Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Xspotter Terminal Tractor vehicles manufactured August 3, 2015, to April 21, 2016. The steering column shaft weld may break causing a separation of the steering wheel from the steering system, creating a loss of steering ability. CONSEQUENCE: A loss of steering ability increases the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering columns…
Read MoreShell Rotella Exceeds New CK-4 Specifications
The American Petroleum Institute (API), working with engine manufacturers and oil makers, has completed redesigning two new heavy-duty engine oil specifications. Nearly a decade has passed since the last diesel engine oil category, API CJ-4, was developed and major changes are required. The current CJ-4 standard has lasted well beyond the life of the typical engine category. Some of the engine tests required to qualify an oil are no longer…
Read MoreVolvo’s SuperTruck Testing Yields 13 MPG
Volvo Trucks North America’s SuperTruck demonstration rig combined advanced aerodynamics, vehicle and powertrain technologies to achieve a freight efficiency improvement of 88%, exceeding the 50% improvement goal set by the U.S. Department of Energy SuperTruck program compared to a base model 2009 Volvo VN. From the top-of-cab solar panels powering its battery and interior lights, to its ultra-light aluminum frame and highly advanced 425 horsepower 11-liter proprietary engine, the SuperTruck…
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 More2014-2017 Winnebago Itasca ATS Switch Recall
Winnebago Industries, Inc (Winnebago) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Itasca Cambria, 2015-2017 Winnebago ERA, Travato, Fuse, Aspect, and Vista recreational vehicles, and 2015-2016 Itasca Sunstar recreational vehicles manufactured May 6, 2014, to April 22, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power cord connection to the automatic transfer switch (ATS) that may not be properly tightened. CONSEQUENCE: A loose power connection may cause a build up of heat at the…
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…
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