Mack offers glimpse of truck to come

Cubs acquire Quintana in blockbuster trade with White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs found the pitching help they were looking for just a few miles from Wrigley Field. They hope it will give the scuffling team the kick it needs.

Jardine Transport acquires R.E.M.

Volvo Issues Upbeat Trucking Forecast Heading Into Fall

Volvo executives (left to right) John Mies, Rikard Orell, Jason Spence, Magnus Koeck and Göran Nyberg celebrate the launch of the new VNL tractor in New River, VA, on July 12, 2017.

By day's end, with the new VNL launch behind them and the cocktail reception kicking off, the mood among Volvo Trucks North American executives was positively jubilant. The press debut of the new tractor had gone off without a hitch. And even more exciting, from the executives' point of view, order books for the new truck had opened earlier in the day to enthusiastic responses from Volvo customers. And while he declined to give specifics, one Volvo official described the response from North American fleets and dealerships as “phenomenal.”

It was a fitting cap to an upbeat day, which included an optimistic update on the state of the North American truck market for the year to date by Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo's global Truck operations.

Because Volvo is one of the largest truck and engine manufacturers in the world today, Nilsson naturally began by looking at global market conditions, citing the company's current 17% marketshare in Europe while noting that Volvo is now the “leading” truck OEM in Russia, with 23% share in that market. The United States remains the largest truck market in the world, he added, with Germany in second place.

South American markets are generally strong, Nilsson said, although demand in Brazil is currently weak. Core markets in Asia and Africa, including South Korea, Japan, and South Africa are also strong – although Nilsson said demand in oil-producing countries is flat.

In North America, Nilsson says Volvo feels the market has flattened out and is looking for upward sales pressure moving into the second half of 2017 – a trend he is confident the new ...Read the rest of this story

Volvo Issues Upbeat Truck Forecast Heading into Fall

Volvo executives (left to right) John Mies, Rikard Orell, Jason Spence, Magnus Koeck and Göran Nyberg celebrate the launch of the new VNL tractor in New River, VA, on July 12, 2017. Photo: Jack Roberts

By day's end, with the new VNL launch behind them and the cocktail reception kicking off, the mood among Volvo Trucks North America executives was positively jubilant.

The press debut of the new tractor had gone off without a hitch. And even more exciting, from the executives' point of view, order books for the new truck had opened earlier in the day to enthusiastic responses from Volvo customers. And while he declined to give specifics, one Volvo official described the response from North American fleets and dealerships as “phenomenal.”

It was a fitting cap to an upbeat day, which included an optimistic update on the state of the North American truck market for the year to date by Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo's global truck operations.

Because Volvo is one of the largest truck and engine manufacturers in the world today, Nilsson naturally began by looking at global market conditions, citing the company's current 17% market share in Europe while noting that Volvo is now the “leading” truck OEM in Russia, with 23% share in that market. The United States remains the largest truck market in the world, he added, with Germany in second place.

South American markets are generally strong, Nilsson said, although demand in Brazil is currently weak. Core markets in Asia and Africa, including South Korea, Japan, and South Africa are also strong – although Nilsson said demand in oil-producing countries is flat.

In North America, Nilsson said Volvo feels the market has flattened out and is looking for upward sales pressure moving into the second half of 2017 – a trend he is confident ...Read the rest of this story

Biodiesel Blooms from Algae in Chile

Image: National Biodiesel Board

Scientists at the Catholic University in Santiago, Chile contend that if biodiesel made from microalgae is used to power trucks and buses, it could cut GHG emissions by as much as 80%, according to a Reuters report.

Such a reduction would be especially helpful to reduce air pollution in heavily contaminated cities. “What is new about our process is the intent to produce this fuel from microalgae, which are microorganisms," researcher Carlos Saez told Reuters.

He said the key will be to produce a sufficient volume of microalgae. Fortunately, the South American country is blessed with an array of both fresh and salt water algaes.

Reuters also reported that Saez said the scientists are working to improve algae-growing technology “to ramp up production at a low cost using limited energy.”

Most of the world's biodiesel, which is produced primarily to cut dependence on petroleum-based fuels, Reuters noted, is derived from soybean oil. Biodiesel can also be produced from animal fat as well as canola and palm oils.

Related: Truckstop Group Urges Congress to Extend Biodiesel Tax Credit

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Volvo Pushes Forward