kscarbel2

Mack Quantum, based on the Renault Premium. Good truck. .

2019 GMC Sierra will be unveiled next month with more differentiation from Silverado Michael Wayland, Automotive News / February 1, 2018 DETROIT -- General Motors will unveil the 2019 GMC Sierra on March 1 in Detroit amid expectations that it will be more differentiated from its Chevrolet Silverado sibling than ever before. The Sierra unveiling, which also will include the high-end Sierra Denali, will come less than two months after the automaker officially introduced the 2019 Silverado on the eve of the Detroit auto show in January. Despite expected exterior and interior differentiation with the two pickups, the Sierra's specs and powertrains are expected to be similar, if not the same, as the Silverado's. GM has said the redesigned Silverado is larger than current models yet as much as 450 pounds lighter. It features a longer wheelbase, more interior space and a new high-strength steel bed with increased cargo volume and an available power up-down tailgate that can be operated from the key fob, an interior button or by hand. GM will offer six powertrain combinations, including a 3.0-liter inline-six diesel and 5.3- and 6.2-liter V-8s with a technology called Dynamic Fuel Management that can shut off cylinders, in a variety of combinations, to optimize performance and fuel economy. The diesel engine -- the first in a full-size Chevy pickup since the late 1990s -- and 6.2-liter V-8 will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. GM didn't provide details of other transmission pairings or engines. GM on Thursday reported Sierra sales started 2018 down 18 percent, to 11,224 vehicles, compared with January 2017, while Silverado sales increased 15 percent to 40,716. In 2017, Sierra sales slipped 1.7 percent to 217,943 vehicles; Silverado gained 1.9 percent to nearly 585,900 deliveries. Production of the pickups is expected to start at GM's plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., in the fall. GM also builds the trucks in Mexico, but it has not announced production details. .

Yes I have. A fleet. Any truck, when the wheels aren’t spinning, is not generating revenue.

Borrowing from Ford, I have to ask...... "Have you driven an International......lately?" Now......thanks to Troy Clarke and Bill Kozek, Navistar is operating arguably better than it has in decades. And it shows in the management, and new product portfolio.

Scania and Northvolt partner for heavy vehicle electrification Scania Group Press Release / January 25, 2018 Scania and Northvolt have jointly agreed to develop and commercialise battery cell technology for heavy commercial vehicles. Scania today announces that it is investing EUR 10 million in the partnership to enhance further development and support the establishment of Northvolt’s demonstration line and research facility. Vehicle electrification is rapidly advancing and offers a favourable path towards more sustainable transport solutions. For heavy trucks and buses, continued development of both charging infrastructure as well as more robust, cost efficient and sustainable battery cells is crucially needed for a widespread market breakthrough in commercially viable electrification. Different transport assignments will require different electric powertrains. For optimal effect, battery and cell technologies must therefore be developed to support varying needs. “We aim to make it easy for customers to select sustainable transport solutions. Electrification will play a key part in the shift to a fossil free transport system. However, the current battery cell technology must be developed to fulfil the business requirements of heavy bus and truck customers. With Northvolt as a partner, we believe that we can make major strides forward,” says Henrik Henriksson, Scania’s President and CEO. The two companies will establish an expert team and work together at Northvolt’s research facility, Northvolt Labs, in Västerås, Sweden, to develop and commercialise production of battery cells optimised to power commercial vehicles. The companies have also entered into an off-take purchase agreement for battery cells. “With Scania’s product and business expertise combined with our cutting-edge manufacturing process, we are convinced that we can produce cost efficient and green battery cells of the highest quality for the heavy commercial vehicle market,” says Peter Carlsson, Co-Founder and CEO of Northvolt. Production of battery cells is energy intensive and Sweden offers a solid supply of cost-effective green energy. The country is therefore well suited for large-scale sustainable battery production. Northvolt is building the next generation battery factory in the city of Skellefteå in the north of Sweden with the objective to produce high-quality green batteries, with a minimal carbon footprint and the highest ambitions for recycling. This partnership is one of several strategic initiatives in Scania’s ambition to drive the shift toward a sustainable transport system. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / January 31, 2018 Renault Trucks has announced that it will launch a range of electric vehicles in 2019. This range capitalizes on the experience gleaned from ten years of testing electric trucks in real-life conditions with its customer-partners. These all-electric trucks are designed for use in urban and peri-urban areas and will be produced at the Renault Trucks plant at Blainville-sur-Orne in Normandy, France. Electromobility is the cornerstone of Renault Trucks’ strategy for a sustainable urban transport. Zero-emission vehicles help improve air quality, curb climate change and also reduce congestion thanks to noise-free out-of-hours deliveries. Tomorrow, electric trucks will be simply indispensable for city centre access. Renault Trucks has been investing heavily in electromobility research and development since 2009, focusing on extensive field testing in partnership with its customers. Real-world tests on various types of experimental full-electric 12-16 tonne trucks – Speed Distribution for Guerlain, Stef for Carrefour, Nestlé and the Delanchy Group – have provided Renault Trucks with vital information on conditions of use, battery behaviour, recharging facilities and specific maintenance requirements for electric trucks. In addition to these experimental vehicles, a 4.5-tonne electric truck has been on the market since 2010, the Electric Maxity: “Our commercial experience with the Electric Maxity has enabled us to bring our network up to speed on selling, servicing and repairing electric vehicles,” explains François Savoye who is in charge of Renault Trucks’ energy efficiency strategy. “Today’s electric vehicles are a competitive solution, which was not the case in 2010.” In addition to the great strides made in understanding customer uses and market requirements, Renault Trucks is able to take advantage of the impressive R&D resources offered by the Volvo Group, benefit from tried and tested technology and harness synergy between different entities working on all-electric vehicle development such as buses. Thanks to these economies of scale, Renault Trucks is now in a position to market a cost-effective range of vehicles for its customers in 2019. A dedicated assembly line for all-electric trucks is being installed at Renault Trucks’ Blainville-sur-Orne plant in Normandy.

Scania Group Press Release / January 26, 2018 Scania has several ongoing projects that involve electrified trucks and buses. Collaboration with legislators, infrastructure suppliers, grid builders and electricity companies is essential for electrification to take off. In June 2016, the world’s first electrified public road was inaugurated in Sweden. Here, Nils-Gunnar Vågstedt, who leads Scania’s research into electrification technology, elaborates on the project. Vågstedt also highlights the rationale for electrification and Scania’s efforts in this field. .

Scania Group Press Release / January 29, 2018 One hour west of Stockholm, on a frosty but bright and sunny morning, four articulated trucks pull up onto a disused runway and come to a halt. All the trucks have drivers, but not all the drivers are driving. Today the runway is operating as the test site for Scania’s latest semi-autonomous truck platooning trial. Scania believes that a sustainable transport future will be a reality through the use of multiple solutions. Platooning is one solution and may be one of the most effective ways to optimise logistics, transport flows and systems. Up to date innovations Platooning involves the use of smart technology and the most up to date innovations in autonomous vehicle technology. On today’s test track, the vehicles drive together in one unbroken line. Each vehicle is, to the casual observer, simply driving one after the other. Gunnar Tornmalm, Head of Pre-development Automation, explains the reality of the situation. The first vehicle, he explains, is the ‘lead’ and the driver is the only driver driving manually. Christoffer Norén, a Development Engineer and one of Tornmalm’s team, sits in the third truck. Norén is very pleased with the technology: “It was very relaxing giving control to the system,” he says. Slipstream benefits The system uses wireless communication so the trucks can follow the leader at a close distance in a safe and efficient manner. All the trucks which follow the lead truck benefit from the slipstream created. During the test, to further show the robust nature of the system, Tornmalm drives an ‘intruder’ vehicle. This shows how the trucks adjust when a car drives between them. The trucks automatically create a gap into which the vehicle can drive and then when it leaves they automatically make up the gap again. Brake tests are also conducted to show the effective response of the system when the lead vehicle brakes. Once the braking action is communicated to them, the following trucks respond instantaneously. A step closer to public highways During the trials the technology proves to be effective. It not only assists the four trucks to operate as one in a steady semi-autonomous platoon, but is also shows that it is ready to tackle unplanned, real-life, interruptions. These tests show how ready the system is for public road testing. Each test takes platooning a step closer to public highways. “I would like to see pilot tests on a larger scale on public roads in three years,” Tornmalm says. The continued success of the trials, and the benefits that platooning can bring to logistics, as well as the overall sustainable nature of the system, strongly suggests that Tornmalm may well soon see the system in full operation. Platooning in brief Platooning is a method that allows vehicles to travel in close formation on the road thereby increasing road capacity. Scania has been developing the technology for several years and is well positioned at the forefront of autonomous vehicle research and development to take platooning to the next level. .

DAF Trucks Press Release / January 26, 2018 The drivers and directors at WUTTKE-TRANS really love working with the New XF. Watch the video and see why WUTTKE-TRANS and DAF work so well together. .

Superb. Did you inspect the ball studs? What's the condition of the springs? If visibly good, try cleaning, re-grease, and tighten out the slop (don't over tighten). The rubber boots you'll need are 95RU32. If you call Watt's Mack (1-888-304-6225) and provide your front axle arrangment (1QH321AP3), they can research the part numbers on the arrangement, supercede and check stock both in-house and at the PDCs (parts distribution centers).

. Website - https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/utility-vehicles.html

Jon Harris, The Morning Call / January 31, 2018 If you look solely at Mack Trucks’ delivery total last year, you see a number that is only 4 percent — or about 800 trucks — higher than the company’s total in 2016, which was its worst statistical year since 2010. In fact, the 19,644 trucks that Mack delivered in 2017 is the company’s second-lowest total in the last seven years. But consider: 2017 also was a year in which Mack revved up its marketing, rolled out a new highway truck and hauled a heavy payload of orders. So what the company that assembles its heavy-duty trucks in the Lehigh Valley is really banking on is that the road ahead looks even better — should the market continue to cooperate. Those were some of the main takeaways from a full-year report released Wednesday by Mack’s parent company, the Sweden-based Volvo Group. While the highlight for the Volvo Group was recording its highest-ever sales and operating income results in 2017, the report also detailed a North American truck market in which orders are surging, reflecting high activity in the construction and highway segments. But in his comments, Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt pumped the brakes a little, saying the launch of new highway products — the Volvo VNL series and the Mack Anthem — may take time to catch on. “The North American truck market is picking up,” Lundstedt wrote in the report. “Both Volvo and Mack have benefited from the increased demand. However, both are currently in the transition to new truck generations, which will affect production output and market shares in the short term. The new truck ranges have been well-received by customers and dealers and order intake is good, which should translate into higher market shares when production of the new products is fully ramped-up.” Mack isn’t waiting around. To meet higher market demand, including strong interest in its new Mack Anthem, the company on Jan. 2 brought on another 400 workers at its Lower Macungie Township assembly plant. The plant, which has assembled its first Anthem models, now employs about 2,400. While Mack’s 2017 delivery total was modestly better than 2016, the company finished the year strong. Mack delivered 5,112 trucks in the fourth quarter, up 24 percent from the 4,119 pumped out in the year-earlier period. And, as it was throughout much of 2017, Mack received a surge in orders — a solid barometer of future deliveries — during the fourth quarter, collecting 7,570 orders, up 55 percent from the 4,896 received a year earlier. For all of 2017, Mack received 25,322 orders, a 54 percent jump from 16,484 in 2016. The news wasn’t all good, however: For 2017, Mack’s market share in North America dropped to 7.3 percent (from 7.8 percent), while Volvo Trucks’ share was 8.3 percent, down from 9.9 percent. “Mack’s market share slipped as growth in the overall Class 8 truck market was skewed toward the long-haul highway segment,” Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner said. “We’re confident that our new Mack Anthem highway model, which is now in production at Lehigh Valley Operations, will help us make a bigger impact in that segment of the market.” Mack Trucks' deliveries Mack delivered 19,644 vehicles worldwide in 2017. Here's a look at how many vehicles Mack delivered each year dating back to 2001, which is when Volvo's acquisition of Mack became effective. 2017: 19,644 2016: 18,846 2015: 27,411 2014: 25,644 2013: 21,299 2012: 25,077 2011: 20,278 2010: 13,465 2009: 11,101 2008: 16,613 2007: 18,621 2006: 36,838 2005: 36,222 2004: 25,469 2003: 18,991 2002: 23,245 2001: 23,795

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / January 31, 2018 A bill introduced this month in the Washington State House seeks to require all trucks doing business at port terminals in Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver to be powered by 2007 or newer model engines. The bill, if passed, would require all drayage trucks moving into and out of high-volume ports (with a total of more than 20 million annual tons of “domestic and foreign waterborne trade,” including Seattle and Tacoma) to be of 2007 and newer model year engines by January 1, 2019. It’s a strategy that has been pursued at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports previously, likewise more recently in New York and New Jersey. Under the terms of the bill, further, by “January 1, 2035, all drayage trucks delivering goods to or receiving goods from a high-volume port must be zero emission vehicles.” The bill’s introduction follows the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s attempts to enforce a similar ban on pre-2007 emissions spec truck engines at Tacoma and Seattle alliance container ports on April 1 this year, what it dubs the second phase of a plan adopted in 2008, also with Vancouver, B.C., ports in Canada. In 2010, it says, pre-1994 engines were phased out, and the alliance made $15 million in matching grant funding available to trucking companies to upgrade power units, and terminals to invest in gate infrastructure. Under that grant program, “more than 410 trucks were scrapped and replaced,” the alliance says. The April 1, 2018, deadline date, however, remains in “proposed” status, not set in stone, and represents a delay from a previous date of the first of this year. At that time, the alliance reported more than half of nearly 5,000 trucks serving member international container terminals were still powered by pre-2007 engines, and waived the requirement to upgrade for 90 days pending further consideration.

Cummins Taps UK Battery Maker for Electric Truck Development Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / January 31, 2018 Cummins has acquired Johnson Matthewy’s UK automotive battery systems business, with plans to collaborate on the development of high-energy battery materials for commercial heavy-duty electric vehicle applications. The acquisition and collaboration agreement will allow Cummins to expand its electrification and energy storage capabilities. Johnson Matthey will focus on developing high-energy battery materials, including its enhanced lithium nickel oxide (eLNO) product, for transport applications. The companies intend to collaborate on the development of new products with enhanced performance characteristics for commercial applications, relying on the expertise of each company. “By combining our electrification capabilities, portfolio of diverse power solutions, and global network, Cummins is uniquely positioned to lead in electrification,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Cummins. “What differentiates us is our ability to help customers succeed with high-quality products across the spectrum of power solutions they use, whether it’s electric, diesel, natural gas or other energy solutions.” This most recent move comes on the heels of Cummins’ acquisition of Brammo in October of last year. Brammo designs and develops low-voltage battery packs for mobile and stationary applications. The company will continue to explore other opportunities to add electrification capabilities as it prepares to offer electrified powertrains to customers in 2019. “The addition of Johnson Matthey Battery Systems’ technical expertise and customer base in markets that are more rapidly adopting electrification further positions us as a global energy storage supplier,” said Linebarger.

Ex-union VP Norwood Jewell implicated in UAW-FCA scandal Michael Wayland, Automotive News / January 31, 2018 DETROIT -- Former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, who headed the most recent round of contract negotiations with FCA US, has been implicated in the widening, multimillion-dollar corruption scandal involving the union and Fiat Chrysler. A plea deal released last week between the U.S. Attorney's Office and former FCA US labor relations chief Alphons Iacobelli does not name Jewell; however, it indirectly identifies him. It also names Jewell's charity as one of several to allegedly receive restricted funds. Jewell, who abruptly retired at the end of last year, has not been formally named or charged with any crimes. Attempts to reach Jewell this week were unsuccessful. An unknown individual who answered the Ohio phone number listed for Jewell's charity said he "can't help" with any questions. A UAW spokesman declined to comment directly on the implications. An FCA spokesperson was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. Iacobelli, according to the plea deal, admits that he and other FCA executives and employees transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars "in prohibited payments" to tax-exempt organizations controlled by UAW officials, including Jewell's Making Our Children Smile Foundation. The money was allegedly siphoned through the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, which is funded by the automaker and jointly operated with the union. The plea deal also says Iacobelli authorized salary reimbursements, along with "a fraudulent 7 percent administrative fee" as a "political gift to the Vice Presidents of the UAW Chrysler Department" -- a statement that implicates Jewell. Jewell, who began leading the department in June 2014, is one of only two union vice presidents to hold that position during the focus of the investigation, from January 2009 to July 2015. Feds have identified Jewell's predecessor, General Holiefield, as being a key figure in the $4.5 million scandal. Holiefield, who died in March 2015, led the department from June 2006 to June 2014. Holiefield's charity, the Leave the Light on Foundation, was another tax-exempt organization named in Iacobelli's plea deal. It previously had been identified by federal officials as a way of funneling money to union officials and Holiefield's wife, Monica Morgan, one of four charged in the case so far. The others charged, in addition to Iacobelli, are Virdell King, a retired UAW associate director, and Jerome Durden, a former FCA financial analyst who served as treasurer of Holiefield's charity and as controller of the UAW-Chrysler training center from roughly 2008 to 2015. All aside from Morgan have pleaded guilty as part of plea deals and await sentencing. She is scheduled for a plea hearing on Feb. 6. in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Federal officials, according to a source familiar with the investigation, conducted a search of Jewell’s home late last year. Prosecutors contend FCA employees and executives such as Iacobelli paid union workers through the charities and other methods, including training center credit cards, to influence union business, including collective bargaining negotiations in 2011 and 2015. The UAW, including President Dennis Williams, has adamantly denied such activities could have influenced the union's bargaining process. "There's just no truth to the allegation that the terms of the collective bargaining agreement were compromised by Iacobelli's crimes," Williams wrote Friday in a letter to union members. Williams argued, “Iacobelli’s case is one of personal greed, plain and simple.” Following the investigation being made public, the union made changes to its charity practices, including banning UAW-affiliated nonprofits to take donations from the UAW and the joint program centers. The UAW has not stopped allowing personal charities, however several union officials reportedly have let their state registrations expire. The UAW announced in November that Jewell, 60, would retire and not seek re-election -- an unusual, if not unprecedented, occurrence. UAW officers younger than the mandatory retirement age of 65 typically seek re-election and step down only at the end of a term, which would have been in June for Jewell. In August, The Detroit News reported that he received a $2,180 shotgun bought with union training center funds as a birthday present. The UAW has said Jewell paid for the gun after finding out it was bought with the training funds. Nancy Johnson, Jewell's top administrative assistant, reportedly instructed King to pay for the gun with a training center credit card. Making Our Children Smile Jewell's charity was started in 2014 -- the same year he became a union vice president. The Making Our Children Smile board initially included Jewell; Johnson, who served as vice president of the nonprofit from 2014 to 2015; and Troy A. Davis, another UAW top administrative assistant. Two additional board members, including another UAW official with the training center, were added in 2015. The purpose of Making Our Children Smile, according to tax filings, was to raise and distribute funds to "benefit children, veterans, and seniors, as well as the poor, caring for the sick" and to support other philanthropic efforts and organizations. The charity, according to the filings, received $629,450 from 2014 through 2016, though individual donors are not identified in the filings. At the end of 2014, the charity reported a balance of $126,803, while donating $30,081 to three organizations: Wayne Elementary School in Detroit ($14,081 in books and clothing); Downtown Outreach Ministry in Flint, Mich. ($10,000); and Child Safe Michigan in Royal Oak, Mich. ($6,000). Donations, according to the filings, increased five-fold to $152,666, in 2015 before falling to $121,846 the following year. Davis has been secretary and treasurer of the nonprofit since its inception. According to the filings, he was the sole signer of its tax returns until 2016, when a third party was paid to prepare the document. Shane Dawes, who was assistant director of the UAW-Chrysler training center under Jewell, was added to the board along with another individual in 2015. Expanding case Iacobelli, 58, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act and subscribing a false tax return. The investigation started with the UAW-FCA training center but has since expanded to similar operations with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, where Iacobelli was employed following FCA. GM and Ford said in November they were cooperating with federal investigators who have subpoenaed information about their training centers with the UAW. No union or company officials with GM or Ford have been formally named or charged with any crimes. The Detroit News reported in November that federal officials were "interested" in Joe Ashton, a retired UAW vice president who was appointed to GM's board in 2014, and Cindy Estrada, his successor in charge of the union's GM department. Estrada remains in her position, while Ashton resigned from the GM board in December. He was designated for nomination by the VEBA, which at the time owned about 140 million GM shares. Downloads Iacobelli plea documents Copy of lawsuit

Congressman calls for police to arrest undocumented immigrants at State of the Union The Washington Post / January 30, 2018 An Arizona congressman called on the U.S. Capitol Police to arrest any undocumented immigrants who attend President Trump’s State of the Union address, after at least two dozen Democratic lawmakers said they would bring “dreamers” [Illegal Immigrants] as guests to Tuesday night’s speech. Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) asked the Capitol Police and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to “consider checking identification . . . and arresting any illegal aliens in attendance” as well as detaining anyone using “fraudulent social security numbers and identification to pass through security.” The young people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would not be affected by an ID check because they have social security numbers and legal work status, according to aides who helped organize their attendance. Some lawmakers might have invited [illegal] immigrants without these documents to attend the speech, said the aides, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the legal status of some guests. “Of all the places where the Rule of Law needs to be enforced, it should be in the hallowed halls of Congress,” Gosar wrote on Twitter. “Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is among the Democratic lawmakers who plan to bring a DACA recipient [Illegal Immigrant] to the speech, said Gosar’s comments were “outside the circle of decency.” [Pelosi should be arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal] “Our members all profess to be people of faith, that we believe that we’re all children of God and that we have a spark of divinity in us. For him to make that statement is to dishonor the God who made us. It’s just shameful,” Pelosi told reporters. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that lawmakers “have constitutional protections to do our jobs for every constituent that we have.” [Ms. Grisham, Illegal Immigrants are NOT your constituents.] “I find it personally offensive that that member of Congress is interfering with my ability to do my job,” she said. [Clueless, apparently, about what her job is.] Congress is working to negotiate an immigration deal that would protect “dreamers,” [Illegal Immigrant] children who were brought to the United States illegally or who overstayed their visas, after the Trump administration announced an end to the program in September. Pelosi, who will bring DACA recipient Melody Klingenfuss as a guest Tuesday night, said Tuesday afternoon Trump will “see the dignity, courage and patriotism of dozens of dreamers” [Illegal Immigrants] when he looks into the House gallery during his speech.

Great. On the build sheet, what is the 1QHA number, including the P or AP (BP) number over to the right? On a side note, those "AC" part numbers date back to the Mack AC "Bulldog". Even in the 1980s, Mack still had a few "AC" numbers in our parts system. (When a Mack dealer views the 1QH front axle arrangement to research the parts, newer numbers will be shown). If you want, scan and attach that build sheet page.

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / January 30, 2018 LAS VEGAS – Volvo Trucks’ VHD model has gotten a new interior and LED headlamps to make it a more desirable choice for operators of dump, mixer, refuse and other rough-service vehicles, and there’ll be a renewed emphasis on marketing the vehicle, according to John Felder, the company’s vocational segment manager. LED headlamps, announced last week during the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, will provide more forward illumination for drivers, part of Volvo’s long-standing safety-first orientation. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) use less energy and last longer than older-style halogens and incandescent bulbs, he said. LEDs will also better resist the vibration experienced by vocational trucks. However, LEDs burn so coolly, they don’t melt winter snow and ice that accumulates on them, “and that’s a drawback,” Felder said. So product planners are seeking versions wired to heat up glass under such conditions. The interior has a new overall design, including gauges, switches, larger color display screens, and a multi adjustable steering column, he said. Taken from the recently refreshed VN highway tractors, the interiors were laid out with input from 2,000 professional drivers who were interviewed as part of the design process, Felder said. The VHD’s gauges are larger and have more legible faces than before; panel-mounted switches are closer to the driver, while additional switches are on the steering wheel’s rims. And seats are better contoured and easier to adjust. The tilt-telescoping column and steering wheel continue, and an additional tilt mechanism now allows further adjustment of the column just below the wheel. Volvo calls it the Position Perfect wheel. Vocational trucks have long been the specialty of Mack, a sister company under Volvo Group, while the VN highway series has traditionally been Volvo’s strong point. Felder believes there’s no reason the VHD can’t do better in the vocational market, especially with the improvements. “It’s a great truck,” he said while standing in the shadow of a VHD dumper in Volvo’s booth at World of Concrete. ”It’s just not noticed. We’re going to change that.”

Transport Topics / January 30, 2018 Truck maker Paccar Inc. reported record sales and improved net income for the 2017 fourth quarter and full year, benefiting from peak North American market share and aftermarket parts sales. “Paccar’s financial results reflect the company’s premium-quality products and services, record heavy-duty truck market share in the U.S. and Canada, record aftermarket parts results and a strong European truck market,” Paccar CEO Ron Armstrong said in a statement. Quarterly net income for the period ended Dec. 31 was $589.2 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, including $173.4 million of net tax benefits resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that reduced corporate tax rates. Excluding the tax benefits, net income was $415.8 million, or $1.18. That compares with $288.8 million, or 82 cents in the fourth quarter of 2016. Revenue in the quarter jumped 34% to $5.45 billion, a record, compared with $4.07 billion for the same period in 2016. For all of 2017, total net income reached $1.68 billion, or $4.75, including the one-time tax benefit. Excluding the benefit, net income was $1.50 billion, or $4.26. In 2016, the company reported annual net income of $521.7 million, or $1.48, including an $833 million nonrecurring charge for a European Commission settlement. Excluding the charge, 2016 net income was $1.35 billion, or $3.85. For the full year, revenue rose 14% to a record $19.46 billion, compared with the year-earlier period. “The enacted tax legislation will generate positive cash flow for Paccar as well as benefit the transportation industry in the United States,” Paccar Chief Financial Officer Harrie Schippers said in a statement. “The revised corporate tax rate, comparable to other leading OECD countries’ tax rates, and accelerated machinery and equipment depreciation, will likely stimulate increased capital investment in the United States.”

Nikola Chooses Arizona Location for Hydrogen-Electric Truck Headquarters Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / January 30, 2018 Nikola Motor Company has selected Buckeye, Arizona, for its hydrogen-electric semi-truck manufacturing headquarters facility. The 1-million-square-foot facility will be located on the west side of Phoenix and could bring $1 billion in capital investment to the region by 2024, according to Nikola. Factors cited in its decision include the state’s pro-business environment, engineering schools, educated workforce, and a geographic location that provides direct access to major markets. Nikola spent 12 months considering 30 site locations in nine states before settling on the Phoenix suburb. “Arizona has the workforce to support our growth and a governor that was an entrepreneur himself. They understood what 2,000 jobs would mean to their cities and state,” said Trevor Milton, CEO and founder, Nikola Motor Company. “We will begin transferring our R&D and headquarters to Arizona immediately and hope to have the transition completed by October 2018.” Development of the manufacturing plant on a 500-acre parcel of land is projected to begin by the end of 2019. The site is at one of the entrances to Douglas Ranch/Trillium, a new master planned community being developed by El Dorado Holdings and JDM Partners; this community is projected to ultimately be home to more than 300,000 residents. “Conceived as the prototype smart city, Trillium at Douglas Ranch aligns well with Nikola Motors' groundbreaking technology,” said Jerry Colangelo, co-founder and partner with JDM Partners. “We look forward to working with everyone here to bring Nikola’s innovative products and their 2,000 professionals into this city of the future, creating a tremendous economic opportunity for Arizona.”

There isn't a part-number for those tie rod ends because they were never available as assemblies. They are serviceable (rebuildable) tie rod ends (common back in the day). There used to be a Mack part number for a kit, as well as individual components. Do you have the Mack line sheet for the truck?

BC I agree, but the news above states the refrigerators must be tested and certified by the FAA.

Reminds one of German denial at the end of the war.

VW CEO calls diesel fume tests on monkeys 'repulsive' Reuters / January 30, 2018 FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Mueller said tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes were "unethical and repulsive," apologizing for the misconduct of those who were responsible for the study. VW has come under fire after The New York Times reported last week that German carmakers had used an organization called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector, or EUGT, to commission the tests. The study, conducted in 2014, was designed to defend diesel engines following revelations that the exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the newspaper reported. The revelation is the latest aftershock from the VW emissions-rigging cheating scandal, which continues to rock the auto industry. "The methods used by EUGT in the United States were wrong; they were unethical and repulsive," Mueller said late Monday at a New Year's Reception in Brussels, in his first public remarks on the report. "I am sorry that Volkswagen was involved in the matter as one of the sponsors of EUGT." Reuters could not confirm the details and purpose of the study. EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment. EUGT received all of its funding from VW and fellow German carmakers Daimler and BMW Group, The New York Times said. Mueller said Volkswagen was investigating EUGT's work and would take necessary action based on its findings.