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Ford to build additional 350 GT supercars, extends output by 2 years Michael Martinez, Automotive News / October 18, 2018 Ford Motor Co. is extending production of the GT supercar by two years and will build 350 more vehicles than it originally planned. Ford previously planned to build 1,000 GTs through the 2020 model year. It now says it will build 1,350 vehicles through 2022. "The response to our Ford GT has been unprecedented, with initial demand outstripping supply by more than six-to-one," Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Performance director, said in a statement Thursday. "By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we're able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers." Ford said it will reopen order banks for the GT on Nov. 8. Owners for the first two model years have been selected, and production of 2019 vehicles has been designated for applicants who were on the waitlist for the first two batches of supercars. The automaker received more than 6,500 applicants when it first opened order banks. The vehicles are built by Canadian supplier Multimatic Inc. in Markham, Ontario. The supplier ran into trouble early on, hitting just 55 percent of its product target for the 2017 model year.

With that bulbous grille, it looks like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. And suddenly the GM-Isuzu 6.6L Duramax is an International brand engine? To differentiate the NAV version from the GM unit, and take advantage of the VW relationship, I might have offered the 4.6L 4-cylinder MAN 0834 (150-220hp) or 4-cylinder Cummins ISB4.5 (150-210hp) as standard, with the 6.9L 6-cylinder MAN 0836 (250-350hp) as an option.

U.S. environmental agency says in talks with Volvo over emissions issue Reuters / October 17, 2018 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday it has been in [secret] talks with Volvo over the last few weeks about an issue with catalytic converters causing some of its vehicles to exceed nitrogen oxide emission limits. Volvo warned a day earlier that some of its truck and bus engines could be exceeding limits for nitrogen oxide emissions due to an emissions control component it uses degrading more quickly than expected. The Swedish truckmaker said it could face material costs to deal with the issue largely affecting trucks and buses sold in North America and Europe, its two largest markets, and that it was working with authorities to find a solution. The EPA, in an emailed statement, told Reuters on Wednesday that the agency was aware of the situation, which it said involved Volvo heavy duty trucks. "Over the last few weeks, EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have been communicating with Volvo about the problem and are now continuing to meet with the company to develop plans to quickly address this situation," the EPA statement said. A U.S. government official briefed on the matter said on Wednesday that regulators do not believe excess emissions are the result of a "defeat device" or intentional misconduct as in the case of Volkswagen AG's excess diesel emissions, but rather is believed to be the result of a faulty component and a recall is expected. Asked why Volvo had waited a couple of weeks before informing the market, a Volvo spokesman said the company needed to determine whether this would be a large issue and it was standard protocol to inform authorities first. "Authorities and legal bodies are normally informed prior to the markets because we inform them even if the problem is very, very small," he said. Volvo did not say when the affected trucks were sold or how many are impacted. It said that all products equipped with the component met emissions limits at delivery. The company sold 51,693 trucks in North America last year and another 115,863 in Europe. EPA and CARB refused to comment about how many trucks were involved, while a spokesman for Volvo said it was too early to know. "We... are working with the company to more fully understand what's going on," a spokesman for CARB said in a brief separate comment, without giving more details.

Thor Trucks, AxleTech announce e-powertrain partnership Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / April 16, 2018 Specialty powertrain manufacturer AxleTech and California-based electric truck upstart Thor Trucks announced Tuesday a partnership to develop a heavy-duty e-powertrain system. The two companies will integrate AxleTech’s e-axle technology with Thor’s proprietary battery technology to create a fully electric commercial vehicle powertrain. “Due to the acute market need for these solutions, we are proud to work alongside Thor Trucks to build the most advanced integrated powertrain components for driveline electrification,” says AxleTech CEO Bill Gryzenia, CEO. Giordano Sordoni, co-founder and COO of Thor Trucks, called the partnership “a significant stride forward in our pursuit to transform the commercial transportation industry.” In July 2018, Thor Trucks announced it would partner with UPS to build and test two fully-electric delivery trucks in the greater Los Angeles area.

Volvo doesn’t know how many North American trucks are affected Transport Topics / October 16, 2018 Volvo Group said it could not yet determine the impact of a faulty component on its North American trucks as it was still evaluating the scope of the problem. “We cannot provide [the number of affected vehicles in North America] because any number is potentially misleading,” Volvo spokesman Claes Eliasson said in an e-mail. “It’s not clear at this point what percentage of the population might experience the issue, and over what time period.”

You do recall that the Ford D3 and D4 platforms were derived from the Volvo P2 platform while under Ford ownership. Ford was like a dry sponge around the Volvo tech it purchased.

It would have been more beneficial if Ford had kept Volvo car.

Volvo's supplier is Eberspacher, who is an extremely reputable supplier. However, I can imagine that they dictated a Volvo-design based on low price. Of course Mack brand trucks have the same Volvo Group components. Scania purchases their after-treatment system from Forest Lake, Illinois-based Tenneco and has no issues.

Volvo warns its engines may exceed emission limits Reuters / October 16, 2018 Sweden’s Volvo said on Tuesday an emissions control component used in its vehicles was degrading more quickly than expected, which could cause engines to exceed emission limits for nitrogen oxides, sending its stock down sharply. The problem is the catalyst converter, Volvo investor relations director Anders Christensson said, refusing to name the supplier or say whether Volvo would terminate the relationship. "In certain applications when the engine is not running hot enough you get condensation water in there and that causes this problem. You get a warning signal in the dashboard saying you're running above nitrogen oxide levels," he explained. Volvo Group, which makes trucks, construction equipment and buses, said the largest volume of potentially affected engines had been sold in North America and Europe, its two largest markets, and that costs to fix the problem “could be material”. The issue could become an added headache for Volvo, which has been working hard to protect profitability after a surge in demand in Europe and North America caused supply chain bottlenecks, inflating costs for raw materials and labour. Volvo’s shares were down 6 percent at 133.60 Swedish crowns at 0722 GMT, making it easily the biggest faller on Stockholm’s blue chip index. Volvo, which sold 143,373 trucks in Europe and North America last year, said it was in the process of informing authorities. A spokesman said Volvo had spoken to authorities in North America and Europe, where emission regulations are strictest, but there were no plans yet to recall any vehicles.

Daimler recalls nearly 20,000 Freightliner, Western Star trucks over steering shaft issue Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / October 15, 2018 Two separate recalls by Daimler Trucks North America include nearly 20,000 trucks, most of which are severe service, while a recall by Navistar involves around 600 severe service International trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The largest of the two Daimler recalls is for improperly installed steering shaft assemblies in approximately 19,754 trucks. Affected trucks include model year 2018-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 2018-2019 Freightliner 114SD and 2018-2019 Freightliner Business Class M2. Daimler says an improperly installed steering shaft assembly can cause a loss of connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. Daimler will notify affected truck owners and repair the assembly if necessary. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-791. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-646. .

Jack Roberts, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 15, 2018 The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has issued a recall alert for nearly 20,000 2018-2019 model year Freightliner 108SD, 114SD and Business Class M2 vocational trucks. According to NHTSA, the trucks may have an incorrectly installed steering shaft assembly. The issue can cause a loss of connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels, which can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Daimler Trucks North America will notify owners and dealers of this recall notice. Dealers will inspect and repair the steering shaft as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin Nov. 16. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. The DTNA record number for this recall is FL-791.

Navistar: Securities Repayment Heightens Truck Maker’s Financial Profile Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 15, 2018 Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) has repaid in full the 4.5% senior subordinated convertible notes that it issued in October 2013. The manufacturer of International-brand trucks and engines stated that the repayment of the outstanding principal of $200 million at maturity on Oct.15, 2018 was funded with cash on hand. A convertible note is a form of short-term debt that converts into equity, typically in conjunction with a future financing round, according to one definition. "This repayment is another important step for Navistar, as it reflects our stronger liquidity position, building on the company's return to profitability in 2017 and its expected generation of positive free cash flow in 2018," said Walter Borst, Navistar CFO. "Our improved financial profile provides Navistar with additional flexibility as we work to improve our balance sheet and credit ratings." Three weeks ago, at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany, Navistar CEO Troy Clarke noted the benefits of the company’s two-year-old “strategic alliance” with Germany-based Traton Group, formerly known as Volkswagen Truck and Bus. Traton purchased a 17% equity stake in Navistar in 2016 and agreed to share technological developments and pursue global sourcing opportunities as partners. Navistar has already made a deal to use a new powertrain developed by Traton in future trucks, starting in 2021. The partnership agreement has been credited with helping Navistar turn around its financial outlook in recent years, with both companies expecting to save hundreds of millions of dollars in the next five years.

PR Newswire / October 15, 2018 Navistar International Corporation announced that the truckmaker has repaid in full its 4.5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes issued in October 2013. The repayment of the outstanding principal of $200 million at maturity on October 15, 2018, was funded with cash on hand. "This repayment is another important step for Navistar, as it reflects our stronger liquidity position, building on the Company's return to profitability in 2017 and its expected generation of positive free cash flow in 2018," said Walter Borst, chief financial officer. "Our improved financial profile provides Navistar with additional flexibility as we work to improve our balance sheet and credit ratings."

Bill Ford cancels visit to Saudi investor conference Reuters / October 14, 2018 Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford canceled a multi-stop trip to the Middle East, including a planned appearance at a Saudi investment conference this month, the company said on Sunday, the latest such cancellation after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, The company did not elaborate on the reasons for Ford’s decision not to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, and did not comment on whether concerns about the disappearance of Khashoggi were a factor.

The tension rises at Ford Michael Martinez, Automotive News / October 15, 2018 Dealers wonder: Where's the company headed? DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. says it has a plan under CEO Jim Hackett to improve the automaker's profitability and competitiveness. But Ford has had a tough time getting others to understand and gain confidence in the early stages of Hackett's companywide restructuring. Investors pushed shares of the company below $9 last week to their lowest closing price since 2009, when most of the company's assets were in hock and the industry was only starting to recover from the recession. Dealers hope to finally hear more concrete details at a meeting this week that will be Hackett's first time addressing the company's broad retail network in person. "There's been a lot less exposure to senior management," said Jack Madden, owner of Jack Madden Ford in Norwood, Mass. "There's just not enough information flowing down to dealers about where the company's headed." Meanwhile, more turmoil is creeping into the company's ranks after Hackett told Ford's 70,000 salaried workers around the world that the $11 billion restructuring will include job cuts, while giving no specifics on numbers and only a vague idea of how or when. Ford is calling changes to its employment structure an "organizational redesign" and says it could take months to complete. Hackett is no stranger to layoffs — he axed thousands of employees at his former company, Steelcase, including the best man from his wedding — but stretching out the process, instead of announcing the cuts all at once, threatens to sink morale and create an uneasy, disillusioned work force, experts say. "The approach they've taken can create a lot of anxiety and stress for their employees, particularly heading into the holiday season," Chris Zatzick, an associate professor of management and organization studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, told Automotive News. "To have that uncertainty and not know what's going to happen in the new year can be quite impactful and can potentially lead to employees looking for other jobs or withholding effort." Ford argues the approach gives managers throughout the company more power to shape their departments, flatten command chains and cut out bureaucracy. They wanted to get ahead of potential rumors that would arise when workers would see their team leaders pulled into meetings — which they call "design sessions" — with higher-ups. "It's really about redesigning the business," Ford spokeswoman Karen Hampton told Automotive News this month. "An outcome of that is that there's likely to be reductions. The real purpose is to change the way we work." Paring back its salaried ranks is the latest shake-up under Hackett, who replaced Mark Fields in May 2017. Hackett seeks to drastically change the way the 115-year-old automaker is run, developing new vehicle architectures, redesigning its product lineups and shortening its order-to-delivery process. Its North American product team, for example, has taken over the 11th floor of Ford headquarters for weekly, daylong meetings examining the profitability of each nameplate one by one. And last week, Ford announced a seismic shift to its advertising strategy, saying that BBDO would replace WPP as its lead creative agency. WPP, which has worked with the automaker since Henry Ford was president 75 years ago, will retain some work as part of a new multiagency model. None of the moves have impressed Wall Street. Investors have raised concern over Ford's financial outlook since the automaker in July cut its full-year profit forecast and canceled an annual investor day because it didn't have enough details to share. Looking for direction Ford communicated the impending cuts to salaried employees through a video message that was met with confusion by some who struggled to understand its meaning. Ford insists the message was not about job cuts and said employees have appreciated the way it is handling the news. "In Ford's history, we have streamlined organizations but we rarely removed work, causing each team member to have to do more with less," Hackett said in the video, according to a transcript Ford provided. He told employees the upcoming changes would be made using "a cascading process that will involve many of you" and that they will work to eliminate "low-value" tasks. "While redesigning the organization is important and it's necessary work, it's not going to be easy," he said. "But it is fundamental to us becoming the business we need to be." Denise Giraudo, a partner in law firm Sheppard Mullin's labor and employment practice group, said more employers are starting to communicate impending job cuts earlier in the process. "We tend to tell our clients more notice is better," Giraudo said. "It does put the employees in limbo, but it also allows them to prepare for a possible layoff, look for different positions and prepare themselves monetarily." The announcement is a departure from how Ford and Hackett have handled similar actions. While CEO of Steelcase, Hackett eliminated around 12,000 jobs as the company transformed from a traditional furniture maker to embracing new open-office designs. He was known for personally meeting with affected employees and helping them get back on their feet. During Fields' last week as CEO in 2017, Ford said it would ax 1,400 salaried employees in North America and Asia through voluntary early retirement and special separation packages. It provided details into what departments would receive the buyouts and said decisions would be made within four months. Although the latest changes are likely necessary, the manner in which Ford notified employees could damage morale, according to Carol Olsby, a human-resources consultant and author. "In an absence of any information, it's stressful," she said, noting the news could have a significant ripple effect on Ford's supply chain and the communities where its workers live. "People are going to be looking for more direction from the company." ‘The right medicine' Ford's dealer network also is eager for more direction from Hackett. He and his team will answer their questions this week at Ford's national dealer meeting in Las Vegas. The company expects 4,000 to 5,000 dealers and dealership employees to attend. Over 28 hours, they'll hear from executives; see new products, including the next-generation Escape and Explorer; preview accessories for upcoming off-road utilities; and get to drive or ride in vehicles such as the upcoming Ranger midsize pickup and the GT supercar at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Retailers will hear about Ford's sales strategy for its newest products. And they'll get the first glimpse of an advertising campaign debuting in the fourth quarter that's expected to use the slogan "Ford Proud." "It's the right medicine at the right time," Rhett Ricart, CEO of Ricart Automotive Group in Groveport, Ohio, and a Ford dealer council member, said. "I think it will be a huge jolt for dealers' attitudes." .

GAZ Press Release / September 19, 2018 .

GM's 2.7-liter turbo engine is in the wrong truck Richard Truett, Automotive News / October 10, 2018 We all knew General Motors was taking a big chance slotting a four-cylinder engine in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. There would have to be a very compelling reason for truck buyers to give up either two or four cylinders and step down from a V-6 or a V-8. But now that we know the fuel economy ratings for the Silverado's new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine are 20 mpg city, 23 highway and 21 combined, it is hard to see what marketing types call the "why buy." When Ford introduced the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 in the F-150 in 2011, the compelling reason was tire-smoking performance combined with the ability to haul an enormous load. And if the driver kept his foot from pressing too hard on the accelerator -- which limited the use of the turbochargers -- good fuel economy could also be had. Despite endless chest-beating from Ford's hyperactive public relations department at the time, drivers weren't going to get Eco and Boost at the same time, but they could get both if they learned how to drive the truck properly. No other truck offered that kind of flexibility. Ford successfully convinced legions of buyers to pay a premium for a smaller engine, but I am telling you flat out right here and now that GM will fail to do the same with the new 2.7-liter, which costs more -- a lot more -- than the 4.3-liter V-6 that remains available in the 2019 model. Here are the numbers: The basic 2019 Silverado Work Truck starts at $29,795 and comes equipped with the ancient but trusty 4.3-liter V-6. The four-cylinder engine is standard in the 2019 Silverado LT, which starts at $38,395 -- $8,600 more than the Work Truck. (Neither price includes shipping.) Now, not all of that price difference is related to the engine. The equipment levels vary in the two trims. The 2.7-liter has a new eight-speed automatic transmission, while the 4.3-liter V-6 soldiers on with an old six-speed automatic gearbox. The fuel economy on the 2019 4.3-liter version of the Silverado has not been EPA rated, but the 2018 Silverado with the same powertrain -- and lot more curb weight -- got better highway fuel economy than the lighter 2019 model with the 2.7-liter. The 2018 V-6 Silverado delivered 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 combined. It only stands to reason that the 4.3-liter powertrain in the 2019 Silverado will get better fuel economy than last year's truck since the new model sheds up to 450 pounds. Now here's the clincher: A small engine in a large vehicle can be -- and often is -- just as thirsty as a larger engine in the same vehicle if it has to work hard all the time. The advantage here usually goes to the larger engine. And there is precedent for this. Ford learned a painful lesson in what is called "powertrain matching" early in the EcoBoost rollout, when late in 2011, it offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Explorer crossover. It was a dog that didn't sell because the 240-hp, 2.0-liter engine had to work so hard to move the 4,500-pound light truck that it neither provided good performance nor good fuel economy. Ford engineers learned they had to do a better job matching an engine's torque and horsepower output to the vehicle's weight, aerodynamics and duty cycle. The Explorer's 2.0-liter engine was replaced by a 2.3-liter at the end of 2015 rated at 280 hp. Highway fuel economy remained the same, at 27 mpg, with the bigger engine. Automakers don't release fuel economy results for vehicles as they are towing heavy loads. Indeed, there is no EPA test for that. But I can see the fuel economy figures for the Silverado's 2.7-liter engine careening down Davis Dam like a semitruck with overheated brakes when a customer hooks the Silverado up with a heavy trailer. GM says the 2.7-liter turbo, four-cylinder engine develops more torque and horsepower than the 4.3-liter V-6, which is true. But that makes me wonder why GM just didn't offer a new, lighter, more modern V-6 to replace the 4.3. The company's 3.6-liter V-6 would have been an excellent choice for the Silverado. All this is not to say GM won't have a strong chance to outright own the fuel economy crown for full-size trucks. Next summer, the Silverado will get a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel engine that is widely expected to deliver over 30 mpg on the highway. So here's the bottom line: The new 2.7-liter engine, loaded with all sorts of technology to boost fuel efficiency and performance, is in the wrong truck. The midsize Chevrolet Colorado is where the 2.7-liter engine will shine, delivering fuel economy and performance along with the ability to haul heavy loads. I'll give the four-cylinder exactly one year in the Silverado before it fades into the Colorado and becomes a big success.

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The Loadstar was a backbone in America's commercial trucking history.

I would take pleasure in having my company represented on the roads of America with a fleet of Argosies.

Great truck....in my opinion. Always a pleasure to drive one.

All New Acco Unveiled Diesel News Australia / October 2018 A presentation by Iveco to customers, dealers and media this week has seen the all new Acco unveiled in Melbourne Exhibition Centre. This is not a revamp of the current truck, but a ground-up redesign of the whole vehicle. The Acco is a model which has been through many iterations and variants in the past. Originally designed in 1952 by International Harvester as an army truck, it saw its last major redesign way back in 1972. Since then it has been modernised and updated at regular intervals. It has kept up with the introduction of modern technology, but with the advent of a Euro 6 engine and with a higher level of safety systems needing to be fitted, the time for a rethink was required. It is quite a rethink with virtually every component being new to the Acco. One of the fundamental elements behind the design has been to ensure the new Acco can match or surpass its predecessor in many of its specifications, dimensions and performance. The garbage industry has almost standardised on the Acco over the years, so the side-loader and compactor makers need to work from a matching platform. The new Acco does now include many more components from the global Iveco catalogue, but will still be manufactured in the Iveco plant at Dandenong, in Melbourne’s East. Currently the body panels of the truck are pressed in the plant before assembly, in the future, the body panels will be imported from the Iveco cab plant in Europe, before assembly here. There’s a change in the engine as well. The Acco will no longer rely on the Cummins it has traditionally used and is transferring over to an Iveco Cursor 9 SCR Euro 6 engine with between 310 and 360hp available and 1300 and 1650 Nm of torque. Emissions control is handled using Iveco’s Hi-eSCR system. The Allison Generation Five 3200 Series will continue as the Acco’s 6-speed fully automatic transmission. By moving to a state of the art platform, the Acco will now be able to fit, as standard, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Braking System (EBS), Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), axle load indicators, electronic battery cut-out, L.E.D daytime running lamps and rear L.E.D lights. The model unveiled this week is one of a handful of evaluation trucks Iveco are building to fine tune the new Acco’s design. These will be fitted out by a selection of garbage body builders, who can fit their equipment to the truck and give feedback on the tweaks needed in the design to retain continuity for truck maker, body builders and end customers alike. One of the important factors which has led to the Acco’s pre-eminence in the garbage game has been its manoeuvrability in the tight confines of the suburban streets where it spends most of its working life. Chassis dimensions are the same as on the current Acco and wheel cut has been improved, now up to 52 degrees. By adapting the Iveco X-Way cabin, the Acco now has a thoroughly modern European style cab with its improved visibility, comfort and easy of entry and exit. The electronic architecture will enable the Acco to be fitted with all the latest electronic equipment as it comes along in the future. The Acco is an institution in the Australian trucking industry, an icon of Aussie ingenuity and ability to adapt componentry from all over the world to make a truck which is unique to Australia. This new design seems to be continuing the same tradition, it is simply adapting the componentry from a different set of sources. .

Warren Caves, Power Torque Magazine / October 2018 If you started working for Cooma Sand and Concrete today as a driver in the company’s latest truck, you would be treated to such luxuries as a Cummins ISL 9.0-litre, 360 hp diesel engine, matched to an Allison automatic transmission and with heated power mirrors, electric windows and effective cabin insulation to keep your working day at an audibly acceptable level. Add to this spec air suspension, an FM radio, EasyRider 11 air suspension seats, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustments and LED dash lights, all of which are contained in the latest Freightliner CL 112, low weight, high strength aluminium cabin. Had you landed a job as a driver with Cooma Sand and Concrete back in the early seventies, you probably would have been handed the keys to one of its two 1967 International Loadstars. With this truck you would have been treated to a 392 cubic inch V8 petrol engine, delivering a whopping 191 hp @ 3600 rpm, with a 5X3 transmission (five speed main gearbox and a three-speed joey box) operated via the twin gearsticks. Fortunately, all that cog-swapping while trying to keep the 20.4 tonne gross weight truck moving would keep you warm, as there was no heater or demister to keep the windows from fogging up on those cold alpine runs. The mirrors would also constantly fog up, unless you were game enough to wind down the windows in sub-zero temperatures to clear them with that oily rag from under the sprung bench seat, so luxuriously covered in vinyl. It wasn’t all doom and gloom though. In the summer I’m sure you would be toasty warm from the ambient day-time temperature blending together with the heat emanating from the floor pan and firewall, devoid of any real insulation properties. Ahhh, the good old days! Gino Revelent, the founder of Cooma Sand and Concrete, started out working for Ready Mix Concrete back in 1963, carting sand to the Cooma concrete plant, until the closing of the plant in 1971. Gino then took a lease up on the plant in early 1972 and ran it until 1978. The site of Cooma Sand and Concrete was built by Gino in 1979, and this is still the current base for the company’s operation today. Shortly thereafter, Gino opened another batch plant in nearby Jindabyne to cope with demand. Mobile batch plants were also widely used during this time, both within the local alpine areas and further afield. Gino’s son Marco Revelent is today the company’s general manager and recalls that when setting up the Jindabyne plant it financially stretched Gino quite a bit at the time. “The plant was successful for a while, until competition moved into town in the form of another batch plant operated by Boral. Unfortunately, Jindabyne was only ever going to be a one-plant town, so the operation eventually wound up,” Marco explained. Marco took on the role of general manager after the passing of Gino Revelent some 11 years ago. The business currently operates a fleet of six agitator trucks, and one tipper and dog combination. Two of the agitator trucks are fitted with quick-release bodies, allowing the fast swapping of bodies from agitator to tipper, to water cart, to prime mover. Marco says that the design allows fast and efficient transition of equipment to suit demand, and, with two operators who know what they are doing, the body swap can be accomplished in as little as 15 minutes. Adding to the agitator fleet is the Freightliner CL112 8X4 truck, which was purchased through Chris Smith of Stillwell Trucks in Milperra six months ago. “We have purchased our last three Freightliner agitator trucks from Stillwells and we seem to purchase a new truck about every two years,” said Marco. “The 8X4 configuration on Freightliner’s own Airliner suspension has the perfect articulation we need for the sites we regularly go to. Other suspension systems we have used in the past, like camelback springs, don’t seem to yield the same level of articulation when the going gets rough. The 7.0-cubic-metre capacities of the barrels are well suited to our particular rural operation, and frontal vision is also excellent,” he added. With a GCM of up to 40,000 kg and a light tare weight, thanks in part to the aluminium cab design, the CL112s are a solid choice for those wanting to maximise payloads without going down the mass management or PBS pathways. “We have worked on major freeway and road projects throughout the state on a contract basis, where we supply our trucks and drivers, who stay away for the contract period. We also do a lot of work locally and in the ACT,” said Marco. Wanting to show how the company and concrete transport in general has progressed over the years, Marco wanted an old Loadstar to remember his father’s early days in the business. While this truck featured here is not one of the original company trucks, it is of the same specification. “I did locate the original truck, but it was way too far gone in terms of rust to even bother restoring. This Loadstar was purchased from Queensland, and to get it to where it is today it only needed some minor rust repairs and a paintjob. We also did a carby overhaul and the re-racing of the Joey box, as it kept jumping out of gear,” said Marco. The truck has been painted in the company colours, and the names painted on the sides are in recognition of the company’s early employees, Stan Collman, Westy, and Gino himself. Stan Collman was Cooma born and bred and had great local knowledge. He spent his early days with the company driving the Loadstars and can be seen here in the photos in front of the Cooma Creek Bridge, built with concrete delivered by Stan in one of the Loadstars back in 1974. Marco also recalls his father telling a story of a day when Stan Collman was driving a loadstar tipper with a cargo of very wet river gravel (which one might have said at the time could have been substantially overloaded), when he drew the attention of the “scalies”. With the only available means of weight checking being located at the local railway station, Stan was directed there. At that time there were two ways to the railway station, one went a little further along the road, with a left turn onto the street to the station. The alternative route was not quite as direct as the route suggested by the “scalies,” but it did conveniently pass by the concrete plant. Not surprisingly, Stan took his preferred option and quickly unburdened the Loadstar of its consignment before rolling into the railway station with an empty truck. Marco remembers his father saying, he could hear the yelling nearly a mile away, as Stan was berated for his cunning. Marco is quick to add, “Those days are long gone”. Kenny West or “Westy” was another long-standing employee of some 25 years’ service with Cooma Sand, later buying a truck from Gino and subcontracting to him. Ultimately, ill health forced the sale of the truck, which, interestingly, Gino bought back from him. Westy passed away around 20 years ago. His son, Greg “Bull” West, can be seen in the photos on his behalf. The modern-day truck driver’s environment has changed a lot over the 50 years that are spanned by these two trucks. Comfy air-suspended seats instead of coil springs in the seat base, and complete control over the climate in the cab, make for a much easier day at the office. Drivers of today (myself included) complain that we have it tough, and at times we do, but the challenges are of a different kind. In 1967, concern about how many kilometres per litre you were achieving was not relevant. You just grabbed another bucket of petrol and threw it down the throat of the Holley carby. You thanked your lucky stars that you didn’t tear a rotator cuff trying to steer these heavy, often overloaded trucks, without power-assisted steering, and prayed that the mechanical handbrake held long enough for you to find the truck in the same place where you had parked it. If it’s all the same, I’ll stick to the modern Freightliner thank you. .

Prime Mover Magazine / October 11, 2018 Commercial vehicle manufacturer, IVECO, has launched a Euro 6-rated Stralis X-Way as part of a new range specifically developed for vocational and construction applications. The range is suited to operations in which on-road work may also require a level of off-road mobility IVECO announced this week. These will include 6x4 AD/AT and 6x4 AS prime mover models as well as 6x4 AD/AT, 8x4 AD/AT and 8x4 AS rigids. The prime movers feature GVMs of 25 tonnes and GCMs of 45 tonnes while the rigids range between 25 and 30 tonnes GVM and 40 to 45 tonnes GCM. All prime mover models are equipped with rear 8 bag Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) and front parabolic springs. Rigid variants use the same rear suspension. These will include ECAS suspension on the 8x4 models. The 6x4 AD/AT has a mechanical rear suspension option and standard front parabolic springs. Cabin options include a ‘Day’, ‘Sleeper’ and ‘Active Space Sleeper’ for prime movers and rigid models while wheelbase options are 3900 and 4200mm for the prime movers and 5720, 5800, 6300 and 6500mm depending on the rigid model selected. The Stralis X-Way project marks the culmination of a four-year engineering program between IVECO Australia and IVECO’s global engineering centre. This has resulted in models that combine extensive local development with the latest innovative technologies from Europe. New models have undergone extensive on-road testing in Australia and in Europe across a three year period with encouraging results. At the heart of the vehicles are new IVECO Cursor 9, 11 and 13 common rail engines with additional power and torque. Outputs range from 310 hp and 1300 Nm for the entry level Cursor 9 to 510 hp and 2300 Nm for the Cursor 13. The IVECO Cursor 11 and 13 engines benefit from a new turbocharger that provides immediate response at low engine speeds and superior engine braking. Complementing the engine range is IVECO’s new HiTroniX automated transmission. A 12-speed, direct drive unit, it delivers fast gear changes and also has the ability to more efficiently select the correct ratio for the conditions. As well as delivering more efficient vehicle performance, the HiTroniX can achieve an extended life (up to 80 per cent) compared to other AMTs, for durability of up to 1.6 million kilometres leading to lower vehicle cost-of-ownership. For greater flexibility across a range of applications, the HitroniX is equipped with ‘Rocking’ and ‘Creeping’ modes as well as four reverse gears. The Stralis X-Way range will be built in Australia at IVECO’s Dandenong manufacturing facility alongside current generation Euro 5 Stralis AS-L models, the ACCO and the Delta and Graduate bus chassis. .