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Feb 26, 2014

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA: Tighter fuel-efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks

* Maryland - Obama draws mixed response to fighter fuel standards for heavy trucks

Upper Marlboro,MD,USA -Forbes, by Robert Bowman -21 Feb 2014: -- President Obama is drawing a mixed response from industry to his recent call for tighter fuel-efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks... He called EPA and DOT to work with industry on developing new technologies for meeting whatever standard might emerge, including  improvements in engine efficiency, aerodynamics, truck weight and tire-rolling resistance. In addition, manufacturers could deploy new systems for automatic engine shutdown, more efficient air conditioning and hybrid power... Heavy-duty trucks, defined as having a gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds, make up just 4 percent of all vehicles on American highways. Yet they are responsible for 20 percent of the carbon pollution produced by the nation’s transportation sector, said Obama... Jason Mathers, senior manager with the Environmental Defense Fund, estimated that the first generation of rules will save shippers around 9 cents a mile in freight costs. Fuel accounts for 40 percent of the cost of moving a truck, he said... That the President’s message was endorsed by an environmental group should come as no surprise. But major trucking interests appear to be on board as well. Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. and truck maker Peterbilt Motors Co. (part of PACCAR) have embraced the U.S. Department of Energy’s SuperTruck program, launched to improve the efficiency of the heaviest trucks on the road. A joint demonstration last month by the two companies showed off a tractor-trailer that got 10.7 miles to the gallon in real-world driving conditions. Most heavy trucks today get around 6 MPG...


* North Carolina - Volvo’s North America truck deliveries jump

(Photo: TT file) 
Greensboro,NC,USA -Transport Topics -20 Feb 2014: -- Volvo Group’s truck deliveries in North America jumped 113% in January over a year earlier... The Volvo brand’s deliveries increased 209% to 2,433 vehicles, the truck maker said Feb. 20. The change was largely due to two “down-weeks” in January 2013, resulting in only 788 deliveries... Mack Trucks delivery 1,733 vehicles in North America in January, a 53% increase, Volvo reported... Globally, Volvo’s deliveries grew 26% over last year to 13,612 units. The increase was led by heavy-duty trucks, which saw a 35% gain, while light- and medium-duty trucks both decreased... The Volvo brand saw the largest rise globally, a 51% increase to 8,422 units, the company said. Volvo has decreased European production, predicting a drop-off in demand because customers pre-bought trucks before a January 2014 emissions standard took effect...


* Illinois - Navistar to shift production from Alabama to UAW plant

Warrensville,ILL,USA -Daily Kos, by Short Bus -FEB 21, 2014: ... Navistar just announced that they will be shifting production of their mid-range engines from their non-union Huntsville, Alabama plant to their UAW plant in Melrose Park, Illinois... Commercial truck maker Navistar International Corp., will close an engine plant in Alabama this summer as it moves to eliminate excess production capacity and consolidate its engine lineup for medium-size trucks... The closure of the plant in Huntsville will result in the loss of about 280 jobs and generate savings of about $22 million a year. Production at that plant will be shifted to an engine plant near Chicago, which will add about 75 workers... Of course, neither the WSJ article cited, or other sources I checked, mentioned the union status of the facilities. Probably because labor costs aren't the driving factor in many business decisions and wasn't related to the issue being discussed. However, if the story was about production being shifted to the South, we know what the headlines would be screaming, relevent or not...

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