etruck.com.au

Australian trucking news video and gossip website

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How do Kenworth do it?

People from outside Australia are always surprised about the way the Kenworth brand dominate the truck market here. These two videos go a long way to explain the deep affection and trust the Aussie trucking industry has for Kenworth and their people. It is people like Cliff and others all around Australia who have built up lifelong relationships with truckies, which they can back up with quality product and after sales service.

The comments by the truck owners may sound a little scripted but they are saying stuff we hear everyday in trucking. People have a strong connection to Kenworth, it's not just the trucks but also the people who make it so strong.

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Green speed record

Volvo's Green Mean Machine has achieved new World Speed Records for a Hybrid Truck. New records for a flying kilometre and from a standing start see it continue to push the envelope.

The truck is definitely fast and definitely green, but how 'green' is it. Surely environmental responsibility is all about reduction of carbon emissions. Volvo seem to be sending a mixed message here and don't really expand on the value of hybrids to the environment. Nevertheless, it still looks like a lot of fun!

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GM interested in Isuzu

News reports coming out of the US suggest General Motors are interested in buying 10% of Japanese truckmaker, Isuzu. A report suggests GM and Isuzu are in talks on a capital tie up to produce commercial vehicles to be sold in developing countries.

Isuzu was left holding the baby back in 2006 when GM got itself into deep financial crisis and dumped its holding in Isuzu. Many of the ties between the two companies were severed at that time. Since then, a Isuzu has continued to build medium-size diesel engines for the company to be fitted in their larger utility trucks.

The Japanese truckmaker remained independent without a major global backer and have been struggling to pull together sufficient funds for the kind of research and development needed to develop new engine and new cabs in parts of their truck range. There were speculation last year about a move by Volkswagen to take a stake in the company.

Isuzu have been working along with Hino on some engine developments. Their lack of a new heavy duty cab and engine for the future has limited their progress in this area. New US money from the newly revised GM maybe just  the kind of new development funding which the company badly need.

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Keep it up Rod!

Here's a short interview with Rod Hannifey, a true gentleman of the road. Just watch the video he explains it all in just a few words, quite a feat for Rod!

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Big bonnet banger

Here it is! The long awaited bonneted version of the DAF XF 105 is filmed on the roads of Holland. Actually, this truck does look great but don't expect one to be turning up in a truck dealership near you. It's just another example of the fantastic ability of the Dutch truckies to build the truck they want. This custom job has taken the XF cab and moved it rearwards on the chassis. The specially made bonnet then covers the engine and the modern conventional Euro truck is born. They have done a great job with this truck and it looks great.

Anyone want one? How much money have you got? Price premium will mean you have to have deep pockets to own a European conventional. Buyers of the Iveco Strator have to pay up to 30% extra to have a bonnet to look at as they drive along.

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Get out of the truck, fast!!

Here's some amazing footage of a truck being pulled along a snowy road on the the side of a mountain, somewhere in Norway. The nightmare scenario unfolds rather quickly. Quick tip, watch the driver's door on the tow truck!

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Freightliner Revolution?

A concept truck from Freightliner featured at the recent Mid America Truck Show demonstrates the forward thinking of the US arm of the global Daimler empire. No passenger door and a dramatically swooping bonnet are the first features to get the attention but there are a few more features under the well sculpted skin.

Closer examination reveals an aluminium chassis, a drive which switches from 6x2 to 6x4 and a reconfigured cooling package. Designing an aluminium frame may work for the US but the chances of anyone in Australia trusting this to be durable here, are very slim.

The smart drive line is definitely interesting to Aussies. It is generally accepted 6x2 trucks save a lot of fuel. If a truck can run at 6x2 out on the open highway at top speed but revert to 6x4 when and if the traction is needed, this is going to be very attractive over the kind of distances we cover.

Looking at the bonnet of the Revolution, the question is raised about whether there is enough cooling going on to cope with modern EGR engines and their heat rejection. Even removing the air conditioning cooling from the system does not seem to be a big enough saving to make this work under heavy load in high temperatures.

Nevertheless, this is a working concept and, as we have seen before, some aspects of these show trucks do make their way onto out roads. The smart cab interior lay out, the cab rear door and the 6x2/6x4 may get some traction (excuse the pun!).

Here's a Freightliner video about their stand at the MATS:

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New Kenworth model launched in the US

Here is a video of the launch of the new super aerodynamic Kenworth T680 at the Mid America Truck Show. The main game on the US market is reducing fuel use for the trucking industry and all of the big players are in a war or words about who has got the slippiest truck.

One of the things this demonstration shows us is just how different the Kenworth in North America is from the models sold here. They really are Aussie trucks almost completely unrelated to these luxury items made for the US Freeways.

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Penrith Truck Show

Slide show of images from the recent Penrith Working Truck Show:

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Images from Melbourne Show

Here's some great shots from a keen amateur photographer who was at the Melbourne Truck Show over the weekend. Love your work, Evan!

Click on the image to see the slide show

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Do people have to die to get action?

The tragic story of three deaths on the Hume continues as the driver of the B-double is prosecuted and his company is investigated. Isn't this a bit like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. You can read the full ABC report here...

Why does it always take an horrific accident with multiple deaths to get anything done? If this operator has been allowing drivers to run illegally, drugged up, or whatever, are the authorities totally unaware of what's going on out on the road? Or is it easier for them to allocate resources after a number of deaths and get the manpower to prosecute a sure thing? Shouldn't they be in the prevention game? They have the tools with the chain of responsibility rules, but operators are clearly not curtailing bad behaviour under the current regime.

At the same time the trucking industry turns a blind eye to their errant brethren. Yes, most operators are trying to do the right thing and often in a prolonged fight to change the culture in their workforce. However, they all know who the worst offenders are and do nothing to put pressure on irresponsible trucking operators to clean up their act. Maybe we need to promote more of a dobbing culture to get this sorted?

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Running the TWU line

This piece was run in the Daily Telegraph......

It has Anthony Albanese's name at the bottom of it, so we must assume the story reflects his opinion. This has to get the alarm bells ringing in the heads of those representing our industry!

If nothing else the article proves the trucking industry is doing a terrible job in getting its point of view and achievements in front of the people making the important decisions about regulating, and the future of, our industry. This is the FEDERAL MINISTER in overall charge of our sector's legislation and he is running the TWU line on safe rates, verbatim.

Now, the TWU have a good point to make, there are dangerous practices going on every night compromising the safety of truckies and others on the road around them. If the trucking industry represented itself like other comparable sectors then the feds would have a balanced view of the situation and be inclusive when drafting legislation, not pushing a law written by one side of an increasing industrial relations divide.

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And now.... in English

Here is the video from Mercedes Benz about the taxi Actros, supposedly working as a a taxi picking up people from Volvo and MAN dealerships in Germany. It's difficult to tell whether this is for real or not but the pixelated faces do suggest this is real footage. If it is, then they are being really sneaky and there may be some revenge in the future from the opposition.

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Two trucks from India, one from Indonesia and axles from Detroit

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Aussie truck pics, DAF XF105 and Benz trucks from India

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Using GPS to save fuel

Scania have come up with a cruise control system which uses GPS to know when it is approaching an ascent or descent and acting accordingly to save fuel. This video goes through the way the system works and how effective it can be but also reveals they have only mapped Europe so far. It's going to be a long time until they create a map for us here in Australia.

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