Here we are again! Another year, another ATA Convention and Richard Hancock is telling us how we are going to get a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. He is always so optimistic telling us it is all go, as of January 1 2012, although the timing is beginning to slip and most states won’t be on board until July next year at the earliest.

Good luck Richard, as the chief pilot in a major exercise in Utopianism!

Characterising the team who keep trucks on the road as superheroes is great. My personal favourite is ‘Pete the Parts Picker’!

There is a real need to make trucks and working with them sexy. If we don’t, we will run out of people in the industry. The current skills shortage could turn into an inability of the truck industry to fulfil it’s role in, literally, keeping the wheels of our modern economies rolling. We are going have to come up with more of this kind of stuff as a matter of urgency in the years to come.

The comments by the truck owners may sound a little scripted but they are saying stuff we hear everyday in trucking. People have a strong connection to Kenworth, it’s not just the trucks but also the people who make it so strong.

The truck is definitely fast and definitely green, but how ‘green’ is it. Surely environmental responsibility is all about reduction of carbon emissions. Volvo seem to be sending a mixed message here and don’t really expand on the value of hybrids to the environment. Nevertheless, it still looks like a lot of fun!

News reports coming out of the US suggest General Motors are interested in buying 10% of Japanese truckmaker, Isuzu. A report suggests GM and Isuzu are in talks on a capital tie up to produce commercial vehicles to be sold in developing countries.

Isuzu was left holding the baby back in 2006 when GM got itself into deep financial crisis and dumped its holding in Isuzu. Many of the ties between the two companies were severed at that time. Since then, a Isuzu has continued to build medium-size diesel engines for the company to be fitted in their larger utility trucks.

The Japanese truckmaker remained independent without a major global backer and have been struggling to pull together sufficient funds for the kind of research and development needed to develop new engine and new cabs in parts of their truck range. There were speculation last year about a move by Volkswagen to take a stake in the company.

Isuzu have been working along with Hino on some engine developments. Their lack of a new heavy duty cab and engine for the future has limited their progress in this area. New US money from the newly revised GM maybe just  the kind of new development funding which the company badly need.

Anyone want one? How much money have you got? Price premium will mean you have to have deep pockets to own a European conventional. Buyers of the Iveco Strator have to pay up to 30% extra to have a bonnet to look at as they drive along.