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Allison Transmission Press Release / August 23, 2016 The new Allison transmission-equipped Volkswagen Constellation 26.280 6x4 concrete mixer will be featured at three booths during Concrete Show South America August 24 thru 26 at the Sao Paulo Exhibition Center. Attendees can get a close look at the VW Constellation while visiting Liebherr Brazil, the Society of Industrial Thermoelectric Plants (SITI) and Convict Industry and Commerce. Developed in conjunction with Volkswagen Truck & Bus, the vocational truck includes a fully automatic Allison 3000 Series transmission. Construction requires trucks to haul massive loads, withstand heavy start-stop duty-cycles and endure day-after-day use without breaking down. This kind of work takes a toll on weaker transmissions. However, instead of a starting clutch that is prone to wear, Allison uses a patented torque converter technology for more time on the road and lower repair costs. Allison’s torque converter smoothly multiplies engine torque, delivering more power to the wheels. By multiplying the engine power, drivers get increased performance, faster acceleration and greater operational flexibility. An Allison fully automatic transmission delivers continuous power to the wheels while a manual or automated manual transmission (AMT) loses power with every shift. This Continuous Power Technology enables Allison transmissions to provide smoother, seamless, full-power shifts. By accelerating faster than manual and automated manual transmissions (AMTs), Allison Automatics allow fleets to operate at higher average speeds and complete more loads per day. In addition to reliability and increased productivity, the following are more reasons Allison is considered the top choice for construction vehicles: Improved maneuverability to creep in soft soil and navigate tight spaces Better on hills with 2nd Reverse and more control on steep grades with virtually no rollback Easier and safer to operate for less experienced drivers, expanding the driver pool Available with engine speed Power Take-Off (PTO) Be sure to check out the VW Constellation 26.280 6x4 during Concrete Show South America and learn more about the benefits of fully automatic Allison transmissions. .

Scania’s got a new truck, but not for North America. Not yet at least. Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner / August 24, 2016 It’s always a treat to watch a new truck get introduced, with all the flash and hype that’s usually only reserved for swanky new sports cars. That’s certainly the case for the new big rig being rolled out by Swedish truck maker Scania, which is part of Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH; an all-new platform that’s been 10 years in the making, with the OEM investing some US$2.39 billion over that time span to bring it to life. Scania’s executives felt that Paris served as an “ideal location” for the launch of its new truck, as the famed “City of Light” is a home for “design innovation.” Aside from all the glitz, however, and despite it being hailed as a “global truck,” North American fleets won’t see this ride anytime soon. Indeed, its cabover design doesn’t mesh with the conventional cab sensibilities on this side of the pond, though the new Scania is certainly going to fit well with fleet needs in other markets around the world. There are, however, a few takeaways worthy of note for North American fleet operators from this new truck – especially as Scania is trying to leverage its vertically-integrated truck platform to generate more savings for its customers. That’s not just in terms of better fuel economy, though the OEM touted that its new truck should achieve a 5% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to its current models (with 3% coming from powertrain improvements and 2% due to better aerodynamics). One of the bigger advances stems from the OEM’s “Scania Maintenance” program, which I’ve noted in this space before; a program that bases truck maintenance on data, not mileage, and purportedly can extend engine oil drain intervals out to 150,000 kilometers under the right circumstances – that’s 93,000 miles for fleets on this side of the pond. Those kinds of predictive maintenance abilities are only possible due to the rise of the “connected truck,” which is something Scania views as “unavoidable” in the European Union of 2016. Indeed, the OEM said it now has over 200,000 connected vehicles on the road, with 95% of all its trucks delivered in Europe now “connected” vehicles. “Our assessment is that within a few years, quality, user-friendliness and the actual benefit of the services that connectivity enables will mark the great dividing line in the industry between premium manufacturers and all the rest," noted Mattias Lundholm, head of connected services at Scania, during the OEM’s press event. “Offering a cleverly designed range of connected services and added value increases a hauler’s competitive edge and contributes to more profit," he explained. Certainly, Scania thinks this new truck will do that and more for European motor carriers, as well as others in selected markets around the world. We’ll see if those capabilities come to life as promised.

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You’ve got to wonder................ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters / August 24, 2016 German politicians on Wednesday criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for saying that people with a Turkish background who live in Germany should show "loyalty to our country", calling her comment unnecessarily divisive at a particularly difficult time. Adding to mounting strains on relations between Germany and Turkey, a major partner in regional attempts to stem mass migration, a leaked government report last Wednesday stated [correctly] that Turkey was a hub for Islamist groups. German media have also reported that the Turkish government's MIT intelligence service had a network of 6,000 informants in Germany. In an interview published on Tuesday, Merkel had told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper: "We expect those with a Turkish background who have lived in Germany for a long time to develop a high degree of loyalty to our country." In exchange, she said, Germany was trying to be open to their concerns and to understand them. German integration commissioner Aydan Ozugus [German-born to Turkish parents], a member of the Social Democrats that rule in coalition with Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, criticized Merkel’s comments. She said a clear majority of those with a Turkish background "felt allegiance to our country" and should not be assumed to have conflicting loyalties. Volker Beck, migration spokesman for the Green party, said: "Questioning the loyalty of your own citizens without any particular reason is a practice that we generally see only in authoritarian regimes." He said people with a Turkish background needed to support German values such as human dignity and human rights, regardless of language, religion and ethnic origin, not declare "loyalty" to one country. [?????] Tensions are already high in the 3-million strong Turkish community in Germany between supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and those of a U.S.-based cleric he blames for a thwarted coup on July 15. Erdogan backers have demonstrated in several German cities since the attempted coup, shops have been boycotted by rival sides and hate mail has been sent to anti-Erdogan politicians.

The Washington Post / August 24, 2016 A survivor of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people now faces terror charges. Authorities say he traveled to Syria to join ISIS, departing the U.S. just a few weeks after collecting over $91,000 in settlement money for his injuries. Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble, 20, was charged Wednesday with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He was weeks shy of his 11th birthday when the school bus he was riding in plummeted about 30 feet as the bridge collapsed. Roble, one of 145 people who were hurt, received the settlement funds on his 18th birthday. Roble’s name first surfaced in May during the federal trial of three Minnesota men who were convicted of conspiring to join ISIS. The bridge collapse wasn’t mentioned at trial, but The Associated Press made the connection using public records. Court documents filed Wednesday show Roble received three court settlements when he turned 18 that totaled $91,654. That money included a $65,431 payment from the state’s settlement fund. According to evidence presented in federal court in May, Roble flew to Istanbul in October 2014 as part of an itinerary that included a trip to China. He was due to return to the U.S. in June 2015, but never did, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Officer Joel Pajak testified. “We received information that Mr. Roble ended up in Syria with his uncle, Abdi Nur,” Pajak testified. The FBI affidavit says Roble withdrew more than $47,000 from his accounts over three months in 2014 while he was in Turkey. “This large sum is consistent with previously mentioned CHS reports that Roble was financially supporting himself and other members of ISIS, including by purchasing vehicles to be used by members of ISIS,” the affidavit said. The “CHS” was a confidential informant working for the government. Nur is among 10 men charged in the case and is believed to have joined ISIS. Nine others have been convicted on terror charges in Minnesota. Prosecutors say the men were part of a group of friends in Minnesota’s Somali community who recruited and inspired each other to join ISIS. The FBI says around twelve young men have left Minnesota to join militant groups in Syria in recent years. The affidavit filed Wednesday says that Nur was last known to be living in Syria with ISIS. Authorities say Roble and Nur accessed internet accounts from the same computer IP address within minutes of each other in May 2015, supporting that they were in the same location. .

Chelsea Clinton Plans to Stay on Board of Family Foundation The Wall Street Journal / August 24, 2016 The Clinton Foundation is considering exceptions to its plan to stop accepting corporate and foreign donations and reduce family involvement as a way to insulate Hillary Clinton from potential conflicts of interest if elected president. As recently as this summer, the foundation was discussing with some allies plans for Chelsea Clinton to leave the board, along with former President Bill Clinton, if Mrs. Clinton should win. But on Wednesday, foundation spokesman Craig Minassian said Chelsea Clinton plans to stay on the board. Mr. Clinton told donors he still plans to leave. While the parent Clinton Foundation will stop accepting money from foreign governments and corporations, the foundation’s largest project, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, might continue to accept foreign government and corporate funding, Clinton health initiative officials said Wednesday. The moves are unlikely to appease critics who say the family should sever itself entirely to inoculate Mrs. Clinton from appearances of conflicts. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has ramped up his criticism of the Clinton Foundation in the past few days, accusing the Clintons of running a “pay for play” operation that grants political access to donors. Mr. Clinton, speaking to reporters Wednesday, defended the foundation’s work. “If there is something wrong with creating jobs and saving lives, I don’t know what it is,” he said. Mr. Clinton launched the foundation after leaving the White House in 2001. It has raised as much as $2 billion, mostly from corporations, wealthy donors, governments and other foundations. Its latest tax return showed it raised $338 million in 2014 and spent $250 million that year. The foundation’s aim is to form partnerships between governments, companies and other nonprofits to tackle projects that focus mostly on climate change, economic development, global health and opportunities for women and girls. A spokeswoman for Chelsea Clinton said she plans to remain on the board because she “is committed to ensuring that those benefiting from the foundation’s work will be able to continue receiving that often life-changing help.” Left unclear was whether she would continue to raise money for the foundation, which would be scaled back significantly if Hillary Clinton wins in November. A statement from the spokeswoman said Chelsea Clinton was remaining on the board to “steward the implementation of changes,” including “new fundraising policies.” The Clinton Health Access Initiative, which is run by longtime Clinton associate Ira Magaziner, hasn’t decided whether it will participate in the ban on foreign government and corporate gifts, a spokeswoman for the Clinton health program said. The health initiative, which has its own board of directors, will convene the board soon to decide its next steps, the spokeswoman said. The health initiative relies heavily on government donations to fund its public health programs. The possible exception to the new ethics rules was previously reported by the Boston Globe. Bill Clinton plans to resign from the health initiative’s board if his wife is elected, but it isn’t clear whether Chelsea plans to do so. Last year, when facing criticism for foreign government donations, the Clinton Foundation said it would restrict donations to six Western countries. However, the Clinton Health Access Initiative adopted a more lenient policy that could potentially permit any foreign government to donate. News of Chelsea Clinton’s plans, which NPR reported on Tuesday, is likely to intensify concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest if her mother wins the White House. Critics have raised questions about whether donors to the Clinton Foundation received special access at the State Department. Ray Madoff, a Boston College Law School professor and director of the Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good, said ordinarily it might make sense for Chelsea to remain on the board. However, in this case, it is complicated by its history. “The Clinton Foundation has been way too inattentive to the appearance of impropriety,” she said. “Chelsea clearly has access to her parents so the appearance of impropriety continues.” Ms. Madoff added, “If the Clintons didn’t have this ongoing problem, then it is a more difficult case. After all, Chelsea is a working adult and it makes sense that she would work on the Clinton Foundation.” A spokesman for the Republican National Committee said the exceptions demonstrate that the new policies are merely “window dressing.” An Associated Press report Tuesday based on a partial release of State Department calendars showed that at least 85 of 154 people outside government who met or spoke on the phone with Mrs. Clinton when she was secretary of state donated up to $156 million to the Clinton Foundation. Mr. Trump is himself a donor to the Clinton Foundation, having given between $100,000 and $250,000, according to the organization’s disclosures. His campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said in a CNN interview Tuesday that Mr. Trump’s donations weren’t a bid for access to the former secretary of state, and she praised the foundation’s efforts. “The Clinton Foundation does a lot of good work,” Ms. Conway said. Mr. Clinton told supporters in a letter sent Monday he would resign from the board and stop raising money for the foundation and that he and Chelsea had decided the foundation would “raise money only from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S.-based independent foundations.” Foreign government and corporate gifts, which have raised ethical questions in the past, wouldn’t be accepted. The purpose of these changes, Mr. Clinton said, was to eliminate “legitimate concerns about potential conflicts of interest.” Mr. Clinton also said that while leaving the board, “I will continue to support the work of the foundation.” People who have been briefed on the foundation’s plans said that the organization and Chelsea Clinton don’t intend to say whether she would raise money for the foundation until after the election. “They don’t think it makes sense to decide right now,” one person familiar with the plans told The Wall Street Journal. As recently as earlier this month, friends of the foundation told the Journal that there were plans for both Bill and Chelsea Clinton to stop fundraising. Those plans remain under discussion, however, and no final decisions have been made or announced. Mr. Clinton also said the foundation is changing its name from the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation back to the Clinton Foundation. The name changed when Mrs. Clinton left the State Department and began raising money for the foundation in the period before she launched her presidential bid. Bill Clinton told staff in a meeting on Friday that the foundation would discontinue, after this year, one of its signature events—the Clinton Global Initiative. Next month’s annual meeting, the 12th Clinton Global Initiative, aims to draw commitments from corporations, philanthropies and others to seek to remedy global problems such as poverty and AIDS. Before the 2016 election, Bill and Hillary Clinton had collected $250 million in pledges for an endowment intended to secure the foundation’s financing in the future. That fund is managed by Summit Rock Advisors, where Nicole Fox, Chelsea Clinton’s maid of honor at her wedding, is managing director. Ms. Fox’s husband, Michael Fox, was managing director of Chelsea’s husband’s investment firm. Summit Rock and Mr. and Ms. Fox declined to comment. A foundation official said Summit Rock was “one of the most respected firms” and was selected from among 13 fund managers that had submitted proposals. The official added that it is customary for foundations to continue to raise money even after they have amassed sizable endowments.

WikiLeaks to release 'significant' Clinton campaign data Reuters / August 24, 2016 WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange said on Wednesday his organization planned to release "significant" information linked to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton before the Nov. 8 election. Asked if the data could be a game-changer in the election, the Assange said, "I think it’s significant. You know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media.” WikiLeaks released files in July of what it said were audio recordings pulled from the emails of the Democratic National Committee that were obtained by hacking its servers. That release, during the Democratic National Convention where Clinton was officially named the party's presidential nominee, was the second batch in a series that deeply rattled the party and prompted the committee's chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to step down. "I don’t want to give the game away, but it’s a variety of documents, from different types of institutions that are associated with the election campaign, some quite unexpected angles, some quite interesting, some even entertaining," Assange said when asked how the next revelations would compare with those in July.

It's sad that, although Hagerstown produced E9 engines thru 2003, Volvo has made a decision to discontinue E9 customer support. If you aren't willing to offer 20 years of "reasonable" support.................

Mack brand spokesman Christopher Heffner has worked for Volvo since August 2014. Previously, he was a “senior communications associate”, “community relations associate”, “communications associate” and lab tech at Dow Corning. Chris, who graduated from college in 2004, has zero background in the truck industry.

Rickard Lundberg Vice President and General Manager – Lehigh Valley Operations (aka. LVO, Macungie Assembly Operations) Volvo Group subsidiary Mack Trucks, Inc. October 2016 – ? Vice President, Köping plant Volvo Group Trucks Operations October 2013 – October 2016 (3 years) Manager, Volvo Production System and Deputy Plant Manager Volvo Powertrain September 2010 – October 2013 (3 years 2 months) Manager Assembly Volvo Powertrain January 2007 – August 2010 (3 years 8 months) Material control manager Volvo Powertrain April 2004 – December 2006 (2 years 9 months) Purchasing Manager Volvo Powertrain January 2001 – April 2004 (3 years 4 months)

Navistar recalls 3,952 ProStars over faulty fuse terminals Land Line (OOIDA) / August 24, 2016 Navistar is recalling 3,952 2014-2017 International ProStar trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. Affected trucks have an electrical issue with the battery fuse terminals. ProStars manufactured from June 11, 2013, to May 19, 2016, may have an issue with fuse terminals. According to NHTSA, “the battery mounted cube fuse terminal connection on certain ProStar model trucks built with the battery box mounted between the frame rails may possibly break resulting in loss of power to the cab.” Vibrations at the battery cable and terminal interface are the likely cause of the cube fuse terminal failure. Cab lights may flicker or gauges may become erratic before cube fuse failure. The recall was first discovered in March with several more reports received by May. Navistar officially declared the recall in July 18, and it was recently made official by NHTSA. Affected trucks will have the cube fuse replaced with a chassis-mounted power distribution module (PDM) inside the battery box. PDMs are not subject to the same vibrations. Customers affected by the recall should be receiving a letter from Navistar around Sept. 16. Owners can contact NHTSA at 888-327-4236 or visit SaferCar.gov.

I'm not going to answer your question....exactly. In the U.S. market, most 4x2 tractors always ran 23,000lb drive axles. Rockwell sold thousands of (single reduction) R-170s. But you will of course break leaves and damage axles by attempting to carry a 6x4's load. In the European Union, most single drive axles and suspensions (e.g. Scania ADA1300) on 4x2 tractors are rated at 28,660lb (13 metric tons), and they pull tri-axle trailers. (The U.S. should allow 97,000lb GCWs like the EU, with 6x4 tractor/3-axle trailer combinations equipped with "road friendly" air suspensions) The former Mack Trucks used to offer the superb 29,000lb-rated RAD29 single drive axle equipped with the dual reduction CRD118 carrier assembly. For those wondering, the RAD29 weighed 671 pounds more than the standard Mack RAD23 equipped with the CRD117 dual reduction carrier.

Jon Harris, The Morning Call / August 24, 2016 There will soon be a new Mack Trucks boss in town. Mack on Wednesday announced that Rickard Lundberg has been appointed vice president and general manager of its Mack Lehigh Valley Operations plant. Lundberg will start Oct. 1. Lundberg is now vice president for powertrain production at the Volvo Group's plant in Koping, Sweden, a position he has held since 2013. Volvo Group is Mack's parent company. Lundberg first joined Volvo in 1989. Over the years, he has held positions in production, logistics, purchasing and quality. Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner* said Lundberg was not available for a phone interview Wednesday. Heffner said Lundberg will be based in the Lehigh Valley. Lundberg will succeed Wade Watson*, who left Mack earlier this year after less than a year in the role of vice president and general manager. * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44866-local-mack-boss-out-volvo-confirms/#comment-330687 Mack confirmed Watson's departure [ousting] in mid-April, one day after announcing a $70 million investment at its plant in Lower Macungie Township. Citing company policy, Mack has declined to provide a reason for Watson's departure. Antonio Servidoni, vice president of production systems for Volvo Group Commercial Vehicle Assembly, has been the acting plant manager for Lehigh Valley Operations. Lundberg will join Mack at an interesting time. In early October, the existing contract with United Auto Workers Local 677, which represents the Mack workers, expires. Heffner said negotiations are still ongoing. And, a little more than two weeks later, there will be a weeklong shutdown at the Lower Macungie plant during the week of Oct. 17. With heavy truck demand sagging, Mack has several weeklong production shutdowns scheduled this fall. The shutdowns, or temporary layoff weeks, will idle a significant portion of Lehigh Valley Operations' approximately 1,500 employees. Mack's 1-million-square-foot plant in Lower Macungie is where all Mack trucks built for the North American market and export are assembled. Heffner said no changes have been made regarding Mack's planned down weeks in Lower Macungie. "We will continue to monitor market conditions and adjust to meet demand," he said. Demand was not strong in the second quarter for Mack — at least compared with the peak year the company benefited from last year. Mack delivered 5,588 trucks worldwide in the second quarter, a 22 percent decline from the 7,160 it sent out during the same period in 2015. That was the weakest second quarter for Mack since 2011, when it delivered 5,099 trucks during the period, Volvo reports show. The decline is not unexpected. Volvo and Mack have consistently said that demand would weaken in 2016. To meet the expected reduced demand, Mack announced in December it would lay off about 400 people at Mack Lehigh Valley Operations, which took effect in late January. .

Heavy Duty Trucking / August 2016 Navistar has declared that it wants to build trucks that drivers want to drive. That includes the new HX vocational series, unveiled early this year at an extravaganza in Las Vegas. I’ve been wanting to drive one since I saw several of the new HXs at that event, which began with a mock televised police chase involving a red dump truck stolen from downtown Vegas. It roared onto a dirt lot near The Strip, followed by the wailing police cruisers. The truck drifted right and left as it entered the lot, then ran around the area several times before black-and-white cruisers surrounded it and cops arrested the suspects. Drifting in the dirt was not in the script, an insider said later, but you couldn’t blame the guy behind the wheel. Like I said, this is meant to be a driver’s truck and he drove it. That red dump truck is the very truck you see here, according to Chad Semler, HX product marketing manager. He was my guide at the Navistar Proving Grounds in northern Indiana, west of South Bend. You can bet that I didn’t do any drifting or anything else overly enthusiastic because we were being observed by the grounds’ chief engineer of operations, Brian Jacquay, who shadowed us in a Ford SuperDuty pickup with a Navistar-built V-8 diesel. He clearly was serious about safety. Besides, many years ago I learned respect for equipment and don’t like to beat on trucks. I followed Semler’s directions as I steered the HX over a gravel trail and pavement with rumble strips and other rough surface features. One is an “undulating” asphalt course originally laid out by engineers from Studebaker Corp.*, the car and truck maker that established the track in 1926. Early last year, Navistar bought the 675-acre facility from Bosch, its most recent owner, and has moved formal course testing formerly done at the old technical center in Fort Wayne to this sprawling complex. It’s only a 90-minute drive from the company’s headquarters in Lisle, west of Chicago, and not much farther from the engine works at Melrose Park, Ill. * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/40066-navistar-buys-668-acre-indiana-proving-grounds-from-bosch/#comment-290400 While most truck builders like to spotlight their own diesels, Navistar is perfectly fine with featuring a Cummins diesel, in this case a 14.9-liter Cummins ISX15. Renewed availability of 15-liter power (after previous Navistar management banished it from the International lineup) enabled a re-entry into the “premium” vocational market, current executives have said. The return of Cummins diesels and use of its exhaust aftertreatment systems for Navistar engines has helped the truck maker increase truck sales, cut deep losses and return to modest profitability. Better financial performance also gave the company the means to buy the proving grounds. The huge facility is a profit center for Navistar, and fully 70% of the testing here is classified as “outside,” Jacquay said. That includes military contracts and operations by component suppliers and other truck builders. The HX620 and another long-hooded model in the HX series use the big Cummins. With a 500-hp rating, this engine was way more than adequate to propel the truck and its load of about 10,000 pounds of gravel. The engine ran through an 18-speed automated Eaton UltraShift Plus, which handled much of the work of driving the truck. I noticed that the UltraShift let the engine rev to 1,900 and 2,000 rpm in the lower gears, so I used the up arrow on the selector pad to prompt earlier upshifts. Semler explained that the transmission was programmed for vocational duties, and most customers prefer higher revs for better performance over rough terrain and while climbing grades. A quick explanation of the labels: HX means “Heavy eXtreme,” for the anticipated duties the vehicles will see. The “6” in this truck’s designation means a setback steer axle, and the “20” denotes a 120-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement. The other ISX15-powered model is the HX520, with the same BBC but a set-forward steer axle, indicated by the “5.” Their long hoods are needed to accommodate the big-block engine. Two shorter-hooded models are the HX615, with a setback axle and 115-inch BBC, and the HX515, with the same BBC and a set-forward axle. Both use Navistar’s 12.4-liter N13 diesel. Basic styling for all HXs is big and bold, with a large nose similar to the recently departed Cat Truck, which was built for Caterpillar by Navistar using the International PayStar as the starting point. (Semler said no one at Navistar knew that Cat planned to cancel its CT series, and “we learned about it at the same time everyone else did.”) The HX, too, is based on the PayStar, and will replace that venerable model, which will soon be phased out. Even with their roomy aluminum cabs, PayStars I’ve driven in the past have been bare-bones trucks, and I’ll bet drivers of dumps, mixers and other heavy work trucks will be happy to see the nicer HXs show up in their fleets. Semler said the first HX delivered to a customer went to a logger in British Columbia, Canada. The chassis includes 12-inch-high by ½-inch thick main rails with 3¾-inch webs, which is stiffer than many frames using reinforcements, he noted. One Cat Truck feature used in the HX is the combination speedometer and tachometer. Navistar also used a similar two-panel wrap-around dashboard, as well as an overall upscale theme. This HX620 was very nicely appointed, with chrome and other polished-metal pieces brightening up the exterior. Inside it had a deluxe trim package that included leather-covered seats, brightly rimmed gauges and attractive paneling on doors, walls and ceiling. A simpler package is also available. Noise was well dampened, especially during loops around the 3-mile oval track where we cruised at 65 and 70 mph, and even as we banged and bounced over the endurance courses. Air-ride seats and twin airbags at the cab’s rear corners insulated us from much of the jolting. Wiring was not the Diamond Logic multiplex system but a less complex “point-to-point” setup, Semler said. You’d expect a setback steer axle to allow good maneuverability, and the one on this HX620 did. Wheels cut by up to 40 degrees in left and right turns, even with wide 425-series tires supporting its 20,000-pound rating. This means the truck can ably move through sharp corners and around obstacles on job sites. The tandem drive axles rode on a Hendrickson HaulMaxx mechanical suspension, which is standard on the HX; the ride was acceptable, but probably would’ve been better with one of the air-rides available. A single pusher axle added capacity to the 10-wheeler; this “tri-axle” configuration is the norm in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Alabama and certain other states. This driving experience was shorter than others I’ve done, but covered a variety of terrain and showed what the HX is capable of. I saw solid, agile handling, good maneuverability, decent comfort and ride quality, and commendable quietness. And that big hood is very easy to open and close, thanks to long shock-type supports, and a triangular rib on top serves as an aiming stake to line up the truck with the right edges of the pavement. Premium is as premium does, and it appears that International has done things right with its HX series. Specifications Truck International HX620, conventional-cab vocational straight truck, aluminum cab, Metton hood, BBC 120 in., w/ 12 x 3¾ x ½-in. main frame rails & 150,000-lb. front tow pin Engine Cummins ISX15, 14.9 liters (912 cu. in.), 500 hp @ 1,800 rpm, 1,650 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm, w/ engine brake Transmission Eaton UltraShift Plus FO-18E318B-VXP (Vocational Extreme Performance) automated 18-speed double overdrive Front axle 20,000-lb. Meritor FMS-20-133A w/ Sheppard M100/M80 dual steering, on 20,000-lb. parabolic leafs & shock absorbers Lift axle 20,000-lb. Watson & Chalin SL2065 Tru-Track steerable pusher Rear axles 46,000-lb. Meritor RT-46-160P w/ 4.10 ratio, on 46,000-lb. Hendrickson HMX 460-54 mechanical Wheelbase 232 in. Brakes Meritor Q-Plus S-cam w/ Bendix ABS Tires & wheels 425/65R22.5 Continental 465 front, 11R22.5 Continental 491 rear, on polished aluminum discs Fuel tank Single 100-gal. 26-in. diameter polished aluminum Body 22-yd. Ox 19-ft. smooth-side Ultra-Lite steel dump .

Transport Topics / August 24, 2016 Navistar International Corp. is recalling 3,952 ProStar trucks from model years 2014 to 2017 for a defect affecting power to the cab. The trucks were manufactured between June 11, 2013, and May 19, 2016. “The battery-mounted cube fuse terminal connection on certain ProStar model trucks built with the battery box mounted between the frame rails may possibly break resulting in loss of power to the cab,” according to the recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Lisle, Illinois, truck maker adds that when the cube fuse terminal begins to fail, the lights in the cab could flicker and the gauges could become erratic. Navistar learned of the problem in March and received approximately two dozen complaints before the end of May. The company discontinued the battery box design and battery stud-mounted cube fuse June 1, according to the recall notice. Navistar will mail notification letters to all dealers by Sept. 16 with instructions on how to replace a new cube fuse with a chassis-mounted power distribution module in the battery box.

I personally am in no rush to enter the US market. Why? Because margins there are very low. There are too many players versus the size of the market. Now having said that, I'd have no problem with cooperating with Navistar, selling them engines and other technology. The US customer wants the latest technology, but has a price expectation below European and global customers. That is why US customers get, versus the global customers, what amounts to being "decontented" trucks. The US market trucks are just now getting "some" tech that was launched in the global market 3 to 5 years ago. At any rate, entering an already crowded market as a new independent brand (e.g. Scania) simply doesn't amount to a solid business case. Personally, I don't want to upset Paccar and Navistar, our country's last "American" truckmakers. Under the right conditions (if we bought Mack from the financially struggling Volvo), I'd love to see Scania in the US, because Scania is light years ahead of Volvo. I already have an ad slogan planned........"There be V-8s here".

Associated Press / August 24, 2016 A 14-year-old Pennsylvania boy is charged with fatally shooting his grandmother because he didn't want to go to school. Hunter R. Reeser, of Harborcreek Township, is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder. Authorities say he shot 60-year-old Sandra Orton with a .22-caliber rifle on Tuesday. He then called her husband and claimed he found her wounded. But he later called 911 and confessed to killing her. Police found Orton dead in her vehicle, shot in the head. Reeser later told police that he didn't want to go to a school meeting. In Pennsylvania, children must be charged as adults in murder or homicide cases. Defense attorneys can later try to move the charges to juvenile court. Erie County prosecutors say they plan to oppose that. Reeser is being held without bond. .

Associated Press / August 24, 2016 A Mississippi man who tried to travel to Syria with his fiancee to join ISIS was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison on federal terrorism charges. US District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, after he pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He was also sentenced to 15 years of probation. Dakhlalla faced up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime probation. His fiancee, 20-year-old Jaelyn Young, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years in prison and 15 years' probation, including mandatory mental health treatment. Prosecutors say Young, who converted to Islam while studying at Mississippi State University, was the mastermind who talked Dakhlalla into going along. However, prosecutors said, Dakhlalla ultimately agreed to the plot. Young and Dakhlalla attracted the FBI’s attention after making social media posts in support of ISIS. The two were arrested in August 2015 before they could board a flight from Columbus, Mississippi, with tickets for Istanbul, Turkey. The couple had contacted undercover FBI agents posing as ISIS contacts in May, seeking online help in traveling to Syria. Both have remained jailed in Oxford, Mississippi, since their arrests. Dakhlalla is a 2015 psychology graduate of Mississippi State University who grew up in the college town of Starkville. His father, a native of Bethlehem, West Bank, is a prominent figure in the town's Muslim community and an occasional prayer leader at the mosque across the street from the family's house. .

I see it as a way to ward off lawsuits. If you save them, you're their hero until you drop them off on dry land. But if they slip and hit their head on the railing of your boat, you, the city and state are potentially facing a lawsuit. My friends, as someone who travels extensively all over the world, I can tell you that the United States has more lawsuits taking place than any other country in the world.......by FAR. It's sad really. If you look at a thin-skinned person the wrong way, or if you call a spade a spade in the workplace, you're facing a lawsuit that can potentially destroy your life. My observation is this took firm root in the late 1990s. Frankly, this should be a presidential election issue. America's now normal culture of suing each other is one element that is killing the country.

Solar and wind power have proven their relevance throughout the world today. I just don't want the U.S. taxpayer paying for it. I don't recall the US taxpayer subsidizing Bill Gates or Steve Jobs? They took chances, wined and dined venture capitalist, invested, came up with the right mouse trap and earned a fortune. At the nice rate with which battery technology is progressing, electric cars will be mainstream within 10 years. And with their breathtaking acceleration, you'll have a ball driving them. Range-extended (micro-turbine) electric trucks, or fuel-cell powered, are a "possibility" (there's always an all-new seemingly more viable technology around the corner).

That's a Volvo concocted bulletin, from people who know and care nothing about Mack-designed product.

This is a fine example of what irks me about Volvo. If they truly respected and valued the customer, the Mack Service Bulletins, and Product Improvement Bulletins (PIDs) would be available for all to read.

Buy a used Mack TS442 repair manual off of Amazon. You can't own a Mack without it.

Vlad, this is a long time ago. I know we finally cut off Structofab completely in May 1990. But I believe we began phasing in the Rene product before that, to make sure they could satisfy us before cancelling Structofab altogether. You guys have me recalling a lot of old Mack history.