Hyundai Motor Co. has an ambitious plan to wean the global trucking industry from fossil fuels by creating green commercial trucks with the same power and range as their diesel counterparts, choosing hydrogen over electricity. The South Korean automaker unveiled the cornerstone of its strategy in Atlanta last month by showing the concept of its planned HDC-6 Neptune hydrogen fuel cell truck. Styled like a 1930s Art Deco steam locomotive,…
Read MoreGM Sued for Selling Duramax Motors that Can’t Run Diesel # 2
General Motors Co. has been hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging it equipped 2011-2016 GMC and Chevrolet diesel trucks with 6.6-liter Duramax engines that are not compatible with American diesel fuel, also known as Diesel # 2. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Detroit, alleges GM sold “hundreds of thousands” of diesels with high-pressure fuel injection pumps designed by German auto supplier Bosch that pumped metal shavings into the fuel…
Read MoreFMCSA Denies ELD Exemption for Small Carriers
A group representing trucking and other companies with 50 employees or less has been denied an ELD exemption from the FMCSA and their federal electronic logging device (ELD) mandate. The exemption, filed by the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC), received nearly 2,000 comments after it was posted in June 2018, with the vast majority – roughly 95 percent – in favor of the exemption. However, the Federal Motor Carrier…
Read MoreTrump to Ease Drive Time Rules for Truckers
Truck driver Lucson Francois was forced to hit the brakes just five minutes from his home in Pennsylvania. He’d reached the maximum number of hours in a day he’s allowed to be on duty. Francois couldn’t leave the truck unattended. So he parked and climbed into the sleeper berth in the back of the cab. Ten hours would have to pass before he could start driving again under current drive…
Read More2016 – 2019 Volvo VNL Trucks Fuel Screen Recall
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Volvo VNL trucks equipped with Cummins ISX15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade, the fuel line may burst if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becomes restricted. CONSEQUENCE: If the fuel line bursts, fuel may leak onto the road resulting in a roadway hazard for other motorists. The engine may also stall without warning,…
Read MoreCalifornia OKs $738 Million for Electric Infrastructure
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved $738 million in transportation infrastructure electrification projects for the state’s three largest utilities —Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison. The approved projects aim to help speed the transition to electrified transportation for consumers and fleets. These projects include: San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Residential Charging Program ($137 million): SDG&E will provide rebates to residential customers…
Read MoreKenworth & Peterbilt Transmission Software Update
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks, and Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks, all equipped with an automated Eaton UltraShift Plus or Eaton Advantage Transmission with right hand stalk shifter. The display software that indicates which transmission gear the driver selected may display incorrectly. The display can indicate ‘N’ when the shifter is set into ‘D’ or ‘R’, and the as a result, the truck…
Read MoreDTNA Recalls 436k Freightliner & Western Star Trucks
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC ( DTNA ) is recalling certain 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. After hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light application of the brake pedal. CONSEQUENCE: If the brake lights fail to illuminate, there would not be a signal to other motorists that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk…
Read MoreHino Truck Connecting Rod Wrist Pin Bushing Recall
Hino Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. (Hino) is recalling certain 2011-2012 NE8J, NJ8J, and NV8J trucks. The engines have a wrist pin bushings in the connecting rod that may shift and cause excessive cylinder wear. CONSEQUENCE: Excessive wear of the cylinders due to the connecting rod rubbing can result in engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: The remedy for this recall is still under development. The recall is…
Read MoreBosch to Supply Nikola Electric Powertrains
Nikola Motor Co. and parts supply company Bosch will jointly develop powertrain systems for the Nikola One and Nikola Two, hydrogen-electric Class 8 semi-trucks scheduled to reach the market by 2021, the companies announced Tuesday. Separately, Nikola confirmed that the trucking startup completed a $110 million funding round in late June to bring its total to $900 million. Under the powertrain agreement, Bosch will supply Nikola with its eAxle technology that houses…
Read More