Commercial vehicle registrations down: IHS Markit

PwC: Global M&A Activity Stayed Stable in First Quarter

Photo: Evan Lockridge

In its Q1 2017 update on M&A activity in the global transportation and logistics space, PricewaterhouseCoopers (d.ba. PwC) reports that deal activity in the quarter remained stable.

“While total deal value grew by 2%, deal volume declined by 9%,” said the global management-services firm. “As anticipated, given the recent structural changes in the category, Shipping deal activity picked up. Logistics continued to be an active category, although not to the levels experienced in late 2015 and early 2016. While not traditionally active in M&A, the Rail category delivered the largest deal of the quarter, a $2.1 billion acquisition of Florida East Coast Railway by Infraestructura y Transportes Mexico.”

Meanwhile, the Passenger Air category continued to drive most deal value in the sector, recording two megadeals in Q1. On the other hand, after heightened activity seen through mid-2016, “deal activity in the Trucking category appears to have tempered.”

Yet, added PwC, the recent Swift-Knight merger announcement ”suggests the forces driving M&A in the category continue to exist.”

PwC explained that M&A activity has slowed, as indicated by the drop-off in deal volume for Q1, which broke an upward trend. However, total deal value remained “relatively stable,” increasing by 2% to $18.2 billion in Q1. In addition, the firm found that average deal size is continuing to decline from the peak set in as of Q4 15. PwC attributed that to “a drop in megadeals across all categories.”

It was noted that there were three megadeals in Q1 17 exceeding a disclosed value of $1.0 billion, up from two in Q4 16 and down from four in Q1 16. PwC said these transactions represent 27% of the total disclosed deal value for the quarter.

Looking at the activity regionally, PwC said that the vast Asia & Oceania region continued to see the highest target and ...Read the rest of this story

MitFuso Opens Truck Power Charging Station in Japan

customers.”

The “FUSO EV power charger” consists of eight chargers in two locations, which provide DC 50-500 Volt, 125 Ampere via CHAdeMO, and CHAdeMO Compo charging plugs. (Photo courtesy of FUSO)

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) inaugurated the first public power charging station dedicated to trucks in Japan, directly outside its Kawasaki manufacturing facility in the presence of media and guests from the Japanese Government and local Kawasaki Administration.

The move comes in preparation for the launch of the all-electric FUSO eCanter later this year that will be the first series-produced electric truck sold in the market by an established automotive brand. Similar preparations are occurring in other key countries, including the United States, an important growth market for FUSO.

The President and CEO of MFTBC, Marc Llistosella, said at the occasion, “I am convinced that electric trucks are the future of inner-city distribution. By developing and testing electric trucks since 2010, and launching our eCanter this year, FUSO becomes the frontrunner in electric trucks.” Pointing out the importance of the establishment of a charging network, he continued, “With the inauguration of our FUSO EV power charger, we want to highlight the need for a robust network of charging stations in mega-cities like Tokyo, to help propel the use of electric trucks. To achieve this, we will closely cooperate with the government and our progressive customers.”

The “FUSO EV power charger” consists of eight chargers in two locations, which provide DC 50-500 Volt, 125 Ampere via CHAdeMO, and CHAdeMO Compo charging plugs. It is capable of rapidly charging up to eight electric trucks (or passenger cars) simultaneously, and will be open for public use.

Participating in the event as honorary guests, Director General of METI, Toshihide Kasutani, and Mayor of Kawasaki City, Norihiko Fukuda, welcomed the initiative of Mitsubishi Fuso.

Related: Mitsubishi ...Read the rest of this story

The Purkeys Boss System Keeps Dump Trailer Batteries Ready

Purkeys' Boss Dump Trailer Charging System is designed to keep dump trailer batteries charged and ready to use.

The Boss system works by keeping the dump trailer battery connected to the battery of the vehicle. While the engine is turned on, the dump trailer battery is constantly charging to ensure that it is operational when the driver is ready to use it.

It connects to a seven-way trailer harness and includes an LED indicator light to quickly show drivers that the system is working properly. By boosting the voltage going into the dump trailer battery, the system is designed to be effective and reliable and it is also able to keep batteries charged in cold weather.

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Peterbilt upgrades Model 520, adds vocational axle

Peterbilt Motors Co. recently showed off an electric battery-drive demonstration version of its Model 520 vocational chassis, while unveiling three new cab configurations for that model as well.

The OEM also said it is adding the new PACCAR 20,000-lb. and 22,000-lb. wide track steer axles to its vocational chassis lineup.

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Economic Watch: Retail Sales Bounce Back along with Inflation Pressures

Retail sales in the U.S. bounced back in April after falling the month before as two readings of inflation also rebounded, all raising the prospect that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates again in June.

The 0.4% increase in retail sales fell short of Wall Street expectations of a 0.6% hike and follows an upwardly revised 0.1% decline in March. Compared to April 2016, retail sales last month moved up 4.5%, according to a Commerce Department report released Friday.

Leading the increase was a 12.3% jump in sales of gasoline from a year earlier while non-store retailers reported an 11.9% hike. In contrast, sales at department stores last month fell 0.2% from the month before but online retailers reported an increase of 1.4%, the strongest month-over-month gain of any category.

According to RBC Economics Research, spending over the last two months is in line with the view that the slowing in first quarter consumer spending growth was more the result of “normal” volatility in the data and a weather-related pull-back in utilities consumption than the beginning of a new weaker trend.

“Strong employment growth, rising wages and consumer confidence, and the still simulative stance of monetary policy [by the Federal Reserve] are all pointing to a solid household spending backdrop and the recent data remains in line with our forecast for a 2.8% increase in consumer expenditures in the second quarter that we expect will support a 2.9% increase in gross domestic product, following the surprisingly modest 0.7% annualized gain,” said Nathan Janzen, RBC senior economist.

Meantime, separate reports show inflation is rising at both the retail and the wholesale levels, according to two separate Commerce Department reports.

The Consumer Price Index, the main gauge of retail inflation, increased 0.2% in April following a 0.3% drop in March, due in ...Read the rest of this story

Jacobs and DTNA sign long-term agreement

Jacobs Vehicle Systems announced it has just signed a new long-term agreement with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) to ensure its long-standing partnership continues well into the future.

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