR [a globally applicable international customs transit and guarantee system] journey by road from China to Europe proves the system’s cost, time and security advantages. It is set to boost trade between China and Europe, unlocking a critical Belt and Road route and offering development opportunities across Eurasia. The first TIR truck transport from China to Europe started its 7000 km journey at the Khorgos border, entering Kazakhstan and travelling through Russia and Belarus to Poland in just 13 days – with a door-to-door cost and delivery time competitive with both air and rail. This TIR transport initiative is a joint effort between IRU, the global industry association for road transport, and global leading logistics companies, including CEVA Logistics, Shanghai Jet-rail International Transportation, and Alblas International Logistics as the operator. The truck left China on 13 November, arriving at its destination in Poland without any disruption or customs issues on November 26. IRU secretary general Umberto de Pretto says the milestone will be a game changer for cross border transport in China. “This first TIR journey by road from China to Europe is a win-win-win model for business, trade and governments. “It shows that the system is secure and also highly competitive in terms of cost and time relative to other modes of transport on similar routes. It will boost trade between China and Europe, which will help China and the countries along the Belt and Road route to reap the economic and development rewards of international road transport. It is also a wakeup call to European hauliers – who can seize the opportunity to benefit from round trip operations.” CEVA Logistics Greater China EVP Torben Bengtsson said they foresaw a great future for road transport from China to Europe. “The pilot proves that it could save up to 50% door-to-door cost compared with air, and at least 10 days delivery time compared with rail. The market is eager for the new product, we have a lot of customers waiting for the start of a regular service. During the coming weeks we will prepare to start regular operations as early as possible in 2019.” A key role was played by the Chinese branch office of Alblas in Ürümqi. Jan Alblas, CEO of Alblas (Netherlands), stated that the historical event took years of preparation. “We are the first transport company ever that conducted a TIR transport from China to Europe. Being the only European transport company in China with an international transport licence, we are able to execute the entire transport door-to-door with our own transport equipment and our own drivers. We are pleased with the results from the test and still see room for further optimisations in order to achieve the ideal transport time of 10 days from China to Europe.” In September 2018, Kazakhstan and China opened the new border crossing at Khorgos to boost transport and trade along the new Western China to Western Europe 8,445 km expressway – part of China’s Belt and Road project. The World Bank predicts the corridor will more than double road freight volumes between China and Europe. With this first TIR transport, operations along this corridor are now ready to deliver economic and social benefits to the whole region. .

Ford's Detroit campus plan wins state tax breaks Crain’s Detroit Business / November 28, 2018 [Michigan taxpayers to absorb $209 million for train station] DETROIT -- Michigan's economic development board on Tuesday approved a 30-year tax abatement for Ford Motor Co.'s planned campus in Detroit's historic Corktown neighborhood that is the tax-incentive linchpin for the automaker's revitalization of the long-vacant Michigan Central Station. The Michigan Strategic Fund's board signed off on Ford's application for a 30-year Renaissance Zone designation for the 18-story train station and its parking deck, the former Detroit schools book depository that is adjacent to the depot and the property of the former Lincoln Brass Works factory at 2051 Rosa Parks Blvd. The tax breaks amount to $208.8 million -- or $6.95 million annually -- in property taxes that Ford won't have to pay over a period of 30 years that will begin in five years, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The Corktown properties currently generate less than $200,000 annually in taxes, according to a MEDC briefing memo to MSF board members. The MSF board's approval of the Renaissance Zone designation is the final step toward Ford securing nearly $239 million in total tax breaks for the $740 million autonomous vehicle campus the automaker plans to establish in Corktown by 2022. Ford appears to have more time, though, to bring 5,000 jobs to Detroit in exchange for the tax breaks. The strategic fund's briefing document says Ford has pledged to bring 2,500 "direct jobs" to Corktown by Dec. 31, 2022 and another 2,500 employees of suppliers and "partners" by Dec. 31, 2028. Ford "anticipates the bulk of the supplier jobs to be created or brought in by 2022," said Stacey Bowerman, vice president of business development projects for the MEDC. Detroit City Council has approved tax breaks under the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, a Commercial Rehabilitation District -- abatements valued at $27 million over 12 years, according to the MEDC memo. Those tax breaks will effectively freeze the taxable value of the Corktown properties at current levels after the renovations and improvements are made. City Council also approved an application for a Renaissance Zone, which exempts Ford from paying real and personal property taxes as well as Detroit's city taxes on corporate income and utility users. Ford Land Development Co., the automaker's real-estate development arm, plans to tear down the 289,000 former brass factory on Rosa Parks Boulevard and build a new 500,000-square-foot to 600,000-square-foot office and research building. Ford, which announced its purchase of Michigan Central Station in June, had pushed for quick approval of the tax breaks this fall from state and city officials in order to begin work constructing a temporary safety enclosure to dry out the weather-damaged train depot, which sat exposed to the elements for years. Major rehabilitation and construction work at the train station is expected to begin in early 2019, according to the MEDC memo. The brass factory property is adjacent to The Factory building at Rosa Parks and Michigan, where 250 Ford employees in the company's electric and autonomous vehicle divisions began working in late May. Rehabilitation of the 273,000-square-foot former DPS book depository at 2231 Dalzelle St. is set to begin in early 2019. The onetime post office built in 1936 has sat vacant since a fire ravaged the building in 1987. .

Sounds like you have a good understanding of the situation. The all-encompassing goal is for you to be able to make money. The human nature aspect is choosing a brand you can like, and a model that has an aesthetic appearance that pleases you. You want to feel good about your purchase, when you look at the truck, and at the end of the month when you pay your bills. In your application, the Allison is a wise investment.

Exactly, the "cost" of your engine choice is a factor. Pay up for what you need, but don't shoot past that point and pay extra for an excessively large engine you don't need, which is heavier (a detractor to possible payload) and thirstier (more money unnecessarily leaving your pocket). I don't like the Volvo D13 (rebadged as Mack brand MP8). Most of all, I don't like the cheap Delphi fuel injection system, including the fact that it's a jury rig.....a common rail on their old unit pump injection architecture engine block. The Bosch and Cummins-Scania XPI high pressure common rail fuel injection systems are the best in the business. Volvo's Delphi system is soooo bad.....they went with the low bidder. The DD13 is a great engine, but that would mean buying a Western Star. That's more engine than you need, and I think the Kenworth, all factors considered, is a wiser investment with greater resale value (The Australian market Western Star product is top notch, but the US market sells a cheapened product). If you like the aesthetics of the Peterbilt, you can get the same ISX12/Allision combination in their vocational models. And after touring their Denton, Texas plant, you'd be a Peterbilt loyalist.

I ideal balance of power, torque, fuel economy and weight. Twelve liters is all 95 percent of the market needs, and particularly in a dump (tipper) application. Trucks are not cars......they were never intended to accelerate as quick as one. But matched with the Allison, the X12 will deliver impressive acceleration (for a truck) and fuel economy, with solid reliability and dependability. Over the last five years, Kenworth has taken huge market share in the vocational segment with these trucks. Many satisfied customers can tell you why.

GMC is indeed making a killing with each Denali-spec'd light truck. And that's great for the division. However, I personally feel that GMC is also GM's commercial truck brand. Not to mention how narrow GMC's portfolio is, and how overextended Chevrolet's is.....at least when they used to build cars.

Reuters / November 27, 2018 White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday indicated President Donald Trump may announce specific ramifications for General Motors's plans to cut thousands of jobs and potentially close some of its North America plants. "I'm going to leave that to him," Kudlow said when asked if Trump has consequences in mind for the major auto maker. "You may find additional announcements coming on that topic." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland,” said Trump. “Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get!” .

The Kenworth with an ISX12 and Allison transmission is popular for very good reasons.

Great points.

It's been reported that GM is in crisis mode over their new 2019 pickup. With the new 2019 Dodge (Ram) pickup now having the best interior in the segment, Chevrolet has been pushed to third place. Those who answer to Mary Barra about that are sweating. Ford has the highest sales. However, once the new heavy duty Dodge range enters the picture for 2020, I think we'll all be able to say that Dodge has the best line-up. It will be interesting to see if Dodge's heavy duty range gets a tilt hood, or hear that they changed their 2020 product late in the design process, adding a tilt hood after the Silverado/CV debut.

The International Harvester W Series conventional (bonneted) cab. .

W Series "Westcoaster" with EW cab (1946-1949). http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/t_brad_dunkin/2008/04-24/file0008.jpg .

GM Takes Painful Measures to Avoid Another Near-Death Experience David Welch & John Lippert, Bloomberg / November 27, 2018 What’s good for America hasn’t been so good for General Motors. With gasoline prices falling and new electric cars beckoning, consumers are abandoning the conventional sedans that have defined the U.S. auto industry since the days of Henry Ford. Scarred by a financial crisis a decade ago, GM is moving unusually fast this time to reckon with the new reality, and Wall Street is applauding the move. News Monday that GM would cut more than 14,000 jobs and, like Ford, pull back from conventional sedans thrilled investors, sending the shares up 4.8 percent and lifting other automaker stocks. The largest U.S. automaker is cutting seven plants and eliminating unpopular sedan models during a time when auto sales remain brisk, a sign that Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra is making changes now before an economic downturn forces her hand. “In the past, GM management didn’t react as quickly -- they went through a sort of slow-speed crash that culminated in 2009 bankruptcy, and that’s a lesson that was hard-learned,” said Maryann Keller, an independent auto analyst in Stamford , Connecticut , who’s written several books about the company. “This is a cyclical, highly competitive, slow-growing business. You can’t continue producing unprofitable vehicles, especially when you’re making crazy investments in mobility service business with no potential for profit in the foreseeable future.” Barra, a GM lifer, is dealing with two challenges. The first is of the present: American consumers are snubbing sedans like never before. The second concerns the future: Doubts abound that GM and other century-old industrial giants will be able to cope with the rise of electric cars and self-driving technology, especially with the likes of Tesla and tech giants such as Google’s Waymo perceived to be on the forefront. GM’s broad restructuring, just weeks removed from reporting surprisingly strong profit, is a move reminiscent of what Ford did in 2006, two years before a worldwide credit crunch sent GM and Chrysler into Chapter 11. While the U.S. auto market is past its peak reached in 2016, automakers are still on track to sell more than 17 million vehicles for a fourth consecutive year. The longest such run in the past was a two-year stretch that ended in 2001. In the six years that followed, sales stayed steady above 16 million, and Ford restructured toward the end of that stretch. SUV Shift This time around, wrenching change in buyer behavior could cost GM car plants in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario their future. Sedans have gone from more than half of U.S. sales as recently as 2012 to just about 30 percent of the market this year. Sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks are more dominant than ever in showrooms, spurring GM to join Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV to kill off many of the passenger cars in its lineup. On top of this, Barra is plowing money into GM Cruise LLC -- the unit developing the automaker’s self-driving technology -- and is developing 20 fully electric cars to sell globally starting in 2023. Both of those pursuits are going to require tens of billions of dollars in spending over the next decade to keep up with rivals including Volkswagen AG. “This industry is changing very rapidly,” Barra told reporters Monday in Detroit. “We want to make sure we’re well-positioned. We think it’s appropriate to do it while company is strong and the economy is strong.” Political Blowback Barra, 56, is convinced enough of the need for GM to slim down that she was willing to risk immediate political backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump told reporters he spoke to Barra and reminded her “this country has done a lot for General Motors.” He said there’s a “lot of pressure on them” and that he’s pushing for GM to bring new products to Ohio, whose Lordstown plant is one of five scheduled to close in North America. During the financial crisis a decade ago, the U.S. Treasury Department kept GM alive by investing $49.5 billion in both equity and debt, giving the automaker the only financing available to get through bankruptcy. After GM went public and paid off the debt portion of the investment, taxpayers lost more than $10 billion in total. GM emerged from bankruptcy in 2009. Four factories in the U.S. and one in Canada could be shuttered by the end of 2019 if the automaker and its unions don’t come up with an agreement to allocate more work to those facilities. Another two will close outside North America. The Detroit-based company’s shares surged on the plan. “GM has to make sure that the crisis doesn’t happen again,” said Ron Harbour, senior partner with consulting firm Oliver Wyman. “They want to make sure they are out front.” Job, Sedan Cuts The plan to lop 15 percent of salaried workers follows a round of buyouts that GM offered to longer-tenured workforce at the end of October. GM said the cuts will boost automotive free cash flow by $6 billion by the end of 2020. The company flagged one-time charges of up to $3.8 billion for the fourth quarter of this year and first quarter of 2019. GM plans to jettison the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 sedans next year. The Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid will also be dropped along with the Chevy Cruze compact, which will be made in Mexico for other markets. Too many of GM’s factories are operating on a single shift to build models that have fallen out of favor, leading its plants to run about 1 million vehicles short of their full capacity, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor and economics for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Most of the one-shift plants are sedan plants,” Dziczek said. “That’s a real mismatch in a market where 40 percent of the vehicles sold are crossover utilities.”

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Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / November 19, 2018 Volvo Group has recently issued three recalls affecting more than 3,000 trucks for issues with snow plow lamp preparation kits in certain vocational trucks, as well as a potential steering issue, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents. The largest of the three recalls affects approximately 2,194 model year 2004-2019 Volvo VHD vocational trucks equipped with snow plow lamp preparation kits. Mack issued the same recall on approximately 946 model year 2019 Granite trucks. In these trucks, the snow plow headlights can be turned on without other exterior lights, and the high beam indicator won’t work when the snow plow high beams are on. In these cases, the driver could operate the vehicle with the snow plow headlights on but the marker and tail lamps off, which is a violation of federal vehicle safety regulations. Volvo and Mack will notify affected truck owners, and dealers will update the software related to the plow lights for free. Owners can contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX1804. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-766. Affected Mack owners can contact Mack customer service at 1-800-866-1177 with recall number SC0414. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-765. Mack has also issued a recall on approximately 169 model year 2019 Anthem, Granite and Pinnacle model trucks in which the pinch bolt on the upper steering shaft may not be properly tightened. This could result in the steering shaft to separate and cause a loss of steering. Mack will notify affected owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles for any loose pinch bolts, correcting if necessary. Owners can contact Mack customer service at 1-800-866-1177 with recall number SC0413. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-778.

I like Hino, but that is a clumsy looking truck. The cab and hood don't match.....they're not proportional. Looks like a 48-hour project. Horrible execution.

Hino Shows Off XL Series Towing & Recovery Trucks Heavy Duty Truckiing (HDT) / November 26, 2018 Hino Trucks expanded its product lineup this past Spring with the introduction of the all-new Class 7 and Class 8 XL Series. Recently featured at the 2018 American Towman show in Baltimore, the trucks featured a fully equipped Miller Industries Century 3212 G2 medium-duty wrecker and an LCG16 Series carrier. The Hino XL7 and XL8 models are powered by Hino’s A09 turbo diesel 8.9L inline 6-cylinder engine boasting a B10 life of 1,000,000 miles. Production of the new Hino XL7 and XL8 trucks will start in early 2019 and will be assembled in Mineral Wells, W. Va., at Hino’s new one million square foot state-of-the-art production facility. Hino XL Series has been coupled with the Century 3212 G2 designed with the capability of towing a wide range of vehicles, incuding passenger cars, vans, city tractors, and motor homes. With multi-positional rear jacks, dual 15,000-pound planetary winches and a 16-ton recovery boom, the Century 3212 G2 was designed to handle a wide variety of recovery jobs. Also on display at the AT Show is the Hino XL Series with a Miller Industries 16-Series LCG (Low Center of Gravity) carrier. The patented design lowers the deck height 5 to 6 inches over conventional carriers. The lower height allows for the transport of taller loads such as forklifts or man-lifts that maybe over-height on a conventional carrier as well as providing better stability during transport. The Hino XL Series will be offered in a host of straight truck and tractor configurations ranging from a GVWR of 33,000 to 60,000 pounds and GCWR up to 66,000 pounds with max performance of 360 horsepower and 1,150 lb.-ft. torque. .

Grocery Giant Plans to Buy 10 Tesla Electric Tractors Heavy Duty Truckiing (HDT) / November 26, 2018 Food and drug retailer Albertsons has announced plans to purchase 10 Tesla all-electric Semi tractors for its Southern California stores. The electric trucks will be added to its fleets under the Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions names. Albertsons said the Semi models will be able to travel 300 to 500 miles on a single charge fully loaded, and use less than 2 kilowatt hours of energy per mile. This suggests that the company may be buying both the base model Semi. which Tesla said\ will have a range of 300 miles, and the more expensive extended range model with a 500-mile range. The base model lists for $150,000 and the extended range model for $180,000. “Advancing supply chain efficiency and sustainability is an important goal for our company,” said Tom Nartker, vice president of transportation at Albertsons. “We’re excited to pilot this expansion of our transportation program with trucks that help us limit our overall carbon footprint.” The Tesla Semi purchase is part of Albertsons’ commitment to running a safe, sustainable fleet at its 2,300 stores across the country. The company is a partner and supporter of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program and its fleet of more than 1,400 trucks is SmartWay certified. The company also said that 92% of its trucks operated by third-party carriers are SmartWay certified.

Trump tells GM to put 'something else' in Ohio Reuters, Bloomberg & Automotive News / November 26, 2018 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Monday that General Motors should stop making cars in China and make them in the United States instead. GM said on Monday it would cut thousands from its North American workforce, slash production and eliminate some slow-selling car models. Trump told reporters he was not happy with GM's decision to idle the Chevy Cruze assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, and that GM had "better put something else" in Ohio. “You better get back in there soon -- that’s Ohio,” Trump told reporters Monday, recounting what he said to GM CEO Mary Barra following the job cuts announcement earlier Monday. The automaker said it planned to lay off 14,000 workers and close seven factories. “I was very tough. I spoke with her,” Trump said as he departed the White House for campaign rallies in Mississippi. “We have a lot of pressure on them.” Ohio is a crucial swing state politically and played a key role in Trump's 2016 victory. He will need to keep his support strong in Ohio for the 2020 election. Barra reportedly told Trump the decision to halt sales of the Chevrolet Cruze had "nothing to do with tariffs" but was because of poor sales. "Get a car that is selling well and put it back in," Trump said. Barra also was expected to meet with Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow at the White House on Monday, according to CNBC.

GM plans to discontinue the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac XTS and CT6 (continued in China), and Buick LaCrosse. Surprisingly, GM will also discontinue the widely acclaimed Chevrolet Volt hybrid, and impressive Cruze compact sedan, rather than evolve these two models forward.

'It makes no sense' to shutter GM Oshawa, Unifor says Automotive News / November 26, 2018 Unifor’s auto director says “it makes no sense” for General Motors to close its Oshawa Assembly Plant, northeast of Toronto. The automaker has informed the union, which represents about 2,500 workers the plant, that there will be no product allocation to Oshawa plant after 2019. “We will work to determine what this really means,” Unifor’s Dino Chiodo told Automotive News Canada. The plant currently builds the 2019 outgoing models of the light- and heavy-duty GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado on a consolidated line while building the Cadillac XTS and Chevy Impala on a flex line. The union will have the opportunity to sit down with GM executives Monday and possibly Tuesday, too, Chiodo said. GM is scheduled to make a significant announcement today regarding its global operations. It is expected to include the future of the Oshawa plant. The Globe and Mail late Sunday reported that GM has told top government officials in Ontario and Canada that the plant will be closed. Chiodo believes the plant deserves to stay open because of its production performance over the years. “The Oshawa plant is the most efficient, has had one of the best vehicle launches, has set benchmarks and standards on how to do it the right way,” Chiodo said. “It’s fully flexible, one of the few that can build both cars and trucks. It makes no sense to me that they would shut it down.”