kscarbel2

Excellent !

VW board OKs Ford alliance projects Jan Schwartz and Paul Lienert, Reuters / May 28, 2020 Among the shared projects specified by VW are a midsize pickup to be developed by Ford, a city delivery van to be developed by VW and a new electric vehicle for Ford of Europe, to be built on VW's EV architecture. FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen said Thursday its supervisory board had approved several projects in a multibillion-dollar alliance with Ford Motor that was first announced in July. The German automaker said various contracts between the two companies were nearing completion and would be signed soon. Among the shared projects specified by VW are a midsize pickup to be developed by Ford; a city delivery van to be developed by VW; a larger commercial van to be developed by Ford, and a new electric vehicle for Ford of Europe, to be built on VW's electric vehicle architecture. Regarding official approval of the agreements, a Ford spokesman said Thursday, "We look forward to jointly providing an update soon." VW's statement said "further projects are to follow, as is the investment in Argo AI," the self-driving software company backed by Ford and which eventually will be jointly controlled with VW. VW's planned $3.1 billion investment in Argo "remains on track and is expected to close soon," Argo said on Thursday.

But Hino, lackluster here in the past, is coming on strong over the last decade gaining massive market share.

As I've said before, all political parties should be banned. Clearly, they only serve to convolute government. Elected government officials should "only" represent their constituencies*..........and nothing else.......such as a political party. Representing the wills of political parties is not in their job description, nor in the interest of their constituencies . * Constituency - a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / May 27, 2020 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America announced it is discontinuing new truck sales. The move is a result of a re-evaluation by Daimler subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. of its business situation in the United States and Canada. Going forward, the company will only provide service in these markets. Truck sales will continue until remaining stock, both dealership inventory and MFTA inventory is gone and there are no additional new Fuso trucks to retail. MFTA plans for Fuso customers in the U.S. and Canada to remain supported through an authorized Fuso service network for warranty repairs, maintenance services, and replacement parts until 2028. MFTA will continue to support the eCanter all-electric trucks that are in operation in the United States under the terms of each customer’s respective special lease. Customers such as J.B. Hunt and A. Duie Pyle have been testing the electric eCanters in last-mile delivery fleets. The intention is to have current Fuso dealerships in the United States and Canada remain operational, and for new vehicle sales locations to have the option of continuing to retail available truck stock for a period of time. MFTA plans to re-align its organizational focus towards service operations in the coming months, and to work with its U.S. and Canadian dealer partners to transition sales dealerships into parts and service-dedicated locations. The company plans to maintain its headquarters in Logan Township, New Jersey, along with its parts distribution and technical training centers, while continuing to employ a majority of its employees in the near term. MFTA, part of Daimler Trucks Asia, celebrated its 35th anniversary in the United States earlier this year. The corporate office was founded in Logan Township in 1985, where it resides today. In late 2019 the company started shipments of the Fuso FE180 Gas truck, marking the start of sales for the gasoline-powered cabover Class 5 work truck. “Working with Fuso dealers, we have developed a strong team throughout the United States and Canada that always places the customer first,” said Justin Palmer, president and CEO, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America. “MFTA is fully dedicated to making this transition a smooth one for our customers, and we remain committed in supporting a parts and service network for many years to come.”

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / May 26, 2020 Enhancements to the Detroit DD15 engine, combined with an expanded lineup of the DT12 automated manual transmission, have resulted in improved fuel economy, performance and durability, according to the company. The DT12 transmission has evolved into the DT12 On-Highway Series to offer three purpose-built options to meet the unique needs of various on-highway applications, all of which are now available to order: the DT12-HE, DT12-H, and DT12-HL. The DD15 Gen 5 engine has also been updated and engineered to improve efficiency for the Freightliner Cascadia, and it will be available for January 2021 truck builds. The new DT12 Transmission Lineup The all-new DT12-HE transmission option offers higher overall ratios for improved downspeeding and an improved oil system design, both contributing to increased efficiency. It will debut with Cascadia production beginning in early 2021, with additional model applications to be announced soon. The DT12-HL is a lightweight carry-over option intended for weight-sensitive applications. The DT12-H is a revised designation that retains the same characteristics of the previous DT12. Both the DT12-H and DT12-HL are currently available for order in Cascadia builds. The Detroit DD15 Generation 5 engine The new DD15 Gen 5 engine includes increased downspeeding, improved combustion, and a new swirl piston design. A combination of almost 50% new componentry and fine-tuning by Detroit’s engineers results in up to a 3% improvement in fuel efficiency from propulsion alone, according to the company. A new ball bearing simple geometry turbocharger reduces friction and allows peak power and torque to be reached faster in the Cascadia. Peak horsepower is now reached at 1,500 rpm versus the prior generation’s 1,625 rpm, and peak torque is achieved at 900 rpm versus 1,075 rpm. Modified inlet ports in engine cylinders and a new piston bowl shape combine to create a swirl effect that creates a fuel spray pattern for better atomization. Along with an ultra-high compression ratio, the new swirl design piston makes combustion cleaner and more efficient than the previous generation of the DD15. A new EPA GHG21-compliant aftertreatment system for the DD15 Gen 5 debuts a smaller unit design to reduce weight by more than 60 pounds while increasing nitrous oxide conversion and, dependent on duty cycle, allowing increased diesel particulate filter service intervals. The DD15 Gen 5 also debuts ThermoCoasting, a new feature that prevents aftertreatment cool=down during a driving regen to keep the keep the system at the optimum temperature. To accomplish this, ThermoCoasting will engage engine brakes when necessary between 900 and 1,500 rpm while the engine mimics coasting by maintaining zero torque at the flywheel to balance power delivery.

Canadian government orders 10 million face masks from GM Greg Layson, Automotive News / May 26, 2020 General Motors Canada says employees at its factory in Oshawa, Ontario, will manufacture 10 million masks over the next year for the government of Canada. Production began Tuesday. GM Canada originally announced in late April that it would use its idled assembly plant to make face masks for health care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The automaker said Tuesday that it will manufacture the face masks at cost for the Public Health Agency of Canada. Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand said the agreement ensures “a steady and reliable domestic supply of this vital equipment.” David Paterson, vice president of corporate and environmental affairs at GM Canada, would only say that the price was “very competitive” and that the automaker could offer an “assured supply” of masks, and do so quickly. Paterson said the world is scrambling to manufacture personal protective equipment and that Canada alone will need an estimated three billion masks per year. “The most valuable thing we offer is a guaranteed source of material,” he said. Mask making in Oshawa is based on the process GM is using at its plant in Warren, Mich., that began a month before the work in Ontario. Paterson said the automaker has no plans to make masks for its own employees, saying the Oshawa-made masks will be “100 percent for Canadians.” “We already have other sources for face masks [for GM Canada],” he said. “We have our PPE requirements covered for Canada.” It’s all part of the automaker’s global supply chain. GM Canada President Scott Bell called the deal with the federal government “one of the proudest moments in our history.” The company said it received its medical device establishment license on April 22. Over the course of a little more than three weeks, and with support from GM’s global supply chain, the company sourced materials, built a ‘Canadian Mask Making (CMM)’ clean room with enhanced safety protocols, installed the required equipment and recalled and trained 60 workers for two shifts of production in Oshawa in partnership with Unifor. “Unifor members in Oshawa are highly skilled and proud to help GM make whatever our country needs to get through this pandemic,” Unifor President Jerry Dias said in the same statement. The modern Oshawa assembly plant that produced its last vehicle on Dec. 19 dates back to 1953 and has produced everything from the Chevrolet Bel Air to the Chevrolet Silverado. The plant has been reduced to a stamping operation, building parts for discontinued models, although GM Canada said that work had not started yet. However, until the pandemic struck, it had been stamping parts for the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, where the automaker builds the Chevrolet Equinox. The parts program gives the Oshawa plant a lease on life, albeit one that employs just 300 or so people, instead of the 2,600 that had been assembling cars and trucks for years. Each aftermarket part produced there will be built for 10 years.

Ford throws lifeline to suppliers facing cash crunch Keith Naughton, Bloomberg / May 21, 2020 The automaker is helping keep key component suppliers afloat by paying invoices early. Ford plans eventually to expand the program to other manufacturers across its supply base. DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is helping some of its suppliers survive a cash crunch by paying its bills early to ensure that critically needed parts keep flowing to its auto factories. The Detroit 3 are restarting production after shutting down for two months to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That has caused a cash-flow crisis at many suppliers that don’t have deep capital reserves. Ford burned through $8 billion in the first three months of the year, but it has built up a substantial cash pile by suspending its dividend, drawing down its credit lines and selling junk bonds. Now it is helping keep key component suppliers afloat by paying invoices early. “In light of current market conditions, Ford is creating an early-payment program for our supply base,” Jennifer Flake, a company spokeswoman, said in an emailed statement. “This new voluntary program creates access to cash flow and working capital to Ford suppliers.” The automaker, which is projecting a $5 billion operating loss for the second quarter, said it is making these early payments to a small group of key suppliers it declined to identify. The company plans eventually to expand the program to other manufacturers across its supply base, Flake said.

That is a beast. Thanks for posting.

You're right.

Congratulations and appreciation to Jim Kirkwood and Statewide Concrete Pumping who just received their brand new dual-steer Autocar ACX84 with a mounted Schwing America 46M Concrete Pump in Columbus, Ohio. All Autocar products include factory-direct technical support from our Autocar Solutions Team for life. Always Up - Autocar Trucks .

Yes.

Ford plant worker tested positive for Coronavirus, sending thousands of factory workers home early after second day open CBS Chicago / May 20, 2020 Chicago’s Ford assembly plant sent thousands of workers home early on Wednesday only two days after reopening because an employee tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. The unexpected dismissal came after Ford reopened Monday. Production was set to resume Tuesday night. Ford had implemented temperature checks, installed social distancing reminders and redesigned work stations for safety. Ford said the company has been cleaning and disinfecting all areas that the ill employee might have touched. “I’m worried right now,” said employee Timothy Shy. “This is the second day, and we are already hearing about this. Production was temporarily halted at part of the facility and the main plant. “Social distancing doesn’t really work,” said employee Billy Cowart. There are changes from the social distancing reminders outside to temperature checks and re-configured work stations inside. Ford provided a video highlighting some of the updated health changes COVID has brought along to their plants “All these people are crowded and on top of each other,” said Michael Hopper while wearing his Ford issued face mask. “I lost a brother to Coronavirus May 6th,” Hopper said. Hopper along with others describes an experience inside the plant that doesn’t sound or look like the polished video. “I cleaned my own workstation myself,” said Hopper. “How our jobs are set-up, if one person gets in the hole that would affect the person behind him.”

"You can kick their balls, but you can't touch them." .

The second generation (RWI) Super-Liner entered production in 1985. (The MH Ultra-Liner entered limited production in 1984........there were quite a few last minute changes)

The 2nd gen RW with rectangular headlights was known internally as the RWI model. The RWI (on the Ultra-Liner chassis) replaced the Hayward, California-built RWS (steel frame) and RWL (aluminum frame).

The second generation Super-Liner, produced in Macungie, with the 4 rectangular headlights (H4651/H4656), built on the previously introduced MH Ultra-Liner chassis, was known internally as the RWI model. We didn't spend money to improve the Cruise-Liner chassis because the Ultra-Liner was in the development pipeline to replace it before the first Cruise-Liner rolled off the Macungie assembly line. While the Cruise-Liner's death was planned, we wanted to continue on with the Super-Liner product.

Ford Trucks Spain / May 18, 2020 They say good things are kept waiting, but the COVID-19 has made it longer than expected!! Happy to announce that our dealer Vehinva has delivered their first F-Max on Friday to Fernando Zapata. Fernando, we hope you enjoy your shiny new truck! Thank you for choosing us! #PoweredbyFordTrucks 😊 #SharingtheLoad

Spanish haulier San Jose used the Mack emblem Paul. We didn't care......free advertising. https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/30466-when-mack-roamed-europe-the-middle-east-africa-and-western-asia/?page=3&tab=comments#comment-180054

The way they're printing money scares the heck out of me.........a recipe for disaster.

Based on the news fed to us from the entire spectrum of media (I don't know anyone in government today personally), I can't argue with you.

I never mentioned Trump or Obama. Okay? I only said that all government, by design is corrupt (and has been for hundreds of years). In 1887, John Dalberg-Acton wrote: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

All government, by design, is corrupt to varying degrees, and inefficient in functionality.