kscarbel2

Despite the North American market slowdown, Navistar is getting airborne again. At the same time, look at Volvo, floundering with new excuses every month as they lay off more and more U.S. workers. The two "American" truckmakers, Paccar and Navistar, haven't laid off anyone. Paccar is doing great.

Your typical 401K scenario is a scam. The mutual funds you are limited to choose from are generally underachievers. The mutual funds provide various forms of kickbacks to the 401K program provider, and sometimes to the company. Whether or not you should even waste your time with a 401K that grows slow as molasses......if it in fact does grow, depends on your company's contribution. Land remains a good investment, in the right place and at the right time. As for mutual funds, the US and European markets (companies) have long ago peaked. And, the major financial institutions there are, frankly speaking, corrupt. Latin America is too volatile. The only global region that is still immature, with many years of profitable growth ahead for investors, is Asia (that includes India).

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35819-dtna-unveils-new-detroit-branded-powertrain/#comment-247126

The Clinton Foundation, State and Kremlin Connections Peter Schweizer, The Wall Street Journal / July 31, 2016 Why did Hillary’s State Department urge U.S. investors to fund Russian research for military uses? Hillary Clinton touts her tenure as secretary of state as a time of hardheaded realism and “commercial diplomacy” that advanced American national and commercial interests. But her handling of a major technology transfer initiative at the heart of Washington’s effort to “reset” relations with Russia raises serious questions about her record. Far from enhancing American national interests, Mrs. Clinton’s efforts in this area may have substantially undermined U.S. national security. Consider Skolkovo, an “innovation city” of 30,000 people on the outskirts of Moscow, billed as Russia’s version of Silicon Valley—and a core piece of Mrs. Clinton’s quarterbacking of the Russian reset. Following his 2009 visit to Moscow, President Obama announced the creation of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. Mrs. Clinton as secretary of state directed the American side, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov represented the Russians. The stated goal at the time: “identifying areas of cooperation and pursuing joint projects and actions that strengthen strategic stability, international security, economic well-being, and the development of ties between the Russian and American people.” The Kremlin committed $5 billion over three years to fund Skolkovo. Mrs. Clinton’s State Department worked aggressively to attract U.S. investment partners and helped the Russian State Investment Fund, Rusnano, identify American tech companies worthy of Russian investment. Rusnano, which a scientific adviser to President Vladimir Putin called “Putin’s child,” was created in 2007 and relies entirely on Russian state funding. What could possibly go wrong? Soon, dozens of U.S. tech firms, including top Clinton Foundation donors like Google, Intel and Cisco, made major financial contributions to Skolkovo, with Cisco committing a cool $1 billion. In May 2010, the State Department facilitated a Moscow visit by 22 of the biggest names in U.S. venture capital—and weeks later the first memorandums of understanding were signed by Skolkovo and American companies. By 2012 the vice president of the Skolkovo Foundation, Conor Lenihan—who had previously partnered with the Clinton Foundation—recorded that Skolkovo had assembled 28 Russian, American and European “Key Partners.” Of the 28 “partners,” 17, or 60%, have made financial commitments to the Clinton Foundation, totaling tens of millions of dollars, or sponsored speeches by Bill Clinton. Russians tied to Skolkovo also flowed funds to the Clinton Foundation. Andrey Vavilov, the chairman of SuperOx, which is part of Skolkovo’s nuclear-research cluster, donated between $10,000 and $25,000 (donations are reported in ranges, not exact amounts) to the Clinton’s family charity. Skolkovo Foundation chief and billionaire Putin confidant Viktor Vekselberg also gave to the Clinton Foundation through his company, Renova Group. Amid all the sloshing of Russia rubles and American dollars, however, the state-of-the-art technological research coming out of Skolkovo raised alarms among U.S. military experts and federal law-enforcement officials. Research conducted in 2012 on Skolkovo by the U.S. Army Foreign Military Studies Program at Fort Leavenworth declared that the purpose of Skolkovo was to serve as a “vehicle for world-wide technology transfer to Russia in the areas of information technology, biomedicine, energy, satellite and space technology, and nuclear technology.” Moreover, the report said: “the Skolkovo Foundation has, in fact, been involved in defense-related activities since December 2011, when it approved the first weapons-related project—the development of a hypersonic cruise missile engine. . . . Not all of the center’s efforts are civilian in nature.” Technology can have multiple uses—civilian and military. But in 2014 the Boston Business Journal ran an op-ed placed by the FBI, and noted that the agency had sent warnings to technology and other companies approached by Russian venture-capital firms. The op-ed—under the byline of Lucia Ziobro, an assistant special agent at the FBI’s Boston office—said that “The FBI believes the true motives of the Russian partners, who are often funded by their government, is to gain access to classified, sensitive, and emerging technology from the companies.” Ms. Ziobro also wrote that “The [Skolkovo] foundation may be a means for the Russian government to access our nation’s sensitive or classified research development facilities and dual-use technologies with military and commercial application.” To anyone who was paying attention, the FBI’s warnings should have come as little surprise. A State Department cable sent to then-Secretary Clinton (and obtained via WikiLeaks) mentioned possible “dual use and export control concerns” related to research and development technology ventures with Moscow. And in its own promotional literature Skolkovo heralded the success of its development of the Atlant hybrid airship. “Particularly noteworthy is Atlant’s ability to deliver military cargoes,” boasts the Made in Skolkovo publication: “The introduction of this unique vehicle is fully consistent with the concept of creating a mobile army and opens up new possibilities for mobile use of the means of radar surveillance, air and missile defense, and delivery of airborne troops.” Even if it could be proven that these tens of millions of dollars in Clinton Foundation donations by Skolkovo’s key partners played no role in the Clinton State Department’s missing or ignoring obvious red flags about the Russian enterprise, the perception would still be problematic. (Neither the Clinton campaign nor the Clinton Foundation responded to requests for comment.) What is known is that the State Department recruited and facilitated the commitment of billions of American dollars in the creation of a Russian “Silicon Valley” whose technological innovations include Russian hypersonic cruise-missile engines, radar surveillance equipment, and vehicles capable of delivering airborne Russian troops. A Russian reset, indeed. Mr. Schweizer is president of the Government Accountability Institute and the author of “ Clinton Cash.” A larger report on the subject of this article is available at Cronyism.com.

‘No kid deserves that’: Police say barefoot child was forced outside on 110-degree day as punishment ( Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in America ) The Washington Post / July 31, 2016 On July 12, the high in Phoenix was 110 degrees. That’s not quite hot enough to effectively fry an egg on the street, but it is hot enough to severely burn the bottom of someone’s feet. Police said that’s exactly what happened when Mark Simmons decided to punish his 6-year-old son by “taking the boy outside and making him stand barefoot on the ground in the backyard as punishment,” according to court records cited by ABC affiliate KNXV-TV. Simmons also used a belt to whip the child. On camera, KNXV-TV reporter Sonu Wasu demonstrated that she could barely endure the blazing Phoenix concrete for more than a second or two. Police say Simmons’s child was forced to stand outside for about 10 minutes. The child told police that his stepmother, identified as 30-year-old Sarah Simmons, was home at the time and aware of the brutal punishment. Sarah Simmons is accused of cutting blistered flaps from the bottom of her stepson’s feet. Simmons told the child that “if he didn’t stop crying, he would go back outside and burn worse.” Simmons didn’t initially seek medical treatment for the boy because she was “afraid the children in the house would be taken away.” Simmons instead bandaged the boy’s feet and used a spray medication to treat the pain. Simmons had “approximately 30 prior reports with the Department of Child Safety.” “It was only when the victim’s wounds became infected and the top of his feet became red that the couple decided to call the fire department for medical care.” Authorities found out about the burns when child-crimes detectives with the Phoenix Police Department were called to the Maricopa County hospital’s burn center on July 12. Mark Simmons was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse the next day. Sarah Simmons was arrested Thursday and charged with intent to commit child abuse. Video - http://www.abc15.com/news/crime/phoenix-pd-parents-force-6-year-old-to-stand-outside-barefoot-causing-sever-burns-to-his-feet .

Florida father shoots 1-year-old daughter and son ( Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in America ) Associated Press / July 27, 2016 A 7-year-old boy was clinging to life Wednesday evening after his father shot him and killed his younger sister before turning the gun on himself in Dania Beach. What began as an argument between parents led to the murder-suicide in which Timothy Hollis, 32, killed Kalila Hollis, 1, and critically injured Timothy Hollis Jr. before taking his own life, the Broward Sheriff's Office said. The bodies of Hollis and his daughter were found on the sidewalk near the intersection of West Dania Beach Boulevard and Southwest Eighth Avenue early Wednesday. Timothy Hollis Jr. was found in the street with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood. The shootings took place early Wednesday around 1:30 a.m. .

Tennessee mother murders her 4 children ( Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in America ) Associated Press / July 3, 2016 A Memphis mother, Shanynthia Gardner, has been charged with first- degree murder after stabbing her four children to death in their home. After killing the children, she phoned the father of the deceased children, Martin Gardner, and admitted to killing four of their children who police say were 4,3,2 and 6-months-old. Earlier that day, first responders received a call to the home from a neighbor. They said Gardner’s 7-year-old had come running out of the house, screaming for help. His sister, he said, had been stabbed. Authorities witnessed the mother come out of the home with a large knife in her hand, then re-enter. In the living room, first responders discovered 6-month-old Yahzi Gardner sitting in her baby carrier and her sister, 3-year-old Sya Gardner, lying next to her dead. Both had severe lacerations to their throats [the mother slit the throats of her 3 daughters and 1 son]. Four-year-old Tallen Gardner and 2-year-old Sahvi Gardner were found in a bedroom. Tallen was on the floor while his little sister was on the bed. They had the same wounds as their siblings. Gardner reportedly also had cuts to her neck and wrists. A knife with blood on it was taken into evidence. On Saturday, Gardner was charged with four counts of aggravated child abuse-endangerment, four counts of aggravated child abuse, four counts of aggravated child abuse-neglect, and four counts of first- degree murder. .

Man, mother of two children killed in set fire charged with murder ( Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in America ) Michigan Live / June 14, 2016 Two people will face murder charges after a set fire claimed the lives of three children, including a four-year-old boy who was locked in his bedroom with a padlock. Rodney Dale King Jr., 40, of Burton faces three counts of felony murder, punishable by life without parole; and a count of first-degree arson, punishable by life with the possibility of parole. Erica Marie Starkey, 39, the mother of 4-year-old Kaydon Hull and 13-year-old Onyah Starkey who died in the fire, faces a total of 11 counts: Felony murder, punishable by life without parole Two counts of second-degree murder, punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole Three counts of second-degree child abuse, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment Three counts of unlawful imprisonment, punishable by up to 15 years Two counts of killing an animal – Leyton said two dogs died in the fire – punishable by up to four years. Brianna Beaushaw, 14, who was friends with Onyah Starkey and was spending the night at the home the night of the fire also died Sunday, June 12, from injuries sustained in the blaze. Starkey and King were expected to be arraigned on the charges Tuesday afternoon, June 14, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. During a press conference Tuesday morning, June 14, Leyton described how authorities believe the night unfolded – including that evidence showed the 4-year-old tried to escape, but couldn't because he was padlocked in his room. Leyton also said one of the children called 911. Here's a timeline of what authorities say happened early Friday morning, June 10: 3 a.m. – King was walking home from a bar and encountered Erica Starkey on the street. They met up, agreed to go to Starkey's home at 643 Vermilya and do crack-cocaine. 3:30 a.m. – They left that home around 3:30 a.m. in an attempt to find more drugs. 3:45 a.m. – Starkey and King went back to Starkey's home, where the three children slept. 4 a.m. – King gave Starkey money to buy additional crack-cocaine. She left to find the cocaine, and King falls asleep on the couch. 5:50 a.m. – King wakes up, and finds that Starkey still has not returned. Authorities believe she went to another home, did more drugs and some drinking. She never returned. King believed Starkey stole the money and had no intentions of returning with drugs. Angry, he sets the couch on fire, unaware three children were sleeping in the home, and leaves. 6:05 a.m. – 911 is called. The recording sounds like a child inside the home and there are clearly smoke alarms going off in the background. 6:14 a.m. – The Flint Fire Department arrives on scene. The three children are located within the house and rushed to Hurley Medical Center, where Hull and Starkey were pronounced dead the same day. Beaushaw died Sunday, June 12. .

Arizona mother murders her 3 children ( Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in America ) Associated Press / June 3, 2016 A Phoenix woman killed her three sons and partially dismembered their bodies before stabbing herself in the neck and abdomen, police said Thursday. Octavia Rogers, 29, was in critical condition at a local hospital and is expected to face charges. Police found the bodies of Jaikare Rahaman, 8; Jeremiah Adams, 5; and Avery Robinson, 2 months, inside an upstairs closet. Police spokesman Sgt. Trent Crump said the youngest boy's body was in a suitcase. All the children has suffered multiple stab wounds. Police were called to the house early Thursday by Rogers' brother, who became concerned after she talked to him about religion and said that she had found "the answer". The brother said Rogers then locked him out of the house. After forcing his way in, the brother found Rogers bleeding in the bathtub, where she also attempted to drown herself. When first responders arrived at the house, Rogers lied, claiming her children were staying with a relative. A source told ABC15 the mother was on Spice at the time of the killings. The drug, known as synthetic marijuana, can have psychotic effects on some users, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Synthetic marijuana contains man-made chemicals that act on the same cell receptors in the brain as THC does in natural marijuana. Researchers have found instances in which chemicals in synthetic marijuana can bind much more strongly to cell receptors than THC does in marijuana that is grown - producing stronger effects. These effects could be anything from an elevated mood and feeling of relaxation to psychotic effects such as extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia and even hallucinations, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Arizona child welfare officials had previous contact with the family. The State Child Safety Department said investigators could not locate the family back in 2010 to check reports of a boy with a small abrasion on his forehead. They investigated cases in 2011 and 2016 involving marijuana allegations in which they found no legal grounds to take the children into emergency care. One allegation was substantiated, and the other was not. The substantiated allegation accused the mother of giving birth to a baby exposed to marijuana, but investigators found the children to be safe. In 2006, Rogers had an order of protection filed against her for pushing her mother after Rogers was told to move out. Her mother wanted her to take part in domestic violence counseling. .

Owner/Driver / July 31. 2016 Taking his children to the Alexandra show, Bill Gooiker showed off his new SAR Bill Gooiker arrived at the 2016 Alexandra Truck Ute and Rod Show early, along with three of his children – Hannah, Jayme and Chloe – and Gooiker Transport’s new Kenworth T409 "SAR" (Short Australian Right-hand drive). There are five trucks in the Mooroopna-based fleet and Bill explains that the SAR will mainly do single trailer livestock work, although it has been spec'd to pull a B-double and even a road train if necessary. "For our family, the trucks are our hobby as well as our business and the whole family are keen on trucks," he says. "As you can see we have done a fair bit to this one. It is our business but we say it is our hobby. "The way I see things is that people spend a lot of money on different hobbies – cars, motorbikes … but we like having our trucks looking pretty good." Bill isn’t a big fan of polished aluminium and stainless steel, so the SAR’S tanks have been painted. Under the T409’s bonnet is a 600 Cummins E5 and there’s a 50-inch sleeper behind the seats. "The Kenworth is the longest wheelbase we could get and still swing a 48 foot trailer on the back," Bill says. "We have two Kenworth 909s at home and this one looks nearly identical so we thought we would come and show it off." .

Dagens Industri / July 29, 2016 German truckmaker MAN, which competes with Volvo and Scania, expects that revenue for the full year 2016 will be "slightly" lower than last year's level, according to Bloomberg News. Operating income and operating margin is expected to be "significantly" higher than in 2015. For the first six months reports MAN operating profit excluding non-recurring items, improved to 286 million euros for the first six months (185). The adjusted operating margin was 4.4 percent. Net sales, however, decreased 4 percent to 6.5 billion euros (6.7) and new orders fell 1 percent in the half year and amounted to EUR 7.4 billion (7.5) during the six-month period. MAN Truck & Bus orders rose 3 percent to 5.25 billion euros in the first half revenues up 2 percent at EUR 4.4 billion. Operating profit rose to EUR 268 million (121) and the operating margin increased to 6.0 percent (2.8).

First impressions: Detroit DD5 test drive Fleet Owner / July 29, 2016 Four cylinders in a Class 6 truck? Can a 4-cylinder engine effectively and efficiently do the job in medium-duty conventional truck applications? Daimler Trucks North America is convinced a 5-liter diesel makes sense, and—following the Daimler platform’s success in Europe—the market-leading truck maker is confident enough to kick off its entry into medium-duty engines on this side of the Atlantic with the Detroit DD5. Based on our 20-mile test drive through the heart of Napa’s wine country, the platform certainly has potential. Granted, a Class 6 Freightliner M2 106 with a 20-ft. box wouldn’t be most folks’ first choice of vehicle for cruising the famed Silverado Trail on a warm, sunny California afternoon—but truck editors aren’t most folks. And we did our best not to let the scenery distract us from the job at hand: putting the DD5 through its paces. (As an aside, we’re not reviewing the M2 106 here—but Fleet Owner Editor Jim Mele and American Trucker Editor Kevin Jones were immediately impressed by the truck’s turning radius as we pulled away from the staging area and made the U-turn across a narrow side road. Likewise, we had no problem backing at an awkward angle to position the truck for some photos at the end of the drive.) Merging onto a fast four-lane with the four-banger was as easy as putting the pedal to the floor—and then letting it up well before the end of a short on-ramp. At cruising speed, the noise-dampening touches clearly work: conversation was as easy as a chat in a full-size pickup. Running at 60 mph with the traffic, another punch to the pedal easily got us around a slow-moving RV and back in time to let a much faster convertible continue on its merry way. We were also impressed by the engine braking. With the toggle on the dash set to high, the system brought the truck to crawl so quickly the brakes didn’t need to be applied until we reached the traffic light at the end of an off-ramp. (At 50-60 mph, we really couldn’t get a feel for the less aggressive low engine-brake setting.) And while we can make allowances for seats that aren’t what we might like (a Class 8 highway tractor is an unfair comparison, but we’re spoiled), we did notice more vibration than we expected in the medium-duty truck when the M2 stopped at several lights along the route. But in stop-and-go driving, the engine—paired with an Allison 2500 RDS transmission—provided a smooth experience. We would’ve liked to have had the same truck equipped with the alternative power plant, a 6-cylinder Cummins ISB, for direct side-by-side (or ride-by-ride) comparison but, based on a “what have you done for me lately?” standard, we have to say the DD5 works as advertised: It’s an entirely capable engine with an obvious fuel economy benefit. The question, for customers, is whether or not specs make a good fit. For DTNA's initial target market, P&D, GM for marketing and strategy Kary Schaefer put it simply. “Why a 4-cylinder? Why not,” Schaefer said. "We’re able to do the job and then some, and that’s exactly what the customers are expecting. It makes for a better engine.” Asked and answered. Of course, the market provides the ultimate review. But if the global corporate clout of Daimler is behind a project, chances are the concept is sound. Ultimately, however, buyers—not company strategists—will make the call.

Motoring / July 29. 2016 Blue Oval's final Falcon Ute rolls off the line today, capping 55 years and almost half a million sales It’s the beginning of the end… Ford’s last ever Falcon Ute will be produced today, marking the end of an era for both the Australian automotive industry and fans of the iconic Blue Oval load-lugger. The final Falcon Ute – a white XR6 – is due to roll off the Broadmeadows production line in Melbourne at around 2:45pm this afternoon and will be retained by Ford Australia. Bringing to an end a model line that was first born with the XK Falcon Ute in February 1961, the end of two-door Falcon production precedes the retirement of the Falcon sedan and the termination of Ford’s Australian manufacturing operations on October 7*. * Production of the Ford Territory, based on the Falcon platform, will also end in October. http://www.ford.com.au/suv/territory Ford axed its long-running Falcon wagon in mid-2010, when the brand’s large wagon duties were essentially handed over to the home-grown Territory SUV. That vehicle – at least in its current form — will also be killed off in October. The passenger-vehicle-derived ute is a vehicle configuration widely recognised as being born Down Under with the 1934 Ford Coupe utility. Today marks the end of more than 55 years of continuous Falcon Ute production in Australia, starting in February 1961 with the XK Falcon ute at Broadmeadows and Eagle Farm in Brisbane. Seven generations and 467,690 vehicles later, and Ford Australia’s sole pick-up offering becomes the locally-developed, Thai-built Ranger – currently Ford Australia’s top-selling model. Ford Website - http://www.ford.com.au/commercial/falcon-ute Download a Ford Falcon Ute brochure - https://www.ford.com.au/request-brochure?ctx=m:1249112466582 .

This whole problem with Russia is really disastrous for America, for Russia and for the world. “Donald Trump is right. We need to figure out a way to end this cycle of hostility [with Russia] that’s putting this country at risk, costing us billions of dollars in defense and creating hostilities.” “The big issue [for America today] is can we, should we be able to create a new and positive relationship with Russia. It makes no sense that we are at the hostility level that we are.” “The question is, can we have a more peaceful, effective relationship with Russia, utilizing interests that are similar, in a realistic way, to make this world a safer place, and get off this dangerous hostility with Russia.” Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So the owner wanted a ridiculous sum. Meanwhile, the owner has his prized possession sitting outside where the elements are taking their toll. A tragedy for the preservation of America's truckmaking history.

Ford warning jolts the industry Automotive News / July 31, 2016 Abrupt shift from April's confident tone After boasting of record profits earlier in the year, Ford Motor Co. last week dropped a profit warning as jarring as concrete blocks hitting the bed of an aluminum pickup. Executives said the automaker is spending more than anticipated on incentives as U.S. vehicle demand softens, generating less revenue than expected in China and facing at least a $1 billion hit over the next three years from the Brexit vote in Europe. One Wall Street analyst, Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley, called the abrupt shift in attitude a possible "watershed" moment for the industry, which largely had brushed aside bubbling concerns about plateauing U.S. sales and rising discounts. Many of the looming threats that Ford CEO Mark Fields laid out are issues other automakers also have to confront, but Ford is the first to acknowledge them so starkly. "We remain committed to our 2016 guidance, but we're facing risks to achieving that," Fields said after Ford posted a 9 percent decline in second-quarter net income, which fell short of Wall Street estimates. "We're seeing more pressure throughout the business for the remainder of this year, so as a result, we're calling for the second half of this year, and particularly the third quarter, to be much weaker than normal." The comments were a significant departure from Ford's confidence in April, when the company posted its highest quarterly pretax profit ever. "Essentially everything has improved," CFO Bob Shanks said April 28. "We're reconfirming all of our guidance to be as good as if not better than the record year that we had in 2015." Among the biggest surprises since April was the Brexit vote June 23, in which the United Kingdom elected to leave the European Union. Ford said it now sees a weaker U.K. market costing the company $200 million this year and as much as $500 million in each of the following two years. Ford results Change from Q2 2016 Q2 2015 Net income $1.97 billion –9% North America pretax profit $2.7 billion –5% Europe pretax profit $467 million 190% Ford Credit pretax profit $400 million –21% Revenue $39.5 billion 6% Cash flow $4.2 billion 121% Source: Ford Higher incentives Ford said it also has been caught off guard by U.S. incentives rising faster than anticipated. Higher North American incentive spending cost Ford $2.2 billion more in the first half than in the same period a year ago. Much of that was linked to the F-150, which came with little in the way of discounts during the model changeover in early 2015. But Fields said Ford has spent more than intended as automakers fight harder for market share amid slowing sales. Last week, Ford reduced its full-year U.S. sales outlook for the industry to between 17.4 million and 17.9 million vehicles, including medium and heavy trucks. That would equate to about 17 million to 17.5 million light vehicles, which still would rank among the industry's four best years. Its previous forecast was 17.5 million to 18.5 million, whereas industry sales last year including medium and heavy trucks were 17.8 million. So far this year, Ford Motor's light-vehicle sales have outpaced the U.S. market. The automaker sold 1,345,170 vehicles in the first six months, up 4.4 percent. That compares with an overall market increase of 1.4 percent, lifting Ford's share from 15.1 percent last year to 15.6 percent. U.S. sales of its top-selling vehicle, the hugely profitable F series, were up 11 percent in the first half, including a 29 percent surge in June amid an aggressive Chevrolet ad campaign showing the bed of Ford's aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup being gashed by a toolbox and a load of landscaping blocks. "The competitive environment has increased as growth has slowed," Fields said. "The bottom line is that we've seen a tougher pricing environment this [second] quarter, and we will face one going forward." Ford's warning contrasts with more-optimistic guidance from other automakers and suppliers recently. On July 21, General Motors raised its full-year earnings-per-share outlook, and on Wednesday, July 27, Fiat Chrysler upped its projections for revenue and earnings. A day later, supplier Lear Corp. said it would exceed its previous forecast for earnings and free cash flow. "A lot of obstacles' Shares of Ford, which had risen 10 percent in July, lost most of that gain Thursday, July 28, after the executives' warnings played into pessimism on Wall Street about the Detroit 3's potential for growth, even after GM's second-quarter net income more than doubled. "They've just got a lot of obstacles in front of them all at the same time," said David Whiston, an analyst with Morningstar. "It's not like we're on the verge of a recession, but the market wants to see growth, and they're not seeing it. There was already a lot of negative market sentiment around auto stocks, so Ford's news just gives more fuel to the fire." AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson criticized Ford during an earnings call on Friday for unreasonable stair-step incentive targets, saying the retailer's Ford stores had been given targets to increase sales in the third quarter by up to 40 percent. "Well, that's just not going to happen," Jackson said. "It's totally unrealistic, and we're not going to chase it. It is disruptive in the marketplace, and it causes irrational behavior, and there's a price tag for that." Jackson allowed that the situation could improve in three months if Ford's third-quarter targets clear inventory gluts while production is being cut. But the approach is still "not the best way to get there," he said. Jackson added that the industry is at a "crucial point" with three major automakers -- Ford, Nissan and Fiat Chrysler -- operating massive stair-step programs. Jonas, the Morgan Stanley analyst, said Ford's about-face shows that some of the plans put into place under former CEO Alan Mulally are backfiring as the market shifts away from the small cars that were widely seen as the industry's future only a few years ago. "Ford's prior leadership had made very large product and engineering bets on fuel efficiency across many areas including segments, weight reduction and engine downsizing," Jonas wrote. "While such initiatives are an important part of the long-term strategic planning of any global auto firm, Ford appeared to pursue such efforts with a greater level of zeal. These efforts proved successful in terms of share and profit in a $100 [per barrel] oil environment but maybe present a pricing and market share challenge in the current environment given changing consumer preferences, however short term." Fields said Ford has begun "an aggressive companywide attack plan on costs" to improve profits despite growing headwinds. Among the steps Ford will take are manufacturing cuts and improved "go-to-market plans" in the U.S. and China to generate more revenue, though the company would not say whether job cuts are possible. Ford already had scheduled five weeks of downtime in the second half of 2016 at the Michigan Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit, which builds the Focus and C-Max small cars. "We're going to have to deliver stronger actions on cost," Fields said. "We're going to have to go back and find every dollar of revenue that we can get."

At any time in the past, when General Motors was a force in the commercial truck segment, GMC was the brand that sold most of the trucks, rather than Chevrolet. Thus, I'm shocked that the Isuzu and Navistar trucks are going to be sold exclusively under the Chevrolet badge. Evidently, current GM management is clueless about its place in the commercial truck segment, not knowing that GMC is 'The Truck people from General Motors." Apparently, GM corporate now wants GMC to just be the Denali brand, home of absurdly expensive Ranger Rover-priced SUVs with liberal amounts of plastic chrome. A heck of a waste of brand value.

Bob, I hear what you're saying. But I can't imagine Ford exerting the time, money and effort to give the F-350/450/550 the F-150 aluminium cab, and then anytime soon replace it with a purpose-built medium truck cab. Ford certainly was a big player at one time in Class 7 and Class 8. But I don't sense that they want to be again. If they can throw a beefed up version of their diesel Super-Duty drivetrain in (mostly) Class 6s at minimal investment, and Avon Lake is building Super-Duty anyway, Ford can be in the US market medium truck game at minimal investment. One thought is, given the steel Super Duty cab is long bought and paid for, it can't cost them much to produce it even at low volumes. About Class 4/5, you are exactly right Bob. Businesses need a cost-effective work truck.

"no bodys having any trouble with thouse wounderful detroits" RW613, I never said that common rail can't break. I will say the Bosch and Cummins-Scania XPI common rail systems rarely do. I can't speak for the cheap-way-out Delphi retrofit common rail that Volvo is launching. But if this gentleman absolutely wanted to trade a Mack for a Mack, I gave him sound advise to pass up the outgoing Delphi unit pump injection and wait for the new common rail. My friend, it's getting expensive and challenging to operate an older (Mack-made) truck. Any parts you have to buy from Volvo cost 3 to 10 times more than they did from the former Mack Trucks. And as demand declines, parts availability from the aftermarket is declining as well. As much as I like seeing a "real" Mack on the road...................

My friend, I apologize for.....somehow......giving you that "feeling" (perception). The Bosch and Cummins-Scania XPI common rail systems is twice as good as the unit pump injection systems from those two makers it replaces, and 3 times better than the cheap and problematic Delphi unit pump injection that Volvo buys. Bosch and Cummins-Scania was at the forefront of both technologies. We launched XPI xtra-high pressure common rail injection way back in 2007. I've been experiencing it first hand since then.............not via websites.

Because social welfare Germany and the Works Council (union) won't allow VW to slim down to the size it should be*, it's only alternative is to increase profitabilty by making "cheaper" cars and sell them at the same high prices. Thus, the MQB platform was created. It's not a step forward in engineering and technology, rather, it's a "cheaper for VW to build" platform, engineered to be universally slipped under most of their models to reduce their per unit cost. You pay the same price as always, but receive a "cheaper" car. For that reason alone, I would not purchase a Volkswagen. * VW and Toyota build the same number of cars annually. Toyota does it with 300,000 people, VW with over 600,000. Though owned by Volkswagen, I would purchase a Skoda. Great cars. Though they have VW platforms, they are a cut above the VW brand product. VW allows Skoda a great deal of autonomy, because the unit has great management with strong profitability. http://www.skoda-auto.com/en Compare your Sportswagon with the Octavia Combi RS............http://www.skoda-auto.com/en/models/new-octavia-combi-rs/ If Ford brings the global Ranger and Everest to the US market, and doesn't ruin them by adding extra U.S. market features like engine fire mode, I'll be seeing you in the showroom.

This was the frustrating environment at Mack Trucks' Bridgewater, New Jersey, parts distribution center.