ATLANTA. A wide-ranging “talk show” format press conference held by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) at the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show highlighted numerous product additions, upgrades and tweaks by the OEM.
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...Read the rest of this storyC.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a new multi-client marketing research study covering interest, use, and satisfaction of U.S. fleet operators with Mobile Resource Management systems and services.
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...Read the rest of this storyThe inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show held in Atlanta, GA, is a venue touted for bringing together all of the major truck, trailer, and component manufacturers that serve the trucking industry – providing fleet owners and managers the opportunity to check out new products and technologies along with upgrades to current stock. Here's an initial look at this new industry venue. (All photos: Sean Kilcarr/Fleet Owner)
...Read the rest of this storyATLANTA. In a world where trucks are able to fully drive themselves, there still will be a role for the commercial driver. But that role is going to change.
Michael Cammisa, vice president of safety policy, connectivity and technology, for the American Trucking Assns., discussed technology, policy and businesses perspectives as they relate to driving change in automated trucking during TU-Automotive's Connected Fleets conference here in Atlanta.
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...Read the rest of this storyPhoto by XL Hybrids.
">Photo by XL Hybrids.
">XL Hybrids will begin producing its XL3R hybrid electric drive system for 2018 Ford Super Duty F-250 pickups in the first quarter of 2018, the vehicle modifier told Heavy Duty Trucking in an exclusive interview.
The company has adapted its XL3 powertrain technology for the F-250 trucks based on demand from fleet customers who are seeking even better fuel efficiency from Ford's popular three-quarter-ton work trucks.
“Ford has been a longtime partner of XL Hybrids and has been very helpful in our product development efforts and after having success with the E-Series and Transit vans solution,” said Clay Siegert, co-founder and COO. “Looking at what models were most popular with commercial fleets, F-Series pickup trucks were the natural extension of what we've been doing. We've had significant inbound interest for this product on the F-250, a tried and true work truck that's used for hauling, towing, really heavy duty fleet operations, so fleets are looking to improve the MPG.”
This will be the first time that Ford F-250 trucks can be ordered by fleet customers with hybrid-electric drive technology, according to the company. While adapted specifically for the F-250, the system will continue to offer up to a 25% increase in miles per gallon, as well as the accompanying reductions in CO2 emissions.
“It is the same platform product architecture that we've used for the hybrid product we've been selling for five years with 51 million real-world miles on them,” added Ed Lovelace, chief technology officer of XL Hybrids.
The XL3 system will be offered as a ship-thru upfit on 2018 F-250 pickups and will be compatible with a range of wheelbases, cab and bed configurations in both 4x2 and 4x4 options. According to Siegert, XL Hybrids is working with a range of upfitters and will be making formal announcement of preferred ...Read the rest of this story
Göran Nyberg speaking at NACV show. Photo: Evan Lockridge
">Göran Nyberg speaking at NACV show. Photo: Evan Lockridge
">ATLANTA-- Alluding to Volvo's rollout of not one but two new trucks in the past few month, Volvo Trucks North America President Göran Nyberg kicked off the company's presser here at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show on Sept. 25 by declaring “it's a great year to introduce a new truck.”
Nyberg said that's because market conditions remain strong, with the OEM forecasting a NAFTA Class 8 market of 225,000 units for this year. He added that he “would not be surprised” if that figure ended up higher. Nyberg also said he's currently predicting that “next year, [truck] sales will be stronger” than in 2017.
“The highway business has come back in a strong way,” he said, xplaining what is driving the Class 8 market. “And manufacturing is coming back and construction spending is up, too.”
He said a strong labor market coupled with a rise in consumer spending is driving GDP growth. Nyberg added that the “rebounding manufacturing sector” is expected to see moderate growth next year while construction spending—already at “an all-time high”-- will continue to gradually increase. On top of that, he pointed out that diesel prices ae low and forecast to rise only slightly in 2018.
Nyberg said market growth was being supported by Volvo and its dealers. He said the OEM now has a dealership count of “420 and growing” and said dealers have together invested $600 million since 2010 to grow their parts and service capabilities.
He said these investments have to date yielded 65 added locations as well as a 51% increase in bay capacity; 80% in service capacity; 116% in technicians; and a whopping 312% in master techs. He added that there are “another 13 dealer locations in the pipeline.”
Magnus Koeck, vice president of marketing and brand management, highlighted ...Read the rest of this story
“Navistar is now writing the next chapter of our story,” said Troy A. Clarke, chairman, president and CEO, Navistar. Photo: Evan Lockridge
">“Navistar is now writing the next chapter of our story,” said Troy A. Clarke, chairman, president and CEO, Navistar. Photo: Evan Lockridge
">ATLANTA – The Navistar-Volkswagen Truck & Bus Alliance has borne fruit faster than either company expected, and officials announced Monday at the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show. they will develop a proprietary, integrated powertrain; a common connected vehicle and cloud platform; and an electric-powered Class 6/7 truck.
Navistar expects to be in a position to launch its first medium-duty electric powered vehicle for the U.S. and Canadian markets in late 2019 or early 2020.
"We believe the Class 6/7 vehicle is ideal for electric powertrain solutions in the near term, given its abundance of packaging space, and that these vehicles typically run short distances and can depot to recharge at the end of the day,” said Troy A. Clarke, chairman, president and CEO, Navistar.
Clarke pointed out that Navistar was “probably ahead of its time” when it launched the eStar electric vehicle back in 2010, “but we never gave up believing there is an application for electric commercial vehicles in the North American commercial vehicle market,” he said.
Clarke also noted that electric power for commercial vehicles is particularly growing in urban areas, “where congestion often leads to air quality issues.”
In fact, Volkswagen has already delivered the first 10 electric trucks to an Austrian customer for testing, said Andreas Renschler, CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus. “For us, the customer's view is first and foremost in priority. If the customer tells us what he or she wants to do with electric trucks we can deliver.”
Renschler said he couldn't answer media questions about things like how many such vehicles they expect to sell, because “Of course it depends on customers. The question for us is not to tell them what ...Read the rest of this story
