Archive for April, 2008
Monday, April 7th, 2008
The Smart Fortwo and a hulking SUV may seem far apart, but they do have something in common: The use of each requires careful consideration.
No one should buy a two-passenger, limited luggage, Smart car for regular long-distance driving, carting family and gear, or even fetching a lot of groceries. And no one would use today’s test vehicle, the 2008 Toyota Sequoia SUV, for heavy-duty commuting, solitary long-distance trips, or even for an endless number of quick trips around town. That’s how these hulking beasts were used by too many drivers in the past, but the soaring price of gas is putting the brakes on at least some old-style SUV yahoos.
That’s not to say that the Sequoia does not have its place. It’s good for towing - even heavy towing - and for carrying gear and seven passengers in three rows of seating and expandable cargo space. And it’s certainly designed for family-oriented, long-distance vacationing.
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Friday, April 4th, 2008
Volvo (VOLVb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research), the world’s second-largest truck maker, said on Tuesday shipments of its trucks rose 54 percent in February from a year ago, lifted by firm demand in Europe and the acquisition of Japan’s Nissan Diesel.
The Swedish firm delivered 22,100 trucks in February compared with 14,313 a year earlier, it said. Deliveries of its core heavy-duty truck range rose 32 percent.
The firm is contending with widely different market conditions in Europe and in North America, traditionally its biggest markets for heavy-duty trucks.
In the United States, heavy-duty truck sales contracted sharply at the start of last year when a buying spree — sparked by new emissions rules — ended.
While a rebound was expected during the second half of 2007, the swelling subprime mortgage crisis and grim outlook for the U.S. economy has delayed a pick-up in demand.
Volvo, which sells trucks under the Renault, Mack and Nissan Diesel brands as well as its own name, shipped 1,854 trucks in North America in February, down 20 percent from last year.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Imagine going to the local grocery store and the shelves are empty. Orders were placed and shipments were loaded, but no deliveries will be coming because all the big rigs are parked along the country’s interstates.
That is what Jason Jones, owner-operator of Laurens County Truck Sales, says could happen this week if thousands of independent truckers across the country park their rigs in a show of solidarity.
At issue is the lack of regulated federal guidelines and the compensation structure for independent truckers.
While fuel costs are a major concern, truckers say the culprit is shippers not paying accordingly to move freight. Overall, a pay rate increase has not happened in two years while the cost of maintaining their trucks has increased.
“Independent truckers haul everything,” Jones said, “if you can think it — we haul it. Every tangible item that you have ever seen, held, or used was delivered by at least one, if not more trucks.”
That is why he hopes the effect of the strike will garner attention. The Dudley businessman sells heavy duty trucks and runs loads from ports in Savannah, Charleston, S.C. and Jacksonville, Fla. He foretells of empty stores, supplies running low, increasing demands and prices on everything soaring as a result.
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Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
Mack Trucks says its newest heavy-haul vehicle is the most powerful truck the company has built in its 108-year history.
The Titan by Mack is designed for extreme-duty transport and heavy construction applications, and is powered by the mighty new Mack MP10 engine, a 16-liter modern-day workhorse with a top rating of 605 hp and a massive 2,060 lb-ft of torque.
Mack introduced the Titan model at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008 Exposition in Las Vegas this week.
The company boasts that the Titan is also the boldest-looking Mack model ever. It was designed to deliver “the attitude and torque required for hauling the heavy loads,” while incorporating advanced engineering for excellent visibility, productivity and driver comfort.
Customers may pre-order Titan trucks with Mack dealers now, with deliveries scheduled to begin late this year.
“The Titan model is an all-out Mack — strong and bold,” said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing. “One look at this truck and you know it was engineered to handle the meanest jobs — logging, oil fields, heavy equipment or severe heavy haul.”
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