Revenue attributable to truck sales, which currently made up about a third of Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s (MBSA’s) yearly sales of R37-billion, was likely to rise to around 50% in the coming years, given strong market demand for commercial vehicles in both South and Southern Africa.

Chairperson Dr Hansgeorg Niefer noted on Wednesday that the commercial vehicle division had recorded “outstanding growth” in 2007, with the unit selling 8 600 vehicles and capturing 23,3% of the total market.

Speaking at the release of strong business results, which saw revenue climb 13,5% from R32,5-billion in 2006, Niefer said that “trucks are becoming more and more important for us”.

During the period, Mercedes-Benz trucks increased its already high market penetration by a further 0,4%, while sales of its Freightliner products surged 42%, followed closely by Fuso, with a 35% rise. Its extra-heavy Western Star product, meanwhile, increased its sales by around 30%.

The increase was achieved in a strong overall market for commercial vehicles, underpinned by robust construction and infrastructure. Overall, the medium commercial segment grew 12,1%, heavy commercial vehicles by 11,6%, extra-heavy sales rose 16,7%, while buses grew by 2 %. By contrast, passenger car sales continued to reflect a sharp decline year-on-year, falling 14,7%, while the light commercial vehicle market also reflected a decline of 6,3%.

The growth in demand for trucks had also resulted in a rethink of MBSA’s assembly strategy, with a decision having been made to reintegrate this function. Commercial vehicles assembly had hitherto been outsourced to Ikhwezi Truck Tech, which used facilities owned by MBSA to assemble completely knocked-down units.

Niefer reported that the integration would be coupled to a R50-million investment to expand its assembly capacity, part of which would take place on a site previously used for passenger-car assembly.

In response to a question posed by Engineering News on the impact that the dynamic growth of the commercial vehicles was having on the group’s strategic thinking (see video), Niefer said it saw “far more growth in the truck business, not only through South Africa, but also in the southern part of Africa.”

“Therefore, we have decided to integrate our truck business,” Niefer explained, adding that it would be incorporating some of the facilities at its East London manufacturing hub into the expanded truck-assembly business.

“I would say [truck sales] currently make up one-third of our business and I expect this to grow closer to 50%,” he added.

Another possible growth area lay with buses, particularly as cities sought to deploy bus rapid-transit (BRT) solutions ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which would take place in South Africa in mid-2010.

MBSA was assembling a specialist BRT project team, comprising experts from Germany, who had been involved in rolling out these public-transport systems in South America.

Despite the aerodynamic design of the modern tractor, in a quest for greater fuel economy, the rectanglular shape of the trailer has changed very little since its inception.

Utility Trailer is hoping to change all that. It introduced two new designs at the Mid-America Trucking Show, as well as an environmental collaboration with another company to promote a drag-reduction device.

At the start of the launch, Utility Trailer introduced its new thin-wall 4000D-X dry van, a post panel design that has a composite wall for less damage and greater durability. The sidewall panel is made of high-density polyurethane foam construction “sandwiched” between high-strength inner and outer skins, forming a composite that bonds together. The result, according to Utility, is a composite panel that absorbs more energy, and outperforms earlier designs.

“It’s a lean design that is lighter, and stronger than its predecessor,” said Craig Bennett, Utility Trailer’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing.

The 4000DX also utilizes the company’s patented SnagFree recessed posts, for damage-resistant loading. Some of the standard features include a stainless steel rear door frame, and flush-mounted galvanized steel logistics posts, with fully-recessed, squeezed fasteners for greater durability.

Utility Trailer also introduced what it describes as the “highest strength, lowest weight flatbed.” The 4000A is built with aluminum/steel composite that reduces TARE weight by 400 lbs. Utility says the new flatbed is durable, reliable, and stronger than previous models, due to a newly-designed 80,000 psi high-tensile steel, hat-shaped main beam top flange.

“Our goal was to bring to market an optimized flatbed trailer that would provide the maximum return on investment for our customers,” said Jeff Bennett, vice-president of engineering for Utility Trailer. “We did this by eliminating 400 lbs of steel and aluminum on the base model flatbed, which not only reduced material costs, but enabled the trailer to carry more payload.”

On another front, Utility Trailer has entered into a partnership with ATDynamics, for the commercial launch of the latter’s aerodynamic TrailerTail. The rear-drag reduction device will be attached to the rear of the trailer, for greater fuel economy.

This design qualified for the US Environmental Protection certified SmartWay program, an environmental and financial incentive intended to promote upgrades that result in fuel economy, and thus, reduced emissions. The incentive is potentially available to Canadians, who take advantage of US financial arrangements linked to SmartWay, according to a financial representative related to the program, who was speaking at the Mid America Trucking Show.

Truckers are like motorcycle riders in the way that they invariably customize their rides. It’s probably just as challenging to find a bone stock tractor as it is an unembellished Fat Boy. When you’re plying the roads as much as the Big rigs do, why not have some fun and stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their mudflaps decorated with conformist chrome silhouettes of questionable taste? International’s new LoneStar truck will be factory trickable with a new line of Navistar accessories called DoubleSix Customs. While the Autoblog Garage isn’t quite big enough to hold an 18-wheeler, we did dedicate the better part of an hour to International’s website designing the perfect vehicle for hauling our tricked out fleet of Zastavas.

With International’s online configurator, you can start with a basic truck and add a splash of color, a dollop of flames, lots of chrome, and nearly as many lights as Vegas. The DoubleSix name takes its inspiration from the mother road, Route 66, which International is hoping still resonates with those who keep our economy rolling. Our only problem? Lack of the proper license. Try it yourself, you can even upload logos and graphics to design your perfect LoneStar.

The wet weather Thursday didn’t keep local kids from having the chance to play with some very big toys at Cosmopolitan Park. The Columbia Parents as Teachers program put together its yearly Tons of Trucks event to give kids the opportunity to explore all sorts of trucks. Children of all ages got to climb inside and explore.

Organizers say this is a great opportunity for families to have some fun with their children.

“Activities for children, you need to do the things that they like,” said Linda Romine, program coordinator. “This is an opportunity for them to learn about community service workers, they can learn about lots of different vehicles, have an expansive vocabulary, and see big trucks, little trucks, big wheels, little wheels.”

Stunning is a word that gets thrown about a lot at auto shows, but rarely comes true. How many Yugo Cabriolets really have the power to stun?

Then there’s the Pontiac G8 sport truck, a truly stunning vehicle that’s about to make its world debut at the New York auto show.

Why’s it so shocking? Well, when’s the last time you saw a V-8-powered sports sedan with a pickup truck bed attached to the back?

If you recall from the 1970s, the last time this idea came from General Motors, it fathered the El Camino. This time around, it’s being borne from the Australian arm of General Motors, which already sells a car/truck half-breed Down Under.

The new G8 sport truck blurs the lines of cars and trucks right down the middle. Halfway back, down its sides, a pickup bed replaces where you’d expect to see another set of doors. And the pickup bed’s a useful, real one: Pontiac says it can tote 1000 pounds of payload and that the truck can tow 3500 pounds, while the bed’s long enough for some serious wood.

It’s based on the G8 sedan (a version of Australia’s Holden sedans) but the sport truck gets a longer wheelbase and longer overall body than the four-door version. And under the hood it gets a big V-8 that puts out 361 horsepower through a six-speed automatic. Pontiac says that’s good enough for a run to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, faster than any truck we’ve driven lately.

Inside, the sport truck carries much of the same gear as the G8 sedan. Standard features include side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, power windows/locks/mirrors, and Bluetooth, along with a 230-watt, six-disc stereo. Options will include leather seats with two-tone trim.

Led Zeppelin’s back together. Stagflation and high gas prices have made a comeback as well. And late next year, you’ll be able to complete a 1970s revival with a two-door car that’s all business up front and party out back.

Answering the wishes of fervent fans — and the fears of some critics — General Motors Corp. was to unveil today its plans for a revival of the Chevy El Camino car-truck as a 2010 model Pontiac hot rod. The “sport truck” doesn’t have a name yet; GM will run a contest over the next month asking for submissions at a Pontiac Web site www.pontiac.com/namethiscar, and announce the winner April 15.

Here’s one: “Australiaino.”

Based on the same underpinnings as the G8 sedan and upcoming Chevrolet Camaro, the un-Camino will be built in Australia, where GM has centered engineering efforts for rear-wheel drive cars. It’s a risky strategy for GM, as Australian-built models have never sold well in the United States, and a weaker U.S. dollar threatens the business case for any imports.

But without its Australian arm, GM would not likely have enough resources to give Pontiac new models.

In addition to the mini-truck, GM also was to unveil today a version of the G8 sedan with the Corvette’s 402-horsepower engine that is to come to showrooms in the next year.

Australia has the longest history with so-called utes, since they were invented there by a Ford engineer in 1934 who got the idea from a farmer seeking one vehicle for church on Sundays and the pig market on Mondays. Ford brought the idea to the United States in the late 1950s, and GM followed, with the Chevrolet El Camino growing to define the segment.

GM’s U.S. production peaked in 1973 at nearly 72,000 El Caminos and GMC Caballeros. By the early 1980s, tighter fuel rules for cars had made small pickups more competitive, and GM ended production in 1988.

And by then, the El Camino and its ilk had become a punch line. President Bill Clinton told workers at GM’s Louisiana truck plant in 1994 that he owned an El Camino in the ’70s: “It was a real sort of Southern deal. I had Astroturf in the back. You don’t want to know why, but I did.”

Abandoned in the United States — save for some unsuccessful stabs at a comeback such as the Subaru Baja — the utility market flourished in Australia, where Ford and GM’s Holden have continued to build several models.

The G8-based vehicle will come only with the 361-horsepower V8 offered in the G8 GT paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It will haul more than 1,000 pounds and tow 3,500 pounds — as much as some small pickups.

Rising gas prices are leaving some local truckers with nothing — no job, no rig and no home.

“I know two guys who took money out of their homes to buy trucks and now they are losing both,” said Tom Holden, owner-operator of Holden Trucking in Hesperia. “Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon.”

Holden, who has been in business for some 16 years, said his fuel costs were about $7,000 a month and jumped to $11,000 in the past few months.

“When companies pay 32 cents per mile and some older trucks get something like two miles to the gallon, the cost of fuel is more than the load pays,” said Dave Green, a mobile truck mechanic from Hesperia.

He added that some of the newer, lower-emission trucks get worse gas mileage than the ones built around 2005.
Skyrocketing gas prices are just one of the many problems facing the trucking industry, said Julie Sauls, spokesperson for the California Trucking Association. New environmental bills are pushing many truckers to flee the state while they still can experts said.

“At this moment I am keeping watch on 80 bills that can impact the trucking industry,” Sauls said.

The San Pedro Area Clean Air Action Plan may make the biggest impact, Sauls said.

According to the San Pedro plan, trucks need to make certain changes in order to meet environmental and air quality guidelines, including having to purchase either new lower-emission trucks or making modifications to existing trucks.

Many see this as a difficult balancing act.

“When you try to solve the environmental problem, which does have to be addressed, people don’t realize that it’s trucks that drive the food into the markets,” said Eddie Moreno, co-owner of Quality Driver Solutions, a driver-recruitment center in Ontario.

The CTA is working every day to strike a good balance between reducing emissions and transporting goods, said Sauls. Some of those efforts include California’s use of ultra-low sulfur fuel for almost a decade and traveling at more fuel-efficient speeds.

The ultimate increase in price in passed onto the consumer, said Sauls.

“This is the worst I have ever seen it in 19 years in the business,” said Green.

“Coupled with diesel prices topping off at more than $4 a gallon, some of the owners are finding it harder to conduct business and are operating on a thinner margin,” Sauls said.

The price of diesel in California has also impacted out-of-state drivers.

“We don’t fuel up in California,” said Robert Schaefer of Oklahoma. Other long-haul truckers share Schaefer’s sentiments.

“The big problem is that we don’t get any of that increase, the company doesn’t see the money. It all lines the pockets of those oil mongrels,” said Lisa Serrao of Arizona.

PACCAR Trucks Melbourne has achieved the highest recognition possible for DAF truck dealers in Australia by winning the 2007 DAF Dealer of the Year Award.

Winning the award is testament to its focus on growing DAF’s presence in the Melbourne market.

Andrew Kneebone, General Manager, Retail Operations for PACCAR Trucks Melbourne, says he is thrilled to win the award, which recognises excellence in overall dealer performance, truck sales, parts sales and customer support.

“It is great to be recognised for our DAF sales and customer service efforts. DAF is a premium European brand – and with good reason. The range meets the needs of virtually every niche market, from smaller rigids for metro and short-haul applications to prime movers for heavy-duty and line haul,” Kneebone says.

“At PACCAR Trucks Melbourne we have a closely-knit team of knowledgeable sales and service specialists who are dedicated to DAF trucks – and this award acknowledges their commitment to providing great customer service.”

PACCAR Trucks Melbourne services the western and northern suburbs of Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong and surrounding districts. It is located only minutes from the Westgate Freeway and the Western Ring Road, and is within easy reach of CityLink, the Tullamarine and Calder Freeways as well as the Western and Hume Highways.

New and used truck sales, an ALLRig parts supermarket, an ALLRig Express truck wash, and state-of-the-art service facilities with 30 service bays including four fast lube service pits are all available at this leading dealership. It operates from 8am to 11pm Monday to Friday, as well as Saturdays until 6pm. A 24-hour breakdown and emergency parts service provides peace of mind for their customers.

In presenting the DAF Dealer of the Year award, Brad Wolstenholme, General Manager, DAF Trucks Australia, said PACCAR Trucks Melbourne is committed to excellence in every department. “We are proud to present PACCAR Trucks Melbourne with our premier award. This dealership has worked hard as a team to not only meet customer needs, but to also set a new standard for the industry,” he said.

“It has invested heavily in training staff and building a solid infrastructure that supports the DAF brand. It is proactive in the marketplace, by identifying and supplying a variety of transport solutions to new and existing customers. Above all else, PACCAR Trucks Melbourne has demonstrated its commitment to DAF customers, by providing them with the best service before, during and after the sale,” Brad added.

“We have had great success with the DAF CF range,” Andrew said. “These models feature a low tare weight for optimum payload, powerful engines and a broad range of chassis and axle configurations The CF series is suitable for a multitude of applications, ranging from inner-city delivery to construction vehicles and intrastate operations. DAFs are designed to make life easier for the professional driver.”

“DAF customer support is very important to us. We have two specialist DAF Sales Consultants and seven highly-trained DAF service technicians. As our DAF business grows, we will add other professionals to the DAF team,” he added.

DAF Trucks Australia, a division of PACCAR Australia Pty Ltd, distributes a range of medium and heavy-duty trucks throughout Australia.