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Fleet Owner / March 16, 2017 Known for its innovative and successful approach as a truckload carrier, U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. has announced a new generation of leadership with Eric Fuller taking on the role of CEO and Lisa Quinn Pate now president and chief administrative officer. Current CEO Max Fuller, who founded the carrier in 1986 with partner Pat Quinn, will now serve as the company’s executive chairman. "Eric and Lisa's new management roles represent one of many building blocks in our ongoing preparation for years of future success based on data-driven strategies," said Fuller. "Our industry will continue to get more competitive, and the companies with the best leaders, people, processes and equipment will come out on top. I'm confident that Eric and Lisa are the right people to take U.S. Xpress to the next level." Eric Fuller has been with U.S. Xpress for almost 20 years, serving as its president and COO for the last five. Over his time with the company, he has also filled a number of roles including regional operations manager and sr. VP of operations. The fleet’s new president Lisa Quinn Pate had been serving as its general counsel and chief administrative officer. She joined U.S. Xpress in 2002, working in information technology, human resources and safety. Making the new leadership announcement, the company said Max Fuller will remain as a full-time executive in his new role, primarily focusing on long-term strategy, industry innovation, talent development and equipment. "Lisa and I, and the company as a whole, have been fortunate to have Max's leadership and mentorship throughout the years, and we anticipate having him working directly with us every day for years to come,” said Eric Fuller. “He and Pat Quinn built this company with the intent of it being successful long term. With the support of Max and our 10,000-strong employee base, we intend to make that a reality and ensure U.S. Xpress remains one of the leading providers of transportation services throughout North America." .

Trump cuts $2.4 billion from DOT funding in budget plan Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / March 16, 2017 President Donald Trump unveiled an outline for his “America First” proposed budget for 2018, which cuts the Department of Transportation’s funding by $2.4 billion, or 13 percent. Trump’s budget “blueprint,” which details only discretionary funding proposals, requests $16.2 billion for the DOT’s discretionary budget. The cuts mostly affect air and mass transit transportation, but also include the elimination of funding for DOT’s TIGER grants. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program awarded states funds for resurfacing and other infrastructure improvements. The budget states the elimination of these grants will save $499 million when compared to the 2017 budget. It says the program, implemented in 2009, essentially duplicates a larger federal grant program. Trump’s budget says DOT’s Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects grant program, known as FASTLANE grants and authorized by the FAST Act highway bill in 2015, “supports larger highway and multimodal freight projects with demonstrable national or regional benefits.” Kansas and seven other Midwestern states were awarded a $25 million TIGER grant in 2015 to develop a Truck Parking Information and Management System. Other significant changes in the budget include a $54 billion increase in defense spending in 2018, which is met with a $54 billion reduction in non-defense spending, according to a message from Trump in the budget. The full budget is set to be released later this spring. Trump says it will include “specific mandatory and tax proposals, as well as a full fiscal path.”

Daimler plans DD8 engine release for 2018 Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner / March 16, 2017 Its new 7.7-liter inline six cylinder medium-duty diesel engine will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models. Detroit Diesel Corp., a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), officially took the wraps off its Detroit DD8 medium-duty engine here at the 2017 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show. Chris Moran, medium-duty program manager for sales and marketing at Detroit, told Fleet Owner that the 7.7-liter inline six-cylinder DD8 diesel engine should be available to order by the end of this year, “and then we’ll start getting it into vehicle production in early 2018.” The DD8 will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models, targeted primarily at vocational applications including, utility/maintenance/repair service, pick-up and delivery, oil field, construction, logging, plow and dump, wrecking, refuse, fire/emergency and recreational vehicles. Moran said he expects the DD8 will be made available for Freightliner Customer Chassis Corp. (FCCC) vehicles by the fourth quarter of 2018 and will also be offered as a “rear engine only” option for school buses models sold via DTNA’s Thomas Built Bus subsidiary by the end of 2018 as well. The DD8 features a 260-350 hp range and a torque range of 660 to 1050 lb.– ft. and will launch with both engine and transmission power-take-off (PTO) options required for many vocational applications. Moran said the DD8 and its DD5 sibling, introduced last year, sport a “B10 life” of 400,000 miles. He also expects the DD8 to match if not exceed the 45,000 mile oil drain and fuel filter replacement interval offered for the DD5. “We expect it to be at least that good,” he said. “That’s going to bring real cost of ownership benefits to customers.” DTNA noted that vehicles equipped with the DD8 will also feature the Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service. The DD8 will also be entirely built at Detroit’s Redford, MI, manufacturing facility. Unlike the DD5, which began production in Germany and being gradually transferred to Redford, the DD8 will start out being built at Redford from day one. That’s part of a $375 million strategy initiated by DTNA back in November 2015 to bring the manufacturing of its proprietary medium-duty engines, DT12 automated mechanical transmission (AMT), and its proprietary line of Detroit Axles to the U.S.

UPS to invest more than additional $90M in natural gas vehicles and infrastructure; 6 new CNG stations, 440 vehicles Green car Congress / March 16, 2017 UPS plans to build an additional six compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and add 390 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks and 50 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. UPS further cements its leadership in the alternative fuel market while continuing to reduce its environmental footprint with this more than $90 million investment in natural gas. UPS has deployed more than 4,400 natural gas vehicles and a network of fueling stations, said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president global engineering and sustainability. In 2016, UPS used more than 61 million gallons of natural gas in its ground fleet, which included 4.6 million gallons of renewable natural gas. The resulting decrease in the use of conventional gas and diesel decreased CO2 emissions by 100,000 metric tons, he said. The six new CNG stations will be built in Ontario, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Salina, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Greensboro, N.C; and Vancouver, B.C. Renewable natural gas (RNG) will be used at the station in Ontario to fuel UPS vehicles in the area with renewable compressed natural gas (RCNG). In 2016, UPS invested $100 million in CNG fueling stations and vehicles. UPS currently operates 31 CNG fueling stations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia and runs CNG vehicles in 38 states in the U.S. in addition to vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand. The use of natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions six to 11 percent, according to the US Department of Energy. RNG, also known as biomethane, can be derived from many abundant and renewable sources, including decomposing organic waste in landfills, wastewater treatment and agriculture. It is then distributed through the natural gas pipeline system, making it available for use as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG). UPS also purchased 50 additional LNG vehicles that were deployed in Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; Earth City, Mo.; and Nashville, Tenn., where UPS has existing LNG stations. The company has driven more than one billion miles since 2000 with its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. Through its Rolling Laboratory, UPS uses a research-based approach to determine the right alternative fuel solutions for the location, route and driving environments. Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. UPS deploys the more than 8,100 vehicles in the Rolling Lab to determine what works best in each situation.

Car & Driver / March 16, 2017 Colorado’s Broadmoor hotel and resort, nestled against the Rockies a few miles outside downtown Colorado Springs, is one of the grand old dames of the West. Built in 1918 by Spencer Penrose, the place has stately, funky charm that can only come via lived history. In the hotel’s halcyon days, when Penrose needed to shuttle guests from the airport to his resort, he chose the Standard of the World to get them there. Starting in 1937, The Broadmoor commissioned fleets of Cadillacs to ferry its guests to and fro, specifying retractable roofs so passengers might better enjoy the sheer vertical grandeur of their surroundings. For 1959, the Broadmoor ordered six Cadillac wagons. While earlier Broadmoor limos had been built by professional automotive coachbuilder S&S, this run of vehicles was constructed by the Superior Coach Company of Lima, Ohio. Built on the same platform that concern used for its Superior ambulance and Royale hearse, the Broadmoor Skyview differed from your average limousine of the time by presenting a wagonoid profile. Riding on a 156-inch wheelbase, the four-row Skyviews were 251 inches long. For reference, a modern Escalade ESV is more than two feet shorter. In an age when full-on panoramic roofs were not a thing, Superior and the Broadmoor brought the pano experience to the ritzy masses. Three plexiglass panels separated by thin strips comprised the majority of the roof area, carrying on Penrose’s tradition of offering guests stunning upward vistas in all-weather comfort. A big Caddy 390-cubic-inch V-8 backed by a four-speed Hydra-Matic provided the torque to move a pack of passengers in the thin Colorado air. Superior supposedly built eight of the cars, six for the Broadmoor and two more for other clients, although only Broadmoor-specific variants are known to exist today, according to Bonhams. The car pictured here, which went on the block at the auction house’s Amelia Island event in early March but did not sell, was the last of the eight constructed. Owned by the hotel into the 1970s, this Skyview has spent most of the past 40 years tucked away in largely original condition. Also of note, the Broadmoor Skyviews carried the Superior chassis code 666. Photo gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/the-1959-cadillac-broadmoor-skyview-laughs-at-your-three-row-crossover

Why is the United States Department of Agriculture supporting the existence of illegal immigrants in the United States by providing them with free food ? Illegal immigrants should not even be within our boundaries. Upon discovery, they should be summarily deported within 48 hours. You tax money, being spent in part to feed criminal illegal aliens, all without your consent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/16/immigrants-are-now-canceling-their-food-stamps-for-fear-that-trump-will-deport-them/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_immigrant-food-stamps-110pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap .

http://ph.parker.com/us/en/runwise-advanced-series https://www.parker.com/literature/Hydraulics Group US/FINAL_Runwise Brochure_4.22.11.pdf https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37851-miami-dade-orders-more-hybrid-autocar-refuse-trucks/#comment-269062 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/39283-hydraulic-hybrid-refuse-trucks-working-out-for-orlando/#comment-282915 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24886-trucking-news-parker-hannifin-helps-lowers-city-of-austin-c02-emissions-by-55-tons/#comment-117288 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/23708-trucking-news-parker-reports-positive-results-for-runwise-hybrid-drive-system/#comment-106148 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/27667-trucking-news-ups-to-add-40-hydraulic-hybrid-vehicles-to-its-fleet/#comment-140388 http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2009/12/florida-municipalities-upgrade-to-runwise-hybrid-vehicles.aspx . .

Jim, do you have your truck's factory line sheet? The Mack filter part numbers would be listed on there. For example: Oil: 236GB28B, 236GB123A, 236GB222, 236GB223, 236GB312 Fuel: 237GB13

Jack up the front axle and note if the steering gear's pitman arm is turning when you move the steering wheel in the amount you feel "play". If it's not turning, as Paul said, experiment by, after loosening the adjusting screw's lock nut on the steering gear, turning it in a 1/4 turn at a time. You want to rotate the steering wheel lock-to-lock and note any binding (which would mean you need to back out the screw to the point you don't feel any binding). Some steering gears have a high point that you need to watch out for. You can't adjust tighter than that high point of the worm shaft.

Renault Trucks’ global sales results.....versus the Volvo brand: January 2015 Renault up 24% Volvo down 4% February 2015 Renault up 26% Volvo down 13% 1st quarter 2015 Renault up 35% Volvo down 8% April 2015 Renault up 12% Volvo up 9% May 2015 Renault up 5% Volvo down 1% 2nd quarter 2015 Renault up 7% Volvo down 4% July 2015 Renault up 8% Volvo down 5% August 2015 Renault up 60% Volvo down 6% 3rd quarter 2015 Renault up 20% Volvo down 2% October 2015 Renault up 16% Volvo down 1% November 2015 Renault up 54% Volvo down 10% 4th quarter 2015 Renault up 29% Volvo down 7% Full Year 2015 Renault up 22% Volvo down 4% 1st quarter 2016 Renault up 8% Volvo down 8% 2nd quarter 2016 Renault up 12% Volvo down 9% 3rd quarter 2016 Renault down 5% Volvo down 12% 4th quarter 2016 Renault down 5% Volvo down 8% Full Year 2016 Renault up 2% Volvo down 9%

Renault Trucks Press Release / March 15, 2017 Renault Trucks intends to recruit 273 operators in 2017 for its Lyon, Bourg-en-Bresse, Limoges and Blainville-sur-Orne manufacturing facilities in response to its favourable business outlook. Throughout the year, Renault Trucks will be recruiting 273 operators on permanent contracts for its production sites in Lyon (Rhône), Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain), Limoges (Haute-Vienne) and Blainville-sur-Orne (Calvados). “Renault Trucks has got off to a good start in 2017 with growing business and good sales prospects,” explains Renault Trucks President Bruno Blin. “European deliveries rose by 6% in 2016 and the current workload of our plants and our confidence in our future development has prompted us to invest in sustainable manufacturing jobs.” The Blainville-sur-Orne site which specialises in medium-duty vehicles and truck cabs will create a hundred jobs on the assembly line, in the bodywork and paint shops and the logistics platform. The Bourg-en-Bresse site, which assembles Renault Trucks heavy-duty vehicles, will be recruiting 50 operators. Six new employees will be joining the Limoges site where parts and components are remanufactured. Lastly, the Lyon site will create 117 jobs in engine assembly, axle assembly, stamping and logistics. .

FCA Press Release / March 14, 2017 .

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 Freightliner Custom Chassis (FCCC), Clean Energy Fuels, and Green Alternative Systems have partnered to provide a compressed natural gas fuel system on FCCC’s CNG MT-45/55 chassis. The chassis is used in the linen and uniform, parcel and home delivery, vending and food service, baking and snack delivery, and school bus industries. Green Alternative Systems will provide the new CNG fueling system for the chassis, which is powered by a 6.0L V8 engine with three available fuel capacities, including 35 GGE (gasoline gallons equivalent), 42 GGE or 52 GGE. The new CNG MT-55 chassis was on display at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. FCCC partnered with the two companies because of their experience and expertise in the natural gas vehicle industry. Clean Energy will provide fleets using the chassis with fueling agreements and access to its network of fueling stations. The company operates a network of over 550 public and private fueling stations across the country. Green Alternative Systems is a large commercial alternative fuel upfitter in North America, designing and installing natural gas, propane, hybrid, and electric fuel systems for the transit and fleet industries. GAS offers alternative fuel systems for buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles. .

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 Landi Renzo USA will begin offering a ship-through channel for customers to take delivery of converted compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks and vans utilizing Ford's existing distribution network from Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant, the company announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. Customers can now order a CNG-equipped F-450, F-550, F-650, or F-750 Super Duty truck by selecting the ship-through option on a dealer order form, in a new collaboration with a Landi Renzo installer located in Avon Lake, Ohio. The cost for this ship-through is $10, which is billed on the dealer invoice. The $10 includes having the truck pulled, upfitted, put back into Ford's transportation system, and delivered to the final destination. Ship-through capabilities cover all models built at Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant, which include F-450 to F-750, as well as the E-Series cutaway van. .

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 UPS said it will invest more than $90 million in natural gas facilities and vehicles, including fueling stations, compressed natural gas trucks, and liquefied natural gas vehicles. The company plans to build an additional six CNG fueling stations and add 30 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks as well as 50 LNG vehicles to its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. “With more than 4,400 natural gas vehicles and a network of fueling stations, UPS has had great results using natural gas as an alternative fuel in our fleet,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability. “We know the importance of investing in natural gas globally for our fleet and the alternative fuel market. In 2016, we used more than 61 million gallons of natural gas in our ground fleet, which included 4.6 million gallons of renewable natural gas. This helped us to avoid the use of conventional gas and diesel, and decreased CO2 emissions by 100,000 metric tons.” Last year, UPS invested $100 million in CNG fueling stations and vehicles. The company currently operates 31 CNG fueling stations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia. It runs CNG vehicles in 38 states in addition to ones in Germany, the Netherlands, and Thailand. The six new CNG stations will be built in Ontario, California; Orlando, Florida; Salina, Kansas; Louisville, Kentucky; Greensboro, North Carolina, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Renewable natural gas will be used at the station in Ontario. UPS also purchased 50 additional LNG vehicles that were deployed in Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago; Earth City, Missouri; and Nashville, Tennessee, where UPS has existing LNG stations. Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. The company has driven over a billion miles since 2000 with the alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, which include natural gas, electric, hybrid and other types of powertrains. .

Cummins puts more focus on midrange engine improvements Fleet Owner / March 14, 2017 Engine maker aims for better fuel economy and for super-low NOx producing natural gas options for non-attainment area operation. When it comes to midrange diesel engines, the focus at Cummins Inc. is how to keep bringing the “best of both worlds” together, according to Jeff Caldwell, the company’s executive director of North American truck OEMs – more fuel economy and more performance, all within the same package. A different set of demands, however, is present within the natural gas segment of the midrange engine market, noted Rob Neitzke, president of Cummins Westport Inc. (CWI), during a press conference here during the 2017 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show: how to deliver a super-low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emitting truck engine that doesn’t sacrifice on power while helping “non-attainment” areas meet Clean Air Act (CAA) air pollution targets. “There’s a scattershot of place across the U.S., largely in major metropolitan areas, that are having trouble meeting the 8-hour ozone targets established by the CAA for 2023 and 2030,” Neitzke explained to Fleet Owner. “Looking at their glide path, we can provide an engine that offers 90% NOx [emission] improvement that changes their compliance direction while still providing diesel-comparable power,” he said. “One of the myths of the natural gas engine is that it’s a ‘bridge’ technology to something else. Instead we’re saying it’s a solution to a problem right now.” On the pure diesel engine side, Cummins’ Caldwell noted that the company’s 2017 model B6.7 base engine is seeing an average improvement of 8.5% on efficiency ratings and 5% improvement in performance ratings over its 2013 model ISB6.7 engine. For some applications and duty cycles, specifically pickup and delivery, the efficiency ratings are up to a 13% gain in fuel economy versus the 2013 ISB6.7. "Our program started with a goal of delivering 7% better fuel economy on the efficiency ratings and 1% better fuel economy on the performance ratings over the 2013 product,” Caldwell noted. “As the program progressed, we found opportunities to tune and optimize the engine, delivering further efficiency, and allowing us to surpass initial expectations." Apart from base engine fuel economy enhancements, Cummins also has Stop-Start capability with the B6.7, which will provide additional fuel economy improvement of 3% to 15% by automatically shutting off the engine during idle time, resulting in reduced fuel consumption. The 2017 model B6.7 also comes with a newly-extended 3-year/unlimited-mile warranty in truck applications, Caldwell said. “The trick is how do I continue to gain fuel economy without losing performance,” he told Fleet Owner. “That’s why diesel still has a role in this industry; it is still the most effective way to make trucks more productive.” On the natural gas side of the ledger, Cummins Westport noted that its ISB6.7 G and the ISL G Near Zero engines are now in full production for bus, medium-duty truck and vocational applications. Yet CWI’s Neitzke said the ISL G Near Zero engine is the real “game changer” in the market – an engine that’s received emissions certification from both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California and Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet the optional 0.02 g/bhp-hr Near Zero NOx emissions standards – some 90% lower than the 2010 EPA standard of 0.2 g/bhp-hr. "This engine offers customers the benefit of performance with the lowest emissions at a much lower cost than battery electric-vehicles,” Neitzke stressed. “It is zero-emissions technology at conventional propulsion system costs." Both the ISB6.7 G and ISL G Near Zero operate exclusively on compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or renewable natural gas (RNG), and both use CWI’s proprietary spark-ignited stoichiometric combustion with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) technology. In addition, the engines feature electronic controls with programmable features, a closed crankcase ventilation system and a maintenance-free Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) aftertreatment. “You’re getting electric-like emissions with traditional diesel-like response,” Neitske added to Fleet Owner regarding the ISL G Near Zero engine. “You can use the same technicians and almost the same maintenance processes and drop [the engine] into the same chassis space as a traditional diesel. It’s a fantastic low-emission solution and it’s in production today.”

Fleet Owner / March 15, 2017 Ford announced updates to its broad commercial vehicle lineup and introduced programs dedicated to its fleet and commercial customers here at the 2017 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show. “Ford is deeply committed to the work truck market,” said John Ruppert, Ford's general manager for commercial vehicle sales and marketing. “We are the only OEM to offer our vocational customers vehicles in every segment from Classes 1-7 and have sold more commercial vehicles every year for three decades than any other manufacturer." He added the work truck industry "is a very important part of our business, and we’re dedicated to continuing to develop new and improved vehicles, technology and support to help our customers get the job done." Ford also announced updates to its 2018 Transit van lineup and introduced an expansion of its Advanced Fuel Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program during its press event 2018 Transit Ford Transit expanded for 2018 with new features designed to reinforce its Built Ford Tough pedigree and help make it even more useful on the job, Ruppert said. The rearview camera that is standard on the Transit van and passenger wagon moves above the rear doors on medium- and high-roof models for 2018. It will remain next to the license plate on low-roof models. The full-size Transit van will also get a locking glove box as standard equipment, as well as a new rear door exit handle and rear LED [light emitting diode] cargo lamp switch. New optional equipment available for model year 2018 includes: Heavy-duty cargo area flooring Heavy-duty rear scuff plate kit Extended-length running boards Push-down manual parking brake Power-folding short-arm heated mirrors with turn signals AM/FM stereo with audio input jack, microphone and Bluetooth interface D-pillar assist handles for medium- and high-roof models Forged alloy dual rear wheel package Charcoal leather-trimmed, heated seat package “We’re just excited to have the Transit here,” John Scholtes, chief program engineer for commercial vehicles, told Fleet Owner. “It’s the market leader, and we’re just really pleased to have it here.” eQVM launch Ford also announced it has expanded its Advanced Fuel QVM program to include companies that develop and install electric and hydraulic hybrid powertrains so customers can get electrified and hydraulic hybrid work trucks that retain their original powertrain warranties. The Ford eQVM program kicks off with three developers – XL Hybrids, Motiv Power Systems and Lightning Hybrids. These companies offer electrification or hydraulic hybrid solutions for a range of Ford vehicles, including F-150, F-250 to F-550 Super Duty, F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks, Transit and E-Series vans and chassis, and F-53/F-59 stripped chassis. Medium-duty truck sales Ford announced it has sold more medium-duty trucks last year than in any year since 1997. In 2016, the first full calendar year since production began at its Ohio Assembly Plant in August 2015, Ford F-650 and F-750 sales were up 54% year-over-year, with total sales of 15,486 vehicles. “Customers are embracing our new medium-duty trucks,” said John Scholtes, Ford chief program engineer, commercial vehicles. “They appreciate how flexible the platform is – we offer a choice of gasoline or diesel powertrain, three body styles, a wide GVWR range, and almost limitless customization options to let them spec exactly the right trucks for even the toughest jobs.” The F-650 and F-750 lineup includes Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab body styles, as well as straight-frame, kick-up frame Pro Loader and a dedicated tractor model for heavy towing applications. Ford offers its 6.8-liter V10 with 320 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque available for both F-650 and F-750 models with the Ford-built TorqShift HD six-speed automatic transmission. According to Ford, its 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel delivers standard 270 horsepower and 675 lb.-ft. of torque, plus available engine outputs of 300 horsepower with 700 lb.-ft. of torque and 330 horsepower with 725 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford Commercial Vehicle Center The new Ford Commercial Vehicle Center program includes more than 670 dealers nationwide that offer fleets vehicles, financing options and service support. Commercial Vehicle Center dealers offer a selection of in-stock Ford commercial vehicles, and use a proprietary diagnostic software, Commercial Vehicle Tools, to recommend vehicle specifications for a customer’s specific business needs. They offer test drives at customer locations for maximum convenience, as well as a range of unique fleet vehicle financing options and incentives. “To maximize customer vehicle uptime, Commercial Vehicle Center dealer service departments are open at least 55 hours per week, and new stocking programs help improve parts availability,” the OEM noted in a statement. “Ford’s new Commercial Advantage Rewards loyalty program lets customers earn a range of factory benefits that can be redeemed at any Commercial Vehicle Center location.” Photo gallery - http://fleetowner.com/equipment/ford-motor-co-nteas-work-truck-show .

Fuso unveils new gas-powered cabover, all-electric eCanter truck Fleet Owner / March 15, 2017 Mitsubishi Fuso announced it is developing a new gasoline powertrain for its FE Series medium-duty cabover trucks and launched its new electric truck, the eCanter, here at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show. According to the company Fuso’s FE130, FE160 and FE180 will be powered by a PSI-GMPT Vortec Series 6-liter V8 engine, coupled with an Allison 6-speed automatic transmission. The new V8 engine models will be the first Fuso vehicles to be assembled in the U.S., noted Jecka Glasman, Fuso’s president and CEO. The gas truck will be offered in Class 3 and 4, and as the industry’s only Class 5 gas-powered model, the company stated. Customer trials for the new FE Series gas trucks are scheduled to begin in fourth quarter 2017, with full market launch to follow in 2018 as 2019 model year. “While the new VortecV8 represents a robust new powertrain for us, we are happy to report that we have adapted these drivetrains to our standard cab-chassis configurations – so customers and upfitters will find the same familiar 33.5-in. wide frame, same body attachment capability, wheelbases, cab-to-axle dimensions, and box sizes as they’ve enjoyed with our low-cost-of-ownership turbocharged diesel cabovers,” according to Otto Schmid, Fuso’s director of product management. All-electric eCanter During Fuso’s press conference on Wednesday, Glasman announced Fuso’s eCanter will be available for a soft launch by the end of the year in North America. The eCanter is a 100% plug-in electric Class 4 work truck with a 15,995-lb. GVWR and a payload capacity of roughly 9,380 lbs. It ranges up to 100 miles, has a one-hour quick charge capability and a standard eight-hour overnight full charge. “All current population studies note that people are moving back to the cities,” Glasman explained. “It is going to be busy and crowded, but goods still need to be delivered. What better way to deliver goods than with a truck with zero emissions and zero noise pollution.” Asked whether low fuel prices would influence the company’s production of electric trucks, Schmid said: “In the cities we have complaints about noise and pollution so it doesn’t matter if fuel prices are higher or lower.” Going forward, Glassman added that Fuso’s parent company, Daimler Trucks Asia, has invested in electrification, which she explained will drive most of future production. Telogis telematics, collision avoidance Fuso also announced it has partnered with Telogis, a Verizon Company, to install Telogis telematics systems as a standard on all medium-duty, diesel cabovers. Telogis telematics capabilities will be integrated on all of Fuso’s future Class 3 through 5 turbocharged diesel commercial trucks. Fuso has also partnered with Mobileye to integrate its collision avoidance systems in their trucks. “We learned that safety is one of the biggest concerns that our fleet customers have,” Glasman explained. “We put the Mobileye system in fleet trucks for a month in silent mode then put them in after a month with drivers and we saw harsh braking and other risky behaviors reduced by 50% after a month of having the system in trucks.” Glasman added the Telogis system will provide fleet operators with improved safety, better logistics and more efficient operations.

Mitsubishi Fuso Brings Electric eCanter to U.S. Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America has introduced the eCanter battery-powered Class 4 truck, offering the first 50 units to a select group of customers by the end of the year, the company announced at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The electric trucks will be made available in the U.S., Europe, and Japan as part of a two-year lease, allowing companies time to use the vehicle before trading up to the next generation. The company says the trucks will cost 15-20% more than comparable diesel models. The Class 4 truck has a 100-mile range, 15,995-pound Gross Vehicle Weight rating, and a 9,380-pound payload capacity. The batteries can be quick-charged within an hour at a DC charging station or over the course of eight hours using a 230-volt outlet. The vehicle will also have flexible battery options to allow customers that need less range than 100 miles to opt for fewer batteries and increase payload capacity. “We believe the eCanter will help us chart the future of medium-duty trucking in urban environments," said Jecka Glasman, Fuso president and CEO. "It delivers up to a 100-mile range, with zero emissions and zero noise pollution — what we call positive energy. We’ve had preliminary conversations with multiple customers and they are enthusiastic about the possibilities this new truck represents.” The electric motor generates 173 horsepower and 494 lb.-ft. of torque - more torque than the company’s V10 gasoline motor in its Class 6 truck, according to Mitsubishi Fuso. The motor is powered by six batteries, which the company says are preconditioned during charging to ensure the range stays consistent in cold and hot weather. The drivetrain is fitted to a standard 151.6-inch cab chassis that is 33.5 inches wide - similar to the company’s traditional diesel cabovers. This allows the vehicle to be fitted with the same body attachments as some current models - a plus for upfitters. The vehicle features two-stage electric regenerative braking system, electric HVAC, and a high-capacity Power Take Off for applications that need it. The Fuso eCanter was originally shown off last year by Daimler Trucks Asia at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, aimed at urban delivery in the Southern California and New York City markets. "Better fuel economy is one aspect, but our customers are telling us how important it is to have a quiet truck in urban environments, said William Lyons, vice president of sales operations. "It is a big concern on quality of life in cities today. This truck addresses that." .

Fuso Adds Gasoline V-8 to FE Series Cabovers Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America premiered a new prototype V-8 gasoline powertrain for the company’s FE Series medium-duty cabovers at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The engine is a 6-liter Vortec Series motor from GM coupled to an Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission and it will be available on the FE130, FE160 and FE180 models. It will be the only gas truck in its class with Power Take Off capabilities for auxiliary equipment, according to a company representative. “Fuso has put together this exclusive engine/transmission package to provide unmatched power and versatility for our customers, and the Class 5 FE180 will offer the largest payload available in a gas-powered medium-duty truck," said Jecka Glasman, Fuso's president and CEO. A trial run of trucks equipped with the new engine will be available in the fourth quarter of 2017. The V8 FE Series trucks will be the first Fuso vehicles assembled in the U.S. at the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation’s facility in South Carolina. The engines and transmissions will be built in the U.S. but the chassis, cabs, and axles will come from Europe and Japan. .

I suspect Volvo will finally have to offer the UD (Nissan Diesel)-designed six-cylinder D8 (aka GH8) in the Granite MHD. There is also a four-cylinder D5 (aka GH5) version.

Heavy Duty Trucking / March 15, 2017 Daimler Trucks North America and its Detroit brand unveiled the new Detroit DD8 medium-duty engine at the NTEA’s Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. Aimed at vocational truck markets, the Detroit DD8 is a 7.7L in-line, 6-cylinder medium-duty engine. It offers a horsepower range of 260 to 350 hp and a torque range of 660 to 1050 lb.–ft. The DD8 will expand on the Detroit medium-duty platform that was launched last year with the DD5. Daimler says the engine offers industry-leading fuel efficiency and maintenance intervals. In addition, the DD8 will launch with both engine and transmission power-take-off options required for many vocational applications. The DD8 will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models. Expanded availability into additional DTNA products will come later, with future availability planned for Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis. Vehicles equipped with the DD8 will feature Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service. Virtual Technician helps fleets make informed maintenance decisions, so that they only service their vehicles when needed. In the case that a vehicle does need to go into the shop, Virtual Technician, with the backing of the experts at the Detroit Customer Support Center, provides access to in-depth information to get the vehicle repaired as accurately and quickly as possible, improving uptime. “The Detroit DD8 is ideally suited for the vocational applications across the Daimler Trucks North America family of products,” said Kary Schaefer, general manager, marketing and strategy, Daimler Trucks North America. “The medium-duty engine options are all about giving our customers added value when making their engine selections.” The Detroit DD8 is scheduled for availability with vehicle production beginning in February 2018, and targets a wide range of vocational applications, including utility/maintenance/repair service, pick-up and delivery, oil field, construction, logging, plow and dump, wrecking, refuse, fire/emergency and recreational vehicles. In November 2015, Detroit announced a $375 million investment to bring the manufacturing of both proprietary medium-duty engines to its manufacturing facility in Redford, Michigan. The facility also produces the Detroit heavy-duty line of engines, the DT12 automated manual transmission and its complete offering of Detroit axles. Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/46262-daimler-enters-medium-duty-engine-market-with-dd5/#comment-340768 .

Isuzu Sets Production, Ordering for Class 6 Cabover Heavy Duty Trucking / March 14, 2017 Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) will begin production of its 2018 FTR Class 6 cabover in May and start taking orders for the medium-duty truck in April, the company announced at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. Spartan Motors is assembling the 2018 FTR at its Charlotte, Mich., assembly plant that spans 85,000 square feet. The vehicle will retail for $82,180, the manufacturer announced. "This truck's combination of low-cab-forward design and Class 6 GVWR gives it fantastic maneuverability and visibility along with the ability to carry more cargo than a conventional Class 6 truck," said Shaun Skinner, president of ICTA. "Its four-cylinder diesel engine is environmentally friendly and gives the truck outstanding fuel efficiency. Its class-leading warranty gives its owners peace of mind." The FTR is powered by Isuzu's 4HK1-TC 5.2L turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine that now carries a B-10 durability rating of 375,000 miles, meaning that 90% of engines should reach that odometer reading before needing an overhaul. When fitted in the FTR, the engine makes 215 hp and 520 lb.-ft. of torque at peak operation. Isuzu pairs the engine with an Allison 2550 RDS 6-speed automatic transmission with power take-off (PTO) capability. The front axle can take 12,000 pounds of capacity, while the rear axle is rated at 19,000 pounds. The GVWR is 25,950 pounds. The 11R22.5 tires are fitted to 22.5-inch steel wheels. Users can add an available 50- or 100-gallon fuel tank depending on which wheelbase they choose. The truck is available in eight wheelbase lenghts from 152 to 248 inches. It can accommodate bodies from 14 to 30 feet. .

EPA re-opens Mid-Term Evaluation Process for light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards 2022-2025 Green Car Congress / March 15, 2017 EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that EPA intends to reconsider its final determination issued on 12 January 2017 which recommended no change to the greenhouse gas standards for light duty vehicles for model years 2022- 2025. (Earlier post.) The EPA will reconsider that determination in coordination with NHTSA as part of a renewed Mid-Term Evaluation process. This process was established as a part of the 2012 final greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025, requiring EPA to determine no later than 1 April 2018 whether the greenhouse gas standards for model years 2022-2025 established are appropriate. In coordination with EPA, the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is evaluating its fuel economy standards for that period. In accord with this schedule, the EPA intends to make a new Final Determination regarding the appropriateness of the standards no later than 1 April 2018.

Car & Driver / March 15, 2017 As cars increasingly become enmeshed in the Internet of Things, automakers for the past few years have offered drivers the ability to locate, unlock, and start their car with a smartphone or tablet. From the comfort of your couch, you can crank up the heat in your car or honk its horn with a tap on a touchscreen. But if it’s easy for you to control your vehicle using a mobile app, that also means if you bought it used, whoever owned it before you could still have some kind of access to it. In other words, someone else could still have the ability to locate, unlock, and start your car. Such was the case with Charles Henderson, a cybersecurity researcher at IBM, who happened to notice a major vulnerability in one automaker’s vehicle connectivity. A few years back, Henderson bought a convertible (the make and model of which he declined to name) and, as an early adopter to technology, was all too happy to connect his smartphone to the vehicle via the automaker’s mobile app. Then he had kids, so he sold the convertible in favor of a more family-friendly vehicle. “Four Years Later, I Still Have Access” Henderson said he removed all connected devices and wiped his personal information from the outgoing car. He reset the vehicle’s phone book and garage-door opener. The dealership, too, made sure the car was reset and that all keys were turned back in, said Henderson, who is global head of the IBM X-Force Red team of cybersecurity researchers. Henderson’s new car was the same brand as that previous convertible, so he loaded its information into the relevant mobile app, which would allow him to see the car’s location and remotely unlock and lock it, among other things. “And I notice my previous car was still there,” Henderson said. That wasn’t such a big deal, at least not at first, because he had just sold it a few hours before. “Then hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and now, four years later, I still have access to my old car,” Henderson said. “As a vulnerability researcher, this is a problem.” Not that one needs to be a vulnerability researcher to see the potential for trouble. Henderson ultimately had to go to a dealership to have the vehicle removed once and for all from the app. Out of curiosity, he tried four major brands—again, declining to name them—and said they all had similar flaws. Several Ways to Disconnect A trip to the dealership may no longer be necessary, at least according to automakers that responded to our questions about their connected-vehicle mobile apps. They all described to us various ways the app can be disconnected when the user sells the vehicle without relying on a dealer to do so. In some cases, the terms and conditions of the agreement actually demand that the seller give notice of an impending change of ownership. Not many people read that fine print, of course, but in the case of General Motors and OnStar, for example, user terms say that if you sell or transfer your vehicle, “you must notify us by pressing the blue OnStar button” or by calling an 800 number, and “you must stop using” the connected-app services for that car or truck. “The seller does not have to go to the dealer,” GM spokesman for global connected customer experience Phil Colley told Car and Driver. “All they have to do is call.” Volvo, in the user terms of service for its On Call app, says the transferring owner “must promptly deactivate all links between any Volvo IDs and the Volvo car,” adding that the process is described in documents included with the vehicle but that the owner is “welcome to turn to your local Volvo dealer in case you need assistance with such deactivation.” Ford just launched remote-access capabilities through its FordPass on select vehicles in the United States last year, and untethering from the mobile app does not require a trip to the dealership, Ford smart mobility communications manager Angie Kozleski said. One way to disconnect is simply to log in to FordPass and delete the vehicle. Another way is to do a master reset of the vehicle’s Sync 3 system. “Our system does not rely on the dealer,” Kozleski told C/D. For the Hyundai Blue Link remote-access app, the vehicle can be disconnected simply by choosing to delete the vehicle at the app’s home page or by calling an 800 number, said Miles Johnson, Hyundai’s senior manager of quality, service, and technology. Hyundai’s app also has a system in place so that only the app user can can have access to the controls by including a user ID, a password, and a personal identification number (PIN). That PIN is needed to control more critical functions, such as unlocking doors and starting the vehicle. What about the Unwitting Buyer? But what about sellers who do not disconnect their vehicle from the app—because they don’t know how, they forget, or they’re simply ignorant about how intertwined these apps and cars are? And what about the buyer who doesn’t realize there is a remote-access app available and that someone else could still be using it? That gets a little dicier. The most obvious problem is that, if someone sold the car but was still connected to it, in some cases it would be relatively easy for them to steal it, using the mobile phone as a key fob to unlock and start the vehicle. Many vehicles, however, still require the actual key fob to be present before the car or truck can be driven away. But the fact that prior owners could still be tracking the vehicle’s whereabouts would be enough to give most people pause. In terms of making car buyers aware of the vehicle’s potential connectivity, Hyundai’s Johnson said the automaker also slaps a sticker with an 800 number on its Blue Link–equipped vehicles letting the new owners know it’s equipped and how to get it serviced. These remote services also can cost money—in the case of Blue Link, it’s $198 per year—so most owners call and disconnect when they no longer have the car or truck, Johnson said. Both Ford’s Sync 3 and GM’s OnStar have in-car alerts to let users know that the remote-access app is active. So if someone bought a used vehicle with connectivity but had done nothing to connect it to a mobile app, when a notification appeared on the infotainment screen saying the car was connected, the owner might be curious to figure out who was connected to the car. GM’s Colley said OnStar also checks in with owners every 90 days to confirm users, in addition to using registration data to verify ownership. Purging the Ghosts in the Machine Otherwise, car companies put the onus on owners to remove the car from, or add it to, the mobile app. “But the problem is, a lot of owners don’t consider it a connected or smart car,” Henderson said. “They just consider it a car.” Henderson’s advice to consumers buying a used vehicle with connected-car tech is to make sure there are no ghosts in the machine in the form of previous owners. He also said automakers should make it more intuitive for consumers to see who has access to the vehicle. “You can have the best security feature in the world, but if the user doesn’t know how to use it, it’s useless,” he said.