Mack gets boost from US military order

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The US Army has ordered 100 Mack Granites, which will serve as fuel and water tank trucks.

The order was placed through West-Mark, a manufacturer of liquid transportation equipment, Mack announced. The vehicles will be deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries to support rebuilding efforts.

“The Mack Granite is an ideal truck for this type of application because of its unmatched durability and reliability,” said Tom Kelly, president of Mack Defense. “We look forward to continuing to work with West-Mark to fulfill the contract for the US Army.”

The order, worth about US$14.5 million, will be fulfilled by January, Mack announced.

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Kenworth Says Tech Advances Boost Market Share

By Jonathan S. Reiskin, Associate News Editor

This story appears in the Nov. 7 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Truck research conducted here has helped boost Kenworth Truck Co. sales by more than 90% this year, and ongoing demonstrations for fleets could maintain the trend into next year, the company’s general manager said of activities at the Paccar Technical Center.

Kenworth’s Gary Moore said product research done at the technical center two or more years ago contributed to the company gaining 2.8 points of market share in Class 8 U.S. retail sales for the first nine months of the year — to 13.1% from 10.3% during the same time in 2010. Kenworth’s U.S. volumes have grown more rapidly than the industry as a whole, which is up 50.5% for the first nine months.

“You have to approach it from a product standpoint in explaining our success. We’ve been developing new products since 2009, and now they’re available,” said Moore, who became general manager in early July.

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Volvo Expects Reorganization of Truck Business to Boost Margin

Volvo AB said its operating margin should eventually grow by 3% as a result of the reorganization of its truck division, Bloomberg reported.

“I will not give a deadline when we’re done with it, but it will be over time,” CEO Olof Persson said Tuesday, Bloomberg reported.

The previously announced restructuring of the company’s truck division is aimed at simplifying purchases and decreasing internal invoicing, Bloomberg said.

Persson said the changes are “on track” for completion by Jan. 1, Bloomberg reported.

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