Mitsubishi Fuso extends midrange, medium lines

A new model just for California, two mixer trucks, and automatic transmission options will all be part of the 2001 midrange and medium-duty lineup for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America.

The FE California is a Class 4 cabover (14,050 lb. GVW) powered by a 145-hp. diesel that meets the California Air Resources Board emissions requirements. A 4-speed automatic transmission is standard.

The 4-wheel-drive FG gets an automatic transmission option for 2001, as well as a 10-hp. boost for its in-line 4-cyl. diesel, making it more suitable for snow-plowing and other typical 4WD applications. The Class 3 cabover is offered in two wheelbases and can handle bodies up to 14 ft. long.

Moving up in weight capacity, the Class 7 FM-SP (32,900 lb. GVW) will also be offered this year with an automatic transmission option - the Allison MD 3060, an electronically controlled 6-speed.

This year Mitsubishi Fuso will also offer two concrete mixer models. The FE-SP mixer has a 14,500 lb. GVW and a 1.5- cu.-yd. concrete capacity. The Class 6 FM-MR (25,995 lb. GVW) has a 3-cu.-yd.-capacity mixer. Both mixer units are fully warranted by Mitsubishi Fuso.

A lower tare weight, improved thermal efficiencies and added durability in the floors and lower sidewall impact areas are some of the key enhancements featured in the new 3000R reefer from Utility Trailer Manufacturing Corp. While the trailer distinctly resembles the manufacturer's 2000R model, Craig Bennett, senior vp-sales and marketing, says the company has literally redefined its production and manufacturing process, as well as the product itself.

The 3000R is up to 800 lb. lighter than comparably equipped refrigerated trailers. Its design yields additional inner height and cubic capacity, while its profile is based on today's lower fifth-wheel height. The reefer boasts a standard floor capacity of 16,000 lb. The new 13/8-in. heavy-duty floor system is designed to take the abuse of repeated forklift loading and unloading. Utility has included standard rear dockboard guide plates at the rear threshold to reduce deck plate damage. Full-length hardwood floor fillers are used for maximum durability and added floor life.

Refinements have also been made to Utility's foam-in-place insulation production process. The company's high-pressure foaming process produces a highly efficient foam envelope, Bennett reports, which translates into savings in fuel consumption, lower operating costs and added load protection.

To deliver lower life cycle costs and the highest residual value, Utility has also now made many optional features standard equipment on the 3000R. These include an "ultra" high-tensioned aluminum roof skin, LED lights in the top rail, exterior-mounted nose box, extruded aluminum front corners with standard stainless steel inserts, rust-proofed king pin assembly, Utility's rivetless wall and ceiling linings and a 10-in.-high integrated heavy-duty wearband for impact protection.

The 3000R reefer features Utility's Barrier Door with 24-in. lining edge protectors, Utility's "wedge"-type gaskets, redesigned lock hardware for added durability, a tighter seal and a shallow header for increased door opening height. In addition, a re-engineered stainless steel rear door frame and buckplate are standard, along with a massive, recessed rear gusset to protect ABS and lower clearance lights. Air ride suspension is standard.

First product offering to be heavy-duty shock

The shareholders of Arvin Industries Inc. and Meritor Automotive have officially approved the merger of the two automotive suppliers. Called ArvinMeritor Inc., the new company is organized into six business groups, including Commercial Vehicle Systems, Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket, and Exhaust Systems. The other three business groups serve the light-vehicle market.

Larry Yost, former chairman and CEO of Meritor, is the new company's chairman and CEO, and Bill Hunt, former chairman and CEO of Arvin, serves as ArvinMeritor's vice chairman and president.

One of the first new commercial-vehicle products expected as a result of the merger is a heavy-duty shock, according to Prakash Mulchandani, president of the commercial vehicle systems group. Arvin, which built the Gabriel brand of automotive shocks, had developed the HD version, which will now be brought to market through Meritor's well-established truck-industry channels.

The former Arvin shock business also brings with it advanced suspension technology that will be merged with Meritor heavy-duty axle/ suspension expertise to develop new active suspensions with electronic controls, says Robert Patrician, president of ArvinMeritor Suspension Systems Co.

The exhaust group is expected to follow a similar synergistic model, according to Exhaust Systems president Wesley Vance. The new ArvinMeritor operation expects to use Arvin's existing expertise in emissions aftertreatment for light-duty vehicles to help heavy-duty diesel makers meet upcoming diesel standards, he says.

ArvinMeritor is headquartered at Meritor's former corporate offices in Troy, Mich. It has more than 100 plants around the world and will have total revenues of $7.5 billion this year. Established brand names owned by the new company include Meritor axles and brakes, Meritor WABCO brake products, ZF Meritor transmissions, Purolator filters, Gabriel ride control products, and ANSA exhaust systems.

The 86-in. Studio AeroCab is now available on Kenworth's T600 and T800 models. Previously, it was exclusive to W900B and W900L models. The premium cab offers a sofa that pulls out into a 42-in. bunk, and Kenworth's VIT interior package, including wall-to-wall carpeting. To accommodate Canadian restrictions, the T800 Studio AeroCab can be spec'd with a 244-in. wheelbase.

Goodyear is beefing up promotion of its medium-duty truck tire retreading network. The company has renamed its truck retread program NEXT-TRED and is promoting it through 167 medium commercial truck facilities in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, go to www.goodyear.com.

Auxiliary air suspension, L225P9, a new version of Reyco/ Granning Suspensions' L225, is designed for pusher applications on single-drive-axle trucks. The 22,500-lb.-rated suspension features an axle with a 9-in. center drop, eliminating the need to use frame spacers to provide driveline clearance.

A customized collection of financial services called OTR Advantage is designed to assist owner-operators and managers of small fleets. Developed by Road Manager Financial Services, a subsidiary of Volvo Commercial Finance, the services include bookkeeping, quarterly financial reports, consulting, and tax planning and preparation. Check www.volvocf.com.

Expanded oil analysis program for users of ExxonMobil Delvac diesel engine oils in both on- and off-highway applications offers more than two dozen separate tests. Mobil Delvac AccuTrack detects 20 different wear, contaminant, and additive metals, and allows users to graph the last six sample results for five of those tests, making it easier to spot wear trends. Check www.exxon. mobil.com.

Billing cycle can be customized for each user fleet

Speedco Truck Lube, which offers 24/7 quick-lubrication services for Class 6-8 trucks, is now offering fleets of 10 or more trucks the option of using the Comdata Complete billing-management system at its 28 U.S. locations.

"Not only is direct billing more convenient," says Ken Martin, Speedco's vp-sales & marketing, "it's more economical because it can reduce the number of checks a company has to issue." Fleet managers who use Comdata Complete also get an accurate maintenance record on each of their trucks.

The Comdata Complete billing cycle is personalized for each company. Fleets can receive an invoice each time a truck is serviced at a Speedco location, or select a daily, weekly, semi-monthly or monthly billing cycle for the entire fleet.

Currently, billing summaries are faxed to Comdata Complete customers, but by this year's 3rd quarter, the information will be e-mailed. And in the near future, customers will be able to call up their records on Speedco's Web site (www.speedcousa.com).

While Comdata Complete is designed for fleets of 10 or more units, Martin notes, fleets with fewer trucks can use a variety of credit cards, as well as checks from Comdata, to pay for Speedco services.

Speedco also announced the opening of a new location in Las Vegas. The three-bay, drive-through center provides such services as oil changes, chassis lubes and on-site oil analysis.

General Motors offered a sneak-peek at a new 4WD steering system for its model-year 2002 pickups. Delphi Automotive's Quadrasteer is an electronic rear-wheel steering system that allows for greater maneuverability at low speeds, while providing better stability, handling, and control at higher speeds, according to GM.

The system operates three ways. At lower speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels, which is referred to as being "out of phase." At moderate speeds, the rear wheels remain straight. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, referred to as being "in phase."

Tests conducted by the two companies demonstrated that Quadrasteer reduces the minimum turning-circle diameter of pickups and sport utility vehicles by an average of 20%. GM said that in a test of full-size pickups, the turning diameter was reduced from 46.2 to 37.4 ft., making it comparable to the Saturn Coupe's turning diameter of 37.1 ft.

Grote's SuperNova 10-diode stop, tail and turn lamp provides fleets with a cost-effective lighting alternative that still meets federal truck illumination requirements.

The lighting manufacturer says that improvements in LED technology have enabled it to produce a lamp using only 10 diodes, which helps keep costs down. Eight diodes circle the outer edge and two are in the center. Lamps are available in red and yellow.

Like Grote's other stop, turn and tail lamps, the latest SuperNova has an estimated service life of 10 years. The company's LED line also includes a full-pattern stop, turn and tail lamp with 24 diodes, as well as a maximum-pattern model with 56 diodes.

Grote has redesigned the full-pattern lamp to incorporate higher-intensity diodes, spreading them further apart in a concentric configuration. Mounting the lamps is easier since they can be turned in any direction and retain the same LED pattern.

International Truck & Engine Corp. is traveling the U.S. and Canada with its mobile training center to educate dealers on the latest customer service techniques. The 22x40-ft. classroom-on-wheels was created from a 53-ft. expandable triple-wide trailer pulled by an International 9200i with Pro Sleeper.

Increased functionality has been added to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems' Web site to provide users with easier access to information. Bendix.com was redesigned based on customer-requested features, including warranty claims and status, troubleshooting information, and access to technical data.