Eastern Canada’s Trucking Newspaper Since 1981
June 2019
Delivering daily news at trucknews.com
Volume 39, Issue 5
Page 9
Page 17
Pages 42-46
Page 48
Economic headwinds
The future’s electric
Focus on safety
Chicken or egg?
Is the economy, and the trucking industry in particular, slowing? Data presents mixed signals.
Daimler Trucks North America CEO Roger Nielsen makes bold proclamation at ACT Expo.
We examine workplace safety issues including cannabis, driver distraction, and lift truck safety.
Why aren’t more fleets using FA-4 engine oil? One says it’s too hard to find.
A shining example
RET ADVERTAIL ISING P AGES 49 -
Highway Star of the Year enjoys paying it forward
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By James Menzies MONTREAL, QUEBEC Moving household goods is a tough job, but it has its perks. Like moving VIPs and celebrities, and getting to solve complex challenges every day. “It’s hard work, but it’s different every day,” said Ron Pridmore, the 2019 Highway Star of the Year, who was announced as such at this year’s ExpoCam show in Montreal April 13. “It’s challenging. Some days are more challenging than others.” Pridmore has been in the moving business since about 1976, when a friend asked him to help with a move. He’s been at it ever since, operating his own truck and spending the majority of his career – 40 years – with United Van Lines and its affiliate Campbell Moving, which nominated him for the award. “For me, it’s not really trucking. It’s more. Driving isn’t the whole job, it’s moving people,” Pridmore said in an interview with Truck News prior to the award presentation. Continued on page 26
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Nikola World attracted more than 2,000 people and shed new light on the truck manufacturing start-up’s market strategy.
Nikola lays out its plans for disruption Nikola’s hydrogen-electric truck demonstrated for the first time By James Menzies SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA Nikola Motor Company founder Trevor Milton rode into the Westworld event center here April 16 atop a wagon pulled by the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. It was a shout-out to Anheuser-Busch, which has placed orders for more Nikola Class 8 hydrogen-electric semis than any other company, and a fitting way to kick off the two-day Nikola World demonstrations. More than 2,000 people attended the event, representing more than 49 countries. “With many more we couldn’t even allow in due to capacity,” Milton beamed. The company has come a long way in a short time. Milton founded the company in 2014 with the vision to bring to market electric-powered Class 8 trucks. It was started in his basement and has blossomed to include divisions for powersports and military vehicles, as well as a European Class 8 truck dubbed Tre. All were on display at Nikola World. More than 130 people now work for the company, which will exceed 300 by the end of this year. The company’s flagship product is the Nikola
One truck, which is set to enter production in 2022. A Nikola Two day cab is also in the works. More than $1 billion has been invested into the Nikola drivetrain, and investors have lined up to provide funding. That has benefited Nikola’s growth, Milton acknowledged, while rival Tesla has been under tremendous pressure to deliver its own Class 8 electric semi on schedule. “I have a lot of sympathy for what they’re going through,” Milton said. “The world is putting a lot of pressure on them to succeed in every category in the world. I feel for those guys a lot and it’s one reason I don’t want to go public – I want to go slow without the pressure of the financial world bearing down on me.” But no one can accuse Nikola of moving slow. Before it even launches its truck in North America in 2022, the company designed and showed a European cabover version of its truck, which will launch just one year after its debut here in North America. And it also has been working to develop the hydrogen fueling infrastructure, which will be rolled out at the same time it ramps up truck production. The initial fueling site is operational in Arizona, 10 more eight-ton per day sites will open up next, Continued on page 29