Trucks

The Latest New Model

Here’s an introduction to the latest new model from Mack, the Anthem. This new truck was unveiled in the US last month with plenty of fanfare and dry ice. It represents the Mack brand in the US coming up with a more modern look while still retaining the ‘traditional’ Mack look and feel. This, in itself, is a difficult feat to achieve, as Mack had always lacked a genuinely contemporary image.
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Autonomous Trucks Are Unstoppable

Whether we like it or not, autonomous trucks are unstoppable, the progress being made is substantial. Diesel News talks to one of those working hard behind the scenes, Hayder Wokil, who runs the Volvo autonomous research program. The job title held by Volvo’s Hayder Wokil doesn’t really tell us much. He is the Mobility and Automation Director, but when asked what exactly it is he does do, the laconic Hayder replies, “the question really should be, what doesn’t he do?” This suggests the role is a wide-ranging one and one which will change as new developments come along.
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Langworthy Stepping Down, an Isuzu Concept and an Electric Truck with 350km Range

Keeping up with the world of trucks, the news this week is about Peter Langworthy Stepping Down, an Isuzu Concept and an Electric Truck with 350km Range. At the Tokyo Motor Show, Fuso Trucks announced it will electrify its complete range of trucks and buses in upcoming years. The show saw the unveiling of the E-Fuso, an all-electric heavy-duty truck concept with a range of up to 350 m. Named E-Fuso Vision One, it is said to mark the top end of the electrification path of the company’s portfolio in the upcoming years.
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Highway Hero, Hino Expansion, VW Plan and Cummins Getting Batteries

We hear about a Highway Hero, Hino Expansion, VW Plan and Cummins Getting Batteries in Diesel News this week. Capability and confidence is at a high for Hino with increased involvement from five of Australia’s largest automotive and commercial vehicle retail groups. “During 2017 and 2018, we will open three new Hino dealerships and upgrade four existing sites to meet increased demand,” said Bill Gillespie, Hino Australia’s General Manager Brand and Franchise Development. “It is significant that we have increased investment from five of Australia’s largest automotive and commercial vehicle retail groups in key locations across the country, namely Automotive Holding Group/AHG (Coffs Harbour), Sci Fleet (Eagle Farm, Brisbane), CMV Group (Laverton, Melbourne), AP Eagers (Mascot, Sydney) and the Suttons family-owned group (Arndell Park, Sydney).
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DAF Looks Good on Saving Fuel

Following the latest release in Europe, Diesel News’ Europe Correspondent, Brian Weatherley, reckons DAFs look good on saving fuel. He has seen them, and driven them. DAF says its latest CF and XF represent ‘pure excellence’.  According to Ron Borsboom, DAF’s chief engineer, director of product development and board member: “One of the things where we feel we do a pretty good job is we are close to our customers, and we understand what the requirements and needs of our customers are.”
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Hino 500 Series Models and Hino Traq

They arrived together – the new Hino 500 Series models and Hino Traq telematics and monitoring system. What better opportunity to test-drive the two new offerings side by side? Using the Traq system to see how well or how poorly Diesel News Editor, Tim Giles, performed out on the road, but, more importantly, how the trucks fared. The FG 1628 is a Japanese truck through and through. With 280hp on tap and an Allison 3000 six-speed, running in a 4×2 configuration with an average load on, this is an easy drive. The Allison helps with the quality of the drive and tries manfully to get the most out of the exhaust brake when slowing the truck. Read More

Bigger Van in a New Configuration

Renault is offering a bigger van in a new configuration. The Renault van product has grown to be a major part of the French car-makers sales in Australia. For example, while the Renault Trafic van sold just over 200 in 2007, it is expected to top ten times that amount in 2017, at over 2,000. Now, as interest in the brand continues to rise, Renault are expanding the number of options available to the van buyer. One of the recent additions is the Trafic Crew Cab.
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New Scania, Trucking Optimism, a Major Fine and Electric Axles

The news from Diesel this week shows evidence of a new Scania, trucking optimism, a major fine and electric axles, with stories from around the world. Images of the next generation Scania driving on Australian roads have started to appear on social media, as the Swedish truck maker run the new models in a, far from secret, evaluation program.  Read More

Keeping Track of Tippers

In a busy operations office, it’s difficult keeping track of tippers. Tippers run grain from the farmer’s paddock into grain storage at harvest time, and haul grain out of storage facilities to the ports, or wherever it is bound, for the rest of the year. “We started in trucks back in 1998,” says Peter Parslow, Castlemac Traders (CMT) Operations Manager and Freight Coordinator. “CMT was formed as the transport division of Agrigrain. They are a seed business and grain trader, so we needed trucks to cart our own seed. We had had some people cart some seed for us and it had got contaminated.
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