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Chinese (Jiangling) and Russian (Sollers) production is also only rear-wheel-drive. In Europe, the ability to order front-, rear- or all-wheel drive is a real selling point. Here's another example of how important Ford-Otosan is to the Blue Oval's worldwide game plan. Aside from the Americas, China and Russia, Ford-Otosan is responsible for all Transit production.

White House proposes weaker auto emissions rules, overriding California Eric Kulisch, Automotive News / August 2, 2018 WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration on Thursday proposed capping federal fuel efficiency requirements for passenger vehicles at the 2020 model year level of 35 mpg, instead of letting them continue to rise through 2025 to about 50 mpg as planned under the Obama administration. The notice of proposed rulemaking also declared that the 1975 law that established fuel efficiency standards pre-empts California from setting its own carbon emission standards for vehicles and that a waiver from federal rules allowing it to set stricter standards on its own should be revoked -- setting up a likely court clash. The draft rule, jointly written by the EPA and NHTSA, includes a range of options for modifying the fleet fuel economy and emissions standards, but makes clear the preference is to freeze the standards at the 2020 model year level. The new plan, if adopted in a final rule after a public comment period, would dramatically weaken President Barack Obama’s most far-reaching policy intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The Thursday move, widely anticipated, was quickly criticized by environmentalists and lawmakers from several states. California Gov. Jerry Brown said his state "will fight this stupidity in every conceivable way possible." Trump embraces automakers The effort began early last year after President Donald Trump embraced automakers’ appeals to relax the aggressive standards and make compliance more manageable. In the spring, former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt determined that the Obama administration’s five-year re-evaluation of whether the 2021-25 model year standards were still feasible was faulty and ordered a new review. Under existing rules, standards vary by model based on a size footprint. A Honda Fit, for example, would need to get 62 mpg by the 2025 model year, while a Chevy Silverado would comply with 35 mpg. Automakers got more than they bargained for when Pruitt, a self-professed “small-government” champion, pushed for a significant rollback of the fuel economy standards and revoking California’s waiver. There are differences among the major companies over how much the phased-in standards to which they agreed in 2012 should be watered down. But the consensus is for rules that California can accept so that the state, and a dozen others that follow its program, continue to participate in a harmonized national program. Without a unified program, automakers face the expensive prospect of building and marketing vehicles for two markets or losing sales of some models in certain states. "We applaud the president and the administration for releasing this much anticipated proposal that includes a variety of standards for public consideration," the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers said in a statement. "Automakers support continued improvements in fuel economy and flexibilities that incentivize advanced technologies while balancing priorities like affordability, safety, jobs, and the environment. "With today’s release of the Administration’s proposals, it’s time for substantive negotiations to begin." 'Common sense solution' The statement urged California and the federal government "to find a common sense solution that sets continued increases in vehicle efficiency standards while also meeting the needs of America’s drivers.” Pruitt did not see the proposed rulemaking to its conclusion, having resigned last month under pressure for a series of ethical and management lapses that brought negative attention on the White House. Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, a former fossil fuel and coal industry lobbyist who once worked for climate-change denier Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., reportedly worried that the proposal was legally and technically weak, making it vulnerable to rejection in court. At a Senate hearing Wednesday he encouraged the auto industry and California to find a compromise that would enable continuation of a single national program. The draft rule contends that the existing rules are too costly and would lead to production of lighter cars, resulting in about 12,000 more traffic fatalities over a dozen years, primarily because vehicles will be cheaper and encourage consumers to replace their older vehicles and buy newer, safer cars. Consumers may delay or forgo the acquisition of safer vehicles as a result of higher prices associated with clean car and safety technologies, the rulemaking says. More consumption The freeze would increase U.S. oil consumption by about 500,000 barrels of oil per day by the 2030s. It also argues that people will drive less with cars that burn more fuel, further protecting them from potential accidents. Critics say the administration based its decision on ideology, with thin data to justify weakening the emissions rules, compared with the voluminous scientific record developed by the Obama EPA. California and its allies previously threatened to sue the federal government if the corporate average fuel economy rules are rolled back. Protracted litigation is likely over the stringency of the fuel economy rules, a determination that California is pre-empted by the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act from regulating carbon emissions from autos and moves to revoke California’s waiver from federal standards, according to stakeholders and experts. Fifty-one House Democrats last week signed onto a resolution supporting the clean car standards and defending state authority under the Clean Air Act to protect their citizens from harmful air pollution. Senate Democrats have also criticized the administration's decision. The government said it will hold three public hearings in Washington, Detroit and Los Angeles to gather input on the proposals, with dates to be determined.

FCA recalls more than 1.1 million Ram pickups, citing tailgate latch risk Alexa St. John, Automotive News / August 2, 2018 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling an estimated 1.1 million Ram pickups in the U.S. to upgrade their tailgate locking mechanisms. The automaker Thursday said the power locking mechanisms in the tailgates of certain pickups have a small internal component that may break over time. FCA said 1,149,237 U.S. vehicles have the defect. The recall affects Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2015 through 2017 model years, the automaker said. The trucks have a power locking tailgate and either a 5-foot, 7-inch, or 6-foot, 4-inch bed. "If the tailgate latch releases and the tailgate opens while driving, cargo may fall out, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash," the company's NHTSA filing states. Another 260,315 vehicles are subject to recall in Canada, along with 19,432 in Mexico and 25,361 in other markets. FCA opened an investigation as a result of customer complaints related to the tailgate falling open while driving or stationary on May 8, the safety recall report states. Through May, June and July, FCA analyzed and verified all known incidents related to the problem. As of July 13, FCA identified 5,643 warranty claims and repair orders potentially related to the problem. FCA on July 19 decided to issue the recall. The automaker said no injuries or accidents have been reported. Customers will be notified when service is available, the automaker said. In the meantime, FCA said customers may use "alternate features to accommodate load security, including tie-down rings, cleats, high-friction bed-liners, bulkhead dividers and bed-extenders." Trucks with manual tailgate locks, with eight-foot-cargo beds, are not included in the recall. The redesigned 2019 Ram 1500 is also not included. The recall is expected to begin Sept. 14. .

The town of Dagenham, Essex County (East London), UK Bob, are the global market front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive Transit variants even available in the US market?

Scania Group Press Release / August 2, 2018 Scania increased its net sales to a record high SEK 66.2 billion in the first six months of 2018, an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year. Summary of the first six months of 2018 Operating income rose to SEK 6,950 m. (6,464) Net sales increased by 9 percent to SEK 66,228 m. (60,541) Cash flow amounted to SEK -1,157 m. (3,290) in Vehicles and Services As from 2018 Scania’s presentation of the income statement has been adjusted to align with Volkswagen Group’s (including comparative periods) Comments by Henrik Henriksson, President and CEO “Scania increased its net sales to a record high SEK 66.2 billion in the first six months of 2018, an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year. Earnings amounted to SEK 6,950 m., which gave an operating margin of 10.5 percent. Higher vehicle and service volume contributed positively and so did currency effects while a less favourable market mix, higher production costs for running double product ranges and continuing constraints in the supply chain impacted earnings negatively. The recent strained situation in the supply chain was aggravated by a strike at a component supplier, which means that Scania has been temporarily forced to stop deliveries and sales of V8 engines. As a result of these disruptions, inventory levels have increased, and combined with the high investment level impacts negatively on cash flow. Demand for trucks remains strong in most markets, driven by the automotive, mining, forestry and agricultural sectors, among others. Demand for trucks in Europe remains at a high level. In Latin America, the demand trend is reflected by the slow recovery in Brazil. In Eurasia, order bookings are still at a good level, mainly driven by Russia. Order bookings in the Middle East have decreased due to the reintroduction of sanctions in Iran. In the rest of Asia, the trend is positive driven by the continuing development towards more modern logistics systems. Demand for Buses and Coaches continues to be strong. In the business area Engines, demand is reaching new record levels and the trend is positive in all segments. Financial Services reported operating income of SEK 665 million and credit losses remain at low levels. There is high capacity utilisation in customer vehicle fleets and service revenue amounted to a record high SEK 13.1 billlion in the first half of 2018, an increase of 12 percent. Digitalisation and connectivity are critical in the shift towards a sustainable transport system and constitute increasingly important elements in Scania’s service offering. Using digitalisation, we can improve the efficiency of our own service business through better capacity utilisation in workshops and thus offer customers more efficient service to enhance their profitability. Meanwhile, digitalisation also opens up for new business models, such as Scania Go, a recently launched mobility service. Through a single app, Scania’s employees are given access to a range of different modes of transport during the working day as an alternative to the private car. The aim is to promote sustainable and shared travel and to explore the potential of the system in a broader, commercial perspective.” .

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New Ford Transit Skeletal Chassis Cab Delivers Low Load Floor for Easier Deliveries and 200 kg Additional Payload Ford of Europe Press Release / July 27, 2018 New Transit chassis cab derivative with a special low-height chassis is ideal for conversions requiring a low load floor for easy access Skeletal chassis also delivers 200 kg weight saving over standard chassis cab for enhanced payload and reduced cost of ownership Transit skeletal chassis cab is available to order now from Ford’s network of 950 Transit Centres across Europe COLOGNE, Germany – Ford is introducing a new Transit skeletal chassis cab derivative that provides commercial vehicle customers with a versatile low-height platform for a wide variety of body conversions – ideal for applications ranging from general delivery and distribution to removals. Available to order now from Ford’s European network of Transit Centres, the new skeletal Transit offers a chassis height that is 100 mm lower than the standard front-wheel drive chassis cab model, delivering easier access to the load floor with a lower step height, and removing the need for a separate tail lift. With a 200 kg weight reduction compared to the equivalent chassis cab, the optimised design of the skeletal chassis also provides operators with a significant payload advantage – particularly in combination with lightweight body conversions – in addition to the potential for enhanced fuel efficiency. The skeletal chassis derivative will build on the success of the Transit two-tonne model, which continues to generate increased demand in Europe. The Transit has achieved sales of 52,100 during year-to-date June 2018, a 13 per cent increase over the previous year. “Ford’s Transit is already legendary for its huge range of body styles, drivelines and size variants, and this new model takes our offering a significant step further,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. “The new Transit skeletal chassis opens up exciting new opportunities for grocery delivery vehicles and other low-floor body conversions where ease of access is paramount.” The skeletal chassis model is based on a front-wheel drive Transit platform, and features an open-backed cab design that supports easy walk-through from the cab to the load space of the converted body. Customers can specify a choice of three different wheelbase lengths to suit a variety of body conversions, with a wide-track rear axle for the longest variant and an optional wide-track rear axle for the 2 shorter variants. All versions offer a gross vehicle mass of 3.5 tonnes. The Transit skeletal chassis derivative is offered with Ford’s powerful and fuel efficient 2.0litre EcoBlue diesel engine in 130 PS or 170 PS outputs, paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission.* Customers can also choose a six-speed automatic transmission, ideally suited to urban delivery applications. # # # * Officially homologated fuel-efficiency and CO2 emission figures will vary according to customer-derived specification The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel-efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. From 1 September 2017, certain new vehicles will be type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) according (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended, which is a new, more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. From 1 September 2018 the WLTP will fully replace the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which is the current test procedure. During NEDC Phase-out, WLTP fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are being correlated back to NEDC. There will be some variance to the previous fuel economy and emissions as some elements of the tests have altered i.e., the same car might have different fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com. Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 54,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911. .

You see Bob, they get the latest 2.0 litre diesel, which is all one needs, while we are forced to buy the thirstier 3.2-litre diesel.

Land Line (OOIDA) / July 31, 2018 Paccar is recalling more than 3,000 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with model years ranging from 2015 to 2018. Affected trucks have an issue with the anti-lock brake system. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall document, seven models of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks have an issue with the ABS warning light. If the ABS loses battery or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. All affected Kenworth trucks are model year 2015-18, while all Peterbilt trucks are model year 2017-18: Kenworth T660 Kenworth T680 Kenworth T800 Kenworth T880 Kenworth W900 Peterbilt 567 Peterbilt 579 Paccar will notify owners of affected trucks. Dealers will update the software free of charge. Recalls are expected to begin July 24. For questions, call Peterbilt customer service at 918-259-3258 or Kenworth customer service at 425-828-5000. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-368.

Australia Extends Military Trucks Order Defense Update / July 25, 2018 The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) is extending the current LAND 121 Phase 3B Project to run through 2024. Under the new program – Land 121 Phase 5B – the Australian subsidiary of German-based Rheinmetall Man Military Vehicles (RMMV) will supply more than a thousand logistical vehicles, and 800 payload modules and trailers, to the Australian Defense Forces (ADF) between 2019 and 2024 under a contract worth a total of A$1.4 billion. Under the LAND 121 Phase 3B program, RMMVA is currently delivering 2,536 protected and unprotected military logistic trucks, and 3,858 locally produced trailers and payload modules from its Brisbane-based integration facility. The new order will be an addition to that program. .

Transport Engineer / July 31, 2018 Ford has unveiled a new Transit skeletal chassis cab with a 100mm (3.94 inches) lower chassis height than its standard model. Available to order now, the new chassis is 200kg (441lb) lighter and can be fitted with a range of body conversions – ideal, says Ford, for applications ranging from general delivery and distribution to removals. Based on a front-wheel drive Transit platform, it features an open-backed cab design and the lower step height removes the need for a separate tail-lift. There are three wheelbase lengths to suit a variety of body conversions, with an optional wide-track rear axle for the two shorter variants. All versions offer a gross vehicle mass of 3.5 metric tonnes (7,716lb). The Transit skeletal chassis derivative is offered with the 2.0‑litre EcoBlue diesel engine in 130bhp or 170bhp outputs, paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Customers can also choose a six-speed automatic transmission, ideally suited to urban delivery applications. “The new Transit skeletal chassis opens up exciting new opportunities for grocery delivery vehicles and other low-floor body conversions where ease of access is paramount,” says Hans Schep, general manager for commercial vehicles at Ford of Europe. .

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Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / August 1, 2018 Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has announced that the 50,000th gasoline-powered Isuzu N-Series truck rolled off the assembly line in Charlotte, Michigan on August 1. It was a new milestone for the truck maker that first began assembly of the gas-powered N-Series at Spartan Motors in April 2011. “We anticipated the demand for gasoline-engine low-cab-forward trucks over seven years ago, and the assembly of our 50,000th truck proves that our instincts were correct,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. In N-Series gas-powered trucks feature a Vortec 6.0 liter V8 engine that produces 297 horsepower and 372 lbs.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive and lock-up torque converter to improve both fuel economy and performance.There is also an optional version of the engine that can be converted to run on either compressed natural gas or propane. “We are proud to offer our gas-powered N-Series truck in a wide range of configurations to meet our customers’ needs,” said Skinner. “And together with our dealerships and Spartan Motors, we’re looking forward to the next 50,000.” .

Ford set a new 52-week low of $9.82 today on volume of 41 million, but it needs to fall below $7 before it can be viewed as a bargain buying opportunity given the lack of visibility and solid management.

Mercedes-Benz MAN DAF Scania Volvo Renault Iveco When Ford sold the Transcontinental, the American truckmaker was on the list as well. Now, Ford is back. Otosan is committed to being a world player, and Bill Ford is behind them. He understands how committed these guys are.

Netherlands-based logistics provider Simon Loos B.V. has taken delivery of its 1,000th Mercedes-Benz truck in the form of a specially prepared extended cab Actros "Longline". This unique truck is a Mercedes-Benz Actros model 2648 with a 480 horsepower 13-liter 6 cylinder engine. The cab is a hybrid: the front part of the cab is a Mercedes-Benz "Big Space", while the rear is a "Giga Space". This combination is the only one in the world! The inside of the cab is no less special. A luxurious interior features spacious sofas, flat-screen TV, microwave, refrigerator and high-end music system. After a hard days work, a spacious bed is awaiting. Of course, beautifully stitched leather is throughout the interior. This special edition Actros will operate with our bulk transport division. Curious how the unique cab looks inside? Experience it in the virtual tour at simonloos.nl/1000. .

Yes, per Ford-Otosan.

For now, the narrower last generation Ford Cargo cab remains in production for vocational. American operators and their accountants focused on profitability would smile if they could get their hands on this product. .

Scania Group Press Release / July 31, 2018 Following comparative study, UK haulier orders 200 Scania trucks. UK multi-modal specialist Maritime Transport has placed its biggest single order yet with one manufacturer. A leading combination of whole life cost, impressive fuel economy and driver acceptance prompted Maritime Transport to order 200 new generation Scania R 450 tractor units. Whole life cost is key to the decision-making-process at Maritime, with fuel consumption being the biggest weighted element in the mix. It has been one year since Maritime started operating the first five new generation Scania trucks and although it is still early days in the 5-year life cycle, Scania has already shown a fuel advantage in the fleet. Track trial confirms superiority Fleet Director, Stuart Wardlaw explains, “Our work can be so varied that usually comparing a vehicle’s fuel performance to another is difficult. To allow us to make an informed decision we undertook a track trial with the latest products across our fleet. As part of this, we eliminated as many variables as possible, such as container size, load weight and route. When it came to fuel economy Scania outperformed the other brand.” “This alongside all other factors of the whole life cost of the vehicles was the deciding factor when placing our order for the 200 Scania R-series.” Specification of the truck itself is important to Maritime to ensure a certain standard of driver welfare, especially where sometimes on-road facilities are not up-to-scratch. The spacious R cabs, which are fitted with fridges and microwave ovens, provide both a comfortable working and living space for their drivers. “From our perspective, when they have got their vehicles we want our drivers to have access to everything they could need – space, storage and home comforts,” comments Wardlaw. Better performance linked to vehicle Keeping their drivers happy is two-fold for Maritime. The company believes that not only will it impact retention but also improve the vehicles’ performance. As Wardlaw puts it, “A driver’s acceptance of a vehicle has a direct link to their behaviour and performance. When they are happy with the vehicle they are driving, we believe they will drive more economically and safely.” As a growing business, Maritime utilises staff feedback to shape future decisions. The feedback from drivers on the new generation Scania trucks has been positive. “It really is a great truck. The overall vision of your surroundings is brilliant, which gives you so much more confidence on the road. The drive is smooth, quiet and responsive and due to the interior design, you can get to everything without taking your hands off the steering wheel. Not only can you do the job, but do so in style and comfort too,” says Maritime driver Andy Parsons. Maritime, which was established in 2001, has a fleet of 1,200 trucks and is one of the largest privately-owned multi-modal transport businesses in the UK. .

Uber Shutters Autonomous Truck Business Division Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / July 31, 2018 Uber is shuttering its autonomous truck research division. At least for now. That’s the word that came late on July 30 about the San Francisco-based tech company, which is ending research on autonomous trucks in order to focus on self-driving cars. Uber acquired its autonomous truck business from startup Otto almost two years ago in a move that was widely considered controversial and, at times, proved to be contentious. The story broke when online technology journal TechCrunch reported on an email from Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber Advanced Technologies group, which stated that, “We recently took the important step of returning to public roads in Pittsburgh, and as we look to continue that momentum, we believe having our entire team’s energy and expertise focused on this effort is the best path forward. “Rather than having two groups working side by side, focused on different vehicle platforms, I want us instead collaborating as one team,” Meyhofer said in an email to employees reviewed by TechCrunch editors. “I know we’re all super proud of what the Trucks team has accomplished, and we continue to see the incredible promise of self-driving technology applied to moving freight across the country. But we believe delivering on self-driving for passenger applications first, and then bringing it to freight applications down the line, is the best path forward. For now, we need the focus of one team, with one clear objective.” The move will not affect the Uber Freight business unit, which uses the company’s location-based, ride-location app technology to connect truckers with available freight. According to TechCrunch, Uber will shut down its San Francisco operations and move employees to Pittsburgh, where its autonomous car research is located. The company said in a statement that it intends to continue to explore autonomous vehicle technology using passenger cars as foundational research units, but will maintain relationships with trucking OEMs as this technology matures. Uber’s autonomous truck efforts have been hampered by controversy and legal battles since the company acquired the business unit from Otto in 2016. The acquisition later became the subject of an intellectual property lawsuit by Google, citing the role of Anthony Levandowski, the co-founder of Otto, who was a head engineer at Waymo, Google’s self-driving car spinoff, before leaving to concentrate on the new company. Waymo accused Levandowski of taking trade secrets, in the form of photos, schematics, and emails, with him and providing them to Uber. The lawsuit eventually contributed to the resignation of Travis Kalanick, co-founder of Uber, as CEO in 2017. Uber denies that it ever possessed any of the intellectual property, however, it agreed to settle the suit in February by paying Waymo approximately $245 million, and by promising to never use any of Waymo’s confidential information in any of its products. Lawsuits weren’t the only forces working against Uber’s autonomous truck research. In March, an Uber autonomous research vehicle was involved in a fatal accident in Tempe, Arizona., resulting in negative press coverage of autonomous vehicle research and a temporary suspension of tests on public roads pending a review of safety procedures. The company’s decision to suspend research into autonomous vehicles comes a week after the company restarted testing its passenger cars on public roads in Pittsburgh. Currently, the company is running and evaluating self-driving Volvo XC90 vehicles. According to Uber, the vehicles are only being driven manually by humans and under a new set of safety standards that include real-time monitoring of its test drivers and efforts to beef up simulation.

Cummins Emissions Recall Includes Over 500,000 Engines Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / July 31, 2018 A voluntary recall affecting more than 500,000 Cummins engines has been initiated after an investigation by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) discovered excess emissions resulting from defective emissions aftertreatment systems. Cummins has worked collaboratively with CARB on the voluntary recall, which the agency stated was the largest such effort for heavy-duty trucks to date. Owners of 2010-2015 model-year vehicles are required to replace the faulty emissions equipment. The trucks will be recalled in two phases. Starting in Aug. 2018, owners of the 500,000 affected vehicles will receive letters with instructions on how to get their catalysts replaced or receive reimbursement for the cost of replacement. The second phase begins in March 2019. It is required for vehicle owners to replace the catalyst in order to renew a California DMV registration on most engine families. It was discovered that the selective catalytic reduction systems were defective after excess emissions were detected through CARB’s Heavy Duty In-Use Compliance program. The Cummins recall is the first major recall to result from the program, in which vehicles are equipped with Portable Emissions measurement Systems to measure truck emissions while operating under typical demands and conditions. During testing, some of the Cummins engines revealed higher than expected emissions of nitrogen oxides. This led more comprehensive testing by CARB that confirmed the cause as a defective SCR. The same problem was found in about 60 “engine families” under the Cummins name found in a wide range of vehicles, from large commercial trucks, to larger pickup trucks, and some buses. Cummins also conducted its own testing to confirm the failures and agreed to institute a voluntary recall to replace the catalysts. “Our new heavy-duty in-use compliance program ensures that heavy-duty and other trucks already in operation meet the required emissions standards both in the lab and on the road,” said Mary D. Nichols, CARB chair. “Our portable testing equipment tells us exactly how clean a truck is when it’s actually operating in the real world: pulling a full load and driving on roads and through neighborhoods where people live.” The cause of the problem was purely mechanical, according to CARB, and was the result of faster-than-expected degradation of the catalyst. The degraded catalyst issue is not a safety risk and does not affect current model year Cummins engine families. Following the recall, CARB and EPA will work together to ensure that the affected vehicles will meet all emissions standards.

Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / July 31, 2018 Groendyke Transport (No. 106 on the CCJ Top 250) is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to allow it to use pulsating brake lamps in addition to steady burning brake lights. In its application, the Oklahoma-based hazmat tanker fleet says it assessed “what it could do to prevent other drivers from rear ending Groendyke trailers” and decided that increasing visibility would “be an efficient means to prevent rear ending accidents.” The company says it then searched for ways to grab the attention of other drivers faster. The request would allow the company to install an amber brake-activated pulsating light to the upper center portion of its trailers. Groendyke’s application states that research shows that pulsating brake lights in addition to steady burning red brake lights improves visibility and reduces accidents. The company also cites studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on rear-end crashes, which indicates, according to Groendyke, that drivers are alerted faster when a pulsating brake lamp draws their attention. In a study of its own in which the company added pulsating brake lights to nearly half of its 1,440 trailers, Groendyke found that the frequency of rear-end collisions dropped by 33.7 percent on trailers with the lights compared to those without. FMCSA is requesting public comment on the request, which can be made here through Aug. 29. .