John G. Smith is the editorial director of Newcom Media's trucking and supply chain publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, TruckTech, Transport Routier, and Road Today. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.
Meritor CEO predicts more electrification
ATLANTA, GA -- "There is a sea change in our industry with regard to electrification of the drivetrain," said Jay Craig, CEO of Meritor, at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. The actual percentage of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that will be fully electric or hybrid electric by 2025, he said, is not as important as the surety that the number will be more than it is today.
Meritor’s Mach brand enters the aftermarket
ATLANTA, GA - Meritor has introduced a value-priced product line for the aftermarket that will be branded as Mach. Initial offerings will include brakes, drivelines, drive axles, suspensions, transmissions and springs, but there are plans to expand as well. "Mach is a global aftermarket value brand that we're launching today for North America, but we're going to introduce it here and all over the world," said Rob Speed, president - aftermarket and trailer and Chief Procurement Officer, during an unveiling at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. "The time is right, we believe, to launch a value lineup brand for aftermarket parts. In North America and around the world we're seeing a rise in low-cost competitors and brands that don't necessarily have the same quality focus as Meritor." Buyers are rolling the dice when they buy products from companies they don't know, he said. In contrast, Meritor is a proven company. "We're not offering parts that won't fit or won't work well. Mach is different."
Navistar, VW promise electric powertrain
ATLANTA, GA - Navistar will bring a medium-duty electric powertrain to the North American marketplace by 2019/20, drawing on technical expertise available through Volkswagen Truck and Bus. "There is an opportunity for electric and electric vehicles in the North American market," said Troy Clarke, chairman, president, and Chief Executive Officer, referring specifically to the Class 6/7 segment. "It is still in the early stages of the product development cycle there, but that's the target." Volkswagen officially secured a 16.6% stake in the company in March, and is already expected to bring a big bore diesel powertrain to North America by 2021 in addition to sharing other technologies. It won't be Navistar's first foray into electric vehicles. The company launched its Class 3 eStar van several years ago, but that model was ahead of its time, Clarke said in a presentation during the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. MAN, a European nameplate owned by Volkswagen, recently released an electric truck of its own in the form of the eTruck.
Kriska acquires Service Freight Systems
PRESCOTT, ON - Kriska Transportation Group (KTG) has acquired Burlington, Ontario-based Service Freight Systems (SFS), which will continue to be led by general manager Rob Ten Brinke. Service Freight Systems, a logistics company founded in 1995, specializes in temperature-controlled, cross-border, truckload freight. Kriska Group has 600 tractors, 1,700 trailers, and employs 850 people including owner-operators. Its brands include Kriska Holdings, Mill Creek Motor Freight, JMF Transport (1992), and Transpro Freight Systems. "The KTG family of companies, with its asset-based core, complements well with SFS. They will add depth to our growing investment in logistics services," said Mark Seymour, Kriska's president and Chief Executive Officer, in a related press release.
