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Diesel News Australia / October 14, 2015 This is the stuff the Australian trucking industry is all about. This video of Owen and Liz Schmidt’s operation in North Queensland pushes all of the buttons, about tough conditions, Aussie ingenuity, working together, etc. As a whole, the industry likes to think it is all like this. Of course, the reality for most is very different, but this encapsulates he essence of why so many are so loyal to the industry.

Truck Drivers in ‘Exceptionally Short Supply,’ Fed Says Transport Topics / October 14, 2015 Truck drivers are reported to be in “exceptionally short supply” in some regions of the country, especially in the New York, St. Louis and Kansas City areas, the Federal Reserve said in a report. Despite the shortage of drivers, sturdy demand for trucking services was noted in the Atlanta and Dallas districts, the Fed said in its Beige Book report released Oct. 14. The survey is based on reports gathered by regional Fed banks to give an anecdotal picture of the economy. The overall economy continued to expand across most sectors and regions of the country from mid-August through early October, according to the Fed. Contacts in trucking and other modes of transportation reported an ongoing shortage of qualified operators and technicians in the St. Louis region, according to the report. The Kansas City district reported it was experiencing a shortage of skilled technicians as well as truck drivers. In the Richmond district, an executive at a national trucking firm headquartered in the region reported, “Demand was a little softer because their customers' inventory levels were high.” A seasonal pickup is expected to begin in the next few weeks, the executive said. In the Atlanta region, trucking companies reported healthy demand, mostly attributed to growth in e-commerce. However, flatbed volume —especially steel shipments —showed some slowing in growth. Rail contacts in the Atlanta region told the Fed total rail carload volume declined slightly due to year-over-year, double-digit decreases in shipments of coal, iron and steel scrap, and metals. District port contacts reported strong demand across all types of cargo, according to the report. The Chicago district reported the heavy-duty truck, auto and aerospace industries continued to experience solid gains, and most other industries saw limited growth. Dallas trucking volumes rose, and one contact told the regional fed it had added capacity even as rail cargo volumes declined, especially in shipments of petroleum products and nonmetallic metals, including sand used in drilling. The Fed releases its Beige Book report eight times a year. The report, which covered Aug. 24-Oct 4, was prepared by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

General Motors executive vice president Mark Reuss discusses the new Chevy Colorado diesel model truck. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-10-14/chevy-set-to-launch-colorado-diesel

Vlad, I was in south China for the Streamline launch and saw a retired 4-door CA10 fire truck being used to water the grass at a residential area. And it was all-wheel drive. I looked in the cab and saw it only had around 5,000 kilometers on it.......it was in like-new condition.

We no longer have the money, capability and national will to be the world’s policeman. And I ordinarily don’t believe in interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. (Why the Obama administration has decided to bypass Congress and send U.S. troops to Cameroon to engage in combat under the War Powers Act, rather than allow African Union troops handle this African problem, is another mystery). But again and again, an ordinarily prudent person is forced to wonder why our government wants to be in bed with a country like Saudi Arabia which does NOT to any degree share the ethics, morals and values of civilized countries (we still claim to be one of those). How is it possible that this country will now chair the United Nation Human Rights Council, and the United States didn't veto this absurd appoint (the certain will of the American people) ??? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Saudi man sentenced to be beheaded and crucified for attending anti-government protest The Guardian / October 14, 2015 The mother of a Saudi protester sentenced to death by beheading and crucifixion has begged Barack Obama to intervene to save her son’s life. In her first interview with foreign media, Nusra al-Ahmed, the mother of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, whose case has made headlines around the world, described the intended punishment as savage and “backwards in the extreme”. Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Reprieve, the US talkshow host Bill Maher and the British prime minister, David Cameron, have all weighed in with calls for clemency to stop Nimr, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, from being beheaded and then crucified. The oil-rich state is facing increasing diplomatic scrutiny over the severity of its penal system as it takes over the chair of the UN human rights council. She said her son had been detained sometime after joining Shia demonstrators in the eastern coastal city of Qatif seeking equal religious rights in the Sunni-majority country. The official charges leveled against Nimr included attending a protest, using his phone to encourage further support for the demonstrations and possessing a gun, an accusation which the family strongly denies. “They were peaceful and civilized and legitimate and so my fear was, I was afraid for my son, but inside I agreed with them in principle.” Visiting after his arrest, she says he has been tortured. “When I visited my son for the first time I didn’t recognize him. I didn’t know whether this really was my son Ali or not. I could clearly see a wound on his forehead. Another wound in his nose. They disfigured it. Even his body, he was too thin.” “[When] I started talking to him [he told me that] during the interrogation [he was] being kicked, slapped, of course his teeth fell out … For a month, he was urinating blood. He said he felt like a mass of pain, his body was no more.” She still had hope her son could be saved from his punishment imposed under Saudi’s sharia penal system and described the sentence – which would involve him being beheaded before his decapitated body is hung from a cross in public – as having been plucked out of the dark ages. “I feel that one’s very being is repelled at such a ruling … It’s backwards in the extreme. No sane and normal human being would rule against a child of 17 years old using such a sentence. And why? He didn’t shed any blood, he didn’t steal any property. Where did they get it [this sentence]? From the dark ages?” She believes the sentence was intended to punish her son for his Shia faith. “I don’t expect that anyone normal and sane has heard of such a thing, [no] normal person who is not sectarian would find such a thing acceptable. That’s why you find that always it’s sectarian people who are happy with such things because he’s a Shia.” Calling on the US president to intervene she said: “He is the head of this world and he can, he can interfere and rescue my son … To rescue someone from harm, there is nothing greater than that. I mean my son and I are simple people and we don’t carry any significance in this world but despite that, if he [Obama] carried out this act, I feel it would raise his esteem in the eyes of the world. He would be rescuing us from a great tragedy.” On Tuesday the UK government said it would be withdrawing its bid for a £5.9m contract to deliver training for Saudi prisons. That move came on the same day that Cameron said he would write to Riyadh to implore Saudi authorities not to carry out a punishment of 360 lashes on a British pensioner caught transporting homemade wine in his car. Last week Cameron appealed to the newly crowned king not to carry out the death sentence on Nimr. The Saudi ambassador to the UN said, “We respectfully request the world to respect our systems and our judicial processes, and our laws and regulations, and not to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.” Mouallimi said the kingdom would uphold the UN charter on human rights. “The application of sharia law as far as human rights is concerned is the highest form of human rights,” he said, adding: “We believe that we are holding ourselves to the highest standards. If that doesn’t please someone here or there, that’s their problem not ours.” The Saudi UK embassy has said it rejects “any form of interference in its internal affairs”.

AP FACT CHECK: Clinton revises history in Democratic debate Hillary Clinton revised history in the Democratic debate when insisting she's not a flip-flopper on a trade deal she promoted as secretary of state but turned against as a presidential candidate. A look at some of Clinton's claims in the debate: CLINTON on the Trans-Pacific Partnership: "I did say, I hoped it would be the gold standard'" of trade agreements. THE FACTS: Clinton did not say anything about mere hope in her speeches around the world in support of the trade deal. She roundly endorsed the deal taking shape. In a November 2012 speech in Australia, she declared the Trans-Pacific deal "sets the gold standard in trade agreements," a sentiment she echoed in many venues. Clinton said in the debate that when she looked at the final agreement last week, "it didn't meet my standards." The final agreement, however, dropped or changed some provisions that liberal activist groups - the wing of the party she is assiduously courting at this stage of the campaign - had strongly criticized. --- CLINTON on her email practices: "I have been as transparent as I know to be. ... I said I have answered all the questions." THE FACTS: Clinton has yet to explain how the server was set up and serviced, whether she informed the State Department about her decision to use the private system and, most important, how it was protected from hacking attempts. Russia-based hackers tried at least five times to trick her into infecting her computer system with malware in 2011, The Associated Press learned, and her server was hit by attempted cyber intrusions in 2014 from China, South Korea and Germany. Her server also was connected to the Internet in ways that made it more vulnerable to hackers. But her campaign has repeatedly declined to address these details. -- CLINTON: "My plan would enable anyone to go to a public college or university tuition-free. You would not have to borrow money for tuition." THE FACTS: Free for the students, but someone has to pay. Clinton would shift more college costs onto taxpayers and away from parents and students. The Clinton plan is bound to cost more than the $35 billion per year over 10 years projected by her campaign. This is because more students would probably switch to public universities on the potential to graduate without debt, raising costs for the government and potentially leaving many modestly endowed private institutions in the lurch. The potential of a debt-free education would also depend on states providing reliable money streams and controlling costs - both major sources of uncertainty. But the Clinton plan would also expose a sharp generational divide. New college students would be helped, but the 40 million Americans who already owe a combined $1.2 trillion in education debt would receive little aid other than refinancing at lower rates. Clinton did not speak about the costs to the treasury of what she proposes. --- CLINTON on her Syria strategy as secretary of state: "What I said was we had to put together a coalition ... and yes, it included Arabs, people in the region, because what I worry about is what will happen with ISIS gaining more territory, having more reach, and frankly posing a threat to our friends and neighbors in the region and far beyond." THE FACTS: Clinton is ignoring much of the context of her coalition-building effort in Syria: It was designed to push Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, not target the Islamic State or other extremist groups fighting among the opposition. As secretary, Clinton helped spearhead meetings of the U.S. and various Arab and European countries frustrated by the escalating conflict in Syria. The coalition was concerned primarily with helping armed opposition groups better defend themselves and directing political groups to coalesce behind a common, inclusive platform for a post-Assad Syria. At that time, the Islamic State didn't exist. But al-Qaida and other terrorist groups did. And even as they gained a foothold and became increasingly prominent among the anti-Assad rebels, the coalition Clinton worked on didn't come up with a military plan for combating them.

If our government wants to hand out free APCs to foreign countries, the least it can do is spend that $25 million worth of U.S. tax dollars in America, by acquiring these vehicles from U.S. companies like Oshkosh, Navistar and others. Why isn't the government instead "giving" these countries 62 of the MANY leftover late model MRAPS that they don't know what to do with and can't give away fast enough? Nothing like efficient use of American tax dollars.

IHS Jane’s 360 / October 7, 2015 The US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) has ordered French “Bastion” armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Volvo Group subsidiary ACMAT Defense for several African countries via Volvo Group’s Mack Defense unit. The USD25 million contract was announced on 25 September when the US Department of Defense said that Mack Defense will supply 62 APCs (armored personnel carrier) to Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tunisia, and Uganda on behalf of AFRICOM, but did not identify the vehicles or say how many each country will receive. Mack Defense told IHS Jane's on 6 October that all the vehicles are Bastion APCs: a type made by the French company ACMAT, which is owned by Renault Trucks Defense. Mack Defense and Renault Trucks Defense are part of the Volvo group. The original Bastion APC consists of the chassis from ACMAT's VLRA range fitted with an armoured body that offers protection up to the STANAG 4569 standard. It is now also available with a new high-mobility chassis with independent suspension. It has a gross vehicle weight of 12 tonnes and can carry up to 10 people, including the driver. Mack Defense said 32 Bastion APCs will be delivered to Somalia next year, 17 for the Ugandan contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and another 13 for AMISOM's Somali contingent. (The Somali National Army operates alongside AMISOM, but is not formally part of the force.) Four will be delivered to Tunisia, 15 to Cameroon, and 12 to Ethiopia before the end of October 2016, according to Mack Defense. All the countries will also receive at least one spares kit. Pictures and further information - http://www.acmat.eu/Defense/BASTION/BASTION-APC

No death penalty??? Where is the justice for making a child begin its innocent life this way? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colorado man gets life for kidnapping, raping toddler for porn Reuters / October 13, 2015 A Colorado man has been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping an 11-month-old toddler. He took the child from a couple he was staying with in California and sexually abused the child to produce pornography that he shared online was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday, prosecutors said. A federal jury found Shawn McCormack, 31, of Colorado Springs guilty on four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of kidnapping during a four-day trial in Fresno, California, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Anthony W. Ishii presided over those proceedings in April, and on Tuesday he imposed the sentence on McCormack, the statement said. The trial heard how McCormack, under the pretense of befriending the child's parents, stayed as an overnight guest on multiple occasions at their home in Bakersfield, California. Several times, the statement said, he snuck their toddler out of the home in the middle of the night and recorded himself sexually abusing the child at locations including his truck and a nearby motel. He then returned to the house before the couple awakened in the morning, it said. Leslie Caldwell, Assistant U.S. Attorney General for the Justice Department's criminal division, said "McCormack’s depraved actions in this case are the stuff of nightmares. While posing as a trusted friend and house guest, McCormack kidnapped his hosts’ toddler child and sexually abused the child in local motels and parked cars. Through tireless efforts, law enforcement was able to rescue the victim from further abuse and ensure that McCormack never again will victimize another child.” "While posing as a trusted friend and house guest, McCormack kidnapped his hosts' toddler child and sexually abused the child in local motels and parked cars," Caldwell said. McCormack shared the pornographic images online, where they were seen by an undercover investigator with the Toronto Police Services, prosecutors said. McCormack also recorded and distributed his sexual abuse of a second child, they said. He was identified after Homeland Security Investigations agents in Boston, while carrying out a forensic analysis of a computer belonging to another person, viewed copies it held of the recordings and images distributed by McCormack. "After the agents identified the date, time and motel room in which one of the videos had been produced, they learned that McCormack had rented that motel room on the night when the recording was created," prosecutors said. U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California said McCormack's "vile and heart-breaking" acts might have continued undetected for years, if not for the "imaginative, dogged, and painstaking work" of investigators. Shawn McCormack, 28, was previously charged in September of 2011 with one count of producing child pornography during 2009. The new indictment adds three more counts, one involving the same victim and two involving a second victim.

New York man beats 17-month-old boy to death Newsday / October 13, 2015 A Uniondale man, described by the Nassau police commissioner as a "monster," was ordered held on a $20 million bond Tuesday after being charged with fatally beating his girlfriend's toddler son. Lord Pardo, 26, a factory worker, was charged in First District Court with second-degree murder in the death of Mason Robinson, 18 months old. The New Cassel boy had been left in his care by the boy's mother, officials said. Polcie said Pardo texted Erestine saying that her baby had stopped breathing after he fell off the bed. Mason was rushed to North Shore LIJ Syosset Hospital, where he pronounced dead at about 3 p.m. Sunday. On Tuesday, officials said the baby was "severely beaten" and that is what caused his death. The autopsy revealed that Mason had fractured ribs, a fractured skull, a lacerated liver and diaphragm, as well as massive internal bleeding. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. "It is clear that the defendant has no soul," Thomas Krumpter, acting Nassau County police commissioner said at a news conference. "He is truly a monster." "This child was murdered," the prosecutor said. Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas said, "This was no accident. This baby was severely beaten and those injuries caused his death." Nassau District Court Judge Darlene Harris ordered Pardo held on a $20 million bond or $10 million cash bail. "Nothing is more despicable than the murder of a child, a helpless and defenseless child, at the hands of someone who is entrusted to take care for that child," Singas said. "My heart goes out to this baby's mother."

Transport Engineer / October 13, 2015 Luton Borough Council is replacing its fleet of 26 RCVs (refuse collection vehicles) with new Euro-6 DAF CF 290 FAG 6x2 twin-steer rigids – 23 mid-steer and three rear-steer, all fitted with all fitted with Allison 3200 series fully-automatic gearboxes. All are 26-tonne gvw trucks with four-plus-one crew cab conversions by Esteppe, in the Netherlands, and all have been fitted with 21m³ Variopress rear-end loader bodywork and Rotary three bin lifters, from Faun Zoeller. They also have conventionally-mounted cabs, which fleet transport manager Simon Smith says provide improved visibility on collection rounds in narrow streets. “Our decision to use conventionally-mounted cabs goes against the norm of the more common low-entry option,” agrees Smith. “However, the normal height cab on the DAF allows the driver to set his truck with greater confidence when manoeuvring into tight spaces, while the crew-cab conversion still provides excellent accessibility for the crew,” he explains. “On the streets of Luton it’s a far better solution.” Ten DAF 26-tonne CF 6x2s have now been delivered into the Bedfordshire local authority with a further nine on programmed delivery before the end of the year and the remainder over the next two years. “DAF’s twin-steer configuration suits the weight distribution of a rear-end loader as the weight is heavily biased to the rear,” continues Smith. “The twin-steer set-up means excellent handling characteristics while at the same time reducing the risk of damage to the road surface when the vehicle has to make tight turns,” he adds. Smith also says that Euro 6 fuel economy has already shown an improvement over equivalent Euro-5 DAF trucks. “A benchmark fuel economy figure is very difficult to gauge,” he comments. “Refuse collection is a stop-start operation for up to eight hours a day and, though the truck is stationary, engine revs are often high while powering on-board equipment,” he continues. “[but] we have noticed that, overall, the Euro 6 models are using noticeably less fuel, and that’s come as quite a surprise.” .

Truck drivers could become an endangered species Memphis Business Journal / October 12, 2015 With the U.S. facing a truck driver shortage, industry experts discussed the possibility of truck drivers becoming an endangered species at the The Journal of Commerce Group’s 2015 Inland Distribution Conference Oct. 8. In its most recent report, the American Trucking Associations said the shortage of U.S. tractor trailer drivers has reached 48,000. A journalist, who has been covering trucking for more than 30 years; a truck driver, who has been on the road for more than 35 years; and the CEO of TeamOne Logistics came together to discuss how the logistics industry can address the shortage at Inland 2015. Allen Boyd, Wal-Mart Transportation Driver and America’s Road Team Captain, who has been on the road for 35 years with more than 3 million accident-free miles, said the industry needs to utilize the drivers who are already on the road by shortening their wait time at the dock. “If we can figure out how to keep that driver moving, the [shortage] numbers aren’t that big of a deal,” he said. Boyd said current truck drivers could be turning away from the profession out of frustration. “If my wheels don’t turn, I don’t get paid,” Boyd said. “I got a call from a friend of mine just the other day who waited a day and a half on a load and he didn’t get paid nothing.” Boyd said the industry needs to remember truck drivers are also dads, husbands and people who like to go home. “If I’m sitting at the dock even four, five, six, seven hours I’m looking at that as taking away time with my family,” he said. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of U.S. truck drivers peaked in 2007, then fell 13.4 percent from 2007 to 2010. Since the recession, that number has slowly recovered, growing 2.5 percent in 2014. Annual driver wages lag compared to the national average. Overall , truck drivers are paid just below $42,000 annually, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The driver wage gap peaked in 2013 and narrowed to 11.2 percent in 2014. Page Siplon, CEO, TeamOne Logistics, said the trucking industry is not doing the best with what is has in both veterans like Boyd and untapped millennials. While the average pay is lower than the national average, the typical age of a truck driver is much higher than the national average. Siplon said the industry is naive to think millennials are going to suddenly want to drive a truck. “We need to put processes in place that fit the needs of millennials who grew up using technology,” he said. “If you hand them paper logs they’ll that’s what my grandfather used. Where’s the iPad app?” William Cassidy, senior editor, Trucking, JOC.com, IHS Maritime & Trade, said a market flooded with unqualified drivers is also contributing to the shortage. For example, Progressive Transportation, the asset-based arm of Dallas-based third-party logistics company TTS, receives 5,000 applications a month, but can only hire 100 of those people, he said. “They don’t fit the qualifications set by that company, which are getting tighter all the time,” Cassidy said. There are moves companies can make that integrate truck drivers into company culture and make them a more integral part of the supply chain, Siplon said. Boyd said Wal-Mart has done an excellent job allowing drivers to communicate directly with customers and individual Walmart stores to address loading problems. “Involving drivers in everyday business makes them feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves,” he said.

Truck drivers wanted. Pay: $73,000 CNN Money / October 9, 2015 America needs a lot more truck drivers. There will be a shortage of nearly 50,000 truckers in the United States by the end of this year, according a new report by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). That's up from a shortage of 30,000 drivers just two years ago, and 20,000 drivers a decade ago. American businesses need truck drivers to move goods around. And not having enough of them affects daily deliveries of everything from essentials like food and gas to supermarkets and gas stations to online Amazon orders to people's homes. It's a job that cannot be shipped overseas and has the potential to drive the cost of goods higher and ultimately hurt the U.S. economy. No wonder businesses are willing to pay up for it. Trucker compensation has been going up 8% to 12% a year in recent years, according to Bob Costello, chief economist at the ATA. That's a lot higher than wages for the rest of Americans, which have barely budged recently. The median annual wage for a trucker that works for a private fleet, such as a truck driver employed by Walmart, is $73,000, according to ATA. The Labor Department pegs the median annual salary for all truck drivers at around $40,000. But it isn't an easy job to fill. There's 1.6 million truck drivers in America. Of those, about 750,000 are "for hire" truckers, meaning they work for a truck company that's hired by another company, such as a grocery chain, to deliver its product. These truckers are sometimes on the road for 10 days at a time before coming home, Costello says. At a time when work-life balance issues such as paid leave and flexible schedules are gaining spotlight in the American economy, trucking companies are challenged to recruit and retain workers. Add on an aging workforce and a lack of interest from young workers, and you've got a shortage. The median age of truckers is 49, according to ATA. The median age for all American workers is about 42, according to Labor Department. Costello admits that the industry is having the toughest time retaining young workers. Trucking companies also have a tough time recruiting women, who have become a larger part of the workforce than in previous generations. Women make up 47% of the total U.S. workforce, yet only 6% of all truck drivers are women, according data from the Labor Department and ATA. To qualify, truckers have to be 21, they must a commercial trucking license and pass a background check and drug test. Those requirements haven't changed in years, experts say. However, what's changed is that there are fewer people willing to be on the road for days at a time and put in the long hours that the truck-driving lifestyle demands. "They're having a very difficult time being able to recruit or retain [young] drivers," says Charlie Myers, vice president of Trucker Path, an app for the trucking industry.

Owner/Driver / October 14, 2015 The US truck driver shortage is tipped to become significantly worse within 10 years and bring with it economic disruption unless steps are taken to address the issue. A new report from the American Trucking Association (ATA) paints a bleak reality confronting US trucking operators and the broader economy due to a dearth of drivers. It expects the shortage to peak at 47,500 by the end of the year – up from 38,000 in 2014 – and to balloon to more than 175,000 within the next 10 years. "Looking ahead to 2016, if the economy picks up slightly, like we expect, the shortage could quickly jump by 26,000 to 73,500. If nothing changes in the trend line by 2024, the shortage could be as high as 174,500," the ATA’s report says. "We are not saying that the shortage will reach that level; instead, this is more of a warning to the industry and the broader supply chain of what could happen if things don’t change. "If the trend stays on course, there will likely be severe supply chain disruptions resulting in significant shipping delays, higher inventory carrying costs, and perhaps shortages at stores." The report estimates the industry will need to hire a total of 890,000 new drivers over the next decade, or an average of 89,000 per year. Most of those will be to replace retiring drivers, with the ATA saying they will account for 45 per cent of new hires. The second largest factor (33 per cent) will be due to industry growth. Trucks are responsible for almost 70 per cent of all freight moved in the US, so the ATA says it is unlikely different transport modes could be used to offset the driver shortage. SOLUTIONS TO THE SHORTAGE The report recommends a number of measures to attract and retain drivers, including pay increases, more at-home time and better treatment from the supply chain. "Compounding the already difficult lifestyle, drivers often complain of mistreatment at shipping and receiving facilities. Complaints range from restricting access to restrooms to having to wait extended periods of time before the trailer is loaded or unloaded," the ATA says. "Improving the experience for drivers at drop-off and pickup locations would provide for a more attractive career choice. All companies in the supply chain, including trucking companies, shippers, and receivers, need to treat drivers with the respect that they deserve." The report goes on to suggest a change to the age limit on people driving trucks across state borders. "Interstate driving currently has an age minimum of 21. The 18-20 year old segment has the highest rate of unemployment of any age group, yet this is an entire segment that the industry cannot access," it says. "Often, these individuals obtain employment in construction or the service industry as they can start their careers at a younger age." Trucking also needs to do more to boost the number of women working in the industry. While females make up 47 per cent of the US workforce, the ATA says they comprise only 6 per cent of truck drivers. It adds that autonomous trucks may in future be an effective means of addressing driver shortages, but has warned that driverless trucks on the highway are still many years away and companies "should not count on this being an option for some time". A shortage of numbers is not the only problem, however, with companies reporting there is a lack of quality drivers to choose from. "An important thing we learned in this analysis is that this isn’t strictly a numbers problem, it is a quality problem too," ATA chief economist Bob Costello says. "Fleets consistently report receiving applications for open positions, but that many of those candidates do not meet the criteria to be hired. According our research, 88 percent of carriers said most applicants are not qualified." The report says many companies are highly selective when it comes to hiring drivers and have strict conditions relating to driving history and experience.

Mesilla Valley to Equip Allison TC10 on a Third of Its Fleet Heavy Duty Trucking / October 13, 2015 Mesilla Valley Transport will equip its 2015-2016 Class 8 truck purchases with Allison’s TC10 automatic transmission, the carrier announced. After conducting comparisons of manual, automated-manual and automatic transmissions, Mesilla made the decision to go with the 10-speed Allison transmission. With Mesilla’s latest order, around a third of its 1,200-truck fleet will be equipped with the TC10 by the end of 2016. Allison is a big player in the medium-duty truck market and the TC10 was designed specifically for the Class 8 metro market in 2013. However, this move may show that over-the-road fleets are looking at the automatic transmission as a viable option as well, according to one market analyst who called the announcement a “meaningful win for Allison.” “It demonstrates the TC10, perhaps the company’s most viable new market growth opportunity, is having success—especially considering MVT does not fit neatly into Allison’s target “Metro” market,” said Michael Baudendistel of investment advisory firm Stifel in an email to investors. Mesilla had an eye toward fuel efficiency when it decided to go with the TC10 and saw an improvement of 3.5% compared with the rest of its fleet and saw several trucks achieve double-digit mpg in testing. "We pride ourselves in making our equipment as fuel efficient as possible," said Royal Jones, co-founder, CEO, president and majority owner of MVT. International recently expanded its Allison TC10 offering by coupling the transmission with the Cummins ISX15 on the ProStar by the end of the year. It also offers the transmission on ProStar and TranStar trucks powered by the N13 engine. Mesilla Valley Transportation is a New Mexico-based transportation provider that serves the Southwest. The company specializes in dry freight and has a fleet of over 1,200 trucks and 5,000 trailers.

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/34267-macks-v8-powered-c-series-comin-on-strong/

Nice, but this is a proper long wheelbase Patrol. .

Thank you Vlad. North Korea probably assembled their trucks from imported SKD or CKD kits (semi-knocked down or completely knocked down). Nice models of the Chinese CA10, the license-built ZiS-150, which itself was a copy of the International Harvester 2-1/2 ton K-7 (not the 5-ton KR-11) supplied to the Soviet Union during the war under the Lend-Lease Program. .

Vlad, North Korea's ZIL-130 4x2s and ZIL-131 6x6s that we saw in the parade last week appear fairly new. My understanding is ZIL produced them from 1962 to 1994, and then (AMUR) Ural took over production from 1995, designating them UamZ-43140 and AMUR-531340 ??. Is Ural, now a GAZ Group subsidiary, still producing them today? .

CAT Trucks Australia / Navistar Auspac Press Release / October 12, 2015 Fuel savings “incredible” for regional truck operator Of the many things that impress regional NSW truck operator Kevin Munro about his Cat CT630 model, it’s actually the monthly fuel bill which impresses most. Not because he enjoys paying fuel bills but simply because the bills are so much better than before. “From the day the Cat started work, our monthly fuel bills have been at least five hundred dollars less than the cab-over we ran before,” says a resolute Kevin Munro. “That’s an incredible saving in a business like ours. “When we first bought the Cat I thought we might be a little better on fuel but I never imagined it would be this much better. “On top of that, the Cat’s half a tonne lighter.” Based in the central New South Wales (NSW) city of Dubbo, Kevin and wife Lea own and operate Macquarie Valley Transport, servicing the transport needs of a diverse customer base scattered among the distant communities and sprawling farmlands of western and north-west New South Wales. In between calls from customers and freight agents, Lea Munro explains growth has come steadily since buying the business 20 years ago. “There wasn’t much to it when we bought it,” she recalls. “Just two small Japanese trucks picking up and delivering small loads in Dubbo and towns around the region. But we quickly changed the name to Macquarie Valley Transport because it reflects where we’re from and also puts our own stamp on the business. “We’re not a big operation by any means but we are totally dedicated to the business and our customers. “Like any transport business it has its commercial pressures and when it’s all boiled down, service and reliability are the things that have kept it going.” “We don’t let people down,” Kevin adds emphatically. “Reliability is everything and in this business we have to be able to do a job on short notice. Sometimes very short notice. “We run hand-in-hand with the ups and downs of the rural industry,” he continues. “Much of what we do revolves around the cotton industry and broad-acre farming so when rain and drought have a big impact on farmers, they also have a direct impact on our workloads. “Good times and bad, you still need to be reliable and people get to trust that reliability, particularly when things are tough. That’s where good equipment is such an important asset because you know it’ll get the job done.” Loads range from Lea picking up and delivering parcel freight to Dubbo businesses in a utility, to a driver in a six-tonne truck carrying larger items around the local area and outlying towns. Meantime, Kevin remains at the helm of the Cat CT630 coupled to a three-axle dog trailer hauling the vast array of products required by rural communities and businesses as distant as Broken Hill to the west and Moree to the north. Critically, the company is a licenced dangerous goods carrier and along with a wide range of chemical products, the Cat primarily hauls farm machinery, fencing equipment, seed and livestock feed products. Operating under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme with Performance-based Standards (PBS) approval, Kevin insists the truck regularly works at maximum gross weight. “The truck and dog trailer combination is definitely an asset,” he remarks, citing several significant advantages over a semi-trailer configuration, not least the ability to segregate chemicals from other products and the flexibility to operate as a rigid truck when load volumes are down. “With the Cat’s tight turning circle, the truck and dog is also a lot more manoeuvrable than a semi-trailer,” he adds. “In fact the turning circle is even better than the cab-over we had before.” Replacing a high profile cab-over brand which they had bought new five years earlier, Kevin and Lea took delivery of the Cat CT630 extended cab model late in 2014 from Dubbo Cat dealer WesTrac. Keen to support local Dubbo businesses, the Cat started its working life with a new curtain-sided body supplied by DND Welding and matching curtain-sided dog trailer from Express Engineering. On the decision to choose a Cat truck over all other contenders, an adamant Kevin Munro said there were many enticing factors. For starters, “I’d driven trucks with Cat engines years ago and their performance always impressed me, so when Cat trucks came on the market I was immediately interested. “There was something of a gut feeling about it. I liked the look of the truck from the start and all the reports I read were generally very positive. There was certainly nothing to suggest I shouldn’t do it,” he enthused. However, it was a visit to the Cat stand at the 2013 Brisbane Truck Show and subsequent discussions with WesTrac personnel which ultimately convinced Kevin Munro that Cat should be his next new truck. Now a year after taking delivery, Kevin is unequivocally convinced. “It was the right decision. Definitely!” Again he cites fuel economy as the single-most impressive benefit but concedes that actual fuel figures are not the prime indicator of the Cat’s greater efficiency. “In this business things can change from day to day. One day you’re running as a truck and dog at top weight, then the next day you’re running as a rigid, so I don’t really bother looking at how many kilometres per litre the truck is using,” Kevin explains. “What counts is the fuel bill at the end of the month and like I said, every month we’re consistently five hundred dollars or more ahead of where we were with the previous truck doing exactly the same work. And at the end of the day, that’s money in the bank for us.” He agrees the streamlined contours of the Cat conventional undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on overall fuel economy but likewise, he believes the strong performance and fierce determination of Cat’s tireless C15 engine play a vital role in keeping fuel costs under control. “It’s an engine that just does the job so easy and the way I see it, that has to be a positive when it comes to getting good fuel economy,” Kevin contends. Yet he is quick to add that fuel efficiency is not the only feature which keeps him well satisfied with the Cat. “Some of the roads out here leave a lot to be desired and it’s not unusual to get onto rough farm tracks but there are absolutely no rattles or squeaks in the cab. It doesn’t seem to matter what sort of road you’re on, the comfort and ride of the Cat are good. Really good, and the steering and handling are excellent as far as I’m concerned,” Kevin comments. Although he’s home most nights, there are occasions when longer runs necessitate a night in the bunk and he rates the extended cab of the CT630 as, “Ideal for this job. It’s comfortable and I don’t have any trouble getting a good night’s sleep. It’s actually perfect for what I want.” Kevin also offers high praise for the standards of customer support from WesTrac’s Dubbo facility, listing the company’s widespread service outlets in regional NSW as an important factor in the decision to choose Cat above all other truck brands. “I know help is never too far away if I need it,” he says thoughtfully. “Nothing seems to be a problem and I can honestly say the level of service has been great. There was one small issue early and WesTrac jumped on it straightaway. I certainly have no complaints about the service or the cost. “WesTrac does all the service work on the truck and it’s a lot cheaper than what I was paying with our other truck. “There’s not much more I can really say about it except that I’ve had a few people ask me how the Cat’s going and would I make the same choice again. “All I can tell them is the truth that the truck’s performing really well, it’s great on fuel and there are no complaints about the service and support from WesTrac (http://www.westrac.com.au/Industries/Pages/Highway_Truck.aspx). “So would I make the same choice again? “Absolutely. It’s an easy truck to like,” Kevin Munro concludes. Picture gallery - http://www.cattrucks.com.au/cat-provides-big-benefits-for-small-business/

Prime Mover Magazine / October 12, 2015 With grain harvest season around the corner, Transport for New South Wales (NSW) (http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/) has urged motorists and freight operators to be on high alert, particularly around level crossings (railroad crossings). “Grain harvest season in NSW starts in the state’s north in October and extends south until early 2016,” said Bernard Carlon, Acting Executive Director, Centre for Road Safety. “There is increased truck and farming machinery on our roads moving produce to where it needs to go during this period.” According to the State’s transport body, driver fatigue will be one of the biggest threats on the road. “Fatigue is a common factor in rural crashes, so drivers need to plan their rest and be aware of any signs that they might be tired,” Carlon said. “Heavy and long vehicles require longer distances to slow down - some trains can take up to 14 rugby fields to stop and can’t swerve to avoid a pedestrian or a motorist who has ignored the level crossing controls, so we need all road users to pay attention and obey the rules.” One of the initiatives Transport for NSW has funded to improve level crossing safety is the Level Crossing Improvement Program, which the State Government has allocated $29.2 million, approximately $7.3 million a year. The program provides funding to accelerate engineering safety improvements to level crossings at priority sites across NSW, raise community awareness of level crossing safety issues, support police enforcement initiatives, and promote new technology to improve level crossing safety. In partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, NSW works with industry and provides guidance material on how to comply with the law. NSW has also invested in compliance infrastructure to reduce the risk of unsafe heavy vehicle operations - from systematic fatigue monitoring through the Safe-T-Cam system to the statewide network of Heavy Vehicle Safety Stations.