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Buy a used Mack TS442 service manual off Amazon. A wise investment, it will lay it all out for you.

As we know now from the global Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, the European Commission (EC) is corrupt from the word go. They now have zero credibility. The EC and EU member countries quietly allowed Volkswagen (and others) to cheat. Leif Östling, who headed Scania at that time, has told the EC to go pound sand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ex-Scania CEO Leif Östling completely rejects cartel accusation Dagens Industri / June 30, 2016 A battle is whipping up between the European Commission and respected truckmaking head Leif Östling. Leif Östling, Scania's former president and one of Sweden's foremost industrialists, categorically denies that Scania ever participated in a cartel with other European truckmakers. The former Scania CEO says the truckmaker has proof that it was not involved in any illegal cooperation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Background Leif Östling started his career at the Scania Truck Division of the Saab-Scania Group as a trainee in 1972. He became became head of long-term planning in 1977. In 1981 was appointed head of Sales and Marketing at Scania Nederland B.V, becoming managing director at the unit in 1983. In 1989, Östling was appointed head of the Scania Truck Division. One year later, he as selected to become executive vice president of Saab-Scania AB. When Scania and Saab were separated in 1994, Leif Östling was appointed President and CEO of Scania AB. Owing to his superb leadership, his tenure ran through August 2012. .

$600 for a 3-foot AC hose. I hope you're kidding.

Bloomberg / July 19, 2016 Truckmakers, including Daimler AG and Paccar Inc.’s DAF Trucks, agreed to pay European Union regulators a record 2.93 billion euros ($3.24 billion) in fines for fixing truck prices over 14 years. Daimler got the largest penalty of 1.01 billion euros and DAF will pay 752.7 million euros as part of a settlement with the European Commission that cut potential fines by at least 10 percent. VolvoAB and its Renault trucks brand face a 670.4 million euro fine/ CNH Industrial NV’S Iveco will pay a 494.6 million euro fine. Fines are high because "this cartel concerns a very large market and continued for a very long time," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told reporters in Brussels Tuesday. The companies’ actions fixed the prices for around nine out of every 10 medium and heavy truck sold in Europe, she said. The auto industry is the focus of investigations by competition authorities across the world. The fines exceed an initial 1.7 billion-euro penalty for banks after the Libor scandal. Volkswagen’s Scania unit refused to settle the case and may face a possible fine in the future, the commission said. Scania said in a statement that the company fully cooperated with the EU and can’t comment on what will happen next in the probe. “The company doesn’t share the Commission’s view on the findings of the investigation,” said Susanna Berlin, investor relations manager at Scania. MAN SE, also owned by Volkswagen, escaped fines for being the first to inform the EU of the cartel. Starting in 1997, the companies set the factory price of trucks and coordinated the timing and the passing-on of costs for new emissions technologies, the EU said. They didn’t avoid or manipulate compliance with pollution standards. Huge fines for cartels are the Brussels-based commission’s ultimate weapon to punish companies that cheat by fixing prices. The regulator -- which is still probing banks over foreign-exchange manipulation -- doled out massive penalties in 2013 for companies accused of rigging benchmark interest rates. The settlement includes a 10 percent reduction for promising not to challenge the EU in the courts, on top of other discounts for cooperating with regulators. Truckmakers may still face lawsuits from customers seeking damages for overcharging. "Daimler regrets these occurrences" and said the fine would be covered by its provision, according to an e-mailed statement. Paccar said the DAF fine is less than it had set aside. CNH Industrial declined to comment. DAF and Volvo had no immediate comment. MAN doesn’t tolerate "any unfair business practices or illegal conduct," it said in a statement. It avoided a potential 1.2 billion euro fine for being the first company to assist regulators in the probe, the EU said. Daimler raised provisions for possible related costs by 600 million euros in 2014. Volvo set aside 650 million euros. Paccar has made a provision of 850 million euros for its DAF Trucks unit and CNH Industrial NV allocated $502 million for a possible fine for Iveco.

Volvo Cuts North American Market Outlook as Orders Slump Bloomberg / July 19, 2016 Volvo AB cut its outlook for the North American truck market for the third time this year after stagnant freight volumes and excess inventory drove orders in the region down by nearly one-third in the second quarter. Truck orders in North America fell 29 percent, and manufacturers as a whole will probably sell about 240,000 vehicles there this year, the Gothenburg, Sweden-based company said Tuesday in a statement. That’s 10,000 less than its previous forecast and would be 20 percent fewer than in 2015. Slowing demand in the U.S. and the Middle East and recession in Brazil have wreaked havoc on truckmakers’ expectations for the year. Daimler AG, the biggest commercial-vehicle manufacturer, cut its trucks forecast in May, saying profits will be “significantly lower.” Volvo, which owns the Mack Trucks brand in the U.S., started cutting manufacturing in North America and Brazil in February and promised further reductions on Tuesday. Thanks to production cuts, Volvo boosted truck profit excluding charges to 10 percent of sales from 7.7 percent a year earlier. The improved operating margin despite a weaker market in the U.S. is a “sign that even less favorable markets can be managed,” Equinet Bank analyst Holger Schmidt wrote in a note. Volvo rose 1.5 percent to 90.10 kronor at 1:03 p.m. in Stockholm. The stock has gained 14 percent this year. Clearing Inventory U.S. dealers are clearing excess truck inventory more quickly in a “positive sign” for truckmakers, Chief Executive Officer Martin Lundstedt told analysts. It will take about a year to run down surplus stock, he said Tuesday. Separately, European Union regulators announced a record 2.93 billion euros ($3.24 billion) in fines Tuesday to penalize manufacturers for fixing truck prices over 14 years. Volvo and its Renault trucks brand owe 670.4 million euros, the European Commission said. The figure is in line with the 650 million euros Volvo set aside. Volvo had been working through a restructuring program to cut annual spending this year by 10 billion kronor ($1.17 billion) from 2012 levels. As part of its cost-reduction program, Volvo cut its workforce in the past year by 6.7 percent, or about 7,000 employees. Second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes, and excluding capital gains, a provision related to the EU truck fines and restructuring costs, increased to 6.13 billion kronor from 5.98 billion kronor a year earlier, as cost-cutting helped offset the intensifying slowdown. That beat the 5.5 billion-krona average of 11 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Group sales fell 7 percent to 78.9 billion kronor. Orders for construction equipment dropped 17 percent. On top of the market slowdowns the trucks unit is facing, the smaller construction division is also suffering from tepid demand as low oil prices and price declines for other commodities delay new projects.

Paul, I thought it was a Buffalo because of its size and the air cleaner intake on top of the left front fender. But the articles I read always said it was a Hippo. Thanks for setting me straight.

Volvo beats earnings forecast, sees U.S. market weaken Reuters / July 19, 2016 Swedish truckmaker Volvo reported better than expected second-quarter earnings on Tuesday as cost cuts and rising European sales helped fortify it against slumping U.S. demand for commercial vehicles. Heavy trucks, where Volvo is competing with Germany's Daimler and Volkswagen, are benefiting from strong demand across Europe while battling downturns across the Atlantic. Volvo, which sells trucks under the Mack, Renault and UD brands as well as its own name, scaled back its outlook for North America, saying it expected industry wide sales of 240,000 trucks, down from a forecast for 250,000 given in April. Weaker markets in the United States and also China, where sales of construction equipment are falling, will test the new leadership team's skill in boosting profitability. "In the second quarter we were able to continue the improvement of our underlying profitability despite declining sales, thanks to positive cost development," said CEO Martin Lundstedt, a former Scania boss appointed last year. Scania had long boasted some of the best profit margins in the business. Gothenburg-based Volvo said order intake of its trucks fell 8 percent in the second quarter compared with a 1 percent drop seen by analysts. A 29 percent fall in North American truck orders led the decline. Volvo shares rose 0.8 percent by 0756 GMT (03:56 a.m. EDT), outpacing a 0.7 percent fall in the in the STOXX Europe 600 Industrial Goods & Services Index .SXNP. The stock is up 12 percent so far this year compared with a 2 percent drop for the index. "The earnings are really good, and what stands out is primarily the 10 percent operating margin in trucks despite them scaling back output in North America," Handelsbanken Capital Markets analyst Hampus Engellau said. "This is exactly what one wanted to see." Lundstedt has come on board as Volvo begins reaping the benefits of a 10 billion Swedish crown ($1.17 billion) cost cutting drive intended to make the sprawling group less prone to sharp swings in profitability as cyclical truck markets periodically slump. The group said adjusted operating earnings rose to 6.13 billion crowns from a year-ago 5.98 billion, beating a mean forecast for 5.64 billion in Reuters poll of analysts. It reported adjusted operating margin of 7.8 percent compared with a year-ago 7.1 percent and the 7.0 percent seen by analysts. "The results tells us that Volvo are on track to boost its earnings generation capacity also when demand is not great," said Danske Bank analyst Bjorn Enarson. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volvo's CEO: "We need to recruit" Affars Varlden / July 19, 2016 Volvo may recruit 400-500 people at the Tuve plant in Gothenburg, CEO Martin Lundstedt has announced. Simultaneously, the company's profit compared with the same period last year. Truck manufacturer Volvo AB reported a pretax profit of 3.453 billion kronor for the second quarter. That compares with profit of 6.362 million kronor in the same period last year. Analysts had on average expected a profit of 2.807 million kronor. Volvo's CEO Martin Lundstedt satisfied with the results for the second quarter. “We had another good quarter where we improved our underlying profitability and it is particularly gratifying that we reached an operating margin of ten percent in trucks, Lundstedt said. Turnover amounted to 78.89 billion kronor, compared to 84.783 billion kronor a year earlier. Volvo also announced that the company will reduce the number of employees in North America by about 300 people. “We need to adjust the number of employees to achieve a better balance between production levels, inventory levels and demand”, said Lundstedt. “However, we need to recruit 400-500 people for our Tuve truck plant in Gothenburg. We are very happy”, said Lundstedt. Deliveries of trucks fell to 52,670, down from 55,613 in the second quarter last year. At the same time, truck orders received fell to 45,422 from 49,551 a year earlier. Analysts had on average expected an order intake of over 49,000 trucks.

Volvo Group Press Release / July 19, 2016 “In the second quarter we were able to continue the improvement of our underlying profitability despite declining sales, thanks to positive cost development. Sales decreased by 7% to SEK 78.9 billion. Despite this, the underlying operating income increased to SEK 6.1 billion, corresponding to an operating margin of 7.8%,” Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO. • In Q2 2016 net sales decreased by 7% to SEK 78.9 billion (84.8). Adjusted for currency movements and acquired and divested units sales decreased by 3%. • Operating income in Q2 2016 amounted to SEK 6,130 M (5,979), corresponding to an operating margin of 7.8% (7.1), excluding a provision of SEK 2,334 M related to the EU competition investigation in Q2 2016 and restructuring charges of SEK 799 M and a capital gain of SEK 2,137 M from the sale of shares in Eicher Motors Limited in Q2 2015. • Currency movements had a negative impact on operating income of SEK 317 M. • Operating cash flow in the Industrial Operations was positive in an amount of SEK 6.9 billion (8.6). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Numbers In the second quarter of 2016, sales (deliveries) from Volvo Group’s truck operations amounted to 52,670* units, down 5 percent from 55,613 units in Q2 2015. Volvo brand truck sales (overall) fell to 28,255 units globally, down 9 percent from 30,997 units in Q2 2015. Volvo brand truck sales in North America plunged to 6,786 units, down 39 percent from 11,208 units in Q2 2015. Volvo brand truck sales in Europe rose to 14,430 units, up 17 percent from 12,343 units in Q2 2015. Mack brand truck sales (overall) plunged to 5,588 units globally, down 22 percent from 7,160 units in Q2 2015. Mack brand truck sales in North America plunged to 5,192 units, down 21 percent from 6,547 units in Q2 2015. Mack brand truck sales in South America crashed to 157 units, down 54 percent from 338 units in Q2 2015. Mack brand truck sales in Africa/Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand) fell to 238 units, down 11 percent from 267 units in Q2 2015. Continuing to save the day for Volvo Group with stunning results, Renault Truck sales rose to 13,650 units globally and 12,304 in Europe, rising 12 percent and 23 percent respective compared with Q2 2015. UD (Nissan Diesel) brand sales fell to 5,177 units globally and 4,147 in Asia, down 1 percent and 2 percent respectively compared with Q2 2015. * Excluding Dongfeng, Dongvo (UD China) and VE Commercial Vehicles (Eicher) For a PDF version of the report, please click here: http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=152052&News.Language=en-gb

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Transport Engineer / July 18, 2016 Cambridgeshire-based contractor G Webb has added two new Scania P-cabbed tippers to its 50-strong fleet, each mounted with Charlton SuperLite bodies and delivering class-leading payloads of more than 19.6 tonnes. Class-leading because, as Webb general manager (haulage) Neil McMurdo explains, these 410bhp engined eight wheelers have been fitted with steel bodies capable of handling aggregates work. In fact, with a full tank of fuel, a driver and all ancillary equipment, each tipper truck tares off at just under 12,400kg. That’s in part due to the lightweight Scania tipper chassis but also the SuperLite bodies. “Traditionally, most of our fleet has been built up around bulkers with alloy bodies, often employed on longer distance work,” comments McMurdo. “Today, changing work patterns led by the house-building industry are requiring us to purchase vehicles speced for earthmoving and delivering sand and aggregates.” With their 19.6 tonne payload capacity, the Scania-Charlton combination, he says, delivers a highly productive operating proposition. Company director David Webb agrees: “We’ve looked at Thompsons and Charlton bodies for many years, but we just weren’t operating those types of tippers. “Now, things have changed... We’re all impressed not just by the SuperLite’s low weight and clean, functional design but also Charlton’s high standards of product detailing, fit and finish.” For him, this specification is right for the company’s latest operations – meaning the firm should be able to keep its latest acquisitions going for a long time. “These two new tippers will be joined by a third in September, also fitted with a Charlton body but this time with a crane and grab as well,” he adds. .

Transport Engineer / July 18, 2016 Lancashire haulier Fagan & Whalley has been so impressed by its first Mercedes-Benz Actros that it has now ordered another pair to join its 200–strong tractor fleet. Operations director Graham Fagan says the truck, which entered service last year, delivers on three main fronts: driver appeal, fuel efficiency and image. “We take great pride in the appearance of our fleet and the Actros certainly has the right image,” states Fagan. “We also endeavour to provide our drivers with the best vehicles, and their feedback has been entirely positive,” he continues, adding that they particularly like the driveability, performance and quality interior of the new Actros. “The Actros is leading the way on fuel economy too, with mpg returns right up there with the very best on our fleet. This helps us to minimise the impact of our operation on the environment, an important factor given our commitment to sustainability.” Fagan & Whalley’s first Actros was a 2545 with the BigSpace cab, powered by the 12.8-litre, 449bhp straight-six driving through a 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 AMT (automated manual transmission). The next two will take engines from Mercedes’ second-generation OM 471 family, capable of delivering 3% better fuel returns. Mercedes-Benz dealer Ciceley Commercials convinced Fagan & Whalley to go for the new order after providing an Actros Fuel Challenger for trial. “These are still relatively early days and the evaluation is ongoing. We want to see how the trucks perform over the longer term, into years three and four, but the early signs are certainly promising,” states Fagan. “We’ll also be monitoring the support we receive from Ciceley Commercials, though having bought a few rigids from them in the past we know they run a very professional operation.” .

Transport Engineer / July 18, 2016 A Staunton Groundworks and Civil Engineering has added two Renault Range C430.32 8x4 tippers to its 30-strong fleet, citing favourable experiences with Renault vans and recommendations from others. The Leigh-on-Sea-based operator’s new 32-tonners were supplied by Renault Trucks Essex and mounted with a Fruehauf double-insulated tipper body, Epsilon crane with grab bucket, FORS camera warning system and an onboard weighing system. “We have been running Renault vans for a while and they’ve been working well for us,” comments director Anthony Staunton. “So when we were looking for new tippers everyone recommended the Range C. I certainly [haven’t been] disappointed: I really liked the look of them and now I think they are the best looking trucks on the road.” That matters: as Staunton says, keeping drivers happy is a priority for any successful operation. “They are really impressed and are dying to get out in them. In fact we are all so pleased that I am considering getting another one.” These Range C tippers are now being used across Essex Highways and Hertfordshire Council Highways on maintenance projects. .

Accessories

It's troubling that Volvo Group North America and its Volvo Trucks USA unit do not have the integrity to ever mention the layoffs on their news releases, an opportunity to express how painful it is for them to send people home whose families depend on a Volvo paycheck for their livelihood. The lay offs at New River Valley are the result of low sales, which in Volvo's case, are largely the result of poor management (sales marketing and other) in the US market. http://www.volvotrucks.us/about-volvo/news-and-events/ http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/volvo group/worldwide/Volvo-Group-North-America/Pages/North-America.aspx Seriously, after watching this video, would you buy a truck from these people? Or from Freightliner, Navistar or Paccar who "professionally" promote their products? Does this reflect Volvo's perception of the U.S. customer? .

Relax, it's just a show.

Second round of 2016 Volvo layoffs to impact about 300 The Roanoke Times / July 15, 2016 The second round of layoffs this year at Volvo’s truck manufacturing plant in Pulaski County will eliminate about 300 jobs, Volvo Group announced in a statement Friday. “We regret having to take this action, but we operate in a cyclical market, and we have to adapt to market demand,” Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) spokesman John Mies wrote in an email. “Outplacement support meetings led by the company and UAW (union) representatives will be provided for all affected employees. They will also be provided with information regarding the Virginia Employment Commission and the regional Rapid Response Team,” he added. The regional Rapid Response Team, based at New River Community College in Dublin, helps laid off workers find employment and to receive additional training. Mies said the layoffs will occur in September. Volvo originally announced the layoffs in May, but didn’t specify at the time how many workers would be affected. The announcement came after about 500 layoffs occurred in February due to reasons similar to those Mies stated Friday. Prior to the layoffs in February, the truck plant employed 2,800 workers, which was up from approximately 1,000 in early 2009. This past spring the local union, UAW Local 2069, approved a new labor contract with Volvo that will run until March 2021. After Volvo and the union reached a previous agreement in 2011, the company rehired about 700 workers who had previously been laid off. Volvo officials have repeatedly said that the significant job cuts at the plant this year are a response to expected reductions in truck demand.

Volvo to layoff about 300 people at Dublin plant WSLS10 / July 15, 2016 Volvo will lay off about 300 people later this year, according to Volvo group corporate communication team spokesman John Mies. The layoffs are expected to happen in early September. These are the same cuts WSLS 10 reported in late May; however, at that time, the amount of people being laid off and the timing were still unknown. “We regret having to take this action, but we operate in a cyclical market, and we have to adapt to market demand,” said Mies. “Outplacement support meetings led by the company and UAW representatives will be provided for all affected employees. They will also be provided with information regarding the Virginia Employment Commission and the regional Rapid Response Team.”

Heavy Duty Trucking / July 18, 2016 Volvo Trucks will lay off around 300 more employees later this year due to weaker truck demand in 2016, according to a report in The Roanoke Times. The layoffs are expected to take place in September and will affect workers at its New River Valley truck plant in Dublin, Va. This will be the second round of major layoffs at the facility for the truck manufacturer, which in February laid off as many as 700 employees. The New River Valley plant is one of Volvo Group’s largest manufacturing facilities, assembling the Volvo VNM, VNL, VNX, VHD and VAH trucks. The layoffs are part of a plan the company put in place late last year when it projected demand to fall off after a stellar 2015. Class 8 truck demand in particular has been reported at low levels throughout 2016 as a weaker economy and lower freight demand have made carriers cautious about ordering new vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America has also responded to truck order reductions with major layoffs, letting go 1,240 workers across its North American production wing as a result. Related reading - http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45425-more-workers-face-layoffs-at-dublin-volvo-plant/#comment-334930

Ford 2017 Super Duty payload, towing data released Fleet Owner / July 18, 2016 OEM says adaptive cruise control can function even when towing 32,000 lbs. Specific payload and towing numbers released today for the new 2017 F-Series Super Duty truck – a vehicle officially unveiled late last year – result in Super Duty models that offer “more towing and hauling capability than ever before,” according to Ford Motor Co. Some of the data Ford is releasing includes: Maximum payload of 4,200 lbs. for the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-250 and payload of 7,630 lbs. for the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350; Maximum conventional towing with F-250 and F-350 single-rear wheel models with the OEM’s new trailer tow package boosted to 18,000 lbs.; A maximum gooseneck tow rating of 32,500 lbs. for the Ford F-450 Super Duty SuperCrew 4x4, with maximum fifth-wheel towing increased to 27,500 lbs. Maximum gross combined weight rating for truck and trailer now tops out at 41,800 lbs.; more than half the maximum weight limit of an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer combination for most federal highways. “This is the best heavy-duty truck we’ve ever made,” noted Doug Scott, Ford’s truck marketing manager. “What it boils down to is a more efficient truck,” Brian Rathsburg, marketing manager for the 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty, told Fleet Owner. “If you can tow and haul more, that means you need to take fewer trips, which benefits you on fuel economy, certainly, but also in time savings,” he explained. “Time is money for commercial customers and if you can be more efficient and also more capable at the same time that lowers the overall cost of ownership for the vehicle.” Rathsburg added that several new technologies augment the 2017 Super Duty payload and towing capabilities as well: An adaptive cruise control and collision warning system with brake support for towing heavy trailers, allowing operators to traverse steep mountain grades while maintaining speed, even with a trailer weighing 32,500 lbs.; A center high-mounted stop lamp camera to provide visibility into the cargo box that is especially helpful when hooking up gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers; An “ultimate trailer tow” camera system that uses four digital, high-definition cameras to give the driver a 360-degree bird’s-eye view surrounding the vehicle. A “trailer reverse guidance” package that provides visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer, along with a factory-available trailer camera can be custom-placed on a trailer to improve visibility backing up; An optional in-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system, accessible from cab while stopped or on the highway; A blind spot information system with trailer tow that is “optimized” in Scott’s words for the Super Duty to include trailer lengths up to 33 ft. long, using radar sensors in the truck’s tail lamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver. “As we like to say, it boils down to safety systems and technology making the customers' lives easier,” Rathsburg said. “And making their lives easier helps them be more efficient – ‘efficient,’ there’s that word again – which again helps lower the overall cost of operations for them.” Ford is also offering several beefed-up powertrain options for its 2017 F-Series Super Duty line to enable greater payload and towing capability. First, its second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine now offers 440 hp and 925 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a TorqShift six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. This package will be the standard option for every Super Duty – from F-250 to F-450 – that is spec’d with a diesel engine; without requiring special tuning or unique hardware, the OEM said. The second powertrain choice is a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine – the standard option for F-Series Super Duty models – that offers 385 hp and 430 lb.-ft of torque. It, too, will be mated to the TorqShift six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, the OEM said. Rathsburg added that commercial customers should also understand how the use of military-grade aluminum in both the body and frame of the 2017 F-Series Super Duty – mirroring what Ford did when it revamped its F-150 pickup two years ago – benefits commercial customers. “We saved 350 lbs. of weight by using that strong aluminum and we reinvested some of that weight savings back into the truck to create bigger and stronger components,” he emphasized. “That again allows the truck to be more capable and more efficient for the commercial user.”

Ford's redesigned Super Duty pickup raises performance ante Automotive News / July 18, 2016 Ford Motor Co. used the weight savings from an aluminum body to beef up the capabilities of its Super Duty pickups, which it says will beat the competition in towing, payload, torque and diesel horsepower ratings. The redesigned F-250, F-350 and F-450, slated to be on sale this fall, weigh as much as 350 pounds less than the outgoing models, Ford said. That’s about half the weight savings Ford gained by switching the light-duty F-150 from steel to aluminum body panels. Ford said the Super Duty’s frame, composed of 95 percent high-strength steel, is 24 times stiffer than the current generation’s frame to support heavier loads and trailers. “We listened to our customers and created the toughest, smartest and most capable Super Duty ever,” Doug Scott, Ford’s truck marketing manager, said in a statement. The F-450 SuperCrew 4x4 can tow 21,000 pounds with a conventional hitch -- 1,000 pounds more than its closest rival, Ford said. Its tow ratings are 32,500 pounds for a gooseneck trailer, 1,290 pounds more than its top competitor, and 27,500 pounds for a fifth-wheel trailer, 2,500 pounds more than any other heavy-duty pickup. The F-250 and F-350 with a single rear wheel can tow a class-leading 18,000 pounds with a standard hitch, Ford said. Ford said the redesigned Super Duty will be the first pickup to offer adaptive cruise control and a collision-warning system with brake support for trailers up to 32,500 pounds. The maximum gross combined weight rating for an F-450 SuperCrew 4x4 and a trailer is 41,800 pounds, more than any other heavy-duty pickup and more than half of the weight limit for an 18-wheel semitractor-trailer on most federal highways, Ford said. Payload capacity for the F-350 is a class-leading 7,630 pounds, while the F-250 can haul 4,200 pounds in its bed, 600 pounds more than any competitor, Ford said. Diesel versions of the Super Duty, equipped with the second-generation of Ford’s Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged engine, are rated at 440 hp and 925 pounds-feet of torque without special tuning or hardware, Ford said. The standard gasoline engine, a 6.2-liter V-8, produces a class-leading 430 pounds-feet of torque and 385 hp. That beats the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 on both numbers and tops the heavy-duty Ram 2500’s torque rating by 1 pound-foot, but the Ram has a more powerful rating of 410 hp. Ford said the Super Duty will offer improved fuel economy ratings, but it has not released specific numbers. Ford Press Release - https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/07/18/all-new-ford-f-series-super-duty-leaves-the-rest-behind--raises-.html

The Guardian / July 18, 2016 The man who killed three police officers in Baton Rouge was “tactical” in his movements and shots and avoided civilians while targeting officers with “chilling, sheer brutality”. “He was in shape,” said Louisiana State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson. “He was concentrated, he was articulate in all manners of engagement. I’ll just leave it at that.” The three police officers shot dead in Louisiana were deliberately ambushed by the gunman who carried two AR-15-style rifles and a 9.9mm pistol. One of the officers was first wounded, then killed as he lay on the ground. A sheriff’s deputy was killed after leaving cover to help that officer. Three officers were injured – on Monday one, corporal Nicholas Tullier, remained in critical condition after being shot in the head and torso. Another officer, deputy Bruce Simmons, faced the second of many reconstructive surgeries after being shot in the arm. The gunman was Gavin Long, a black separatist identified by media on Sunday who in online postings had urged African Americans to “fight back” against oppression by law enforcement. Long was from Missouri. Police could not confirm reports that Long had also been in Dallas. “We have him in several locations,” police said. Two Baton Rouge officers, Montrell Jackson, 32, and 41-year-old Matthew Gerald, were shot and killed. Sheriff’s deputy Brad Garafola, 45, was killed after leaving cover behind a dumpster and going to their aid. Long then moved around the neighboring convenience store where sheriff’s deputy Nicholas Tullier had pulled up in his patrol car. Long approached and shot him through the window, shooting him in the head and torso. Edmonson presented to the press still images from surveillance video of the shooting, which he said showed the “chilling, sheer brutality” of a planned and methodical attack by Long, a former US marine who carried two AR-15-style rifles and a 9.9mm pistol. Police were investigating the provenance [record of ownership] of the guns. The gunman was killed by a long-distance shot from a member of the Baton Rouge police Swat team. Police Chief Carl Dabadie saluted the shot, which he said was an example of “militarized tactics” which have been criticized by protesters against perceived police brutality. “It was a hell of a shot,” Dabadie said. “We’re up against a force that is not playing by the rules,” he said. “Our ‘militarized tactics,’ as they are being called, saved lives.” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux reinforced Dabadie’s conviction. “You can’t understand the shot they took,” he said. “They had to shoot through a structure and take the subject down.” Long had been in Baton Rouge for several days. His exact motives remain unknown. “Why did he come to Baton Rouge? Why did he come to this location?” Edmonson said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ How it unfolded Shortly before the ambush that killed three police officers in Louisiana, the gunman was stalking a Baton Rouge police car with his rifle poised to shoot. Scouting the area in a rental car, Gavin Long initially spotted the patrol car at a convenience store Sunday morning and parked next door, only to find it empty. Long then drove north on Airline Highway and saw another patrol officer vacuuming his vehicle at a car wash. By the time Long had exited his car, that officer also disappeared. Long made his way back behind buildings near the B-Quik convenience store. Baton Rouge Officers Matthew Gerald, 41, and Montrell Jackson, 32, were behind the building next to the B-Quik along with sheriff's Deputy Brad Garafola. Skilled in his handling of an assault rifle, Long, an ex-Marine, moved to ambush the officers, Edmonson said. Surveillance video captured the calculated attack. "There is no doubt whatsoever that these officers were targeted and assassinated," police say. Long appears to have been in Baton Rouge for days planning his attack, which also wounded three other officers. Investigators are tracking his whereabouts before the 8:40 a.m. Sunday ambush. "We want to know what brought him here, what kept him here" and why he killed police.” The Baton Rouge ambush followed on the heels of the Dallas attack on officers, both cases involving skilled gunmen and multiple casualties. Gautreaux, the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff, said he was convinced that if the Baton Rouge SWAT team had not arrived when it did, two additional deputies who were wounded would be dead and the gunman would have escaped to attack more officers. The SWAT team's training kicked in, and it performed flawlessly in responding to the ambush. A SWAT team rifleman took out the gunman from more than 100 yards without a clear line of sight. "That shot our SWAT team made was a helluva shot," police say. "We've been questioned for the last (two) weeks about our militarized tactics and our militarized law enforcement. This is why. We are up against a force that is not playing by the rules. They didn't play by the rules in Dallas, and they didn't play by the rules here. "This guy was going to another location. He was not going to stop here," the chief told reporters. "He was going to take more lives." Long used a IWI Tavor SAR 5.56 rifle with a strap on it to keep the rifle in place as he engaged the officers, helping him maintain accuracy. He also was armed with a 9mm pistol and a Stag Arms M4 variant 5.56 rifle. The rifle was staged inside his Chevrolet Malibu rental car so he could get to it during the shooting. "He was extremely accurate," he said. Details of the ambush Long used the front of the building next to the B-Quik for cover and then pivoted the corner, ready to fire, saw the two Baton Rouge officers and shot them, killing one immediately and wounding the other, Edmonson said. Garafola apparently had responded to reports of a "dude with a rifle going down Airline Highway," Edmonson said. Farther behind the building, he heard the shots and took cover behind a trash bin. Garafola saw the wounded officer crawling behind the building and ran to his aid, Edmonson said. Long stepped from around the corner in the back of the building and shot the deputy, who fell to the ground from where he returned fire. Once Long killed Garafola, he saw the other wounded officer move and "shot him twice." Long shot and wounded an unidentified police officer who had pulled up in front of the building. The attacker then retreated back to the Malibu he had parked behind a fitness center several hundred yards away, using the businesses and woods for cover. Back at the fitness center, Deputy Nicholas Tullier, 41, had just got back in his patrol car to run the tag of the Malibu when Long emerged in the parking lot. Long opened fire on the deputy immediately, shooting as he walked toward the patrol car. He took long shots at another arriving deputy in the front parking lot, shattering the bone running from his elbow to his shoulder. Deputy Bruce Simmons, 51, now has a titanium rod in his arm and faces more surgery for his wounds. It was then that Baton Rouge Police SWAT saved the day. Pulling up in front of Benny's Car Wash, a rifleman saw the gunman and managed to kill him with a 100-yard-plus shot despite buildings and other obstructions.

Associated Press / July 18, 2016 A Muslim Afghan refugee shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) injured 21 people with an axe and knife on a train in Germany. Twenty-one people were left injured in the incident, with three now in a critical condition, according to Spiegel and Bild. The 17-year-old was gunned down by armed police after fleeing from the scene near the city of Wurzburg, 70 miles north of Nuremberg in southern Germany. Officials have said it was 'probably' an Islamist attack. Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann has told state television that the attacker was a 17-year-old Afghan man, who came to Germany as an unaccompanied minor refugee. According to state broadcaster ARD a passengers pulled the emergency brake on the train and the assailant then fled from the vehicle. Law enforcement have entered the area in significant numbers and have brought helicopters into operation. According to Deutsche Welle, police located the assailant and shot him dead. The train was on its way from the Bavarian town of Treuchtlingen to Wuerzburg, which is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Nuremberg.

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