kscarbel2

Scania Press Release / July 27, 2015 A cable car system, a vineyard and a diamond vessel. Sometimes they need extra power to do their job. Our engine calendar profile, Johan Louw and his team make sure that Sub-Saharan Africa’s got the power. “Our job is very challenging. The things we power varies from vineyards to mines. Not any day is like the other,” says Johan Louw, sales manager for Scania Engines in Sub-Saharan Africa. Johan specifically mentions one assignment he and his team will never forget. It was a joint effort between a diamond entrepreneur, a boat builder and Scania – they constructed a marine mining solution resulting in a boat that vacuums the ocean floor for diamonds. “The project took about a year and a half and we learned a lot from it. Now we’re proud to be part of the second phase, which involves a much bigger boat.” The diamond boat is similar to a fishing vessel but completely custom made for its purpose. The Scania engine in combination with an extra large propeller powers the system that blows sediment from the bottom of the ocean and transports it like a giant “vacuum cleaner” to a sorting area that moves the gravel of correct size into the storage area on the boat. “This concept may be the only one in the world. There are similar systems, but on a smaller scale. I actually think this concept could set a new industry standard,” Johan says. To be involved in such an exciting project is part of the everyday life for Johan and his team. The Table mountain project is another example, where they needed to deliver a new standby genset on top of the 1085 meters high mountain to power a cable car system and a restaurant. The delivery was carried out in a spectacular fashion, with a helicopter lifting the genset into position. Of course not all assignments are that spectacular. Providing gensets for vineyards or tea farms is more of a daily business, however, providing power to any business is satisfying. Johan’s colleague Sonya de Carvalho joins in the conversation by saying: “My dream is to see us develop in other segments of Scania; to see where it goes. If we can’t achieve any of those, personally, I´d start baking wedding cakes.” .

Cat Trucks in Australia has announced that Navistar will continue to manufacture and develop Cat Trucks for the Australian market for the foreseeable future. .

The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) / July 28, 2015 The federal Export-Import Bank expired June 30 when Congress failed to renew its charter. The bank is a small federal agency that helps U.S. companies sell their products overseas, by underwriting loans to foreign customers. Conservatives oppose it as corporate welfare and are pushing to keep it dead. But late Monday the Senate voted 64-29 to add legislation reviving the bank to a sweeping highway bill being considered on the floor. Five things to know about the Export-Import Bank and its future: PATH AHEAD Despite the Senate's action on a measure to revive the bank and extend it through 2019, its future is far from assured. The House announced plans Tuesday to pass a three-month highway extension that does not include an Export-Import Bank provision — and then adjourn for the summer. The Senate will likely be forced to adopt the House bill or watch transit programs lapse. That means the bank will stay shuttered at least into the fall, when Congress returns from its annual August recess. NOT DEAD YET Even though the bank's charter expired at the end of June, it remains in business to service more than $100 billion in outstanding loans and guarantees. The agency itself is funded, including employee salaries, through Sept. 30. DEBATE ABOUT THE BANK'S ROLE Conservatives say the Export-Import Bank amounts to corporate welfare, pointing out that the companies that benefit include major corporations like Boeing, Caterpillar and GE which they say can support themselves without taxpayers' help. Supporters of the bank, including groups like the Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers, argue that most other countries have export credit agencies, in some cases more generous than the U.S. version. Supporters say it will be harder for U.S. companies to compete overseas if their competitors are supported by the government and they aren't. The bank says that last year it authorized $20 billion worth of transactions which supported $27.5 billion of U.S. exports and 164,000 U.S. jobs. And it says it has a default rate of less than 1 percent. Opponents argue that the bank mostly helps big businesses. Of the $20.5 billion in financing and insurance authorized by the bank in 2014, just over $5 billion of that was for small business exporters, according to bank officials. But if the transactions themselves are counted up, more small businesses are helped than big ones. It's just that the amounts spent on them are smaller. RIFE WITH POLITICS In past years the bank was renewed with little or no controversy and sometimes without so much as a roll-call vote. But after a tea party-infused GOP majority retook the House in 2010, conservatives began seizing on the bank as crony capitalism and a federal agency ripe for elimination, making a 2012 reauthorization vote a struggle for the first time. Outside groups like Club for Growth and Heritage Action for America made it an issue, and this year, with Republicans in control of the Senate and a presidential campaign underway, conservatives have targeted the Export-Import Bank even more assertively. Adding to the pressure, the billionaire GOP Koch Brothers took on the cause through their allied organizations Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners, pressuring GOP presidential candidates who are jockeying for the Kochs' coveted financial backing to toe the line. The issue provoked extraordinary GOP infighting in the Senate in recent days as presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, accused Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of lying to him about whether there was a deal to revive the bank. McConnell disputed the accusation. 81-YEAR HISTORY The bank was created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1934, during the Great Depression. His aim was to help the U.S. "re-engage economically with the rest of the world," according to the State Department historian. The bank was initially established to help trade with the Soviet Union, and a second version was meant to boost trade with Cuba, but the two entities were soon merged and began extending efforts around the globe.

Commercial Carrier Journal / July 28, 2015 Caterpillar made the decision to bring its truck production in-house, says Cat’s Chris Chadwick, to better serve its yellow-iron oriented customer base. “There is a lot of integration throughout our construction equipment line,” he explains. “And it will be a lot easier for us to continue to fully integrate our trucks with our construction machinery if we take full control of the manufacturing process. It also better places us to serve our customers’ needs in a quicker and more satisfactory manner.” The break with Navistar is significant, Chadwick notes, but not absolute. “The majority of the truck parts used on our CT Series our outsourced from various suppliers and we will purchase and use the very same components with our truck that Navistar does today,” he says. One exception, however, is under the hood. Noting that Caterpillar has “no plans” to re-enter the on-highway engine business, Chadwick says for now, Caterpillar will continue to spec the Navistar-built CT13 13-liter diesel engine for its C-Series trucks. “The big hole for us right now is obviously the lack of a 15-liter engine,” he says. “But we have a strategy in place to add a 15-liter option before year’s end and will offer more details on that in the fall.” Chadwick says the addition of the 15-liter engine option will close out the primary phase of Cat’s C-Series product launch. “From that point, we’ll begin the process of new features and technologies to continue to build the brand.” Those efforts will see increased sales efforts in Canada and Latin America, he notes, while Caterpillar will continue to monitor truck markets around the world to seek additional overseas sales opportunities if they make sound financial sense. “Caterpillar is in a unique position to serve the construction industry,” Chadwick explains. “There isn’t another truck OEM out there that can tie one set of solutions for construction machinery to its on-highway solution the way we can. Coupled with the significant competitive advantage offered by our dealer network, we felt this move was the best way to leverage all of these assets and make sure we continue to offer the best vocational truck options available to our loyal customer base.”

Cat Trucks to Initially Continue as Built by Navistar Heavy Duty Trucking / July 28, 2015 Caterpillar’s go-it-alone vocational truck series will be virtually identical to current Cat Trucks for some time, using the same components as now until changes come about in the future, according to CAT executives, clarifying after the earlier announcement that the company will end the manufacturing agreement that has Navistar building the trucks at its plant in Escobedo, Mexico. “Initially they will be exactly the same as the trucks produced by Navistar today,” explained Ron Schultz, sales and product support manager. That should continue for the first 12 to 18 months after production begins sometime next year at Cat’s plant in Texas. It means continued use of the Navistar-supplied 12.4-liter CT13 diesel, as well as the cab and chassis whose designs were adapted from components shared with the International PayStar. No Cat Engines “We anticipate that an announcement on a 15-liter engine will be made soon,” said Dave Schmitz, vocational truck product manager, repeating a statement of several months ago. But “Caterpillar has no plans to get back into the truck-engine market,” so the source of that engine remains confidential. “Velocity and speed to market for changes, and better ability to respond to customer requests” for improvements comprise the reason for the shift to Cat producing the truck itself, said Chris Chadwick, director of Caterpillar’s Global On-Highway Truck Group. However, Caterpillar was not unhappy with the Navistar relationship, and the supplier agreement remains in force. "Made in America" sentiment did not enter into the decision to pull assembly into the U.S., "but it's a plus," said Chadwick. Navistar will continue building Cat Trucks until the end of 2016, and during that time Cat will begin phasing in its own truck production at a plant in Victoria, Texas, north of Corpus Christi. The plant opened in 2012 to produce hydraulic excavators, and will be equipped and 200 workers added to build the Cat on/off-road vocational product line. Cat wants to expand the Cat Truck line into more applications, particularly for versions powered by the upcoming 15-liter diesel, Chadwick said. Cat dealers who sell and service the trucks will remain vital to the endeavor. Navistar: 'Niche Product' For Navistar, the Cat Truck was “a niche product, maybe 1,000 or 1,100 a year,” said spokesman Steve Schrier. Navistar’s plans for a new “premium” line of International severe-service trucks, which the company announced today, might be revealed later this year or next year., “We were in that premium vocational market years ago, but we left it after we had no 15-liter engine,” Schrier explained, when Navistar decided not to use the Cummins ISX15 with SCR in 2010 and later dropped its own 15-liter. “Now that we have a 15-liter [from Cummins] again, we’ll go back to it. And of course we’ll still use our own N13 engine.” The collaboration with Cat gained Navistar access to design knowledge about premium details, including cab interior components, that could be used in the upcoming International model, Schrier said. He declined to add more specific details.

Transport Topics / July 28, 2015 Paccar Inc. reported a record profit in the second quarter as truck sales continued to rise in North America and Europe. The truck and engine maker said its net income climbed to $447.2 million, or $1.26 per share, up from $319.2 million, or 90 cents, a year ago. Revenue at Paccar’s truck segment increased 15% to $3.98 billion, while total revenue including its parts and financial services operations rose 11% to $5.08 billion. Paccar’s operating companies build Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in North America and DAF trucks in Europe. Paccar’s worldwide truck deliveries increased over 23 percent to 41,600 units from 33,700. Sales in the United States and Canada rose 31 percent to 26,800 trucks, up from 20,500 in the same period last year. In the global market, DAF and Paccar brand sales rose 12 percent from 13,200 to 14,800 units. Paccar also raised the lower end of its projection for full-year Class 8 industry retail sales. The company said it now expects U.S. and Canadian heavy-duty truck sales to be between 270,000 and 290,000 units, up from 250,000 in 2014. Last quarter, Paccar had estimated that sales would be in the range of 260,000 to 290,000. “Our customers are benefiting from strong freight tonnage, good freight rates and the excellent operating efficiency of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks,” Paccar Executive Vice President Dan Sobic said. “Industry truck demand is being driven by economic growth and expansion of fleet capacity.” In the first half of 2015, Paccar’s net income rose to $825.6 million, or $2.32 per share, from $593.1 million, or $1.67 per share, in the same timeframe last year. Total revenue rose 11% to $9.91 billion.

$34,000 to $35,000 for a mid-sized 2-wheel-drive short-bed pickup all proves that GM is clueless about the small (mid-sized) pickup truck segment. Want a plain jane work truck spec diesel Colorado or Canyon with the diesel to optimize your business overhead? Sorry, Government Motors doesn't offer it. Mary (Barra), way to go..

Car & Driver / July 28, 2015 General Motors made us wait a year for its Duramax four-cylinder diesel, but this fall it will join the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel as only the second compression-ignition engine offered to U.S. pickup buyers outside the heavy-duty segment. For 2016, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon gain this third engine choice beyond their 200-hp 2.5-liter inline-four and 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6. As we’ve previously detailed, the Thai-built 2.8-liter turbo-diesel inline-four makes 181 horsepower at 3400 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. The $3,730 diesel engine option will be available only on crew-cab versions (and limited to LT and Z71 trims on the Colorado, SLE and SLT on the Canyon). The diesel can be spec’d with either two- or four-wheel drive. The Z82 trailering package (hitch receiver, seven-pin connector, and a diesel-only trailer-brake controller) comes standard along with a locking 3.42:1 rear differential (versus the gasoline four’s 4.10:1) and driver-switchable exhaust brake. All this, plus a required safety package (forward-collision and lane-departure alerts; $395) and convenience package (rear-window defroster with sliding glass, fog lamps, remote start, damped tailgate; $690) brings the diesel’s base price to $33,520 for the Chevy and $34,875 for the GMC. For reference, those prices are for the LT and SLE 4×2 short-bed models. Packed into the premium are powertrain features like cooled exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR), a balance shaft for smoother operation, and ceramic glow plugs. The Duramax also can run up to 20-percent biodiesel. New for all Colorados and Canyons is a centrifugal pendulum vibration damper, a set of springs and dampers attached to the six-speed automatic’s torque converter that cancels out shaking from the engine. EPA fuel-economy figures, which are expected to include 30-plus-mpg highway, haven’t been announced. But compared with the gasoline V-6, the diesel 4×2 can tow 700 pounds more (7700) and an extra 600 pounds in 4×4 trim (7600). Payload capacity is up, too, but since GM has not released curb weight figures we can only guess they’re up by close to 200 pounds. Everything else about the 2016 Colorado and Canyon, diesel or gasoline, is the same for 2016 save for a few new tech features. Apple CarPlay, the interface that mirrors the iPhone’s functionality on the MyLink infotainment system, is now available (Android Auto is on its way next year). Apple Siri Eyes Free, which integrates the iPhone’s voice controls with the vehicle, is now available along with text-message support. Plus, LT and Z71 models get a new multicolor LCD on the instrument panel. Related photographs - http://blog.caranddriver.com/2016-chevrolet-colorado-and-gmc-canyon-duramax-diesel-details-and-pricing-released/

There's something unsettling about seeing a Class 8 tractor flying through the air. But if it must be done, it appears that Gregg Godfrey has his front/rear weight distribution worked out. He set a new record of 166 feet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJlB5K6JXm4

Caterpillar to build trucks on its own Fleet Owner / July 28, 2015 It’s the beginning of the end for the nearly six-year truck-building partnership between Caterpillar and Navistar, as the heavy equipment maker expects to start building vocational trucks on its own beginning next year. The company noted that it will begin independently designing and manufacturing its CT line of vocational models at its plant in Victoria, TX; a facility that originally opened in 2012 to produce hydraulic excavators. Navistar currently manufactures those trucks at its Escobedo, Mexico, plant. “The on-highway vocational truck product family is important to our product line; customers like our trucks and want to include them in their fleets in a variety of heavy duty applications such as dump trucks, mixers, haulers or one of the other configurations we offer,” noted Chris Chadwick, director of the Caterpillar’s global on-highway truck group, said in a statement. “Our updated strategy reaffirms our commitment to grow and develop our presence in the vocational truck industry moving forward.” Caterpillar partnered with Navistar back in 2009 to build what became a three-truck product line for the North American market, starting with the CT660 in 2011 and finishing up with the CT680 back in March this year. “We appreciate the collaboration we have had with Navistar,” Chadwick said. “As we look to future launches of new truck models, this updated strategy will better position us to help provide our customers with the best products and services for this market. The company added that the “transition process” will begin immediately, with truck production at the Victoria factory expected to begin in the first half of 2016. Caterpillar added that it will continue to produce excavators at the Victoria plant, adding around 200 new jobs at the facility to handle truck manufacturing needs. Chadwick added that Caterpillar dealers will continue to sell and support Cat vocational trucks as well. The Wall Street Journal noted that sales of Caterpillar’s vocational truck have only numbered around 1,000 annually; a number Caterpillar hopes to boost significantly by bringing production of those vehicles in-house. The newspaper added that company also plans to build its own line of truck engines to power its CT models – a line of business it exited back in 2008 due to the imposition of restrictive federal exhaust emission standards. For its part, Navistar said it plans to launch a new line of “premium vocational trucks” in early 2016, leveraging “shared technology, intellectual property, supplier collaboration and licensing agreements” developed during its partnership with Caterpillar. “Navistar and Caterpillar have had a strong, collaborative working relationship through a number of projects and partnerships for many, many years,” noted Bill Kozek, president of Navistar Truck and Parts, in a statement. “This next phase provides Navistar with an exciting opportunity to introduce new technologies and product features into our new line of premium vocational trucks that we’ll launch in 2016,” he added. Kozek also stressed that Navistar will continue to manufacture trucks for Caterpillar through December 31 of next year as Caterpillar brings its Victoria, TX, plant up to full speed.

Navistar Press Release / July 28, 2015 Navistar today announced that it will launch a new line of premium vocational trucks for the severe service segment beginning in early-2016, leveraging shared technology and intellectual property from its venture with Caterpillar. In addition, the company announced that it will transition to Caterpillar the production and engineering of the Cat-branded severe service trucks the company has been supplying to Caterpillar since 2011. Navistar will continue to manufacture trucks for Caterpillar through December 31, 2016. While specific terms of the transition will not be disclosed, both companies will have the opportunity to leverage certain joint intellectual property, collaborate with suppliers and utilize licensing agreements moving forward. "Navistar and Caterpillar have had a strong, collaborative working relationship through a number of projects and partnerships for many, many years," said Bill Kozek, president, Navistar Truck and Parts. "This next phase provides Navistar with an exciting opportunity to introduce new technologies and product features into our new line of premium vocational trucks that we'll launch in 2016." The company expects to provide additional details on its new premium vocational trucks in the months ahead.

Wall Street Journal / July 28, 2015 Caterpillar said Tuesday that it plans to build its own line of dump trucks at a plant in Texas and wind down an existing arrangement it has with engine maker Navistar International Corp. to build the trucks. Caterpillar has been selling the on-road trucks built by Navistar since 2011. Beginning in the first half of 2016, Caterpillar expects to begin assembling the trucks at its plant in Victoria, Texas. The plant opened in 2012 to assemble excavators that had been built in Japan and imported to North America. Bringing the truck family into Caterpillar is expected to add roughly 200 jobs at the Texas plant, which also will continue produce hydraulic excavators, according to Caterpillar. The Navistar-built, Caterpillar-branded trucks haven't been a big hit with truck buyers. Sales of the three truck models have averaged about 1,000 total annually for the past three years. The change could help Caterpillar more effectively leverage its reputation with the construction industry for high-quality machinery, because customers will know it is making the trucks. Building the trucks itself would also add work for the Texas plant at a time of falling demand for the construction excavators it was set up to manufacture. Navistar has been building the Caterpillar trucks at plant in Mexico. Navistar plans to introduce a premium version of the PayStar next year, leveraging shared technology and intellectual property from the venture with Caterpillar, as it tries to revive its slumping market share in heavy-duty trucks by emphasizing vehicles for vocational and specialty applications. Both companies "will have the opportunity to leverage certain joint intellectual property, collaborate with suppliers and utilize licensing agreements moving forward," says Navistar. Navistar said it plans to release additional details about the planned truck line in coming months. (http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/41133-international-truck-to-introduce-new-line-of-premium-vocational-trucks-as-navistar-caterpillar-conclude-severe-service-truck-agreement/) The Caterpillar-Navistar partnership was devised in 2009 with ambitious goals to market Caterpillar-branded trucks in several overseas markets through Caterpillar dealers. Those plans were mostly scaled back when sales of the trucks were anemic in North America. Related reading - http://www.drivecat.com/blog/2015/08/truck-manufacturing-moves-to-u-s-caterpillar-facility/

Navistar Completes Order to Supply Quality Cos. With 9,000 Trucks Transport Topics / July 27, 2015 Navistar has finalized an agreement to supply Quality Cos. with 9,000 Class 8 tractors during the next three years. Quality Cos., a provider of truck- and trailer-leasing services, is a subsidiary of truckload carrier Celadon Inc. Navistar said the order consists primarily of International ProStar and LoneStar Class 8 tractors powered by the Cummins ISX15 engine. The manufacturer announced last week that it had received an order for the first 1,050 of the 9,000 trucks requested by the leasing company. “We look forward to serving the business needs of Quality Cos. and appreciate the confidence they have placed in our products, our people and our business,” said Bill Kozek, president of Navistar’s truck and parts business. “This order demonstrates our commitment to growth and positions us to support our customers for the next several years,” said Danny Williams, chief operating officer at Quality Cos. Indianapolis-based Celadon ranks No. 42 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in the United States and Canada.

Navistar Press Release / July 27, 2015 Navistar today announced that it will be first-to-market with the Eaton Procision line of dual-clutch automated manual transmissions (AMT) for its International DuraStar medium-duty trucks and IC Bus CE series school buses, available in late 2015. Based on Eaton's testing, the new 7-speed transmissions deliver a significant fuel economy advantage compared to a similarly equipped vehicle with a torque converter automatic transmission. The Eaton Procision transmission features a dual-clutch design and electronic shifting that uses grade, vehicle weight and throttle input to provide optimal fuel efficiency and smooth, continuous delivery of torque. "Through our partnership with Eaton, we're offering our customers advanced technologies that provide safe and easy operation for any driver," said Jeff Sass, Navistar senior vice president, North America Truck Sales and Marketing. "Coupled with the reliability of our medium-duty platform, the Eaton Procision transmission delivers the uptime and efficiency our customers require in many driving environments." The Eaton Procision dual-clutch technology allows for more efficient acceleration from a stopped position and optimizes shift points that will efficiently get to the highest gear. Gear changes are made by swapping the engine torque between clutches with the next gear preselected. The dual-clutch module is fully contained within the transmission, hydraulically controlled and oil cooled for extended life. The Eaton Procision includes features such as Eaton Dynamic Shifting, which allows the transmission to automatically switch between economy and performance shift schedules based on mass, grade and driver demand. Available torque, engine acceleration and grade drive dynamically modified base shift results. Economy and performance shift tables can be adjusted to tune an overall calibration to meet any customer's specific needs. Eaton Procision transmissions utilize a new synthetic transmission fluid that provides component protection while reducing maintenance costs, as part of 150,000 mile or 4-year lube and filter change intervals. The internal sump filter and electrical system do not require maintenance. Procision gives drivers more control in all situations and best-in-class low speed maneuverability thanks to features such as Hill Helper, Creep Mode and Tap Down Shifting. "Customers told us that they wanted features that made their trucks easier to drive," said Jeff Carpenter, Eaton Medium-Duty Procision engineering manager. "So, we engineered a host of features that instill confidence and maximize efficiency for operators with routes on hilly, difficult terrain, or those who navigate tight turns and traffic as part of an urban route." Eaton is a recognized leader in commercial vehicle transmissions. To prove the reliability of Procision, over 100 truck years of testing in a variety of geographies, vocations and duty cycles were performed. This confidence is expressed by a 3-year/unlimited mile warranty which covers the complete system—including the dual-clutch module—in commercial vehicle applications, and a 5-year/unlimited mile warranty in school bus applications.

Powered by a 563 horsepower (571 PS) 15.93-liter Mercedes-Benz OM502LA V-8, the 6x6 Buffalo offers unlimited off-road capability. PDF - http://www.rosenbauer.com/fileadmin/sharepoint/products/specialvehicles/INTERN%20Interschutz%202015/Datenblatter%20Sonderfahrzeuge_von%20DRoi_per%20Stick%20am%2020150527/12_BUFFALO%20extreme_GTLF%2033000_en.pdf

Transport Engineer / July 27, 2015 Flour miller and supplier Whitworth Bros has taken delivery of two Mercedes-Benz Actros and has already ordered two more for delivery later this year, thanks to fleet-topping fuel returns from its first Actros delivered in October last year. Supplied by dealer Intercounty Truck & Van, the Wellingborough-based operator's latest additions are 2545 models with StreamSpace cabs and 450bhp straight-six engines, driving through Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions. The vehicles are making nationwide bulk deliveries of bagged, palletised flour on curtainside trailers. The two Actros scheduled for delivery later this year will be 2445 StreamSpace variants. They will deliver flour in tipping powder tank trailers, so will have small-wheeled mid-lift axles which, as well as saving weight, will free up extra space on the chassis to accommodate Gardner Denver blowing equipment. Whitworth has 70 trucks, most of which are tractors, and its first Mercedes vehicle – an Axor tractor – was in service until 2013. Regional distribution manager Colin Spurrier says it was "the most reliable vehicle on the fleet". Last year's Actros, too, performed well on fuel, he adds: "At around 9 mpg, the fuel returns are as good as, if not better, than anything else on the fleet." Whitworth latest trucks are the subject of CharterWay contract hire agreements from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, with inspections and servicing undertaken by the dealer. "All of our trucks are contract-hired because as well as offering the predictable costs that allow us to budget with confidence, this acquisition method means we get new vehicles every five years," adds Spurrier. .

Transport Engineer / July 28, 2015 Aberdeen-based haulier Dyce Carriers has extended its 68-strong fleet with two 44-tonne Renault Range T460 6x2 mid-lift tractors, the first Renault vehicles to join the operator’s heavy goods fleet. Supplied by dealer Alex Aiken and Son, the tractors are on a two-year contract hire through BRS, which includes tyres and road tax. The tractors are pulling oil and gas trailers to the operator's depot in Cowdenbeath. The haulier's owner Jason Moir says fuel efficiency was a major factor in his decision and the trucks are already living up to the promise. "Fuel economy is always a key factor for Dyce Carriers and we knew that the new Range T had been specifically designed to deliver fuel savings. It's early days, but initial figures are very promising," he says. The trucks have also been supplied with Renault's Fuel Eco package, which includes the Optifleet telematics system. In keeping with Dyce's policy to name its trucks, the Range Ts are called 'Blackwatch', after the Royal Highland regiment, and 'Slains Castle' after the Aberdeenshire location said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. .

The Business Journal / July 24, 2015 A group representing California truckers, farmers and business owners is claiming the state attorney general’s office is ignoring a rash of recent truck fires it claims were sparked by faulty diesel particulate filters. The Alliance for California Business, a Chico-based nonprofit with more than 400 members, is blasting both the attorney general and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for “refusing to investigate” the truck fires — and attempting “to block others from doing so.” “These diesel particulate filters [DPFs] are the most dangerous pieces of equipment ever put on a truck,” said Alliance President Bud Caldwell, 65, a former “kingpin” for the California Truckers Association and owner of Northgate Petroleum in Chico. In the trucking business for nearly 50 years, Caldwell said he formed the Alliance in 2013 “to lead the charge” against mandatory DPF laws in California, the only state in the country that currently requires them. “I’m getting calls on a daily basis from truckers having trouble with these things,” he said. “I don’t have the staff to handle it.” Perhaps most worrisome of all, Caldwell added, is that the filters are also standard equipment on all diesel-powered buses in the state, including school buses. A spokesperson from the office of Attorney General Kamala Harris declined to comment on Caldwell’s allegations, directing questions to CARB. But earlier this year, a judge in Northern California denied the Alliance’s request for a preliminary injunction related to use of the filters, which, when a truck engine is running, can reach temperatures exceeding 600 degrees Celsius. In December 2008, CARB established the ‘California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule,’ which requires all on-road diesel heavy trucks and buses operating in California be “retrofitted, repowered or replaced to reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 85 percent.” In order to decrease sooty emissions, DPFs are standard equipment on new trucks and installed — retrofitted — onto older diesel engines. CARB mandates the use of specific filter types based on a truck engine’s age and manufacturer. When one major filter manufacturer, Cleaire, went out of business in January 2013, hundreds of trucking companies using their filters were suddenly scrambling for replacements, forced to deal with third party vendors while wondering if their fleets remained in compliance with state law. At a hearing held earlier this year, the Alliance argued DPFs were mechanically unreliable — and posed a serious fire risk when exposed to fuel or other flammable liquids. One trucker, Hank de Carbonel, testified the devices “increase the likelihood of fires and explosions” once they become clogged. Other truckers described being stuck on the side of the highway or having to take their trucks out of use because of trouble with DPFs. Caldwell claims at least 31 truck fires — “all related to DPFs” — have occurred in the last 18 months. On July 7, four separate fires along Highway 156 in San Juan Bautista were attributed to a faulty diesel particulate filter. According to the Hollister fire chief, pieces of it were found on the road next to each blaze. Jim Ganduglia, owner of Ganduglia Trucking in Fresno, said his drivers have yet to experience any fires related to the devices but that “three or four times,” he’s had to have trucks towed because the filters shut down the engines. “The towing bills are starting to add up,” he said. Ganduglia said the problem is aggravated when trucks are idling at job sites or rest stops for long periods of time. “If you idle a truck for eight or 10 hours, it’s creating soot in the filter without enough heat being generated to burn off the ash.” Ganduglia said Volvo and Freightliner “are changing their protocols on servicing” their engines to try to deal with the issue. Earlier this year, Glenn County Superior Court Judge Peter Twede declined to issue an injunction against CARB, ruling the Alliance had not made “a significant showing of irreparable injury” caused by DPFs. “However,” the judge added, “the possibility of these safety issues is very concerning.” CARB, headed since 2007 by former EPA administrator Mary D. Nichols, is one of six boards, departments and offices operating under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Karen Caesar, an information officer for CARB, declined to answer questions about the controversial filters, saying, “We do not comment on pending litigation.” But Caesar did forward a CARB report claiming DPFs are “effective and reliable” in removing 98 percent of toxic diesel emissions. The filters, the 56-page study concluded, “do not increase the likelihood of truck fires and are manufactured in accordance with federal and state safety requirements.” The Alliance continues to dispute those conclusions and is now taking depositions of key CARB executive staff responsible for approving the DPFs. Caldwell is incensed CARB continues to blame the fires on operators who do not properly maintain their filters. The Alliance plans to conduct its own investigation, he said, and “bring forth the experts required to prove that the DPF device should not be allowed on California highways.” “For every fire suspected of being linked to the DPF device, the Alliance has requested police, fire and California Highway Patrol reports,” he added. “For every subpoena issued by the Alliance for this information, CARB has filed objections to the disclosure — with no explanation to date for why it would not want that information disclosed to the Alliance and members of the public.” Caldwell said the Alliance plans to renew its motion for an injunction, this time asking for a permanent one. “If the California Air Resources Board was genuinely concerned with the health and safety of citizens and not just with defending their mandate, why would they prevent anyone from looking into truck fires?” Caldwell said. Ganduglia, a former chairman of the California Truckers Association’s Environmental Policy Committee, supports the Alliance’s effort to call attention to the issues with DPFs. But he said he doesn’t “think they have a leg to stand on” with regard to changing CARB policy. “There’s no way in hell [the Air Board] is going to back off of this,” Ganduglia said. “I think we’re stuck with it, at least until they come up with a new form of fuel.” .

FYI: In South Africa, the engine of choice in the Freightliner Argosy COE and Columbia conventional is the Detroit Diesel Series 60 (440hp and 530hp ratings).

Prime Mover Magazine / July 27, 2015 Penske Power Systems has announced it will re-introduce the 14-litre Detroit Series 60 Legacy into its current engine offering. According to Penske, a limited number of engines will be produced at DTNA’s Utah reman facility in the US exclusively for Australian and New Zealand aftermarket and overhaul customers. “For local Detroit customers, this means that the Series 60 575hp engine is now available for purchase as a loose engine at Penske Power Systems branches and authorised dealers,” the company said – saying it was backed by a two year, unlimited kilometre warranty. “More than ever we deliver an extensive range of technologies to our customers, from the DD15 engine on the one hand, to the legendary Series 60 on the other. So when our customers asked for the Series 60 Legacy to be re-introduced as part of our product mix we worked hard to make it happen,” said Kevin Dennis, Director On-Highway – Penske Power Systems. Dennis added that the Series 60 was still “incredibly relevant” for today’s on-highway market and proof that durable design leads to long-life reliability for customers. “The classic engine works across an extensive range of truck makes and models, and sets the standard for fuel economy and reliability for legacy engines in the industry,” he said. http://www.mtudda.com.au/detroit-series-60-legacy-engine-gets-new-lease-on-life/

One of the car industry's best kept secrets, the high performance V-8 / 6-speed manual Holden Commodore SS will cheer you up on those challenging days. http://m.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-chevrolet-ss-manual-instrumented-test-review http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/27/2015-chevrolet-ss-review-video/

July 26, 2015

The Detroit News / July 26, 2015 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will face at least three years of oversight by an independent monitor into its auto safety efforts as part of a sweeping, record-setting $105 million settlement in the government’s investigation of nearly two dozen recalls covering 11 million vehicles. The Italian-American automaker admitted it broke the law in failing to quickly repair vehicles in three separate recall campaigns and agreed to buy back as many as 578,000 older Ram pickups for steering issues after some owners said they have waited 18 months or longer for repairs because of parts shortages. “Today’s action holds Fiat Chrysler accountable for its past failures, pushes them to get unsafe vehicles repaired or off the roads and takes concrete steps to keep Americans safer going forward,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Sunday. “This civil penalty puts manufacturers on notice that the department will act when they do not take their obligations to repair safety defects seriously.” The penalty includes a $70 million payment by Fiat Chrysler, plus $20 million that the automaker will spend on safety efforts and $15 million in additional penalties if the automaker fails to perform properly. The automaker can include rebates and recall incentives as part of the $20 million it must spend on safety over three years. The settlement is significant for Fiat Chrysler. It is equal to about as much as the company’s reported net income of $101 million in the first three months of the year. But it is a fraction of the $700 million or more in fines Fiat Chrysler could have faced. The National Highway Traffic Administration could have fined Fiat Chrysler $35 million in each of 23 recalls under investigation if the agency had determined it failed to meet legal requirements in each of the campaigns. NHTSA said in the 23 recall campaigns Fiat Chrysler failed in a timely fashion to fix vehicles, notify owners of defects or notify NHTSA of recalls or safety related communications in a timely fashion. The agency earlier this year accused the automaker of misleading it. Vehicles in the buyback program include 265,000 2008-12 Ram trucks for a tie-rod assembly steering problem; 35,942 2008-12 Ram 4500 and 5,500 trucks recalled for similar steering problems; and 278,000 2009-12 Ram pickups, 2009-11 Dodge Dakotas, 2009 Dodge Durangos and Chrysler Aspens for a rear axle pinion nut problem that can cause the axle to lock up. FCA must pay the purchase price minus “a reasonable allowance for depreciation,” and will give a 10 percent bonus to owners who haven’t gotten the recalls completed. The automaker will be able to fix the vehicles and resell them. Further, owners of more than 1.5 million Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokees at heightened risk for lethal fires are eligible to trade in their vehicles at above market value or, alternately, get a gift certificate if they prefer to have repairs made. Owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees in the 1993 to 1998 model years and 2002 to 2007 Jeep Liberties can either trade in their vehicle and receive $1,000 over the fair market value of the car – the combined total of which can be applied toward the purchase of another Chrysler car, parts or service, or, alternately, car owners can have the cars repaired and receive a $100 unrestricted gift card. Federal officials added that step as a means to encourage drivers to get their cars either fixed or off the road. NHTSA has a report of one death and 32 reported crashes related to the steering defects since the recalls were announced. Fiat Chrysler admitted it violated the law in all three recall campaigns by failing to fix those vehicles in a timely fashion. NHTSA said it received complaints that some owners have waited two years for replacement parts In addition, Fiat Chrysler will give owners $100 gift cards for getting recalls completed on more than 1 million Jeeps recalled for gas tank fire risks when hit from behind. It will offer a $1,000 bonuses on trade-ins for new vehicles for owners of 1993-98 Jeep Grand Cherokees. They also can use the $1,000 toward service on another Fiat Chrysler vehicle. Sweeping agreement The sweeping agreement requires FCA to revise training and recall procedures that include dealers, hire an independent monitor to reform and oversee safety efforts, lead industrywide safety and research efforts and hold regular meetings with NHTSA on safety issue. The monitor will write regular reports, be able to interview any employees and have office space at the company’s Auburn Hills’ facilities. The settlement will last at least three years and could be extended for a fourth year at NHTSA’s request. Fiat Chrysler said in a statement it accepts “the resulting consequences with renewed resolve to improve our handling of recalls and re-establish the trust our customers place in us. We are intent on rebuilding our relationship with NHTSA and we embrace the role of public safety advocate.” That comes just months after Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne publicly sparred with the agency. The settlement suggests that NHTSA, under new leadership since December, is taking a far tougher line with automakers. Administrator Mark Rosekind has repeatedly vowed to use every tool available to prod automakers into behaving better. He has directly called automakers and demanded they recall vehicles. At the same time, the Obama administration has asked for sweeping new authority from Congress to order recalls and to hike maximum fines for delayed recalls to $300 million per campaign, up from $35 million. “Fiat Chrysler’s pattern of poor performance put millions of its customers, and the driving public, at risk,” Rosekind said. “This action will provide relief to owners of defective vehicles, will help improve recall performance throughout the auto industry, and gives Fiat Chrysler the opportunity to embrace a proactive safety culture.” Fiat Chrysler has been recalling vehicles rapidly in recent weeks. On Friday, it agreed to recall 1.4 million cars and trucks because of concern that their onboard computers can be hacked and allow functions such as braking and steering to be controlled remotely. That callback that came under government pressure. NHTSA is investigating whether the fix works and ensuring all vehicles are covered. On Saturday, the automaker agreed to recall 2.2 million trucks in two separate recalls for inadvertent air-bag deployments. NHTSA and Fiat Chrysler began to clash more than two years ago, when the agency demanded the recall of 2.7 million Jeeps linked to more than 60 deaths because of gas tank fires that have occurred when the SUVs are hit from behind. Under government pressure, the automaker recalled an estimated 1.56 million 2002-07 Jeep Libertys and 1993-98 Jeep Grand Cherokees for the problem in June 2013. As a fix, it agreed to install trailer hitch assemblies to protect the gas tanks, which are vulnerable because of their location between the rear axle and the bumper. Over the last year, the agency has questioned a growing number of Fiat Chrysler actions, including its handling of vehicles with potentially defective Takata air bags. Latest in a series The Fiat Chrysler settlement is the latest in a series of consent orders NHTSA has filed against big and small manufacturers since 2014 including General Motors Co., Honda Motor Co., child seat manufacturer Graco Children’s Products and heavy-duty truck manufacturers Forest River Inc. and Spartan Motors Inc. The previous record penalty was set in January when Honda paid $70 million after it admitted it failed to follow early warning reporting requirements. The settlement is similar to the three-year consent order reached with GM last year over its ignition switch defect that is now tied to nearly 125 deaths and more than 265 injuries. NHTSA initially sought a $70 million fine by GM and an independent monitor, but agreed to settle for just $35 million — then a record fine — and no independent monitor, a person involved in the talks told The Detroit News. Earlier this year, NHTSA exercised its right to extend the agreement through at least May 2016. The agency is still reviewing Fiat Chrysler on other fronts. In June, it opened an investigation into 630,000 Jeep Wranglers for an electrical problem that may cause air bags to not work properly. It launched a probe into 121,000 2013 Dodge Darts after it received 18 complaints that the brake pedal can suddenly become hard to depress and lengthen braking, It opened a separate investigation into 20,000 model-year 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees for problems with automatic braking systems. And it’s reviewing whether Fiat Chrysler’s recall fix of nearly 900,000 SUVs worldwide for sun visor fires were enough after reports of eight incidents in repaired vehicles. The penalty is the largest ever imposed by NHTSA against an automaker but a fraction of the $1.2 billion fine won by the Justice Department against Toyota Motor Corp. after the automaker was charged with wire fraud stemming from the government’s four-year investigation into the company’s concealment of sudden-acceleration problems.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3176630/Video-shows-Hillary-Clinton-boarding-private-jet-just-hours-launching-global-warming-push-s-using-FRENCH-aircraft-burns-347-gallons-fuel-hour.html

Not to rub salt in your wound, but with frequent opportunities to drive the global Ford Ranger in Thailand and South Africa, I can tell you that it's the finest bakkie in the world today........better than the new-for-2015 Toyota Hilux and outdated U.S. market Tacoma.