User-agent: Mediapartners-Google* Disallow: Trucks World News: July 2013
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Jul 28, 2013

* BORDER USA / Mexico - Police vs. Cartels, hurts truckers

* Battles between Mexican police, cartel pose threat to truckers 

Michoacan,Mexico -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -25 July 2013: -- A series of bloody gun battles between federal police and a notorious drug cartel in the southwest of Mexico pose security and safety threats to truckers as well. In the city-state of Michoacan have left at least 42 people dead, and scores more wounded, according to a report in The Washington Post on Thursday, July 25. Among the dead are at least four police. Another 19 officers have been wounded in at least eight attacks since Tuesday... The attacks have involved ambush assaults on roadways, with the suspected cartel members “firing from high vantage points and blocking the roads and highways,” according to a report from FreightWatch International... FreightWatch, which monitors cargo theft and supply chain threats globally, is advising companies shipping high value freight to and from the region to use extra security measures... 

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Jul 27, 2013

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA

* DC - Regulation: NTSB pushes 'connected vehicle' mandate

Washington,DC,USA -Fleet Owner, by David Cullen -Jul. 26, 2013: -- Move could influence NHTSA rulemaking for cars— and trucks. "Connected vehicles" could avoid accidents and traffic... An advanced highway-safety technology— usually referred to simply as “connected vehicle”-- that’s soon to be “recommended” by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) may get pushed onto the regulatory track now that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has urged that it be mandated on all new on-road vehicles... After a Tuesday board meeting, NTSB Chairwoman, Deborah Hersman, recommended that the federal government mandate that all new vehicles come equipped with connected-vehicle technology that enables vehicles to interact wirelessly... NTSB issued its CVS recommendation after reviewing the causes of two high-profile fatal school bus crashes. In both cases, the buses were struck by heavy-duty while driving through intersections...


* DC - Will mobile devices revolutionize truck inspections?

Washington,DC,USA -CCJ Blog, by Aaron Huff -July 25, 2013: -- The Internet, wireless networks and mobile devices have revolutionized how people, businesses and governments operate. These technologies are also disruptive, and even destructive, at times to companies and even entire industries that once seemed indomitable... A recent announcement by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration showcases one of many ways the technologies are changing the trucking industry. As of July 8, FMCSA permitted the use of wireless mobile data devices (smartphones, tablets, onboard computers, etc.) for use as transponders in electronic truck inspection and weigh station bypass systems... This new wave of transponders can be used to identify motor carriers on highways as their vehicles approach inspection stations. Triggered by GPS signaling, the devices will communicate through wireless networks and the Internet to electronic screening systems that will issue the traditional red light/green light responses to the driver... The announcement will benefit all states is with added flexibility to conduct electronic screening of trucks from both fixed and mobile sites without additional infrastructure costs. The new technology makes it possible for state agencies to immediately activate and de-activate bypass systems by using geofences (creating a virtual perimeter around a geographic area)...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:22 AM  0 comments

TRUCKMAKERS * USA : Chrysler's Ram 2014, can tow up to 9200 lbs.

* Michigan - 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, V-6 tow ratings announced

(Photo: 2014 Ram 1500 Front Three Quarters) Dearborn,MICH,USA -Truck Trend, by Kirill Ougarov -26 July 2013: -- The (Chryler's) 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel can tow up to 9200 lbs. – as much as most Hemi-powered Ram variants – the truckmaker announced today, further sweetening the appeal of the first diesel-powered half-ton... Ram also improved the tow rating of the gasoline V-6 for 2014, raising it to 7450 lbs. through the addition of a more robust parking gear to the eight-speed automatic transmission...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:14 AM  0 comments

TRUCKMAKERS * India - Daimler Commercial Vehicles 1 year in

* Chennai - 5000th BharatBenz truck rolls out

Oragadam,CHEN,India -Rush Lane, by Pearl Daniels -July 26, 2013: -- Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a 100% subsidiary of Daimler AG, among the top five truck makers in India, celebrates one year of production in the country. The company recently rolled out its 5000th truck on 10th July from their plant in Oragadam, Chennai, in the form of a heavy duty BharatBenz 2523C construction truck with 25 ton gross weight... BharatBenz series was launched in June 2012 and ever since then the company has been at the forefront of medium and heavy duty models... DICV has announced expansion of dealer networks and enhancement of product portfolio. By the year 2014, the company will have a total of 17 models on offer adding to their current lineup of medium duty trucks in the 9 to 12 ton capacity and heavy duty trucks in the 25 to 31 ton capacity...


* India - Truck makers face the heat from Chinese brands in Sri Lanka 

(Photo: Ashok Leyland's volumes in Lanka have fallen by over two-thirds to about 2,200 units in fiscal 2013) 
Chennai,India - ET, by Sanjay Vijayakumar -26 Jul, 2013: -- Truck makers are quickly losing their dominance in Sri Lanka, where sales have slumped, even as cheaper Chinese rivals have made inroads, piggybacking on their country's mega participation in the island's infrastructure development... Truck sales in Sri Lanka, which almost entirely depends on imports, have fallen dramatically from their peak in early 2012 owing to economic slowdown and high borrowing cost. From average monthly volumes of around 1,700 units of medium and heavy trucks, sales is now down to 374 units (June 2013). Likewise, light trucks sales have fallen from 1,700 units to 1,578 units. During this time, the share of Indian truck makers in the medium-heavy category has fallen from more than 74% to 42%. In light trucks, Indian players have fallen less precipitously - from nearly 90% to 77%... Frost and Sullivan pegs the Sri Lankan commercial vehicle market to be close to 34,000 units annually, including buses and goods carriers. The medium and heavy commercial market is dominated by India's No 2. truck maker Ashok Leyland, which has a joint venture with Sri Lankan government, Lanka Leyland, and its bigger Indian peer Tata Motors. Also playing a part is Mahindra and Mahindra. All three Indian players have been impacted...

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Jul 26, 2013

TRAILER MAKERS * USA - June orders up

* Indiana - Trailer Industry net orders up 7% in June 

Columbus,IND,USA -Trucking Info -July 24, 2013: -- Nearly 15,400 net trailer orders were received in June, up 7% from May. This update on industry performance was reported in the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co... There is normally a jump in production in the last month of a quarter, and that definitely occurred in June, according to Frank Maly, director-CV Transportation with ACT Research: “Build reached the highest daily rate since December 2006” ...

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TRUCKING INDUSTRY SECURITY * Australia

* ACT - New Chemical Code of Practice for trucking businesses

(Photo: Results of a chemical bomb demonstrated at the code of practice launch)
Canberra, ACT,Australia -ATA Friday Facts -26 July 2013: -- Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, QC, yesterday launched a voluntary code of practice to prevent the loss or theft of chemicals for terrorist use through the chemical supply chain... The code focuses on 11 of the highest risk chemicals that can be used to make explosives... “Businesses who handle chemicals can also provide critical information to assist in preventing terrorist attacks,” Mr Dreyfus said, “We all want to make sure that Australia remains a safe and resilient country. Good security is good for business” ... Operators are encouraged to report suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400...

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posted by Unknown @ 5:32 AM  0 comments

* Federal Coalition’s plan for Infrastructure Australia

* ACT - Making road funding decisions for the long term

(Photo: ANZAC Bridge)
Canberra,ACT,Australia -ATA Friday facts -26 July 2013: -- The Federal Coalition’s plan for Infrastructure Australia would help governments see beyond the electoral cycle and make road funding decisions for the long term, ATA Chairman, David Simon, said today... The Coalition released its Infrastructure Australia plan yesterday. Under the plan, Infrastructure Australia would be responsible for auditing Australia’s infrastructure asset base. It would revise the audit every five years and use it in the development of its 15-year infrastructure project pipeline... David said Infrastructure Australia should also be responsible for advising governments on target standards for each tier of the road network, to guide road investment, maintenance and access decisions...  


* ACT - ATA calls for road supply reform 

Forrest,ACT,Australia -ATA Friday Facts -26 July 2913: -- The Heavy Vehicle Charging and Investment Reform project (HVCI) should take up the short-term recommendations from the independent A future strategy for road supply and charging in Australia report, the ATA has said in its latest submission... Commissioned by the ATA last year, the report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) found that the biggest gains in road transport efficiency would come from road agency reform... ATA National Policy Manager, David Coonan, said the PWC report provided comprehensive and practical guidance for governments to achieve better value for road users... The submission also recommends implementing a system for independent reviews of road access decisions, as well as the completion of the government PBS maps...

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Jul 25, 2013

* USA - TRUCKMAKER Paccar: Lower profits

* Washington - Paccar posts lower profit, cuts sales forecasts 

Bellevue,WASH,USA -Reuters, by James B. Kelleher; Gerald E. McCormick and John Wallace -Jul 23, 2013: -- Truck maker Paccar Inc reported a lower quarterly profit on Tuesday and trimmed its full-year sales forecasts for North America and Europe, where freight carriers are postponing purchases of new vehicles... The company, which makes Peterbilt, Kenworth and DAF brand commercial trucks, reported a second-quarter profit of $291.6 million, or 82 cents a share, down from $297.2 million, or 83 cents a share, a year earlier... Revenue from truck and engine sales, as well as Paccar's in-house finance unit, fell 3.6 percent to $4.30 billion.The company said it now expects to sell 210,000 to 230,000 "Class 8" trucks - the biggest it makes - in North America this year, down from a previous forecast of 210,000 and 240,000.The company lowered its forecast for truck sales in Europe to a range of 210,000 to 230,000, down from a previous forecast of 210,000 to 235,000...
* Oregon - Unions end strike at Western Star plant in 

Portland,ORE,USA -Transport Topics -25 July 2013: -- Workers at Daimler Trucks North America’s Portland, Ore, plant that makes Western Star trucks have approved a contract, ending a three-week strike, the Oregonian newspaper reported... The Swan Island plant manufactures about 30 Western Star trucks a day... Members of machinists and painters unions began picketing the plant July 1 after employees voted to reject a proposed three-year contract that had been recommended by management and union leadership... Members of those unions approved new contracts, and employees represented by the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union, who had been respecting strike lines, also approved the contract’s terms... Daimler Trucks North America spokesman David Giroux said the company considers the contract details to be confidential, but confirmed the strike was settled, adding that DTNA is pleased that operations have resumed...
* Michigan - Ford to develop hybrid trucks solo after Toyota tie-up ends

(Photo: Bloomberg - Ford, the maker of the top-selling F-150 pickup truck, will develop its own rear-wheel drive hybrid system for trucks and SUVs, which will be available by the end of the decade)
Detroit,MICH,USA -The WSJ/Live MInt, by Deepa Seetharaman -Jul 24 2013: -- The two automakers will continue to develop ‘next-generation’ standards for on-board phone, navigation and entertainment systems... Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. ended their partnership to develop hybrid pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles after studying the feasibility of such a project for nearly two years, Ford said on Tuesday... Ford, maker of the top-selling F-150 pickup truck, will develop its own rear-wheel drive hybrid system for trucks and SUVs, which will be available by the end of the decade... The two automakers will continue to develop “next-generation” standards for on-board phone, navigation and entertainment systems, the US automaker said in a release...


* Louisiana - Pursues truck manufacturer's expansion

(Photo: Schwing America's: Booster Series II model truck) 
New Orleans,LOU,USA -The AP/The Miami Herald -24 July 2013: -- A Minnesota truck maker with a Chinese parent company plans a significant expansion, and Louisiana is among Southern states trying to win the new factory... Schwing America CEO, Brian Hazelton, tells he'd rather expand within his current area. But he says Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia are among Southern states courting the factory... Schwing America presently makes concrete pumper trucks. But parent Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group — which bought a majority stake in Schwing's German parent company last year — also makes excavators, loaders, dozers and cranes... Hazelton said XCMG sees Schwing as a bridge to making such vehicles in the United States... With the XCMG partnership, "there are significant opportunities for growth. It could be in the plant, or it could be elsewhere," Hazelton said...

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* Europe - TRUCKMAKER Volvo: Stronger-than-expected orders and earnings

* Sweden - Volvo shares rise as truck orders top forecasts

Stockholm,Sweden -Reuters, by Niklas Pollard and Helena Soderpalm –24 July 2013: -- World number two truck maker Volvo AB achieved stronger-than-expected orders and earnings in the second quarter as a recovery in demand gained pace in nearly all its main markets... Shares in Sweden’s largest private sector employer and biggest company by sales rose 2.9 percent in early trade, extending recent gains to hit their highest level in more than a month... Heavy truck markets are slowly picking up on both sides of the North Atlantic, as a need to replace ageing fleets bought during the boom years before the 2008 financial crisis overpowers lingering worries among haulers about the economy... Volvo said nothing new on production plans but noted the costs of ramping up production of a wide range of new vehicles would carry through into the coming months...


* New Jersey - Daimler’s 2Q North American sales, orders rise

(Photo: A  Cascadia,Freightliner Truck)
Montvale,NJ,USA -Transport Topics -24 July 2013: -- Daimler AG said Wednesday its second-quarter North American truck sales and orders rose from the same period last year... North American Free Trade Agreement regional unit sales rose 1% from a year ago to almost 35,000 units. U.S. unit sales, part of the Nafta region, gained 6% to just over 30,000... Nafta retail sales rose 21% year-over-year to almost 36,000, with orders jumping 42%. U.S. retail sales rose 24% to almost 30,600, with orders rising 41% to about 27,000 units... Total worldwide truck unit sales were up 1% from a year ago to almost 124,000 units, Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler said... Daimler, which reports its earnings in euros, said its worldwide truck unit’s earnings before interest and taxes fell 17% to about $573 million. Revenue slipped 2% to about $10.6 billion...


* UK - A baker’s dozen of Isuzus for DSL

(Photo: Isuzu 7.5 tonne rigid)
Wakefield,UK -Irish Trucker -24 July 2013: -- The proven success of the incumbent Isuzu 7.5 tonne rigids in its fleet, was a key factor behind the decision made by Deborah Services Ltd (DSL) to specify the Isuzu marque once again, when it came to replacing the majority of its 7.5 tonners... Following a successful growth period for the company, DSL has replaced these vehicles from its transport fleet with 13 new Isuzu Forward N75.190 4x2 rigids, all fitted with Isuzu’s popular Easyshift automated transmission. Each vehicle also incorporates a purpose-designed, detachable edge protection system, which has been specifically designed to enhance driver safety whilst working from the truck body...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:51 AM  0 comments

Jul 24, 2013

* Canada - Innovations cut big-truck fuel thirst

* British Columbia - Goals have been set to achieve 23.5 litres per 100 km.

(Photo by David Gaylor , Getty Images/iStockphoto - Our columnist writes trucks will soon meet the goal of consuming just 23.5 litres of fuel per 100 km travelled) 
Vancouver,BC,CAN -The Province, by J. G. Stirling -July 23, 2013: ... Nowadays, energy is the favoured buzzword. We are all supposed to be on the hunt for new and innovative ways to save, conserve, and reuse energy. No more wasting... Big rigs of today average about 39 litres per 100 km, or for some old-timers still on that other scale, 6 mpg. That’s not good enough in this day and age of energy conservation... Goals have been set to achieve 23.5 litres per 100 km. It may sound like a fantasy, but I for one do believe it will become reality, and in very short order no less... Fifteen trucking industry manufacturers have started to experiment with everything from engines to vehicle power demands, including idle reducing technology and use of new and lighter materials, such as carbon fibre and special higherstrength steel... A couple of well-known engine builders are developing workable systems that focus on recapturing the heat from the truck’s exhaust system and transforming it into reusable mechanical power... Piston sizes will become smaller, low friction pumps added, and the goal of a lower carbon footprint from each truck is starting to be realized... Just such a heat recovery system could increase one truck’s fuel economy by five per cent. That may seem a small number, but it is a very large advanced step on the energy trail... The transmissions are part of the equation too, as more and more automatics are being installed. This simple additional change has made it possible to lower the rig’s cruising speed down to approximately 1,200 rpm, and over the length of one rig’s trip, that represents major fuel conservation... The trucks and trailers are already becoming even more streamlined, to cut air resistance...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:34 AM  0 comments

TRUCKING MARKETS * USA

* Virginia - Fleets hauling more freight than ever but robust profits elusive 

(Photo)
Arlington,VA,USA -Transport Topics, by Daniel P. Bearth -22 July 2013: -- The largest trucking companies in the United States and Canada are hauling more freight than ever, but the slow pace of economic growth and the costs associated with increased government regulation is making it more difficult for many carriers to add capacity and invest in new equipment... While most of the companies on Transport Topics’ 2013 Top 100 For-Hire Carriers list reported higher revenue and profits, trucking executives said business is not sufficiently robust to justify expansion of their fleets... The latest TT100 list, based on carriers’ 2012 revenue, is published in this issue... Many carriers also took on debt during the economic downturn and aren’t yet profitable enough to attract new investment capital... A survey by Transport Topics shows that for-hire carriers plan to add an average of 206 company-owned tractors in the next 12 months, compared with an average of 367 acquired in the past 12 months, a drop of about 44% in planned purchases from one year to the next...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:03 AM  0 comments

CARGO THEFT * USA

* Texas - FreightWatch: Increase in cargo theft values buoyed by boosted booze 

(Photo, April 24, 2012: At least five police officers from the municipality of Juan C. Bonilla, in Puebla state were arrested for being involved with a gang of thieves that specialized in stealing combustibles. According to the Attorney General’s Office the gang used to pay bribes to police in exchange of protection and to avoid arrest) 
  Austin,TX,USA -Land Line, by Greg Grisolano -22 July 2013: -- The latest report on cargo thefts from commercial trucks in the U.S. shows a decrease in the frequency of such incidents, but an increase in the dollar value of the stolen merchandise... FreightWatch International’s latest quarterly report incorporates updated data from June of 2013. The organization, which specializes in tracking supply chain information and cargo thefts worldwide, notes that delays in incident reporting have caused “measurable increases” in the theft volumes they publish. Totals for this quarter are expected to surpass those of the first quarter of 2013... In the second quarter of 2013, FreightWatch recorded a total of 194 thefts in the U.S., with 45 instances in April, 66 in May and 83 in June. The average loss value per incident during the quarter was $164,594, a 27 percent increase in value and a 12 percent decrease in volume, compared with the same timeframe in 2012. Compared with the first quarter of this year, it represents a 4 percent increase in value and a 15 percent decrease in volume... OOIDA Security Operations Director, Doug Morris, said he’s skeptical of an overall decrease in theft occurrences...

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posted by Unknown @ 10:53 AM  0 comments

* USA - 1500 Peterbilts trucks to TMC Transportation

* Ohio  - TMC Transportation orders 1,500 Petes with lightweight Dana Spicer axles

(Photo: TMC Transportation has ordered 1,500 Peterbilt trucks with lightweight Dana Spicer axles)
Maumee,OH,USA -Truck News (CAN) -Jul 23, 2013: -- Dana has announced TMC Transportation has spec’d the lightweight Spicer Pro-40 tandem drive axle on its recent order for 1,500 Pete 579 highway tractors. TMC Transportation is one of the largest US flatbed firms and ordered 1,500 new tractors for delivery over the next two years as part of its standard replacement schedule. The Spicer Pro-40 is a 40,000-lb tandem drive axle that Dana says weighs nearly 100 lbs less than competitive offerings... 


* Ontario / Canada - Tallman Truck Centre delivers first International TerraStar 4x4

(Photo: Tallman Truck Centre's Harvey Butcher (right) hands the keys to the company's first TerraStar 4x4 to Schindler Elevator driver Adam Maisonneuve, while Schindler's field supervisor Jeff Couch looks on)
Oshawa,ONT,CAN -Truck News -Jul 19, 2013: -- Navistar has begun delivering its very first Canadian International TerraStar 4x4s, with Schindler Elevator receiving keys to one of the - if not the - first in Canada this past Wednesday... The truck, fitted with a flatdeck, will be used to transport elevator materials around the Greater Toronto Area... The 4x4 TerraStar was delayed coming to market, because Navistar opted to spend some extra time sourcing a more robust drive axle as well as a gear-driven transfer case. The result, the company claims, is a robust vehicle for applications that will see the truck operated on- and off-highway...

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posted by Unknown @ 10:20 AM  0 comments

TELEMATICS SYSTEM: Fuel Save Partner by Shell * UK

* England - Shell introduces in-cab screen for FuelSave Partner

London,EN,UK -Transport Engineer (UK) -23 July 2013: -- Shell's advanced telematics system for heavy goods vehicles, dubbed FuelSave Partner, now comes with the option of an in-cab screen, as of today Philip Williams, head of Shell Commercial fleet UK, explains that the tablet device connects directly to Shell FuelSave Partner, and allows communication between transport fleet managers and their drivers. He says it tracks vehicle fuel consumption, as well as driver performance, and helps fleet managers to identify areas for operational improvements, claiming a potential of up to 10%... Post-trip reports can also be provided, allowing drivers to analyse their performance, in terms of excessive idling, over-revving, acceleration, braking and use of cruise control...

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posted by Unknown @ 10:10 AM  0 comments

TRUCK-MAKERS STRIKE * USA

* Oregon - Daimler AG workers in Portland are out on strike

Portland,ORE,USA -NWLaborpress.org, by BY MIKE ELK -July 19, 2013: -- No trucks have been produced at the plant since 520 Machinists and 68 painters struck July 1... The Swan Island plant is the only site manufacturing Western Star trucks, which are specialized for use in logging, mining, and other industries... Members of Machinists Lodge 1005 and Sign Painters and Painter Makers Local 1094 walked out after rejecting a company offer that included raises of $1.30 an hour over three years. They’ve had no raises for four years, during which time productivity increased 25 percent. The company’s proposed raises would have been partially offset by increased health insurance co-pays. The company proposal also would eliminate supplemental health coverage after retirees turn 65...


* Michigan - Hino Trucks begins preventive service care program 

(Photo) 
Novi,MICH,USA -Transport Topics -22 July 2013: -- Hino Motor Sales USA, said it has begun a preventive service care program for its diesel trucks... The new service program covers standard checks and replacements in the first two years, or 60,000 miles, including engine oil, fuel filter, air filter replacements as well as transmission fluid, the company said... The company said the program, called HinoCare, is available for all 2013 and 2014 model year 195 double cab trucks delivered between July 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014...

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posted by Unknown @ 9:52 AM  0 comments

DREAM TRUCK: "Vicking Mafia" * Australia

* Australia - This Volvo is one mean machine

(Photo by Carly Morrissey - Jason Ryan from Viking Mafia with his FH16) 
Brisbane,Queensland,Australia -Big Rigs (UK) -22 July 2013: ... Jason Ryan owns truck customisation business Viking Mafia, his latest project involved turning a standard Volvo FH16 truck into the poster child for his business. The matt black Volvo bears the company name, leather trim on the fuel tank and wheel surrounds, an eight stack exhaust - Ryan said they all worked - a sword for a pogo stick and killer wheel spinners. Finished with viking murals the truck is Ryan's mean machine and one hell of a truck... It took about 10 months to build with colleague AJ, who did all the body and manufacturing work... Mostly Viking Mafia is a truck buying and selling business which focuses on late model, low kilometre quality trucks...

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posted by Unknown @ 9:32 AM  0 comments

TRUCKING INDUSTRY NEWS * Africa

* Kenya - Removes roadblocks to ease movement of goods 

(Photo: Trucks at Kenya’s Malaba border point transport goods to Uganda. Kenya-Uganda border has in recent months been experiencing congestion that left businesses with huge operational costs and disruptions due to delayed shipments)
Nairobi,Kenya -All Affrica, by EDWARD OJULU -22 July 2013: -- Rwandan truck drivers have welcomed the new move by the Kenyan government to remove police roadblocks between the coastal port city of Mombasa and Malaba, near the Ugandan border... Speaking in Kigali on Friday, Michael Kamau, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure said his country had removed the roadblocks to reduce non-tariff barriers along the Northern Corridor... According to Kamau, it is now up to Rwanda and Uganda to do the same to allow free movement of cargo along the corridor... The dismantling of the most cumbersome non-tariff barrier on the route came shortly after the recent meeting between President, Paul Kagame, and his counterparts Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in Kampala... The three Presidents issued some orders that are now being implemented...

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posted by Unknown @ 9:07 AM  0 comments

Jul 23, 2013

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Rheinmetall MAN trucks win $1.6 billion Australian defence contract

(Photo: One of the MAN Rheinmetall truck designs to be delivered to the Australian Defence Force) 
-AAP/The Australian News -July 23, 2013: -- German defence technology group Rheinmetall says its military vehicles joint venture with truck maker MAN has landed a $1.58 billion contract in Australia... As part of a modernisation program, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) would procure "some 2500 protected and non-protected logistic vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia", the statement said... The contract covered trucks "in a number of different weight classes in various configurations," Rheinmetall continued...
(Photo: One of the MAN Rheinmetall truck designs to be delivered to the Australian Defence Force) 
They would include medium and heavyweight recovery vehicles, heavy-duty logistic vehicles, integrated load handling systems, as well as medium-sized cargo bed variants with cranes, fuel and water modules and tipper bodies... Rheinmetall said RMMV had beaten leading European and US rivals to secure the contract...

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CAR MARKETS * Russia

* Russia - Poised to become 5th largest auto market 

Bostos,MASS,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -July 18, 2013: -- A new report says Russia could become the world’s fifth-largest auto market by the end of the decade... The report, from global firm Boston Consulting Group, projects that Russia’s auto market, which totals about 2.9 million sales annually, will grow at an annual rate of 6 percent through the end of the decade and surpass 4.4 million per year... Russia is currently seventh — it was tenth in 2009 — but will be aided in coming years by special government programs to entice citizens to buy cars. In addition, automakers like Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. have recently built plants in Russia for locally produced products... Only China, the U.S., India and Brazil will be larger auto markets by 2020, according to the BCG report. Russia will surpass Germany as the largest auto market in Europe by that time, though many in the industry expect that to happen in the next few years...

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CARMAKERS NEWS: Hiring workers on GM & Ford * USA

* Indiana - GM hires 400 workers at Indiana plant to rev up truck production 

Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Melissa Burden -July 23, 2013: -- General Motors Co. has added more than 400 hourly and salaried workers at its Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Roanoke, Ind., to help with production of GM’s revamped full-size trucks, which began in mid-July... The automaker hired the employees over the past 14 months as it prepared to begin building the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, plant spokeswoman Stephanie Jentgen said... 


* Michigan - Ford to hire 3,000 salaried employees 

Dearborn,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -July 23, 2013: -- Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it will hire 3,000 salaried employees this year, 800 more than its previous expectations... As many as 90 percent will be Michigan hires... Nearly 2,400 will be technical professionals in product development, manufacturing, quality, purchasing and information technology...

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GM 's AUTOS' RECALLS * USA

* DC - GM recalling 900 trucks for airbag issue 

Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -July 19, 2013: -- General Motors Co. said Friday it is recalling about 900 new pickups to replace passenger airbags that may be defective... GM said it is recalling 843 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra crew cabs in the U.S. to replace the passenger air bag that might not fully inflate in a crash. Less than 1 percent of the affected air bags in the recall may have this condition. The recall also includes 68 trucks in Canada and eight in Mexico...


* DC - 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport recalled over potential suspension issue

(Photo: 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport) 
Washington,DC,USA -The Car Connection, by Suzanne Kane -Jul 23, 2013: -- Mitsubishi is recalling certain 2013 model year Outlander Sport crossovers for a potential suspension issue that may lead to difficulty steering or braking... A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website puts the number of vehicles potentially affected by the recall at 305... According to the NHTSA bulletin, affected vehicles were built from January 17, 2013 through January 25, 2013... At issue is the possibility that an improper weld on the front left strut stabilizer may fail, causing damage to the brake hose or tire. If this happens, the driver could experience difficulty in steering and/or braking. Both increase the risk of a crash...

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* USA - TIRES RECALLS from Michelin

* DC - Michelin announces voluntary recall of 100K tires 

Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News/Associated Press, by Christopher S. Rugaber -July 20, 2013: -- Michelin is voluntarily recalling 100,000 tires after a retailer discovered that some had holes and quickly deflated... The recall affects certain sizes of Michelin’s LTX M/S 2, X Radial LT2 and Latitude Tour tires. The tires are typically used on light trucks and SUVs... The puncture, in the sidewall, was caused by machines used to handle the finished tires. The tires were made in Michelin’s Lexington, S.C. plant... There have been no reports of damage, death or injury. Michelin says about 2,500 of the recalled tires may have the defect...

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posted by Unknown @ 3:45 PM  0 comments

Jul 22, 2013

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA

* Michigan - New GM Half-Tons set to lose more weight

(Photo: _GM's pickup truck model MG 1195II) 
Detroit,MICH,USA -The Car Connection, by Mark Williams -July 21, 2013: -- It's no secret that a significant part of every small and large truck maker's design strategy will have to include a considerable amount of weight loss. Even with the huge improvements and advancements in powertrain technology, the biggest and best results in meeting the ever-escalating governmental fuel economy requirements will come in the form of weight savings... Rumors have been swirling around for years that the next-gen Ford F-150, seen several times in past spy photo stories, will reportedly include more high-strength steel, carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium in just about every combination you can imagine. We've already seen several pickup truck makers use aluminum and high-strength plastics in hoods, decks, and doors to save weight and we're likely to see even more as each of the big pickup truck makers refresh and redesign their highly profitable big trucks...

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posted by Unknown @ 7:23 AM  0 comments

CARMAKERS BANKRUPTCY * Europe

* Italy - De Tomaso files for bankruptcy, again

Modena,Italy -Motor Authority (USA), by Viknesh Vijayenthiran -Jul 6, 2012: -- Despite the grand visions of its latest owner, former Fiat executive Gian Mario Rossignolo, legendary Italian sports car brand De Tomaso has announced it has filed for bankruptcy... The announcement comes after a long period of uncertainty and a failed attempt to secure a Chinese buyer for the struggling brand... Rossignolo bought the rights to the De Tomaso name in 2009 after the original company went bankrupt several years prior...


* USA - City Of Detroit files for bankruptcy 

Detroit,MICH,USA -Motor Authority, by Viknesh Vijayenthiran -Jul 18, 2013: -- Detroit, once America’s fourth biggest city and still the heart of the country’s auto industry, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in a federal court late on Thursday. With a current population of approximately 700,000, it means Detroit is now the biggest municipal to ever file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S.... The approval came from Michigan Governor, Richard Snyder, based on a recommendation from the city’s emergency manager Kevyn Orr. The city had failed to negotiate a reduction on debts totaling $18.5 billion, owed to creditors and unions, some of which are pension boards and insurers...


* Michigan - NAIAS boss: Detroit bankruptcy won't affect auto show 

Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Michael Martinez -July 19, 2013: -- Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO, Larry Alexander, said Friday he’s received quite a few calls from concerned conventioneers over the city’s bankruptcy filing. The North American International Auto Show is not one of them... The city’s signature car show, set for Jan. 13-26, will go on despite Detroit’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing... As for the NAIAS, quite interestingly, there is no impact. Since Cobo Center became independent of the city and is managed and operated by a regional authority, no funding from the city is needed for Cobo...

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posted by Unknown @ 7:06 AM  0 comments