The United Auto Workers (UAW) union announced late Friday it had struck a favorable new contract deal for 7,300 Daimler Truck North America workers. The union had threatened a strike starting at midnight when their last contract expired.
Read MoreInternational MV HV DuraStar WorkStar ECM Recall
Navistar, Inc. is issuing an ECM Recall for certain 2019-2021 International MV, 2020-2021 International HV, 2014-2020 International DuraStar and 2015-2018 International WorkStar vehicles. When the parking brake is applied and the automatic transmission is still in the drive or reverse position and the stationary PTO switch is engaged by the operator, the engine may rev and overcome the parking brake’s ability to keep the vehicle from moving. Remedy Navistar will…
Read MoreJeep Ram Ecodiesel Tone Wheel Recall
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is recalling over 58,000 Jeep Ram Ecodiesel models including the Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0-liter diesel engines. A problem with a sensor inside the engine might cause the vehicles to stall suddenly. If that happens when they’re in motion, it could lead to a crash. Similar FCA vehicles that don’t have 3.0-liter diesel engines aren’t included in this recall. In a report…
Read More15 States to Electrify Trucks, Vans & Buses
Fifteen states and Washington, DC have announced that they will follow California’s lead by doing away with diesel in favor of switching to electrify all heavy-duty trucks, vans, and buses, in what could be one of the most significant efforts to reduce harmful diesel engine pollution in the United States. It could also be a big development in the fight for environmental justice because emissions from diesel-powered commercial vehicles disproportionately harm…
Read MoreWestern Star 4700 5700 Ground Harness Recall
An Undersized Ground Wire in some 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700 models may melt, subsequently causing the engine to stall without the ability to restart, posing both a potential fire and traffic hazard simultaneously, as an engine stall may increase the risk of a crash. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700 vehicles. A particular wire in the ground harness may…
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 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 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…
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