kscarbel2

I have to say that the current (2015) Mack highway truck brochure is the worst to ever represent the brand. Clearly, Volvo hired an advertising company (VSA Partners) which is completely clueless about the truck industry. The painfully bland theme of the brochure, beginning with a cover photo that lacks a truck, prevents customers from even picking up a copy. I will say though, that the unevenness of the highway in the photo reflects the current state of Mack brand management. http://www.macktrucks.com/~/media/files/brochures/mack_highway_brochure.ashx?as=1 Looking at that truckless empty highway on the cover, one is reminded of the lifeless "Born Ready" video in which trucks are shown less than half the time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAgDmL2oYRA When trucks are visible...........they are always in the background. The video appears to have been originally created for a work clothes manufacturer, and resuscitated in a bid at Volvo's Mack brand business. VSA Partners claims to be a next-generation brand and marketing firm that "designs and activates brands to perform in the modern world" (http://www.vsapartners.com/about/). In order to perform in truck sales marketing, one needs to know something about trucks. And VSA doesn't. But Volvo is obviously to blame for yet another flop in its brand re-identification strategy for the American truck industry's most well known name in trucks. On another note, Volvo has erased spec sheets from the Mack brand website (http://www.macktrucks.com/trucks/pinnacle-series/pinnacle-day-cab/). All one can do is download the "highway brochure", which negates listing all but the most basic specification information. There's no substitute for a spec sheet.

Though we're seeing that China is reining in overloading, most Chinese tractor-trailers still run at 45 to 60 metric tons. Thus, operating in the US market at a mere 36.3 metric tons (80,000 lb), these trucks would be on permanent holiday. With high quality and technology nowadays from the leading truckmakers, the market's leading trucks are comfortable, durable and high-performing. The T7's floor is raised, ever so slightly, in the middle. I have no problem with that. I call it virtually flat (like a Scania). I'm not obsessed with the literally flat floor cab. They could easily raise the cab and completely flatten the floor, but with entry and exit in mind, I think the cab's height is perfect as is.

Buffett-invested BYD is a leader in electric municipal bus design. Tesla could do better, but Musk is not in that market. What's troubling is to remember how GM, Ford and other U.S. companies used to lead the world in technology, particularly during the 1960s. The rest of the world was soooo far behind the U.S., they couldn't even see our dust. And fast forward to today, not a single US company, including Proterra, can create/produce a cutting edge electric bus. This is alike the US truck market which is dominated by foreign truckmakers. That we no longer have the ability to lead/dominate our own truck market, that foreign truckmakers are more skilled/successful in the US truck market than American brands, is damning.

Transport Engineer / May 4, 2016 ZF has now produced one million of its celebrated commercial vehicle retarders [intarder in ZF speak], originally launched in 1992 to reduce wear on service brakes and ensure safe, fade-free braking. The system, which integrates with the transmission, was designed to take on up to 90% of all braking duty, without involving the service brake, by making 4,000Nm of braking torque available within one second of activation. ZF also estimates that its million intarders have to date prevented the emission of around 60,000 tons of brake dust. “The ZF intarder fulfils several requirements simultaneously: it increases comfort and safety, lowers maintenance costs and improves environmental compatibility,” says Winfried Gründler, head of the truck & van driveline technology business unit in ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Technology division. The system was originally designed to rapidly decelerate a 38-tonne vehicle by delivering 816bhp of retardation downhill, with cruise control automatically taking over downhill drive and intarder activation “Thanks to high demand, ZF has been able to almost double production capacity in the last eight years,” continues Gründler. “After the start of volume production, it took 16 years to reach half a million Intarders in 2008. Just eight years later, we have been able to make the jump to one million.”

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / May 5, 2016

Commercial Motor TV / April 28, 2016

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / April 27, 2016

Cummins Press Release / May 3, 2016 Cummins Inc. today reported results for the first quarter of 2016. First quarter revenues of $4.3 billion decreased 9 percent from the same quarter in 2015. Lower production in the North American heavy-duty truck market and weak global demand for off-highway and power generation equipment contributed to the reduction in sales. Currency negatively impacted revenues by approximately 3 percent compared to last year, primarily due to a stronger US dollar. Revenues in North America decreased 10 percent while international sales declined by 8 percent. Within international markets revenues in Latin America and Asia declined the most. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the first quarter were $484 million, or 11.3 percent of sales, down from $562 million or 11.9 percent of sales a year ago. Net income attributable to Cummins in the first quarter was $321 million ($1.87 per diluted share), compared to $387 million($2.14 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2015. The tax rate in the first quarter of 2016, was 28.4 percent. “Our results for the first quarter reflect solid execution of our cost reduction plans in the face of very challenging market conditions,” said Rich Freeland Chief Operating Officer. “Benefits from restructuring actions, material cost reduction projects and lower warranty costs all helped to mitigate the impact of lower sales.” Other recent highlights: Our QSK95 diesel engine received Tier 4 Final certification from the EPA for the US locomotive market. We announced a joint venture with Olayan to expand access to markets and enhance the service and support provided to customers in the Middle East. Ethisphere Institute named Cummins to its list of the world’s most ethical companies for the 9th straight year. We returned $745 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases in the first quarter, consistent with our plans to return 75 percent of Operating Cash Flow to shareholders in 2016. Read the full press release – including first quarter detail for all Cummins business units – by clicking on the link below. Press Release – Cummins Reports First Quarter 2016 Results

Fleet Owner / May 4, 2016 Class 8 orders dropped 39% in April on a year-over-year basis and declined 16% sequentially. By contrast, medium-duty truck orders remained relatively healthy, down 10% sequentially but up 12% year-over-year. Class 8 orders reached 13,700 units in April, while orders for Class 5-7 trucks topped 20,100 units. Drivers of soft Class 8 demand remain intact from previous months: overcapacity resulting weak freight rate environment; softness in late-model used truck values; and excessive new vehicle inventory. John Larkin, managing director and head of transportation capital markets research at Stifel Financial Corp., noted in a recent market update that motor carriers have, for the most part, backed off on capacity additions. “With a few exceptions, carriers have canceled orders for incremental tractors and trailers,” he said. “Instead, carriers are intensely focused on improving equipment utilization and revenue yield, even though rate increases will be hard to come by.” He added that revenue yield improvements will likely be driven more by customer selection, lane selection, and lane balance initiatives rather than via “classical” freight rate increases. Class 8 orders have annualized to a paltry 190,000 units over the past three months, with the annualized rate hovering at 237,000 units for the last 12-month period. OEMs will not be able to maintain current build rates under these order conditions and it appears more production cuts are on the way. Backlogs are quickly shrinking and are expected to fall below 2014 levels relatively soon. A big order month could stop the bleeding, but we are entering the ‘summer slump’ so Class 8 order activity will probably get worse before it gets better. By contrast, medium duty demand remains bolstered by a number of macro-economic factors: a decent jobs market; rising incomes, which support discretionary spending; plus improved housing and automotive sales activity.

Oddly, TransPower is not one of the 4 companies awarded free money, while two foreign companies were. http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44484-a-100-electric-class-8-truck/#comment-328672 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38865-transpower-electruck/#comment-278316 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35887-transpower-unveils-their-latest-generation-electric-heavy-truck/#comment-247157

Heavy Duty Trucking / May 4, 2016 California is awarding $23.6 million to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for a statewide zero-emission, Class 8 drayage truck development and demonstration project. The South Coast air district is partnering with air districts in the Bay Area, Sacramento, San Diego and San Joaquin Valley for a statewide demonstration of 43 battery electric and plug-in hybrid drayage trucks serving major California ports. The trucks will be used in all five air districts to target key areas of the state with drayage truck activity. Manufacturers including Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo and BYD are involved in the project and will use their engineering resources, manufacturing capabilities and distribution networks to support drayage truck development. The funding comes from the California Climate Investments project and will be aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, petroleum usage and pollution in areas where reduction is needed most. The project is also designed to accelerate the commercialization of heavy-duty advanced, zero-emission technologies, establishing a path for implementing SCAQMD’s clean air plan that is currently under development. The SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. "This project will help put the very cleanest short-haul trucks to work where they are needed most, moving cargo from the state’s biggest ports to distribution centers and rail yards,” said Mary D. Nichols, Air Resources Board chair. “This is good news – and cleaner air – for all Californians, but especially those who live in neighborhoods next to these industrial facilities or along some of our state’s busiest trade corridors.” The effort is part of a larger statewide investment in low-carbon transportation projects aimed at helping the state reach emissions reduction goals and improve air quality. Freight transport in California accounts for about half of diesel particulate matter, 45% of NOx emissions and 6% of all GHG emissions in California, according to ARB. “This unique collaborative effort will accelerate the commercialization of advanced zero-emission truck technologies that are vital to improving air quality in communities near our busy freight corridors,” said Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles city councilman and SCAQMD board member. “Cleaner truck fleets on our roadways are important for air quality and climate goals, and essential to protecting public health.”

Good luck with your Bighorn project. Terrific truck. Please share your progress with us via photographs.

Scania is legendary in the industry for its modular design philosophy. But having said that, a light truck cab (with its simplistic interior and instrumentation) looks ridiculous atop a heavy truck chassis. In India it would be okay where pricing is incredibly sensitive, but I wouldn't sell it anywhere else. Speaking of COE cab trucks, each of the three segments, light, medium and heavy, have a unique design requirement due to their different missions in life. A few global truckmakers reduce their cost footprint by utilizing a common cab for light and medium, and that generally can work. However, when a COE heavy truck cab is cut down to create a medium truck cab, it often appears aesthetically awkward.

The global market FX series reflects just how tight Isuzu's money is. They placed an N-Series light truck cab atop a medium heavy truck chassis, and the result is mediocre at best. http://www.isuzutrucks.co.za/product-series/?series_Id=3 http://www.isuzu.com.au/truck-range/fx-series/ http://www.isuzu.com.au/media/1297/isuzu-fx-series-brochure-effmar14.pdf The Isuzu GXZ (aka. VC46) prime mover with that N-Series light truck cab looks ridiculous, who wouldn't buy a Hino 700 series instead? http://www.isuzutruck.co.za/new-isuzu-trucks/fx-series/#tab-id-8 http://www.qingling.com.cn/vc43/index.htm http://www.hino.com.au/700/gallery/ http://www.hino-global.com/content/dam/hino_global/pdf/catalog/Hino_700S_Catalog_LR.pdf http://www.ghmcchina.com/product/productmessage3.jsp?catid=12|146|150

If it's a Mack fuel line, the 203GC Mack fuel line part number is stamped into the side of one of the two mounting nuts.

Though it makes the best all-around light truck in the world, Isuzu has been struggling for years. This GM deal is very important to the truckmaker's long-term survival.

Heavy Duty Trucking / April 29, 2016 Chevrolet announced pricing for the low-cab forward medium-duty trucks – the brand’s newest entry into a growing segment of the commercial vehicle market. Pricing for the trucks with gasoline engines will start at $40,900. Pricing for trucks with diesel engines will start at $48,375. Prices will include a $1,125 destination charge but exclude tax, title, license, and dealer fees. The new trucks are offered in regular- and crew-cab body styles, with either a 6.0L V-8 gas engine, 3.0L turbo-diesel engine, or 5.2L turbo-diesel engine, all with 6-speed automatic transmissions. “We know how important the total vehicle cost of ownership is to fleet customers to be successful in their work, and we believe these prices reflect some of the most competitive in the market when it comes to medium-duty trucks,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president for General Motors Fleet. “The range of prices gives fleet owners an option that best fits their needs.” The seven new models – Chevrolet 3500, 3500HD, 4500, 4500HD, 4500XD, 5500HD, and 5500XD – will be distributed through select Chevrolet dealers who are intensely focused on the commercial business. Additional features include: - Excellent visibility and maneuverability – especially in urban environments. - Easy driver entry and exit. - Wheelbases ranging from 109 to 212 inches. - GVWRs ranging from 12,000 to 19,500 pounds. - Compatibility with a variety of body types, including dry freight or refrigerated boxes, stake/flat beds, and service bodies. - Easy-access engine compartment with 45-degree tilting cab. The Chevrolet Low Cab Forward trucks will arrive at select Chevrolet dealers in the third quarter. Model specific pricing will be available closer to the start of production. Related reading: http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/40483-déjà-vu-gm-to-source-medium-duty-trucks-from-isuzu/#comment-293445 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44571-spartan-expands-contract-assembly-for-isuzu-with-new-f-series-truck/#comment-328885 .

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/30882-those-fwd-coes/#comment-178977

If it's the original engine in the truck, contact Watt's Mack with your model and serial number off the vehicle identification plate on the driver's door.

Trust me, the Honda Accord hybrid will deliver near 50mpg in comfort for just $30,000. It's a normal car with the economy of a diesel that uses cheaper gasoline. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2017-honda-accord-hybrid-photos-and-info-news I personally would buy the four-cylinder Honda Accord Sport with the 6-speed manual, a rare bargain at $25,000. It offers the driving pleasure of a far more expensive European car.

VW misrepresented the cars at the time of purchase (fraud). Every car owner has the right to expect a full refund, the original purchase price. The Honda Accord hybrid has as much useable space as your Sportswagon and gets 50mpg, starting at $30,000

Bostrom and National, now brands owned by CVG, have become cheap. Bose is okay, but over priced. In my humble opinion, the best seats are either American faimly-owned Sears, or Germany-owned Grammer known as Gramag in the states (now seen in Paccar trucks). http://www.searsseating.com/product-category/truck-seats/ http://www.gramag.com/products.html

The Morning Call / April 22, 2016 Mack Trucks didn't get off to the strongest start this year — at least compared with the way the heavy truck maker sprinted out of the gates in 2015 on its way to its best year in about a decade. Mack delivered 5,176 trucks worldwide in the first quarter of the year, a 21 percent decline from the 6,571 it sent out during the same period in 2015, according to a report released Friday by the Volvo Group of Sweden, Mack's parent company. Mack delivered 4,843 trucks — or 93.5 percent of the total — in North America, a nearly 21 percent decline from 6,097 a year ago. Deliveries of Volvo trucks also dropped, declining 41 percent in North America, but boosted by gains in Europe and Asia, fell only 8 percent worldwide. A sharp decline was also reported in net orders for Mack and Volvo. Mack took in 4,117 orders in North America in the first quarter, a 48 percent decrease from 7,977 last year. Similarly, Volvo recorded 4,687 orders in North America, a 58 percent decline from 11,200 during the first three months of 2015. The decline in deliveries and orders in North America is not surprising, given the peak year the company enjoyed last year and its expectation that demand would weaken once 2016 rolled in. For the entire Volvo Group — its Renault Trucks and UD Trucks also have a small presence in North America — orders in North America were down 54 percent and deliveries declined 33 percent in the first quarter. "The heavy-duty truck market is evolving as we expected, and orders have slowed as the market corrects for excess inventory in the pipeline," Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner* said in an email. Volvo noted in the report that rates in the group's North American production system were reduced in the quarter to meet the lower demand and allow for inventory reduction at dealers. Mack laid off about 400 people at its Lehigh Valley Operations in late January to meet the reduced demand in the market. Mack's 1-million-square-foot LowerMacungieTownship plant is where all Mack trucks built for the North American market and export are assembled. Local operations, called Mack Lehigh Valley Operations, employ about 1,430. Mack last week announced plans to invest $70 million in the Lower Macungie facility over the next three years, an expansion aimed at modernizing the 40-year-old plant and making it more efficient. One day after announcing the investment, Mack confirmed that Wade Watson, who was vice president and general manager of Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations for less than a year, was no longer employed by Mack or Volvo. Heffner said Friday that Antonio Servidoni**, vice president of production systems for Volvo Group Commercial Vehicle Assembly, will be the acting plant manager for Mack Lehigh Valley Operations (aka. Macungie) until the company names Watson's successor. Related reading: http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44939-volvo-group-%E2%80%93-2016-first-quarter-earnings-report/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/44866-local-mack-boss-out-volvo-confirms/#comment-330687 * Mack brand spokesman Christopher Heffner has worked for Volvo since August 2014. Previously, he was a “senior communications associate”, “community relations associate”, “communications associate” (translation: telephone operator) and lab tech at Dow Corning. Chris, who graduated from college in 2004, has zero background in the truck industry. Thus, how he would be able to predict the truck market's developments is a mystery. ** Antonio Servidoni has been Volvo Production system VP for North and South America since June 2012. Previously, he was Volvo’s lean manufacturing and industrial engineering director from August 2007 to June 2012, and manufacturing engineering manager at Volvo Trucks Brazil from June 1997 to July 2012.