CCJ

March 2017

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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28 commercial carrier journal | march 2017 • Volvo Trucks North America cancelled plans to lay off up to 500 workers at its New River Valley truck manufacturing plant in Dublin, Va. Volvo spokesperson Brandon Borgna said the company was "encouraged" by recent trends in the Class 8 market and has decided to "maintain manufacturing flexibility as we continue to monitor the market situation." The plant employs about 2,100 people. • Volvo Trucks North America recalled 6,271 trucks manufactured between April 11, 2012, and Sept. 30, 2016, because the electric air dryers on certain 2013-17 VNL, VNM and VNX models were not set to the correct specifica- tions, which can cause oil and water to contaminate the brake system. • Navistar recalled about 300 model-year 2017 International 9900i, LoneStar, ProStar and TranStar tractors because of a defective metallic battery cover latch that could unlatch and contact the battery's jump start stud, causing an electrical short. • Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations raised prices in North America by up to 8 percent across a range of passenger, light truck, truck and bus, off-road and agricul- tural tires, as well as retread products and tubes, effective March 1. Rachel Withers, communications leader, said the price in- crease is in response to rising raw material costs and other market dynamics. • Yokohama Tire Corp. will increase prices by up to 7 percent on all of its tires sold in the United States, including commercial tires, effective April 1. Rick Phillips, vice president of sales, said the pricing boost is driven by the high cost of raw materials and freight expenses in 2016. • Freightliner announced that pro- duction is underway on the 126-inch BBC daycab and 72-inch raised-roof sleeper cab models of its new Cascadia. Equipped with the company's AeroX aerodynamic solution and Integrated Detroit Powertrain, the new Cascadia is engineered to provide up to an 8-percent fuel economy increase over a similarly spec'd 2016 Cascadia Evolution. • Kenworth's T370 now offers wide-base tires for applications requiring up to 20,000-pound front-axle ratings. The tires are size 385/65R22.5 from Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin. INBRIEF Volvo, Mack pull plug on big trucks, engines V olvo and Mack announced last month they had halted production of both their beefiest tractors and their 16-liter engine options. Volvo said it could bring the VNX back to market, but it didn't say when. Mack said it has permanently discontinued its Titan. Both companies said they'll continue servicing existing units. Volvo said it will offer an X-package for its VNL tractor, allowing it to fill the space le vacant by the VNX. Buyers can spec the truck with Volvo's D13 engine or Cum- mins' X15 engine. Despite the production stop, Volvo intends to keep the VNX in its product lineup following further market analysis, said spokesman Brandon Borgna. Mack's Granite and Pinnacle axle-forward models, both equipped with an MP8 engine, fit the market "previously served" by the Titan, said Mack spokesperson Chris Heffner. Both companies said the decision to cut their 16-liter engine options — Volvo's D16 and Mack's MP10 — was the result of the popularity of their 13-liter products. – CCJ Staff Mack extends oil drain intervals with new formulation M ack Trucks is extending its recommended engine oil drain intervals for its newly formulated Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 by up to 15,000 miles compared with previous formu- lations, depending on application. Introduced as the factory fill in the company's 2017 engines, Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 also is formulated to extend drain intervals for all of its 2011 and newer engines. Scott Barra- clough, Mack technology product manager, said the product isn't simply a rebranded version produced by another engine oil manufacturer. "Nothing could be further from the truth," Barraclough said. "Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 is a proprietary formula that is tested and approved with Mack equipment, which allows us to extend drain intervals." With Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5, drain intervals have been extended to 60,000, 50,000 and 40,000 miles for long-haul, regional-haul and heavy-haul applications, respectively. During the life of a truck, these extensions could allow customers to skip between four and 16 oil drains, the company said. Available in 10W30 and 15W40 weights, Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 is formulated to offer protection above the new American Petroleum Institute CK-4 specification by requiring enhanced performance for oxidation and aeration control. It also is made with a lower viscosity to help improve fuel efficiency under high ambient temperatures and loads. Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 is designed to be used anywhere API CK-4 oils are recom- mended and to be backward-compatible with all API CJ-4 applications. – Jason Cannon Changing market conditions led Volvo to pull back on its VNX truck. Mack Engine Oil EOS-4.5 is the factory fill in the company's 2017 engines and also is formulated to extend drain intervals for all of its 2011 and newer engines.

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