Truck shows are popular with most truck devotees and the ‘Truckers’ Country Music Festival’ held each year in Interlaken, Switzerland is about as good as they get.

Tachoblog Tribe associates Martin Phippard and Pete Connock (who drives for the UK’s Peter Green Chilled) have produced a DVD that captures this massive festival. On the DVD you can see the most interesting vehicles from two recent shows in the spectacular mountain setting.

Click below for more and how you can order your copy…

Not content with just showing the show, Martin and Pete also found time to follow a Sisu 10 x 4 mixer and a splendid T-Line Scania logger as they went about their business when show time was over.

The DVD was filmed among the glorious lakes and mountains in the region and shows off  skill of the drivers and demonstrates the extreme sophistication of the equipment involved.  Costing a very reasonable £12.99, you can order your copy from the Nynehead Books website.

Is your PC’s wallpaper a little boring?  Then why not check out Tachoblog’s newest (blog) addition, our page of Wallpapers where you can get something far more interesting like this…

Simply visit Tachoblog’s Wallpapers and download the one(s) you like.

If you’ve got a truck related image that you think would make a great wallpaper then please email it to wallpaper@tachoblog.com and we’ll add it in.

Rizzo101 from the Tachoblog Tribe has just showed Tachoblog this, as he described it, ‘weird lookin van’ that he spotted in Dundee, Scotland.

He’s not wrong is he, that certainly is a strange looking van!  Now, does anyone know anything about it?  If you do then please let Tachoblog know.

For those of you that love your classic trucks – and Tachoblog knows there’s lots of you out there – here’s a treat in the shape of a 1954 Kenworth.

Once again thanks to LongRoadPro, we have two clips of the 10-speed, 2-axle classic and here’s the first showing owner John Hickey from Silverthorne, Colorado.

Click below for the second video…

Now join the Kenworth on the road.

If you liked these clips but missed the others Tachoblog’s posted, then you’ll be wanting these:

Classic ‘52 Kenworth Cabover On Tachoblog

And

Classic 1952 Sterling White On Tachoblog

Whilst Tachoblog makes no apologies for being patriotic, at least this is an Olympics 2012 story that is truck related!

Members of the national road, track, MTB, BMX and paracycling squads and support staff will be transported to training sessions and competitive events across Europe in eight new vehicles bearing the three-pointed star.

Click below for more…

They will be bidding to emulate the triumphs of Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and their team-mates, who returned from the 2008 Games in Beijing with a record-breaking medal haul.

British Cycling, the governing body for cycle sport in the UK, is based at Manchester Velodrome, and its new vehicles were supplied by city dealer Enza.

Four are Long-bodied, high-roofed Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI vans, two of which have been fitted by Upholstery Vehicle Services with second rows of seats and side windows.

The Manchester-based specialist has also transformed three Medium-bodied Sprinter 311CDIs and a smaller Mercedes-Benz Vito 111CDI Long into nine-seat minibuses.

“We considered vans from several manufacturers but quickly realised that the Mercedes-Benz package was far superior to anything else available,” British Cycling’s Management Accountant Darren Gilmore told Tachoblog.

“The reputation for reliability of both the Sprinter and the Vito, coupled with their long service intervals and high residual values, translate into very competitive ‘whole life’ running costs.

“What really clinched it for us, though, was the fantastic back-up provided by Mercedes-Benz and its network of dealers across Europe. Our vehicles are in constant use and we can’t afford for them to be off the road for any length of time.”

British Cycling has leased a variety of vehicles in the past. Its latest vans are the subject of deals with Mercedes-Benz CharterWay, the manufacturer’s commercial vehicle finance arm – British Cycling plans to trade in all eight for new Sprinters and Vitos early in 2012, in time for the London Olympics.

Mr Gilmore is delighted too, with the service British Cycling received from Enza sales executive Phil Lea. “Phil was very professional and responsive, going out of his way to make sure the vehicles matched our requirements and expectations. We operate in an elite sports environment where ‘attention to detail’ can mean the difference between success and failure. Our vehicles are no different,” adds Mr Gilmore.

So here we are withe the first View From The Cab for March – the year’s already speeding behind us – and Tachoblog’s delighted to say that this week’s post is a cracking international one!

Before we get started, Tachoblog would like to thank the Tachoblog Tribe for sending in their Views.  Now let’s get started and catch up with Heydriver and Goldie who have sent in a few Views from this week.  The first is Erie Canal lock in Mohawk, New York where they were ‘a day behind’.

Click below for more from Heydriver and Goldie as well as the rest of this week’s Views…

In the second of their Views, Heydriver and Goldie sent this one of a New York farm from the Torrey Ridge…

…Then we join them ‘crossing the Monongahela River on I-70 in Pennsylvania’…

…and here spotting that ‘the Buckeye scale is closed. Hammer down west bound!’

In New Zealand, Vic H tells us that ‘the wine vintage in NZ is on us again with the first grapes being picked a few days ago, so it was back off to the South Island with the wine tankers this week. On Monday I was climbing the Atiamuri Hill on State Highway 1 just as the sun was coming up’…

…’But then a few minutes later the view was completely spoiled by the dust from some road works.’

AmishTrucker sent in this ’shot of Whataburger in Goliad, Texas. This is a very common Texas sight. Texas based, Texas founded, the Whataburger chain serves up hamburgers the way we Texans like them, real meat, big, cheese and all the toppings. Their slogan: Just the way you like it!   And like the guy on the radio spot says, ‘What! A! Burger!’…

…And also this ‘exciting image of Austin traffic. Not exciting you say?   Well, I had to try. This is eastbound on Ben White, actually Hwy 71 leaving the east side of town and headed towards Bastrop. A lot of traffic, but turns out there were two accidents up ahead.  I don’t get to Austin very much anymore, but this is the way I remember that town. Traffic.   Lots of it.’

Staying in America we join TruckerDesiree and Karma the Wonderdog who are in Delaware today.

From Australia, TwoCrowsDown sent in several Views, the first of which he says is ‘wwapping trailers near the Packsaddle stockyards before unloading at Packsaddle Camp, Area C mine’…

…Then some ‘cattle near the Packsaddle stockyards trying to keep out of the sun’…

…He tells us that this is the ’sign on the gate to the Packsaddle stockyards’…

…Next we find him ‘checking the load before entering the Great Northern Highway and heading to Perth’…

…Then ‘knocking the dust out of the rims before getting on the bitumen’…

…This is ‘Shaun being a smart arse at a stop on the way out of the Golden Grove mine’…

…And finally TwoCrowsDown encounters ‘bitumen resurfacing work near Dalwallinu. Can’t say I really knew there was anything wrong with that particular stretch of road. Two kilometers down the road you have to slow down to avoid suffering internal injuries as you get thrown violently around the cab.’

Back in the USA, Darkstaff was ‘going down Fancy Gap into North Carolina on I-77 in Virginia.

Jerry B (& the Uganda Crew) sent us this ‘view through the windscreen, over the bonnet of an 80 Series VX Cruiser. A minibus taxi in downtown Kampala, Uganda taken about a year ago. A window logo exhorting the “avoidance” (personally this word could be beefed up a bit, I feel) of child sacrifice, something that is painfully common still in Africa with its deeply-engrained beliefs in witchcraft and sacrifice/mutilation as a cure for everything from impotence to AIDS’…

…They also sent this View which Jerry says is’not what it first looks like. Taken through the windscreen of a 200 Series V8 Cruiser on the Gulu road about 6 months ago on my way back from a military exercise near the Sudan border that we were involved in.  The truck on the left is actually broken down (as they invariably are here) with the local method of indicating a problem being quite apparent, namely the broken branches laid for 100 metres or so on each side of the incident. Whilst these units look totally overloaded (and volumetrically they are) these bags of charcoal probably only weigh 30kg on average per sack so weight not such an issue. The downside is the hundreds of truckloads that are driven into the city each week, illegally hacked out of the rapidly diminishing forests. That’s the price you pay for one of the highest population growth rates on the planet and only 10% of the population with access to electricity.’

In Germany Rainerri1967 was finding Aalen at -6C cold and says that ‘winter is back’.

We’re pleased to have LittleTrucker back with us and she sent this View of Benton County Wind Farm in Indiana, USA.

DriverGeoff was at the Pilot travel center Satsuma, Alabama.

Finally for this week we catch up with TheNose1oo who was on I-71 in Ohio, North of Columbus.  He says that the first View made ‘me think the dude is waiting for the ice to crack so he can put his boat in the water’…

…’The Second two are just of houses along the way, that didn’t quite get captured as well as I would have liked’…

…’Something about over a mile a minute, and the speed, or lack of speed, of the digital cameras.’

If you’d like to join in with View From The Cab, simply email your Views to vftc@tachoblog.com or send a tweet starting #vftc to @tachoblog

For those of you that can’t wait for this week’s View From The Cab – and this week’s is going to be an especially good one – here’s a little something before the main feature.

This is a great road video shot in New Mexico by One Girl Trucking, enjoy.

For those of you that need to know, this was taken between Hatch and Deming on Highway 26.

If you live in, or visit Hong Kong you’ll soon see some of these on the streets.

What is it?  It’s the Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck and since February 27, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) have been taking orders for the environmentally friendly truck in Hong Kong through Universal Cars Limited (UCL), the Mitsubishi Fuso distributor in the Chinese special administrative region.

Click below for more…

With this step, MFTBC is substantially expanding its international business with the Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid truck. Following the recently announced orders from Ireland and Australia, Hong Kong is now the third market for hybrid trucks outside the company’s home market of Japan.

“Mitsubishi Fuso is pleased to bring the low emissions, high fuel efficiency Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid truck to Hong Kong,” Dr. Albert Kirchmann, CEO and President of MFTBC told Tachoblog. “With its environmentally friendly performance, we believe this vehicle will benefit not only our customers but the public in general, by making a contribution to CO2 reduction and by raising awareness of the possibilities of low emissions commercial vehicles.”

In October 2009, the Electricity Supply Board, Ireland’s premiere electricity utility, ordered ten Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid trucks, making it the first customer outside of Japan to order the light-duty truck. In February, MFTBC announced it had also received an order for 25 vehicles from Star Track Express, one of Australia’s leading freight companies. For 2010 as a whole, MFTBC intends to further expand its hybrid truck sales by expanding into new markets.

Around 800 Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid trucks have been delivered to customers in Japan since the vehicle was introduced in 2006. The Canter Eco Hybrid is one of the most advanced Japanese light-duty trucks currently available for sale in the world today. It features a parallel hybrid system, delivering an up to 20 percent increase in fuel efficiency over conventionally powered models, with an associated reduction in CO2 emissions.

Here we are midway through the week, so it must be time for another classic cab video.  On Monday we featured a ‘52 Kenworth Cabover so today we’ll stay in that year but change manufacturer.

Once again we have LongRoadPro to thank for these two excellent clips of Bruce Thomas and his 1952Sterling White.

This first video is an interview with Bruce.

If you want to see the Sterling in action you need to click below…

In case you were wondering, Bruce and his Sterling come from Reno, Nevada.

We’ll have some more classics from LongRoadPro soon.

Thanks to the good folk at the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tachoblog can bring you a roundup of Commercial Vehicle news for this week…

SDC first for trailer brake approval

SDC Trailers says it has got the first braking type approval under new UN-ECE braking regulations, covering all its semi-trailers fitted with the firm’s roll stability system option.  This means customers can now add the approved braking system to their trailers.  The system is designed to act and cut the risk if it detects the chance of roll-over.  It offers SDC’s customers better trailer safety features by monitoring the trailer’s movements through an on-board accelerometer and wheel speed sensors.  The firm has approvals for braking systems from Haldex, Knorr Bremse and Wabco, meaning it can offer a type approved braking system with the customer’s preferred EBS maker.  Braking type approval will be mandatory from 2012.

More from Briege Armour on +44 (0)2 879 651 167 or briegearmour@sdctrailers.com

Click below for the rest of the roundup…

Save fuel, save cost, save the planet

The SMMT’s half-day seminar on telematics aims to show the technology’s role in cutting fuel use, costs and CO2 emissions for van operators.  “The aim is to start discussion and make people aware of the big savings in fuel use, emissions and cash that are available right now from the intelligent use of telematics,” said Robin Dickeson, manager, commercial vehicle affairs at the SMMT.  “Telematics should offer savings of at least 10% within days, while we’ll have to wait longer for most other technologies to make the same difference.”  Sharon Clancy, editor at M-Logistics, the UK’s leading magazine for telematics and vehicle tracking will lead the seminar and Richard Turner, leader of the Commission for Integrated Transport’s van study group will give the keynote speech.  There will be contributions from systems suppliers Microlise and TomTom Work and from operators. The seminar is on 24 March at the SMMT’s London head office.  The cost is £50+VAT a head, though SMMT members go free.

More from Natasha James on +44 (0)2 073 441 621 or njames@smmt.co.uk

FTA manifesto

The Freight Transport Association says politicians must commit to the logistics sector or risk consigning the UK to a future of under-achievement.  The FTA makes these comments as it sets out its manifesto, calling for politicians to invest in UK infrastructure, work with it on carbon solutions, change the Highway Code, respect commercial vehicles and tackle truck crime.  It says these five commitments are vital.  “Logistics delivers our food, our medicine and even warms our homes.  Its 2.3 million strong workforce contributes billions to the Treasury each year,” said Jo Tanner of the FTA.  “Modern society is not only enriched by our sophisticated global supply chain, but almost entirely dependent on it.”

More from Jo Batten on +44 (0)1 892 552 343 or jbatten@fta.co.uk

Scania wins Autologic deal

Scania has won a deal with Autologic to manage its mixed fleet of trucks and specialist trailers from 1 March.  The firm will run Autologic’s Doncaster Vehicle Maintenance Unit.  Autologic provides nation-wide logistics and technical services to the automotive industry.  Scania will handle the maintenance and safety testing of some 280 Autologic drawbar trucks and trailers, including the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations testing for lifting decks.  It won’t do the tyre fleet management.  Once at full capacity, Scania will manages 18 technicians and all the other people needed to run the unit on Autologic’s behalf, as part of its Total Transport Solutions scheme.

More from Phil Sampson on +44 (0)7 885 152 132 or phil.sampson@scania.com

Ryder’s first electric truck on contract hire

Truck rental and contract hire specialist, Ryder has delivered its first leased 10 tonne electric truck.   The Smiths Newton 10 tonne truck goes to Bunzl, the distribution and outsourcing group; it will work on catering and hospitality jobs in the central London area.  Based at Bunzl’s Charlton branch, the truck has a range of some 80 miles and has been designed for stop-start work in the greater London area. Trials with a demonstrator have shown that one charge could last for up to three days on Bunzl’s normal delivery routes around the capital.

More from Colin Peck on + 44(0)1 784 482 336 or colinjpeck@aol.com

Tata gets a £340m EIB loan

Tata Motors has done a deal with the European Investment Bank for an eight-year, £340m loan for Jaguar Land Rover.  This will help pay for the development of micro and full hybrid drive trains and research into more efficient car bodies.

More from Craig Rodgers on +44(0)2 073 441 614 or crodgers@smmt.co.uk

New telematics antenna for trucks and buses

Australian antenna specialist RF Industries has a new low-profile aerial for use with truck and bus telematics systems.  Called TLA4000 series it meets relevant European standards.  Oxtec, RFI’s European partners say the unit is “an ideal single antenna solution” for harsh environments.  It will work on all cellular frequencies, WiFi at 2.4GHz and handle GPS for tracking.

More from Michael Woodfine on +44 (0)1 295 722 848 or michael.woodfine@oxtec.co.uk

Eaton wins biggest UltraShift order

Eaton says it has won the biggest single order for its UltraShift truck transmission.  Penske Truck Leasing will take more than 1,800 new Fuller UltraShift ‘Highway Value’ medium-duty and fully automated gearboxes.  They will be built into International DuraStar trucks behind MaxxForce engines that will run as part of Penske’s consumer truck rental fleet.  Independent testing using SAE-approved protocols has shown that the UltraShift HV can make 7% through 19% fuel savings over a conventional automatic, depending on the job.

More from Mike O’Neill on +1 (0)2 157 521 429 or Oneillpr@aol.com

Show debut for new axle load indicator

Axtec’s latest version of its successful on-board load indicator makes its UK debut on stand 5851 at the 2010 CV Operator Show in April.  The new unit offers a range of new options to help operators meet axle and gross weight restrictions.  The biggest change is the opportunity to integrate a reversing camera into the system.  This automatically displays a view from the rear-facing camera as soon as the driver selects reverse gear.  All systems will come with this connectivity as standard for use with existing reversing cameras, or Axtec can supply a complete kit.  The system now also stores overload data to give the transport manager detailed records.  Where a vehicle has a live tracking system, Axtec can link to it to give live loading data.

More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

Cameron’s internet-based fuel management system

Cameron Forecourt will launch a new fuel storage management system called Eclipse on its stand 5474 at the CV Operator show in April.  This uses satellite-based technology to give round-the-clock fuel status monitoring via the Internet and needs no special software.  Aimed specifically at the owners of commercial refuelling installations, the system makes it far easier for fleet operators to monitor stocks, pinpoint deficiencies and stamp out theft or unauthorised fuelling.  “With traditional landline or GSM-linked monitoring systems, the data can be anything up to 24 hours old,” said Martyn Gent, sales and marketing manager.  “The Eclipse tells you immediately when things start going wrong, be it theft, fuel loss or any other exception.”

More from Martyn Gent on +44 (0)1 226 742 441 or martyngent@cameron-forecourt.co.uk

Halls Auto Electrical at the CV Operator Show

Fuel injection and auto electrical firm Halls Auto Electrical says it will have specialists on its stand number 5594 at the CV Operator Show in April.  Halls works across Central and Southern Britain from bases in Bristol and Swindon and has a staff of highly trained and experienced mobile engineers and support staff.  “Using the latest equipment, our engineers can interrogate modern vehicle computer systems and seamlessly install auxiliary equipment,” said the firm’s Steve Hall.  “Our reputation, coupled with ISO9001 accreditation and manufacturer awards has helped us build an excellent customer base.”  The firm has been in business 30 years this year.

More from Steve Hall on +44 (0)1 454 319 722 or steve.h@hallselectrical.co.uk

Aixam’s new drive train for electrics

Electric vehicle maker Aixam has a new AC motor drive-line for its Mega e-City urban vehicles and Mega Multitruck commercial ranges.  This gives a longer range and more torque for better acceleration.  It also means lower maintenance costs.  The new models will make their first public appearance on Aixam’s stand 5825 at the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show at the NEC in April.

More from Christine Gormley on +44 (0)2 476 407 422 or Christine@seachangecommunications.co.uk

Aspray to double in size

Willenhall-based family firm Aspray Transport expects to grow 20% this year and double in size in two years.  The firm just got 26 new Daf trucks, mostly LF 7.5 tonners but with some CF tractors to help it handle newly-won work.  It also expects to hire 50 more people by the end of March.  The new trucks join Aspray’s 300 trucks and 110 trailers.  The firm also plans to order another 25 new trucks later this year.  Greenhous Commercials, also in Willenhall, got the business on the back of Aspray’s local buying policy and a successful, 22-year relationship between the two firms.  The firm has 12 depots across the UK, including a logistics site in Wolverhampton.

More from Sylvie Pender on +44 (0)1 179 493 394 or sylvie.pender@corixa.co.uk

High mileage Dafs for ATL

Three new Daf CF85 tractors with Derbyshire-based Ascott Transport Limited are each likely to do around 275,000 miles (445,000 km) a year on a contract with tyre maker Pirelli.  The trucks are working 24/7, fully laden, moving raw materials and finished products between Pirelli plants at Burton-on-Trent and Carlisle.  The job needs 12 drivers on a double and split-shift system.  There are two 40 tonners and one 44 tonner, all powered by 460bhp 12.9-litre engines driving AS-tronic automated gearboxes with long distance software.  Imperial Commercials of Derby did the deal.

More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

Fire fighting vehicle deal on offer

The SMMT’s International Department says that the Sungai Ling Authority in Brunei has issued an open tender for the supply and maintenance of six fire fighting vehicles and support equipment and their maintenance for four years.  The vehicles are a 5,000 litre foam tender on 4×4 chassis cab, a Haz Mat tender based on a 6×4 chassis cab, an emergency tender based on 6×4 panel van, a single cab rescue tender, a command car based on 4×4, five seat SUV and a 4×4, five seat MPV.  The tender demands that interested firms submit a pre-qualification questionnaire by Tuesday 6 April, 2010.  The tender requires maintenance of all vehicles for four years after warranty.

More from David Croxson on +44 (0)2 073 449 230 or dcroxson@smmt.co.uk

Commission makes overtures to Iceland

After a positive assessment, the European Commission recommends membership talks with Iceland.  This follows Iceland’s application for membership made in July last year.  The assessment takes account of “some economic issues,” mostly centring on the so-called ‘Icesave’ accounts at Landsbanki, one of the three major banks to collapse as a result of the financial crisis.  EU leaders must now formally decide on opening accession talks with Iceland.

More from Craig Rodgers on +44(0)2 073 441 614 or crodgers@smmt.co.uk

European CV registrations drop 12.3% in January

Acea, the Brussels-based European motor industry association just released January data on commercial vehicle registrations in the European Union.  These show a total of 123,527 units for the month, 12.3% down on January last year.  This is now a 21 month on month decline.  Heavy trucks, over 16 tonnes did worst, down 43.5% to 10,961 while vans up to 3.5t dropped 5.2% to 105,522.  For all vans and trucks over 3.5t, registrations dropped 40% to 15,756.  Germany did best, taking 4,185 of those vans.  January bus and coach registrations dropped 30.9% to 2,249..

More from Quynh-Nhu Huynh on +32 (0)2 738 73 55 or qh@acea.be

Logistics showcase

If you feel that logistics doesn’t get the credit it deserves, the Freight Transport Association’s giving you a chance to show the sector some love at its Logistics Showcase.  On the first evening of the CV Operator Show in Birmingham, the FTA will run a gala dinner to celebrate the sector.  “The night will also see the premiere of four brand new short films, each showing an aspect of logistics,” says Jo Tanner at the FTA.  “And you’ll get a chance to meet contacts old and new.  Places are limited, so make sure you book today at www.lovelogistics.co.uk or by calling 08 717 112 222.”

More from Jo Batten on + 44 (0)1 892 552 343 or jbatten@fta.co.uk

Parcelforce takes 1,000 ECO-Start Sprinters

Parcelforce Worldwide, the Royal Mail Group’s UK and international express delivery division recently got 1,106 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 311CDI vans.  All have the Mercedes ECO-Start system which automatically cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary.  Parcelforce chose the vans after a trial involving its drivers and expects the vans to cut fuel use and emissions by some 5%.

More from Julia Elkins +44 (0)1 908 245 616 or julia.elkins@daimler.com

TVS Logistics goes for European growth

TVS Logistics, the Indian company which bought Multipart last year, is re-organising its European operations as part of a global plan to double revenue in two years from its current level of more than £140 million.  The firm says that a key part of this is the appointment of Chris Gateley, Multipart’s managing director, to the Boards of TVS Automotive Europe, as chief executive and to TVS C J Components, TVS Group’s British component making subsidiary.  Gately also keeps his job as MD at Multipart.  TVS Automotive Europe offers Line Feed, Original Equipment Purchasing, Inbound Supply Chain management, aftermarket and related IT and technical support to motor industry clients across Europe.

More from David Rowlands on +44 (0)2 074 948 050 or drowlands@automotivepr.com

City Link wins £300k deal

City Link’s Kidderminster depot just won a £300,000 annual deal to handle all distribution needs for Bromsgrove-based vehicle parts supplier Fuel Parts UK Ltd.  “The contract started off on a trial basis but after three days Fuel Parts UK said they were delighted with how things were going and took us on permanently,” said Denise Wigley, general manager. “The company has an excellent reputation in the industry and we are delighted to be a part of it.”  The City Link Kidderminster Depot employs 60 people to take care of 163 customers across the Worcestershire area.

More from Celeste Clarke on +44 (0)2 476 228 881 or celeste@centurypr.co.uk

New air suspension from Drive-Rite

Dublin-based Drive-Rite Air Suspensions says its new Generation II IntelliRide Electronic Air Suspension is aimed at vans, minibuses, ambulances and community transport vehicles.  It is an air suspension control system, pioneered by Firestone, which can be adapted to meet the most specific needs of a vehicle maker or converter.  The electronic control unit reads and quickly adapts to road, vehicle and driver inputs to “optimize air suspension performance.”  Fully certified by the Vehicle Certification Agency to EU Standards and already tested and approved by a number of Original Equipment Makers, the system meets “the harshest” environmental and electromagnetic conditions.

More from John Lindsay on +353 (0)860 480 484 or jlindsay@driveriteltd.com

Grayson goes to Turkey

Heat exchange specialist Grayson Thermal Systems will go to Busworld Turkey at the Istanbul Expo Center from 25 to 28 March.  The firm says this is the latest stage in its push to develop new European markets.  The Birmingham-based company will exhibit alongside ComeSys Europe, with whom it has been working on the development of new cooling systems technology for hybrid drive and all-electric buses and coaches.  Grayson has recently opened a large new factory to give it more capacity for research, development and manufacturing.

More from Christine Gormley on +44 (0) 24 76 407422 or Christine@seachangecommunications.co.uk

Actros to help launch lifeboats

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has got its first heavy haulage tractor unit, a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2546 plated for Special Types operation at 72t GCW.  The new truck has a MegaSpace cab and Mercedes Powershift 2 auto transmission.  It will tow a low-loader trailer, moving boats and heavy plant between lifeboat stations nationwide.  Pentagon Commercials of Poole did the deal.  “We were previously sub-contracting out our heavy vehicle and plant movements,” said David Tidman, transport manager for the RNLI.  “So this new Mercedes-Benz will help us to increase efficiency.”

More information from Julia Elkins +44 (0) 1908 245616 or julia.elkins@daimler.com

New website for Tiss

Tiss Security Systems says its new website at www.tissltd.com shows its growing dealer network, deals with truck makers and more educational information.  Matthew Rose, commercial director says that new pages explain how Tiss’ TankSafe Impregnable anti-siphon may help operators meet corporate and social responsibility targets.  The site also covers tests by Mi Technology to compare fuel security devices.

More from Silvia Vitale on +44 (0)1 253 400 401 or silvia.vitale@tissltd.com

And finally

New Scientist’s Feedback page says that one of its readers, Roger Powell wants to get hold of a box from Amazon, as these handy containers appear to have the ability to reduce the weight of any objects placed inside them.  For example, the vehicle reversing aid Roger was interested in normally weighs 2kg, according to the product details on Amazon’s site but its boxed weight is listed as only 599 grams.  This, Roger suggests, must be how Amazon keeps its shipping costs down.

More from www.newscientist.com