John G Smith
John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.
Tesla rolls ahead with Class 8
HAWTHORNE, CA - Elon Musk has officially unveiled the all-electric Class 8 Tesla Semi, following months of speculation and delays. Now the question is whether his company will become the industry disruptor it wants to be. A pair of prototype day cabs unveiled in California on Thursday featured a streamlined bullet-like design, evoking a look traditionally left to concept vehicles. And there were plenty of world media representatives there to share in the experience, each shepherded into a secure hanger for a brief peek. Just a day before, Musk went so far as to tweet this truck "can transform into a robot, fight aliens, and make one hell of a latte". Yes, it was hyperbole - there was no cappuccino machine anywhere -- but the Chief Executive Officer and product architect attracted plenty of attention for his latest announcement. More than 1,000 people were on hand for the launch, cheering every point that Musk made, especially when a new roadster rolled out of the back of the trailer.
A Mexican trucker’s view of NAFTA
GUADALAJARA, MX - Noe Montes has experienced the benefits of NAFTA first hand. In a single decade he has grown his business from a single truck to a sophisticated fleet with 170 power units and 250 drivers - serving automotive shippers from Linamar to Pirelli. He's eying opportunities in Canada, too, particularly in a lane that would stretch between Mexico and Southern Ontario. Gone are the days when Mexican carriers would simply interline with their counterparts in Canada and the U.S., says the owner of Transmontes and its sister company, TM Transportation Services in Laredo, Texas. But even as the 40-year-old entrepreneur adds to his fleet's capacity, he is keeping a close eye on NAFTA negotiations.
Volvo expands in Mexico, predicts growing Nam market
GUADALAJARA, MX - Volvo's "shape of trucks to come" has come to Mexico, with the official unveiling of the VNL long-haul tractor, VNR regional hauler, and an expanded VAH auto hauler lineup. It's a significant expansion of Volvo offerings available in the country, which had previously been limited to the VNL long-haul trucks. "Mexico is a very important market for us globally," said Magnus Koeck, vice president - marketing and brand management, comparing the market's size to that of Canada, with 25,000 to 27,000 in annual sales placing Mexico among the largest truck markets in the world. Volvo now has a presence in 140 countries overall, with manufacturing capabilities on every continent. The North American models will be built in Dublin, Virginia. There will be more trucks to manufacture, too. Volvo now projects North America's Class 8 market to reach 260,000 units next year, compared to 235,000 in 2017. That could even be a conservative number, Koeck added, noting that some analysts are predicting as many as 309,000 units. "We will see if that will hold." Buyers around Mexico City will also have easier access to the trucks, through Grupo Alden's addition to the dealership network following a US $6 million investment. Volvo now has 43 dealer locations in Mexico overall.
ATA leader applauds Trump plans
ORLANDO, FL - The U.S. Trump Administration clearly has a friend in America's trucking industry. Chris Spear, president and Chief Executive Officer of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), delivered a wide-ranging state of the industry address at an annual meeting today - promoting everything from proposed tax reforms to a pending mandate for Electronic Logging Devices, and Trump's commitment to raise funds for infrastructure. In the past year, the group has met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and all 10 House and Senate Committee leaders and ranking members. But a clear highlight, demonstrated through pictures around the convention hall, was an appearance at the White House with 12 America's Road Team captains. "ATA in now fully engaged in reforming our country's decaying tax laws," he added, referring to the associations hosting a recent meeting with Trump in Pennsylvania. Citing trucks as "the barometer for the nation's economy", Trump at that meeting introduced a proposal for a 20% cut in corporate tax rates and eliminating estate taxes.
IN PRINT — Bulk Buyer: Don Daseke
STEINBACH, MB -- Big Freight Systems wasn't for sale. The Coleman family had been running the business since 1948, when they bought South East Transfer in Steinbach, Manitoba. Chief Executive Officer Gary Coleman was focused entirely on finding ways to grow. When a courier package arrived from Don Daseke, proposing a potential sale, he simply filed it away. But Daseke persisted. The pair met in person. And this spring Big Freight Systems became the first Canadian operation in Daseke Inc.'s expanding family of specialized, flatbed carriers. "His philosophy on business, his philosophy on people, his philosophy in terms of driving success forward through collaboration, all ran very close to me," Coleman recalls. "I got comfortable with his long-term plan." That plan is to consolidate fleets in an industry sector dominated by family-owned businesses. The Texas entrepreneur has secured more than 3,800 trucks and 8,200 trailers so far, accounting for about 1% of what Daseke estimates is a US $133 billion market. The business reported $30 million in revenue in 2009, growing to a pro forma of $869 million last year. And more acquisitions are in the works. Daseke refers to himself as an accidental trucker. He began his career as an auditor, held roles at IBM, and later built a residential real estate business that sold for US $1.7 billion. He first invested in trucking nine years ago only after a friend introduced him to Smokey Point Distributing, which specialized in aviation cargo. That became the first of today's 13 operating companies.
