TRUCKMAKERS´ NEWS * USA - Daimler Truck Raises 2011 Truck Sales Forecast

Manufacturer predicts North American sales will rise 30 to 35 percent this year

Louisville,KY,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -Mar 31, 2011: -- Daimler Trucks North America is raising its sales projections 10 to 15 percent for 2011 as demand for its Freightliner brand heavy trucks remains strong...  The German-owned company's original projections had sales rising 20 to 25 percent this year over 2010. This week DTNA bumped that forecast up to 30 to 35 percent...  DTNA officials at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., attributed the uptick in demand to a significant increase in the demand for trucking services...  The Daimler truck unit said it plans to expand its production schedule and create about 1,300 jobs at its locations in the U.S. and Mexico in the first half of the year... (Image from roadtransport/big-lorry-blog: Freightliner Business Class M2, medium-duty)

* Mack Trucks: “Well-positioned for success”

Louisville,KY,USA -Fleet Owner, by David Cullen -Apr 1, 2011: -- Despite ongoing weakness in the construction sector, which accounts for many of its vocational truck sales, Mack Trucks is nonetheless “well-positioned for success,” said Kevin Flaherty, senior vice president-U.S. and Canada, at a media briefing here at the Mid-America Trucking Show... Flaherty said Mack expects a Class 8 North American market this year in the range of 220,000 trucks, driven primarily by replacement demand given the average age of the existing U.S. fleet, which at eight years is the oldest since deregulation hit the industry back in 1980... Product enhancements introduced at the truck show included new “optimized” roof and chassis fairings for Mack Pinnacle on-highway tractors, additional fuel-efficient Econodyne ratings for its Mack MP engines, and interior enhancements intended o improve driver comfort and productivity... Roof fairings have been redesigned for the Pinnacle 70-in. high-rise, 70-in. mid-rise and 60-in. mid-rise sleepers. New chassis fairings are “stronger, lighter and longer, covering up to a 140-gal. fuel tank, yet costing considerably less than the previous option,” said Jerry Warmkessel, marketing manager—highway products... (Photo from Roadtransport.com/big-lorry-blog: Yank road train thumb)

* Volvo Trucks to boost production, recall 700 workers

New River Valley,VA,USA -Fleet Owner -Mar 30, 2011: -- Volvo Trucks North America will recall 700 workers and boost production levels at its New River Valley, VA, plant. The 700 additional workers will lift employment to just over 2,200 at the facility... As part of the ramp-up in production, VTNA will add a second shift. The recalls will take place in stages between May 2 and June 13, the company said... Volvo Trucks announced that its sales are up 47% through February vs. the same period last year, and its market share has increased year-to-date to 10.9%... (Image from Roadtransport/big-lorry-blog: A Volvo truck model T2000)

* New names, sleeper, and interior for Western Star’s expanded line

Louisville,KY,USA –Today's Trucking (CAN) -31 March 2011: -- Western Star is rebadging its full line of trucks, following the launch of a new Class 8 vocational truck at the recent 2011 Work Truck Show... The new naming strategy separates Western Star's family of trucks into four distinct models: the 4700, 4800, 4900 and 6900. All axle configurations are also represented and include the set-forward (SF), set-back (SB) and twin-steer (TS)... (Image from roadtransports/biglorryblog: A Western Star truck)

* USA - Mercedes-Benz M-Class Recall Affects 2000-2004 Models

Washington,DC,USA -The Car Connection -5 April 2011: -- The Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV is being recalled for problems with its cruise control...  The affected models include those from model years 2000 to 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports. All were built in the Benz assembly facility in Vance, Alabama...  A total of 136,751 vehicles are being recalled, among them both the standard-issue MLs and some AMG editions. In the vehicles, the cruise control might not disengage when the brakes are tapped--even though the off switch is still functional. The brakes may still disengage the cruise control, but only if pumped...  The NHTSA says these problems could result in an accident or injury, though none have been reported...  The vehicles will be repaired free of charge, starting in September...  (Photo: 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320)