Daimler Trucks North America has established a new Light Commercial Vehicle Team, combining the resources of Sterling Truck Corp.’s Class 3-5 lines and Mitsubishi Fuso brand low-cab-over-engine (LCOE) operations in North America. The operation will be based in Redmond, Mich., and will focus on the sales, marketing, product strategy and distribution of the Sterling 360, the Sterling Bullet and Mitsubishi Fuso Class 3-7 LCOE trucks.
Vipar Heavy Duty is expanding beyond parts into commercial vehicle equipment and now will be known in the market as VHD Equipment Network, which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Vipar Heavy Duty. VHD Equipment Network will focus on the $9 billion North American commercial vehicle equipment market that represents more than 1,700 companies that distribute, install, buy, sell and repair truck-mounted equipment.
Kenworth and Peterbilt separately announced that certain medium-duty hybrid vehicles purchased in the United States had been approved by the Department of Treasury as eligible for federal tax credits of up to $12,000. Class 7 hybrids equipped with Paccar PX-6 and Eaton hybrid systems are eligible for the maximum credit. Class 6 trucks with the Paccar engine and Eaton system are eligible for $6,000 credits.
Corporate Express US, part of the Dutch-based Corporate Express NV, said it will be among the first companies in North America to pilot a prototype diesel hybrid-electric
delivery truck from Isuzu Commercial Truck of America.
Michelin’s Durable Technologies XDA5 drive tire was honored with the 2008 Truck Writers of North America Technical Achievement Award, which recognizes technical innovation in a widely available product or service. The XDA5 drive tire is molded in three dimensions; as the tire wears, the tread reveals new grooves and tread blocks, giving the tire a “second life,” self-regenerating to improve wet, worn traction.
Sterling Truck Corp. said the DD15 engine now is available for order on the Sterling Set-Back A-Line and Set-Back L-Line models. The truck maker also said several factory-installed safety options – air disc brakes, collision warning and roll stability control – are available now or will be soon on those two Sterling models, as well as the Set-Forward
L-Line and Acterra models.
Double Coin Truck Tire is offering the Double Coin National Account Fleet Program, which allows medium-sized and large trucking fleets to purchase Double Coin TBR products at competitive pricing through its North American dealer network.
