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Comprehensive Cascadia Testing in Australia Diesel News Australia / September 2018 As we are so early in the process, with comprehensive Cascadia testing in Australia, Freightliner are unwilling to be tied down to the specifics of what will be offered to the Australian truck buyer in 2020. However, there are some concrete factors which the company is willing to divulge. The first test truck is the Cascadia 116, fitted with a DD13 engine and the DT12 AMT. The second truck is fitted with the DD16 engine and the DT12 transmission. This is the first time a left hand truck has been run on the road as part of a testing program in Australia. The engines on offer will be the Detroit DD13 and DD16. Top power on the 16 litre is going to be over 600 hp, but how far over is yet to be decided. These engine choices match those available in the heavy end of the Mercedes Benz range, which uses the 13 and 16 litre Mercedes engines based on the same engine blocks. The Detroit DT 12 is the North American version. of the AMT used in the Benz models sold here. This will be supplemented by an Eaton option both in the form of the 13 and 18 speed Roadranger, but also the Ultrashift Plus AMT. “There will be an Eaton option,” states Stephen Downes, , Freightliner Australia Director firmly. “There’s still some work to be done on GCM ratings. The Detroit DT12 will get us a fair way to where we want to be, but if we want to go heavier, we will have to look at alternatives. We’ve got to make sure that what we put in, rear axles, engines, gearboxes, cabs, the whole gamut, is unconditionally ready to go. “We think we can sell the DT12 along with this truck on the basis of fuel economy and suitability for the driver pool. When you get a chance to drive it, you will see that it is seamless.” In the US, 93 per cent of Cascadias sold are fitted with the Detroit AMT. The safety systems offered in the US market, as Detroit Assurance, bring all of the global Daimler safety systems, and these are expected to also be on offer here in Australia. This will clearly differentiate the models from the current offering from Freightliner and align with what is on offer in the Mercedes Benz from Daimler in Australia. Freightliner are spending more than ever before on developing a truck for a non-US market. The company clearly see the Australian market as one which it can grow market share. By bringing the Cascadia platform into Australia the future should see a quicker transfer of all technologies from the US into trucks being sold in North America. “We have seen, in the past, trucks brought into Australia, which weren’t fit for purpose,” says Stephen. “I vow not to make that mistake. There can be no doubt this truck will be ready when we launch it to market. That’s why we are doing all of this testing. We are going to the Nth degree to deliver to ensure we get it right the first time. “There’s a massive amount of opportunity for Freightliner with this truck. an opportunity to make sure we, very clearly, get it right, we know what the truck operators expect, and by the end of this program we will have delivered the best bonneted truck to the Australian market, that it has ever seen. That might sound a bit confident, but once you get to drive it, it won’t take much to convince you.”

New Zealand Trucker / September 2018 The calibre of detail and preparation on this month’s Top Truck is no coincidence. The net result of an owner-driver who started at the bottom of the ladder, surrounded by legends of the industry. In the early 80s a young Matt Barraclough moved to Bay View, just north of Napier, as result of his father’s employment with Pan Pac. This placed Matt ringside in an iconic era of log trucks passing right by his doorstep, heading just up the road to feed the insatiable appetite of the Whirinaki mill. Matt ’s passion for trucks started early, riding shotgun with his Dad, who was helping out with relief driving for a couple of the local logging contractors. This is where Matt ’s love for log trucks started and to this day it’s as strong as ever. “I used to watch the likes of Cliff Guy roll past in his immaculate W model Kenworth and think to myself, ‘that ’s me, that ’s what I want to be doing’,” said Matt. After leaving school Matt started working for a local nursery that had a couple of four-wheelers. As he set off to sit his licence the manager said, “Do not fail mate, you have deliveries this afternoon”. When Matt ’s Dad began working for Linton Transport Matt seized the opportunity to help out around the yard, on the wash, and looking over the shoulders of the mechanics. “Mucking-in and getting your hands dirty and spending time in the passenger’s seat is the way to learn; it ’s these opportunities that are missing for today ’s youngsters,” said Matt. At 21 Matt finally realised the dream of getting into the driver’s seat of a log unit. It was a night shift position driving a DAF CF85 for a local contractor. From there he spent time with Gary Deakin on export out of the Awaho Forest, and then with Alan Forbes at Pan Pac for the best part of seven years. It was in 2010 that an opportunity to become an owner-driver with Pan Pac presented itself. This involved the purchase of a secondhand DAF CF85 logging unit with 177,000 kilometres on the clock. The DAF did the groundwork over the next three and a half years that paved the way for the purchase of Matt ’s first new rig, ‘Elvis’, a Kenworth K108E. Now four and a half years later it was time to raise the bar a little. ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ is a 2017 flat roof Kenworth K200 running a Cummins X15 at 458kW (615hp) mated to a manual 18-speed Roadranger with Meritor 46-160 diffs on Kenworth’s 8-bag air suspension, and rigged out with Kraft logging equipment. The paint scheme is a twist on a classic Kenworth factory scheme, and is similar to the well-known Melbourne-based ‘Freestones’ fleet, one Matt ’s always liked. The roof mounted 7” air intakes with mushroom tops are a tipof-the-hat to the ‘old-skool’ Aussie cabovers of the day. Matt had a clear image of exactly what he was trying to achieve; however the rig would not have come together the way it has without a dedicated team in the background taking Matt ’s ideas and turning them into reality. The signage and pin-striping were a collaboration with Darren Caulfield, and Matt is very quick to praise Darren for all his efforts. Also, the team at Kraft were “just magic”; the level of enthusiasm for the project was exactly what was needed. As for the stainless steel work that adorns ‘Sweet Child of Mine’, that is the work of locals KR Tong Engineering, “‘Grunter’ went above and beyond,” said Matt. Then there is special mention of the amazing support from Matt ’s family. Without them alongside him Matt said he could not have achieved this goal. “Daphne is so diligent looking after all the accounts as well as crunching the numbers for me, and the kids look after the cleaning: Blake on the exterior and Reese on the interior,” said Matt. “It really is a family business that I am very proud of.” The layout of the unit is a real credit to Matt, as is the presentation. It is fair to say that the legends of the industry in the Bay who influenced Matt on his journey have all had a hand in this build. ‘Sweet child of mine’ is a true working truck, and the photo above shows that its job first and foremost is to put food on the Barraclough table. But opening the poster will also show the pride this family takes in its number one ride. .

Volvo Trucks Australia / September 9, 2018 See the difference that Ultra Low Crawler Gears has made to the Clarence River project. .

Scania Australia / August 12, 2018 Scania has launched the highly-awarded New Truck Generation in Australia. It is the safest and most fuel-efficient truck range available, featuring side curtain roll-over airbags as standard on every model. From the P 220 rigid to the S 730 ‘King of the Road’ prime mover, Scania has a truck that can be perfectly tailored to every need. .

Navistar's in bed with GM, VW wants to get in bed with Ford, and VW's Traton potentially wants to deepen its investment in Navistar. The plot thickens.

Asian Trucker / September 11, 2018 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), under Daimler Trucks, today announced the construction of a new CKD assembly plant in Thailand during a press conference on the sidelines of the DTA ISCS Conference (Daimler Trucks Asia International Sales and Customer Services Conference) held in Bangkok. It was further announced that DCVT will take over the Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus business to have a consolidated organization dedicated to commercial vehicles. During the media roundtable, Michael Kamper, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing, MFTBC stated: “With its conducive business environment and strategic location in Southeast Asia, Thailand constitutes a key market for our global growth strategy. DCVT’s strong performance gives us great confidence to further expand our business here with the construction of a new CKD assembly plant dedicated to the Thai market.” Sascha Ricanek, CEO of DCVT said: “Thailand’s consistent growth makes it a crucial market for our long-term success. Today we are proud to announce two important milestones which underline our commitment to our customers in Thailand: First, we are investing in the construction of a new assembly plant for the Thai market. And second, it was a natural step for us to consolidate our commercial vehicles business including the FUSO and Mercedes-Benz brands under DCVT in line with Daimler’s global ‘Customer Dedication Strategy to offer our local customers unsurpassed products and services.” Production in Thailand for Thailand MFTBC will invest 12 Million Euro (450 million Thai Baht) into the new plant, which will be located in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a key region for Thailand’s economic growth. The state-of-the-art plant will conform to Daimler’s highest standards to ensure excellence for Thai customers. In a first stage, the plant will assemble FUSO’s heavy-duty FJ 2528C trucks, launched in Thailand earlier this year and designed for the rapidly growing construction segment. Construction of the plant is scheduled to commence in October 2018 with the inauguration of the facilities targeted for the second quarter of 2019. .

Yours, with the three protruding dimples, is not factory. A 32MK53P1 never had them. Call Watt's Mack at 1-888-304-6225 and ask for a 32MK53 (black painted) or 32MK53P4 (chrome).

I again suggest, political parties have no purpose whatsoever and should be banned. Rather than compliment government, parties only serve to convolute and corrupt. Each elected government representative, an employee of his state's people, should focus on representing the will and desire of those people.....and nothing more. Draining the swamp in DC is kind of like the CPC removing all the corrupt cadres......once done there would be no one left.

The fuel cell electric truck will be launched in 2019 ● The truck boasts a distinctive design befitting of an eco-friendly truck ● Plans for the European market to be unveiled at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 SEOUL, Sept. 13, 2018 — Hyundai Motor today presented a first look at a render image of a new truck with fuel cell powertrain which is set to be launched in 2019. After the ix35 Fuel Cell and the NEXO, Hyundai presents yet another milestone for its leadership in fuel cell technology with the presentation of the fuel cell electric truck. Fuel cell electric truck boasts distinctive design which sets it apart from other Hyundai commercial vehicle line-up. The truck aims at simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient with a spoiler and side protector. The front grille symbolizes hydrogen through geometric shapes, giving the vehicle a unique and powerful look. The vehicle emanates an eco-friendly look with an iconic blue color application and a bold side body graphic on the container, which visualizes its dynamic character. During the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 taking place in Hanover Germany, Hyundai will announce the future plans for introducing the fuel cell electric truck in the European eco-friendly commercial vehicle market next year as well revealing vehicle specification. Hyundai Motor also recently completed South Korea’s first domestic highway journey with an autonomously navigated semi-trailer truck. Hyundai’s Xcient truck drove approximately 40km on the highway between Uiwang and Incheon, carrying large semi-trailer simulating cargo transportation, showcasing Hyundai’s innovative technological advancement in future mobility. .

I'm biased, but they're both extremely good. The Scania V8 architecture allowed it to evolve forward and meet all current emissions standards. MAN decided to introduce the 15.2-litre D38 inline six, which is a wonderful powerplant. Drivers love the sound and performance of the Scania V8, and accountants smile approvingly at its fuel economy.

Sisu makes an extremely good planetary, but Meritor's is a superb global product as well. Meritor has produced all of Volvo's axles since 1998, including planetary.

Jim, if they buy, I imagine it would be a single purchase. As said above, it is possible that Troy Clarke and the board don't want to sell, or VW (Traton) would be satisfied with equity and joint-venture projects. I think they'd rather own, buy out as Daimler and Volvo did Freightliner and Mack.

Cadillac puts diesels on hold Jens Meiners, Automotive News / September 15, 2018 SEATTLE — Cadillac has put diesel engine development on the back burner, citing the industry's rapid shift to electric vehicles. Cadillac President Steve Carlisle, speaking last week at the XT4 compact crossover launch here, said the brand is re-evaluating diesel technology. "We have been working on diesel, but the markets may be changing more quickly than we anticipated," he said. "Going forward, we will focus on electrification." Cadillac had been working on four- and six-cylinder diesel engines for several years as part of its push into Europe, and had planned to offer diesel-powered models in the U.S. as well. The XT4 was to have been offered with a diesel by 2020 or before, and Cadillac had expected to launch diesel engines in more models. This may still happen, but for now, Carlisle confirmed the program is on hold. In 2015, the Volkswagen diesel scandal caught Cadillac flat-footed, but executives felt it had progressed too far to kill the program. It hit another snag last year when General Motors sold Opel, a development partner for the engines. But despite delays, the program continued. Now the strategy is under intense scrutiny. Still, Carlisle maintained that diesel engines will play a role in the auto business, especially in trucks, for a long time. The future of the diesel in the U.S. is uncertain. Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have pulled their offerings, but BMW continues to sell diesels. Diesel models have been launched by Jaguar Land Rover, and Kia and Mazda have announced diesels. GM sells the Chevrolet Cruze and Equinox, as well as the GMC Terrain, with diesel engines.

But your SARs are much more substantial, higher quality trucks.

Eric Berard, Today's Trucking / September 13, 2018 MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Being in the pole position allows you to be ahead of the pack. Yet earning such an enviable spot takes a lot of work, brainstorming, and the open-mindedness to surround yourself only with skilled support. Nick Knapp understood those demands. As director of field operations for KTI, a sub-contracting company for utility authorities such as power or telephone companies around Georgetown, Conn., Knapp knew he could optimize the tasks of digging post holes, water vacuuming, rock hammering, pole planting and stabilizing, and aerial wire rigging. He just needed a super all-in-one utility truck to replace the multiple units he was using for this variety of tasks. After a couple of preliminary sketches on proverbial cocktail napkins, Knapp – who runs the family business with his dad, Ed — reached out to body builders in the northeastern U.S., looking as far afield as the Midwest to find someone who could make his vision a reality. The Americans he spoke to basically said it was impossible. “They felt this truck was so out of the box, nobody wanted to touch it. They wanted to sell us a product that was already built and packaged because no one was interested in taking on that big of a product and not knowing if the end result would even be something that would work,” says Knapp. Browsing the web, he found Drive Products in a Mississauga, Ont. “They had no problem with taking on the project. So we sent them up the rig,” he says. At that stage, the “rig” was a T800 Kenworth cab chassis truck with a Cummins ISX15 500V (500 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200 rpm) coupled to an 18-speed Eaton-Fuller manual transmission, explains John Diodati, Drive Products’ operations director. But a lot of work still had to be done, because Knapp’s wish list was quite extensive. He needed hydraulics for the auger, crane and other tools. And compressed air to run the hammer if a rock formation prevented regular auger drilling, to vacuum unwanted water from pole holes into an onboard 500-US-gallon tank, and to power the tamps used to firmly hold the poles in place. “To get a compressor that big [1,000 cubic feet per minute], with that much power, it would be gigantic. What Drive Products did was, instead of buying a complete unit, [they] bought the air module with no motor. Normally they come attached with a gigantic diesel motor. They took the power directly from the motor of the truck through the split-shaft PTO and the transfer case to power the air compressor. It saves me more than 50% of deck space,” Knapp said. Eliminating the additional engine to power the Atlas Copco compressor also saved a lot of weight on this mighty machine that weighs in at 76,000 lb. Installing a third rear axle bumped the truck’s GVW from 60,000 to 80,000 lb. A Canadian crew of a dozen hands-on workers and three engineers took care of installing two OMSI transfer cases, the aerial bucket, a custom driveline, hydraulics, and a water tank among other features, says Diodati. Ensuring proper driveline angles was one of the biggest technical challenges to overcome. The unique truck’s versatility – it’s also equipped with four outriggers and a 60,000-lb. winch at the rear – realizes substantial savings. “I can go out with one driver-operator and a ground man. Two men and this truck can do the same job as it would normally take a minimum of four men, all of which would need to have a CDL. Also, by eliminating all those other trucks, now I’m only paying for insurance, registration and taxes on one vehicle versus four or five trucks,” Knapp says. In addition to the optimized productivity, he points out that maintenance is simpler and cheaper with only one power unit to take care of, even if the initial purchase price can be “a shocker”. Additional units are planned, says self-taught designer Knapp, who dubbed his heavyweight baby “Canada Super Digger”. “There will definitely be more to come, now that we got all the quirks worked out of the engineering side,” he says, adding that discussions are underway about patents since more utility professionals could well be interested in buying Canada Super Diggers. .

VW Board Is Preparing Next Steps for Truck Unit Listing Bloomberg / September 14, 2018 Volkswagen AG’s board is working toward a decision to list its heavy-truck division, a move that would generate fresh funds for its bid to challenge global leaders Daimler AG and Volvo AB, according to people familiar with the matter. VW’s supervisory board plans to discuss the matter early next week, and the truck unit will host a capital markets day later in the week at the sidelines of the commercial-vehicle show in Hanover, Germany, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks aren’t public. VW intends to list the truck unit’s shares next year, but the exact timing will depend on market conditions, they said. While Volkswagen hasn’t formally mandated banks yet, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. are in a good position to become global coordinators for Traton’s listing, according to people familiar with the matter. Volkswagen may also hire a third lead bank on the transaction, another person said. Representatives for VW and the banks declined to comment. The trucks business has a value of about 28.5 billion euros ($33.3 billion), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Dean. It generated revenue of about 24 billion euros last year, with Europe accounting for 73 percent of sales. During a recent meeting with investors in London, VW Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter’s tone concerning the IPO “was far more reserved due to the sharp revision of trucks multiples,” Evercore ISI analyst Arndt Ellinghorst said in a note to clients last week. The threat of trade barriers and lower cyclical demand for the vehicles has hurt the division’s valuation. VW shares rose 2.3 percent to 142 euros in Frankfurt trading at 3:37 p.m. The stock has declined 16 percent this year. Structural Shift The business has been turned into a stock corporation and was renamed Traton AG this year to clearly distinguish it from VW’s larger passenger-car division. Key VW stakeholders -- including the German state of Lower Saxony, VW’s second-largest shareholder with a 20 percent stake, and the company’s powerful labor unions -- have backed the project. VW will retain a controlling stake in Traton. The IPO of the unit -- which comprises the highly profitable Swedish Scania brand, Germany’s MAN truck and bus marque as well as a business in Brazil -- marks the most significant structural shift for VW so far as it undergoes a major overhaul. New Chief Executive Officer Herbert Diess is working to make the world’s largest automaker less centralized and more agile by 2025 to tackle a seismic industry shift toward electric vehicles and new digital services. Bigger Payload German rival Daimler AG is adopting a new corporate structure as well that will grant its truck business more independence, but executives have remained tight-lipped so far about a possible IPO. VW trucks chief Andreas Renschler has been the key driver behind the manufacturer’s intensified effort to improve cooperation between Scania and MAN and expand his division’s footprint outside Europe. He joined Volkswagen in 2015 after almost a decade of running Daimler’s truck unit, the world’s biggest commercial-vehicle manufacturer by revenue. A successful share sale would generate funds for Renschler’s push to catch up with rivals in terms of global reach. Earlier this year the manufacturer signed a cooperation agreement with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Hino division and the company is also looking to increase its presence in China. Compared to Daimler, which owns the Freightliner truck brand, or Volvo, which builds Mack models, the VW division has only recently gained a foothold in North America, with the purchase two years ago of a stake in U.S. peer Navistar International Corp. The company said in April that lifting the stake in Navistar, including a possible acquisition, would be an option.

Fleet Owner / September 12, 2018 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has exempted motor carriers and drivers involved in Hurricane Florence relief efforts in 13 states and the District of Columbia from Hours of Service and other parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, or FMCSRs, in an extended regional emergency declaration. The declaration includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The exemption covers Parts 390 through 399 of the FMCSRs, which includes HOS rules, general safety rules, maintenance requirements, and more. "Such emergency is in response to Hurricane Florence and its anticipated effects on people and property, including the immediate threat to human life or public welfare from high winds, heavy rains, high surf, storm surge and flooding," FMCSA stated in its announcement. The exemption specifically applies to motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance for the emergency in the affected states and jurisdictions in direct support of relief efforts related to Hurricane Florence. Providing "direct assistance" means: —Supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, equipment, fuel and people into and from the affected states and jurisdictions, or —Providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency in the affected states and jurisdictions from Hurricane Florence. The exemption no longer applies when: —A driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or to provide services not directly supporting the emergency relief effort, or —When the motor carrier dispatches a driver or commercial motor vehicle to another location to begin operations in commerce.

Transport Topics / September 14, 2018 Volkswagen AG’s board is working toward a decision to list its heavy-truck division, a move that would generate fresh funds for its bid to challenge global leaders Daimler AG and Volvo AB, according to people familiar with the matter. VW’s supervisory board plans to discuss the matter early the week of Sept. 17, and the truck unit will host a capital markets day later in the week at the sidelines of the commercial vehicle show in Hanover, Germany, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks aren’t public. VW intends to list the truck unit’s shares next year, but the timing will depend on market conditions, they said. While Volkswagen hasn’t formally mandated banks yet, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. are in a good position to become global coordinators for Traton’s listing, according to people familiar with the matter. Volkswagen also may hire a third lead bank on the transaction, another person said. Representatives for VW and the banks declined to comment. The business has been turned into a stock corporation and was renamed Traton AG this year to clearly distinguish it from VW’s larger passenger-car division. Key VW stakeholders — including the German state of Lower Saxony, VW’s second-largest shareholder with a 20% stake, and the company’s powerful labor unions — have backed the project. The initial public offering of the unit — which is made up of the highly profitable Swedish Scania brand, Germany’s MAN truck and bus marque as well as a business in Brazil — marks the most significant structural shift for VW so far as it undergoes a major overhaul. New CEO Herbert Diess is working to make the world’s largest automaker less centralized and more agile by 2025 to tackle a seismic industry shift toward electric vehicles and new digital services. German rival Daimler AG is adopting a new corporate structure as well that will grant its truck business more independence, but executives have remained tight-lipped so far about a possible IPO. VW trucks chief Andreas Renschler has been the key driver behind the manufacturer’s intensified effort to improve cooperation between Scania and MAN and expand his division’s footprint outside Europe. He joined Volkswagen in 2015 after almost a decade of running Daimler’s truck unit, the world’s biggest commercial-vehicle manufacturer by revenue. A successful share sale would generate funds for Renschler’s push to catch up with rivals in terms of global reach. Earlier this year, the manufacturer signed a cooperation agreement with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Hino division, and the company also is looking to increase its presence in China. Compared with Daimler, which owns the Freightliner truck brand, or Volvo, which builds Mack models, the VW division only recently has gained a foothold in North America, with the purchase two years ago of a stake in U.S. peer Navistar International Corp. The company said in April that lifting the stake in Navistar, including a possible acquisition, would be an option.

Meritor expands options for P600 planetary axles Trailer-Body Builders / September 14, 2018 Meritor recently made its award-winning P600 planetary axles available with optional five-planet wheel-ends and the ability to configure the axles for use with a central tire inflation system (CTIS). The optional five-planet wheel-ends allow a 20 percent higher gross combined axle weight rating (GCWR) over the four-planet version and feature integrated cooling technology to reduce axle operating temperatures. With CTIS configuration, drivers can maintain and adjust tire pressure for enhanced performance in varying conditions. “Heavy-haul customers are embracing the P600 series axles for outstanding performance, capabilities and best-in-class features,” said Steven Luepke, director of off-highway for Meritor. “Five-planet wheel-ends and CTIS compatibility reinforce Meritor’s continued development of solutions for heavy-haul, oilfield, logging and mining applications.” San Francisco-based Bigge Crane and Rigging Co, one of the largest crane rental, crane sales and project services companies in the country, installed Meritor P600 tandem axles on several heavy-haul tractors to maximize capacity and reduce total cost of ownership, Meritor said. “The five-planet P600 axles work seamlessly with our existing trucks and powertrains, making the integration process efficient,” said Vaughn Hersey, senior project engineer for Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. “Meritor has clearly demonstrated its understanding of the particular needs that are inherent to heavy-transport projects, and we’re pleased with the performance, power and durability we’ve seen.” Recognized as a 2015 Top 20 Product by Heavy-Duty Trucking, the P600 tridem configuration was also named one of OEM Off-Highway magazine’s Top 10 New Products of 2017 − the only axle to receive this recognition. . .

The lead US truckmaker partnering with the lead global carmaker. Noteworthy.

Toyota, 3 partners to launch hydrogen fuel cell freight project Anisa Jibrell, Automotive News / September 14, 2018 Toyota Motor North America is partnering with the Port of Los Angeles, Kenworth and Shell to launch a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell freight project under which it will supply powertrains and provide operational support. Toyota and Kenworth, owned by Paccar Inc., of Bellevue, Wash., will develop 10 zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell trucks, the automaker said Friday in a statement. The automaker will provide fuel cell stacks and tanks, batteries and the electric motors that will be used in Kenworth's Class 8 trucks, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons told Automotive News. The Port of Los Angeles said Friday that it was preliminarily awarded $41 million from the California Air Resources Board for the project, which is expected to reduce emissions by 465 metric tons of greenhouse gases. The cost of the project's first phase is $82.6 million, 50.2 percent of which will be funded by the partners. According to the grant application, the project will provide "direct localized emission reductions in designated disadvantaged communities" in the Los Angeles area, including Ontario and Wilmington, Calif., and the surrounding communities of San Pedro and Long Beach, Calif. Toyota Logistics Services will operate zero-emission forklifts and oversee Toyota Transport, which will operate the hydrogen fuel cell trucks, the application says. The proposal was developed by the four partners, but the Port of Los Angeles is listed as the lead applicant. The second phase of the project involves setting up two hydrogen fuel stations, operated by Shell, in Ontario and Wilmington. The new stations, along with three at Toyota operations around Los Angeles, will create a fueling network to transport goods from "shore to store." The last phase entails the use of zero-emission technology in off-road and warehouse equipment. For example, two zero-emission yard tractors will be used at the Port of Hueneme about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The partners expect CARB to officially award the grant by year end, Lyons said. The project is in line with Toyota's plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions from its Toyota Logistics center at the Port of Long Beach by 2050. In July at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., the automaker unveiled a second generation of its proposed hydrogen fuel cell semitruck, known as Project Portal 2.0. .

Mark, will you be attending the BMT Investors winter retreat conference in Rio next January?

The fleets may hold trucks longer, but I predict no longer than 5 years. I expect most fleets to lean more and more on warranty, replacing trucks at the end of the warranty period. The used truck buyer will be seeing nicer offerings, as in Europe.