FMCSA kicks the can on speed-limiter rule | Tie rod-related recall hits more trucks

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, July 9, 2024:

Speed limiter mandate proposal delayed into 2025

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration seems to be slowing down in its efforts to develop a proposed rule to potentially mandate speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks.

In the Spring 2024 Unified Regulatory Agenda, FMCSA is now projecting a May 2025 publication date for the speed limiter notice of proposed rulemaking. In the Department of Transportation’s Significant Rulemakings Report released in late January, the proposed rule was slated for a May 2024 publication.

FMCSA revived the speed limiter debate in 2022 with a notice of intent to proceed with a rulemaking that would require the use of speed limiters on heavy trucks. A prior DOT rulemaking report published last September -- which first listed the maximum speed for the mandate at 68 mph before the agency backtracked to remove a specific speed -- indicated the speed limiter proposal would be published in December 2023, later pushed to this May.

FMCSA has said its new proposal will require motor carriers operating trucks equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) capable of governing the truck’s maximum speed to limit the truck to a speed as determined by the rulemaking and maintain that ECU setting for the service life of the truck.

There are also efforts ongoing in Congress to bar FMCSA from mandating speed limiters on trucks.

[Related: Speed limiter mandate: Owner-operators call out FMCSA's misplaced priorities]

Tie rod recall expands to more Volvo, Mack, Daimler units

Three major truck manufacturers are expanding recalls related to potentially faulty tie rods that could impact the ability to steer the vehicles.

Volvo Trucks is recalling 12 model year 2025 VHD and VN units equipped with Hendrickson Composilite EXS20 liftable steer axle suspension assemblies, in addition to the previously reported three VN trucks, because the tie rod assembly ball stud could have been improperly heat treated and can fail.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents state that the ball stud can separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect and replace the tie rod end assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Aug. 30. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX2405. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-503.

Similarly, Mack Trucks is recalling 59 model year 2025 LR, Granite, and Pinnacle vehicles equipped with Hendrickson’s Composilite EXS20 steerable lift axle suspension assemblies in which the tie rod assembly ball stud could have been improperly heat treated and can fail. Mack previously recalled seven MY 2025 Anthem and Pinnacle units.

Owners can contact Mack customer service at 1-800-866-1177 with recall number SC0468. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-504.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 60 model year 2025 Freightliner Cascadia, 114SD, Western Star 47X, and 49X trucks with the same tie rod issue. Daimler previously recalled 540 trucks for a front axle tie rod issue.

Daimler’s remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Sept. 1. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 800-745-8000 with recall number F1005. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-509.

[Related: 16 Kenworth, Pete models caught up in steering-related recall]

Comment period extended for fleet’s under-21 request

Those interested in commenting on a small private fleet’s request for a waiver to allow three of its intrastate drivers under the age of 21 to operate in a different state now have an additional two weeks to do so.

FMCSA published the request from 23-truck 3 North LLC on June 11. 3 North utilizes a fleet of specialized construction equipment mounted on a straight truck chassis to transport concrete for wind turbine foundations.

The company said that it uses a different set of CDL holders to drive the CMVs across state lines. Once the trucks are across state lines, the company is asking FMCSA to allow it to use its three under-21 drivers to operate the trucks in the state where the work is being performed.

Federal regulations require that CDLs issued to drivers under the age of 21 be marked with a “K” restriction limiting them to intrastate operations in the driver’s state of domicile.

The comment period, which was originally open through July 11, was extended to July 25 because FMCSA did not make 3 North’s application available for public review in the Federal Register docket. Comments can be filed here.

[Related: Fleet seeks waiver to allow under-21 intrastate drivers to operate in another state]

Love’s opens new Truck Care location, upgrades others

Love’s Travel Stops recently announced the opening of a new Love’s Truck Care shop at its Salinas, California, location.

Love’s Truck Care and Speedco also completed upgrades to five existing locations, two of which now have truck wash services. These investments add five service bays, four truck wash bays and three new service trucks to Love’s nationwide maintenance network.

The new and remodeled locations can be found next to Love’s locations in:

• Salinas, California (new)
• Calvert City, Kentucky (upgraded)
• Wells, Nevada (upgraded)
• Sidney, Ohio (upgraded with added truck wash)
• Columbia, Tennessee (upgraded with added truck wash)
• Ranger, Texas (rebuilt)

These locations all offer tire, lube, light mechanical services and roadside services for truck drivers and fleets. Love’s Truck Care and Speedco are also the exclusive warranty repair and campaign recall service providers for Freightliner and International trucks.