Japanese Mini Trucks

Stuttgart/Lienz – A million kilometres, accumulated in short-radius distribution work on Austria’s Alpine roads – no problem at all for the Mercedes-Benz Atego 917, as our example from the company BS Transport in the Austrian village of Tristach shows. Still with its original engine and never having needed repairs other than as required during regular servicing and maintenance, this truck offers a fine example of the model’s economy and longevity.

Its journeys have taken BS Transport’s Atego over mountain passes at an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level and along narrow and very steep country roads into the valleys. The company uses the Atego 917 on two daily shifts, five days a week, to deliver goods and parcels for the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). Two shifts means 16 hours of driving on high mountain and pass roads and rough gravel tracks to reach sometimes remote communities, covering distances of up to 600 kilometres a day.

The never less than perfectly functioning OM 904 LA engine, with charge air cooling, 4.2-litre displacement and an output of 125 kW (170 hp), has proved its worth over the years. “To this day, it has never suffered an engine failure or needed any major repairs at all”, company proprietor Hannes Bundschuh tells us, while his wife Christa, who as managing director looks after the company’s finances, confirms this. She is extremely satisfied with the low lifecycle costs of the Atego.

Over the course of his not inconsiderable experience with many different makes of vehicle, Hannes Bundschuh, who himself trained as a motor vehicle technician at the authorised Mercedes-Benz workshop of Dipl.-Ing. Hans Teissl & Sohn in Lienz, has developed a firm preference for the Atego. He and his brother have been running their freight forwarding company for 25 years now. In his expert opinion: “I can’t imagine using any other truck than the Atego for this sort of work. For a comparatively small forwarding agent like us, with just 11 vehicles in total, a vehicle breakdown involving major engine damage could decide over the company’s continuing existence.

Source: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-614343-1-1459097-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

ROSEBUD, Mo. – Tracy Bogler remembers the stories. How his grandfather started the family’s delivery business with a one horsepower machine. “Well, if you consider horses as machines, you’re accurate,” said Bogler with a smile. “My grandfather started his delivery business with horse and wagon delivering clay from Chamois, Mo., to Farbar, Mo. – a distance of 107 miles.

In 1926, William Bogler bought a 2-year old chain driven truck, but quickly learned that his horse and wagon could get to Farbar quicker, and more reliably. Back to hay fed transportation versus gas fed he went. Eventually, trucks won out.

As the company diversified in the ’30s, adding five trucks and later gaining a milk delivery business, William’s son, William Woodrow “Woody” Bogler, joined his dad. “My dad was 15 when he got behind the wheel of a truck making milk runs,” said Bogler. “It was a few years before he was supposed to, but he did fine. And, he loved what he was doing.

Then, when dad graduated from high school, he went off to fight in Korea. Instead of spending his paychecks overseas, he sent them home to invest in the trucking company. And when he returned home in 1954, he had a nest egg saved and became president of the company.

A rich history is in the blood of Tracy Bogler, who has carried the company’s torch after his dad suffered a stroke in 2002. Operating a fleet of 125 long-haul tractors and 200 trailers – a mix of dry van and end dumps, Bogler said the company’s time-honored reputation for reliable deliveries, coupled with controlling expenses have been the hallmark for the company’s longevity.

The fuel economy improvement means about a $4,000 savings per year, per truck. And, once the entire fleet is converted over to the T660, the math shows a fleet savings of around $500,000. To help maximize fuel savings, the company uses side skirts on its dry van trailers, plus wide-base tires throughout. APUs and fuel-fired heaters help reduce idling. The trucks also feature disc brakes and roll stability systems.

Source: http://www.kenworth.com/6100_pre_mor.asp?file=2760

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

Renault Trucks will be presenting its Optifuel Solutions, designed to reduce Diesel vehicles’ consumption, as well as its Clean Tech offering of vehicles running on alternative energies (electricity, hybrid and CNG), at the second “ECO, Transport and Logistics” tradeshow.

In response to the environmental challenge road haulage is now facing, Renault Trucks offers customers a whole range of solutions to reduce its vehicles’ environmental impact. These concern both its Diesel vehicles - with Optifuel Solutions - and its vehicles running on alternative energies covered by the Clean Tech label.

It is these two major tracks which will be given a high profile during the upcoming edition of the ECO, Transport and Logistics show which will be taking place in Villepinte, to the north of Paris, from 27 to 30 March 2012.

Visitors will be able to find Renault Trucks on stand E 22 in Hall 6. Via its interactive terminals, they will be able to find out all about the manufacturer’s Clean Tech range. This label is given to vehicles that are all-electric (Maxity Electric), hybrid (Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech) or run on natural gas (Premium Distribution CNG).

The stand will also be presenting Optifuel Solutions. These cover the various tools Renault Trucks offers to reduce fuel consumption. They include Optifuel Programme, which is made up of two additional elements: training in economic driving (Optifuel Training) and software for measuring and analysing consumption (Optifuel Infomax).

An additional Optifuel Solutions tool is Optifleet, the Renault Trucks on-board IT solution for fleet monitoring and management. In particular, by using geo-localisation and real-time truck tracking, Optifleet enables hauliers to increase their profitability while at the same time reducing operational costs and improving their own customers’ satisfaction.

An additional Optifuel Solutions tool is Optifleet, the Renault Trucks on-board IT solution for fleet monitoring and management. In particular, by using geo-localisation and real-time truck tracking, Optifleet enables hauliers to increase their profitability while at the same time reducing operational costs and improving their own customers’ satisfaction.

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/renault-trucks-at-the-eco-transport-and-logistics-show.html

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

Urban Lab 1 is a new Renault Trucks project designed to improve goods distribution in towns. Developed with the bodybuilder Gemco E-Trucks B.V, this experimental vehicle opens up new possibilities in the field of urban distribution by bringing the loading sill down to ground level.

For, on this vehicle, electrifying the transmission from the powertrain actually modifies the truck’s architecture and allows greater freedom in defining the way the body is built and used. What makes the Urban Lab 1 so distinctive is that its suspension system makes it possible to lower the entire truck to ground level. This makes loading and unloading goods much easier and as much as one third quicker compared with a similar operation on a conventional vehicle.

The haulier obviously benefits from this since it allows the truck’s operational potential to be fully optimised. The concept will also benefit urban environments in general since, by reducing the length of time the truck is stationary, it is able to free up the delivery area more rapidly.

This vehicle has been based on a 16 tons Midlum DXi 5 and offers a payload of 8 to 9 tons according to version. It is driven by two latest generation “wheel motors” in the rear wheels which are supplied by a generator coupled to a Diesel engine. A battery pack enables the vehicle to travel in “all-electric” mode and thereby keep noise level to a minimum during final approach phases.

The lowering and raising of the truck and its bodywork is carried out by a specific suspension system equipping the front and rear wheels. This operation is activated when the vehicle is at a standstill by means of a switch in the cab.

An experimental vehicle, the Urban Lab 1 is one of several concepts Renault Trucks has been testing to improve goods distribution in towns as part of the joint transport system projects being carried out by the LUTB (Lyon Urban Truck&Bus) competitive cluster and the CityFret programme.

It is part of a research programme involving a variety of partners which seeks to find ways of satisfying the needs its customers and the general public have now or will have in the future.

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/urban-lab-1-an-experimental-vehicle-for-urban-distribution-.html

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

DUECO, Inc. Waukesha, WI - A family-owned and operated company, has been selling and servicing customized equipment for utility trucks for more than 57 years. Recently, DUECO built four trucks for Milwaukee County with corner-mounted Venturo HT25KX cranes. The trucks are operating throughout Milwaukee County to maintain traffic signals, signage and street lighting.

The County fleet includes hybrids, but these are the first hybrid trucks they are putting to work,” said Paul Dybro, marketing coordinator for DUECO. “Plug-in hybrid work truck systems lower fuel consumption by up to 50%, lower emissions and provide a quiet, safe working environment with good work site communications.

Source: http://www.ntea.com/News/Default.aspx?id=26069

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

Hino Trucks (Novi, MI) announced two new accolades from J.D. Power and Associates. Hino Trucks ranks highest in customer satisfaction with conventional medium duty engines, four years in a row, and Hino Trucks ranks highest in customer satisfaction among conventional medium duty trucks, two years in a row, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Medium Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study.

As competition intensifies in the medium-duty truck engine market, quality and reliability remain the most important aspect of overall satisfaction. The Engine Study, now in its fourth year, measured customer perceptions of 2010 model-year Class 5, 6 and 7 trucks equipped with both gasoline and diesel engines by looking at eight distinct factors: engine reliability/dependability; ease of access for service or maintenance; maintaining speed on grades; acceleration when fully loaded; control module (ECM); vibration at idle; engine warranty; and average fuel economy.

The Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its 19th year, measures customer perceptions of 2010 model-year Class 5, 6 and 7 commercial trucks. Within the product index, six factors are used to determine overall satisfaction: engine; warranty; cost of operation; cab and body; ride/handling/braking; and transmission. The study also measures satisfaction with services received from an authorized truck dealer. Six factors comprise the service index: service facility; service quality; service advisor; service initiation; service delivery; and service price.

Hino Trucks had the highest scores in all ratings factors for both studies. “This kind of accolade provides Hino Trucks valuable, independent feedback as we continue our commitment to exceed our customers’ performance and power expectations,” said Glenn Ellis, vice president of marketing for Hino Trucks. “Hino Trucks has built strong owner loyalty and driver satisfaction with a reputation for producing high-quality medium-duty trucks in the U.S. We are proud of these achievements and in Hino’s ability to deliver the best product in the industry.

Source: http://www.ntea.com/News/Default.aspx?id=26071

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

The Suez Environment Group has been won over by the variety of vehicles available in Renault Trucks’ urban range. This autumn, the Group signed a three year framework agreement - renewable for two additional years - for the supply of 7.5 to 26 t vehicles. Refuse collection vehicles, sweepers and other urban applications offered by the Midlum and Premium Distribution will now be listed by Suez environment for its activities in France, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Czech Republic. For more exacting applications, Suez Environment will also be able to count on the Premium Lander and Kerax models.

The agreement signed between Renault Trucks and Suez Environment establishes a long-term relationship between these two major players in urban mobility. Signed for a three-year period, which can be extended for an additional two years, this framework agreement allows the entire Renault Trucks urban range to be listed by the group in France, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Suez Environment has even extended the choice of solutions offered to vehicles in the Renault Trucks Construction range. Its fleet can therefore now be renewed with Renault Trucks’ Midlum, Premium Distribution, Premium Lander and Kerax models.

Even better, the energy efficiency delivered by the urban transport solutions offered by Renault Trucks also corresponds to the Suez Environment Group’s objectives in terms of reducing the environmental footprint made by its day-to-day operations. It will also enable the Group to anticipate the even more stringent regulations in this area likely to be imposed by major European conurbations.

Renault Trucks and the Group have been working closely together for several years. Renault Trucks supplies, on average, 250 vehicles a year to Suez Environment or its subsidiaries. One of these, SITA, even contributed to the development of the Renault Trucks’ Clean Tech range by testing the brand’s very first hybrid vehicle - the Renault Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech configured for refuse collection - under actual operating conditions beginning in 2008.

With its 79,554 strong workforce, Suez Environment is a world leader exclusively operating on all five continents devoted to activities associated with water and waste. The Group supplies 91 million people with drinking water, 61 million with waste water treatment services and also collects waste from almost 50 million people.

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/suez-environnement-adopts-renault-trucks-urban-vehicles.html

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

Russian road maintenance, cleaning and repair company Rosdorstroy has decided to add 35 Renault Kerax vehicles equipped with the “Extreme Cold” pack to its fleet. Having already been chosen to work on Russian construction sites and mining operations, the Kerax will therefore now also be operating on icy roads and snowed up sites around St Petersburg, a city famous for its harsh weather conditions.

Because of its high payload, the best ground clearance on the market and its optimised pulling power, the Kerax enjoys an excellent reputation in Russia. In 2009, it was awarded the “Best HGV” prize and elected “Truck of the Year” in 2010. And now, once again, the Kerax has been adopted by a major Russian company.

For this autumn, Renault Trucks Vostok delivered 35 6×4 rigids to Rosdorstroy, a St Petersburg-based company specialised in repairing, maintaining and cleaning roads. To date, it operates a fleet of around 100 trucks, one third of which is now made up of Kerax vehicles.

The 34 ton GVW vehicles with DXi11 380 hp engines will be working under very severe, wintery conditions in St Petersburg and the surrounding area. They are therefore equipped with the “Extreme Cold” pack consisting of a system to pre-heat the engine oil when the vehicle is at a standstill to make starting up easier. It also uses specific cooling liquids capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -40°C, a fuel heater as well as an independent heating system in the cab to provide the driver with maximum safety and comfort.

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/35-extreme-cold-kerax-vehicles-for-road-maintenance-in-russia.html

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan

It’s at the toughest times when you find out if you can count on a real partner. With the 24/7, seven days a week, round-the-clock assistance service available throughout Europe, Renault Trucks and its network do everything to help immobilised drivers get back on the road in a minimum amount of time. To fulfil this mission as well as possible, the Renault Trucks Lorraine 24/7 service has acquired a unique emergency breakdown vehicle.

Its decidedly high-tech design and brightly lit features emphasise the key role played by such a tool: serving customers who need breakdown assistance, whatever their brand of vehicle, wherever they may be, in all weathers and at any time.

Despite their great reliability, it can happen that trucks suffer a breakdown which prevents them from completing their assignment on time. But this is an assignment which directly concerns consumers. To make sure that their supermarkets receive their deliveries as planned, it is absolutely vital that trucks stranded on the roadside remain there as briefly as possible.

To achieve this, Renault Trucks operates a non-stop assistance service - the 24/7. A powerful symbol of the manufacturer’s commitment to drivers and hauliers, it operates around the clock, seven days a week. With 1,500 service points and more than 1,000 emergency breakdown repair vehicles operating, Renault Trucks is able to carry out emergency repairs quickly and efficiently. This gets immobilised trucks back on the road as quickly as possible, maintaining hauliers’ profitability and easing road congestion.

Continuing with its production of innovative vehicles, Renault Trucks wanted to equip its Renault Trucks Lorraine branch with a spectacular and unique type of emergency breakdown vehicle. The product of a close collaboration between the Renault Trucks Hall of Design (HDD) and the graphic design and multimedia development agency Trafik, its innovative look echoes the glittering world of American trucks.

If these various light sources contribute to giving the vehicle a spectacular appearance, they also serve to warn motorists of the danger ahead from a considerable distance. In the end, this results in minimising any risk of accident. A further safety concern is addressed by having the winches and booms deployed via a remote control rather than a module fixed on the bodywork.

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/a-high-tech-breakdown-vehicle-to-provide-247-assistance-for-renault-trucks.html

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Organised by German publishers Huss-Verlag from Munich, the first edition of the European Transport Award for Sustainable Development was given to Renault Trucks’ Optifuel Solutions in recognition of its efficiency. This is the Renault Trucks service combining Optifuel Technology, the best of Renault Trucks’ technology for reducing fuel consumption, with Optifuel Training, which instructs drivers in rational driving and Optifuel Infomax, a tool for measuring and analysing fuel consumption that is unrivalled on the market. Stefan Schall, director of Renault Trucks in Germany, received the first prize in the Award’s “Services” category on 29 November, during an official ceremony which took place in the transport section of the German Museum in Munich.

The independent jury made up of well-known representatives from the scientific world, business, federations and the media, stressed that the potential for saving fuel had strongly influenced its decision to give the award to Renault Trucks Optifuel Solutions.

The jury also highlighted Renault Trucks’ pioneering spirit in the field of fuel economy. Optifuel Solutions were launched in 2007 and, over time, have proved their efficiency in sustainably reducing the impact of road transport on the environment. During the award presentation ceremony, the German TÜV certified 6.4% fuel savings achieved in 2009 by the Premium Optifuel - the vehicle offering consisting of a Renault Premium optimised for reducing fuel consumption combined with Optifuel Solutions - was also applauded by the jury.

The criteria for selecting the winners of the European Transport Award for Sustainable Development are based on the three-dimensional model of sustainability from an economic, ecological and social standpoint defined in 1983 by the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

Source: http://corporate.renault-trucks.com/en/press-releases/renault-trucks-optifuel-solutions-win

Japanese Used Mini Trucks, Kei Truck from Japan