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Philippines Leader to End Joint Military Exercises, Naval Patrols With U.S. The Wall Street Journal / September 28, 2016 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said joint military exercises scheduled next month between the Philippines and the U.S. will be the last for the longtime allies, as he seeks to avoid upsetting China, with which he hopes to build stronger trade and investment ties. He also said he would end routine joint naval patrols in the South China Sea. “I will serve notice to you now that this will be the last military exercise,” Duterte said The Philippine leader did reaffirm that his country’s cooperation with the U.S. stands. “I will maintain the military alliance—the RP-US pact, which our countries signed in the early 50s,” Duterte said. The military treaty with the U.S. was recently updated to allow more American troops to stay in the country for an extended period. Duterte said he was ending the routine joint patrols in the South China Sea because they, too, risk military confrontation between China and U.S., with the Philippines caught in the middle. “If the battleground will be in San Francisco, or China, then I’m OK with that,” he said. Duterte said holding war games with the U.S. might undermine his efforts to improve relations with Beijing, which have soured in recent years as Manila tried to strengthen its claims to part of the South China Sea. China has increasingly asserted sovereignty over that body of water, which is also claimed in part by Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippine military earlier this month invited U.S. troops to joint exercises in October, shortly after Mr. Duterte’s called for the Americans to withdraw their remaining military advisers from the southern island of Mindanao. Duterte had said their presence hurt efforts to find a peace with Muslim rebels. Earlier this week, Duterte said he plans to establish trade alliance with China and Russia. He previously had ordered his defense secretary to seek military equipment from suppliers in China and Russia to fight drug traffickers and insurgents.

CBS / September 25, 2016 Dozens of African Americans attacked a California Highway Patrol vehicle in Fresno, California on Sunday afternoon around 3:40, at the intersection of North and Orange Avenues. Police say a group of about 40 people were putting on a sideshow, driving around recklessly and doing tricks and “burnouts” in their cars. The group's “show” blocked off the intersection, illegally halting traffic. When the officers tried to break up the event, the crowd violently turned on them and targeted a police vehicle, shouting: 'F*** the police, n****. We run the streets, motherf*****.' . .

Associated Press / September 28, 2016 A 14-year-old gunman has been arrested after opening fire on the playground of Townville Elementary School in South Carolina around 1:45pm on Wednesday, just after murdering his 47-year-old father. The South Carolina boy shot and killed his father, then drove to an elementary school where he opened fire with a handgun, wounding two six-year-old children and first grade teacher Meghan Hollingsworth before being tackled by an off-duty firefighter who held him for police. One of the students, Jacob Hall, is in critical condition at Greenville Memorial Hospital. State Rep. Alan Clemmons, who is a friend of the family said: “He died twice, and was revived, during medical transport and again during surgery. He's in ICU now where a team of doctors are working to stabilize him. Once stabilized, he will face yet another surgery.” Jacob lost 75 percent of his blood and has suffered brain trauma. The boy shot dead his 47-year-old father, Jeffrey DeWitt Osborne, at their home. Then, he drove a pickup truck about 2 miles to Townville Elementary School where he crashed into a fence surrounding the playground. After the teenager began shooting, Townville volunteer firefighter Jamie Brock pinned him down while staff led children to safety inside the building. A witness heard the boy yelling 'I hate my life! I hate my life! I hate my life!' The boy was being home schooled because he was expelled from his school last year for bringing a machete and hatchet to school and attacking a child. The boy's father, Jeffrey DeWitt Osborne, was a convicted criminal. In April 1991, he was convicted of a marijuana offense in South Carolina. In December 1995, he was found guilty of criminal domestic violence. In March 1996, he was convicted of property damage. The father has also been declared bankrupt with three separate companies filing liens against him dating back to 2005. Update: Jacob Hall, the 6-year-old boy who was critically wounded in a school shooting died Saturday, days after a 14-year-old boy opened fire on a school playground. Jacob Hall had been fighting for his life at a hospital after a bullet struck him in a main artery in his leg, causing him a major brain injury due to the loss of blood. Jacob died about 1 p.m. Saturday, .

Bob, the media gave electric and autonomous a lot of coverage. I've no problem with that, but that was just one pillar of this massive show. The show was extremely busy. This is a professional show where you can rub shoulders with engineers, sales people and senior management, asking questions and getting direct answers from the source. People were thrilled with the new Scania. Though you won't read about it yet, Eaton is working on a next generation transmission architecture to replace their current platform.

If they are incorporated in the United States of America, they are considered to be a U.S. company. Personally, I'm proud of the remaining U.S. companies, like Hendrickson, that have the savvy to compete successfully in the global market.

A V-6 isn't necessary. The Ranger and Everest are available with a new 2.0-liter turbocharged (twin-scroll) EcoBoost with high pressure direct injection that has the power and torque of a 3.5-liter V-6 (per Ford). I've heard 250hp and 270 lb/ft. That 4-cylinder is all you need.

It is indeed a global show. Paccar, GM, and Ford were there, as well as Hendrickson, Cummins, Modine, CVG, jacobs and many orhers. Saying this show is massive would be an understatement.

Bob, that's a medium-duty Hino 500 Series (with the logo covered). The Cargo isn't marketed in Australia. http://www.hino.com.au/500/

CAT Trucks Australia / Navistar Auspac Press Release / September 26, 2016 .

ZF and Ford Trucks ZF Press Release / September 21, 2016 TraXon in Turkey: The ZF transmission system is installed at Ford Trucks as a standard component in the truck product lines with a Euro-6 driveline. .

ZF TraXon Hybrid ZF Press Release / September 26, 2016 Built into heavy trucks like the ZF Innovation Truck, the TraXon Hybrid fulfills all of the requirements of an electric driveline. In addition to considerably lower fuel consumption, functions like recuperation, electric maneuvering, start-stop and boosting are included. Pioneer in the field: The TraXon Hybrid is ZF’s first hybrid solution for heavy-duty trucks. .

Tata Trucks Press Release / September 27, 2016 . . .

ZF Reinforces Electrification of Commercial Vehicles to Achieve Zero Emissions in the City ZF Press Release / September 22, 2016 New all-electric central drive designed particularly for city buses and delivery trucks. AVE 130 electric portal axle is already a volume-production solution for low-floor buses; its modified concept excels in the Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck. TraXon Hybrid enables heavy trucks to maneuver electrically. Friedrichshafen/Hanover. ZF Friedrichshafen AG offers a broad product and services portfolio for the electrification of commercial vehicles. It focuses on all-electric drive solutions for urban vehicles and hybrid applications for use in long-distance transport. The company’s latest products include an all-electric central drive for buses, coaches and delivery trucks intended for urban transport. Derived from the technology of the AVE 130 electric portal axle for city buses, a close-to- wheel electric drive for heavy delivery trucks is also part of this new portfolio. Now, it has been introduced for the first time in the Urban eTruck concept from Mercedes-Benz. In addition to the above, ZF offers hybrid solutions such as the TraXon Hybrid for heavy trucks. The commercial vehicle sector is also benefiting from close dovetailing with e-mobility solutions for passenger cars. As an example, ZF modified its all-electric axle drive, originally engineered for passenger cars, for use in light commercial vehicles. High-torque, powerful diesel engines remain critical components for many commercial vehicle applications. Nevertheless, the electrification of commercial vehicles has strong potential because for some applications and market regions, the hybrid or the all-electric drive is a better alternative. “Many commercial vehicles with limited daily mileage can already be operated using all-electric drives,” says Fredrik Staedtler, head of the Commercial Vehicle Technology Division at ZF. These systems are even mandatory in many large metropolitan cities in Europe and Asia that already have strict emissions regulations. Fleet vehicles are often used in a return-to-base operation which means that delivery trucks and buses can return to the fleet lot or bus depot overnight and be easily re-charged. All-electric buses and delivery trucks for getting around town As the newest addition to its broad e-mobility solution portfolio, ZF has now developed an all-electric central drive that brings city buses and delivery trucks one step closer to zero-emission driving. The central drive is ideal for vehicles with driveline configurations similar to those currently in use in conventional vehicles, thus making it easy to integrate into existing vehicle concepts. The fact that the central drive can be combined with both single rear drive axles and conventional low-floor axles means it can be installed in low-entry buses and all kinds of low-floor buses. The popular AVE130 electric portal axle is another ideal solution for low-floor buses because it provides weight benefits in the vehicle and accommodates flexible vehicle architectures with open interior designs. Hybrid drives for trucks and buses ZF has developed yet another product for hybrid use in heavy commercial vehicles. Its TraXon Hybrid features an electric motor installed between the combustion engine and the transmission. This parallel hybrid design allows all hybrid functionalities to be realized in a 40-ton truck. One feature particularly attractive for many applications is that in generator mode, the hybrid module can also supply power to other units, during refrigerated transports, for example. In thinking about future needs at the truck terminal or bus depot, ZF has equipped its Innovation Truck 2016 with the TraXon Hybrid which can maneuver autonomously and purely electrically. Apart from being installed in truck applications, TraXon Hybrid is also suitable for coaches, where the hybrid drive boasts the same advantages. Light commercial vehicles benefit from synergies with passenger car solutions ZF’s e-mobility solutions for light commercial vehicles benefit from the company’s expertise in the passenger car sector. For example, ZF has taken a central axle drive, originally designed for passenger cars, and applied it to light commercial vehicles and delivery trucks. It will go into volume production in 2018. It combines an electric motor with a two-stage single-speed transmission, differential and power electronics to form a highly-integrated, extremely compact unit. When it comes to performance, at 150 kW, the system also works perfectly in light commercial vehicles. “Identifying synergies between passenger cars and commercial vehicles has always been an asset of ZF and this also holds true for our electrification strategy,” emphasizes Staedtler.

The H350 is a superb van on the same level as the Ford Transit. Dual rear tire is not yet available. The Xcient is a world class heavy tractor in every respect. They have ideas of producing a conventional (bonneted) variant for North America. The "Mighty" light truck is for emerging markets.

Hyundai Trucks Press Release / September 27, 2016 .

ZF Innovation Truck 2016 Sees, Thinks and Acts with Intelligent Driver Assist Systems ZF Press Release / September 22, 2016 The Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA), developed with project partner WABCO, automatically steers semi-trailer trucks around hazardous areas safely and helps to prevent rear-end collisions ZF’s Highway Driving Assist (HDA) actively keeps trucks in the lane and at an appropriately safe distance from the vehicle in front The automated maneuvering function helps to reduce accidents and downtimes while increasing efficiency at the truck terminal Friedrichshafen/Hanover. Greater safety and improved efficiency through automated driving are mobility megatrends that are increasingly relevant to the commercial vehicle sector. ZF is demonstrating its capabilities in these areas by showcasing its Innovation Truck 2016 developed for IAA in Hanover this year. With the vision of accident-free driving or “Vision Zero,” ZF is working on enhancing current assist systems for practical use on the road. Its efforts have resulted in a Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system which helps to keep the vehicle in its lane, and an Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) system which allows a truck to independently evade obstacles and brake. The latter was developed in cooperation with WABCO. The Innovation Truck 2016 also boasts a highly efficient solution with its autonomous maneuvering function SafeRange. Its intelligently networked systems allow the concept vehicle to autonomously maneuver to the loading bay in a precise and efficient manner, and if needed, with zero local emissions. Thanks to widely developed assist systems, modern trucks already offer a high level of safety. Now, with the ZF Innovation Truck 2016, ZF has pioneered the next level of active assist systems. Both the Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) and the Highway Driving Assist (HDA) systems can help prevent accidents more effectively. The SafeRange maneuvering system also boosts efficiency at the truck terminal – the key here is the linking of ZF's autonomous driving functions. Applying its competence in sensor technology, control electronics and mechatronic systems, the technology company enables the Innovation Truck 2016 to see, think and act. Avoidance instead of collision Typically, hazards occur at the tail end of a traffic jam on the freeway. If a truck driver fails to see this in time, the outcome could be fatal. In the ZF Innovation Truck, however, the unique EMA system takes control in this situation. The assistance function detects whether Advanced Emergency Braking or driver-initiated braking is sufficient to stop the vehicle before hitting an obstacle. If braking alone is insufficient to avoid a rear-end collision, the EMA directs the truck with its trailer independently (activated by the steering motion of the driver to the right or left) and safely toward the desired free lane or hard shoulder. ZF developed the system in cooperation with WABCO in early 2016. It analyzes information from cameras and laser sensors, and then activates the ReAX active electric power steering as well as the service brakes. A multi-stage warning cascade keeps the driver involved so that the system can be overridden at any time. Just like trains on a track The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) feature in the ZF Innovation Truck 2016 keeps the vehicle in its lane and effectively helps protect drivers from the often very severe consequences resulting from lack of attention, distraction or a few seconds of microsleep. The system not only warns the driver that the semi-trailer truck is unintentionally moving out of its lane, it also actively and independently keeps the truck in the lane. At the same time, it automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicles in front at any speed, also including stop-and-go functionality. Efficient driving at the truck terminal The intense networking and automation of systems and functions help to considerably increase the efficiency and safety of workflows at truck terminals and transport hubs. Collisions while maneuvering can result in costly vehicle damage and downtimes while additionally increasing loading and unloading times. The Innovation Truck 2016 adapts a new approach. The system’s eyes and brain do not necessarily have to be located in the truck to automatically actuate its electrically powered mechatronic systems. That’s why, for the SafeRange autonomous maneuvering function, ZF has networked the truck to systems in the truck terminal. The truck to be maneuvered only needs a target on its trailer for the stationary cameras on the loading bay to be able to detect it. A computer inside the terminal calculates the trajectory and transmits the data via WiFi to the ZF Openmatics telematics system in the truck. This is where the vehicle control system takes over, using ZF's active electric power steering, ReAX, and the TraXon Hybrid automatic transmission system to steer the truck to the loading bay electrically and emission-free. A tablet doubles as an HMI control system that can be used to maneuver the truck from outside the driver’s cab. .

Reuters / September 28, 2016 With its recent acquisition of self-driving truck startup Otto, Uber Technologies Inc.[UBER.UL]is plotting its entry into the long-haul trucking business, aiming to establish itself as a freight hauler and a technology partner for the industry. Otto plans to expand its fleet of trucks from six to about 15 and is forging partnerships with independent truckers, Otto co-founder Lior Ron told Reuters in an interview. Starting next year, Otto-branded trucks and others equipped with Otto technology will begin hauling freight bound for warehouses and stores, he said. Uber has already started pitching services to shippers, truck fleets and independent drivers, and the services go well beyond Otto's initially stated goal of outfitting trucks with self-driving technology. It also plans to compete with the brokers who connect truck fleets and shippers. Fully autonomous trucks remain years away - some trucking industry experts estimate two decades - and the Otto vehicles are currently manned by a driver and an engineer. But the Uber-Otto efforts include a host of other technologies involving navigation, mapping and tracking, which can be deployed even as work continues on self-driving systems. An executive at one company told Reuters he had already been approached by Uber about hauling his goods, noting that Uber touted recent hires and advances in trucking technology. Uber aims to ultimately transform the competitive and fragmented $700 billion-a-year trucking industry, which is notorious for low margins. The company is challenging a host of established players, ranging from publicly traded companies, such as third-party logistics firms C.H. Robinson and XPO Logistics, to countless mom-and-pop trucking businesses. Otto has had motor carrier permits with the U.S. Department of Transportation and California Department of Motor Vehicles to move cargo since earlier this year. Eleven days after the close of the Uber acquisition last month, Otto filed for a new permit to haul freight, noting it would expand its fleet to 15 trucks. Ron told Reuters that Otto also aims to partner with the industry, and that "thousands" of owner-operator truck drivers have reached out to the company. "We are talking with everyone," he said. "We don't want to develop technology just for the sake of technology." Uber - the dominant ride-hailing firm and the world's most valuable venture-backed startup, at $68 billion - last month bought Otto in a $680 million deal. Otto, with about 100 employees, had just launched in January. While Uber's brand and financial backing could supercharge Otto's prospects, industry experts remain skeptical that a Silicon Valley startup with little experience can shake up long-haul trucking. "The transportation industry is a relationship-backed business," said Kevin Abbott, a vice president at C.H. Robinson. "There's a lot more to it than just finding a piece of equipment." Abbott noted that Uber is just the latest in a long line of companies that have tried to take the place of brokers, who typically match loads with vehicles. Uber and Otto also face competition from a growing crop of startups eyeing the industry. Companies such as Transfix, Convoy and Cargo Chief are aiming to unseat traditional brokers by matching shippers with carriers using complex algorithms, while Trucker Path has built a popular navigation app for truckers. BRAND ADVANTAGE? One indication of Otto's ambitions is its recent hiring of Bill Driegert, a logistics veteran who helped found Coyote, a leading freight broker, and served as its chief innovation officer, according to his LinkedIn profile. Uber and Otto are working to build a freight network to connect shippers and carriers, much like Uber matches passengers and drivers. The trucking push is partly a gambit to leverage the mapping and logistics expertise Uber has gained ferrying passengers and food in cities. "This is really about connecting the dots, connecting the shippers and the carriers," Ron said. "We are building that on the long-haul piece. Uber, through UberRush and UberEats, built that on the urban piece," referring to the company's on-demand delivery services. Self-driving trucks may eventually ease the driver shortage facing the trucking industry. But even absent autonomous technology, Otto says it could help decrease the cost of trucking goods by more quickly finding freight, mapping more efficient routes and reducing fuel consumption. "In Uber, you press a button and an Uber shows up after three minutes," Ron said. "In freight ... the golden standard is that it takes (the broker) five hours of phone calls to find your truck. That's how efficient the industry is today." Uber is hardly alone in tackling that problem. XPO Logistics - among the world's biggest logistics services - has invested heavily in software that maximizes the utilization of trucks and reduces fuel consumption. C.H. Robinson has developed technology that allows companies to track their shipments, as well as an app for carriers with small fleets. Moreover, the model that Uber used to disrupt the taxi industry may not translate easily to trucking, said transportation analyst Jack Atkins of investment bank Stephens Inc. Companies avoid risk when shipping goods more than consumers do when hailing rides, he said. "I don't really see it as a near-term threat, just because of how complex the industry really is," he said. "It's not as simple as, 'Hey, I want to go from point A to point B in Midtown.'" LOGGING THE MILES Ron emphasizes that Otto's autonomous driving technology is still in a "testing regimen." The trucks can drive by themselves on highways, with two copilots as backup, but maneuvering off the open interstate remains a challenge. The trucks now haul random items from the company's garage to test how the vehicles respond to hauling weight. But the company will "fairly soon" move goods for shippers - just about any type of freight, except for hazardous materials, Ron said. Otto currently has about two dozen drivers who are employees, and next year the company will have more partnerships with independent drivers. Truck fleets will also help test its technology. Otto has had talks with potential partners and is in the process of trying to cement deals with some of them, Ron said. "This is all about putting it on the road," Ron said, "collecting the miles." .

Transport Engineer / September 27, 2016 North West Roofing Supplies has taken delivery of the first of two new Iveco Stralis Hi-Street rigids, ordered after positive experience with an earlier trial vehicle. Supplied by dealer Walton Summit Truck Centre, the St Helens-based operator’s new additions are 26-tonne 6x2 Hi-Street rigids, both with a plant body, an Atlas 165.2A2 crane, and a lifting and rear-steering axle, providing increased manoeuvrability for deliveries in urban areas. The first vehicle has gone into service; the second is due for delivery in December. Both are supplied on five-year Iveco Elements R&M packages. The trucks are powered by Iveco’s Cursor 9 engine, featuring Iveco’s HI-SCR technology and producing up to 310bhp between 1,675 and 2,400 rpm, and up to 1,300 Nm of torque between 1,200 and 1,675 rpm. The vehicles also feature the EuroTronic fully-automated gearbox, manufactured for Iveco by ZF. “We first decided to trial an Iveco in 2014, after speaking to another operator that recommended the Hi-Street for our line of work,” says managing director Stephen Phillips. “We took on a similar 26-tonne rigid from another manufacturer at the same time, and found the Iveco quickly surpassing its competitor in terms of on-the-job reliability. The drivers love the truck, and we’re completely satisfied – the Hi-Street is ideal.” Payload is a bonus, he adds: “The 18.8-tonne capacity is very competitive, given our body and crane combination. It means we can collect from our suppliers just once per day in the morning, and spend the rest of the day delivering what our customers ordered.” The Stralis trucks join a fleet of nine 26-tonne rigids, and will be in operation six days per week. The vehicles are expected to clock up 50,000 miles per annum and will be in operation for between five and seven years. .

Transport Engineer / September 26, 2016 Somerset-based bulk haulier W Rolls has taken delivery of a new 32-tonne Renault Range C, joining eight more Range Cs and three Premium Landers already in its fleet. Supplied by Renault Trucks South West, the Range C460 8x4 with Aliweld bulk tipping body means the operator’s 12-strong fleet is solely Renault. Director John Bartleet says: “I’ve been buying Renault trucks for a long time and I’m always recommending them to other operators who are buying new vehicles. “The trucks are great, reliable and robust, plus we have a fantastic relationship with the team at Renault Trucks South West as well as great back-up service from Renault Trucks’ approved repairer A E George Commercials, which is only four miles away in Bruton.” The W Rolls fleet delivers all over the UK, with the trucks covering around 120,000km per year. “Our tippers are out Monday to Friday on long distance jobs up and down the UK. The fuel figures have been very impressive and on average we are achieving 9-plus mpg,” says Bartlett. Driver appeal was an important consideration, he says, adding: “Our drivers are particularly pleased with the new Range Cs. They are working on long distances so a comfortable life on board is crucial and overall they have been very happy with the bigger cab, storage spaces and interior finishes.” .

Transport Engineer / September 27, 2016 ZF confirmed its position at the hub of the commercial vehicle electrification drive at the IAA exhibition, in Hanover, Germany, showing an all-electric central drive in Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck concept vehicle. The new drive is based on ZF’s AVE 130 electric portal axle, originally designed for city buses as a close-to-wheel electric drive. It combines an electric motor with a two-stage single-speed transmission, differential and power electronics to form a compact, integrated unit. “Many commercial vehicles with limited daily mileage can already be operated using all-electric drives,” comments Fredrik Staedtler, head of commercial vehicle technology at ZF. And he adds that return-to-base operations also favour electric commercial vehicles – noting that their numbers are bound to grow as electric vehicle become mandatory in cities in Europe and Asia. Staedtler’s all-electric central drive, he says, brings electric city buses and delivery trucks one step closer to zero-emission driving – particularly since it mimics conventional driveline configurations. The fact that the central drive can be combined with both single rear drive axles and conventional low-floor axles means it can be installed in low-entry buses and all kinds of low-floor buses, he explains. The new drive is scheduled for volume production starting in 2018. At 150 kW (201.15 hp), the system can also work in light commercial vehicles. “Identifying synergies between passenger cars and commercial vehicles has always been an asset of ZF and this also holds true for our electrification strategy,” states Staedtler. .