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.

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Volvo’s vision automated, electrified, connected

WASHINGTON, DC - Change is said to be one of the certainties in life, and Volvo Trucks is preparing for a future that is electrified, automated, and connected. But the company doesn't expect fully autonomous or electric linehaul trucks anytime soon. "It's a time of revolution when it comes to engineering and technologies," Chief Technology Officer Lars Stenqvist said during a media roundtable in Washington, DC. "This is the most fascinating and challenging era ever." While Volvo expects electric trucks to emerge, the company's electrification strategy is focusing on applications like ports, urban centers, and construction rather than the open road.

Class 8 truck sales continue surge

BLOOMINGTON, IN - North American Class 8 truck orders this August were 50% better than a year ago, and 14% above July totals, analysts at FTR report. "Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May's 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year. Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4," said Don Ake, FTR's vice president of commercial vehicles. The numbers are in keeping with expectations and should help to fill remaining 2017 build slots, FTR concludes. It's the best August order performance since 2014. In the past 12 months, North American Class 8 orders have reached 231,000 units.

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