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Truck Technology Is Global and Local

Germany's Daimler Trucks this year announced that it is pushing its global platform strategy beyond the existing modular drivetrain components. Photos: Daimler Trucks

"Think globally, act locally” could well be the mantra of any large-scale builder of trucks, engines, and major components headquartered anywhere in the world today. The same could be said of every type of top supplier in the global marketplace, from oil companies to tire makers.

Increasingly, automotive manufacturers and associated industries are becoming intertwined on a global level in unprecedented ways. Consolidation has swept through both the passenger and trucking segments of the industry, creating massive corporate entities designing and selling products that serve every corner of the globe. At the same time, skyrocketing research and development costs and new, globally coordinated emissions standards have forced OEMs to move to global products platforms to contain costs and meet varying levels of emission regulations effectively.

And yet, trucks sold in North America today differ widely from models sold in Europe or Asia. The more you pop the industry's hood and poke about looking for signs of a global truck, the more you may think such a machine may never get built. Moreover, if you talk to North America OEMs, you quickly discover that not everyone can even agree on what a “global truck” is, or ought to be.

“From my experience, the term global truck is often thought of as a truck that meets the needs of all markets across the globe,” says Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt's chief engineer. He says where we are now involves “leveraging technologies that are being developed globally and applying them most appropriately to each individual market to benefit customers.”

Wade Long, Volvo Trucks North America's director of product marketing, says that from an OEM's perspective, a global truck comes down to working with a common architecture and ...Read the rest of this story

Mexico truck market keeps growing

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO. For the third year in a row, the Mexican Class 8 truck market will show double digit growth, beating 2015 sales by 20% if it hits the projected 26,000 units, according to Stefan Kurschner, president and CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Mexico. Overall Class 4-8 truck sales are expected to near 33,000 units for an 18% increase over last year.

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Volvo Assembly Plant Donates Truck to Local High Schools

New River Valley Assembly Plant is awarding a 2009 Volvo highway tractor to Pulaski County High Schools for the creation of curriculum for high school students to learn fundamental truck systems, assembly and repair techniques. Photo: Volvo Trucks

Volvo Trucks New River Valley Assembly Plant in Dublin, Vir. is awarding a 2009 Volvo highway tractor to Virginia's Pulaski County High Schools for the creation of a curriculum for students.

The truck features a Volvo D16 16-liter engine with 600 horsepower and will be used to teach students fundamental truck systems, assembly and repair techniques.

“Securing a sustainable future for our families, communities and business partners starts here in the New River Valley Plant with the education and development of our youth,” said Franky Marchand, vice president and general manager of NRV. “As professional truck builders, our people deliver premier products and strive to assure the ultimate customer experience through continuous improvement and personal development.”

The Ttuck was presented to Pulaski County High School Superintendent Kevin Siers at the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Business Fair at New River Valley.

“We work to inspire the next generation of truck builder through community- and industrial-based events, such as National Manufacturing Day,” Marchand said. “Activities based on the sciences and engineering are one way to lay the foundation for jobs in the future. Add hands-on training in manufacturing to the educational mix and you create a win-win opportunity for the student and our community.”

Related: Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Technicians and Drivers

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2018 New Cascadia: Tour the Cab

2018 New Cascadia: Exterior Walk Around

Helping Others Isn’t Limited to the Holidays

Braydon Martin is all smiles in a Make-A-Wish Convoy truck. (Photo courtesy RoadPro Family of Brands)

Who can resist a feel-good story about helping others, especially this time of year? We've gotten several announcements about companies helping ensure a happy holiday for disadvantaged kids. But here's a story about an event that helps kids every year that happens in May.

When Brayton Martin gets behind the wheel of a semi in the Mother's Day Truck Convoy, anyone within earshot knows it. He lays on the horn. The longer and louder, the better.
“I mean, he honks the horn the entire time,” says Brayton's mom, Lisa Martin. “God bless the truck driver, he lets (Brayton) honk.”

Lisa had heard the horns before as a volunteer for the convoy in her hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but she never imagined that one day that her son would be a Make-A-Wish child, riding in the cab with a trucker.

The annual Make-A-Wish Mother's Day Convoy in Lancaster raises money for Make-A-Wish of Philadelphia, Northern Delaware and Susquehanna Valley. This year, 590 trucks participated and many of them had special passengers in the cab. The folks at RoadPro, the primary sponsor, shared this story about how the truckers' generosity has helped one family.

Born in 2009, Brayton was diagnosed at two months old with a rare immunodeficiency called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). In his first year, he underwent a bone marrow transplant and months of chemotherapy as he battled the incurable condition and side effects.

The best care available was at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, which is where Brayton spent much of his first three years of life. His compromised immune system limited contact with everyone but family and medical personnel.

When he was 4 years old, his doctors said it would be safe for the family to take a trip. They chose ...Read the rest of this story