Daimler Trucks announced this week at the IAA 2016 commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany, its future urban transportation strategy, which includes the company’s first electric truck, the Urban eTruck. After introducing its electric drivetrain concept in July, Daimler continued the project with the introduction of the Urban eTruck, an all-new electric truck concept for short-radius, zero-emissions goods distribution. The eTruck has a 200-km range, or approximately 125 miles, on a single charge…
Read MoreDOT Regulations for Autonomous Trucks
The U.S. Department of Transportation on September 20th, 2016 issued some regulatory framework guidleines for vehicle manufacturers, state regulators and other stakeholders regarding the development and deployment of autonomous trucks. The proposed policy initiative comes as both traditional automotive makers and tech giants march increasingly closer to readying such technology for public use. The 114-page document, which the DOT is accepting public comment on for 60 days, intends to set safety…
Read MoreMitchell On Demand’s New ShopConnect Blog
Mitchell 1 is using its database of repair information for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as the collective knowledge of its commercial vehicle editorial staff in its new ShopConnection blog, with the idea of offering tips to help truck technicians work more efficiently. In the blog, many of Mitchell 1’s ASE-certified trucking service experts address repair issues that truck technicians may face in the shop. Recent blog topics covered…
Read More2017 Cascadia Most Connected Truck Ever
Fuel efficiency, connectivity, and safety are the hallmarks of the newest Freightliner Cascadia. In Daimler’s announcement of the new Freightliner flagship, the company said Daimler Trucks is the biggest truck producer in the United States and Canada. The newest model has also a significantly reduced cost of ownership. A combination of aerodynamic shape and powertrain components have improved fuel efficiency up to 8 percent over the company’s previous headliner, the 2016…
Read MoreVolvo Unveils Autonomous Construction Truck
Volvo unveiled a fully autonomous construction truck that it planned to test in underground mines and that it said would “revolutionize the mining industry.” Today, it has revealed more details of the planned testing and released footage of the truck operating beneath the Earth’s surface. The Volvo FMX is part of a research project aimed at improving safety and productivity in places like mines, ports and other restricted and controlled…
Read MoreEldorado EZ Rider Bus Front Wheel Recall
Eldorado National-California, Inc. (Eldorado National) is recalling certain model year 2016 E-Z Rider II transit buses manufactured March 1, 2016, to July 31, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with front steel rims that may allow the inside sidewall of the front tires to contact the outer end of the front tie-rods due to insufficient clearance. CONSEQUENCE: If the tie-rods contact the front tires, the tires may be damaged and…
Read MoreAugust Truck Sales Up 36% Over July
Orders for Class 8 trucks in the month of August will be slightly above expectations and a 36% improvement over July’s terrible numbers, according to projections from FTR and ACT Research. Class 8 truck orders in August will be around 14,200 units for the month, a significant rebound from July’s dismal 10,358 units ordered, according to ACT Research. July’s order numbers were the worst recorded by ACT since the first…
Read MoreVolksWagen Deal Saves NaviStar from Bankruptcy
Four years ago, many believed Navistar was headed towards an almost certain bankruptcy. The truck maker had squandered billions on a diesel engine that didn’t win the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency, in a move insiders likened to “betting on the diesel version of Betamax when the rest of the world is going to VHS.” One of Navistar’s top shareholders, Carl Icahn, would often refer to then-CEO Daniel Ustian as a “crazy…
Read MoreU.S. Proposes Speed Limiter on Trucks
A national association of small-business truckers claims the government’s proposal to mandate speed-limiting devices on large commercial trucks would be dangerous for all highway users. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the nation’s only organization representing professional and small-business truckers, says such devices create speed differentials that lead to more crashes and promote road rage among other motorists. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic…
Read MoreDOC Issues 40% Tariff on Chinese Truck Tires
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) says truck and bus tire manufacturers in China are dumping tires in the U.S. at less than fair market value, and those tires should be subject to tariffs of at least 20%. The tariffs are retroactive. The DOC announced its preliminary results Aug. 29. In every tariff investigation, the DOC selects manufacturers to serve as mandatory respondents. Those companies then provide data and answer…
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