Hino, Isuzu Manufacturing Operations
Toyota is discussing options on how to possibly combine manufacturing operations in North America of Hino Motors Ltd. and Isuzu Motors Ltd. It is not yet clear whether the discussion will lead to the merging of the two truck manufacturers but according to statement released by Toyota executives in separate interviews, the Japanese automaker would like to create synergies between the two commercial truck producers. In short, combine manufacturing operations of the two truck companies in terms of building big medium and heavy duty trucks and afterwards developed a demand for them.
Hino will try to sell 10,000 trucks in North America, which is more than the 6,200 obtained by the company last year. Meanwhile Isuzu is exporting big inter-city delivery trucks from Japan to North America. However, Toyota thinks that its more efficient to produce these trucks locally in North America especially once sale starts to grow. According to the spokesman of Isuzu that the company is trying to reach sales level of about 50,000 vehicles a year more than the current annual sales pace which are a little less than 30,000.
Isuzu and Toyota, the maker of Toyota strut bellows are studying ways on how they would develop and produce small advanced clean diesel engines for both passenger cars and light-duty trucks.
Toyota has not yet reached that point but pointed out that such discussions would follow after Toyota and Isuzu know they would collaborate with regards to the advanced diesel engine technology.
Popular Accessories For Truck
August 27, 2008 by admin
Filed under Truck Accessories
The best option is a wise decision as your truck assists you in your work. There may be a lot many of you who actually use their truck for their respective professions. Here are some tips of popular accessories for truck.
Hence choosing such accessories, which add to your ease of work, is necessary, there are never-ending list of accessories available for truck, which can be classified into interior and exterior accessories. Both these types have their own functionality; you can make a choice as per your requirement.
In general the most popular exterior accessories for trucks include Truck Tonneau Covers, Truck Grill Guards, Truck Nerf Bars, Truck Running Boards, Truck Roof Racks, Truck Hitches and Towing, Truck Tool Boxes etc., whereas the popular interior truck accessories include Truck Floor Mats and Liners, Truck Consoles, Truck Steering Wheels, Truck Seat Covers, Truck Seats etc.
You can find a number of exterior truck accessories to add to the outer appearance of your truck. They are air dams, bars and masks, bug shields, bumpers, fender flares, graphics and emblems, grille guards, hood ornaments, hoods and scoops, mirrors, racks and cargo accessories, roll pans, running boards, splash guards, tool boxes, truck steps, tire covers, visors, wings and spoilers and wiper cowls. Select items that will complement your truck’s basic lines and that will work well together instead of looking cluttered.
Popular interior truck accessories
Interior accessories are usually meant for your comfort while driving a truck. With the help of these accessories your can make yourself quite comfortable and at ease which makes your driving smooth. Some examples are 12 volt accessories, cargo trays and liners, consoles and racks, dash covers and trim, door accessories, floor mats, horns, instrument panel covers, pet accessories, seat covers, seats and steering wheel covers.
If you are thinking of buying accessories for your truck you are bound to get confused with the endless options available. Some accessories enhance the aesthetic value of the truck whereas many others add to the functional value of it. When planning to buy truck accessories it is always better to start with the latter one. . A few modifications in your truck with the latest accessories can really add to and improve the functional value.
When you plan to buy accessories for your truck you find out that the options are endless and there starts the confusion of what to buy. Some accessories enhance the aesthetic value of the truck whereas many others add to the functional value of it. While buying the truck accessories it is always better to start with the latter one.
A few modifications in your truck with the latest accessories can really add to and improve the functional value. What you need to have in your truck and for what purpose will help you to choose the best and appropriate accessories for your truck. It is always good to make some research and know the functions and what role accessories can play to improve your truck.
Mack Trucks– One Of The Leading Truck Manufacturing Company
August 25, 2008 by admin
Filed under Mack Trucks
“MACK TRUCKS” are one of the best subsidiary of AB Volvo as they are very efficient and enduring, as “BULLDOGS” are very powerful amongst its breed so is “MACK TRUCKS” amongst all leading brands.
Mack Trucks are the best in building heavy-duty trucks capable of enduring a punishing terrain and the vagaries of nature. Mack Trucks is one of the world’s leading truck-manufacturing companies. We have our headquarters Florida,USA and branches across USA. Mack Trucks is a top producer in the vocational, on-road-vehicle market. It is also the most popular manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks.
The first product from the house of Macks was a bus, which was used by sightseeing concessionaire Harris and McGuire, for eight years before it was converted into a truck.Soon enough, Mack Truck Inc. were the first truck manufacturers to introduce a constant mesh feature that protected gears from being damaged or stripped by inexperienced drivers.
In 1919, Manhattan Trucks was re-christened as ‘Mack’. Later, in 1922, it adopted bulldog as its corporate logo. As to how a bulldog was chosen as, a symbol of Mack Truck Inc. is an interesting story in itself. Lore at Mack Truck Inc. say that during the First World War, the British government had chosen the sturdy Mack trucks for transporting important war supplies and food requirements to the soldiers on the front. These Mack trucks, with their blunt-nosed hood, resembled a bulldog. Besides, the Mack trucks were proving as tenacious as bulldogs.
Since then, Mack trucks have undertaken important missions of national and international importance. For instance, they played an important role in the trans-continental convoy conducted by the US Army, which highlighted the need for a national highway system. Similarly, Mack Truck Inc. played a major role in the building of the Boulder dam.
Thus, Mack trucks has played an important role in the American history and are now serving the needs of a modernized world by providing various upliftments in the working and manufacture of transportation.
An Inroduction To Winches And Their Common Uses
Winches are becoming increasingly popular with today’s outdoor enthusiasts. There are a variety of uses for winches, ranging from work to play. It is important to consider the purpose for which you are seeking a winch when determining the strength and type of winch you need.
A. Winches on ATV’s
If you ask any ATV enthusiast they are sure to tell you stories of getting into a precarious spot or into a deep mud-hole and not being able to get the ATV unstuck or out of the potentially dangerous position. Most of these same enthusiasts will tell you that their ATV winch saved the day. With most of the newer ATVs the ATV winch can mount to either the front or the back of the ATV and in some instances can be moved from front to back depending on the need. ATV winches come in a variety of strengths and can be used for nearly any purpose.
B. Winches for trucks
It used to be that the only trucks that had winches were tow trucks. Not today. Today, winches are found a large number of three quarter and one ton trucks. Back when winches were first becoming popular, they often were hand cranked winches. Today, the majority of winches on trucks are electric winches. An electric winch hooks up to the battery of the truck and is operated via a remote control. Electric winches are extremely helpful when the truck is in a situation where it is likely to be slipping and sliding and having to hand crank the winch in would be dangerous. An electric winch is also useful on larger trucks that would be nearly impossible to hand crank. On a large truck such as an Ford F-350, the stronger the winch the better.
C. Winches for Trailers
Not only do trucks and ATVs have winches, but many trailers today come with a winch. Trailer winches can be electronic or hand crank. It is common to find trailer winches on most boat trailers and some rvs. Most people can recall loading a boat onto a trailer and using the hand cranked trailer winch to pull the boat onto the trailer and secure the boat into place. The boat owner almost always got wet while reeling in his boat.There are trailer winches in a variety of strengths and horsepower that are electronic and will pull the boat onto the trailer with just the push of a button. These electronic trailer winches have made the process of loading and unloading boats much simpler.
Nissan Abandons Heavy Duty Plan
The Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has abandoned its plans to build heavy duty Titan trucks. The automaker had been contemplating on bringing three-quarter and one-ton models to the market. But the plan is now held in abeyance and is likely to be scrapped.
It is said that the company decided that at least for the time being, the cost of developing the necessary components to field a heavy-duty truck was not worth the potential return, especially considering the potential volatility of today’s truck market due to the ever-increasing gas prices.
A heavy duty version of the Nissan would necessitate a unique and beefed up body to handle the increased payloads and towing capacity. Analysts in the industry say that with the rising gas prices, an automaker could not help but ponder on fuel-efficiency before coming up with a new vehicle or variant. Nonetheless, the most influential factor that could affect the scrapping of the plan is the low sales projection which is the sum of all negative factors.
While highly financially rewarding, the heavy duty truck segment is highly competitive and dominated by Ford, GM and Dodge. Hence, a new market entry requires a huge investment to develop dedicated platforms and powertrains.
The Toyota Motor Corp., the only other Japanese automaker in the full-size truck market, has also reportedly put its plans for a heavy-duty variant of the Tundra on hold indefinitely.
Nissan also intends to discard one or more of its truck-based sport utility vehicles to the graveyard. The automaker is currently building four body-on-frame SUVs - the Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada and its Infiniti sibling, the QX56. The discontinued SUVs are expected to be replaced with unibody crossovers.
Ford, Nissan Design New Models
Crossovers are selling like hot cakes in America. Low-riding SUVs like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge that combine attributes of off-roaders, MPVs and estates are rapidly gaining market share. Ford has also predicted that the crossovers will cover a big share of more than three million sales a year in America by the end of the decade as more and more automakers are joining in the crossover bandwagon.
Automakers are starting to look for more ways on how they can improve further the design and features of their crossover in order to become more competitive in the market. Currently manufactured cars are designed for younger family buyers but as this population ages their needs also change and in the process they tend to look for something different. Automakers would like to be ready to answer these changing needs,also for trucks.
Ford has already introduced their concept crossover called the Airstream at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show – a vehicle, which they say, will satisfy consumers especially retirees who love to travel.
Aside from Ford’s Airstream another crossover with similar layout was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show designed also for aging baby boomers—the Nissan Bevel. This car is specially designed for 45 to 60 years old men who are “hobbyists” or DIY enthusiasts who always carry lots of things while traveling around.
The Bevel was a “category buster” and designed for people who just don’t want an off-roader or an MPV but for men and also women with hobbies, who love to tinker with things and handymen. The Bevel, just like the Airstream has an asymmetric door layout with a single offside driver’s door and wide-opening double doors on the nearside plus a rear tailgate that flips over to surprisingly turn into a loading shelf.
Trucks For Sale - A Booming Industry
The trucking industry in the United States is booming more than ever. Even with the current rise in gas and oil prices, trucks must still run bringing products to stores and consumers. Without the trucking industry we would simply be reverted to the days of horse and buggies, growing our own food and living without many of the necessities that we have today. With that being said, it is important to realize that in order for truckers or trucking companies to haul the things that we need, they must first know where to locate trucks for sale.
You can find many trucks, from light to heavy duty haulers, virtually anywhere that you look. One of the best places to begin your search is on the internet. There are a wide variety of places where you can find information about specific truck models, such as a manufacturer’s website or a site that offers listings of used and new trucks for sale. Knowing where to begin your search is half the battle.
Once you have located a site that offers new and used trucks for sale, you simply need to keep in mind what budget you have for purchasing your truck and any other specifics that you have in mind, such as brand or luxury level. There are many semi trucks today that offer comfort capabilities that are very similar to what you experience at home. From extra large sleeping areas to room for a refrigerator, microwave, television and even a computer, you can put virtually anything in your truck and haul it with you on the road. Once you have determined how much you can afford to pay and any luxuries that you want, you will be ready to really start searching for your perfect truck.
Whether you purchase new or used, finding trucks for sale is not a difficult task. As long as you understand what you are looking for, finding it is fairly easy. If you prefer to shop locally, you can search through local or regional newspapers for what you are looking for. Of course, the internet gives you a much broader search. You can look in every state to see what other truckers may have for sale. And just think, if you locate a truck in another state, then you can travel there to pick it up. Once you buy it you can gain some added experience with your new truck by driving it home.
About All Pro Trailer Superstore Launching New Trailer Package
All Pro Trailer Superstore is not just an internet trailer dealer. All Pro has a 14,000 square foot facility with 2 acre’s full of trailer inventory. “We consistently stock 400 plus trailers for sale at all times and our enclosed cargo trailers are fully customizable and can be individually built to meet your personal needs,” remarks Jake Wagner, owner of All Pro Trailer Superstore.
“Our trailer sales department is top of the line and offers the most and best selection of trailers than any other trailer dealer in Pennsylvania,” states Wagner “We are your one-stop trailer source, we inspect, repair, customize and finance trailers.” All Pro’s Trailer Sales Pa. facility is easily accessible from surrounding states, such as Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey and New York.
All Pro’s Trailer Superstore offers a broad product line of trailers for sale, including a full line of enclosed cargo trailers, enclosed car trailers and enclosed snowmobile trailers. “We are CarMate Trailers number one trailer dealer in the nation,” states Wagner “And we are also a proud trailer dealer of Pace American Cargo Trailers, US Cargo Enclosed Trailers, Carry-On Trailers and our top of the line Thule Aluminum Trailers. We are Thule Trailers number one trailer dealer in Pennsylvania.”
“We also stock an extensive line of equipment trailers, dump trailers, and landscape utility trailers by Cam Superline at our Trailer Superstore,” remarks Wagner.
U.S. used truck prices drop again, adding to leasing pressure
August 12, 2008 by admin
Filed under Trucking News
U.S. prices for used large pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles tumbled again in July, adding to pressure on automakers and other lease providers, according to Manheim Consulting.
Wholesale auction prices averaged $10,187 last month for large SUVs, down 26 percent from a year earlier and 1.7 percent from June, the Atlanta-based provider of
used-vehicle data said. Big pickups averaged $8,825, a drop of 20 percent from a year earlier and less than 1 percent from the previous month.
Such declines “suggest increasing risk for auto finance companies,” Wachovia
Capital Markets analyst Richard Kwas said in a note today.
The lower prices paid for the light trucks are cutting earnings at automakers’
finance units and other companies that offer vehicle leases. Demand for large pickups and SUVs has weakened as gasoline has stayed near $4 a gallon. Manheim’s figures are considered a measure of prices automakers may expect for vehicles coming off leases, known as residual value.
Chrysler LLC’s finance arm stopped providing leases Aug. 1. GMAC LLC, the finance company 49 percent owned by General Motors Corp., halted such contracts with incentives in Canada the same day. GM and Ford Motor Co. in the second quarter wrote down the value of their leases by a combined $4.1 billion and are tightening standards for the agreements.
Ports of L.A., Long Beach order Volvo, Mack trucks
August 6, 2008 by admin
Filed under Mack Trucks, Trucking News
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recently ordered new Volvo and Mack trucks as part of the ports’ initial purchases for their “Clean Trucks Program.”
Volvo Trucks North America officials announced this past week that they will produce 100 VNL 300 daycabs for the Clean Truck Program, which is scheduled to eventually replace 16,000 drayage trucks.
The VNL 300’s feature Volvo D13 engines rated at 405 horsepower, and meet the California Air Resources Board’s low-NOx idling standards.
Mack Trucks Inc. officials announced they received 100 orders for the Mack Pinnacle Axle Back daycab tractors for the ports. The Pinnacle daycabs come with 395-hp Mack MP7 engines certified to California’s low-NOx idle requirements at less than 30 grams of oxides of nitrogen emitted per idling hour.
Both ports have approved programs that will require trucks to meet 2007 engine emissions standards by December 2012, although that implementation may be delayed because of legal and regulatory action.
Both ports now face a civil lawsuit filed by the American Trucking Association. The suit is aimed at blocking the programs’ implementation of a concessions agreement that would allow only trucks from port-approved companies access to the ports.
Also, the Federal Maritime Commission has authority over approving the plans’ operation as it relates to interstate commerce, and has requested more information from the ports about the Clean Trucks Program.
Trucks with pre-1989 model year engines will be barred from entering the ports beginning Oct. 1 this year.
OOIDA has discussed the use of a day-pass system for temporary port access for long-haul truck drivers that make infrequent port visits at the Port of Los Angeles. Geraldine Knatz, Port of Los Angeles executive director, has said such a system will be put in place.
