Aurora, the autonomous trucks technology startup backed by Amazon, is expanding into Texas as it aims to accelerate the development of self-driving trucks. The company said it plans to test commercial routes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area with a mix of Fiat Chrysler Pacifica minivans and Class 8 trucks. A small fleet of Pacificas will arrive first. The trucks will be on the road in Texas by the end of…
Read MoreTechnician Shortage Increasing Labor Rates
The Heavy Duty Truck maintenance and repair industries are experiencing a skilled labor shortage as those working the technician positions in the Baby Boomer demographic retire in greater numbers than those replacing them, causing the unintended consequence of higher shop labor rates. “The key differences impacting maintenance costs today are skilled labor shortages combined with advancements in vehicle technology. Employees with advanced technical skills are becoming more difficult to find…
Read MoreManufacturers Betting on Hydrogen vs Electricity
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 MoreMitsubishi Fuso Begins Electric Truck Production
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus has announced the start of small-scale series production of its electric medium-duty truck, the Fuso eCanter. All eCanter trucks for U.S. and European markets will be produced at the production plant in Tramagal, Portugal, in line with conventional diesel Fuso trucks. Mitsubishi Fuso introduced the eCanter at the Work Truck Show earlier this year, saying that it would be made available in the U.S., Europe, 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…
Read MoreNvidia Partners with Paccar on Autonomous Trucks
Around Silicon Valley, semiconductor giant Nvidia is best known for its graphics chips that power a wide range of video game technologies. But in recent years, the company’s growth has also been fueled by its investments in autonomous truck and connected car technologies. Riding that wave, Nvidia recently made clear that autonomous trucks are a priority as well. Nvidia just launched a partnership with Paccar — maker of the Kenworth,…
Read MoreToyota Unveils Hydrogen Powered Class 8 Truck
Toyota’s family of eco-friendly vehicles gained a supersized sibling this morning in the form of Project Portal, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial truck. Along with representatives from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the zero-emission truck proof of concept will be unveiled today at the Port of Los Angeles where it will take part in “a feasibility study examining the potential usage of fuel…
Read MoreFord Recalls 48k F250 Trucks due to Rollaway
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks equipped with 6.2L Gasoline engines and six-speed automatic transmissions. These transmissions may have a damaged park rod actuating plate that can result in unexpected rollaway even though the transmission has been shifted to ‘Park.’ As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, “Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission…
Read MoreTesla to Unveil Electric Semi Truck this Fall
Tesla Inc. plans to unveil an electric semi-truck in September, Elon Musk, the electric car company’s chief executive, said Thursday. Musk said last year that the company was working on an electric truck but has provided few details except to say it would have self-driving capabilities like other new Tesla models. On Twitter Thursday morning the tech entrepreneur said, “Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an…
Read MoreNavistar International Trucks Air Dryer Recall
Navistar Inc. (Navistar) is recalling certain 2016-2018 International LT, 2016-2017 International ProStar, 2017 International LoneStar, and 2017-2018 International RH heavy diesel trucks. The air dryer mounting bracket may fracture, causing air system leaks or a loss of air pressure to the brake system. CONSEQUENCE: A loss of brake air pressure could lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Navistar will notify owners,…
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