Legislators in Texas passed a bill to establish a basic regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle operation in the state, including allowing vehicles without humans present in the vehicle to operate on the state’s roadways. The Texas House passed the bill, SB 2205, May 21, a few weeks after the state’s Senate approved the legislation. The bill now heads to Texas Gov. Rob Abbott’s desk to sign into law, which he’s…
Read MoreGM Sued Over DuraMax Diesel Emissions
Two owners of diesel-powered General Motors vehicles are accusing the car maker of producing an engine that exceeds U.S. standards for pollutant emissions under normal driving conditions, in a lawsuit that targets more than 700,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Truck Models equipped with 6.6L Duramax Diesel Engines. The class-action lawsuit accuses GM of using “at least three separate ‘defeat devices’ to increase engine power and efficiency” in its Duramax…
Read More2017 Freightliner & Western Star Trucks Recall
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700 trucks built with NFD tandem rear axles. During the hardening process, the axle assembly output shaft may have been made brittle, possibly resulting in the output shaft fracturing while the vehicle is in use. CONSEQUENCE: If output shaft fractures while descending a grade, the compression braking will be ineffective. Additionally, large debris may land…
Read MoreUSDOJ Sues Fiat Chrysler Over Diesel Emissions
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Fiat Chrysler America (FCA), alleging that some of its Dodge Ram Diesel Pickup Trucks and Jeep SUVs are cheating on emissions tests. The lawsuit filed Tuesday by the government marks the second time the D.O.J. has gone after an automaker alleging use of software on diesel engines that allows them to emit more pollution on the road than during Environmental Protection Agency lab…
Read MoreKeepTruckin Gets $18M in Series B Funding
E-log and small fleet dispatch software provider KeepTruckin is planning its next moves following an additional $18 million in Series B funding, led by Scale Venture Partners and existing investors GV (formerly Google Ventures) and Index Ventures. The infusion will allow the company, which started as a smartphone-based logging platform in 2013, to take its current electronic logging device and small fleet management platform to another level. “If we are successful in bringing…
Read MoreIdle Free Electric Truck Stop Testing To Start
A Duke Energy project to fund electrification at a North Carolina truck stop is projected to save 25,000 gallons of truck fuel annually due to not having to idle. Big Boy’s Truck Stop in the town of Kenly, will soon have 24 truck electrification stations where drivers can pay to plug in their vehicles, offering an economical way to provide electricity and hot or cold air during overnight stays that avoids…
Read MoreChrysler to Modify 100,000 Diesel Engines
Fiat Chrysler said on Friday that it would modify around 100,000 diesel vehicles to try to reach a settlement with United States regulators, as separate academic studies provided mounting evidence that the carmaker had installed software meant to evade emissions standards. The move came a day after the company said it was in talks to resolve a Justice Department investigation. The case bears striking similarities to a Volkswagen scandal in…
Read MoreUber Freight Launches for Commercial Drivers
Uber Freight is a new service from the ride hailing company that pairs up trucking companies, including independent operator truck drivers, with loads that need to be hauled from one place to another. The app looks a lot like the main Uber app, but it’s targeted towards vetted and approved drivers, who can browse for nearby available loads, see destination info, distance required and payment upfront and then tap to…
Read MoreVolvo Testing Self-Driving Refuse Truck in Sweden
Could garbage collection be handled by robotic vehicles? That’s the question Volvo Trucks is looking to answer as it tests out a self-driving garbage truck in Sweden. The truck company has a venture with Swedish waste management company Renova to learn how autonomous refuse vehicles can improve safety, make trash collection more efficient and reduce driver injury. “Driving a heavy commercial vehicle in an urban residential area with narrow streets and…
Read MoreBaker College Gets Paccar MX-13 Engine Donated
Baker College’s Auto/Diesel Institute (ADI) of Michigan has been given a $51,558 PACCAR MX-13 diesel truck engine, a donation from Berger Dealer Group, of Dearborn, Mich., to enable engine-specific technician training. Berger also donated the specialized tools, software and related manuals to service the engine. PACCAR engines are designed for optimized performance, weight savings and durability in Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF Trucks. The 12.9L PACCAR MX-13 is PACCAR’s largest heavy-duty…
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