kscarbel2

Dana Launches New Lightweight Driveshaft Line Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Dana has launched the SPL 250 Lite driveshaft at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, designed to be a lightweight option for most configurations of heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The SPL 250 Lite can handle torque ratings up to 18,439 lb.-ft. and is up to 25 pounds lighter than competitive products, according to Dana. It has also been engineered for reduced noise, vibration and harshness levels, improved performance, and improved vehicle dynamics without compromising strength. "The lower numeric axle ratios required to support engine downspeeding and improve fuel efficiency can cause significant stress to the drivetrain and alter harmonics in driveline components," said Mark Wallace, executive vice president of Dana and president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies. "Excessive vibration leads to unplanned downtime and driver fatigue on the road. The SPL 250 Lite driveshaft leverages proprietary precision manufacturing methods that ensure no NVH issues while delivering a smooth ride. It also reduces weight without sacrificing performance or durability." The SPL 250 Lite driveshaft widens the range of applications supported by an updated family of lightweight, durable driveshaft products and expands on the launch of the SPL 350 Lite driveshaft earlier this year. Designed with fewer components to reduce weight and enable faster, easier installation by OEMs, the driveshafts in this series feature extended component life and reduced maintenance. They also share service components with their existing SPL 350 and SPL 250 driveshaft counterparts to increase ease of service and simplify inventory for truck owners and service facilities. Spicer D-Series Steer Axles with Integrated Air Disc Brakes Dana also announced the addition of an aluminum hub option on Spicer D-Series steer axles with a 14,600-pound gross axle weight rating (GAWR). This new product expands the previously released 10,000-pound GAWR range to 13,200 pounds with aluminum hubs, and introduces a 14,600-pound GAWR integrated air disc brake steer axle available with this lightweight hub option. Spicer D-Series steer axles are designed for on-highway, city-delivery, bus, and vocational applications. These axles build upon the Spicer E-Series axles, providing greater durability and superior performance along with reduced maintenance and tire wear. Additionally, Spicer D-Series steer axles provide a robust axle-to-brake attachment and reduced assembly time. The Spicer D-Series steer axles reduces weight by up to 76 pounds when compared with existing solutions, according to Dana. The axles are available in both standard and wide beam widths, delivering broad application coverage for the commercial-vehicle market. S140 Drive Axle Available on Peterbilt Medium-Duty Trucks The Spicer S140 Series single-reduction, single-drive axle is now available as an option on medium-duty vehicles from Peterbilt, including the 220, 330, 337, and 348 models. This axle is designed to support Class 6 and 7 applications with gross axle weight ratings from 17,000 through 21,000 pounds. Dana says the S140 axle can weight up to 100 pounds less than competitive axles and deliver greater payload and improved fuel economy. It is available in a range of ratios from 3.31 to 6.50:1, supporting medium-duty pick-up and delivery trucks as well as municipal and utility vehicles. This axle also improves accessibility and versatility with up to one inch of additional ground clearance.

Bendix Touts New Driver Assist, Safety Features at NACV Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Bendix made a series of feature announcements at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, touting a series of safety-focused driver assistance and component enhancements available now and in the near future. Bendix showed a new feature intended to automatically prevent rollaway called Intellipark. The automatic braking technology replaces the manual air parking brake with electronic switches that will automatically set the parking brake if the driver exits the vehicle without setting the parking brake. With sensors that monitor the driver seat, seat belt, or cab door, the system will detect if a driver leaves the vehicle without engaging the parking brake and will automatically set it to prevent a dangerous or costly vehicle rollback. “Rollaway incidents can be terribly damaging – if not deadly – and come at great cost to fleets in terms of money, resources, and reputation,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director of customer solutions, controls. “And all because the parking brake didn’t get set properly or was released accidentally. Automatic parking brake technology can help make these kinds of accidents – and their repercussions – a thing of the past.” The Intellipark system is expected to enter fleet trials in 2018. EnduraSure Spring Brake Line The company has also announced the launch of the Bendix EnduraSure Spring Brake line, which includes an improved version of its standard chamber, and the addition of a new sealed, professional-grade model. The new series offers even improved durability and performance in its standard EnduraSure product, while now giving fleets and owner-operators a premium option, the EnduraSure-Pro. The new models, double-diaphragm chambers for foundation drum brakes, are now in production. They were designed to meet all SAE requirements for force output while meeting stroke and clevis combination needs. The EnduraSure series is produced by BSFB, a joint venture of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products. For the EnduraSure standard version, Bendix incorporated a number of design improvements that make the spring brake more durable and robust, providing longer power spring life while reducing the risk for chamber air leaks. Bendix’s premium spring brake, the EnduraSure-Pro builds upon the improvements made in its base model spring brake and incorporates them into a premium sealed chamber. The result is that the EnduraSure-Pro performs at a level in which its power spring life is proven to be up to 1.5 times longer than other sealed spring brakes available today, according to Bendix. Additions to Wingman Fusion Driver Assistance System The Bendix Wingman Fusion advanced driver assistance system will offer highway departure braking and multi-lane automatic emergency braking along with strengthened collision mitigation and braking capabilities. The new features will be made available through software updates and current Fusion users will be able to upgrade with no need to purchase new hardware components. “What enables Fusion to make better decisions with fewer false alerts and interventions is a combination of constantly improving computer analysis and more data into the system,” said Andersky. “It’s integrating information from camera and radars – both front and, eventually, side, along with a vehicle’s brake sensors, and linking these systems together. It’s this linking together, not just in parallel, that makes Wingman Fusion a platform for the future, upon which even greater vehicle and highway safety technologies can be built.” Wingman Fusion combines and cross-checks information from multiple sources to deliver enhanced rear-end collision mitigation, alerts when speeding, and braking on stationary vehicles. Fusion also helps drivers avoid additional crash situations, including rollovers, loss-of-control – thanks to Bendix ESP full-stability technology, which is included as part of the system – and sideswipe crashes, while prioritizing alerts to help reduce driver distraction. Building on Fusion’s current lane departure technology, the new highway departure braking capability will alert the driver and apply brakes if the system determines the vehicle has left the roadway. Multi-lane automatic emergency braking means that if Fusion is applying the brakes due to a vehicle in the lane ahead and the driver switches to an adjacent lane, the system will continue applying the brakes if it detects another car ahead in the new lane – helping the driver avoid both the first and potentially second situation, something that can occur when multiple lanes of traffic are blocked on a highway. The upcoming Fusion 2.0 will also be able to provide full braking power on the tractor, compared with the two-thirds power currently possible. Combined with the improved sensor and data analysis, this means that in an emergency situation, the system will be able to reduce a vehicle’s speed by as much as 50 percent more than the current Fusion system. BlindSpotter Integration with Wingman Fusion In its first major update in a decade to the BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System, Bendix has added a more effective radar unit and integration capability with Bendix Wingman Fusion. Despite the changes, Blindspotter will retain its original shape and size, making for easy in-service replacements and retrofit installs. Using a passenger side-mounted radar unit, BlindSpotter is designed to alert drivers to vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes. The next-generation BlindSpotter radar, however, will operate over a significantly wider field of view, allowing it to “see” further toward both the front and back of the combination or single-unit vehicle. Linkage with Wingman Fusion means that data from the side radar will be added to the vehicle’s other J1939 information, and, in the future, may be accessible for review through software such as Bendix’s user-friendly web portal, SafetyDirect by Bendix CVS. These wirelessly transmitted details can then be used to help recognize fleet and driver training needs. As Wingman Fusion continues to advance, the available integration with BlindSpotter will also expand the driver assistance system’s capabilities. Bendix Air Disc Brakes Bendix is increasing its production capacity for air disc brakes and adding an online value calculator to help carriers determine the best braking option for the fleet, responding to an increase in industry demand for ADBs. To support increasing demand of its ADB22X and ADB22X-LT brakes, the company added a new ADB line at its wheel-end manufacturing operation in Bowling Green, Ky. The line became operational in early September and will be ramping up to full capacity in the coming months. The Bendix ADB value calculator, available at ValuebyBendix.com, is designed to help fleets understand what savings opportunities are available if they spec all-wheel ADB22X air disc brakes on their tractors and ADB22X-LT on their trailers. Fleets can go to ValuebyBendix.com, enter basic fleet information specific to their braking practices and needs, and receive a report to help them decide if spec’ing all-wheel air disc brakes over foundation drum brakes makes financial sense. The user-friendly tool asks for information ranging from drum brake friction and maintenance costs to estimated Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) violation costs for out-of-adjustment drum brakes. Brake Lining Certified 23K Friction For fleets needing a 23K aftermarket friction that will keep their vehicles compliant with Reduced Stopping Distance requirements, Bendix announced the BA232R brake lining, available in early October. Available from Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, BA232R linings are designed to handle 23K applications such as heavy line haul, heavy pick-up and delivery, severe duty, and refuse. RSD regulations require most tractor combinations to stop within 250 feet. In testing, the BA232R provided an average 235-foot stopping distance, according to Bendix, exceeding the mandate and putting it in the same performance range as the BA202R. Because not all replacement friction marketed as acceptable under RSD will actually perform to the vehicle regulation – even if it has met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 121 dynamometer test – Bendix recommends that buyers ask for written confirmation from their supplier. BA232R linings will be available on both Bendix remanufactured brake shoes and Service New brake shoes. Ford Adds Bendix ESP to Medium-Duty Offering Ford is offering the Bendix ESP electronic stability program on its medium-duty vocational truck models. Bendix ESP will come standard on all 2018 model year F-650 and F-750 tractors and is available as an option on certain F-750 straight truck configurations. Bendix ESP provides full compliance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stability mandate, which requires full-stability technology on most new Class 7 and Class 8 tractors beginning Aug. 2017 for 6x4 tractors, and finishing for most other Class 7 and Class 8 tractors by Aug. 2019. Depending on the particular Class 7 tractor specifications, Ford tractor models will meet the requirements with Bendix ESP. Also, Ford will make Bendix ESP optional on their single-unit platforms for vocational applications.

Stoughton Adds PureBlue Refrigerated Trailer to Product Lineup Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Stoughton Trailers, as part of its effort to offer a complete product line to customers, introduced a refrigerated trailer line – PureBlue. This gives Stoughton a full line of trailers, including dry van, grain, livestock, intermodal chassis, and now refrigerated trailer that debuted at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. The company spent two years developing the trailer, using proven components, customer input, and thorough testing, Stoughton officials told reporters that PureBlue's innovative design and attention to detail provide lightweight trailers without sacrificing strength, with features that help maintain more consistent temperatures, reduce maintenance, and improve safety. An aluminum scuff and integral composite scuff liner help prevent damage while loading and unloading the trailer. The sidewall and scuff have no rivets that loads can snag and tear out. Stoughton is providing a heavy-duty non-skid duct floor as the preferred floor in the new refrigerated trailer. This durable floor provides optimum support to loads even in high-use areas. The fully enclosed floor design has a knurled edge top surface for skid resistance. There is no wood in the entire structure, which extends the life of the trailer. Stoughton offers several additional optional floors. The 5.25-inch extruded aluminum cross members in the bay area provide a strong yet lightweight floor substructure, and steel cross members are an available option. Stoughton has included several design elements to protect the trailer against air loss and to keep out water. The platen foamed sides and roof ensure that the trailer is fully insulated in 360 degrees with no voids or uneven areas to further increase its thermal efficiency. In addition, Stoughton designed a composite mounting box for the refrigeration unit to help keep the heat of the reefer’s diesel engine from penetrating into the trailer. Stoughton’s composite rear door design optimizes thermal efficiency plus it reduces weight, providing a lightweight, strong, thermally efficient rear door. The bonded side posts in the new refrigerated trailer reduce the number of holes in the sidewalls to further aid in preventing moisture intrusion, in addition to offering a smooth side ideal for graphic applications. Like Stoughton dry van trailers, the PureBlue refrigerated trailer comes standard with the new, stronger, rear underride guard at no additional cost or weight. This is actually not Stoughton’s first time getting into the refrigerated trailer business, noted company officials in response to a question about why European-technology trailer materials are not used. In the ‘90s, it teamed up with Alcoa for Stoughton Composites, which “was probably the closest product into this market that used European sandwich panels,” says Stoughton’s Todd Eicher, Manager - Product Engineering R&D. “But it was unique in a way that was more difficult for customers to repair because the repair methods were different.” With the PureBlue, “we’ve purposely endeavored to keep design familiar. So they'll be able to maintain it without having to retrain workforce or be bound to some exotic materials.” The new Stoughton PureBlue refrigerated trailer will be available in early 2018. .

Meritor Offers Improved Version of Air Disc Brake Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA – Meritor announced its EX+ air disc brake for tractors and trailers has been optimized to reduce product weight and total cost of ownership. The optimized EX+ will be available to OEMs in 2018. "We're focused on product development to make air disc brake sytems more lightweight and cost effective," explained T.J. Reed, vice president, front drivetrain, North America, at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. He pointed out that Meritor has been designing and manufacturing brakes for more than 100 years. "You may think of Meritor as a drivetrain or axle company, but ... we had first axle brake integration program right before World War I." Meritor engineers reduced the weight of the caliper by 10 pounds without offsetting any brake performance, Reed said. "We are so confident that we improved the warranty to 5 years/500,000 miles for linehaul applications." The gear-synchronized, twin-piston design of the new EX+ delivers even force across the brake pads simultaneously, resulting in better performance and uniform pad wear. The EX+ optimized ADB offers shorter and smoother stopping distances and reduced brake fade. A patented double-sealing technology minimizes water exposure to seal the EX+ for life. It simplifies pad service steps – including 30-minute pad changes – and lowers maintenance costs with faster inspection and repair times. "Fleets are beginning to see the benefits of air disc brakes, especially in safety and performance," said Chris Villavarayan, president, Americas for Meritor. "We have validated the EX+ in the most severe conditions to deliver superior performance and lower lifecycle costs." Reed also noted that Meritor air disc brakes are compatible with most collision mitigation systems currently on the market. Fleets can also specify drum brakes on rear axles and ADBs on the front. Meritor's improved standard warranty now offers coverage of five years and 500,000 miles for both parts and labor on linehaul applications when specified with Meritor's exclusive friction. Meritor brakes are backed by DriveForce™ – Meritor's North America sales and service organization – to assist customers before, during and after the sale. .

Meritor to Start Testing Electric Drivetrain Next Year Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA – As Meritor works to stay ahead in an industry facing the most rapid change CEO Jay Craig says he’s ever seen, the company announced it’s developing a new portfolio of electric drivetrains. Meritor announced at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show that it is developing a platform of electric drive axles and suspensions as well as supporting systems “to position Meritor as a leader in electric solutions for the commercial vehicle market.” It also announced an improved air disc brake and a new low-cost aftermarket brand. “You’re seeing part of the Renaissance of Meritor,” Craig said. About a year into its three-year M2019 plan focusing on revenue growth, the company continues to press forward with its goal to roll out at least 20 new products during that three-year time frame. “We're also committed to electrification,” Craig said. “We’ve had a lot of interest from OEs on how we can start to work with them to launch demonstrator and production vehicles as well. We have a product for every category of the commercial vehicle market,” he said, including trucks, buses, and delivery vans. “We offer the complete portfolio and our plan is to continue to be the drivetrains leader – no matter where the industry evolves.” The electric drivetrains address several trends in the industry, said Cheri Lantz, vice president and chief strategy officer: the increasing quest for efficiency, global emissions regulations, and the advancement of electrification as technology improves and battery costs come down. Essentially, Meritor is focusing on integrating an electric motor into the differential carrier. The flexible e-carrier design will be the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, single or tandem axles with various options based on application. Designed for city-delivery, medium-duty and transit bus, as well as off-road and severe-duty applications, the electrified, lightweight carrier offers several benefits over remote-mounted electric motor configurations. Meritor designed the e-carrier as a drop-in replacement of a conventional mechanical carrier that does not disrupt axle or suspension packaging. Because the electric motor is integrated into the axle, space is freed up for batteries and other electrical components, offering easier packaging and installation and a safer, more protected location inside the frame rails to mount the batteries. The design also eliminates cost and weight associated with a driveline and mounting a remote motor with brackets. The following near-term electrified product solutions are under development by Meritor: • Integrated two-speed electric carrier platform capable of delivering 150-200 kilowatts of continuous power for mounting on existing axle platforms, fitting a wide variety of applications on rigid and independent suspensions • 13Xe rigid axle, capable of 200 kilowatts of continuous power and featuring customizable gearing to cover linehaul, school bus, refuse, pickup and delivery, utility and other applications • Electric-driving independent suspension for applications such as military, emergency, off-highway and construction vehicles that will benefit from increased performance as well as better ride comfort and handling • Electric eCorner module for low-floor applications such as medium-duty Class 4 and 5 pickup and delivery vehicles and transit buses. Meritor says it’s taking an integrated approach to electrification, so it will also offer braking systems optimized for e-axles. The Next Generation Quadraulic brake and Next Generation Air Disc Brake have been designed for use on hybrid or electric vehicles with regenerative braking. “Both take advantage of the lighter duty cycle in an electric vehicle,” explained Lantz. “You have regenerative braking so you don't use the brakes as much, so we have been able to reduce wearable content and save cost and weight on the braking systems.” The components will be part of a demonstration vehicle to be built in 2018, with production beginning as early as 2019. .

Bosch Demonstrates Automated, Connected Tech at NACV Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Bosch showcased its portfolio of commercial vehicle solutions at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, including automated, connected and electrified technologies aimed at improving safety, comfort, and efficiency. A demonstration truck will be on hand at the event to show future technologies, including those on the path to automated driving. “The commercial transport sector is rapidly evolving and Bosch is paving the way for the future,” said Jason Roycht, vice president of the Commercial Vehicle & Off-Road business unit in North America. “Our commercial vehicle systems include innovative technologies that make vehicles more electrified, efficient, connected and automated. This is made possible by features like real-time communication devices, advanced connectivity capabilities, and sophisticated powertrain options.” At NACV Bosch debuted its 15-inch freely programmable cluster, a display designed to be integrated with advanced driver assistance technologies. The 15-inch monitor comes in landscape and portrait orientations. The landscape version can be used as a dashboard solution while the portrait monitor can be connected to a camera system and used as a side mirror replacement. Another product is the Bosch Central Gateway, designed to enable secure connectivity in commercial vehicles. It is the central communication node that acts as a router for in-vehicle communication and through the connectivity control unit to the outside. It is the gate for all data coming into the vehicle and is secure through security functions such as firewall and intrusion detection. ETAS and ESCRYPT (both parts of the Bosch Group) provide the necessary transmission and encryption technologies that ensure functional safety and data security. Bosch showcased several future-focused powertrain concepts at NACV, including the eCity Truck diesel hybrid system for light commercial vehicles that uses an electric axle. The eAxle is a scalable, modular platform with the motor, power electronics, and transmission forming a single compact unit. To further reduce fuel consumption, the eCity Truck platform can also seamlessly integrate 48-volt technology. The Bosch boost recuperation system allows for the provision of 48-volt electrical accessories as well as energy recovery, and efficient functions such as start-stop. The company also announced that a team led by Bosch was awarded up to $5 million from the Energy Department to demonstrate a commercially viable, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrain for medium-duty vehicles typically used in delivery vehicle fleets as part of the Medium-duty Urban Range Connected Extended Powertrain project. Lastly, Bosch added to its driver assistance technology portfolio with the latest generation of multi-purpose cameras. The MPC is a scalable, monocular camera platform for video-based driver assistance systems. The MPC integrates a wide range for driver assistance functions into vehicles using a single sensor. .

Accuride Introduces Hub Wheel End System Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Accuride Corp. introduced a new hub system for trucks and trailers on Wednesday at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta. The Rolliant system is from the wheel end component supplier KIC, which Accuride acquired earlier this year and is reportedly the first long-life, low maintenance hub system to come with a 10-year warranty for trailer applications and a seven-year warranty for trucks. The technology has been designed for North American commercial vehicle fleets seeking long-life hub performance, and truck and trailer OEMs who want to simplify wheel end installation and boost throughput during assembly, according to Accuride. “We think it’s a game changer, giving our customers a hub system for the life of their trailers,” said Neil McIrvin, vice president/OEM sales, trailer and municipal. He said the Rolliant system was developed in response to industry demand for a more affordable hub system that was easy to install and maintain and could last the life of both trucks and trailers. “Its patent-pending technology maintains tight wheel-bearing tolerances for safe, reliable performance and enables us to offer industry-leading warranties for truck and trailer applications,” said McIrvin. Proper wheel bearing adjustment is critical to achieving safe, reliable performance that enables long-life truck and trailer operation, according to Accuride. A deviation in adjustment, even the width of a human hair, can mean the difference between safe, reliable hub system performance and premature tire wear, wheel seal failure, and premature bearing failure. The Rolliant system’s extended bearing cone technology improves on existing precision bearing systems to keep wheel bearings in tight, consistent alignment. It works with both straight-spindle and tapered-spindle hub designs and does not need specialized spindle nuts or extra parts. Each hub is assembled with 100% endplay inspection and serialization for complete traceability and optimal bearing life. This allows the hub to deliver consistent, low-maintenance performance for the life of the vehicle, according to Accuride. .

Michelin Unveils New Dual-Position Drive Tire Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA — Michelin Truck Tires unveiled its newest dual-position drive tire for line-haul operations today at the North American Commerical Vehicle Show (NACV) in Atlanta. The new XDA Energy + tire is designed for fleets and owner-operators who are focused on fuel savings to reduce their operating costs. Adam Murphy, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, said the fuel savings generated by the new tire are driven by an innovative FuelSaver compound formula for ultra-low rolling resistance. The tire is compliant with SmartWay, California Air Resources Board, and can help fleets by being a significant contributor to Greenhouse Gas Phase II regulations and the tire supports fleet sustainability and green initiatives, Murphy added. Murphy says the tire’s design will also help fleets contain maintenance costs. The XDA Energy + features wide circumferential grooves for efficient water evacuation and grooved, angled walls to help resist stone retention that can lead to stone drilling that potentially damages the casing. The sidewall also features TW6 OzoneShield technology for increased protection against weathering. The tire features a durable Michelin casing capable of supporting multiple retreads while further reducing maintenance costs. Confident in the tire’s fuel-efficiency capability, Murphy said Michelin will offer a limited guarantee of $400 per truck in fuel savings. Fleets can contact their local Michelin representative to schedule a fuel evaluation of the XDA Energy+ versus a competitive product. “Helping fleets to increase their competitiveness in the market is our goal,” Murphy said. “One of the main levers fleets have to improve their competitiveness is improving their fuel efficiency, and tires like the new Michelin XDA Energy + can play a key role. With rolling resistance accounting for approximately 35 percent of the total fuel cost of a Class 8 truck, the Michelin XDA Energy + provides seven percent better rolling resistance than a leading competitor for unparalleled fuel savings.” .

Neil Abt, Fleet Owner / September 27, 2017 Company offers $400 fuel savings guarentee Michelin Americas Truck Tires has introduced its XDA Energy + dual drive-position tire for linehaul applications. The XDA Energy + is our “latest and greatest fuel solution,” Adam Murphy, vice president of marketing, said Sept. 27 during the North American Commercial Vehicle show. He said this is most suited for dry van truckload and refrigerated fleets. They can save a fleet $400 annual per truck in fuel compared with leading competitors, Murphy said, through better rolling resistance and the FuelSaver tread compound. Murphy said Michelin is offering a $400 fuel savings guarantee to customers to help promote the new tire, which comes at a higher price. Murphy said beyond fuel savings, the tire offers reduced maintenance costs through longer life, as well as the ability to keep the tire through multiple retread cycles. The tire will officially launch in the replacement and original equipment markets on Oct. 1. Michelin also announced it has added a 275/80R22.5 low-profile size of the Michelin X MultiTM D tire. It is aimed at regional fleet vehicles and can lower overall truck height, improve clearance issues, and help improve aerodynamics for fuel efficiency.

Neil Abt, Fleet Owner / September 27, 2017 ATLANTA. Allison Transmission on Sept. 27 announced plans for its first nine-speed model, a fully automatic transmission for Classes 3-7 vehicles aimed for release in 2020. “With this new transmission, Allison continues to demonstrate its commitment to help achieve standards regarding fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Randy Kirk, senior vice president of product engineering and product teams. During a press conference at the North American Commercial Vehicle show, Kirk said the transmission can offer up to “10% or more”greater fuel economy when compared with other transmissions. The transmission is particularly suited for distribution trucks, lease trucks, and school buses, Kirk said. He added with the deep first gear ratio, the nine-speed transmission provides fuel savings as the gear train allows the torque converter to lock up early in first gear. Also, the transmission will include an engine stop-start system that provides immediate transmission engagement and vehicle hold while the engine is restarted. “When combined with FuelSense, our software and electronic controls packages, and our other fuel-saving technologies, the nine-speed will set a new benchmark in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, achieving greenhouse gas emissions model benefits,” said Kirk. “Many OEMs in North America, Europe and Asia have expressed interest and excitement, with prototype evaluations beginning for them yet this year.” Allison said the transmission will be manufactured at its plant in Indianapolis. .

Stoughton unveils PureBlue refrigerated trailer Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner / September 27, 2017 New model will be available next year sometime in the beginning of the first quarter. ATLANTA. As part of a longer-term strategic growth initiative, Stoughton Trailers is rolling out a new refrigerated trailer model dubbed “PureBlue” to broaden its product line so it can make inroads with larger customers. “Large customers have mixed fleets of dry van and refrigerated trailers; you can’t bid for that business unless you have both. The two are tied together,” Ted Leroy, product manager for Stoughton, explained to Fleet Owner. Todd Eicher, Stoughton’s director of engineering, noted that PureBlue is designed to be a lightweight reefer trailer that doesn’t sacrifice strength while delivering more thermal efficiency and safety than competitive models currently on the road today. “Better thermal efficiency means less run time is required for the reefer unit; that saves fuel and thus cost,” he said. “But the biggest issue is to build a lightweight trailer with that efficiency within a design customers are used to; one that they will know how to repair with their current skills sets.” Eicher added that key features of the company’s new PureBlue refrigerated trailer include: An aluminum scuff and integral composite scuff liner to help prevent damage during loading and unloading; A sidewall and scuff designed with no rivets to prevent snags and tear outs. A heavy-duty duct floor designed with a knurled edge top surface for skid resistance. “There is no wood in this trailer,” Eicher stressed. “That helps extend its longevity.” The floor’s 5.25-inch extruded aluminum cross members in the bay area provide a strong yet lightweight floor substructure, with steel cross members an available option. The composite rear door is built with a triple wiper seal gasket to prevent water intrusion and minimize air loss to protect the interior of the trailer and cargo from the elements. The platen foamed sides and roof ensure that the trailer is fully insulated in 360 degrees with no voids or uneven areas to further increase its thermal efficiency. The bonded side posts in the new refrigerated trailer reduce the number of holes in the sidewalls to further aid in preventing moisture intrusion in addition to improving presentation for graphic applications. Like all Stoughton dry van models, PureBlue comes standard with a rear underride guard resists compartmental intrusion of an automobile when the location of impact is at 30% to 100% overlap of the width of the car to the guard – at no additional cost or weight. Stoughton added that it is planning to roll out a multi-temperature trailer model sometime in 2019. .

Transport Topics / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA — Stoughton Trailers has added a refrigerated model to its lineup, its first entry into the segment in years and a move that the company said completes its lineup. “This is a product that fills out our portfolio,” Ted Leroy, a product manager with Stoughton, said during a press conference at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show here to introduce the PureBlue refrigerated trailer. The reefer will join the company’s lineup of dry van, grain, livestock and intermodal trailers when it hits the market in the first quarter of 2018, the company said. The PureBlue is the company’s first foray into the refrigerated trailer market since 1999, the year that a joint venture with Alcoa on a reefer unit concluded. Stoughton believes that a combination of corporate strategy and business conditions make now an excellent time for it to re-enter the refrigerated market. “It is the right time for Stoughton to grow,” said Todd Eicher, director of engineering for Stoughton’s diversified trailer products division. “Stoughton has a very strong, well thought-out growth agenda, and fits right into it. The market segment is strong, and this is a good time to enter into it. That doesn’t mean that there’s not strong competition, but the market is strong, so we feel that it’s right.” Leroy noted that the new trailer gives Stoughton an opportunity to offer “a full fleet” to customers who operate both dry van and refrigerated trailers. The PureBlue is the result of two years of development, and has features that Stoughton said sets it apart in the marketplace. They include a triple wiper seal door gasket designed to prevent water intrusion and minimize air loss, and platen foamed sides and roof to ensure that the trailer is fully insulated 360 degrees to prevent voids or uneven areas to further increase thermal efficiency, it said. Bonded side posts reduce the number of holes in the sidewalls to further aid in preventing moisture intrusion, and can improve the surface for installing trailer graphics. The trailer also features an aluminum scuff and integral composite scuff liner to help prevent damage during loading and unloading, the company said. .

Transport Topics / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA — Continental Tire has introduced a system that checks inflation levels in a truck’s tires as it passes an external monitoring station, with data transmitted from sensors integrated into the tires that require no electronics to be installed on the truck, the company said. The system, called ContiConnect, is designed for “anybody who is coming and going through a terminal on a regular basis,” said Paul Williams, executive vice president for the company’s North American tire operations. This could include, he said, transit or school buses, dump trucks and more. Sensors installed in the inner lining of the tire measure tire temperature and inflation. Mounting the sensors in the tire rather than on the rim helps prevent false readings due to heat being generated by the truck’s braking system, Williams said. The system does not require a telematics system on the truck, he noted. As trucks enter a fleet yard, terminal or other location where the company’s “yard reader” data station is installed, the station picks up readings from the sensors and transmits them to the ContiConnect web portal via a cellular network. The data from there can be read by a maintenance manager or other company representative, who can take corrective action that might prevent a tire failure on the road, Williams said. The system issues low pressure alerts and tracks data over time, and permits users to view reports and analytics for all tires equipped with sensors. The platform also features customizable text and email notifications, so the fleet personnel can receive immediate alerts when low tire pressure or high tire temperature is recorded. “You have to get the data outside of the truck to someone who cares,” he said. Select tire models are available direct from the factory with sensors installed. Sensors can also be installed into a fleet’s existing tires, Continental said. The sensors can also be installed in retreads, Williams added. Continental also offers its ContiPressureCheck system for fleets interested in seeing real-time tire data via a telematics system. This system offers data integration with multiple telematics providers, including Zonar, which is majority owned by Continental, as well as PeopleNet. This integration allows tire data to be seen in both the providers’ in-cab displays and back-end portals, Continental said. .

Dana Introduces New Driveshaft Product and Medium-Duty Option Transport Topics / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA — Dana Inc. launched its latest driveshaft, expanded the availability of a drive axle and offered a new option for certain steer axles, while outlining the trends in electrification. The company made its announcements at the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show here Sept. 26. Ryan Laskey, vice president of engineering for commercial vehicle and core driveline products at Dana, outlined trends in the fast-emerging electrification of vehicles. First, battery costs are falling fast, he said. In 2010, the cost per kilowatt hour was about $1,000. “We see by 2020, they are going to sitting down in the range of $100 to $150 per kilowatt hour, and that is the point you really see total cost of ownership driving electrified solutions,” Laskey said. Regulations — both national and local — that slash emissions are the other key mega trend, he said. “You are going to need to have a solution that is not going to use the likes of a diesel engine to do that.” For its part, Dana is accelerating the hybridization of electrification across its entire driveline industry and power technologies group, he said. At the same time, the annual demand in China for “pure battery electric solutions” transit buses is already dwarfing electrification in the rest of the world, and is helping provide scale for companies involved in China and also looking to market in other areas, he said. China is on track for 100,000 such buses this year, and 300,000 in 2020, Laskey said. Meanwhile, Dana launched its SPL 250 Lite driveshaft, calling it the next generation in a “robust” series of driveshafts for heavy-duty trucks. It is designed to handle torque ratings up to 25,000 Nm [newton-meter], and is up to 25 pounds lighter than competitive products and engineered to reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels, according to the company. “The lower numeric axle ratios required to support engine downspeeding and improve fuel efficiency can cause significant stress to the drivetrain and alter harmonics in driveline components,” Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies, said in a statement. In addition, Dana’s Spicer S140 Series single-reduction, single-drive axle is now available as an option on Classes 6 and 7 vehicles from Peterbilt Motors Co. — a unit of Paccar Inc. — including the 220, 330, 337 and 348 models. It comes with gross axle weight ratings from 17,000 through 21,000 pounds, while weighing up to 100 pounds less than competitive axles, according to Dana. With 50% fewer components and six fewer pints of lubricant required than any other axle in its class, maintenance costs have also been reduced, according to the company. Both the SPL 250 Lite and SPL 350 Lite driveshafts are available with a choice of service-free or standard re-lube designs to accommodate fleet preference. Lastly, Dana made its new aluminum hub an option on Spicer D-Series steer axles with a 14,600-pound gross axle weight rating, according to the company. Dana supports the commercial truck, off-highway and passenger vehicle markets, as well as industrial and stationary equipment applications. .

Transport Topics / September 26, 2017 ATLANTA — Cummins Inc. is looking at how to expand its medium-duty powertrain market into Classes 4 and 5, eventually, a company executive said. “We continue to look at it, what the right powertrain is. I think you’ll see over the next few years how we enter that [Classes 4 and 5] market. We do have interest. We just need to figure out how to attack it,” said Brett Merritt, general manager, on-highway engine business, at Cummins. Transport Topics interviewed Merritt during the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show here Sept. 25. The question is how do you “get the cost-effective solution that still meets the need of that market, and then have a partner that can cost-effectively compete on the truck side,” Merritt said. In the meantime, Cummins has moved from a single percentage point market share in medium-duty in the early 2000s to now a leading 76%, “depending on what part of the market you calculate,” he said. Cummins calculates it as Classes 6 and 7, as well as Class 8, Group 1 — “that’s a 9-liter engine,” he said. “The medium-duty is a great market, and it kind of surprised a few of us. It has been a steady market, but at some point you thought it may not continue to grow, but it continues to be a strong market,” Merritt said. .

Neil Abt, September 27, 2017 ATLANTA. Eberspaecher introduced its next generation 1Box aftertreatment system at the North American Commercial Vehicle show this week. The shape of the 1Box helps reduce weight by about 40% over other box style solutions, said Dale Boone, director of product development of commercial vehicle business for the Americas. He added the 1Box aftertreatment system integrates the diesel oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction into one package. Also at NACV, Eberspaecher introduced its new 1Line aftertreatment solution, which combines the DPF and SCR into a single component. In addition, it showed the new compact mixer, which is engineered to work with all urea injector designs and styles. .

Bosch turns the truck into a technology showcase Neil Abt, September 26, 2017 ATLANTA. Bosch used its booth at the North American Commercial Vehicle show to demonstrate its vision of turning a truck into what Jason Roycht, vice president of the commercial vehicle unit, called “a technology showpiece.” Roycht said through the combination of automation, connectivity, and electrified technology, lives will be saved and vehicle efficiency will increase. “The rate of change the next 10 years will be greater than the last 100,” he said during a Sept. 26 media briefing. “Connectivity is a part of our everyday lives. The commercial truck is no exception.” During that event, Bosch debuted a 15-inch freely programmable digital cluster, which it said is the largest available for the commercial vehicle industry. The company said the screen creates stunning clarity for the safe display of relevant information and enables future safety and automated solutions as it is integrated with advanced driver assistance technologies. The monitor has two variants, one in landscape mode as a dashboard solution and another in portrait mode as part of a mirror camera system that can replace side mirrors. To compliment the technology, Bosch also showcased its Central Gateway (CGW) that enables secure connectivity and acts as a router for in-vehicle communication. Bosch units ETAS and ESCRYPT provide the necessary transmission and encryption technologies that ensure data security. During the media briefing, Roycht also touched upon the recent announcement that it was partnering with Nikola Motor Co. in the development of the Nikola One and Two, a class 8 hydrogen-electric truck lineup. Roycht said Bosch’s eAxle expertise has allowed Nikola to move quickly on an aggressive path to bring its electric truck to market. 
 The eAxle is a scalable, modular platform with the motor, power electronics, and transmission in one compact unit. This makes it suitable for vehicles of all kinds, from small passenger cars to light trucks The eAxles will be paired with a custom-designed fuel cell system – also being developed jointly between Nikola and Bosch. “Together with Nikola we are pushing ourselves to realize new levels of technological achievement and market penetration,” Dr. Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management responsible for commercial vehicles. 
 .

Green Car Congress / September 27, 2017 At the North American Commercial Vehicle Show (NACV) in Atlanta this week, Bosch is showcasing its portfolio of automated, connected and electrified technologies for commercial vehicles. At NACV, Bosch will debut its 15-inch freely programmable cluster, the largest digital cluster available for the commercial vehicle industry. The optically-bonded display enables future safety and automated solutions as it is easily integrated with advanced driver assistance technologies. Bosch’s 15-inch monitor has two variants, one in landscape mode as a dashboard solution and another in portrait mode as part of a mirror camera system that can replace side mirrors and improve vehicle efficiency by reducing drag. The Bosch Central Gateway (CGW) enables secure connectivity in commercial vehicles. It is the central communication node that acts as a router for in-vehicle communication and through the connectivity control unit (CCU) to the outside. It is the gate for all data coming into the vehicle and is secure through security functions such as firewall and intrusion detection. ETAS and ESCRYPT (both parts of the Bosch Group) provide the necessary transmission and encryption technologies that ensure functional safety and data security. Powertrain concepts. At NACV 2017, Bosch is also showcasing several future-focused powertrain concepts engineered to save fuel and money while extending the lives of fleets. The eCity Truck is an innovative diesel hybrid system that is a flexible and scalable solution allowing easy integration of an electric axle (eAxle) into light commercial vehicles to enable the easy conversion of a traditional diesel truck platform to a diesel-electric hybrid truck. The eAxle is a scalable, modular platform with the motor, power electronics, and transmission form one compact unit. To further reduce fuel consumption, the eCity Truck platform can also integrate 48-volt technology. The Bosch boost recuperation system enables the provision of a 48V electrical accessories as well as energy recovery and smooth, efficient functions such as start-stop. Bosch is also developing deeply integrated systems for the future that will offer greater fuel savings. The USDepartment of Energy (DOE) awarded a team led by Bosch up to $5 million dedicated to the development and demonstration of a commercially-viable, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain for medium-duty vehicles typically used in delivery vehicle fleets as part of the Medium-duty Urban Range Connected Extended Powertrain (MURECP) project. At NACV, Bosch will present progress to-date on the project as part of a comprehensive view of the future of the commercial vehicle powertrain. Progress on the MURECP project includes the advanced dual-planetary gear transmission (e2PG) featuring multiple clutches that reduces fuel consumption by more than 50% on a real-world drive cycle. The design calls for a scalable battery that makes an all-electric driving range feasible, enabling zero local emissions driving in city centers. Targeting CV delivery trucks, the e2PG powersplit/multi-mode transmission architecture allows for an efficient downsizing of an internal combustion engine via deep integration of two electric motors, resulting in reduced fuel consumption while still maintaining or even improving the overall performance of the vehicle. Control unit. The Bosch vehicle control unit (VCU) for Commercial Vehicle and Off-road vehicle application enables the development of future technologies, not only for powertrain diversification, but also for automated driving functionalities as well as connected functionalities. The VCU offers one scalable electric/electronic (E/E) architecture to handle the increased number of calculation-intensive and cross-domain functionalities within continuously evolving efficient, connected and autonomous vehicle. Thermal management. Whether a traditional internal combustion engine, hybrid-electric or electric vehicle, thermal management has emerged as a key topic for managing vehicle efficiency. At NACV, Bosch will demonstrate technologies it has developed to manage heating and cooling vehicles. Bosch is working to efficiently manage the heat flow and avoid wasting energy, ultimately improving fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines or increasing the range of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. The example thermal system will show Bosch fans, pumps and valves for optimizing energy management throughout the entire vehicle—including solutions for highly efficient heating and air conditioning that satisfies all comfort needs. Actuator. The innovative Electronically Commutated Actuator (ECA) is a Bosch brushless direct current (BLDC) electric motor platform designed specifically for actuation tasks in commercial vehicle applications and environments. Newly designed from the ground up, the ECA actuator performs very precise and high dynamic actuation tasks in the rough environments of engine compartments, chassis and powertrain applications. ADAS. Bosch’s driver assistance systems actively support the driver to enhance driving comfort and improve safety on the path to automated driving. Bosch has an expansive catalogue in this space, including ultrasonic, radar and video sensors as well as steering solutions. The latest generation of the Bosch multi-purpose camera (MPC) is a scalable, monocular camera platform for video-based driver assistance systems that make driving safe and more comfortable. The MPC integrates a wide range of driver assistance functions into vehicles using only one sensor. Another key enabler for driver assistance technology is the Servotwin steering system, a steering technology pre-requisite needed for automated driving. The Servotwin enables automatic steering for functions such as lane-keeping assistance and cross-wind compensation. The Bosch demonstration truck will feature how the Servotwin and multi-purpose camera work together in lane-keeping functions.

Green Car Congress / September 27, 2017 Volvo Trucks is taking the position that by replacing diesel with liquefied natural gas or biogas, CO2 emissions from heavy trucks can be drastically reduced. Volvo Trucks is intensifying its development of gas-powered trucks for heavy regional and long-haul operations. Reducing climate-impacting emissions from heavy commercial traffic is a challenge that engages politicians and transport purchasers, haulage companies and vehicle manufacturers. In May the EU presented a regulation demanding declaration of CO2 figures from heavy vehicles as of 2019, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. Many of our customers and their customers already work hard to reduce their environmental footprint. This regulation will drive the development of lower emissions, where we see a clear possibility for increasing LNG market shares as a vital part of the solution. Our vision is that trucks from Volvo will eventually have zero emissions, although the way of achieving that is not by one single solution but rather through several solutions in parallel. —Lars Mårtensson, Director Environment and Innovation at Volvo Trucks Although a fossil fuel, natural gas can produce 20% lower CO2 emissions than diesel. If biogas is used instead, the climate impact can be cut by up to 100%. While biogas is thus far only produced in limited quantities, the long-term availability of natural gas is excellent in a global perspective. This is an important condition for large-scale expansion, as is a competitive price, Volvo says. In many European countries, natural gas costs less than diesel. A strategy for expanding LNG infrastructure is also included in the European Commission’s and member states’ action packages for securing Europe’s long-term energy supply. All told, this makes liquefied gas the best widely available climate alternative on the market for long and heavy transports. What is needed now is gas-powered trucks that can compete with diesel in terms of performance and fuel consumption, and continued expansion of LNG infrastructure. In both cases major progress has been achieved. —Lars Mårtensson

Meritor developing electric solutions platform for commercial vehicles Green Car Congress / September 27, 2017 Meritor is developing a platform of electric drive axles and suspensions as well as supporting systems to position Meritor as a leader in electric solutions for the commercial vehicle market. “Essentially, we’re focusing on integrating an electric motor into the differential carrier,” said Jay Craig, CEO and president for Meritor. “As we look to future emissions regulations and our customers’ desire for more efficiency, we’re developing new and innovative solutions to expand our product portfolio.” Meritor’s flexible e-carrier design will be the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, single or tandem axles with various options based on application, according to Craig. Designed for city-delivery, medium-duty and transit bus, as well as off-road and severe-duty applications, the electrified, lightweight carrier offers several benefits over remote-mounted electric motor configurations. Meritor designed the e-carrier as a drop-in replacement of a conventional mechanical carrier that does not disrupt axle or suspension packaging. Because the electric motor is integrated into the axle, space is freed up for batteries and other electrical components, offering easier packaging and installation and a safer, more protected location inside the frame rails to mount the batteries. The solution also eliminates cost and weight associated with a driveline and mounting a remote motor with brackets. The following near-term electrified product solutions are under development by Meritor: · Integrated two-speed electric carrier platform capable of delivering 150-200 kilowatts of continuous power for mounting on existing axle platforms, fitting a wide variety of applications on rigid and independent suspensions. · 13Xe rigid axle, capable of 200 kW of continuous power and featuring customizable gearing to cover linehaul, school bus, refuse, pickup and delivery, utility and other applications. · Electric-driving independent suspension for applications such as military, emergency, off-highway and construction vehicles that will benefit from increased performance as well as better ride comfort and handling. · Electric eCorner module for low-floor applications such as medium-duty Classes 4 and 5, pickup and delivery and transit buses. Meritor will also offer braking systems optimized for e-axles. The Next Generation Quadraulic brake and Next Generation Air Disc Brake have been designed for use on hybrid or electric vehicles with regenerative braking. Both brakes reduce weight on wheel-ends, according to Craig. Each of these product solutions focuses on increased fuel economy and efficient performance as well as drivability, emphasizing on-demand torque response of the electric motors. The components will be part of a demonstration vehicle to be built in 2018, with production beginning as early as 2019.

NAFTA negotiators make progress, but say a lot of work remains Reuters / September 27, 2017 OTTAWA -- The United States, Canada, and Mexico said on Tuesday they had made some progress in talks to modernize the NAFTA trade pact while acknowledging much work remained if they are to wrap the process up by the end of the year, as planned. Negotiators ended the third of seven rounds in Ottawa by saying they had substantially concluded one chapter, on small- and medium-sized enterprises. They also said they expected to wrap up work on competition issues before the next round in Washington from Oct 11-15. But the three teams did not dive into the details of the most sensitive matters and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo told a news conference that there would be "substantial challenges" in the next round. Mexican and Canadian officials have already expressed concern that the United States has not yet presented details on some of the toughest issues, such as rules of origin which outlines how much of a product needs to originate in a NAFTA country. The talks are supposed to finish in December but trade experts say this is unlikely, given the complexity of some of the most contentious topics. "We never said this was going to be easy," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters at the end of the five-day session. Trade among the three nations has quadrupled since NAFTA came into effect in 1994, surpassing $1 trillion in 2015. But U.S. President Donald Trump regularly calls the treaty a disaster and has threatened to walk away from it unless major changes are made, citing U.S. job losses and a trade deficit with Mexico. The talks took place as Canada fumed over a U.S. decision to impose preliminary duties on Bombardier's CSeries jets, which is likely to add to trade tensions. The decision by the U.S. Commerce Department is likely to further harden Canada's stance on keeping a key dispute-settlement mechanism in the NAFTA, which the Trump administration wants to eliminate. Freeland raised the issue with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday during NAFTA negotiations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told legislators. Freeland has suggested that Canada could walk away from the NAFTA talks over the so-called Chapter 19 dispute mechanism, under which binational panels make binding decisions on complaints about illegal subsidies and dumping. The United States has frequently lost such cases. A lengthy fight over Chapter 19 could drag out NAFTA negotiations beyond a planned end-December deadline to reach a deal ahead of Mexico's presidential election campaign. The U.S. delegation presented draft text on NAFTA labor standards on Tuesday and put forward proposals on investment and intellectual property at the weekend. Laxer labor standards and lower pay in Mexico have swelled corporate profits at the expense of Canadian and U.S. workers, making the issue one of the major battlegrounds of the NAFTA talks.

FCA to engage in settlement talks over diesel emissions Reuters / September 27, 2017 WASHINGTON -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles next month will engage in settlement talks with lawyers representing vehicle owners suing the automaker over excess diesel emissions, a court-appointed settlement adviser said Wednesday. The talks are set for Oct. 12 in Washington. In May, the U.S. Justice Department sued Fiat Chrysler, accusing the company of illegally using software that led to excess emissions in nearly 104,000 U.S. diesel vehicles sold since 2014. It also faces numerous lawsuits from owners of those vehicles. German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH, which develops diesel vehicle systems, has also been sued by U.S. vehicle owners and will take part in the settlement talks next month, settlement master Ken Feinberg said in court. The government will not participate in the talks, Feinberg said. In July, FCA won approval from federal and California regulators to sell 2017 diesel vehicles after it came under scrutiny for alleged excess emissions in older diesel models. An FCA lawyer, Robert Giuffra, said in court the company was confident of being able to use updated emissions software in the 2017 vehicles as the basis of a fix to address agencies’ concerns over 2014-2016 Fiat Chrysler diesel vehicles. Giuffra said the engine and emissions controls were identical in the older vehicles to those in the 2017 models. Justice Department lawyer Leigh Rende said the federal government and California were near agreement on a testing plan with the company to see if the fix will work. The government and company must obtain representative vehicles to test as well, she said. Regulators have said that the older Fiat Chrysler diesel vehicles had undisclosed emissions controls that allowed vehicles to emit excess pollution during normal driving. The company has denied wrongdoing, saying there was never an attempt to create software to cheat emissions rules. Fiat Chrysler's emissions case came after Volkswagen AG's diesel emissions scandal prompted increased industry scrutiny. The German automaker pleaded guilty in March to having intentionally cheated on emissions tests for vehicles it sold since 2009 VW has agreed to spend up to $25 billion to address claims from U.S. owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers, and offered to buy back about 500,000 polluting U.S. vehicles. Regulators are also investigating emissions in Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles, but have yet to take any action. Daimler withdrew a request for approval to sell its 2017 Mercedes-Benz diesel models in the United States in May.

.

Emma Field, The Weekly Times / September 27, 2017 A BID to ban “old” trucks from being part of a new harvest mass management scheme has left the plan in tatters. Two major bulk handlers were this week refusing to sign up to the plan, declaring serious concerns about the Victorian Government’s move to omit trucks older than 15 years old. The scheme was due to start in four days, but is now in limbo without the grain companies’ support. A fortnight ago The Weekly Times revealed the Victorian Government plans to introduce the scheme, scheduled to start on October 1, which would allow participating grain trucks a 5 per cent tolerance over their maximum weight thresholds. This allowed for the natural variation of grain density when trucks are loaded on-farm and when growers do not have on-farm weighbridges. It was also designed to reduce the number of truck movements over harvest. HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the truck age limit be scrapped? Comment below. Under the scheme, only trucks delivering grain to receival sites registered with the VicRoads-run program would be granted a weight tolerance. Without the participation of all bulk handlers the effectiveness of the scheme would be seriously curtailed. Cargill, which operates four GrainFlow grain sites in Victoria, told The Weekly Times it would “hold off” implementing the scheme at its sites unless the Government removes plans to omit trucks more than 15 years old. “The best way forward for the (scheme) to be implemented this harvest would be to remove the condition regarding trucks manufactured before January 1, 2002, not being allowed to participate,” Cargill spokesman Peter McBride said. Victoria’s biggest bulk handling company, GrainCorp, which operates 38 up-country silos and two ports in the state, was reviewing whether it would participate in this year’s trial. “We do have reservations over the model being proposed for the Victorian trial, which excludes a large number of vehicles,” GrainCorp spokesman Angus Trigg said. VicRoads heavy vehicle services director Eric Henderson said trucks built after 2002 were “more compliant with safety and environmental standards than those built before this time”. “This scheme will give the industry a boost during its busiest time of year and importantly, will encourage the use of newer and safer heavy vehicles on Victorian roads,” he said. However, VicRoads data has revealed the average age of heavy vehicle in country Victoria is 29 years old, leaving many trucks unable to be part of the scheme. This means trucks in Victoria more than 15 years old will have no leeway if they are carrying any extra weight when carting grain from farm to silo. Both bulk handling companies claim the announcement of the scheme less than five weeks before harvest starts would also make it difficult to introduce this season. Industry sources have told The Weekly Times about half of the 200 casual harvest GrainCorp staff had already been trained before the announcement, which would not have included details of the new scheme. And The Weekly Times understands the proposed scheme would put bulk handlers in a precarious legal position, with chain of responsibility obligations requiring they ban any overloaded truck from their sites. “Given how close we are to harvest and the transition for growers and (our) systems we believe it is important industry is able to transition with minimum confusion,” Mr Trigg said. “Heavy vehicle safety remains a core priority for us and we strongly support a harvest management scheme in line with the NSW system, which operates well.” Victoria is the last grain-growing state to introduce such a scheme. Queensland’s scheme, which allowed up to 7.5 per cent tolerance on mass limits, has been in place for almost 20 years. NSW, South Australia and Western Australia also have programs in place plus. There is also a National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, which allows a 5 per cent weight limit tolerance, but has high registration, compliance costs and audit requirements. However, not all bulk handlers are opposed to the proposed Victorian scheme. Emerald Group, which operates six grain sites in Victoria plus the Melbourne port, and Viterra, which has three country Victoria sites and a packing facility in Laverton, support the plan. Emerald Grain planning and operations manager Bill Thompson said his company was supportive of the scheme and would be able to implement it for the coming harvest. “We are confident we can meet all of VicRoads requirements ... and provide what allowance we can to growers which are loading (grain) in the paddock,” he said. .

High Five: Daimler’s Indian commercial vehicles brand BharatBenz celebrates five years in the market Daimler AG Press Release / September 26, 2017 Stuttgart/Chennai - Marking an unprecedented ramp-up in India’s commercial vehicle industry, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) celebrates the fifth anniversary of the market launch of BharatBenz trucks. Since September 2012, the brand has continuously advanced despite adverse conditions and is firmly established in the market. More than 55,000 trucks have been delivered to customers across India. The vehicles are tailored to the Indian market and specific customers’ needs. The brand progressed into double-digit market share in recent months and extended its position as clear number three in heavy-duty trucks. In the current year 2017, DICV expects to achieve significant growth with BharatBenz. Reflecting persistent strong order intake, DICV decided to add a second shift at its truck plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The increase in output will also cater to expected further growth in DICV’s export business, in which the company has sold more than 10,000 trucks since 2013 and will serve 40 markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America by the end of the year. The BharatBenz brand is tailored for the Indian market and its customer requirements. .