At a ground-breaking ceremony 16′October 2007, the foundation stone was laid for the Volvo Group’s new assembly plant in Kaluga, Russia, which will produce trucks for both Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks when it opens in early 2009.

Volvo Group’s deliveries to the Russian market have increased considerably in recent years. Demand continues to be very strong and the Volvo Group is now building a new assembly plant in Kaluga, an investment of about 100 million euros (£ 70m).

Located approximately 200 kilometres south-west of Moscow, the Kaluga plant’s production capacity will total approximately 10,000 Volvo and 5,000 Renault trucks per year, in order to meet the sharply rising demand for heavy duty trucks in Russia and the CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States). The factory is expected to provide work for more than 1,000 employees.

The President of Volvo Trucks, Staffan Jufors and Stefano Chmielewsky, President of Renault Trucks, participated in the ceremony together with Anatoly Artamonov, Governor of the Kaluga region, Elvira Nabiullina, Russian Trade and Economic Development Minister and Johan Molander, the Ambassador of Sweden to the Russian Federation.

Volvo Trucks’ deliveries to the Russian market have increased from about 500 units in 2003 to about 2,500 last year. Demand continues to be very strong this year, with 2,600 vehicles already delivered by the end of August. Currently, Volvo Trucks has 35 authorised service locations and 20 sales offices throughout Russia.

Renault Trucks deliveries have reached a total of 533 units in 2006 on the Russian market and 608 new trucks have already been delivered by end of august this year, which represents a double of its sales results in comparison with last year. Currently, Renault Trucks Vostok is operating through a 19 dealer’s network, which has been built at a rapid pace since 2004, the date of establishment of the market company on the Russian market.

The vehicles to be assembled at the plant include the Volvo FH, FM and FL and FE models, together with the Renault Premium and Kerax.

In addition, Volvo Construction Equipment will secure manufacturing space in Kaluga. Although firm plans have yet to be agreed, it is expected that the site will provide for machine assembly, a limited amount of manufacturing and storage. Production is expected to begin after 2010 and the first products off the line are expected to excavators.

Drive fuel-efficiently and you can save both money and the environment. This is Volvo’s most important message at this year’s European Road Transport Show that takes place at the RAI in Amsterdam from October 26th to November 3rd. In focus is “Fuelwatch” – a holistic concept that, correctly utilised, gives customers considerably lower fuel costs as well as the opportunity to take active responsibility for the environment.Keeping pace with increasingly stringent environmental demands and tougher competition on the market, a clean environment and good fuel economy are becoming increasingly important to Volvo’s customers. Consequently, Volvo is focusing firmly on these issues at this year’s show. In the spotlight is “Fuelwatch”, a concept that uses a blend of both hardware and software to take a holistic grasp of the customer’s fuel consumption.At the Volvo “Fuelwatch” stand, visitors have the opportunity to see how it is possible to make significant fuel savings through a planned and structured method. One important aspect is that the big gains come as a result of a number of interacting measures from specifying the truck correctly when placing the order - so it is optimally suited to its intended operations - to ensuring that drivers are properly trained to drive in the most economical way possible.

However “Fuelwatch” is not only of interest to new-truck customers as existing trucks can be upgraded to become more fuel-efficient by altering the transmission software.

Volvo is ready for the fuels of the future
Volvo has long been preparing itself for a future of reduced oil dependency and increased demand on the use of renewable fuels. The company wants to demonstrate its amassed expertise and is taking the opportunity at the show to initiate a discussion on fuels of the future.

At the show, a truck running on biogas and biodiesel represents Volvo’s next-generation approach to the issue of forthcoming fuels. The company’s unique hybrid technology for heavy trucks will be shown in the form of a prototype engine.

The message from Volvo is that the company has the technical expertise and the competence needed to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles and technology for renewable fuels. What Volvo now wants is for politicians to make up their minds as to which fuels they wish to focus on for the future, and how they aim to pursue their development in practice as the gradual transfer from today’s conventional fuels is initiated.

Trucks and construction equipment under one roof
Volvo is the only vehicle manufacturer in the world to have both trucks and construction equipment in its product range and is thus able to offer almost everything a construction operator might want. In addition to the customer offer itself, this type of shared product development at component level also frees up additional resources for the development of high-tech and efficient next-generation components. With a mini-excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment on display, Volvo aims to demonstrate its broad customer offer.

The flagship among Volvo’s trucks is naturally on display
With “Fuelwatch” as its central theme at this year’s exhibition, Volvo is showing a concept that favours both good fuel efficiency and responsibility for the environment.

I-Shift is an automated transmission that has become a huge sales success since it was first introduced for long-haul trucks back in 2001. Four years later I-Shift was launched for construction operations with equal success, and today it is something that the entire industry is talking about. About 60 percent of Volvo trucks sold today are equipped with I-Shift, an important ingredient in the optimised driveline.

VEB+ (Volvo Engine Brake) is another product that is grabbing considerable attention at this year’s show. The new more powerful version is an unsurpassed engine brake that is suitable for both long haulage and tough construction work. VEB+ is an example of Volvo’s leading position within engine technology for heavy trucks.

With its massive 660hp, the Volvo FH16 is Volvo’s flagship and naturally on display. It has the best torque on the market and forms a particularly powerful and appreciated truck for heavy commercial operations.

The Volvo FL and Volvo FE, which can both be ordered with factory-fitted bodies, are two light trucks that are being shown at this year’s show. They were introduced in May 2006 and are optimised for regional and local distribution, and both are also well suited for urban distribution applications.

Vehicles on display

Volvo FL 4×2 R (with box body)
Volvo FE 4×2 T (fuel optimised)
Volvo FE 6×2 R
Volvo FM 8×4 R (with hook lift)
Volvo FM 4×2 T (fuel optimised)
Volvo FH 6×2 T (80 years truck)
Volvo FH 4×2 T (fuel optimised)
Volvo FH16 8×4 (heavy haulage)
Volvo VT880 (for heavy haulage in North America)

Hybrid cars are very popular vehicles in today ’s society. Hybrid cars combine the power of a gasoline engine with the environmental benefits of an electric engine to create what most consider being a better car. There are essentially two different types of hybrid cars on today ’s market. One type uses the gasoline engine to charge a battery. The battery then runs the electric motor in the car. The gasoline engine is reserved for situations where power is required. Another type never fully runs on the electric motor, but reserves that for situations where the car requires more power. Hybrid cars offer thirty to fifty miles per gallon of gasoline, and a host of special features that make them quite competitive with regular cars. They also, though, a price tag of three to five thousand dollars more than a typical car and waiting lists of six months to two years. There are, though, three good reasons to purchase a hybrid, despite the waiting list.

One excellent reason to purchase a hybrid car is to save money. Gas prices have been skyrocketing for the past two years. It hasn’t been unusual over the course of the last several months to pay between two and three dollars per gallon of gasoline. If you live in a city or do an extensive amount of city driving, a hybrid is the car for you. Because some hybrids function on electric power only at low speeds, no gas is used during city driving. That means you could get up to fifty miles per gallon of gasoline just by driving to work each day. Since most traditionally built cars get less than twenty miles to a gallon of gasoline, you could be saving some serious cash. Some hybrids can go more than six hundred miles in between fill-ups, and that could save you more than six hundred and fifty dollars at the gas pump each year.

Another strong reason to purchase a hybrid car is to reduce pollution. City style driving is hard on a vehicle. As a result, cars produce more pollution while sitting in city traffic. Hybrid vehicles were built for this kind of a situation. Most hybrids produce ninety percent less harmful emissions than traditional vehicles do. Moreover, because many states are cracking down on emissions laws, this can save you in the long run. The government, both state and federal, offers tax incentives to purchase a hybrid vehicle. The internal revenue service alone offers up to one thousand dollars in the Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction program. Other local and state agencies offer similar deductions just to purchase a car that will help reduce pollution in our cities and neighborhoods. Additionally, it will help you feel good to know that you, personally, are doing something that will help our nation clear the air and eliminate the toxins we have spent so long adding to the atmosphere.

One final reason to purchase a hybrid car is to end dependency on oil as a power source. Oil powers everything from our homes to our cars. As a result, the United States is one of the leading countries in the demand for oil. This places us in a seriously problematic situation, as we cannot completely provide the oil we need for ourselves. Auto makers have continually pushed for more oil dependent cars like sport utility vehicles, large trucks, and minivans. Americans have bought into the bigger is better auto craze. The demand for oil goes up every day. Purchasing a hybrid, though, helps to tell the people around you as well as the government and the auto makers that you personally want fuel efficient technology that will stop robbing our natural resources and those of other countries as well as a fuel source that is not dependent on the help of other countries. Oil costs billions of dollars not only to purchase, but also to secure in trade agreements, to deal with the politics of other nations, and to find peaceful solutions to terrorist issues that change the oil supply. Those billions of dollars could find homes for other programs in our nation if we did not require as much oil.

Hybrid cars are one step to changing the way we think about driving. There are a number of excellent reasons to purchase a hybrid.

ST. JOHN’S — Warren Group driver Irenee Joseph Maillet was one of several truckers, fleet owners, and other workers who were recognized by the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association for their outstanding contributions to Atlantic Canada’s trucking industry at its annual awards presentation in St. John’s, Nfld.

Mr. Maillet received the Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year Award in recognition of his many years of service and impeccable driving and safety record. The Service to the Industry award, sponsored by Trailmobile Canada, went to Vaughn Sturgeon, outgoing APTA chairman and president of the Warren Group in Rexton N.B.

The Shaw Tracking Dispatcher of the Year Award was given to Krista Buell of Sunbury Transport in Fredericton, while David Miller of Eassons Transport, Berwick N.S., won the Safety to Motor Transportation Award, sponsored by Markel Insurance Company of Canada.

“We are pleased to pay tribute to these men and women for their hard work and dedication to the industry,” said APTA Executive Director Peter Nelson said. “Each year the APTA recognizes outstanding individuals who toil behind the wheel or behind the desks of the companies that make up our association. We are pleased again this year to present another exceptional group of awards recipients.”

Private equity firm Key Principal Partners has invested $40 million in the subordinated debt of Western Express Inc. to facilitate the trucking company’s acquisition of Smithway Motor Xpress.

Key Principal Partners said Western Express is a truckload carrier founded in 1991 by Wayne Wise. The company has grown to become a top-15 truckload carrier in the United States through a combination of internal growth and acquisitions.

Smithway Motor Xpress, based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, is a flatbed and van truckload carrier that serves customers primarily in the building materials, steel and heavy equipment industries.

Key Principal Partners managing partner Leland Lewis said in a statement that Western Express “has expanded significantly over the past several years through strategic acquisitions like this one, and we’re confident that the company is well positioned for continued growth.”

There’s still time to hit the road for a new career at the new location for C.D.L. Training Services and Consulting, Inc.

Ernie Walters, admission representative for the commercial truck driving school, said the next round of classes starts Nov. 5 at 1917 Lake Land Boulevard. C.D.L. Training Services moved earlier this year from the Workforce Development Center Building near Cross County Mall. Classes started in August at the new location on Lake Land.

“No experience in trucking is needed. We take you through the whole deal in a few weeks,” said Walters.

The training facility can assist students with arrangements for financial aid and job placement. About 50 trucking companies work with C.D.L. Training to provide jobs after students complete their training. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the classes.

“The demand is huge for Trucking. And companies are offering different deals. The salaries for new truckers can average 47,000 per year and up,” Walters said. “We have students going right into jobs when they graduate.”

Night classes are offered if trainees need to continue their sources of income before completing the schooling, which covers 160 total hours, ranging from driving safety, inspections and basics on on-road and yard delivery skills.

The program is in demand as well, Walters said, with trainees driving across a few counties to attend classes. Daytime and nighttime classes are offered to accommodate different schedules, he added. The nighttime courses cover eight weeks, about twice the duration of daytime sessions. Experienced truckers provide instruction in the classroom and on-the-road or yard sessions with three truck rigs used by the school.

“We have all ages of students. Most of them are looking for a career change. Or they are fulfilling a dream. There can be a lot of freedom in driving a truck compared to other careers,” he said.

The 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty, the industry’s most capable full-size heavy-duty work truck, comes equipped with even more capability, thanks to new features added within months of its initial launch.

Ford has added new features to respond to strong initial customer demand for the highest-end, most capable Super Duty models, including the all-new Ford F-450 - the first-ever Class 4 pickup from the factory. Upgrades include select F-350 dual-rear-wheel (DRW) models that can be outfitted with the F-450’s front suspension with the segment’s best turning radius. The heavier-duty front suspension also has larger axles that give the truck more payload and towing capability.

The new Super Duty also is available with a new Rearview Camera System with a unique rear-view-mirror-mounted display, allowing customers to clearly view objects behind the vehicle in their natural sightlines while reversing. The camera is mounted in the tailgate handle bezel and is activated when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.

The easy-to-view video image displays green lines that mark the width of the vehicle so drivers can back up with confidence. The lines turn red when the system detects the truck is getting too close to an object. As an added benefit, the rearview camera system is designed so the truck’s tailgate can be removed without needing to unhook or unplug the camera.

Redefining heavy-duty pickups
The F-Series Super Duty pickup builds on Ford’s full-size truck capability leadership by offering best-in-class payload, gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) and trailer tow ratings. Super Duty is offered in three cab styles - Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab - and two bed lengths - 6 ¾ and 8 feet. Super Duty features a bold look inside and out, an all-new, more powerful, state-of-the-art Power Stroke® V-8 Turbo Diesel and a host of innovative features not found on any other truck.

Ford’s Super Duty set the standard in the over 8,500-pound truck segment when it was launched in 1998 as a 1999 model. Unlike competitors who simply modify their existing light-duty trucks, Super Duty features a unique architecture, designed and developed to meet the needs and demands of the over 8,500-pound truck customer.

All-new F-450 pickup adds capability for customers who demand the most

Today’s Super Duty customers are consistently searching for more capability. Ford research shows that more than 90 percent of Super Duty owners tow and that their towing needs are growing. To meet the need, Ford introduced the new F-450 pickup model. It combines the right axle, powertrain and suspension to pull a heavier trailer while maintaining a refined, comfortable ride.

The F-450 pickup rides on a unique chassis. It incorporates a new rear leaf-spring suspension while using the radius arm front suspension from the F-450 chassis cab. This set-up provides for the tightest turning radius in its class, greatly improving maneuverability when towing. Select F-350 DRW models also can be outfitted with the F-450’s front suspension, offering the same tight turning radius.

The F-450 pickup further widens the capability gap, offering a maximum payload of more than 6,000 pounds and towing capacity of more than 24,000 pounds - a 5,000-pound increase over the class-leading F-350.

All-new 6.4-liter Power Stroke® Diesel is cleaner, quieter and more powerful
A more powerful 6.4-liter Power Stroke® Diesel joins a powertrain lineup that already includes the segment’s most powerful gasoline engine, the 362-horsepower 6.8-liter V-10 Triton. The 6.4-liter Power Stroke® Diesel delivers 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (on F-250 & F-350) starting at 2,000 rpm. It leverages Ford Clean Diesel Technology, a series of special components that deliver clean, quiet, performance. These include:

* High-tech, series dual-sequential turbochargers that provide improved response and better low-end performance.
* A high-pressure, common rail fuel system, Piezo-electric fuel injectors and an advanced diesel particulate filter system that deliver strong performance while reducing particulate output by more than 90 percent and posting emissions numbers on par with gasoline engines.

Available in both two- and four-wheel-drive models on Super Duty, the powertrains use a new mounting system that better isolates the powertrain and reduces vibration. Transmission choices including a 6-speed manual with overdrive or a TorqShiftâ„¢ 5-speed automatic.

Exterior design maintains bold, American look, improves capability
Super Duty is synonymous with capability - and so is the design of the new heavy duty truck.

* The grille sits on a horizontal cut line that defines the top of the bumper and also serves as a base for the stacked headlamps, delivering a clean, more refined look.
* The step pad on the front bumper is specifically textured and designed for the customers who use the bumper while servicing the truck.
* Air vents, mounted on the fender just behind the crisply defined wheel arch, dissipate engine compartment heat and designate the type of powertrain beneath the hood - red for diesel, black for gasoline.
* The distinctive dropped beltline, a Ford truck design cue, improves visibility.
* The revised tailgate, with a standard Lift-Assist System, is flanked by redesigned taillamps.
* Five all-new wheel designs including standard 18-inch premium chromed steel wheels on Lariat and 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels join a list of 10 wheel options across the lineup.

The interior of the Lariat model.

Along with XLT, Lariat and high-line King Ranch models, the 2008 Super Duty now offers an FX4 model available on 4×4 SuperCab and Crew Cab. The FX4 includes skid plates, Rancho-branded dampers, a special body-color billet-style grille and other features. The FX4 is available in five colors.

Customers also may choose from several appearance packages, including the King Ranch with Chrome Package, an option available late in the model year.

The King Ranch Chrome Package adds an even richer appearance to the top-of-the-line truck, with chrome touches throughout the exterior on the exhaust tip, tow hooks, mirror caps, pickup bed tie downs and 5-inch tubular step bars.

New interior provides quiet comfort and improved ergonomics
The all-new interior builds on the successful “tough luxury” design established by the Ford F-150 and advanced for Super Duty, boosting refinement and quietness to unprecedented levels in the segment.

Super Duty’s interior was designed to be functional and capable while still delivering quality and craftsmanship with a luxurious look. For instance:

* The modern design features all-new materials and includes luxury touches like contrast stitching on the seats and rich, Chaparral leather on the King Ranch.
* The prominent center stack houses most of the vehicle’s switches, integrating all functions into one easy-to-reach central area.
* Rings surrounding the gauges and air vents are notched, more angular and defined. Gauges also are better organized and easier to read.
* A large center console is designed to hold file folders and keep laptop computers out of sight.

Super Duty utilizes several innovative technologies to provide an ultra-quiet cabin. Quiet Steel®, a unique composite laminated steel sheet, used in the vehicle’s dash panel works with extra sound padding in the dash and floor, a rear bulkhead panel and thicker side glass to help minimize cabin noise.

A redesigned climate control system provides more balanced airflow and quieter operation that improves cabin comfort. The system uses a more reliable, durable, higher-capacity compressor, one of the components that helps improve the A/C system performance. Floor ducts for the heater now run under the seat, out of site of the rear-seat passengers.

Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) has been added as a standard feature on the Lariat and King Ranch for 2008, allowing the driver and front passenger to set individual temperatures. Diesel customers can opt for the innovative Rapid Heat supplemental heating system - the first of its kind in North America - that augments the diesel truck’s heater to provide faster warm up on cold mornings.

All audio systems are now MP3 capable and feature a standard auxiliary audio input. Super Duty customers also can now opt for a premium Audiophile system, featuring eight speakers with subwoofer and six-disc CD changer.

A DVD-based navigation system with an in-dash screen is available on FX4 and Lariat SuperCabs and Crew Cabs. Rear seat passengers can enjoy the DVD Entertainment System - available on XLT, FX4 and Lariat Crew Cabs - with an 8-inch video screen, two wireless headphones and remote control.

Innovative ideas: industry-unique Tailgate Step and stowable bed extender

The Super Duty’s new TailGate step.
Ford’s unique relationship with the Super Duty customer has fostered the kind of innovation that creates products like the Tailgate Step and stowable bed extender.

The Tailgate Step is fully integrated into the tailgate and virtually invisible when not in use. The 16.7-inch by 4.5-inch flip-down step is housed in the tailgate. To use the step, simply drop the tailgate into the down position, grab the bottom step, pull it straight out and drop it down into the step position - all in one easy motion.

A unique grab handle folds up and out of the tailgate to provide extra support when using the Tailgate Step, supporting up to 350 pounds. When not in use, the grab handle fits snuggly into a channel molded into the tailgate inner liner. The tailgate liner has an added coating creating a non-slip walking surface.

The Stowable Bed Extender works like others, extending storage space to the end of the bed, or it can sit inside the tailgate leaving a small, enclosed section that keeps cargo from sliding forward near the cab. But the similarities end there. Ford’s extender separates into two pieces that fold and snap securely to the sides of the bed, allowing full space and functionality of the bed when the extender is not needed.

Per Carlsson will be the next president and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America, announced by company Oct. 23.

Currently in charge of Volvo Powertrain Sweden, Carlsson will assume his new duties Jan. 1, 2008.

Per Carlsson, has previously held various positions in the Volvo Group. Prior to his current position at Volvo Powertrain Sweden, he was CFO at Volvo Trucks. He is succeeding Peter Karlsten. Carlsson succeeds Peter Karlsten, who becomes president and CEO of Volvo Powertrain on Dec. 1.

Starting December 1, Peter Karlsten will take on the position as President and CEO of Volvo Powertrain. He will also assume the role as Senior Vice President Technology for the Volvo Group and become a new member of the Group Executive Committee.

Lars Thoren, chief financial officer, will be acting president of Volvo Trucks North America during the intervening month, the company said.

Volvo Trucks provides complete transport solutions for professional and business-driven customers. The company offers a full range of medium to heavy duty trucks, with a strong global network of 3,000 service points in more than 130 countries. In 2006 Volvo Trucks sold more than 105,000 trucks worldwide. Volvo Trucks is a part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks.