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One carmaker copied the A-class. Another copied the old BMW X5. The latest, one copied the Evoque. But none of these are mainstream big sellers. Look at the SUVs, for example, from Great Wall, Changan, BYD and Guangqi. None are copies, and all are superb. Korea's SSangyong had one, the "Chairman", but it was built under license from M-B. They also built M-B SK series trucks under license as the SY range.

Billy, I assumed you were speaking of the last generation Argosy (old front fascia, ect.), because the New Argosy has never been sold in the US market to my knowledge (though we know Argosy glider kits are available in Canada). The shift lever is cable actuated, like most COEs nowadays. I myself would pass on the optional swing-out staircase.. .

Mark, finance guys are typically pretty confident about themselves but they generally know little to nothing about the product (they believe their product understanding is adequate). Like Denny, he came from construction and knows how to survive in Volvo's corporate world. Unlike Denny, he was in financial, not hands-on with the product. How does a background in construction relate to heavy trucks? Answer: It doesn't. Paul Vikner and Kevin Flaherty were the last men from the real Mack Trucks to serve as president (they were mere puppets under the new Volvo regime though, like China's last emperor Puyi under Japanese control in Manchukuo). Denny Slagle is a fine human being. However as Mack president, he has never gotten the brand airborne. I'm confident in saying that Weissburg won't either, and he'll be gone or reassigned within two years. Volvo will pull the plug on the Mack brand within fifteen years.

China has a great new F-16 like aircraft. They didn't copy. They bought the technology......from Israel. Background: General Dynamics developed a next generation F-16 II. The U.S. Air Force declined to buy it. Our employees in Washington agreed to allow Israel to produce it for themselves. It was called the Lavi program, and the U.S. taxpayer funded it (why we'll never know). The clincher: Israel didn’t build it, but secretly sold the design information to...........China. And today, the Chengdu (Jian) J-10 fighter is our adversary over the South China Sea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:J-10a_zhas.png), flying American technology.

The Germans (Karl Benz) invented the automobile, and the rest of the world copied them. The Chinese didn't invent the copying thing. Enamored with Scania's much admired modular design concept, all the world's truckmakers are continually trying to copy us. Foreign companies, in the auto-truck industry, are required to joint venture, and the foreign company is not allowed to own more than 50 percent of the JV, all so that the country benefits mutually with the foreign aggressor. I call that smart. In the US, foreign aggressors have taken over numerous industries. Without policies adequately protective of US industry, we are a far cry from the solid and powerful position we were once in, and a frail economy is the result.

Actually just the opposite is true in many cases. Hongyan has not leaped ahead with the Iveco joint venture. Foton is in gridlock with Daimler. Dongfeng is in gridlock with Volvo. FAW's commercial truck unit is leaping ahead on their own without any foreign partner. Sinotruk (aka. CNHTC - China National Heavy Truck Corp.) has developed well under their second JV with MAN. (Howo is just one of their brands, not the company name). Shacman (better known as Shaanxi Auto Group) has seen mixed results since the end of their MAN JV. They are no longer practicing "basic copy technology" as you put it. Assuming so would disconnect you from the reality. They are self-designing, and using Italian design studios (like European truckmakers), as well as global contract engineering firms (e.g. AVL and Ricardo) like the global car and truckmakers do. My market research photographs are corporate confidential. This one (below) of the upcoming FAW "J7" is from the internet. The J7 is not a copy of anything. .

This truck was produced at the Liebherr plant in Newport News, Virginia. .

Renault Trucks Press Release / December 6, 2017 See in less than two minutes how to use OptiTrack, the traction system which features hydraulic motors and gives the vehicle temporary extra pulling power. .

Martin Weissburg appointed President of Mack Trucks Volvo Group Press Release / December 8, 2017 Martin Weissburg, currently President of Volvo Construction Equipment, will become President of Mack Trucks effective June 1, 2018, in which capacity he will continue to be a member of the Executive Board for the Volvo Group. Martin Weissburg was born in 1962, and has served as President of Volvo Construction Equipment since 2014. He joined the Volvo Group in 2005 as President of Volvo Financial Services Americas, and in 2010 became global President of Volvo Financial Services. He will be headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Martin Weissburg will succeed Dennis Slagle, who has led the company since 2008. Effective June 1, 2018, Dennis Slagle will remain with the Volvo Group as a special projects leader reporting to Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO. “Thanks to Denny Slagle’s leadership, the Volvo Group’s North American truck business has substantially improved its profitability and competitiveness, and is strongly positioned for the future,” comments Martin Lundstedt. “In Marty Weissburg, Mack Trucks will have another proven leader who is passionate about realizing the full potential of this great truck brand.” Journalists who would like further information, please contact: Joakim Kenndal, Volvo Group, Media Relations tel +46 31 323 72 29 or John Mies, Vice President Communications, Volvo Group North America+1 (336) 543-9094 . http://news.cision.com/volvo/r/martin-weissburg-appointed-president-of-mack-trucks,c2410048 .

Fleet Owner / December 8, 2017 Longtime Cummins leader, and brother of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, steps down after 36 years with the company. Cummins Inc. today announced that Ed Pence, the company vice president of strategic initiatives, is retiring after 36 years with the company, which included a variety of leadership roles. “Throughout Ed’s tenure, he was committed to excellence and success in all arenas – for our customers, our employees and our communities,” Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger and President and COO Rich Freeland said in a joint email to Cummins’ more than 55,000 employees. “He consistently, and over many years, invested time, energy and care into developing and maintaining customer relationships,” Freeland and Linebarger said. “As a result of those relationships, we were able to navigate difficult times much better than some of our competitors.” Pence, a native of Columbus and brother of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, said he was grateful for the chance to work at Cummins. He still remembers how excited he was to get a job offer from the company after graduating from IndianaUniversity in 1981. “Sharing experiences and working with people who represent both our past and our future has been personally enriching as I have moved through the twilight of my career,” Pence said. “I am grateful for the friendships and life experiences. Thank you, Cummins, for more than 36 great years!” Pence began his career at Cummins in purchasing, which he credits for helping him learn about the company’s products and operations. He then worked as an account manager before becoming the industrial sales manager for Cummins Diesel Australia. He next served as an account executive working with heavy duty truck customers, overcoming stiff competition and industry trends such as vertical integration, before becoming the leader of the High Horsepower Engine Business in 2012. Global markets began to decline after unprecedented growth the preceding five years. Nevertheless, the company continued investing in products like Cummins QSK95, the largest high-speed diesel engine on the market. That investment is paying off today across a number of key markets. “I am proud of the teamwork demonstrated by people collaborating across functions and borders while focusing on the most demanding marketplace applications and winning significant new business in the process,” Pence said. Most recently, Pence played a key role in restructuring at Cummins that led to High Horsepower’s merging with Cummins Power Generation to become Cummins Power Systems. He then joined Linebarger’s executive team and played a key role in laying the groundwork for the Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Joint Venture announced earlier this year, according to the company. While he enjoyed his role in the company’s evolution into a global power leader, Pence says he also took tremendous satisfaction from serving as a mentor to other employees. He was known for carrying a small copy of the company’s Mission, Vision and Values in his shirt pocket. “He sincerely views people as the company’s primary assets and his commitment to developing others can be seen in the careers of so many that have benefitted from his mentoring,” Linebarger and Freeland said. .

Actually, the latest Chinese heavy trucks, those coming out in 2018-2019, are virtually on par with the latest global market trucks. Underestimating that ability of their leading truckmakers would be a mistake on anyone's part.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35887-transpower-unveils-their-latest-generation-electric-heavy-truck/?hl=transpower . . .

Meritor announces investment in electric vehicle tech company Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / December 8, 2017 Meritor is the latest truck component company to embrace electrification, announcing Friday a strategic investment in TransPower, a leader in electrification technologies for large commercial vehicles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Meritor President and CEO Jay Craig, CEO says TransPower’s knowledge and hands-on experience with electrical vehicle technologies and system integration gives the company a significant competitive advantage in developing electrical drive systems in the evolving market. “This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver high-efficiency solutions for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles supported by proven solutions,” he says. California-based TransPower supplies integrated drive systems, full electric truck solutions and energy-storage subsystems to major manufacturers of trucks, school buses, refuse vehicles and terminal tractors. The company has been focused exclusively on developing electrical drive solutions for more than seven years. With its investment in TransPower, Meritor expects to accelerate introduction of its flexible electric axle platform for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, single or tandem axles. Meritor’s lightweight carrier is designed for city-delivery, medium-duty and transit bus, as well as off-road and severe-duty applications. TransPower’s electric drive solutions have been in daily use in commercial vehicles built by major OEMs with approximately 110,000 miles logged, according to Michael Simon, president and CEO, TransPower. The company also retrofits its electric drive solutions into existing vehicle platforms. “Meritor’s investment in TransPower could enable large-scale manufacturing of electric drive components and systems,” Simon says. “Our expertise in systems engineering and controls for EVs complements Meritor’s strong brand and century of experience in designing and manufacturing drivetrain products for the commercial vehicle industry.”

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / December 7, 2017 Meritor announced a strategic investment in TransPower, an electrification technology for large commercial vehicles, to help speed the development of its electric vehicle platforms. California-based TransPower supplies various electric vehicle components to major manufacturers of trucks, buses, refuse vehicles and terminal tractors. The company has been focused exclusively on developing electrical drive solutions for more than seven years. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Meritor expects to accelerate introduction of its flexible electric axle platform with this investment. "TransPower's extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with electrical vehicle technologies and system integration gives us a significant competitive advantage in developing electrical drive systems for this evolving market," said Jay Craig, CEO and president for Meritor. "This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver high-efficiency solutions for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles supported by proven solutions." Meritor’s flexible electric axle platform is being designed for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, and single or tandem axles. It's going to be targeted to medium-duty urban applications, as well as off-road and severe duty applications. TransPower CEO Michael Simon said the company’s electric drive solutions have been used in commercial vehicles built by major manufacturers in daily use, logging around 110,000 miles so far. The company’s systems can also be retrofitted into existing vehicle platforms. "Meritor's investment in TransPower could enable large-scale manufacturing of electric drive components and systems," Simon said. "Our expertise in systems engineering and controls for EVs complements Meritor's strong brand and century of experience in designing and manufacturing drivetrain products for the commercial vehicle industry." .

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=25576277&privcapId=312375 Mr. Martin Weissburg serves as an Executive Vice President of AB Volvo (publ) and has been its Member of the Group Executive Board since March 01, 2016. Mr. Weissburg has been the President and Chief Executive Officer at Volvo Construction Equipment since 2014. He served as an Executive Vice President of Volvo Construction Equipment at AB Volvo since January 1, 2014. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Volvo Commercial Finance LLC The Americas. He served as the President at Volvo Financial Services AB since May 15, 2010 until January 2014. He served as an Executive Vice President - Volvo Financial Services at AB Volvo since January 01, 2013. Mr. Weissburg is responsible for global Operations at Volvo Financial Services. He served as Head of the financial services of North American operations at Volvo Financial Services LLC until 2005. He served as President of Americas operations at Volvo Financial Services AB from 2005 to May 2010. He served as the President at Great Dane Financial and Senior Vice President at Orix Financial. He also worked in capital markets for Heller Financial, and held positions with Caterpillar in the construction equipment and finance areas. Mr. Weissburg has a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and an MBA in International Business from George Washington University. Born 1962 in Ohio.

Caterpillar to Pay Millions for Crimes Against Customers, Including XPO Logistics Transport Topics / December 8, 2017 A wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. will pay tens of millions of dollars for intentionally cheating its customers with unnecessary repairs and dumping rail car parts into the ocean to cover up its actions. The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 7 that United Industries part of Caterpillar’s Progress Rail Services unit, will pay a $5 million criminal fine and $20 million in restitution. The company’s guilty plea was expected during a Dec. 7 hearing in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Caterpillar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The United Industries case covers unnecessary repairs to rail cars owned by three companies: TTX Co., Greenbrier Co. and the Pacer International Unit of XPO Logistics Inc. The restitution will be split among them. XPO Logistics ranks No. 3 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest North American for-hire carriers. As part of the scheme, certain United Industries supervisors encouraged employees to smash brake parts with hammers, gouge wheels with chisels and yank handles loose in order to increase revenue by making repairs. Other unnecessary repairs were randomly selected and performed. United Industries employees then threw parts into the harbor at the Port of Long Beach to hide evidence from inspectors with the Federal Railroad Administration and Association of American Railroads. Divers working for port police later located the discarded parts on the ocean floor. The actions described in court documents occurred in 2008 and 2009. Caterpillar first disclosed the criminal investigation to shareholders in November 2013.

Jon Harris, The Morning Call / December 8, 2017 Mack Trucks will have a new top dog in its leadership structure by the middle of next year. Mack’s parent company, the Sweden-based Volvo Group, on Friday announced Martin Weissburg, president of Volvo Construction Equipment, will become president of Mack Trucks, effective June 1. He will succeed Dennis Slagle, who has led Mack since 2008 and, come June 1, will remain with Volvo as a special projects leader reporting to group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt. “Thanks to Denny Slagle’s leadership, the Volvo Group’s North American truck business has substantially improved its profitability and competitiveness, and is strongly positioned for the future,” Lundstedt said in a news release. “In Marty Weissburg, Mack Trucks will have another proven leader who is passionate about realizing the full potential of this great truck brand.” While a reason for the change was not provided in the news release, Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner indicated Slagle made the decision. “Having capped ten successful years with the introduction of the new Mack Anthem, Denny decided he wanted to take on new challenges,” Heffner wrote in an email. “He’ll be 64 next year, and thought that after we fully ramp up and commercialize the new product, it would be a good time to move on to new things. Quite simply, he felt the timing was right, and he could not be happier with the selection of Marty Weissburg as his successor.” In the 55-year-old Weissburg, Mack is getting a leader who is “commercially minded and someone who makes decisions based on facts and an analytical framework that allows for taking action quickly,” according to his biography on Volvo’s website, which also describes him as “high energy.” Weissburg, an Ohio native, on Jan. 1, 2014, started as president of Volvo Construction Equipment, the second-largest division — with estimated 2017 sales of about $8 billion — of the $37 billion Volvo Group. Weissburg, who joined the Volvo Group in 2005 as president of Volvo Financial Services Americas, will continue to be a member of Volvo’s executive board. He will be based in Greensboro, N.C., where Mack relocated its headquarters — and 580 jobs — from Allentown in 2009. Mack, however, still has a large presence in the LehighValley, a footprint that includes a massive LowerMacungieTownship assembly plant that employs about 2,000 people. The most senior manufacturing leader for Mack in the LehighValley is Rickard Lundberg, who took over as vice president and general manager of Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations on Oct. 1, 2016. Weissburg will join Mack at what executives have called an exciting time for the brand, which the company has been repositioning since 2014 when it unveiled a new logo. Mack also has reinvested in its Lehigh Valley facilities, completing a $3 million renovation at its Allentown customer center and carrying out an $84 million investment in its Lower Macungie plant to make the facility more modern, integrated and efficient. The plant also is getting a new task: Assembling Mack’s new highway truck, Anthem, which was unveiled in September. The Anthem, with full production beginning in the first quarter, represents an opportunity for Mack to grow its long-haul business and achieve its market share ambitions in North America. The truck maker also has boosted its marketing efforts this year, announcing several partnerships aimed at expanding its audience reach while also amplifying its messaging around certain products, such as the Anthem. To name a couple: Mack in July announced a partnership with Khalil Mack, the Oakland Raiders’ pass-rushing phenom who helped the company promote the Anthem, and, just this week, announced a partnership agreement with Petty’s Garage, the high-performance speed shop founded in 2008 by Richard Petty. Business hasn’t been bad, either. Through September, Mack is riding a 53 percent jump in orders — a barometer of future deliveries — as the North American construction segment remains strong and the long-haul and regional haul markets are on the upswing. “I promise you that the best days for Mack are still to come,” Slagle said during September’s unveiling of the Anthem at the PPLCenter in Allentown. “After today, the game changes.” After June 1, how the game changes will be in the hands of Weissburg. .

Billy, I've no idea why you'd compare the superb Freightliner Argosy to the hideous Pontiac Aztec. The Argosy, from South Africa to Australia, does a great job and is a pleasure to drive. . . .

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45757-final-preparations-for-the-world’s-first-electric-road-project/?tab=comments#comment-337347 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47935-scania-tests-fast-wireless-charging-in-urban-traffic/?tab=comments#comment-354378 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/49720-scania-electrification-projects-from-hybrids-to-wireless-charging/?tab=comments#comment-368997

Scania Group Press Release / December 8, 2017 When Scania wanted to put a new fire truck cab to the test, it drew on the experience of a group of working firefighters. Scania is the first choice at most fire stations in Sweden. “It’s partly because of the crash tests; we can’t compromise with safety when we are working to save other people’s lives,” says Henrik Jarméus, Manager at Södertörns Brandförsvar in Södertälje. Jarméus and his colleagues were given the opportunity to try out the new CrewCab before it was launched, and a first peek at the camouflaged CrewCab seemed to brighten a grey and rainy day for the firefighters. Södertälje firefighters Samori William, Stefan Rosén, Joel Rang, Asbjörn Bing and Henrik Jarméus were eager to try out the new CrewCab, under the watchful eye of an ergonomics expert from Scania Technical Centre. “We need the opinions of professionals using the CrewCab in their everyday life,” says Daniel Lundkvist at Scania Vehicle Ergonomics. “Everyone has their own way of getting in and out of the truck,” says Jarméus. “It becomes a habit.” Better visibility Rang discovers that with the new cab it’s easy to close the door quickly when you grasp the handle. “The handle is necessary when getting up fast with heavy gear,” he says. Bing uses the handles to climb, which makes the process of getting in and out of the ­CrewCab smoother. “It is also a way of keeping our bodies healthy while carrying air tubes and other equipment on our backs,” he says. Meanwhile William and Rosén try out the seatbelts. “The cab feels more airy,” Rosén says. “The indoor volume is greater,” says William. They also comment that they have better visibility through the windscreen than in their present truck. Smart solutions Next Rosén, William and Rang try out the new bench, designed to make it easier to sit comfortably while on a mission. “We can sit straight even though we are carrying all the equipment on our backs,” William comments. “Some of the new solutions are really smart, like the light on the stairs,” says Jarméus as he climbs into the CrewCab. “It really helps in some weather conditions.” “Our main fire truck is a Scania,” he continues. “It is always on call and is suitable for most emergencies, whether it is a fire or a car accident.” The alarm goes off and the four firefighters as well as the manager get into the truck, and it is put to the test. “So far, we are all very happy with the quality,” Jarméus says. With 1,500 emergencies each year in the Södertälje area, that’s important. CUSTOMISE YOUR CREWCAB Scania’s CrewCab can be ordered with all versions of Scania’s DC09 and DC13 engines, combined with either Allison automatic gearboxes or Scania’s own automated gearboxes with Scania Opticruise. Slighter larger solutions with an electrically steered third tag axle (6×2*4) can be ordered directly from the factory as well. .

Scania Group Press Release / December 8, 2017 The L-series is Scania’s newly developed cab series for urban transport, such as distribution, refuse collection and maintenance. “These lower trucks are well adapted for cities,” says Jorge Guttierrez, Product Manager, Scania Trucks. “Drivers are at the same level as other road users, with the added advantage of improved working conditions when repeatedly entering and exiting the cab.” In a standard kneeling mode, entering the cab is only one step away. The front air suspension will drop 10 centimetres as soon as the parking brake is applied. On the two-step version kneeling is optional. Three alternative roof heights In challenging urban environments, with the constant hustle and bustle of cars, cyclists and pedestrians, the driver will feel more at ease with the vastly improved direct vision of the surroundings. The space-efficient cab offers seats for three passengers in addition to the driver, with easy movement around the cab. Certain operations, such as refuse collection, might require a crew on board. The new L-series is designed for an optional extra two passengers at the centre of the cab; up to three passengers can travel in comfort. The cabs are all two metres long, with three alternative roof heights – low, normal and high. If a truck with the kneeling facility is selected, the single step takes the driver into the cab. The floor is then approximately 80 centimetres above ground, depending on tyre dimensions. In addition to the short height, the step is also comfortably wide and no less than 79 centimetres. Without kneeling, the driver and passengers only need to climb two short steps; the floor is then a mere 93 centimetres above ground. Scania Opticruise The Scania L-series can feature automatic kneeling with the lower boarding step at 44 centimetres. With this low boarding step on both sides of the cab, drivers can take advantage of the space in front of the engine tunnel to exit on the passenger side, thereby avoiding oncoming traffic. The L-series is powered by Scania’s updated 9-litre engine, which is offered in three power outputs for diesel and two for gas propulsion, including both CNG/CBG and LNG/LBG. All engines can be selected in combination with Scania’s automated gear changing system Opticruise or an automatic gearbox from Allison. Typical axle configurations for urban applications are 4×2 or 6×2*4, the latter with Scania’s electrically steered tag axle. GAS ENGINE IN 2018 The L-series is powered by Scania’s updated 9-litre engine, which is available in three power levels for diesel. During 2018, Scania will also add its OC09 gas engine in two power levels (and for both CNG and LNG) to the engine range for the L-series. All engines can be combined with Scania Opticruise or with an Allison automatic gearbox. .

Scania goes urban – see our new trucks! Scania Group Press Release / December 7, 2017 Scania now completes its new truck generation. Following the introduction of trucks for long-haulage and construction, the focus is now on urban and additional low-carbon transport solutions. “With today’s release, Scania comprehensively sets the stage for the necessary shift towards sustainable transport, offering tailored low-carbon trucks for all transport applications,” says Christian Levin, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. The new fuel-efficient future-oriented trucks all feature the widely acclaimed styling and product characteristics of the new truck generation. Among these are enhanced driveability as well as improved visibility, increased safety, ergonomics and comfort. With the new generation trucks, Scania is taking major steps in providing customer-adapted trucks for even better total operating economy. .

Scania Group Press Release / December 7, 2017 Maja Stomby is not your typical truck driver. Just 22 years old, she’s a field test driver evaluating Scania’s newly developed L-series, low-entry cabs for urban environments. “It’s very much like driving a nice, premium passenger car,” she says. Driving big, heavy vehicles in an urban environment is always a demanding challenge. You’re obliged to keep track of vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists and other – while manoeuvring in tight places. Often it involves repeated starting and stopping, getting into and out of the cab many times per day in dense traffic. With time pressure building up, this can be very stressful, even for the most skilled drivers. Such driving is Maja Stomby’s daily life in Jönköping, Sweden, where she handles a heavy refuse truck. When asked by her employer, Alvarssons Transport, which operates for the worldwide environmental group Suez, if she would like to undertake the long-term testing of Scania’s newly developed low-entry cab for urban environments, she gave an immediate “yes!” Feels like an upgrade “I’m not that tall, as you can see,” Stomby explains, “and climbing in and out of a traditional truck cab every few minutes is not for me. So working with a low-entry, kneeling truck felt like an upgrade.” Anyone who needs to get in and out of a cab many times per day will appreciate an easy climb and low cab floor. This not only minimises the risk of tripping or falling and ­work-related pain in the back or knees, but it also improves efficiency. The new Scania L-series is exceptional in this respect. The floor is 220 millimetres lower than on the Scania P-series. It provides easy one- or two-step access and has kneeling as standard on the one-step version and as an option on the version with two steps. “A big difference” “The kneeling function of this new truck has really simplified my working days,” Stomby says. “As soon as I apply the parking brake, the front air suspension drops 100 millimetres. Then it’s more or less a matter of walking in or out of the truck. When arriving at a collection point I’m always in a hurry and usually jump out before the kneeling is finished. But when I enter the cab it makes a big, big difference.” The driving experience itself is also considerably improved for Stomby. The floor height is just 80 centimetres, and the view all around the cab is unbeatable, aided by a lower, nar­rower dashboard, lower side window sills, newly designed rear-view mirrors and a driver position that is farther forward and closer to the door. The safety issue “It’s very much like driving a nice, premium passenger car,” Stomby says. “I spend so much time by myself inside this truck, and I can feel that it’s not that hard to get used to and addicted to this environment.” Ergonomics play a safety role in Stomby’s own physical situation inside the cab: the low entrance step and good handles when climbing in and out of the cab help to minimise strain on her back and knees. Both sides of the cabin offer the same entrance heights. With the space between the engine tunnel and the dashboard, Stomby can easily move across the cabin when she wants to avoid oncoming traffic. “Being a field test driver for such a truck is really a privilege,” she says. “I’m the only one driving it and have been able to furnish it with my own things. It feels like a home to me.” L-SERIES: new city cab allows interaction at a lower level An entirely new low-entry cab series developed for urban environments For applications in distribution, waste and construction operations Up to three passenger areas; easy to move around inside the cab A single boarding step combined with automatic kneeling Offers optimum ergonomics and interaction with other road users A Scania City Safe Window to provide enhanced vision and safety. .