As it stands right now your chances of dying from Covid-19 are less than 1 in 8,000. So much for being a pandemic. People will die of many things this year that are a lot more deadly than the Chinese Flu.
In all fairness, the truck manufacturers have also increased complexity of their vehicles to increase dealer profitability. They do this by engineering unique fasteners, the necessity of custom tools just to be able to reach the fasteners, and have impeded the release of information related to troubleshooting electronic issues. Further, they have made the cost of diagnostic equipment prohibitive for a single operator. A Bloomberg terminal would represent a better value for a small retail trader, as comparison. As far as Volvo, spare part availability and expensive proprietory parts for common replacement items such as headlights, have been long term compliants by US drivers. The relative cost breakdown between new semis after 2006 are approximately as follows: 1. Higher new truck cost plus 12% Federal Excise Tax plus sales tax, $12,000 base cost for “One box” emissions solution. EGR adds about $2500 base cost versus pre 2002 semi trucks. Newer turbos add about $2500 versus older generation of turbos. I will not include the cost of fuel injection increase of $2000, or about double, because of fuel efficiency gains associated with high pressure fuel systems. 2. The diesel particulate filter(DPF) is good for about 400,000 miles before needing replacement. Replacement costs vary, but $6000 on average, or about $.015 per mile. Some drivers simply drill a hole in these filters for longer use. Annual cleaning costs are $275, or about $.002 per mile. 3. Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) runs about $.02 per mile. They charge about $4.00 per gallon for what basically amounts to piss. Used for reducing oxides of nitrogen. 4. DEF pump replacement, $600.00 emission sensors, and other emissions related parts, overall add $.01 per mile. 5. Increased labor time related to non emissions repairs due to emissions equipment impeding access to other parts. 6. Reduced operational flexibility for given system reliability. You absolutely do not want to idle the new trucks for more than a few minutes or use full power on a long upgrade during hot weather. 7. The majority of semi’s now come with automated transmissions. These generally need replacing or at least a complete rebuild at 600,000 miles. A automated transmission replacement costs $12,000 in the US. Regular manual transmissions are typically good for 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 miles and cost less to replace. 8. The wiring harnesses(Plural) often need replacing in used trucks because of corrosion or oil intrusion from the crankcase at $600.00 plus per pop. An effective preventative maintenance effort can avoid this. 9. The manufacturers allow much extended oil changes, saving on regular maintenance costs, but potentially at the cost of the valve train components. The key is how the operator runs his equipment. Inspection underneath the valve cover for evidence of wear is a best practice before buying a used semi. Overall, not including initial cost, the cost of operating a post 2006 semi truck is $.08 per mile more than earlier models. Combined with reduced reliability and service availability, makes the value proposition of owning a newer semi dubious, at best. For those who must run California, an older semi is not an option due to that state’s emission requirements. Older US semi’s have a strong export market because the major fleets have contracts with the manufacturers for new vehicles and the owner operator segment of the used truck market has been shrinking for years. This is a shame because owner operators know how to get things done regardless of most mechanical issues on older trucks, load needs, weather, or routes. Many US company drivers become lost at most any obstacle, it seems nowadays. A new semi costs starts at $135,000, including FET, for a base model. In three or four years, they can be had in the used market for under $40,000, depending on availability of mainentance records and condition. I suspect the export market for newer model trucks will remain tepid, at best. I see an opportunity for a vertically integrated Brazilian based truck manfacturer to become a major force. Grab a few US engineers, increase repairability, provide reliable and reasonably priced parts, and efficiently manufacture these semi’s, and Brazil should have a big value added hit. Perhaps they’ll eventually figure out diesel + electric is better than either diesel only or battery only with current battery technologies. Bonus points if they go to a 36 volt electrical system instead of the massively archaic and limiting 12 volts. Want to play entrepreneur with me?
It’s not all about the dead. How about future deaths from a flu-like disease that mutates into one or two different strains each year reinfecting a large population? How about the 15 to 20 times the death rate of people who have serious complications from Covid? Serious complications that include long term disability? Covid-19 is a serious disease that affects our domestic pets, livestock, and avian populations. Avian populations that feed on harmful bugs are reduced causing additional crop stress and other disease transmission. Infected pets can create another reinfection vector. Dead livestock increases food prices. It is time for Republicans to recognize Covid-19 is a serious problem and respond accordingly. If not, it would not suprise me to see US voters overall to recognize that Republicans are a serious problem and take appropriate action.
He is a decent man right, a pity the flash bastards distract from a guy who should be actually studied. Well as we often use the S&P as a flawed measuring stick, look at how Nixon/Ford transitioned into Carter and the rise after a couple of years, had Carter a 2nd term nobody would have been complaining. Carter was it was said at the time focused on good process across the government and this can be expected by his naval and business career. Process is solid and sensible but it takes time to bear fruit. https://www.macrotrends.net/2482/sp500-performance-by-president
So other than maybe Cali emissions which are similar to European anyway, nothing Democrats did and if Republicans ran LA they would do the same. Rigs often idle too fast (a trick I'm learned from a UK Eddie Stobart trucking mechanic) , there is a lot can be done to get more efficency, the wrong oil can cost a bunch in a diesel. A number of South American countries will not allow used vehicles, not sure about Brazil.
Mexico might be the biggest recipient of used US trucks. The Right tends not to mind a little pollution is my impression. How much was done with pollution regulations when Republicans, such as Ronald Reagan controlled the state? Trucks shouldn’t idle for more than a few minutes at a time. It is better to use either a APU or battery based HVAC system. Solar installed on the trailer roof combined with deep cucke batteries could be a good way to go. 5000 watts potential, not that it would be utilized in most applications, except perhaps on an extended stay at a remote job site.
La, Bakersfield, Fresno are the issue and choking smog there was serious when I was doing my few TV series and movie bits back in the day. With population growth you can't just not deal with that, the people demanded it. Sunshine and Pacific fog plus engines makes smog, not a problem for the rest of the US but had to be addressed in Cali. That far denser Europe was on the same plan just made it easier. Reagan was gov from what mid to later 60s till 75? It was a different world then. I do recall as president he was highly supportive of Calis drive to improve efficiency.
Veteran of Ebola fight has 9-step plan to halt coronavirus spread in 5 weeks https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/ve...-halt-coronavirus-spread-in-5-weeks/19251882/ After almost six months since the first coronavirus cases appeared in North Carolina, the virus is still in control, based on the number of new infections statewide, and will be for the weeks and months ahead. WRAL Investigates spoke to one expert who has a simple message to everyone who's tired of dealing the virus. "The main thing is, if we do the right thing, it takes weeks," said Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam, president of the New England Complex Systems Institute. Bar-Yam and his colleagues say a simple nine-step plan can all but eliminate the virus. Several of those steps are already familiar, such as wearing masks in public, keeping a safe distance from others, protecting essential workers, making sure hospitals are prepared, increasing testing and encouraging people to improve their health habits. 9 Essential Actions to #CrushtheCurve History shows the plan can work – Bar-Yam consulted with international health leaders during an Ebola outbreak 15 years ago – but the key to turning the corner on the virus is to turn up the heat. Bar-Yam said there are three key steps to defeat the coronavirus: Community involvement to lead the fight. Lockdown Enacting travel restrictions beyond state or national limits. "Taking responsibility of doing that is what matters and not waiting for some government person to give you guidelines that are going to be too weak because they’re trying to satisfy everyone," Bar-Yam said. The logic is the community members can better hold themselves accountable with the mutual understanding that everyone needs to protect everyone else. "The lockdown really is staying away from people. It doesn’t mean staying in the house," he said. So, no more get-togethers with extended family, no more sleepovers with your children’s friends. Isolate yourself from others and venture out only when truly necessary. "The basic idea is you want to separate areas," he said. Create community bubbles where the same people visit the same stores. If you live in one county and have to go to work in another county, you can still do that. The key is not going out for lunch or shopping during breaks. Travel to work and back to home. Nothing else. The goal is to start small and create "green zones" where the virus level is so low, it’s manageable. "Get to the point where you’ve reduced the fire, and you only have it in a few places, Bar-Yam said. "Then, you pounce on it, and you get rid of it." Gov. Roy Cooper has repeatedly said the virus knows no boundaries. While that’s true, people can create boundaries and follow them. "The point is it’s not unreasonable. It really isn’t," Bar-Yam said. He said 15 counties in North Carolina are already green zones with minimal community spread for 14 days. The two counties doing the worst, according to Bar-Yam’s data, are Cumberland County and Guilford County. To show that travel restrictions work, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and others have strict rules that call for 14-day quarantines or proof of a negative test for all incomers, and all have low infection curves. In fact, New York now averages about 400 fewer cases a day than North Carolina. Likewise, countries like New Zealand and Greece and regions of Italy and the Netherlands have followed Bar-Yam's plan and stopped the virus spread. Although there were recent reports of a new spike of cases in New Zealand, the island nation’s new daily cases range from five to 13 a day, and Bar-Yam said those small fires can quickly be contained and extinguished. The U.S. could do the same thing starting at a grassroots level, he said, contending that a five-week, full-court press works if everyone follows all of the rules. Quicker test turnaround times is a key component, and fewer cases would lead to faster test results to identify and isolate new cases. "We’ve been at it, you know, six months? And at any moment in time, if we made the decision to get rid of it, we would be five weeks, we’d be done with it," Bar-Yam said. "The point is, if you put all the pieces together, it now works fast." https://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/new...s_to_CrushtheCurve_Short_-DMID1-5nyjdyfdp.pdf
What the WHO and medical professionals did in Africa fighting and stopping Ebola was an epic testament to exceptional dedication, organization, and effective utilization of funds. I followed both major Ebola outbreaks closely and actually had PPE and cleaning agents stocked up back then. I actually used of my old PPE in the current Covid-19 outbreak. Few outside those who worked with Ebola patients appreciate how lucky we were that the virus did not enter the general population outside Africa. Covid-19 is an excellent opportunity for us to get our prepardness setup for when an even worse virus emerges.