Stateside show business
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VOLVO
With the exception of its European-designed VE DI2 engine Volvo has little new in the pipeline until it unveils the bonneted FH, probably late next year.
But it did announce that from July all trucks manufactured in the US will be badged Volvo: the WhiteGMC name plate is being dropped as part of a globalisation plan. The company, which will keep the Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corporation name, is making ABS standard equipment on tractors and fitting daytime running lights on all models.
Volvo is also creating an accident investigation department similar to the one it has in Sweden. Department head, Renae Bowers-Carhanan, has led cab research and development since 1991 at Paccar's Technical Centre. Lennart Svenson heads accident investigation at Volvo: he believes safety can be sold to Americans. Volvo's show line-up included a truck airbag display which drew large crowds.
Meanwhile, work is underway to raise the capacity of Volvo GM's Dublin, Virginia plant by 20% to 72 trucks a day. A new $200mm cab manufacturing plant for the FH conventional is under construction.
MACK
Mack unveiled the 74in Millenium Sleeper; the first of a series of upgraded sleeper cabs for 1995. Its aim is to attract long-haul fleet buyers and owner-drivers for whom a Mack is often seen more as a heavy, utilitarian marque. Mack further expects Millenium vehicles can help reduce driver turnover in a national shortage.
A smaller 42in sleeper is also available now and five further sizes are being added.
Mack claims to have interviewed hundreds of fleet buyers and drivers during the design of the Millenium range. "Millennium says we're hungry to please," says product manager, Steve Sims.
Mack captured 11% of the Class-8 market in 1994, up from 10.6% in 1993.
NAVISTAR
MAN and Renault might have something to say about Navistar's claim to have
designed a "first-of-a-kind" flatfloor cabover. However, the allnew International 9800 Pro Sleeper range with a choice of front axle positions, roof heights and cab lengths is a first for North America. Navistar showed its existing line-up of classic, smooth-look conventionals from the 9000 Series, all with the Pro Sleeper cab interiors. The update, introduced last year, was a response to the demands of customers struggling to keep good drivers.
Navistar also announced a range of 10 vinyl graphics packages with the same warranty as paint.
PACCAR Kenworth Introduced a host of new options on its T300 medium-duty range and Class 8 AeroCab sleepers. It also joined Freightliner in launching a new 112in BBC medium conventional in its T800 family. General manager Paul Skoog says 1994 was the company's best year. Kenworth captured 12.1% of Class 8 sales with 22,460 units.
Skoog described industry conditions by saying: "The number one requirement today is the needs of the driver." With that he announced the availability of the new Kenworth folddown sofa bed in all models.
ENGINES
Detroit Diesel announced a 500hp version of its 12.7-litre Series 60. It has recently completed the purchase of Italy's VM Motori for CSS125m. Cummins showed new power ratings on its CELECT-controlled M1.1 range and Cadec, the engine maker's communications division, unveiled Cadec 4000, a cellular phone-based vehicle tracking/communications system.
Caterpillar announced the extension of the HEUI electronic fuel injection system to its 6.6litre 3116 series engine. HEUI uses amplified engine oil pressure as its putnping force. The unit injectors-based design, developed with Navistar, recently won this year's Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) Technical Achievement Award. TRAILERS Americans love their trailers long. The standard used to be 48ft (14.63m), but the 53-footer (16.15m) has taken over in van trailers used for palletised dry freight. Some states even allow 57ft (17.37m) trailers.
Companies such as Wabash, Great Dane and Fruehauf say around 65% of current van orders are for 53ft units.
Fast, Raven and Utility were other trailer exhibitors: many all-aluminium designs and a number of composite steel/alloy trailers were on show.
New vehicles appeared from Fruehauf, which launched the Phoenix van trail er, and Trailmobile, which unveiled the Nordic 145 reefer.
Combination red/white reflective tape is now applied to all US trailers. This enables them to meet the Federal Conspicuity Act regulations introduced two years ago to reduce side under-run accidents.
PRODUCES AND SERVICES
Among the hundreds on offer perhaps the most exciting came from Delco Electronics
The company unveiled a radar-based collision warning system for trucks. ForeWarn will go on sale in June and will be exported to Europe.
Delco has adapted the collision avoidance electronics of its sister company Hughes Aircraft to create ForeWarn. It combines a side and front scanner linked to the throttle, cruise control, lighting and braking systems. ForeWarn acts to prevent accidents by alerting the driver to nearby obstacles.
A central processor eliminates false alarms generated by trees and other roadside objects. It can also monitor cruising vehicles which might otherwise appear to be stationary alongside a moving thick.
Warnings can be given to the driver in a variety of ways. The standard alert for the side scan is a red light embedded in the mirror with an audible beep when the indicator lights are activated. The forward looking scanner can warn the driver of stationary traffic hidden by fog or darkness. A dashboard display can show rate of approach, even on curves, Delco says.
According to Joe Smalanskas, western regional manager for Delco in the US, ForeWarn adds around $7,500 (£4,700) to the list price of a truck.