With the reintroduction of the International brand, it probably time to ask the question, where to now for International? The first models unveiled this year are variations on the ProStar models.
Let’s assume the ProStar hits the spot for International, the brand is welcomed back into the open arms of Australian truck buyers and proves to be an effective addition to the offering for the Iveco brands and its dealers. Of course, this is by no means a foregone conclusion, but it is also feasible. International does still have a loyal fan base among the trucking community, the brand remains strong.
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How to Buy a Truck
Around the time Mark Johnstone was first thinking about how to buy a truck, a local livestock operator in Surat, Queensland, wanted to get out of his business and move across to a sand and gravel operation on the coast. Mark took over the existing work, starting off with one double-deck trailer, soon to be joined by a second.
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Looking for More Power
As we have seen for many years, the truck market is always looking for more power in its trucks. The desire to have just a bit more oomph every time a truck is replaced doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
As a result, we have seen a new engine from Hino appear as an option in the heavier end of the new 500 range. In fact, both engines now available are new to Australia. The existing eight-litre engine has been modernised as the Hino J08E. It is rated at 280hp (206kW) at 2,500rpm and puts out an increased torque level at 883Nm (651 ft lb), an increase of seven per cent on its predecessor.
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Instagramming And Trucking
It would seem Instagramming and Trucking are a good mix. Here at Diesel News we like to see people in our industry making interesting images. Here we have big triples in the West, double tankers from Toll, cool matt paint job and classic Mack tanker.
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Truck Cabin as Media Lounge
Sitting in the Western Star Roadstar, we can get an idea of the truck cabin as a media lounge, in the custom-built show truck from the US truck maker. Sit down on the lounge and pull out the desktop to play with your laptop, or flick the switch to activate the entertainment system. This system includes a few different elements to give the driver that extra feeling of luxury.
The array of speakers fitted around the cabin evidence the 5.1 Surround Sound system, which is part of the whole entertainment set-up. Above the driver’s head, in the driver’s seat, is a control system to adjust volume and the source for the audio coming out of the speakers.
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Renew a Model
Sometimes truck makers seem to renew a model just for the sake of having something new to say, but sometimes they have something new to say without needing a major update. At Fuso it would seem the latter is the case, with many changes to the brand without much cosmetic change to the trucks on offer.
The world of the Japanese truck manufacturers in Australia is a very clear-cut one. Often the trucks are a commodity, it is difficult to differentiate between them, from the customers point of view. This sector of the market relies a lot less on the kind of emotional and traditional buying decisions we see occurring in the heavy-duty line-haul prime mover sector.
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Electric Power For Cummins, Fuel Cells and Hybrid Vans
This week, alternative power for trucks is on the agenda with Electric Power For Cummins, Fuel Cells and Hybrid Vans in Diesel News.
A Belgian hydrogen technology company has won a European Union grant to develop a new extended range fuel cell truck. The H2Share Project will see a 27-tonne electric, fuel cell-extended range, rigid truck going into service, with the chassis and body provided by Dutch manufacturer VDL.
The truck will be developed alongside its own mobile refuelling system, which is being coordinated by German technology firm Wystrach. The truck will be put on trial in six locations across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The aim is to demonstrate the long-term viability of hydrogen fuel cells for long distances, as well as urban applications, with a view to creating a technology roadmap for the rollout of a proper hydrogen fuel cell refuelling network for road transport in northern Europe.
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Getting Smart About Repairs
For some workshops it’s all about straightforward servicing, for others, handling more repairs can strengthen the business. Diesel News has been talking to one such workshop in Adelaide.
South Australia is tough on trucks. They pull high masses at high average speeds for long trips, this makes plenty of work for repair shops. Engines, turbos, diffs and transmissions need to be replaced and if the truck does crash at high speed the body shop has a major task on its hands.
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Autonomous Trucks Now
We can keep our heads in the sand and tell ourselves they are decades away, but there are some real-world examples of the latest technology making this possible in quite a short time.
These examples
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Built-in Flexibility
The modern truck has a lot of built-in flexibility, and the Hino 500 range is no exception. The models available range from the lighter end of medium-duty up to some serious heavy-duty rigid trucks. This means the trucks are going to experience very different working lives and need to be capable, no matter what the task.
Hino has looked at what they have on offer in the 500 Series and made a number of changes to increase the breadth and depth of its offering to the market. This means new chassis, new engines and new combinations of existing components.
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