Little Black Truck Coffee Co Thinks Big

Gerry Faulkner knew he’d unearthed the seed of a good idea when he began teasing out plans to reinvent the way mobile coffee was served in Australia.

A veteran of the outdoor entertainment industry, Gerry had grown accustomed to the snaking coffee lines confronting punters at events from Cairns to Adelaide – and the frustration it spawned.

The common problem, he found, was that every mobile coffee stall featured a single espresso machine to service thousands of people on-site.

Gerry proposed a simple solution to the problem.

He chose to fabricate a mobile coffee van, based on the Isuzu NNR 200 cab chassis, and equip it with two espresso machines to cut waiting times for coffee at events throughout Victoria.

And so the Little Black Truck Coffee Co was born.

"The idea was that we could come to an event and set up our system with two machines running," Gerry said.

"We really rotate the crowds through and cut down the lines you see at these big events.

"So far we’ve had an extremely positive response from event organisers, clubs and associations. In fact, we’ve recently picked up some large contracts for Melbourne-based events and an exclusive coffee deal with the Otway Odyssey 100km Mountain Bike Marathon."

Gerry’s first exposure to the Isuzu brand came via his father’s transport business.

Based in Warrnambool, Whaler’s Freight has an enduring relationship with Isuzu Trucks and this was a key driver behind Gerry’s decision to purchase one for his start-up business venture.

"When I entered the market for a truck I had an open mind, but after weighing up the pros and cons of each, Isuzu was a clear winner," Gerry said.

"I needed a twin cab to transport staff to and from events, and the Isuzu NNR 200 stood out from the crowd. Unlike its competitors, the Isuzu handles like a car, and my wife Genevieve is able to drive it."

Gerry purchased his NNR 200 from Winter & Taylor in Geelong, commissioning a Portland firm to manufacture the truck body.

Nine months of design and preparation work was well over what he’d initially planned, but he says the result was worth the wait.

"It’s a steel-framed body with aluminium cladding and total stainless steel finish inside," Gerry said.

"We have fresh and gray water storage, two espresso machines and grinders, blenders, and two fridges with 300 litres of storage.

"It’s fully self-contained and we use a generator so we’re well equipped for big events."

The Little Black Truck Coffee Co is based in Warrnambool and services events throughout Victoria.

With a host of spring and summer events and festivals on the horizon, Gerry and his crew certainly have their hands full.

You’ll find the Little Black Truck Coffee Co applying its winning formula to keep organisers and punters happy at the local football, thoroughbred races, cycling events, product launches and more.

"We’re a one-of-a-kind business in Australia and we offer something over and above the competition," Gerry said.

"It’s not just the two espresso machines, it’s also our service, professionalism and use of an LCD television to display event-orientated videos or corporate sponsorship logos.

"At the end of the day, event organisers want customers coming back each year. We’re mindful of this and work to keep everyone happy with fast, quality espresso coffee from our new Isuzu NNR 200."

For more information, contact details and bookings go to http://www.littleblacktruckcoffeeco.com.au/.

To see more about Isuzu Trucks in Australia, go to http://www.isuzu.com.au/.

Isuzu Diesel Reaffirms Commitment To Agricultural Innovation

Isuzu Diesel engines will be the force behind a revolutionary new crop harvesting invention with new developers recently confirming their support for the motor.

A family trust, headed by 25-year-old Western Australian diesel mechanic Kevin Crane, purchased CGS Engineering earlier this year, and with it the contract to commercialise the Harrington Seed Destructor.

A uniquely Australian invention that destroys weed seeds during harvest, the project is funded and run by the Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), owners of the destructor’s patent.

Mr Crane says upon taking over the project he looked into other engine options, but continued to use the 200 horsepower 4HK1 diesel engine because “it’s a good motor”.

“They’re excellent engines, really simple to install, and they have good remote control systems,” Mr Crane said. “When we took over the project, the GRDC said as long as we’re happy relying on Isuzu diesel engines then we should continue to use them – so we did.”

Since then, his team has redesigned the entire engine bay so now everything is bought from Isuzu and is bolted in with ease.

“Use of the 4HK1 diesel engine has led to a significant reduction in vibration compared to previous models used, putting us that one step closer to commercialisation,” Mr Crane said.

Engine modifications, including bigger holes in the radiator and a larger air filter, have assisted the team to increase airflow and prevent blockages in the dry and dusty conditions.

Isuzu Industrial and Marine Engines Manager Dean Whitford is a key supporter of the project and is called upon to assist with engine modifications.

“Naturally there have been some hurdles along the way, particularly due to the harsh environment this equipment operates in, but we’ve been able to help them overcome these,” he said.

“It’s an exciting project to be involved in, one that will revolutionise crop management in this country.”

The Kojonup-based enterprise 256 km south-east of Perth, has four prototypes fitted with Isuzu engine technology.

In conjunction with the Western Australia Herbicide Resistance Initiative, testing is continuing in various locations including the state’s northern wheat belt.

Provided testing is successful, Mr Crane expects a limited commercial release of models to be available in two years.
 
See more about Isuzu Trucks in Australia, at http://www.isuzu.com.au/.

Nor-Cal Mobility Max Van Conversion

This is a presentation by Ken Karasinski of Nor-Cal Mobility of the Ford Full Size Nor-Cal Mobility Max Van.

From their website: "Nor-Cal Vans has engineered an innovative mobility conversion that takes full advantage of the room, the reliability and the strength that only a full-sized van can offer. Our Nor-Cal MAX and PLUS adaptive conversions provide the ultimate in interior headroom and visibility, entryway clearance and interior space, foot room and load-carrying capacity. Ford vans, the most extensively used full-sized vans in the industry, are ideal for a raised roof, raised doors and extensive lowered floor modifications."

This video was made by Terry Minion using a Flip camera at a Nor Cal Ford Truck Club event in October of 2010.

Contact Nor-Cal Mobility at 530-893-1111 in Chico, CA and their website is http://www.norcalmobility.com/.

Ready-To-Work Tradepacks An Easy Choice For Independent Cranes

Melbourne company, Independent Cranes, has been specialising in mobile crane hire and heavy haulage for the past 25 years, and while the heavy lifting is left to the large machinery, it's important the cranes have help in getting to the job site.


To assist the company's heavy haulage division, Independent Cranes has recently taken delivery of two Isuzu Tradepack models, an NPR 200 and an NPR 275.

According to Independent Cranes General Manager, Darren Stevens, the two new trucks serve a variety of purposes.

"The Tradepacks are put to use escorting cranes and over-dimensional loads around Victoria. They also help the cranes cart chains and other heavy duty equipment," Mr Stevens said.

With the NPR 200 and NPR 275 offering Gross Vehicle Masses (GVM) of 4,500 kilograms and 5,500 kilograms respectively, carrying the weight of heavy loads is not a struggle.

Mr Stevens said the decision to purchase the Isuzu Tradepacks was prompted by his prior experience with the brand and the convenience of a 'ready-to-work' body.

"We are very happy with the performance of the older two Isuzu trucks in our fleet and we purchased the new Tradepacks with bodies already fitted, so the convenience factor was there."

Isuzu Tradepacks models incorporate secure storage compartments with a regular tray and models provide far more load space and practicality than a traditional ute.

"The Isuzu NPR 200 and 275 Tradepacks offer more than enough power for our applications, and all of my workers can drive the NPR 200 with a car licence, which provides flexibility.

"Some of the best features of the Isuzu Tradepacks are their low maintenance costs and extremely good tyre wear.

"The reliability and versatility of the Isuzu Tradepack places the trucks second to none in the light duty market.

"Based on the performance of the two new trucks I would definitely consider adding further Isuzu Tradepacks to the Independent Cranes fleet," Mr Stevens said.

See more about Isuzu Trucks in Australia, at http://www.isuzu.com.au/.

U.S.Marines Latest Customer To Add All-Electric Smith Electric Trucks To Fleet

Video footage of the Smith Electric Truck Facility In Kansas City


Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation has sold two all-electric Smith Newton trucks to the United States Marine Corps. USMC becomes the first military organisation to order Smith Newtons through the Government Services Administration (GSA) schedule; a list of approved suppliers to Federal government agencies. Smith Electric will deliver the trucks to Camp Pendleton, Calif., the Corps' largest West Coast training facility, and home of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

"We're proud to be part of the Marine Corps' efforts to create a cleaner environment and improve energy efficiency at Camp Pendleton," said Bryan Hansel, President and CEO of Smith Electric. "The Marines are setting a strong example for the other branches of our armed services as we all work together to address America's energy and efficiency concerns."

A September report by the Center for a New American Security recommended in the interest of financial and security concerns that America's armed forces set a goal of operating all of its systems on non-petroleum fuels by 2040. The Marine Corps has already set out to reduce it energy use 30 percent by 2015 and increase its reliance on renewable electrical energy to 25 percent by 2025.

Smith Electric produces the Newton, which is the only medium duty (class 4-7) all-electric commercial truck on the GSA schedule. The trucks will be built in Smith Electric's Kansas City, Mo., plant, and are scheduled for delivery to Camp Pendleton in February 2011.

The Newton delivers a top speed of 55 mph (88km/h) and offers end users battery ranges from 50 to 120 miles (80km-192km) on a single charge, ideal for urban deliveries, utilities and personnel transport applications. Smith vehicles are powered by the latest in Lithium-ion battery cell technology, power management and direct drive trains. They produce zero emissions and are virtually silent.

The Marine Corps is the first military organisation to incorporate Smith Newtons into its fleet. In doing so, it joins some of North America's largest fleet operators, including Frito-Lay, Staples, Coke, AT&T and PG&E, which have already purchased all-electric Newtons to replace diesel trucks on urban routes.

Isuzu 11-Tonner Does The Work Of Two Trucks For Stoddart's, Giving Bigger AND Beter Payload

When Stoddart’s Fuels was looking to add to its fleet of vehicles, the Brampton based company wanted a truck with greater payload capacity but it still had to be compact enough to handle the accessibility issues when delivering the company’s coal and coal-related products throughout the rural regions of Cumbria.

Following the success of their first Isuzu 7.5t truck, originally purchased over four years ago, Stoddart’s decided to move up the weight range with the addition of the new hexapod cabbed Isuzu Forward F110.210 11 tonne, 4x2, rigid truck, featuring a 6-speed manual transmission system, and fitted with a 19ft aluminium flat bed body.

As Trevor Stoddart says, “Accessibility is a key issue for us because we deliver to so many customers that are located where the majority of heavier trucks simply can’t get to. The Isuzu 11 tonner is not much bigger in overall size than Isuzu’s 7.5 tonners and yet it gives a vastly increased payload of slightly over 7 tonnes, which makes all the difference to us. The 11 tonne Isuzu now does the work previously handled by two vehicles, giving us a far more efficient operation. What’s more we’ve been monitoring the fuel consumption and it’s currently averaging 17mpg which is perfectly acceptable when you consider the arduous terrain that we have round here”.

Supplied by local Isuzu dealer Cumbria Truck Centre in Carlisle, Stoddart’s new 11 tonne Isuzu is working six days a week, handling between 20 and 30 drops per day. Cumbria Truck Centre worked closely with a local bodybuilder to achieve the lowest possible body height on the chassis. Essentially the delivery of coal, especially for domestic use, has always been a manual operation. Obviously it is advantageous to have a load height that facilitates easy manual loading and unloading of bagged coal. The load height of the new 11 tonne Isuzu is only 20mm higher than that of the Isuzu 7.5 tonne predecessor.

“The original Isuzu 7.5 tonner has now completed over 80,000 miles in its first 4 years delivering to customers within a 25 mile radius of the company's base in Brampton, Cumbria and it has cost us ‘virtually nothing’ in terms of maintenance. Its overall reliability and impressive payload even for a 7.5 tonner just cannot be faulted and in truth these were the main reasons why we specified Isuzu again for the new 11 tonne delivery truck,” commented Trevor Stoddart.

Since the arrival of the 11 tonner, the company has switched the older 7.5 tonner on to alternative work as it continues to give Stoddart’s such reliable service.

“For companies like Stoddart’s Fuels, the triple combination of payload, reliability and impressive fuel consumption, all from a compact 11 tonner, allows them to make substantial operating efficiencies in their daily distribution journeys. This is where Isuzu Motors Japan scores so highly as it seems to be able to engineer all of these inbuilt benefits into every single truck that it produces,” said Keith Child, Marketing Director at Isuzu Truck UK.

Full details of the 2010 Isuzu Truck product range can be viewed and downloaded from the company’s website on http://www.isuzutruck.co.uk/.

Vision Electric Truck

Expanding its commitment to bringing cutting-edge, zero-emission solutions to port operations, the Port of Los Angeles is entering into negotiations with Los Angeles-based Vision Industries for the purchase and evaluation of Visions hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric trucks. See more at http://www.visionmotorcorp.com/.

Merry Christmas From Commercial Truck Success!

Navy Takes Delivery of GM Fuel Cell Vehicle

HONOLULU – The U.S. Navy is among the first customers to take delivery of a GM fuel cell vehicle as part of the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, which aims to integrate hydrogen as an essential building block for a sustainable energy ecosystem in the Aloha State.

General Motors and 11 partner companies, agencies and universities announced a commitment Dec. 8 to make hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015. The H2I goal is to install up to 25 hydrogen stations in strategic locations around Oahu, putting the fuel within reach of all 1 million residents.

BEDSLIDE Truck Accessory | Cargo Management

BEDSLIDE turns your entire truck bed into a sliding drawer. BEDSLIDE offers superior truck cargo management that will increase work efficiency by giving you full access to your truck bed cargo.

One of my favorite products. Extremely useful!

Chevrolet Volt Components Created from Gulf of Mexico Oil-Soaked Booms

100,000 Pounds of Waste Saved from the Nation’s Landfills

DETROIT – Oil-soaked plastic boom material used to soak up oil in the Gulf of Mexico is finding new life as auto parts in the Chevrolet Volt.

General Motors has developed a method to convert an estimated 100 miles of the material off the Alabama and Louisiana coasts and keep it out of the nation’s landfills. The ongoing project is expected to create enough plastic under hood parts to supply the first year production of the extended-range electric vehicle.

“Creative recycling is one extension of GM’s overall strategy to reduce its environmental impact,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety policy. “We reuse and recycle material by-products at our 76 landfill-free facilities every day. This is a good example of using this expertise and applying it to a greater magnitude.”

Recycling the booms will result in the production of more than 100,000 pounds of plastic resin for the vehicle components, eliminating an equal amount of waste that would otherwise have been incinerated or sent to landfills.

The parts, which deflect air around the vehicle’s radiator, are comprised of 25 percent boom material and 25 percent recycled tires from GM’s Milford Proving Ground vehicle test facility. The remaining is a mixture of post-consumer recycled plastics and other polymers.

GM worked with several partners throughout the recovery and development processes. Heritage Environmental managed the collection of boom material along the Louisiana coast. Mobile Fluid Recovery stepped in next, using a massive high-speed drum that spun the booms until dry and eliminated all the absorbed oil and wastewater. Lucent Polymers used its process to then manipulate the material into the physical state necessary for plastic die-mold production. Tier-one supplier, GDC Inc., used its patented EndurapreneTM material process to combine the resin with other plastic compounds to produce the components.

The work in the Gulf is expected to last at least two more months and GM will continue to assist suppliers in collecting booms until the need no longer exists. The automaker anticipates enough material will be gathered that it can be used as components in other Chevrolet models.

“This was purely a matter of helping out,” said John Bradburn, manager of GM’s waste-reduction efforts. “If sent to a landfill, these materials would have taken hundreds of years to begin to break down, and we didn’t want to see the spill further impact the environment. We knew we could identify a beneficial reuse of this material given our experience.”

The world’s first electric vehicle with extended range, the Chevy Volt was recently awarded Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal.

GM is dedicated to reducing its waste and pollutants, and recycles materials at every state of the product lifecycle. It uses recycled and renewable materials in its cars and trucks, which are at least 85 percent recyclable. Used tires, old plastic bottles, denim and nylon carpet are all redirected from landfills and reused in select GM vehicles.

GM facilities worldwide recycle 90 percent of the waste they generate. The automaker recently announced more than half of its worldwide facilities are now landfill-free – all manufacturing waste is recycled or used to create energy.

XP Series Snow Plow From SnowDogg

XP SERIES

Hydraulically expanding wings add a full 24" to your plowing width

10 feet of plow in an 8 foot package.

• Rugged center moldboard construction spreads loads across components not connection points

• Simple hydraulics with full size SAE cartridge valves and oversized 3/8" hoses

• Forward 20° scoop provides excellent snow pushing action and still allows for flawless throwing while windrowing.

• Adjust your width on the fly for drive-thrus, driveways or narrow spots.

See more at http://www.snowdoggplows.com/.

Knapheide KUV and Sortimo Storage Solutions

Mike Soich of Knapheide Manufacturing shows us their partnership with the world leader in storage solutions in vechicles, Sortimo. Knapheide has designed special shelves prepunched to accomodate varied box sizes to allow for maximum storage and to match individual business needs and desires. It is a brilliant use of the space and helps people be more efficient and effective.


The Sortimo boxes are available in the Knapheide KUV body, and all of Knapheide's service body products.

This video was taken with a Flip camera at a Knapheide event in Livermore, CA in October, 2010.

See more about Knapheide products at www.knapheide.com and you can see the full range of products from Sortimo at http://www.sortimo.com/.

Nissan North America, Inc Announces U.S. Pricing For 2012 NV Commercial Van Lineup

12.14.2010 , FRANKLIN, Tenn.


Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced that the 2012 Nissan NV, the company’s first entry into the commercial vehicle market in the United States will start at $24,590. The NV is the culmination of 75 years of Nissan commercial vehicle experience in the global marketplace.

The 2012 NV, which has been designed and conceived as a solution to the needs of today’s commercial van customers, will be produced at Nissan’s Canton, MS. assembly facility. It is scheduled to go on sale through a select network of Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers nationwide beginning in spring 2011.

The NV lineup offers durable body-on-frame construction and choice of standard roof or industry-exclusive high roof configurations. Models include the NV1500 with standard 4.0-liter V6 engine, the NV2500 HD with a choice of 4.0-liter V6 or 5.6-liter V8 and the NV3500 HD with standard 5.6-liter V8. All 2012 NV models are equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The NV is available in two grades, S and SV, each delivering smart functionality through a combination of the comfort and roominess of a pickup with the utility of a cargo van.

Key Nissan NV highlights include:

• Full access rear doors (maximum opening angle of 243 degrees)
• Reinforced integrated cargo area mounting points for durability and ease of cargo management system installation
• Vertical side walls in cargo area maximize usable space
• Water repellant cloth seating surfaces
• Durability patch built into the front seat bolsters to hold up to commercial use
• Multifunctional lockable center console offering space to hang files and store a laptop

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2012 Nissan NV Standard Roof models include:

Model/Roof/Engine

NV 1500 Standard Roof S V6 $24,590 USD
NV 1500 Standard Roof SV V6 $26,190 USD
NV 2500 Standard Roof S V6 $25,590 USD
NV 2500 Standard Roof SV V6 $27,190 USD
NV 2500 Standard Roof S V8 $26,490 USD
NV 2500 Standard Roof SV V8 $28,090 USD
NV 3500 Standard Roof S V8 $28,190 USD
NV 3500 Standard Roof SV V8 $29,790 USD

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2012 Nissan NV High Roof models include:

Model/Roof/Engine

NV 2500 High Roof S V6 $27,990 USD
NV 2500 High Roof SV V6 $29,590 USD
NV 2500 High Roof S V8 $28,890 USD
NV 2500 High Roof SV V8 $30,490 USD
NV 3500 High Roof S V8 $30,590 USD
NV 3500 High Roof SV V8 $32,190 USD


About the 2012 Nissan NV

Scheduled to launch in spring 2011, the Nissan NV is available in three models, NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD, and in two roof configurations – Standard Roof and High Roof. The NV is the first commercial van to offer rugged body-on-frame construction combined with a High Roof, offering most users the ability to walk, stand and work in the cargo area.

The NV’s rugged, masculine design combines a full-length hood with access to the engine for service and maintenance, along with signature Nissan styling cues such as large headlights and vertical grille. The broad bodysides project a serious commercial vehicle appearance and provide ample room for company logos and advertising messages. The tall, wide doors offer easy access to the cargo area.

Inside the cab is a roomy comfortable interior with wide, supportive seating and an expansive instrument panel. The passenger seat includes a segment-exclusive fold-down feature, providing a convenient worktable. An available lockable center console offers innovative storage compartments and space to hold binders, hanging file folders and a laptop computer. Other convenient storage spaces include a wide overhead console (available with High Roof models), underseat storage drawers (NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models) and large door pockets.

The NV also provides exceptional utility, thanks to a long, wide cargo floor, square-top wheelwell housings and nearly vertical sidewalls. Along with maximizing cargo space, the sidewalls accommodate aftermarket storage systems without excessive modification. The cargo area also features a full-length inner panel to prevent cargo from denting the vehicle’s outer skin (SV models). There are also multiple integrated reinforced mounting points for durable installation of cargo customization equipment.

Powering the rear-wheel drive Nissan NV is a choice of two powerful yet fuel-efficient engines – a 4.0-liter V6 rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, and a 5.6-liter V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both are mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission.


About Nissan in North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and http://www.infinitiusa.com/.

The Forestry Chipper Body By Knapheide, Part Two

Mike Soich of Knapheide Manufacturing talks about the features of the Knapheide Forestry/Chipper Body at a Knapheide Event in Livermore, CA in October 2010. Part one of this walkaround focused on the unique tool box system that Knapheide has designed like a vault. It seems the rest of the body has had the same design care, and they've been doing that since 1848.