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Ford Unveils CommercialTruckCenter Program Trailer/Body Builders / February 2, 2017 Ford has introduced its Commercial Vehicle Center program to provide fleet and commercial customers nationwide with outstanding sales, service and financing at the dealership level. The network includes more than 650 Ford dealers committed to offering commercial customers the vehicles, financing options and service support their businesses need. The Commercial Vehicle Center program replaces the Ford Business Preferred Network of commercial dealers. “Nearly 30 years ago, Ford established its first program to improve the purchase experience for our commercial vehicle customers,” said John Ruppert, Ford general manager, commercial vehicle sales and marketing. “Now we are introducing the next chapter in our commercial vehicle story, not only by rebranding the program, but by further expanding a number of program elements to improve the overall customer experience.” To maximize customer vehicle uptime, Commercial Vehicle Center dealer service departments are open at least 55 hours per week, and new stocking programs improve parts availability. 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. Dealers can offer their own rewards through the program as well. All CommercialVehicleCenter dealer employees are cross-trained by the factory to provide customers with knowledgeable, trustworthy support – from sales to finance to service. Ford has the broadest line of commercial vehicles available – from Transit Connect compact vans to full-size Transit cargo vans, from F-150 pickups through Super Duty chassis cabs, all the way up to F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks. CommercialVehicleCenter dealers offer the best selection of in-stock Ford commercial vehicles, and a range of financing options and incentives. “Our goal is to make Ford Commercial Vehicle Center dealers the trusted choice for commercial customers by providing an easy, effortless customer experience through a comprehensive, industry-leading commercial dealer network program,” said Ruppert. For more information, or to locate a local Ford Commercial Vehicle Center, visit fordcommercialvehiclecenter.com

Volvo working with investment bank to sell defense division Bloomberg / February 3, 2017 Volvo Group is working with investment bank Rothschild & Co. to sell its defense unit. The sale could attract interest from companies including BAE Systems, General Dynamics Corp. and CMI Group. Tank maker KNDS also plans to bid, Co-CEO Frank Haun said. Volvo said in November it wants to divest the division, which generates about 1.5% of group revenue and has about 1,300 employees, mostly in France. The unit sells defense, security and emergency-service vehicles under the Volvo, Renault and Mack brands as well as the Panhard and ACMAT businesses. Cevian Capital, one of Volvo’s largest shareholders, has been pushing the Gothenburg, Sweden-based manufacturer to focus on making trucks and to simplify its “extreme conglomerate” structure by divesting some businesses.

A valid strategy (if the list included Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and UAE) executed so poorly is now descending into chaos. Many a good idea didn't get airborne because it was poorly introduced. Execution is everything. If you introduced it in the right way, everybody would accept it without event. Many here think a lot of Trump. The question is, how could an allegedly sharp individual with an equally sharp team introduce a reasonable concept in such a flawed way that it would backfire so badly? You would assume the opposite scenario, in which they would be the architects of the skillfully planned execution. Thus, it is challenging to believe that this is all accidental. Why would he repeatedly shoot himself in the foot in his tweets? And why "tweet" when he can send out a more saleable professional presidential announcement at will? As usual, we only know a fraction of the story..............even though these are our alleged employees who, inherently, should keep no secrets from the American people. On Monday, President Trump in a tweet described his executive order as a "ban". On Tuesday, Sean Spicer said it wasn't a "ban", as did Homeland Security Director John Kelly. But if the boss uses the word "ban".............. When a conservative republican state like Virginia turns against the president, things are getting bad. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press / January 31, 2017 Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday that the state is bringing legal action against President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration. "This is not the United States of America we know," McAuliffe said. Herring said the order is "unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American and action is required." The Commonwealth is joining a pending case, Aziz v. Trump et al., in the U.S. District Court of Eastern District of Virginia. Virginia's motion to intervene can be read here. The Commonwealth's legal brief can be read here. The New York Times reports Tareq Aqel Mohammed Aziz, 21, and his brother Ammar, 19, landed at Dulles International Airport Saturday morning and were connecting to Flint, Michigan, to join their father, a U.S. citizen. The Yemeni brothers were taken off the plane, put into handcuffs and told their visas had been canceled. They were sent on a plane back to Ethiopia, the Times reports. The two had immigrant visas, meaning they were approved for legal permanent residency, because their father is a U.S. citizen, according to the Times. Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, legal director of the Immigrant Advocacy Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center filed a petition on behalf of them and the other 60 or so people detained at the airport. Trump's order banning entry to the United States for individuals from certain countries, even those who are lawful permanent residents or entering the United States on valid work or student visas, is degrading and unlawful treatment, Herring said. "The Commonwealth has substantial interests justifying its intervention, and make no mistake, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and our people, are already being harmed by this Executive Order," Herring said. Herring said students and faculty of Virginia colleges are unable to leave and some are unable to return to the States. The order will hamper schools' ability to retract and retain foreign students in the future, prevent students and faculty members from traveling abroad, may affect research and grant projects and hurt tuition revenue, Herring said. "This is not theoretical," Herring said. "It's happening as we speak. "We've got 100 students at Virginia Commonwealth University unable to leave to see families or come back – and there's identical stories across all campuses." The Commonwealth's intervention and participation in the suit is being handled by Virginia Solicitor General Stuart Raphael and his team. McAuliffe and Herring were at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia this weekend to join protests over the immigration ban.

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / January 31, 2017 Paccar announced Friday fourth quarter 2016 net sales of $4.07 billion, down slightly from the $4.36 billion for the same time last year. For 2016, the company achieved revenues of $17.03 billion in compared to revenues of $19.12 billion in 2015, and posted its 78th consecutive year of positive net income. “Paccar is well-positioned for long-term growth with investments in new state-of-the-art DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles, durable Paccar [DAF] engines, innovative aftermarket parts and service capabilities, factory enhancements, and truck technologies that increase vehicle fuel-efficiency and reliability,” says Ron Armstrong, Paccar chief executive officer. Last year, Paccar delivered 140,900 vehicles worldwide and Kenworth and Peterbilt achieved Class 8 retail market share of 28.5 percent in the U.S. and Canada, up from 27.4 percent in 2015. Paccar’s Q4 Class 8 retail market share was 30.4 percent in the U.S. and Canada. Paccar executive vice president Gary Moore notes Class 8 truck industry retail sales in the U.S. and Canada were 216,000 units in 2016, compared to 278,000 vehicles in 2015. Estimates for U.S. and Canada Class 8 truck industry retail sales in 2017 are in the range of 190,000-220,000 trucks. Paccar says it has installed more than 130,000 MX-13 and MX-11 engines in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in North America since the Mississippi engine factory began production in mid-2010. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the MX-13 and MX-11 engines were installed in 47 percent of Kenworth and Peterbilt heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. and Canada.

Some of the MC3s (RM6866RS) had a raised roof which enclosed a Crisp-Air roof-mount air conditioning unit. This was an upgrade to the original build, as was the Mack SA441W drive axle air suspension retrofit in 1993-1994. http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/D320-Mack-Wrecker-Data-Summary.pdf Note the tanker............http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/15604-mack-military-truck/?page=2#comment-127904 Page 13.............http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G709_Mack_all_types_Servicing_Instruction.pdf FYI - http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G702_Mack_all_types_Tech_Description.pdf http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G700_Mack_all_types_Data_Summary.pdf http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G710_Mack_Cargo_Crane_Data_Summary.pdf http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G700-1_Mack_Cargo_Winch_Data_Summary.pdf http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G730-1_Mack_Dump_with_winch_Data_Summary.pdf http://afmsafety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/G730-1_Mack_Dump_with_winch_Data_Summary.pdf

The irony of it all................. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was fired for refusing to support an order from the president that she felt was improper. Yates is "acting" Attorney General because Trump's pick, Jeff Sessions, has not yet been confirmed. Now, let's revisit year 2015. Jeff Sessions is questioning Yates at her confirmation hearing for Deputy Attorney General, and telling her it is her duty to refuse an order from the president that she feels is improper. What was the right thing to do in 2015 is the wrong thing in 2017. "I hope that you'd be willing to say no" ........Jeff Sessions .

Los Angeles Times / January 30, 2017 The Pentagon is compiling a list of Iraqi citizens who have worked with the U.S. military and is recommending that they be exempt from President Trump’s temporary ban on entry to the U.S. by people from Iraq and six other predominantly Muslim countries, according to the U.S. military. The move could potentially shield tens of thousands of Iraqi interpreters, advisors, and others who have assisted the American military from the president’s controversial executive action that blocked visitors from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Monday that the list will include names of individuals who have “demonstrated their commitment” to helping the United States. “Even people that are doing seemingly benign things in support of us — whether as a linguist, a driver, anything else — they often do that at great personal risk,” he said. “So people who take these risks are really making a tangible signal of support to the United States, and that’s something that will, and should be, recognized." Trump, who signed the order at the Pentagon on Friday, did not consult Defense Secretary James N. Mattis or Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the temporary suspensions of entry to visitors from the seven nations, according to U.S. officials.

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Why not call the good folks at Watt's Mack (provider of the BMT website) at 1-888-304-6225 and buy a quality OEM replacement filter at a reasonable price?

Starbucks to hire 10,000 refugees over next 5 years Associated Press / January 30, 2017 Starbucks says it will hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years, a response to President Donald Trump's suspension of Syrian refugees and temporary travel bans that apply to six other Muslim-majority nations. Howard Schultz, the coffee retailer's chairman and CEO, said in a letter to employees Sunday that the hiring would apply to stores worldwide and the effort would start in the United States where the focus would be on hiring immigrants "who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel." "We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question," CEO Howard Schultz wrote in his letter to Starbucks employees. Schultz, a supporter of Hillary Clinton during the presidential run, took aim at other parts of a Trump agenda focused on immigration, repealing former President Barack Obama's health care law and restructuring trade with Mexico. The letter said that Starbucks would help support coffee growers in Mexico, provide health insurance to eligible workers if the health care law is repealed and back an Obama-era immigration program that allows young [illegal] immigrants who were brought to the country as children to apply for a two-year reprieve from deportation and a work permit. Schultz added that Starbucks would aim to communicate with workers more frequently, saying Sunday, "I am hearing the alarm you all are sounding that the civility and human rights we have all taken for granted for so long are under attack." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amazon pledges legal support to action against Trump travel ban The Guardian / January 31, 2017 CEO Jeff Bezos says company’s legal and lobbying teams will help fight the ban, echoing moves by Expedia and Microsoft Amazon chief executive, Jeff Bezos, has pledged the full legal resources of his company to fight the travel ban instituted by Donald Trump against seven Islamic nations. In an email to employees sent on Monday afternoon, Bezos said that Amazon would be putting its legal and lobbying efforts behind the fight against the ban. A key avenue of opposition involves supporting the attorney general for Washington state, where Amazon is headquartered, in his lawsuit against Trump – the first confirmed legal action from a state against one of the new administration’s policies. In an excerpt from Bezos’s email published by Recode, the Amazon head details some of the company’s intended actions: “We reached out to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to explore legislative options. Our legal team has prepared a declaration of support for the Washington state attorney general who will be filing suit against the order. We are working other legal options as well.” Bezos’s statement to Amazon employees is the second from Amazon since Trump’s ban was announced. On Saturday, the company released a less forceful statement declaring that “from the very beginning, Amazon has been committed to equal rights, tolerance and diversity – and we always will be.” Since Amazon announced its action, other Washington-based companies have also announced their support for the state’s action. Travel service Expedia, whose chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, is an Iranian immigrant, has signed on backing the action, according to attorney general Bob Ferguson. On Sunday, Khosrowshahi told employees “The president’s order represents the worst of his proclivity toward rash action versus thoughtfulness. Ours is a nation of immigrants. These are our roots, this is our soul. All erased with the stroke of a pen.” Reuters reports that Microsoft is also working with the state, providing information about the order’s impact “in order to be supportive,” according to a spokesperson, who added “we’d be happy to testify further if needed.” Previously, Microsoft’s statements had been limited to expressing “concerns about the impact of the executive order on our employees”.

Fleet Owner / January 30, 2017 The Bendix ESP electronic stability program has been made standard on new Kenworth T680 and T880 tractors, the OEM announced. The Bendix ESP full stability system meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new electronic stability control technology mandate, which is scheduled to go into effect in August for Class 8 trucks with tandem-drive axles. “The T680 on-highway flagship and T880 vocational leader are Kenworth’s most technologically advanced vehicles,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “Kenworth’s move to standardize on the Bendix ESP system continues our offering of technology systems to help our customers achieve success in their specific operations.” Kenworth T680 and T880 will come standard with the Bendix 4S/4M configuration, which has four sensors and four modulators and includes Bendix Smart ATC automatic traction control and Bendix ESP. The Bendix ESP full stability technology is designed to help stabilize the vehicle during loss of control situations on dry, wet, snow and ice-covered roadways. In addition to using sensors that monitor lateral acceleration the Bendix ESP system also uses sensors to monitor steering angle and vehicle direction. This allows for detection of a vehicle's impending loss of stability and automatic intervention through dethrottling of the engine and selective application of tractor steer and drive axle brakes, along with trailer brakes, helping the driver to maintain control of the vehicle in a variety of situations.

Trailer/Body Builders / January 30, 2017 Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. (www.brucknertruck.com), a long-time Mack dealer who today is also a distributor for Volvo, Autocar, Hino, Isuzu and Mitsubishi Fuso,, recently opened a new dealership facility in Oklahoma City, offering improved truck access and enhanced service and support. The 58,000 square-foot facility, located on 15 acres at 10120 W. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, offers new and used truck and trailer sales, truck rental and leasing, and service and parts. The entrance to the new location off Reno Avenue, west of Interstate 40 and the Morgan Road interchange, offers improved truck access for customers. The new site features 24 service bays – amounting to 80 percent more service space – staffed by 20 technicians, 70 percent of whom are master technicians. The new location also houses $1.4 million in parts inventory. “The investment by Bruckner Truck Sales in a new state-of-the-art facility is a testament to the engagement and strength of the Mack dealer network,” said Jonathan Randall, senior vice president of sales for Mack Trucks North America. “A strong dealer network is essential to supporting Mack customers through sales, service and parts, while also maximizing uptime.” In addition to servicing the full product lineup of diesel-equipped vehicles, the new facility also will be certified to work on vehicles equipped with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines. “We service a pretty diverse market in Oklahoma City,” said Chris Bruckner, executive vice president of Bruckner Truck Sales. “We were fortunate to build on Interstate-40 and invest in the most up-to-date technology to better serve our customers.” Bruckner’s operates 26 locations in six states, including Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and Louisiana. The new dealership will be open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with 24/7/365 emergency call-out service.

I have no problem with the gist of Trump’s executive order, PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/trump_executive_order_refugee_curbs.pdf) It states: “Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program.” Trump's executive order bars citizens of 7 Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for a mere 90 days, and suspends the admission of all refugees for a mere 120 days. Those 7 Muslim countries are: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Interestingly, not a single American was killed on U.S. soil by citizens from these 7 countries between 1975 and 2015. My friends, what’s wrong with this picture? Why isn’t Saudi Arabia on the list? 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were citizens of........Saudi Arabia. What country has allegedly been funding ISIS? How could Trump possibly omit Saudi Arabia from the list? Saudi Arabian citizens killed 2,369 Americans between 1975 and 2015. Why isn’t Afghanistan on the list, the playground for both Al Qaeda and now also ISIS? Why isn’t Pakistan on the list, the home and protector of Bin Laden? Why isn’t Egypt on the list, a now lawless Muslim country in chaos? Egyptian citizens killed 162 Americans between 1975 and 2015. Why isn't the United Arab Emirates on the list? UAE citizens killed 314 Americans between 1975 and 2015. Home to 2 of the September 11 hijackers, the U.S. State Dept. website says a widespread presence of ISIS and Al Qaeda- affiliated groups persists in the UAE poses a serious threat to American citizens. Ms. Conway, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Egypt have no history in "training, harboring and exporting terrorists" ??? When asked why these 4 countries are not on the list, Kellyanne Conway has the audacity to blame Obama. Excuse me? President Trump is now on the bridge. This is a “Trump Administration” executive order. Note this video from 2:20: .

That's a horrible way for a Mack NO to die.

Typically, different US state markets from coast-to-coast and from north and south give me varying feedback. However, I've been hearing universally nationwide for some time now that Kenworth is coming on very strong. Mack brand salesmen nationwide are losing Class 8 deals to Freightliner, Kenworth and other brands because their pricing is $10,000 to $15,000 high.

Once more, people domestically and abroad are criticizing the US over refugees, this time now that Trump has shut off the flow of citizens from 7 seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for a mere 90 days, and suspends the admission of all refugees for a mere 120 days. Why? When things fell apart in Syria, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) refused to take in refugees. We'll throw some money into the pot, they said, but we don't want them living with us. So much for helping out their Muslim neighbors in a time of need. Observe the "tent cities" in Saudi Arabia, perfect for providing 3 million beds for their Muslim neighbors in their time of need, rather than risk the dangers of a night boat ride across the Mediterranean to Europe. (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/gallery/which-arab-country-has-room-three-million-refugees-and-has-so-far-taken-zero-according-un) Syria was/is a Middle East matter, and not a North American or Western European matter. Rather than lead by example, the wealthy Arab League country's dumped the problem on the west......as usual. It gets old after a while. If the wealthy GCC countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia don't want their own people, why do we? Every time I see the picture of the unnecessarily drowned child face down on the beach, I am indescribably sad and angered that the Arab League/GCC didn't for once live up to its mandate. Clearly, their ethics, morals and values are not compatible with that of America. We can't afford to be the world's policeman anymore. When things are humming normally, the world slams the US for trying to impose US standards on their country......and often rightly so ("When in Rome......."). But when they need us, they "expect" us to automatically come running. Two faces, depending on which way the wind is blowing (e.g. Israel, Philippines, Malaysia, ect.). Now, we'll mind our own business, and leave them to theirs. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41658-critics-push-us-to-help-europe-by-taking-more-refugees/?page=2#comment-345646

According to the BBC (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38786660)…………... The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed a case in response to the order issued on Friday, estimates that (only) 100-200 people are being held at airports or in transit. I know first hand no more than you, but I'm guessing their number is generous. As we’ve all read by now, New York Federal Judge Anne Donnelly has issued a temporary halt to the deportation of visa holders or refugees stranded at airports after President Donald Trump issued an order barring entry to them for 90 days. (http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2017/images/01/28/darweesh.v.trump_decision.and.order.document-3.pdf) State attorneys general in Pennsylvania, Washington and Hawaiiare discussing whether to file their own court challenge against President Donald Trump's order.

As always, I respect your thoughts and opinions. As I've said, I didn't vote for him. However, out of respect for the office of president, I spell his name Obama.

Poorly worded, no doubt. But clear regulations should be followed literally. (I hope "illegal" aliens will no longer be allowed to exist in our country.......we do have laws clearly prohibiting) I imagine there are only a handful of returning green card holders..........that's minor issue. The services of any dedicated Iraqi translator* who has sworn the oath of US citizenship are appreciated, but I doubt there's more than five involved here. Most of the time, I'm no fan of the ACLU. * https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/29/iraq-trump-travel-ban-service-america

That they can not, because Volvo Group doesn't believe in gliders, an American concept. It will be interesting to see if Trump's EPA rolls back the GHG plan. Fitzgerald might continue producing them past 2021. Thank goodness EPA head Gina McCarthy is gone. She made Margaret Hamilton look like the "good" witch.

Why are people domestically and abroad whining? Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for a mere 90 days, and suspends the admission of all refugees for a mere 120 days. Three to four months...........that's nothing. In comparison, born-in-the-US citizens routinely wait a year for their overseas spouse's "green card" to be processed.

Call the truck sales staff at Watts Mack (1-888-304-6225) and ask.