British commercial vehicle hire users 'safer than foreign counterparts'

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed its support of a new report, which states that British commercial vehicle hire users are safer on the roads than those from abroad.

Particularly pleasing to the RHA is the acknowledgement of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, which completed the report, that foreign lorry and truck operators contribute little to the British economy and present significant difficulties in terms of policing.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, says: "Until May 2009 foreign operators had a free ride. No penalties were imposed, in practice, unless someone was actually killed. Today’s report highlights that … there is still work to be done."

Mr Dunning adds that the RHA is also pleased the report highlights the higher rate of tax paid by UK-based commercial vehicle hire users.

One of the biggest threats to safety on Britain's roads is tiredness, according to a recent report by Fleet News

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GM says Sierra Denali HD outpowers Ford Super Duty

As promised, General Motors is raising the stakes in its big-truck he-man macho showdown with Ford's Super Duty.

GMC, GM's serious-truck division, just announced the new 2011 Sierra Denali HD will offer a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine with a stunning 397 horsepower and 765 foot-pounds of torque. That's seven more horsepower and about 30 more foot-pounds of torque than the Super Duty, according to PickupTrucks.com. While that's not a lot of difference in the real world, the bragging rights will clearly go to GMC and its ad campaign.

The new Denali can tow up to 20,000 pounds -- 10 tons. The bed payload is rated at more than three tons.

"The new Sierra Denali HD is the latest expression of GMC's Denali philosophy of blending capability with premium features and styling," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director.

The new giant diesel engine will get 11% greater highway fuel economy, up to 63% lower emissions and is capable of burning bio-diesel fuel, GMC says. With a larger fuel tank, it can go 680 miles between fill-ups.

Article from USA Today

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Wraps Taken Off All-electric Commercial Pickup/Delivery Van

Over the past year, Enova and Freightliner have been testing a 120 kilowatt all-electric drive system with several chassis platforms, but now they are ready to accelerate plans to serve corporate fleets.

The Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) truck just made its official debut at the 2010 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show.

The vehicle, which is geared for the commercial pickup and delivery market, is built on the FCCC MT-45 WIV chassis platform.

Bob Harbin, FCCC president, said that the company’s vision was “clearly focused on transitioning the all-electric chassis into the mainstream of … walk-in van production programs.”

In a test on delivery and service routes, a study shows that customers could save up to $15,000 per vehicle a year compared with traditionally powered walk-in vans.

The vans use Enova’s 120kW all-electric drive system technology and are rated to haul 14,000 to 19,500 pounds. Powered by Tesla Motors lithium ion batteries, the chassis is 100 percent electric, including its HVAC system.

The van has a 100-mile driving range per charge. It takes six to eight hours to recharge, FCCC says.

The vehicle should enter full production in the first quarter of 2011, after which it will undergo testing with some “major” U.S.

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Navistar Planning New Line Of Lighter Trucks

Navistar International Corp. (NAV) plans to offer a new line of commercial trucks aimed at penetrating the lighter-weight end of the medium-duty truck market.

Navistar said the new line is part of broader strategy to emphasize smaller, lighter vehicles across all its truck and bus lines in North America. Chairman and Chief Executive Dan Ustian said truck users are increasingly looking for smaller trucks with more fuel-efficient engines.

"Weight, weight, weight. That's all our customers talk about," Ustian said Wednesday during a conference call with Wall Street analysts. "They need something less [for] lighter, regional, shorter runs. It used to be highway [speeds] of 70 and 80 miles an hour. Not anymore."

Ustian said growing traffic congestion in the U.S. is reducing the need for trucks built primarily for high-speed, long-haul trips.

Other truck builders also apparently are eyeing lower weight classes. Volvo Trucks North America is evaluating options for medium-duty models in its Mack truck lineup, according to a report Tuesday by AutomotiveWorld.com. Mack and Volvo currently offer only heavy-duty trucks in North America.

Navistar's new TerraStar line will feature trucks with a gross weights from 14,001 pounds to 19,500 pounds. Such trucks are larger than pickup trucks and are typically used as tow trucks, utility service repair vehicles, ambulances and general construction trucks.

Navistar expects to begin selling two-wheel drive versions of the trucks by early fall; four-wheel drive models will be added in 2011. The company hasn't identified where the trucks will be built.

Navistar is hoping to move into the anticipated vacuum in the medium-duty market created by General Motors Corp.'s plans to close its commercial truck business. But Ford Motor Co. (F) remains a force in the market, along with Japan's Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and other foreign-based truck builders.

"It's a good move for Navistar," said Dennis Huibregtse, an analyst in Michigan with truck market forecaster Power Systems Research. "It'll be keenly competitive though because Ford is a mass producer. The question is can Navistar get its price down initially to where it can compete with Ford and the others."

Navistar maintains its trucks will be able to compete because the TerraStar models will draw heavily from components and designs already in use on other Navistar trucks, including the company's 6.4-liter and 7-liter diesel engines.

"It's a great way to leverage the assets that we have and get our costs right, so we can make some money on this sector," Ustian said.

Navistar also intends to introduce a smaller school bus and a small commercial bus typically used for airport shuttle service. Navistar, which dominates the full-size school bus market and holds a leading share in heavyweight side of the medium-duty truck market in the U.S., said many of the biggest users of lighter commercial trucks are already Navistar customers for larger trucks.

Navistar on Wednesday reported sharply lower sales and income for its fiscal first quarter. Navistar's stock closed down 5.29%, or $2.34, at $41.91 a share.

Article from WSJ

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Nissan takes aim at Detroit with new commercial vans

Another longtime profit bastion for domestic automakers is about to see a serious run from a foreign automaker. Nissan just unveiled its first production commercial vehicle for the U.S., which will go on sale later this year.

The van comes with a tall roof or a short one. Either way, it could spell trouble for Ford E Series.

CAPTION

By Nissan

It will be called the Nissan NV -- for "Nissan Van." And the thing is about as sexy as its name -- a plain-Jane, framed truck that only plumbers will love. It comes in high-top and low-top versions.

For a generation, Ford has dominated the commercial van market with its E Series, formerly called the Econoline. General Motors has its Chevrolet Express van. Now Nissan is serious about getting in on the action.

"As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture and sell (commercial vans) in the United States, we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality and reliability to our products," said Joe Castelli, vice president for commercial vehicles for Nissan North America

He goes on to say:

"We've taken a fresh look at every aspect of the ... business – including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations and, most importantly, real world customer needs."

The new vans will comes with 4-liter V-6 and 5.6-liter V-8 engines and in two body styles, standard roof like the E Series or high roof, like Daimler's Sprinter van. The high roof offers the ability to walk in without banging your head.

"It's been too many years since any manufacturer in this segment has taken a 'clean sheet' look at the needs of owners and operators in the (van) segment," said Castelli.

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Toyota expanding recall of rusty Tundra pickups

Toyota is going to expand its recall of the 2000 to 2003 Tundra pickup to include the entire country -- not just 20 cold-weather states.

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle's underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.

The original recall covered 110,000 Tundras. Not sure how many more the expanded recall will pick up.

Article from USA Today

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Commercial vehicle hire users 'set for significant savings on fuel'

Plans to make commercial vehicle hire fleets greener will save firms £300m in fuel costs over five years, transport minister Paul Clark has said.

The proposed changes, which include retraining fleet drivers to drive in a more fuel-efficient way, should also help save more than three million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the same period.

If the plan is adopted, those driving commercial vehicle hire trucks and lorries will have to take eco training before being awarded the European Union's Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.

Mr Clark stated: "With initiatives like this I am confident we will succeed in creating a greener and cleaner industry fit to meet the environmental challenges we face."

He added that with 20% of road emissions coming from commercial vehicles, fleet operators can play a key role in reducing the impact motoring has on the environment.

The Road Hauliers Association last week labelled the planned 2.5p rise in diesel prices set to come into effect on April 1st as "a joke".

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