Daimler AG said the U.S. market for heavy-duty vehicles may not rebound to the peak sales levels of 2006 for five to eight years, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The U.S. market has declined about 60% since its peak two years ago before 2007 environmental regulations took effect and will likely be virtually unchanged from 2008 levels next year, said Andreas Renschler, head of Daimler’s trucks division, Bloomberg reported.

Germany-based Daimler is closing two North American truck factories, closing its Sterling brand next year and cutting 3,500 jobs to adjust to the weaker market —measures aimed at trimming costs by $900 million annually by 2011, Bloomberg said.

Daimler is the parent company of U.S.-based Freightliner Trucks.

Source: <transport topics>

For expanded application capabilities, Hendrickson recently launched the PRIMAAX EXTM system, an enhanced version of the PRIMAAX heavy-duty, vocational truck air suspension.
PRIMAAX EX improves durability and performance while delivering a substantial weight savings alternative to competitive systems, report officials of Hendrickson Truck Systems Group.
Refinements in the PRIMAAX EX system include enhanced joint integrity and durability, improved handling, increased air spring capacity, greater disc brake compatibility and improved resistance to torque rod bushing walk-out.
Launched in 2003, the job-proven PRIMAAX air suspensions quickly gained the trust of heavy-duty truckers in a variety of vocational and construction applications including concrete mixers, dump trucks, heavy-haul tractors, refuse vehicles, truck-mounted cranes and logging trucks.
The PRIMAAX EX system features cast austempered and shot-peened ductile iron support beams that integrate the attachment points for greater reliability. Hendrickson manufactures the beams and supplies them as an engineered sub-assembly to ensure control of product specifications for optimal performance and durability.
PRIMAAX EX geometry features a new frame hanger and torque rod configuration. This enhanced geometry provides increased roll stiffness and reduced roll steer for improved handling. In addition, suspension-induced driveline vibration is significantly reduced with PRIMAAX EX compared to competitive trailing-arm air suspensions.
Expanded offerings of the longitudinal torque rods help provide extended bushing life, ease of serviceability and improved compatibility to package with disc brakes.